Podcasts by Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. Part of the Cadence13 Network.
Further podcasts by Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project
Podcast on the topic Gesundheit und Fitness
All episodes
Happier - Ep. 367: Try a 30-Day Challenge and the Joy of Scratch-Offs. Frank Bruni Talks About “The Beauty of Dusk.” from 2022-03-02T08:00
We discuss how to use thirty-day challenges as a way to stay engaged with your aims, and we also suggest a very simple and fun happiness hack. We talk to journalist Frank Bruni about his new memoir...
ListenLittle Happier: Aesop’s Fable about the Fox and the Stork Illustrates an Important Truth about People from 2022-02-28T08:00
In Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Stork,” the Fox and the Stork play tricks on each other, and their actions illustrate an important principle: “Just because something works for you doesn’t mean th...
ListenHappier - Ep. 366: Seventh Anniversary! Our Favorite Try-This-at-Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks&Highlights from 2022-02-23T08:00
We just passed the seventh anniversary of the podcast! We looked back at our favorite moments from the previous year—the most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, our favorite happiness hacks, big milest...
ListenLittle Happier: The Anniversary of One of the Happiest Days of My Life from 2022-02-21T08:00
Every year, I celebrate the anniversary of one of the happiest days of my life. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@Li...
ListenMore Happier - Ep. 4: Another Insight from The Beatles, Plus How to Jump-Start the Habit of Exercise from 2022-02-19T08:00
We discuss yet another realization after watching the “Get Back” documentary about the Beatles, we talk about how to get a jump-start for the habit of exercise or movement, and Elizabeth offers a l...
ListenHappier - Ep. 365: Go Exploring in Your Own House. What Food Texture Do You Prefer? And Elizabeth Has a New Dog from 2022-02-16T08:00
We talk about why we might go exploring in our home or office, and suggest some easy hacks for getting things done. We discuss whether we’re Chewers,Crunchers, Suckers, or Smooshers in our eating p...
ListenLittle Happier: You Love Engineering and You Love Baking. Can That Be a Career? from 2022-02-14T08:00
In the Netflix TV show “Baking Impossible,” Andrew Smyth combines a passion for engineering with a passion for baking. Sometimes, it’s possible to combine our interests in improbable but exciting w...
ListenHappier - Ep. 364: Use the “Calendar of Catalysts,” How to Work Joyfully for Change, and a Great Gift for Booklovers from 2022-02-09T08:00
We discuss the “Calendar of Catalysts,” which is a list of many different calendar dates to consider using for a fresh start. We also talk to author Karen Walrond about how to work for change witho...
ListenLittle Happier: What’s the Best Way to Change a Habit? from 2022-02-07T08:00
Whenever people ask me, “What’s the right way to change a habit? If you had to pick one best way, what would you say?” I answer, “What’s the best way to cook an egg?” In both cases, the best way de...
ListenMore Happier: Why We Love the Beatles Doc “Get Back,” Plus How to Get More Reading Done from 2022-02-05T08:00
We discuss the brilliant Beatles documentary “Get Back”—why we loved it so much, and what we learned from watching the creative process. Plus, we offer a tool for getting more reading done, and tal...
ListenHappier - Ep. 363: Push Beyond a 30-Day “Challenge,” a Hack for Taking Pills, and Listeners Share Their One-Word Themes from 2022-02-02T08:00
We talk about the challenge of “30-day challenges” and how to push beyond the30 days, we suggest several ways to make it easier to swallow pills, and we share listeners’ brilliant one-word themes f...
ListenLittle Happier: Stephen Sondheim’s Rambling Style Wasn’t a Bug, It Was a Feature. from 2022-01-31T08:00
Legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim dealt with a challenging situation by figuring out how to harness his own particular strengths. His loose, rambling style wasn’t a bug, it was a fea...
ListenHappier - Ep. 362: Give Yourself a Derby Name, an Easy Way to Give Yourself a Treat, and a Conversation with “The Good Place” Creator Mike Schur. from 2022-01-26T08:00
We talk about why you might give yourself a derby name (and reveal our names), discuss a suggestion for a listener about an easy way to get an unexpected treat, and we talk about “How to Be Perfect...
ListenLittle Happier: The Happy Story of When Carol Burnett Fired Harvey Korman from 2022-01-24T08:00
I was fascinated to read a story from the life of the legendary comedian Carol Burnett. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenR...
ListenMore Happier - Ep. 2: Tackling an Eyesore, the Unforeseen Consequences of Getting a Dog, and YouTube! from 2022-01-22T08:00
We discuss the immense satisfaction that comes from clearing a messy shelf, Elizabeth describes some unforeseen consequences of getting a dog—and the podcast is now on YouTube. Get in touch: @gretc...
ListenHappier - Ep. 361: Cultivate a Rest Ritual. Celebrate “Twos-Day.” How to Stop Reading and Begin a Habit. from 2022-01-19T08:00
We discuss why you might cultivate a rest ritual, especially if you’re joining us for #Rest22in22. We also talk about celebrating the minor holiday of Tuesday, 2/2/2022, and a listener asks about h...
ListenLittle Happier: “Don’t Be So Modest. You’re Not That Good.” from 2022-01-17T08:00
Learning the words “humblebrag” and “humblevain” helped me see the world in a new way. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRu...
ListenHappier - Ep. 360: Very Special Episode! Want to Change a Habit? Start Here. from 2022-01-12T08:00
There are 21 strategies we can use to make or break our habits. In this Very Special Episode, we highlight the seven strategies that tend to be the most universally useful. And we also reveal the m...
ListenLittle Happier: Remember the Dog that Doesn’t Bark. from 2022-01-10T08:00
In a famous short story, detective Sherlock Holmes points to “the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime.” In my own life, I invoke his observation about the dog to remind me to be grateful f...
ListenMore Happier - Ep.1: Welcome to More Happier! The Beatles, the Real Housewives, and Why We Should Do What We Want from 2022-01-08T08:00
It's the first episode of "More Happier," the new bi-weekly series for 2022. We discuss what's making us more happier right now, and we talk about an easy tool for boosting happiness. Plus Elizabet...
ListenHappier - Ep. 359: We Reveal our “22 in 2022” Lists! Plus a Way to Ship Items More Securely. from 2022-01-05T08:00
We reveal our “22 for 2022” lists, and we share a simple hack for shipping items more securely. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @G...
ListenLittle Happier: If You Don’t Know the Answer, Don’t Ask the Question from 2022-01-03T08:00
A thought-provoking collection of proverbs from the legal profession offers wisdom even to people who aren’t lawyers. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagra...
ListenEp. 358: Choose Your One-Word Theme for 2022 (We Reveal Ours). What Habit Loopholes Do You Use? Plus a Hack for Curiousity. from 2021-12-29T08:00
We discuss our experience with our one-word themes for 2021 and reveal our one-word themes for 2022. A listener suggests a terrific, easy hack for curious people, and we pose the know-yourself-bett...
ListenLittle Happier: Why It’s Okay to Be Boring from 2021-12-27T08:00
A passage from Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle reminded me of my own family’s practice of “update.” The fact is, if we want to stay close to the people we love, it’s very h...
ListenEp. 357: We Reveal the Yearly Challenge to “[Fill in the Blank] 22 in 2022.” Plus We Announce a Big Change to the Podcast. from 2021-12-22T08:00
Following on our challenges to “Walk 20 in 2020” and “Read 21 in 2021,” we reveal our (excellent) yearly challenge for 2022. Plus we make a big announcement related to the podcast for anyone who wa...
ListenLittle Happier: An Ancient Story Gave Me a New Appreciation for the Beauty of Trees from 2021-12-20T08:00
A thought-provoking story from ancient times, in The Histories of Herodotus, gave me more appreciation for the beauty of trees. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch o...
ListenEp. 356: We Review Our “21 for 21” Lists. Do You Have Foreground and Background Senses? Plus Some Easy Holiday Hacks. from 2021-12-15T08:00
We review our “21 for 21” lists to see how we did, and we discuss some easy, fun holiday hacks. Plus we ask listeners a question: “With your five senses, do you have foreground and background sense...
ListenLittle Happier: Do You Feel Like a Real Grown-Up? I Don’t. from 2021-12-13T08:00
On a trip to a department store, I told my husband, “We’ll buy the nice towels when we’re really grown up”—but we are grown up. I remind myself: This is my real life. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; ...
ListenEp. 355: Talk to Yourself by Name. Make a “To Don’t” List. How to Resist Over-Buying. from 2021-12-08T08:00
We talk about why it’s helpful to talk to yourself in the third person, a listener suggests the hack of making a “To Don’t” list, and we do a deep dive into listeners’ suggestions for resisting ove...
ListenLittle Happier: I Appreciate Anything That Helps Me to Pay Attention from 2021-12-06T08:00
A visit to an art gallery reminds me that it’s our listening that makes a conversation important; it's our vision that makes a masterpiece; it's our love that makes a face stand out from the crowd....
ListenEp. 354: Consider the Vital 9 to Plan Your Aims for 2022. Boost Your Foot Comfort Level. With Magic, How Would You Change? from 2021-12-01T08:00
To begin to plan our aims for 2022, we discuss the “Vital 9,” the areas in which most people’s aims fall. We also consider a few know-yourself-better questions to help us imagine what we’d like to ...
ListenLittle Happier: Why a Taxi-Driver and I Saw Two Different Streets from 2021-11-29T08:00
As we looked at children playing in the street, the taxi driver and I saw two different scenes. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get ...
ListenEp. 353: Happier Gift Guide: Great Gifts to Help People Get Happier. Plus a Gratitude Hack from 2021-11-24T08:00
We discuss suggestions from listeners about suggestions for gifts that will help recipients to be happier, healthier, and more productive. We also talk about a listener’s suggestion about a way to ...
ListenLittle Happier: Now You’ll Be Working All the Time from 2021-11-22T08:00
When a friend quit her job to work as an artist, someone told her, “Now you’ll be working all the time.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenR...
ListenEp. 352: Try the “Happier” App! To Help You Become Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Creative from 2021-11-17T08:00
Announcing the new “Happier” app! Convenient, appealing, and intuitive, it offers many tools and strategies to help users to get happier. We also talk to Larry Smith about why writing a six-word me...
ListenLittle Happier: The Sound of My Shoes Clicking on Marble Reminded Me of My Past from 2021-11-15T08:00
The distinctive click of my shoes against marble connected me to two memories from different points in my life. Our five senses help to connect us to the present moment and our present experience, ...
ListenEp. 351: Consider Getting a Dog (Elizabeth Did). Do You Celebrate Moments? Spend 20 Minutes on Joy Each Day. from 2021-11-10T08:00
Elizabeth suggests that you consider getting a dog (or a pet); she and her family have been joined by Nacho, a corgi! Tiffany Dufu suggests that we spend twenty minutes each day doing something tha...
ListenLittle Happier: In a Public Restroom, Which Stall Do You Choose? from 2021-11-08T08:00
A woman told me her clever system for choosing the least-used stall in a public restroom, which reminded me that we’re more alike, and more different, than we imagine—because her system for outwitt...
ListenEp. 350: Very Special Episode: Listeners Suggest Apps That Put the “App” in “Happier” from 2021-11-03T07:00
Listeners suggest apps that help them to become happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative—and more organized with photographs. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...
ListenLittle Happier: In Ancient Greece, Two Painters Held a Contest. Who Won? from 2021-11-01T07:00
A delightful story from the ancient world describes a contest between two artists that was decided in a surprising way. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instag...
ListenEp. 349: Happier Podcast Book Club: Kate Bowler Talks About Why There’s “No Cure for Being Human” from 2021-10-27T07:00
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Duke Divinity School professor Kate Bowler about her moving, funny, thought-provoking new memoir, “No Cure for Being Human” Get in touch: @gretchenrubi...
ListenLittle Happier: You Can’t Win the Hands You Don’t Play from 2021-10-25T07:00
A thought-provoking collection of proverbs from poker-players offers wisdom even to people who aren’t playing poker. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram...
ListenEp. 348: Make a Choice (Like an Actor). Do a Favor for Your Future Self. Liz Lange Talks About Secrets, Success, Loss from 2021-10-20T07:00
We discuss how we can make a choice (like an actor), how we can do a favor for our future selves, and we talk to Liz Lange about her podcast “The Just Enough Family,” where she explores her family’...
ListenLittle Happier: Happiness Doesn’t Always Make Us Feel Happy from 2021-10-18T07:00
A friend didn’t want to spend Thanksgiving with his family, but he did it anyway. Happiness doesn’t always make us feel happy. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on...
ListenBonus Episode: Staying Happy During a Sudden Move to a New Town—Sarah Fain Reports from 2021-10-15T07:00
How do you stay happy when you suddenly decide it’s time for you and your daughter to move to a new town? And how do you make that decision in the first place? We talk to Elizabeth’s writing partne...
ListenEp. 347: Consider: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature. Help Someone Ease into a New Job. How to Deal with Big Change? from 2021-10-13T07:00
We talk about why it can be helpful to consider, “Maybe this isn’t a bug, it’s a feature”; we discuss a hack for helping someone get situated in a new position, and we talk to Maya Shankar about ho...
ListenLittle Happier: Does a Teddy Bear Comfort You, Even Now? from 2021-10-11T07:00
Author John Green’s reflection on the moment when he realized that he was no longer comforted by his teddy bear is a reminder that although we do outgrow much of the comfort we get from a warm, sof...
ListenEp. 346: Keep Lists in the Way That’s Right for You. Avoid a Routine. Celebrate Something Surprising. from 2021-10-06T07:00
We talk about why we should keep to-do lists in the way that’s right for us (and we discuss the “Tackle Box” that give five options), why sometimes it’s helpful not to fall into a routine, and we s...
ListenLittle Happier: Nebraska’s Tourist Slogan Offers a Valuable—and Hilarious—Lesson in Happiness from 2021-10-04T07:00
Nebraska’s hilarious tourist slogan demonstrates that it’s often most effective to admit the truth, even when that truth might not be terribly flattering or impressive. Have a sense of humor, be wi...
ListenEp. 345: Escape from Zombie Mode, Help People Say “No,” and What Do You Want to Be Known For? from 2021-09-29T07:00
We discuss strategies for escaping “zombie mode,” share a hack to make it easy for people to say “no,” and talk to Crystal Ellefsen about the know-yourself-better question of “What do you want to b...
ListenLittle Happier: Mindy Kaling’s “Rules for Writing” Show That We Can Be Funny Without Being Mean from 2021-09-27T07:00
Mindy Kaling is a successful and productive writer, actor, and director. She’s hilarious and brilliant. In her “Rules for Writing,” she explains how to be funny—without being mean. Get in touch: @g...
ListenEp. 344: How to Do a Quick Good Deed that Could Have Big Consequences, a Hack for Cutting Ourselves Some Slack, and an Interview with Anderson Cooper from 2021-09-22T07:00
We discuss a listener’s suggestion for an important way to help others, we talk about giving ourselves a “mercy week” during particularly busy or stressful times, and we talk to CNN anchor Anderson...
ListenLittle Happier: A Father Ate the Bananas Intended for His Children, and His Son Never Viewed Him the Same Way from 2021-09-20T07:00
Writer Auberon Waugh tells the story of how his father, novelist Evelyn Waugh, ate the bananas—at that time, a very rare treat--intended for him and his sisters. “It would be absurd to say that I n...
ListenEp. 343: Keep a Journal in the Way That’s Right for You, Check in with #Read21in21, and Health Hacks from Cassy Joy Garcia from 2021-09-15T07:00
We talk about why you should keep a journal in the way that’s right for you—and discuss several different journal options, depending on what kind of journal you want to keep. We also hear hacks for...
ListenLittle Happier: Writer Ann Patchett Describes How Sometimes, We Can Minister to the Spirit through the Body from 2021-09-13T07:00
In her brilliant memoir Truth and Beauty, Ann Patchett recalls how she helps a troubled friend by tapping into the power of the five senses: “Even if I couldn’t make Lucy deeply happy, I could prov...
ListenEp. 342: Join the Work Happier Challenge, Use a Rubber Duck to Tackle a Tough Problem, and How to Fight Against Falling into Zombie Mode from 2021-09-08T07:00
We suggest taking the free “Work Happier Challenge” by text as we head into the “other January” of September, explain why talking to a rubber duck can help us tackle difficult problems, explore the...
ListenLittle Happier: Actor Andrew McCarthy Faces the Question of How, as a Parent, to Acknowledge a Child’s Pain from 2021-09-06T07:00
When the young son of actor and writer Andrew McCarthy raised a tough issue, his father found the right words to respond.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Inst...
ListenEp. 341: Find Something Unconventional to Celebrate, How to Deal with a Happiness Regret, and Listeners Suggest Ways to Deal with a Talkative Co-worker from 2021-09-01T07:00
Inspired by “Garbage Eve,” we discuss about why we might find something unconventional to celebrate, we talk about listeners’ suggestions for dealing with a co-worker who interrupts constantly, and...
ListenLittle Happier: For Writer Isabel Allende, January 8 Is the Right Day to Begin. from 2021-08-30T07:00
In remembrance of her grandfather’s death, writer Isabel Allende starts all her new books on January 8, which for her is the right day to begin. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin....
ListenEp. 340: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything from 2021-08-25T07:00
Every tenth episode is a Very Special Episode, and this episode is an “Ask Us Anything.” We answer listener questions about our parents, career insights, our favorite hacks, why Gretchen calls Eliz...
ListenLittle Happier: Ordinary Belongings Become Precious as They Persist—Like My Parents’ Brown Bowl from 2021-08-23T07:00
Ordinary belongings become precious as they persist. They make us feel rooted in our own existence, with the comforting feeling that “Some things will never change.” Things will change, of course—b...
ListenEp. 339: Why It’s More Helpful to Ask for Help than to Show Anger, a Listener Struggles with a Talkative Co-Worker, and What Textures Do You Enjoy Most? from 2021-08-18T07:00
We discuss why, if we’re facing a challenge, it can be more helpful to focus on need than anger, explore a know-yourself-better question related to textures, and a listener asks: I’m back in the of...
ListenLittle Happier: Musician Rosanne Cash Reminds Me of a Paradox: Love Is Unconditional, and Love Is Demanding from 2021-08-16T07:00
Musician and writer Rosanne Cash tells the story of a conversation she had with her husband, which was a terrific illustration of a paradox of love. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenr...
ListenBonus Episode: Fantasy Island! We Explore the Making of the New FOX TV Drama from 2021-08-13T07:00
In this bonus episode, we dive deep into questions about the making of the new FOX TV drama “Fantasy Island” and Elizabeth’s role as showrunner. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podca...
ListenEp. 338: If You’re Under Pressure, Give Yourself Less Time, an Easy Hack for Listening to Podcasts, and an Interview with Ramit Sethi about Money and Couples. from 2021-08-11T07:00
We talk about why, when under pressure, you might consider giving yourself less time, we suggest a hack that makes podcast-listening more convenient, and Ramit Sethi discusses his new podcast about...
ListenLittle Happier: A Single Letter Reverses the Meaning of This Quotation from Leonardo da Vinci from 2021-08-09T07:00
I’d long been haunted by a line from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Notebooks,” but I learned that I’d mistyped a single letter, and had utterly transformed the meaning of the quotation. (I like my version b...
ListenEp. 337: Take a Nap, an Easy Hack for Lowering Frustration, a New Way to Use Gold Stars—and Are You a “Song” Lover or a “Music” Lover? from 2021-08-04T07:00
We explore the many benefits of taking a nap (if schedules permit), one listener suggests a simple organization hack and another listener finds a way to use demerits and gold stars in a hospital, a...
ListenLittle Happier: After Enron’s Downfall, a Massive Trove of Private Emails Were Made Public. Researchers Learned a Lot, and So Did I. from 2021-08-02T07:00
The fascinating history of the “Enron Corpus,” the trove of private emails that were made public in the wake of the collapse of the energy company Enron, reminds me never to write anything in an em...
ListenEp. 336: Allow Others to Share Your Enthusiasm, the Props Listeners Use to Manage Anxiety, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ One-Word Themes—Plus a Hack for Asking Tough Questions from 2021-07-28T07:00
We discuss why it’s a good idea to allow others to share your enthusiasm, we review the props used by listeners to help manage anxiety, take a look at listeners’ one-word themes for 2021, and share...
ListenLittle Happier: To the Curious and Prepared Mind, Something Dull Becomes Interesting. from 2021-07-26T07:00
A story about the small talk of two brilliant mathematicians reminds me that a curious and well-informed mind can find much of interest in the world. The taxi-cab’s number 1729 turns out to be a ve...
ListenEp. 335: Walk Away from a Bad Mood, a Rebel and an Obliger Offer Tips, and a Great Hack for Giving an Easy Yet Thoughtful Gift from 2021-07-21T07:00
We talk about how we can walk away from a bad mood, suggest an idea for giving very thoughtful gifts (that are easy to do), and discuss excellen suggestions from a Rebel and an Obliger about self-m...
ListenLittle Happier: Both My Parents Made the Same Observation about Queen Elizabeth II. from 2021-07-19T07:00
I was surprised when both my parents commented on Queen Elizabeth II’s decision to direct the Royal Family to wear mourning clothes (instead of traditional uniforms) to the funeral of her husband P...
ListenEp. 334: Happier Podcast Book Club: Writer and Musician Michelle Zauner Talks about Family, Identity, and Food in Her Memoir “Crying in H Mart” from 2021-07-14T07:00
We talk to Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast about her compelling memoir “Crying in H Mart.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: ...
ListenLittle Happier: Sometimes We Lash Out in Anger When In Fact We’re Feeling a Very Different Emotion from 2021-07-12T07:00
A poignant scene from Meredith Hall’s novel Beneficence, where a husband and father speaks with harsh words to deny his regrets, reminds me to show my love; others can only see my actions. Get in t...
ListenEp. 333: We Review Our One-Word Theme for the Year, Suggest a Hot-Weather Hack, and Discuss the Power of Plants with Michael Pollan from 2021-07-07T07:00
The year 2021 has hit the midway point, so we review our one-word themes to evaluate how we’re doing. We also suggest a hack for dealing with hot summer nights, and talk about Michael Pollan about ...
ListenLittle Happier: Sometimes, When We Understand Someone’s Perspective, Our Anger Fades from 2021-07-05T07:00
Sometimes, understanding someone else’s point of view allows our anger to fade. When writer Julie Lythcott-Haims understood that her mother’s definition of a “visit” differed from her definition of...
ListenEp. 332: We Review Our “21 for 2021” Lists to Consider What We’ve Done (or Not) and Discuss a Happiness Hack for Managing Anxiety. from 2021-06-30T07:00
The year is hitting the half-way mark, so we review our “21 for 2021” lists to mark our progress (and lack of progress). We also review a hack for clearing the mind, and Elizabeth gets both a demer...
ListenLittle Happier: Novelist Amy Tan Didn’t Ask Her Unnamed Goddess for Good Reviews, But for Something Else. from 2021-06-28T07:00
Novelist Amy Tan recounts that as she was writing her second book, she prayed to unnamed goddess that she “be able to write the best book I could, and that no matter what happened to it, I would ha...
ListenEp. 331: Give Yourself a Prop to Hold, Ways to Maintain Healthy Habits as Ordinary Routines Resume, and Hack for Little Kids and Chores from 2021-06-23T07:00
We talk about why you might give yourself a prop to hold, discuss a friend’s hack for helping little kids to be independent, and explore a listener question about the common post-pandemic stumbling...
ListenLittle Happier: Why Is It So Hard to See and Hear the World from Someone Else’s Perspective? from 2021-06-21T07:00
Despite all good intentions, an accomplished architect built a house with lousy acoustics, even though the owner—the writer Ved Mehta, who was blind--emphasized that the acoustical environment was ...
ListenEP. 330: Very Special Episode: Best Advice for Recent College Graduates, for Career, Finance, Roommates, and a Warning About Drift from 2021-06-16T07:00
Listeners contributed their best advice for people graduating from college, in areas including job search, finances, roommates, and life, and we also explore the dangers of “drift.” Get in touch: @...
ListenLittle Happier: What a Set of 3D “Magic Eye” Postcards Taught Me About Myself from 2021-06-14T07:00
Just because something isn’t often used doesn’t mean that it’s useless. My 3D “Magic Eye” postcards are fun to look at, and they also tie me to my own past. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gr...
ListenBonus Episode: Mad Men from 2021-06-12T07:00
In this bonus episode, we talk about the TV show “Mad Men.” We discuss our favorite moments, questions, and listeners’ favorite scenes. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenEp. 329: Explore the Five Senses of Summer, a Hack for Boosting Focus, and a Deep Dive into Solutions for Obliger-Rebellion from 2021-06-09T07:00
We talk about you might explore the five senses of summer, suggest a simple hack that makes it easier to focus, and review listeners’ suggestions about how to ward off growing Obliger-rebellion. Ge...
ListenLittle Happier: Re-Framing the Situation Can Mean that Someone Unexpected Wins a Prize from 2021-06-07T07:00
Rebecca Caudill’s 1962 picture book “The Best-Loved Doll” tells the story of a little girl and her shabby, beloved doll, and the medal her doll won, when the truth was framed in a new way. Get in t...
ListenEp. 328: Eat Something You Saw on the Screen or Page, a Reading Hack, and Annie Murphy Paul Talks About the Extended Mind from 2021-06-02T07:00
Why you might eat something you saw on the screen or on the page, a clutter-clearing hack that makes reading more fun, and a conversation with Annie Murphy Paul about how to think outside the brain...
ListenLittle Happier: My Brilliant Insight About the Title's Meaning for "The Phantom Tollbooth," Norton Juster's Classic Novel. from 2021-05-31T07:00
I have a tremendous insight that springs from my love of Norton Juster’s novel “The Phantom Tollbooth” and my longstanding fascinating with Zen koans. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretche...
ListenEp. 327: Something to Remember: Gretchen Passed Out on Live TV! Plus a Hand-Holding Hack, and Are You in an Age of Expansion or Concentration? from 2021-05-26T07:00
We talk about why it’s helpful to remember that the things that go wrong often make the best memories—for example, I passed out on live TV! Plus a hack about holding hands, and we ask the know-your...
ListenLittle: Grover of Sesame Street and Arya of Game of Thrones Teach Me the Same Lesson. from 2021-05-24T07:00
Two characters from two very different kinds of stories—Sesame Street’s Grover and Game of Thrones’s Arya—illustrate the important reminder that sometimes, when we feel trapped, we can remember tha...
ListenEp. 326: Write a Tastes Timeline, More Wisdom from Teachers, a Hack for Getting Better Service, and Question about Obliger-Rebellion from 2021-05-19T07:00
We discuss why you might want to write a Tastes Timeline; share a listener’s hack for getting easier, quicker service; discuss more terrific proverbs from teachers; and pose a crucial question abou...
ListenLittle Happier: “The Farm Was a Form: Not Like a Set of Rules on a Wall, But Like the Symmetry of Winter and Summer.” from 2021-05-17T07:00
The poet Donald Hall wrote a beautiful memoir of the childhood summers he spent with his grandparents on their New Hampshire farm. In his account, he conveys the safety and orderliness of that coun...
ListenEp. 325: Design Your Summer, Splurge on Colorful Felt-Tip Pens, and a Conversation with Julianna Margulies of “The Good Wife” from 2021-05-12T07:00
We have our annual discussion about why and how we plan to design our summers, I explain why I splurged on some colorful felt-tip pens, and we talk to award-winning actor Julianna Margulies about h...
ListenBonus Episode: Use Self-Knowledge to Be Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Successful as a Small Business Owner. from 2021-05-11T07:00
In this bonus episode sponsored by Dell Technologies, we explore how small-business owners and entrepreneurs can use the “Four Tendencies” personality profiles to know themselves and others better....
ListenLittle Happier: Dolly Parton Knew Exactly What to Say to the Tennessee State Legislature. from 2021-05-10T07:00
Dolly Parton is such an admirable person. Her statement to the Tennessee legislature—to ask that they withdraw legislation proposing to erect a statue of her on the Capitol grounds—was gracious, hu...
ListenEp. 324: Learn from the Wisdom of Teachers, a Clever Way to Use Email, and Anna Sale Talks about How to Have Difficult Conversations from 2021-05-05T07:00
We review some terrific lessons we’ve learned from teachers, discuss an email hack that makes it easier to ask someone for help, and Anna Sale discusses her new book, “Let’s Talk About Hard Things....
ListenLittle Happier: An Answer from Childhood Expert Michael Thompson Reminds Me of the Value of Considering a Different Perspective. from 2021-05-03T07:00
I’m a big fan of the work of childhood expert Michael Thompson, and his answer to a reader’s question reminds me of the importance of remaining open to an entirely different view of a problem.Get i...
ListenEp: 323: Try Some Movie Therapy, an Easy Hack for Dealing with Small Toys and Trinkets, and Do Certain Situations Send You into Shock? from 2021-04-28T07:00
Our former producer, the podcaster and writer Kristen Meinzer, explains why we should try “movie therapy,” we discuss one of Gretchen’s all-time favorite hacks of her own invention, and we explore ...
ListenLittle Happier: How Ordinary Behavior at Work Can Amount to Sabotage—Really! from 2021-04-26T07:00
A document created during World War II describes how ordinary people can help the United States’s war effort through “simple sabotage”—and the kinds of behavior the document suggests sound uncomfor...
ListenEp. 322: Pick the Right Word, Have Both a Weekend and a Weekday Book, and a Conversation with Actor, Singer, and Instagram Sensation Leslie Jordan from 2021-04-21T07:00
We talk about why it’s powerful to pick the right word, a listener suggests having a weekend book and a weekday book to enjoy reading more, and we talk to the hilarious actor, writer, and singer Le...
ListenLittle Happier: A Friend Told Me, “I Can Find My Way Anywhere in Westchester, But I Have to Start from Scarsdale.” from 2021-04-19T07:00
A friend’s remark about growing up in the New York City suburbs reminded me of how valuable it is to have a strong home base. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on ...
ListenEp. 321: Ask for a Favor in the Right Way, an Easy Clutter-Clearing Hack, and Julie Lythcott-Haims Talks about How to Be an Adult from 2021-04-14T07:00
We discuss the advice from legendary women’s gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field about how to ask for a favor or an opportunity in the right way, a listener offers a practical suggestion for usin...
ListenLittle Happier: Happiness Lessons from a Friend and His Messy Wife from 2021-04-12T07:00
During a funny conversation with a friend about his messy wife, he realized how he could have a more orderly house, without necessarily winning her cooperation. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcas...
ListenEp. 320: For Our 6th Anniversary, a Roundup of Favorite Try-This-at-Homes, Hacks, Strategies, and Solutions from Listeners—and From Us. from 2021-04-07T07:00
For this Very Special Episode, and in honor of our sixth anniversary, we asked listeners to send us their favorite moments, hacks, solutions, try-this-at-home suggestions and know-yourself-better q...
ListenLittle Happier: A Character from “K-Pop Confidential” and My Second-Grade Daughter Remind Me: We Want to Accept Ourselves, and Expect More From Ourselves from 2021-04-05T07:00
In Stephan Lee’s terrific young-adult novel K-Pop Confidential, the character Candace’s performance illustrates the same lesson that I saw in my daughter Eleanor’s second-grade show on the monkey b...
ListenEp. 319: Ask Yourself, “Do I Use It, Need It, Love It?”, Using the Return to Work as a “Clean Slate” for Habits, and Rebels Give Advice about the Rebel Who Won’t Read Emails from 2021-03-31T07:00
For those in the mood for spring cleaning, we suggest clearing clutter by asking “Do I use it, need it, love it?” We talk about April Fool’s Day pranks, ideas for using the return to the workplace ...
ListenLittle Happier: Why Did I Insist on Taking My Little Girl to Pre-school in the Freezing Cold and Snow? from 2021-03-29T07:00
Understanding my Four Tendencies personality framework, and my own Tendency as an Upholder, revealed to me why I’d behaved inexplicably years ago, when I took my daughter to school in a snowstorm. ...
ListenEp. 318: Look at Your Home with the Eyes of a Stranger, Some Terrific Before-and-After Clutter Stories, and Valuable Lessons from the Pandemic from 2021-03-24T07:00
We discuss why you might look at your home through the eyes of a stranger, why a simple hook can be so useful , share some excellent before-and-after clutter-clearing triumphs, and discuss listener...
ListenLittle Happier: We Can Learn from the Monkey Who Wouldn’t Let Go of the Bananas. from 2021-03-22T07:00
The old teaching story of the greedy monkey and the bananas illustrates many notions, including the idea that sometimes we have to let go of a desire in order to free ourselves. Get in touch: @gret...
ListenEp. 317: Do You Thrive with a “Sense of Urgency,” a Hack for Drinking Less Alcohol, and a Conversation about Just Work with Kim Scott and Trier Bryant from 2021-03-17T07:00
We discuss whether we thrive in an atmosphere with a sense of urgency, share a listener’s happiness hack for drinking less alcohol (without giving it up altogether), and have a conversation with Ki...
ListenLittle Happier: Who’s Happier? My Husband, Who Got His iPod Back, or Me, Who Retrieved It for Him? from 2021-03-15T07:00
One of the best ways to make ourselves happier is to make other people happier. I was made happier by my gesture of loving in tracking down my husband’s iPod than he was made happy by getting it ba...
ListenEp. 316: What Valuable Lessons Have We Learned from the Pandemic, a Hack to Fight Morning Grogginess, and a Question about a Rebel Teacher Who Doesn’t Read Emails from 2021-03-10T08:00
We discuss why we might ask ourselves, “What valuable lessons have I learned from the pandemic, now that a year has passed?” We also suggest an easy hack to shake off sleep inertia, tackle a listen...
ListenLittle Happier: The Memory of a Delicious Night of Sleep, Four Hundred Years Later from 2021-03-08T08:00
In the 1600s, Samuel Pepys kept a diary, and of everything he wrote about, including the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London fair, one thing that is remembered, so many hundreds of ...
ListenEp. 315: Sixth Anniversary! Our Most Popular Try-This-at-Home Tips, Happiness Hacks&Favorite Moments from 2021-03-03T08:00
In honor of our sixth anniversary—an unusual year, due to the pandemic—we look back at the previous year and highlight our favorite try-this-at-homes, happiness hacks, and favorite moments. Get in...
ListenLittle Happier: Yogi Berra Was Funny, and He Also Hit on Some Profound Truths from 2021-03-01T08:00
Baseball legend Yogi Berra was famous for the hilarious things he said. And in his own inimitable way, he captured some profound truths. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet i...
ListenEp. 314: Re-Engage with Your Resolutions, A Hack for Helping People to Give Gifts, an Outdoors Demerit, and Why Humor Is Such a Powerful Tool at Work and in Life. from 2021-02-24T08:00
We talk about the 21 strategies that can help us re-engage with our resolutions, discuss a hack about helping people to give gifts (to avoid disappointment), and talk to Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Ba...
ListenLittle Happier: How a Loose Piece of Popcorn in a Museum Inspired a Masterpiece from 2021-02-22T08:00
The brilliant children’s book From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was inspired when writer E. L. Konigsburg spotted a piece of popcorn on a chair in a period room at the Metropolit...
ListenEp. 313: Help People Not Disappoint You, a Hack for Reading More, a Talk with Deepa Iyer about Different Roles to Play in Social Change from 2021-02-17T08:00
We talk about how and why it’s a good idea to help people not disappoint us, share a reader suggestion about how to read more, and Deepa Iyer explains her map for social change. Get in touch: @gret...
ListenLittle Happier: It’s a Lot of Work to Make Friendly Gestures, But We All Have to Try. from 2021-02-15T08:00
Whenever I think about the work that it takes to try to be friendly, I remember a funny story from my daughter’s childhood. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on In...
ListenEp. 312: Confront a Clutter-Related Conflict, a Hack for Having Fun, and Using the Four Tendencies Framework to Get Chores Done from 2021-02-10T08:00
We discuss why you might confront a clutter-related conflict, how to use the Four Tendencies personality framework to help tackle clutter and chores, and talk Anne Mercogliano about a fun acvtivity...
ListenLittle Happier: A Beautiful Image: A Cabin in the Woods, with Flowers Growing Close to Its Walls from 2021-02-08T08:00
I’m haunted by an image from Erling Kagg’s book Walking One Step at a Time, when he describes a cabin in the wood where the owner had carefully arranged that no footpaths would appear, so that it s...
ListenEp. 311: Find a Manifestation of Your One-Word Theme, an Easy Hack to Spark Happy Memories, and a Conversation with Ron Lieber about the Price You Pay for College from 2021-02-03T08:00
We share listeners’ suggestions about creative ways to create physical representations of our one-word themes for 2021, discuss an extremely easy, fun hack for bringing happy memories to life, and ...
ListenLittle Happier: A Question That Seemed to Make No Sense Was in Fact a Declaration of Love from 2021-02-01T08:00
Sometimes, gestures of love don’t look the way we expect. I found it wonderful to think that, many years after this time has passed, the writer realized what she’d been witnessing. Get in touch: @g...
ListenEp. 310: Very Special Episode! Great Hacks, Tips, Tools, and Suggestions About How to #Read21in21. from 2021-01-27T08:00
In this Very Special Episode, we share hacks, strategies, and tools from listeners—and our own experience—about how to get more reading done in 2021. #Read21in21 is underway. Get in touch: @gretche...
ListenLittle Happier: Some of My Favorite Proverbs About Parenthood. from 2021-01-25T08:00
I love aphorisms, proverbs, true rules, and Secrets of Adulthood, and I offer some of my favorite proverbs for parenthood. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Ins...
ListenEp. 309: Heed a Suggestion, Look Better on Zoom, and a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Brilliant Ideas for “21 for 21” Lists. from 2021-01-20T08:00
We discuss why you should heed someone’s suggestion, take a deep dive into listeners’ imaginative ideas for their “21 for 2021” lists, and reveal a hack to help us look better on Zoom (and perhaps ...
ListenLittle Happier: An Ancient Story Is a Reminder that We Can Hurt People When We Try to Force Them to Fit into Our Model. from 2021-01-18T08:00
The famous Greek myth of the Bed of Procrustes illustrates the principle that we shouldn’t try to pressure everyone to fit into a single approach. No bed fits every traveler; we can hurt people whe...
ListenEp. 308: Tackle Your Email for One Hour, A Hack for Dealing with Photo Clutter, and an Interview with Gary Taubes About “The Case for Keto.” from 2021-01-13T08:00
We discuss why spending one hour managing our email inbox can give us a happiness boost, highlight a listener hack about clearing out the photos on our phones, and interview award-winning journalis...
ListenLittle Happier: I Can’t Blame the Internet, or, The World Has Changed, But I Have Also Changed. from 2021-01-11T08:00
When I feel distracted or overwhelmed, I remind myself that I can’t blame the internet. If I want a life with more time for calm and reflection, I need to create it for myself. Get in touch: @gretc...
ListenEp. 307: We Reveal Our “21 for ‘21” Lists, Discuss a Hack for Staying in Touch, and Give a Gold Star to a Documentary from 2021-01-06T08:00
We reveal our “21 for 2021” lists, discuss an easy hack for staying in touch with people long-distance, and Elizabeth gives a gold star to a great music documentary. Registration is still open for ...
ListenLittle Happier: To Calm Myself, I Imagine a Traffic Light in a Thunderstorm. from 2021-01-04T08:00
When I’m feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unhappy, I sometimes conjure up an image in my mind—an oak tree in Iowa, or a traffic light in a thunderstorm—to help me to feel calmer. Get in touch: @gre...
ListenEp. 306: Choose Your One-Word Theme for 2021, a New Year’s Hack, and Listeners’ Suggestions for Ways to Show Love and Support from Far Away from 2020-12-30T08:00
We choose our one-word themes for the year, and encourage listeners to choose their own theme for 2021, we discuss a hack for heading into the new year (plus a bonus wrapping-paper hack), and liste...
ListenLittle Happier: What We See Depends Very Much on Where We Stand. from 2020-12-28T08:00
As several examples illustrate, it’s easy to forget that the way we see the world is very much shaped by our own perspective. One person’s reason for taking medication is another person’s negative ...
ListenEp. 305: We Share Listeners’ Success Stories from “Walk 20 in 2020” and Reveal Our Challenge for 2021 from 2020-12-23T08:00
As 2020 draws to a close, we share many terrific success stories from listeners about their experiences following the “Walk 20 in 2020” challenge, and we reveal our challenge for 2021. (Hint: It’s ...
ListenLittle Happier: After His Death, Actor Yul Brynner Made an Unforgettable Plea. from 2020-12-21T08:00
The simplicity and power of Yul Brynner’s anti-smoking ad, aired after his death, makes it unforgettable. This ad transformed his suffering into a story that could save the lives of others. Get in ...
ListenEp. 304: We Reveal How We Did with Our “20 for 2020” Lists, Plus a Hack for Not Forgetting Items. from 2020-12-16T08:00
We review our “20 for 2020” lists and reveal what we did—and didn’t—get done in this strange year. We also talk about an easy hack to avoid leaving something behind, and Elizabeth gives herself a d...
ListenLittle Happier: The Lesson I Learned from the Thumbtack in My Shoe. from 2020-12-14T08:00
I had a pain in my foot, and I blamed my foot—until a friend pointed out that I had a tack in my shoe. Whenever I get frustrated, I remind myself that I shouldn’t be too quick to hold myself respon...
ListenBonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part II. from 2020-12-11T08:00
As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many people have a general impression of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge...
ListenBonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part I. from 2020-12-10T08:00
As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many people have a general impression of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge...
ListenEp. 303: Find a Ritual to “Exorcise 2020,” a Sleep Hack, and Tips for Sticking to a Schedule When Working from Home from 2020-12-09T08:00
We discuss why you might want to create a ritual to “Exorcise 2020” and share terrific suggestions from listeners, and our own ideas, for how to bid farewell to 2020. We also talk about a tech -rel...
ListenLittle Happier: “To Succeed in Business, Plan to Publish Bestsellers Only.” from 2020-12-07T08:00
Book-industry people love to tell this old (probably apocryphal) story, because it illustrates the temptation, and the folly, of deciding that your plan for business success is to do only those ven...
ListenEp. 302: Revisit a Book You Remember from High School or College, Ask Yourself, “Is There a Food I Enjoy Only When It’s Made the Way My Family Makes It?” and Why It’s a Good Idea to Run Errands in the Morning from 2020-12-02T08:00
We suggest revisiting a book that you still remember from high school or college (and reveal the books that we plan to revisit), discuss a funny food-related Know-Yourself-Better question, and expl...
ListenLittle Happier: When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Appears. from 2020-11-30T08:00
When I articulate very clearly in my own mind what I’m seeking to learn, that’s when I start to see the teachers. Teachers are out there—it’s myself that I need to make ready, by acknowledging and ...
ListenEp. 301: Embrace an Attitude of Gratitude for What This Unprecedented Season Offers, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Personal Policies, and a Money Hack from 2020-11-25T08:00
We discuss why it’s helpful to embrace an attitude of gratitude for what this unprecedented Thanksgiving holiday offers; we do a deep dive into listeners’ useful personal policies; we share an easy...
ListenLittle Happier: If You Have a Fur Coat, You Don’t Need Snow Pants. from 2020-11-23T08:00
In the wonderful children’s book “Little Bear,” Mother Bear takes away Little Bear’s hat, coat, and snow pants so that he can be warm in the fur coat in which he was born. Get in touch: @gretchenru...
ListenEp. 300: Very Special Episode 300: Ask Us Anything! from 2020-11-18T08:00
With every 100th episode, we have a very special episode where listeners can ask us anything. We discuss how we were raised, how we prepare to record the podcast, tips for Obligers, why Elizabeth h...
ListenLittle Happier: In a World Full of Suffering and Injustice, Is It Morally Appropriate to Work to Be Happier? from 2020-11-16T08:00
We don’t have to choose between working toward being happier ourselves and working to increase the happiness of others. The two states reinforce each other. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gr...
ListenEp. 299: Review How You’re Doing in the “Essential 7” Areas for Habits, a Hack to Make Thanksgiving More Memorable, and an Interview with Chef Carla Hall about How to “Say Yes!” from 2020-11-11T08:00
Review how you’re doing in the “Essential 7” areas for Habits, a fun, easy way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and an interview with renowned chef Carla Hall about the power of food, why it’s important ...
ListenLittle Happier: What We Can Learn from Mark Twain’s Cat Who Sat on a Hot Stove from 2020-11-09T08:00
It’s important to make sure that we don’t learn the wrong lessons from pain, frustration, criticism, or failure. Like a cat, we want to learn not to sit on a hot stove—but maybe we still want to be...
ListenEp 298: Award Yourself with a Sticker, A Memory Hack, and a Conversation with Rachel Hollis About Dealing with Unexpected Challenges from 2020-11-04T08:00
Inspired by “I Voted” stickers, we discuss why you might award yourself a sticker to mark an important accomplishment, talk about a hack for remembering forgotten details, and talk to bestselling w...
ListenLittle Happier: Sometimes, Transcendent Forces Seem to Enter the World. from 2020-11-02T08:00
Sometimes, the transcendent seems to appear in the concreate, ordinary world—in a conversation, in an experience, or even in a person. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in ...
ListenEp. 297: Happier Podcast Book Club: Author Yaa Gyasi Talks about Family, Faith, Science, and Belonging in “Transcendent Kingdom” from 2020-10-28T07:00
We talk to writer Yaa Gyasi about her compelling bestselling novel “Transcendent Kingdom.” Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner Calm 30-Day SMS Challenge! You’ll get daily text messages with an audi...
ListenLittle Happier: A Pediatrician Shows How Well She Understands How Children Think. from 2020-10-26T07:00
My daughter’s pediatrician asked a question that showed how well she understand the way children’s minds work. Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner Calm 30-Day SMS Challenge! You’ll get daily text m...
ListenEp. 296: Establish Your Personal Policy, a Reading Hack, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Hidden Delights, and a Demerit That’s Common These Days from 2020-10-21T07:00
We discuss why you might want to establish your personal policy, I share a reading hack, we take a deep dive into listeners’ hidden delights, and Elizabeth gives herself a demerit related to the pa...
ListenLittle Happier: Building More Roads Won’t Relieve Traffic—Literally and Figuratively. from 2020-10-19T07:00
Despite urban planner Robert Moses’s attempts to relieve congestion on New York City’s road, the traffic just got worse. The lesson of “induced travel demand” is something that can apply in our own...
ListenEp. 295: Do Something Familiar in a New Way, an Easy Hack to Control Snacking, and a Conversation with Al Roker About Work and Life from 2020-10-14T07:00
We talk about why we should do something familiar in a new way, share a hack from a listener that makes it easier to control impulse snacking, and have a conversation with legendary broadcaster Al ...
ListenLittle Happier: On My Wedding Anniversary, It Makes Me Happy to Remember What a Nurse Said. from 2020-10-12T07:00
Jamie is the love of my life! I want to treat him that way, and so often, really, I don’t. But I try. It makes me happy to remember a time when, from observing us, someone assumed that we were in t...
ListenEp. 294: Imitate a Spiritual Master, a Hack for Toddlers, and a Conversation with Glennon Doyle About “Untamed.” from 2020-10-07T07:00
We talk about why you might imitate a spiritual master, discuss a listener’s hack for keeping a toddler safe, and talk to bestselling author Glennon Doyle about her new memoir, “Untamed.” Join my b...
ListenLittle Happier: Why You Should Never Knit Your Boyfriend a Sweater. from 2020-10-05T07:00
A college friend advised me, “Never knit your boyfriend a sweater,” and that’s turned out to be very wise advice. Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner Calm 30-Day SMS Challenge! You’ll get daily tex...
ListenEp. 293: Anticipate Pandemic Regret, an Easy Household Hack, and a Deep Dive into Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables from 2020-09-30T07:00
We talk about why now is a good time to anticipate the pandemic regret you might feel in the future; we discuss a simple, effective, household hack about opening doors; and we do a deep dive into l...
ListenLittle Happier: How Douglas Adams—Author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”—Gave Himself Confidence. from 2020-09-28T07:00
Teachers have enormous influence over our fates and our imaginations. Even a hugely bestselling writer like Douglas Adams took comfort in the words of his teacher.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podc...
ListenEp. 292: Create a Hidden Delight, a Hack to Encourage Exercising, and a Discussion about Accepting Something as a Gift vs. Paying for It. from 2020-09-23T07:00
We talk about why you might want to create a hidden delight, a listener suggests a hack for using clothes as a way to stick to an exercise habit, and we discuss a challenging question related to gi...
ListenLittle Happier: Sometimes, To Do a Simple Thing We Must Make a Huge Change. from 2020-09-21T07:00
The Oracle of Delphi told the people of Delos that they’d cure their present ills if they doubled the altar—because to double the altar, they must change their values. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
ListenEp. 291: Get Out of Your Storage Unit, a Hack for Reducing Unwanted Talk, and a Conversation about Relationships with Esther Perel from 2020-09-16T07:00
We talk about the benefits of getting out of a storage unit; we talk to relationship expert Esther Perel about love and work; and Elizabeth’s office treadmill-desk is finally set up. Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle Happier: When Do We Tell Other People What We Think They Should Do? Two Beautiful Examples. from 2020-09-14T07:00
In Mark Salzman’s memoir “The Man in the Empty Boat,” he gives not just one, but two, examples of times when one person is able thoughtfully to remind someone of painful duties, and that person rec...
ListenEp. 290: Very Special Episode: An Extravaganza of Hacks! Hacks for Relationships, Productivity, Pandemic, Clutter, Travel, and More from 2020-09-09T07:00
In this Very Special Episode, we present an extravaganza of listeners’ simple, concrete hacks that can help us make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle Happier: Trevor Noah: “We Tell People to Follow Their Dreams, But You Can Only Dream of What You Can Imagine.” from 2020-09-07T07:00
In his terrific memoir “Born a Crime,” Trevor Noah notes that “you can only dream of what you can imagine,” and tells the story of how his mother worked to give him a big imagination. Get in touch:...
ListenEp. 289: Ask Yourself, “Do I Already Own This?” How to Feel Better in Just Five Minutes with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and Our Next Book Club Choice from 2020-09-02T07:00
We discuss why it’s helpful to ask, “Do I already own this?” We also talk to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee about his new book, “Feel Better in 5,” and announce our next book club choice: Yaa Gyasi’s brilli...
ListenLittle Happier: Zora Neale Hurston’s Vision Shows How Mysterious the World Is. from 2020-08-31T07:00
In her thought-provoking memoir “Dust Tracks in the Road,” Zora Neale Hurston’s vision of her future reminds me of how mysterious the world is. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.c...
ListenEp. 288: Learn Something with a Beginning, Middle, and End, a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Second-Guessing Yourself, and a Spotlight on Brit Bennett from 2020-08-26T07:00
We talk about why it’s helpful (especially these days) to learn something with a beginning, middle, and an end; we explore the Know Yourself Better question of “Do you second-guess yourself in conv...
ListenLittle Happier: What Can You Do When You Live in a Crowded, Messy, Noisy House? from 2020-08-24T07:00
In a traditional Yiddish folk tale, a farmer complains about his crowded, noisy house—and his wise rabbi gives him a surprising solution. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet ...
ListenEp. 287: Steer Clear of Quicksand, Beware of Catastrophizing, a Whimsical Hack, and a Spotlight on Baratunde Thurston from 2020-08-19T07:00
We discuss why you should steer clear of quicksand, beware of the happiness stumbling block of “catastrophizing,” suggest an affordable, whimsical hack, and shine a spotlight on Baratunde Thurston....
ListenLittle Happier: Bryan Stevenson Points Out a Question: Are We There to Speak, or Are We There to Listen? from 2020-08-17T07:00
In his brilliant memoir “Just Mercy,” Bryan Stevenson makes the distinction: Am I invited someplace to speak, or am I invited to listen? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet i...
ListenEp. 286: September Is the Other January, Jay Shetty Explains How to Think Like a Monk, and a Spotlight on Colson Whitehead from 2020-08-12T07:00
Why we should remember that September is the other January; we have a conversation with podcaster and writer Jay Shetty about how to “think like a monk”; we suggest a surprisingly obvious kitchen h...
ListenLittle Happier: The More We Talk to Someone, the More We Have to Say. from 2020-08-10T07:00
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle: Book Six, he reflects on the counter-intuitive truth that the more we talk to people, the more we have to say to them. Get in touch: @gr...
ListenEp. 285: Why It’s a Good Idea to Create a Catch-All, a Spotlight on Virginia Hamilton, and a Conversation with Susan Burton About Her Brilliant Memoir “Empty.” from 2020-08-05T07:00
We discuss why it’s a great idea to create a catch-all to help boost creativity, memories, and inspiration, we shine a spotlight on children’s author Virginia Hamilton, and we talk to Susan Burton...
ListenLittle Happier: How Eating a Second Ice-Cream Cone Can Be an Act of Obliger-Rebellion from 2020-08-03T07:00
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s essay “Summer,” he perfectly describes an example of Obliger-rebellion that’s turned toward the self: he eats a second ice-cream cone in front of the envious eyes of his ch...
ListenEp. 284: Why Buying Isn’t Doing, a Deep Dive into Ways to Display Your Favorite Quotations, and a Spotlight on Harriet Washington from 2020-07-29T07:00
We talk about why we shouldn’t confuse buying with doing, reveal a happiness hack for staying in touch with grandparents, review listeners’ suggestions for displaying terrific quotations, and shine...
ListenLittle Happier: A Lesson Learned from the End of Life: Make Time for the People Who Matter Most from 2020-07-27T07:00
Eugene O’Kelley’s account of his experience of the end of his life is a reminder that our time and energy are limited, and we need to make sure to give them to the people who matter most to us. Get...
ListenEp. 283: Happier Podcast Book Club: Renowned Writer Ann Patchett Talks about Family, Forgiveness, and Memory in “The Dutch House”—and a Spotlight on Trevor Noah. from 2020-07-22T07:00
We talk to writer Ann Patchett about her powerful, compelling novel “The Dutch House.” Plus we shine a spotlight on Trevor Noah and his memoir “Born a Crime.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizab...
ListenLittle Happier: Habits Are the Invisible Architecture of Everyday Life from 2020-07-20T07:00
A passage from Christopher Alexander’s beautiful book The Timeless Way of Building is a good reminder of the importance of having habits that make our lives happier. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; p...
ListenEp. 282: Do Good to Feel Good, Bruce Feiler Suggests Two Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Manage Transitions, and a Spotlight on Octavia Butler from 2020-07-15T07:00
We discuss why one way to overcome COVID-19 listlessness is to do good for other people, explore some Know-Yourself-Better questions to help manage tough transitions with Bruce Feiler, and shine a ...
ListenLittle Happier: Do You Know the Famous Story of the Fox and the Sour Grapes? from 2020-07-13T07:00
One of Aesop’s most famous fables, and writer Virginia Woolf agree: it’s important to resist the temptation to deny the truth about what we really want. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretch...
ListenEp. 281: Start a Social-Issues Book Club, a Deep Dive into the Problem of Flaky Friends, a Hack for Great Quotations, and a Spotlight on Author Jason Reynolds. from 2020-07-08T07:00
We discuss why you might start or join a social-issues book club, we talk about ways to incorporate your favorite quotations into everyday life, we take a deep dive into the challenge of flaky frie...
ListenLittle Happier: Often, It’s the Small Gestures of Thoughtfulness that Make Us Feel Loved from 2020-07-06T07:00
A friend explained to me why her daily habit of making lunch came to have so much importance to her son. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenR...
ListenEp. 280: Very Special Episode: We Discuss Questions from Listeners about the Four Tendencies Personality Framework, and a Spotlight on Samantha Irby from 2020-07-01T07:00
For this Very Special Episode, Elizabeth and I discuss listener questions related to my “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework of Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels—plus a spotlight on e...
ListenLittle Happier: Someone’s Casual Comment Can Show Us an Entirely New Path for Ourselves. from 2020-06-29T07:00
Acclaimed writer Nnedi Okorafor describes how a friend’s casual comment redirected her life. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get th...
ListenEp. 279: Halfway Through 2020: Check In with Your #20for2020 list and #Walk20in20—and a Spotlight on “Just Mercy.” from 2020-06-24T07:00
The year 2020 is halfway over, so we check in with our “20 for 2020” lists and our “Walk 20 minutes in 2020” projects, and we talk about Bryan Stevenson’s brilliant memoir “Just Mercy.” Plus a hack...
ListenLittle Happier: Illustrator Quentin Blake’s Use of Negative Space Is a Reminder of Its Possibilities. from 2020-06-22T07:00
Illustrator Quentin Blake drew on the walls of a gallery exhibit—a great reminder that we shouldn’t overlook the possibilities of negative space. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podc...
ListenEp. 278: Why We Should Do Something, and a Conversation with Sofy Solomon about Lessons from Safer-at-Home in a Childhood Bedroom--and How to Make Systems More Just. from 2020-06-17T07:00
Why we should do something, a hack for measurement, and a conversation with Sofy Solomon about what we can learn about ourselves from spending time in our childhood bedrooms—and why we should treat...
ListenLittle Happier: We Really Don’t Have That Kind of Time. from 2020-06-15T07:00
In this era of the coronavirus, I find myself thinking often about a passage from Anne Lamott’s book “Bird By Bird”—and reminding myself, “I really don’t have that kind of time.” Get in touch: @gre...
ListenEp. 277: Schedule an “Empower Hour,” a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Confiding Secrets, and a Spotlight on Writer Nnedi Okorafor from 2020-06-10T07:00
Why you might schedule a weekly “empower hour,” how a dollar bill can come in handy, a spotlight on the writings of Nnedi Okorafor, and a revealing question about secrets. Get in touch: @gretchenru...
ListenLittle Happier: I Remind Myself: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature. from 2020-06-08T07:00
A proverb from computer programmers can help us remember that sometimes, our limitations and weaknesses can also serve as our strengths. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenEp. 276: Design Your Summer, Solutions to Create Sibling Harmony, and How Cornstarch Can Enliven a Boring Afternoon from 2020-06-03T07:00
We discuss why you might design your summer, how you can use cornstarch for a fun, science-based activity, and review listeners’ solutions for creating harmony among siblings. Get in touch: @gretc...
ListenLittle Happier: Have You Ever Been So Impatient to Get to the End That You Couldn’t Start? from 2020-06-01T07:00
Sometimes, we’re so eager for to reach the end that we can’t bear to start. It’s an irrational but real response. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touc...
ListenEp. 275: Choose a Magic Number, How an Ironing Board Can Make Working from Home Easier, and a Pandemic-Time Question to Ask Yourself from 2020-05-27T07:00
We discuss why you might want to choose a magic number, how an ironing board can help you work more comfortably from home, and explore a know-yourself-better question for pandemic times. Get in tou...
ListenLittle Happier: Can You Call Spirits from the Vasty Deep? Sure, No Problem. from 2020-05-25T07:00
A line from Shakespeare’s Henry IV summarizes a point that’s worth remembering: it’s not hard to put our words out into the world, it’s another thing to get a response. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...
ListenEp. 274: Change Your Life When You’re Changing Your Life, Hacks for Sibling Harmony, and a Deep Dive into COVID-19 Mantras. from 2020-05-20T07:00
We discuss why it’s often easier to change our lives when we’re changing our lives, we take a deep dive into COVID-19 mantras, and we discuss hacks for keeping harmony among siblings. Get in touch:...
ListenLittle Happier: This Nightly Ritual Gives Me the “New York City Feeling” During the Pandemic. from 2020-05-18T07:00
I get my “America Feeling”— more specifically, my “New York City feeling”--every night at 7 p.m., when we all cheer and clap for the people working on the front lines of the pandemic. Get in touch...
ListenEp. 273: Get Grounded in Your Body Through Your Senses, an Idea for a Quick, Inexpensive Gift, and a Conversation about Tough Times with Kate Bowler from 2020-05-13T07:00
We discuss how we can feel calmer by getting grounded in our body, through our senses; we discuss a gift that’s easy, inexpensive, and thoughtful, and Kate Bowler joins us to talk about how to stay...
ListenLittle Happier: My COVID-19 Song: “New York City, Lexington Avenue, Rush Hour.” from 2020-05-11T07:00
As I stood in the middle of the unnaturally deserted Lexington Avenue at rush hour, I felt, “This is the moment when I should begin to sing.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@...
ListenEp. 272: Make a “Power Hour After” list, a Conversation about Parenting with Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz, and Elizabeth Talks about No Alcohol April. from 2020-05-06T07:00
We talk about you might make a “Power Hour After list,” Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz joins us to talk about how to deal with common parenting challenges, and Elizabeth celebrates her completion of No Alco...
ListenLittle Happier: What’s the Best Time to Plant a Tree? from 2020-05-04T07:00
A famous proverb illustrates why now is the best time to start anything—because it’s the only time we can start anything. We have been nominated for a Webby Award. Please vote for "Happier with Gr...
ListenEp. 271: Make Lists to Make Memories, an Easy Way to Make Zoom Meetings More Fun, and a Discussion about Meditation with Dan Harris of 10% Happier. from 2020-04-29T07:00
We discuss why you might make lists to make memories, we talk about a fun, easy way to enliven Zoom meetings, and Dan Harris of 10% Happier explains how and why meditation can be helpful during the...
ListenLittle Happier: “I Love You as Much as the Salt in My Soup.” from 2020-04-27T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. This folk tale is a good remind...
ListenEp. 270: Very Special Episode with Advice for Graduates from 2020-04-22T07:00
We asked listeners for advice for graduates: What’s the best advice you ever got? What advice do you give to others--or that you wish you could give to your younger self? Plus suggestions for marki...
ListenLittle Happier: Michael Jordan Had a “Love of the Game” Clause from 2020-04-20T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. I love this example of an outst...
ListenEp. 269: Choose a COVID-19 Mantra, a Fun Way to Celebrate These Difficult Days, and Casey Schwartz Talks about “Attention.” from 2020-04-15T07:00
We discuss why you might pick a mantra for the COVID-19 situation, propose a fun way to celebrate while safe at home, and talk to Casey Schwartz about the challenge of paying attention. Get in touc...
ListenLittle Happier: A Loud Noise Woke Me Up from a Sound Sleep in a Mississippi Hotel—and Made Me Very Happy. from 2020-04-13T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. The sound of a train racing acr...
ListenEp. 268: Limit Yourself to One Option, a Self-Care Solution, and Chris Guillebeau Talks about “The Money Tree” and Creating the Work Life We Want from 2020-04-08T07:00
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. We discuss why you might limit yo...
ListenLittle Happier: How Do You Write a Letter of Recommendation for Someone You Can’t Honestly Recommend? from 2020-04-06T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. When he was asked to write an i...
ListenEp. 267: Write a Letter of Congratulations to Your Future-Self, Solutions to School Spirit T-Shirt Overload, and Why I Should Check My Calendar from 2020-04-01T07:00
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. We discuss why writing a letter o...
ListenLittle Happier: An Episode from the Life of Dr. Johnson Reminds Me to Do a Better Job of Staying Calm. from 2020-03-30T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. I was deeply moved by composure...
ListenEp. 266: Beware the Myths of Spring Cleaning, Rusty O’Kelley Explains How to Ace a Job Interview, and a Reminder about REAL ID . from 2020-03-25T07:00
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. How to do spring cleaning more ef...
ListenLittle Happier: A Dog’s Pleasure Can Remind Us All of the Joy of the Snow. from 2020-03-23T07:00
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. What a wonderful phrase! The jo...
ListenEp. 265: Give a Sensorium Gift, a Deep Dive into Suggestions to #Walk20in20, and a Conversation Hack from 2020-03-18T07:00
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. Why you should give a “Sensorium ...
ListenLittle Happier: The Joy of Listening to Music—Even for Someone Like Me. from 2020-03-16T07:00
I’m thrilled that the copyright laws mean that now I’m able to play this beautiful song—George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”—for listeners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...
ListenEp. 264: Keep a Stress Diary, Stop Rinsing Dirty Dishes, and Jordan Harbinger Explains How to Network Better from 2020-03-11T07:00
Why you might keep a stress diary, why you can stop rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and podcaster Jordan Harbinger explains how to network better. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...
ListenLittle Happier: Why We Should Be Polite to the Person Sitting Next to Us on the Airplane. from 2020-03-09T07:00
A story about Dick Bass and Neil Armstrong was a great illustration of an aphorism I wrote recently: Modestly and good manners can save us from a lot of embarrassment. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
ListenEp. 263: What’s Your “Guiding Question,” a Twist on “20 for 20,” and Bestselling Author Dan Heath Talks about a Better Way to Solve Problems. from 2020-03-04T08:00
Ask yourself, “What’s my guiding question?” an interesting twist on a “20 for 20” list, and we talk to bestselling author about his new book “Upstream.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraf...
ListenLittle Happier: “I Remember Feeling the Warm Relief of Knowing What My Future Was.” from 2020-03-02T08:00
This story from the life of the brilliant ad executive Mary Wells Lawrence is a great example of the fact that to discover the work that’s right for us, and to be able to pursue it, is one of the g...
ListenBONUS Episode: To Celebrate Our Fifth Anniversary, A Blast from the Past! Listen to Our Very First Episode. from 2020-02-28T08:00
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the “Happier” podcast, we’re presenting our very first episode, along with some commentary from us about everything that’s happened and what we’ve learned sinc...
ListenEp. 262: Fifth Anniversary Extravaganza! Our Favorite Moments from the Past Five Years from 2020-02-26T08:00
To celebrate Happier’s fifth anniversary, we look back on some of our favorite try-this-at-homes, big milestones, and funniest moments. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenLittle Happier: How Did This Stockbroker Make So Many Accurate Predictions? from 2020-02-24T08:00
Learning about a clever and successful financial scam reminded me of how hard it is to know what I don’t know. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch o...
ListenEp. 261: Improve Your Posture, a New Way to Celebrate Birthdays, and Tackling T-Shirt Troubles from 2020-02-19T08:00
I explain the back exercises we do to improve posture, a listener suggests a great way for an introvert to celebrate a milestone birthday, and we discuss the question, “Do you relax better at home ...
ListenLittle Happier: What’s Inconvenient for You Might Be Convenient for Me from 2020-02-17T08:00
A friend’s remark reminded me that even when we’re coming together, we’re all coming from different places. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @Gretch...
ListenEp. 260: In Honor of Valentine’s Day, Listeners Give Their Best Relationship Advice from 2020-02-12T08:00
For our Very Special Episode, we asked listeners for their best advice about strengthening relationships, and we talked to Lori Gottlieb, author of the bestseller “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone....
ListenLittle Happier: Why Pickpockets Benefit from Signs that Warn “Beware of Pickpockets.” from 2020-02-10T08:00
Beware of unintended consequences! Pickpockets use “Beware of Pickpockets” signs to pickpocket more effectively. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @G...
ListenEp. 259: Happier Podcast Book Club: Adrienne Brodeur Talks About “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me” from 2020-02-05T08:00
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Adrienne Brodeur about her page-turning memoir, “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenLittle Happier: Teacher Anne Sullivan Writes About Hellen Keller’s Moment of Profound Realization from 2020-02-03T08:00
In her 1887 letter, teacher Anne Sullivan recounts the moment when Helen Keller understood the secret of language. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: ...
ListenEp. 258: Try the “Pair&Share” Approach and a Conversation with “Yoga Girl” Rachel Brathen from 2020-01-29T08:00
Try the “Pair&Share” approach to have more fun while getting some exercise, a quick hack for making it easier to do unpleasant tasks, and an interview with “Yoga Girl” Rachel Brathen about happines...
ListenLittle Happier: Helen Keller Tells the Story of the Moment Her Life Changed. from 2020-01-27T08:00
Hellen Keller recounts the story of the extraordinary moment when she learned the meaning of “w-a-t-e-r.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @Gretchen...
ListenEp. 257: Don’t Try to “Mind-Read,” and Talking about the Joy of Movement with Kelly McGonigal from 2020-01-22T08:00
Why we shouldn’t try to “mind-read,” a reading hack to strengthen habits, and a conversation about “The Joy of Movement” with Kelly McGonigal. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenLittle Happier: The Fable “The Scorpion and the Frog” Warns Us to Stay Wary of the Dangerous Ones from 2020-01-20T08:00
The fable “The Scorpion and the Frog” reminds us not to trust a scorpion. No matter what argument it makes or what the situation is, in the end, it’s still a scorpion. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
ListenEp. 256: Use Up What You Have, and a Conversation about Stillness with Ryan Holiday from 2020-01-15T08:00
Why we should use up what we have, how to find the most efficient route, and a conversation with bestselling author Ryan Holiday about “Stillness is the Key.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizab...
ListenLittle Happier: From Writer James Agee: Could He Learn to Be the Kind of Person He’d Always Detested? from 2020-01-13T08:00
When his doctor told him that needed to quit drinking and smoking, James Agee wondered whether he could become the kind of person he’d always detested. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretche...
ListenEp. 255: We Reveal Our “20 for 2020” Lists as well as a Color-Related Hack, and Give a Happiness-Bully Demerit from 2020-01-08T08:00
We reveal our “20 for 2020” lists and discuss some great ideas from listeners, discuss a color-related hack to make it easier to find lost objects, and talk about some advice from our mother--about...
ListenLittle Happier: The Right Thing to Say When Someone Says, “Whom Do You Love More?” from 2020-01-06T08:00
One of my favorite parenting books, Faber and Mazlish’s “Siblings Without Rivalry,” explains the right thing to say to a child (or anyone) who asks, “Whom do you love more?” Get in touch: @gretchen...
ListenEp. 254: Choose a One-Word Theme for the Year, and a Tough Question about Neighbors from 2020-01-01T08:00
Why you might pick a one-word theme for the year; an idea for fun (but easy) date nights; and a tough dilemma involving a daily walk and neighbors who want to come along. Get in touch: @gretchenrub...
ListenLittle Happier: A Mystery: In Order to Find Something Precious, We Must Possess It Already. from 2019-12-30T05:00
In different ways, many people have expressed the very powerful and mysterious idea: In order to find something, we must possess it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in to...
ListenEp. 253: Fight Through Post-Holiday Haze and How (Really) to Keep New Year’s Resolutions from 2019-12-26T05:00
Fight through post-holiday haze, how to get more reading done, tackle the challenge of New Year’s resolutions—and an office-party demerit. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gre...
ListenLittle Happier: We Don’t Always Know What’s a Waste of Time, or What’s a Good Use of Our Time. from 2019-12-23T05:00
The career of a law-school friend reminded me of an important truth: it’s not always clear what’s a good use of our time. And it’s certainly not clear what’s a good use of other people’s time. Get ...
ListenEp. 252: Walk for 20 in ’20! Plus We Discuss “Power Hour” and Answering Frivolous Questions During Job Interviews from 2019-12-18T05:00
Let’s all walk for 20 minutes in 2020! The challenge is on! Plus a reminder to use Power Hour and Elizabeth gives a gold star to a “Fall Frolic.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podc...
ListenLittle Happier: A Different, Happy Way to Think About Exerting Our Willpower (a Task that Doesn’t Usually Sound Appealing). from 2019-12-16T05:00
Writer Christopher Isherwood remarked that he “raised his moral by asserting his willpower” by quitting smoking – a very interesting way to think about the benefits of habit change. Get in touch: @...
ListenEp. 251: Try the Eight Stones Method; Are You on Team “You Do You” or Team “Let’s All Join In”; and the Fun of Holiday Movies from 2019-12-11T05:00
Actor, singer, and writer Melissa Errico suggests the Eight Stones Method for creativity, the fun of choosing a family holiday movies, and we talk about the two philosophies of food encouragement (...
ListenLittle Happier: I Love to See Justice in Action, and I Love to See Virtue Rewarded. from 2019-12-09T05:00
I love hearing a story of justice in action, and also of virtue recognized and praised. Virtue doesn’t always get rewarded! It’s thrilling when it happens. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gre...
ListenEp. 250: Very Special Episode: We Review Our “19 for 2019” Lists from 2019-12-04T05:00
In this Very Special Episode, we review our “19 for 2019” lists and report on what we did—and what we didn’t do—on our lists for 2019. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretche...
ListenLittle Happier: You Can’t Protect Yourself from the Pigeon That’s Flying Overhead. from 2019-12-02T05:00
A funny episode from a long-ago family vacation is a great reminder that we can take all possible precautions, but we can’t protect ourselves from every eventuality. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; p...
ListenEp. 249: Happier Podcast Book Club: The Legendary Isaac Mizrahi Talks about Fashion, Family, and Self-Knowledge in “I.M.” from 2019-11-27T05:00
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Isaac Mizrahi about the role of family, fashion, and making his way in the competitive, high-stakes world of New York City in his acclaimed memoir I.M....
ListenLittle Happier: My Favorite Part of Going to the Philharmonic Isn’t the Music. from 2019-11-25T05:00
I realized that although I don’t have much of a taste for music, I love the sound of the possibility of music. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @Gre...
ListenEp. 248: Write an Aphorism, and a Deep Dive into Food Pushing from 2019-11-20T05:00
Try writing an aphorism, ways to use the UV index to protect yourself from the sun, and a deep dive into the question: “If you press others to take food and drink, why do you do it?” Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle Happier: More Great Advice from My Father—About How to Succeed at Work from 2019-11-18T05:00
When I got my first real job, my father gave me some advice that has proved to be very true. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.comGet in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the...
ListenEp. 247: Use the Solomon Paradox When Dealing with a Difficult Situation, and Would You Like to be a Twin? from 2019-11-13T05:00
Why you should think about the “Solomon Paradox” when you’re dealing with a difficult situation, how to respond to a Rebel who refuses to wear a seat belt, a hack for staying in touch with distant ...
ListenLittle Happier: Who Is the Main Character, Who Is the Supporting Character? from 2019-11-11T05:00
I realized that I often made the mistake of thinking of some people as main characters and some people as supporting characters. We’re all main characters, and we’re all supporting characters. Get...
ListenEp. 246: Have Your Words Ready, and a Conversation with Simon Sinek about “The Infinite Game” from 2019-11-06T05:00
When facing a tough situation, have your words ready, a hack related to email subject lines, and a conversation with Simon Sinek about “The Infinite Game.” Elizabeth gives herself a suitcase-relate...
ListenLittle Happier: At a Recent Dinner for Supreme Court Clerks, Even Longtime Lawyers Wanted This Table Gift. from 2019-11-04T05:00
At a recent event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the statute creating the Supreme Court clerkships, I got my “America feeling” when I saw that everyone in the room was eagerly taking home th...
ListenEp. 245: Avoid the Trap of the False Choice, and How to Eat Healthfully in the Face of Halloween Candy or Social Pressure from 2019-10-30T04:00
We discuss why it’s important to avoid false choices, and talk to Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig Urban about eating right when faced with Halloween candy or social pressure. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...
ListenLittle Happier: On “Game of Thrones,” Tywin Lannister Has the Right Thing to Say in a Difficult Situation. from 2019-10-28T04:00
I’m always looking for good examples of people finding the right words, and I was very struck by this example from a crucial scene from the TV show “Game of Thrones.” Get tickets for our last live ...
ListenEp. 244: Go Out in the Early Morning Sunlight and Brush Your Teeth After Dinner from 2019-10-23T04:00
Why it’s important to go outside into the sunlight, how brushing your teeth after dinner can help with night snacking, and a dentist demerit from Elizabeth. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabeth...
ListenLittle Happier: I Get Choked Up When I Hear the Song “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” from 2019-10-21T04:00
The song and the scene “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” is a reminder that our love for our country can burn brightly, even when events look very dark. Get tickets for our live podcast events ...
ListenEp. 243: Treat Yourself Like a Dog and How Obligers Can Resist Pressures to Indulge from 2019-10-16T04:00
Why you should treat yourself like a dog, why telling someone, “Calm down” is usually a bad idea, and ideas for Obligers who are trying to resist expectations that they eat or drink. Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle Happier: A Moment in the Life of JFK Illustrates How Hard It Is to Know Other People from 2019-10-14T04:00
An episode from the life of John F. Kennedy is a terrific reminder of the fact that we don’t know, we can’t really understand, what other people are thinking, why they’re doing the things they do, ...
ListenEp. 242: Buy Some Happiness, Plus Hacks for Taking Medication Regularly from 2019-10-09T04:00
We discuss why and how we can buy some happiness, do a hack round-up with terrific ideas for remembering to take daily medications, and tackle a listener’s question about her husband’s brewing Obli...
ListenLittle Happier: Novelist John Steinbeck and King Arthur Show Me How to Think Outside the Box from 2019-10-07T04:00
Novelist John Steinbeck’s decision to set his King Arthur story in the hazy “before” showed me a solution that I would never have devised—and taught me a great lesson. Get tickets for our live podc...
ListenEp. 241: Malcolm Gladwell Talks About “Talking to Strangers” Plus a Delicious, Healthy Hack from 2019-10-02T04:00
We talk to Malcolm Gladwell about “Talking to Strangers” and explore why taking a shower can boost your happiness, and I reveal the easy, new low-carb recipe I love. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @...
ListenLittle Happier: The Right Thing to Say to a Person Who Has Big Hopes from 2019-09-30T04:00
I remind myself and other writers, “There are many ways for a book to succeed.” And many ways for a vacation to succeed, or a college student to succeed. It’s a comforting thought, because it’s tru...
ListenEp. 240: Use the Emergency Kit for Anxiety, Worry, and Stress from 2019-09-25T04:00
For this Very Special Episode, we talk about the Emergency Kit for Anxiety—a long list of strategies to put to work immediately to manage anxiety, worry, stress, and fear. Get in touch: @gretchenru...
ListenBonus Episode: A Deep Dive into the “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework from 2019-09-23T07:00
Want to learn whether you’re an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel—and what that means? Gretchen gives a quick overview of her popular personality framework, and explains how you can use it to...
ListenLittle Happier: My America Feeling: I’m Grateful for the Sound of Many Languages from 2019-09-23T04:00
As a child growing up in Kansas City, I loved to listen to languages other than English, but I rarely had the chance—so I remind myself to feel grateful for hearing so many languages here in New Yo...
ListenEp. 239: Tackling Life’s Big Questions with Kate Bowler from 2019-09-18T04:00
Why you should make a concrete offer when someone needs a hand, how to break the ice using a simple button-maker, and a thoughtful conversation about life’s big questions with writer and podcaster ...
ListenLittle Happier: Like Oscar Wilde, Do You Find It Hard to Live Up to Your Blue China? I Sure Do. from 2019-09-16T04:00
Oscar Wilde famously observed: “‘I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.” What do you think he meant by that? Get tickets for our live podcast events in Seattle, Portland...
ListenEp. 238: Back-to-School Habits, and Marie Forleo Talks About How Everything Is Figureoutable from 2019-09-11T04:00
Strategies to help you and your family create good back-to-school habits, the fun of undertaking a library quest, and author and host of MarieTV Marie Forleo talks about happiness and productivity....
ListenLittle Happier: An Old and Famous Story about How We Can’t Outrun Our Fate from 2019-09-09T04:00
The ancient and haunting teaching story about “an appointment in Samarra” is a wonderful illustration of the inevitability of fate. Get tickets for our live podcast events in Seattle, Portland, San...
ListenEp. 237: #HappierLaborDay: What Career Aims Make Our Work Lives Happier from 2019-09-04T04:00
We can use the Labor Day holiday as a catalyst to think about making our work lives happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative. #HappierLaborDay Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethc...
ListenLittle Happier: The Musical “Song of Spider-Man” and the Problem of the Unknown Knowns from 2019-09-02T04:00
A memoir about the failure of the musical “Song of Spider-Man” is a sobering example of how sometimes, we choose not to know the things we know—with very bad consequences. Get tickets for our live...
ListenEp. 236: Stay the Course with Your Good Habits from 2019-08-28T04:00
Why you should stay the course with your good habits, the challenge of taking daily medication, and a return to a favorite question, “What’s your signature color?” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @e...
ListenLittle Happier: Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey Talk about Humility and Hubris from 2019-08-26T04:00
Back in 1992, Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey talk about pride, humbility, and hubris. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes related to this episode can be found in the...
ListenEp. 235: Talking Happiness with Bestselling Author Rachel Hollis from 2019-08-21T04:00
Why you might recreate a childhood menu, a conversation with blockbuster bestseller Rachel Hollis about how to be happier, and technology hack to help keep your phone charged. Get in touch: @gretch...
ListenLittle Happier: I Love an Emotion that I Call the “Varsity Team” Feeling. from 2019-08-19T04:00
I love being part of the “varsity team,” or witnessing a varsity team at work—and even knowing the phrase varsity team. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes related t...
ListenEp. 234: Try the SLANT Approach to Listen Better and How to Deal with a Sweetheart’s Unenthusiastic Support from 2019-08-14T04:00
Try the SLANT approach to help yourself listen and learn more effectively, an easy way to do a happiness-boosting good deed, and how to deal with a sweetheart who responds very unenthusiastically t...
ListenLittle Happier: What Friendships Tend to Stick? An Observation from Game of Thrones from 2019-08-12T04:00
In an interview, Game of Thrones’s John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) makes an important observation about relationships: hard times make strong friends. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCra...
ListenEp. 233: Get Rid of Your Wart (Literal and Metaphorical) and Connect Better with Friends from 2019-08-07T04:00
Get rid of your wart, an internet-related hack (is it just me?), and a question to help you figure out how to connect better with other people. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcas...
ListenLittle Happier: Churchill’s Life Proves that We Can’t Know What’s Good or Bad Luck from 2019-08-05T04:00
Winston Churchill reflects on his eventful life, and how impossible it was for him to discern what was good luck and what was bad luck. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and...
ListenEp. 232: Remember to Consider the Company that Someone Keeps from 2019-07-31T04:00
When entering into a relationship, consider a person’s existing relationships, how to deal with podcast overload, and like Gloria Vanderbilt, do you have a “rage to live?” Get in touch: @gretchenr...
ListenLittle Happier: Winston Churchill and “Game of Thrones” Illustrate the Same Observation About Power from 2019-07-29T04:00
Winston Churchill and Games of Thrones’s Lady Olenna illustrate the same point: when confronting a powerful and lawless foe, imagination matters. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft...
ListenEp. 231: Choose Your TV Theme Song from 2019-07-24T04:00
Choose your TV theme song; listeners give many suggestions about dealing with getting laid off; why you should wear a new item immediately; and Elizabeth discusses the happiness of humidity. Get in...
ListenLittle Happier: “If He’ll Do It For You, He’ll Do It to You”: My Daughter and Father Hit on the Same Truth from 2019-07-22T04:00
My daughter and my father hit on the same truth about dealing with people who play favorites: “If they’ll do it for you, they’ll do it to you.” Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft L...
ListenEp. 230: Happier Podcast Book Club: Lisa Brennan-Jobs Reflects on Growing Up as Steve Jobs’s Daughter in “Small Fry” from 2019-07-17T04:00
For our second Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Lisa Brennan-Jobs about the role of family, love, and identity in her acclaimed memoir Small Fry. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@Liz...
ListenLittle Happier: How the Gift of a Dollhouse Illustrates the Philosophy of Bertrand Russell from 2019-07-15T04:00
In giving the gift of a dollhouse, these loving grandparents illustrate a point argued by philosopher Bertrand Russsell: “To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happi...
ListenEp. 229: Spend 120 Minutes a Week in Nature and an Interview with Sheri Salata about “The Beautiful No” from 2019-07-10T04:00
Why you should spend 120 minutes a week in nature, a simple hack to make spending that time in nature more convenient, and an interview with former “Oprah” executive producer Sheri Salata about her...
ListenLittle Happier: What’s the Best Way to Persuade? The Sun and the North Wind Disagree. from 2019-07-08T04:00
One of Aesop’s most famous fables—the one about the Sun and the North Wind—illustrates the power of persuasion over brute force. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes ...
ListenEp. 228: Make Your Own Art and a Lesson from Mr. Rogers from 2019-07-03T04:00
Make your own art, a lesson about managing transitions from Mr. Rogers, and dealing with the relationship challenge of “excessive reassurance-seeking.” Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@Li...
ListenLittle Happier: Throughout My Life, I’ve Remembered One Line from the “Little Engine that Could” from 2019-07-01T04:00
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” may be a bit corny, but the fact is, I find myself repeating that line to myself. The Little Engine that Could put those words in my mind. Get in touch...
ListenEp. 227: An Interview with Comedian, Actor, and Writer Pete Holmes from 2019-06-26T04:00
Create a memory box, enjoy some luxury around your first cup of coffee, and an interview with comedian and author Pete Holmes. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Get the podcast s...
ListenLittle Happier: Reading Isaac Mizrahi Taught Me About Myself from 2019-06-24T04:00
Reading Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir I.M. helped me understand something about myself: my uncomfortable reaction to a work of art I admire. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and n...
ListenEp. 226: Celebrate the Summer Solstice by Re-visiting your One-Word Theme from 2019-06-19T04:00
Celebrate the summer (or winter) solstice by re-visiting your one-word theme for the year, an alternative office activity if you want to avoid being the Evil Donut-Bringer, and how to resist the te...
ListenLittle Happier: My Husband Jamie Taught Me a Wonderful, Memorable Lesson About Plans. from 2019-06-17T04:00
My husband’s willingness to change plans gave me a lovely memory—and taught me a valuable lesson. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes related to this episode can be ...
ListenEp. 225: Cultivate Your Casual Friendships from 2019-06-12T04:00
Cultivate your casual friendships, an interview with writer Ramit Sethi about money, and a terrific inexpensive gift to give. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Get the podcast sho...
ListenLittle Happier: How Do We Help? An Observation from the Life of the Creator of the Comic Strip “Cathy.” from 2019-06-10T04:00
This story from the life of Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the comic strip “Cathy,” is an example of how we can help people achieve their dreams for themselves. Sometimes. Get in touch on Instagra...
ListenEp. 224: Design Your Summer (Again) from 2019-06-05T04:00
Design your summer, manage the challenge of making transitions throughout the day, and why “the stewing is worse than the doing.” Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Get the podcast...
ListenLittle Happier: This Book Changed the Way I See the World. from 2019-06-03T04:00
Christopher Alexander’s book “A Pattern Language” changed the way I see the world; sometimes, at least in my case, it’s only through words that I can learn to see more clearly. Get in touch on Inst...
ListenEp. 223: Step Off a Cliff from 2019-05-29T04:00
Why you should step off a cliff, an interview with writer Ross Gay, and the fun of making the opposite of a to-do list. Want to watch the "Roadmap to Happiness"? Check your local PBS station listin...
ListenLittle Happier: Why Did Dolly Parton Identify More with Barbara Walters than Barbara Walters Identified with Her? from 2019-05-27T04:00
My fascination with Dolly Parton continues, and her answer to Barbara Walters in a 1977 interview is a good example of why we shouldn’t under-estimate people who are different from us. Get in touch...
ListenEp. 222: Go Someplace Alone from 2019-05-22T04:00
Why you might choose to go someplace alone, how to have a good conversation with a child, and listener suggests an easy, clever hack for remembering to bring items. Get tickets for Gretchen's book ...
ListenLittle Happier: One of the Greatest Luxuries? The Luxury of Giving a Gift. from 2019-05-20T04:00
In Sydney Taylor’s wonderful children’s book “All-of-a-Kind Family,” the girls’ father saw a way to give them a true luxury: the luxury of giving him a gift. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRub...
ListenBonus episode: Game of Thrones! Gretchen and Elizabeth Discuss and Speculate Before the Show’s Finale. from 2019-05-16T07:00
Is Arya Stark a Rebel? Will Cersei Lannister manage to keep the Iron Throne? And how about that coffee cup! On this special short bonus episode, Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss, debate, and speculat...
ListenEp. 221: Do You Yearn for a Re-Set? from 2019-05-15T04:00
Do you yearn for a re-set, how to look better in photographs, and using voice-to-text to make it easier to take notes. And announcing our next Book Club Choice: “Small Fry” by Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Ge...
ListenLittle Happier: Julia Child Makes a Profound Observation about Life in the Midst of Flipping a Potato from 2019-05-13T04:00
On her iconic 1960’s TV show, Julia Child drops a profound truth about human nature, in the middle of trying to flip a potato. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes re...
ListenEp. 220: Why We Should Deal with Something Negative Right Away from 2019-05-08T04:00
Deal with something negative right away, switch to electronic boarding passes if you still use paper, and a Four Tendencies break-down of the “Game of Thrones” characters. Get tickets for Gretchen'...
ListenLittle Happier: What Chef Julia Child Taught Me About the Nature of Enthusiasm and Happiness. from 2019-05-06T04:00
The life of Julia Child is a great example of the fact that sometimes, even when we can’t persuade people to take an interest in the things we love, we can sweep them along with our enthusiasm. Get...
ListenEp. 219: Very Special Episode: Going Deep into Giving Up with Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig-Urban from 2019-05-01T04:00
In this Very Special Episode, we go deeper into the try-this-at-home of “Give something up for a month” and talk to Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig-Urban about her new podcast “Do the Thing” and about th...
ListenLittle Happier: We Love Excellence--When We Can Recognize It. for Apr 29, 2019 from 2019-04-29T04:00
In this hilarious “Funny or Die” video by the musician Jewel, she goes undercover at a karaoke bar. It’s a good example of the fact that people do appreciate excellence, when they’re able to recogn...
ListenEp. 218: Invest in Your Identities from 2019-04-24T04:00
Invest in your identities, a way to respond to the “evil donut-bringer” at work, and listeners’ suggestions about how to help someone get through chemotherapy. Get tickets for Gretchen's book tour...
ListenLittle Happier: My Husband So Often Knows the Right Thing to Say from 2019-04-22T04:00
Sometimes when I complain, my husband Jamie reminds me, “This is what you wanted.” It’s comforting because it’s true. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes related to...
ListenEp. 217: Don’t Over-Consult from 2019-04-17T04:00
“Why you should stop over-consulting, a hack to make exercising more convenient, and a question for self-knowledge: When you’re upset, do you feel it in your body or in your head?” Get tickets for ...
ListenLittle Happier: The Opposite of a Profound Truth Is Also True. Even in Goth from 2019-04-15T04:00
It’s one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood: The opposite of a profound truth is also true. In goth, and in so much else. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes relate...
ListenEp. 216: Give Someone an Unusual Compliment from 2019-04-10T04:00
Give someone an unusual compliment, a hack to make it easier to leave the house, identify your favorite time of day, and Elizabeth reports on her battle with stress-eating. Get tickets for Gretchen...
ListenLittle Happier: Why the Children’s Book “Little Bear” Made Tears Come into My Eyes from 2019-04-08T04:00
One of our tasks as parents is to help our children remember themselves and their own past. I got tears in my eyes when I read the beautiful lines from the children’s book “Little Bear.” “Tell me a...
ListenEp. 215: Throw a Celebratory Party from 2019-04-03T04:00
Throw a celebratory party, the problem of feeling so worried about the future that you can’t enjoy the present, a question about ideas for healthy treats, and a happiness hack. Get tickets for Gret...
ListenLittle Happier: I’m Lucky to Have a Mother Who Is Lucky from 2019-04-01T04:00
I feel lucky to have a mother who views herself as lucky. It’s a beautiful atmosphere for a child to live in—even a grown-up child like me. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Link...
ListenEp. 214: Try Giving Up Something for a Month from 2019-03-27T04:00
Try giving up something for a month, a confession and hack related to leather pants, and a question for listeners: How do you help someone get through chemotherapy? Get tickets for Gretchen's book ...
ListenLittle Happier: A Friend’s Description of Herself Reminded Me of Who I Am from 2019-03-25T04:00
Sometimes, it’s other people who remind us of our deepest values, and the truest things about ourselves. I must read—but I needed a friend to remind me of that truth. Get in touch on Instagram: @Gr...
ListenEp. 213: Bonus Clutter-Clearing Tips: Find Out What Ideas Didn’t Make It into the Book from 2019-03-20T04:00
This week, we’ll talk about some bonus ideas for creating outer order and we’ll talk about an easy way to make it more fun to wake up in the morning.Get tickets for Gretchen's book tour and Happier...
ListenLittle Happier: This Mother Knew Exactly What Career Advice to Give from 2019-03-18T04:00
I’m often wracked by indecision when I’m asked to give advice or take action. I love this example of a mother who knew exactly what career advice to give her daughter. Get in touch on Instagram: @...
ListenEp. 212: Happier Podcast Book Club: We Talk About Family Secrets in Dani Shapiro’s Memoir “Inheritance.” from 2019-03-13T04:00
This week is a milestone episode for us. It’s our first Happier Podcast Book Club episode. We talk to Dani Shapiro about her memoir: Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love. Want to...
ListenLittle Happier: Would I Know the Way to Tell Right from Wrong? from 2019-03-11T04:00
As I read about the Enron scandal, I was relieved to see that one person could clearly articulate how to tell right from wrong. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and notes r...
ListenBonus Episode! An Excerpt from Gretchen’s New Book “Outer Order, Inner Calm” from 2019-03-08T08:00
This bonus episode features an excerpt from the audio-book of Gretchen’s new book “Outer Order, Inner Calm.” Order a copy of Gretchen’s new book OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM here: http://outerorderinn...
ListenEp. 211: Spend Time Individually with Family Members, an Ice Cube Hack, and Obligers’ Relationships to Accountability and Possessions from 2019-03-06T05:00
This week, we’ll talk about why you might try to spend time individually with each member of your family, and we’ll discuss an intriguing hack about using an ice cube to change your thoughts. We al...
ListenLittle Happier: Carrie’s Shoe Collection in “Sex and the City” Teaches an Important Lesson About Habits from 2019-03-04T05:00
If you’re trying to save money, does it matter if you splurge on one pair of expensive shoes? Probably not. What about two pairs? Three pairs? In the TV show “Sex and the City,” Carrie’s shoe colle...
ListenEp. 210: Very Special Episode: Clutter-Busting! from 2019-02-27T05:00
Elizabeth reveals the clutter-busting ideas from Gretchen’s book “Outer Order, Inner Calm” that work best to help curb her natural messiness, and we discuss Know Yourself Better questions related t...
ListenLittle Happier: From Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”--What Should We Fear More, Want or Ignorance? from 2019-02-25T05:00
Re-reading Charles Dickens’s story “A Christmas Carol” got me thinking about the question: What should we fear more, Ignorance or Want? Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Links and...
ListenEp. 209: Fourth Anniversary! Most Popular Ideas and Favorite Moments from 2019-02-20T05:00
It’s our fourth anniversary! We review our most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, Happiness Hacks, and favorite moments from the previous year. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin&@LizCraft Get ...
ListenLittle Happier: A Perhaps Apocryphal Story about Matisse--About Time and Mastery from 2019-02-18T05:00
This story about Matisse is probably apocryphal, but it’s a great illustration of an important point: a minute of effort may reflect a lifetime of practice. Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubi...
ListenEp. 208: To Fight Clutter, Beware the “Endowment Effect” from 2019-02-13T05:00
This week, we’ll talk about why you should beware the “endowment effect” as a way to combat clutter, and we’ll take a deep dive into listeners’ one-word themes for the year. We also discuss listene...
ListenLittle Happier: My Favorite Story from My Favorite Book About Parenting from 2019-02-11T05:00
The “juice story” reminds me how much we can shape our perceptions, and other people’s perceptions, by the way that we speak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 207: Elizabeth Reveals Why You Should Go to the Doctor from 2019-02-06T05:00
Why you should go to the doctor, meeting the challenge of decluttering a household—and announcing the first book for the Happier Podcast Book Club. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; po...
ListenLittle Happier: Ann Patchett’s Memoir Reminds Us of Why We Need to Take Care of Ourselves from 2019-02-04T05:00
Author Ann Patchett reminds herself that if she’s going to be of service to a friend, she must protect herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 206: What’s the Best Resolution You’ve Ever Made? from 2019-01-30T05:00
Why you might consider using gentle language, a gold star for “Winter of the Witch, a movie about magical pancakes, and listeners answer the question, “What’s the best resolution you’ve ever made?”...
ListenLittle Happier: The Supreme Court Building Gave Me the “America Feeling” from 2019-01-28T05:00
Every time I read the words “Equal Justice Under Law,” carved into the front of the Supreme Court building, I get the America Feeling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
ListenEp. 205: An Interview about False Identities with Abby Ellin from 2019-01-23T05:00
Follow a ritual of completion, how to pour more easily from a carton (a small but useful hack!), and an interview with Abby Ellin about her fascinating new book “Duped.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubi...
ListenLittle Happier: There’s Such Joy in Giving Delight from 2019-01-21T05:00
I saw the blockbuster movie “Avatar” back in 2009, and the only thing I remember is a look of pure joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 204: Put a Band-Aid On It from 2019-01-16T05:00
Why you should put a band-aid on it, consider “Me Time Tuesday,” and how to persuade a reluctant spouse to do more work. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; ha...
ListenLittle: Even Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Life Felt Rushed and Cluttered from 2019-01-14T05:00
We often assume that our new technology is making us feel rushed and overwhelmed, but perhaps it’s just really ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 203: Plan Your “19 for 2019” from 2019-01-09T05:00
We reveal our “19 for 2019” and “9 for 2019” lists and discuss some listeners’ suggestions and questions about making these lists. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrub...
ListenLittle: Eisenhower: To Do Some Work Well, We Have to Do Some Work Poorly from 2019-01-07T05:00
Eisenhower gave Nixon some helpful advice: to be excellent in some areas, we have to be willing to be mediocre in other areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 202 - Use the Checklist for Habit Change from 2019-01-02T05:00
Use the Checklist for Habit Change, how to encourage conversation with children, and the challenge of planning office birthday celebrations. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@g...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, What We Think Is a Weakness Is a Strength, and Vice Versa from 2018-12-31T05:00
Sometimes a weakness can be a strength, and a strength can be a weakness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 201 - Choose a One-Word Theme for the Year from 2018-12-26T05:00
Choose a one-word theme for the year, a talk with Chris Guillebeau, and what’s been your most significant resolution? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happi...
ListenLittle: Everything Would Be Easy, If It Weren’t For… from 2018-12-24T05:00
My mother observed sympathetically, “Everything would be easy, if it weren’t for people.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 200 - Our 200th Episode! Ask Us Anything from 2018-12-19T05:00
To celebrate our 200thepisode, we answer questions from listeners: do we ever fight, how do we record the podcast, when did we choose our careers, and more. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabeth...
ListenLittle : Do What You Love, and Then Your Friends Hire You from 2018-12-17T05:00
Do what you love, and then your friends hire you. It’s true for comedy-writers, and for everyone else, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 199 - Reflections on Our “18 for 2018” Lists from 2018-12-12T05:00
Evaluate your “18 for 2018” list, we reveal our own successes and failures with “18 for 2018,” plus a popular app for locating lost items.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gret...
ListenLittle: While the Power of Story-Telling Is Trendy Now, It’s an Ancient Idea. from 2018-12-10T05:00
It’s a truth too important to be new: we listen best when we listen to a story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 198 - Design Your Own “Happiness Project" from 2018-12-05T05:00
Design your happiness project for 2019, follow the five-second rule, and suggestions for dealing with the challenge of gift-giving. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenru...
ListenLittle: Is This Person My Judge, or My Champion? from 2018-12-03T05:00
Sometimes, the people we fear are judging us are willing to be our enthusiastic champions and sympathizers, if we give them the chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
ListenEp. 197 - Make a Plan to Read More in 2019 from 2018-11-28T05:00
Plan to read more in 2019, how to make it easier to follow complex instructions, and what to do when your sweetheart won’t store keys in the key bowl. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
ListenLittle: A Lesson from Waitressing: It’s Not About You from 2018-11-26T05:00
We often think that people are acting in response to what we’ve done or said, when in fact, they’re just behaving the way they usually do. And that can be comforting to remember. Learn more about y...
ListenEp. 196: Choose a Holiday Motto from 2018-11-21T05:00
Choose a holiday motto, give the “gift of a podcast,” and more ideas about drinking less alcohol and helping people face end-of-life tasks. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...
ListenLittle: Finding a Meaning, Such as Sacrifice, Can Transform Suffering from 2018-11-19T05:00
Viktor Frankl makes a profound point: When our actions and experiences have meaning, our suffering is lightened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 195: Do Something Scary from 2018-11-14T05:00
Why you should do something scary, what to do with your earbuds when you meet someone on the street, and how to schedule holiday visits with family. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenLittle: “The Salvation of Man Is Through Love and in Love.” from 2018-11-12T05:00
A passage from Viktor Frankl’s masterpiece Man’s Search for Meaning is a beautiful reminder of the significance of love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 194: Make an Introduction from 2018-11-07T05:00
Make an introduction, accountability strategies to keep people exercising, and how to deal with digital information hoarding. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.co...
ListenLittle: The Idea of “Negative Space” and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter from 2018-11-05T05:00
A visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter got me thinking about the importance of paying attention to “negative space.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 193: Have You Ever Felt Your Personality Slip? from 2018-10-31T04:00
Celebrate a personal anniversary, a hack that makes it easier to use a cell phone, and persuading people to tackle end-of-life tasks. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchen...
ListenLittle: A Puzzling Story from the Life of Pearl S. Buck from 2018-10-29T04:00
A thought-provoking story from the life of Pearl S. Buck’s missionary father raises many questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 192: The Problem of “You Cook, I Clean” from 2018-10-24T04:00
Why you should have people over, how to make time for your side hustle, and the challenge of the “you cook, I clean” approach Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.c...
ListenLittle: During a Difficult Family Discussion, Someone Knows the Right Thing to Say from 2018-10-22T04:00
These words are comforting because they’re true: you’re not that powerful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 191: Identify Your Pacesetter from 2018-10-17T04:00
Why you might identify your pacesetter, the value of creating a user-guide to yourself, and the common challenge of drinking less alcohol. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gre...
ListenLittle: Yet Another Piece of Advice from My Father from 2018-10-15T04:00
My father gave me excellent advice: if I think I might be ready for a change, I’m probably already long overdue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 190: Very Special Episode: Think About Your Body from 2018-10-10T04:00
For this Very Special Episode, we focus on the role of the body in creating a happier life, and we talk to Jake Knapp about how to focus on what matters. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcra...
ListenLittle: I Experienced the "America Feeling" in Normandy, France from 2018-10-08T04:00
During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the beautiful description in the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
ListenEp. 189: Make Life More Complicated from 2018-10-03T04:00
Why you might want to make life more complicated, the challenge of the (non) Quiet Car, and a question about hotels.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happier...
ListenLittle: A Stumble May Prevent a Fall from 2018-10-01T04:00
Little mistakes, little missteps, can help us learn and grow so that we don’t make bigger mistakes later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 188: Create a Personal Timeline from 2018-09-26T04:00
Why you might create a personal timeline, a deep dive into the "Facts of Life" book, and yet another treadmill-desk-related demerit. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchen...
ListenLittle: An 18th Century Story Makes Me Think About the Importance of Education from 2018-09-24T04:00
This story from the life of Samuel Johnson reminds us: “It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
ListenEp. 187: How to Find a Misplaced Object from 2018-09-19T04:00
Plan a short trip, how to find a misplaced object, and an interview with Bradley Tusk. Get in touch: @gretchinrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/187; 774-277-9336Le...
ListenLittle: Why Are You Living in New York City? from 2018-09-17T04:00
For decades, I’ve been haunted by a public-service poster I once saw in a New York City subway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 186: Create a Blues Bag from 2018-09-12T04:00
Why and how you might create a "blues bag," a reading-related hack for parents, and a deep dive on happiness at work. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happ...
ListenLittle: When People Give No Solace, We Can Turn to Nature from 2018-09-10T04:00
This beautiful song by Nina Simone is a reminder that when people give us no solace, we can turn to nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 185: Make a "Facts of Life" Book from 2018-09-05T04:00
Why you should make a "Facts of Life" book, how to deal with an outer-order related conflict, and a hack for telling left from right. Get in touch @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchen...
ListenLittle: Laurence Olivier’s Advice to Dustin Hoffman Works for Me, Too from 2018-09-03T04:00
The advice that Laurence Olivier gave to Dustin Hoffman is a good reminder for all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 184: Have a #HappierLaborDay from 2018-08-29T04:00
Just as New Year's Day prompts us to reflect on what we want from the coming year, Labor Day can remind us to reflect on how to be happier at work in the coming year. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
ListenLittle: It’s Good to be an Adult from 2018-08-27T04:00
It has its drawbacks, to be sure, but in general, it’s good to be an adult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 183: Consider Going into "Low Power Mode" from 2018-08-22T04:00
Go into "low power mode," how to deal with a soul-destroying app (again), and the benefits of taking a two-hour class. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; happiercast.com/183: 774-277-9...
ListenLittle: When We Give Ourselves Limits We Give Ourselves Creativity from 2018-08-20T04:00
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true: Imagination is often sparked more by constraint than by freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 182: Take a Scent Snapshot of Your Life from 2018-08-15T04:00
Take a scent snapshot of your life to boost your happiness, and Eliza describes facing the happiness stumbling block of leaving home for the first time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraf...
ListenLittle: A Beautiful Moment of Elevation from Winston Churchill’s Tears from 2018-08-13T04:00
When visiting a poor neighborhood during the London Blitz, Winston Churchill cried—“tears not of sorrow but of wonder and admiration.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
ListenEp. 181: Practice Reverse Gossip from 2018-08-08T04:00
Practice reverse gossip, an email-related hack, and what to do when someone raises the bar. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/181; 774-277-9336....
ListenLittle: You Don’t Have to Be Good at Something to Be Good at Something. from 2018-08-06T04:00
Dolly Parton and Paul McCartney are yet more examples of my Secret of Adulthood: You don’t have to be good at something to be good at something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
ListenEp. 180: Very Special Episode: Travel Hacks! from 2018-08-01T04:00
We got terrific hacks from listeners about how to make travel more convenient, comfortable, and fun—so many great suggestions about happier travels. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenLittle: A Lesson from Harry Potter About Knowing Who You Are from 2018-07-30T04:00
One of my favorite moments in the Harry Potter books is when Harry accepts his own nature, and his own strengths, to face his dragon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
ListenEp. 179: Make Each Day of the Week Distinctive from 2018-07-25T04:00
Make each day of the week distinctive, use videos to solve common problems like inserting contact lenses, and why is “18 for 2018” so fun? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gre...
ListenLittle: Artist Anne Truitt Describes Her Moment of Transformation from 2018-07-23T04:00
Artist Anne Truitt gives a remarkable description of her moment of transformation and recognition—she knew exactly when and why it began. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...
ListenEp. 178: Schedule a Weekly Playdate with Yourself from 2018-07-18T04:00
Schedule a weekly playdate with yourself, a hack for dealing with a child’s curfew, and what are some ways to deal with the distractions of an open-plan office?Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizab...
ListenLittle: “There Are Many Things that We Would Throw Away If We Were Not Afraid that Others Might Pick Them Up.” from 2018-07-16T04:00
I’m haunted by a thought-provoking observation from Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 177: What is Luxury for You? from 2018-07-11T04:00
Do the “ten minute closer” to help yourself make orderly transitions, what’s luxury for you, and how to deal with demanding neighbors—plus the mystery ofshoe size! Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @el...
ListenLittle: It’s Not as Glamorous as It Sounds. from 2018-07-09T04:00
One of the nicest features of human nature is the fact that people are interested in such different subjects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 176: An Interview with Hollywood Powerhouse Mark Duplass from 2018-07-04T04:00
Note the start date of any notable pain or symptom; suggest a window of time instead of a specific time; and interview with Hollywood powerhouse Mark Duplass, Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabe...
ListenLittle: Dolly Parton Describes the Difference Between a Wish and a Dream from 2018-07-02T04:00
Action, work, that’s the different between a wish and a dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 175: Do You Struggle with Procrasticlearing? from 2018-06-27T04:00
Beware of procrasticlearing, plan a nice little surprise, and tips on how to take notes while listening to podcasts. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercas...
ListenLittle: Schoolhouse Rock Gives Me the “America Feeling” and Taught Me the Preamble to the Constitution from 2018-06-25T04:00
Gold star and RIP to Bob Dorough, who made such a contribution to the world with his “Schoolhouse Rock” series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 174: Make Something by Hand from 2018-06-20T04:00
Make something by hand that you’d ordinarily buy, have a “Take My Stuff” party, and are you more interested in the event or in the company? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...
ListenLittle: There May Be a Very Good Explanation for That. from 2018-06-18T04:00
Sometimes, when people do things that seem inexplicable, there’s actually a very good explanation, if we take the time to find out what it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
ListenEp. 173: Is It a Good Idea to Work with Your Best Friend? from 2018-06-13T04:00
Why it’s useful to know your purpose, the challenge of taking notes while listening to a podcast, and Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings of “The Nod” podcast talk about working with a close friend. Get...
ListenLittle: I Love to See Virtue Rewarded from 2018-06-11T04:00
It’s wonderful to see people do a job well, and to extend themselves to help others—and then it’s even more wonderful to see that action recognized and rewarded. Learn more about your ad choices. V...
ListenEp. 172: Toss Unnecessary Papers from 2018-06-06T04:00
Toss unnecessary papers, invent your own holidays, remember that people don’t necessarily perceive the world the way that you do, and the fun of scratch-n-sniff.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliza...
ListenLittle: Yes, I Made a Dumb Mistake—But People Have Made Dumber Mistakes. from 2018-06-04T04:00
Even rocket scientists can make a simple math error. Mistakes happen. Nobody’s perfect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 171: Question Your Limiting Beliefs from 2018-05-30T04:00
Why we should question our limiting beliefs, how to create outer accountability for saying “no," and a hack using measuring cups. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubi...
ListenLittle: A Happy Story from the Life of Dolly Parton from 2018-05-28T04:00
It makes me very happy to think of these three great artists taking such delight in their own powers, and persisting in their vision for years, until they finally got to do what they wanted—and mad...
ListenEp. 170: Very Special Episode with an “18 for 2018” Update from 2018-05-23T04:00
We give an update on our progress (and lack of progress) in our “18 for 2018” lists. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/170; 774-277-9336. Learn m...
ListenLittle: Always Orient Yourself to North. from 2018-05-21T04:00
My New York City roommate gave me good advice for any city, and for many situations: “Always take a moment to orient yourself toward north.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...
ListenEp. 169: Use the Strategy of “Stop Talking” from 2018-05-16T04:00
Use the strategy to “Stop talking,” an interview about modern romance with Joanna Coles, and dealing with the end of a Season of Stress. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenLittle: “Even a Dog Distinguishes Between Being Stumbled Over and Being Kicked.” from 2018-05-14T04:00
Oliver Wendell Holmes’s observation about dogs helps to clarify a very important distinction in human relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 168: ”Remember, This Is Supposed to Be Fun” from 2018-05-09T04:00
Why you might remind yourself, “Remember, this is supposed to be fun,” two podcast-related hacks to help you fall asleep, and why it’s useful to think about whether you enjoy talking shop. Get in t...
ListenLittle: A Lesson I Have to Learn Over and Over. from 2018-05-07T04:00
I keep learning this lesson, again and again. The days are long, but the years are short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 167: Be a Tourist in Your Own Home from 2018-05-02T04:00
Be a tourist in your own home, how to deal with a Season of Stress, and how you can create an “empty shelf” in your smart-phone. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin...
ListenLittle: The Statue of Liberty and My “America Feeling” from 2018-04-30T04:00
I never take for granted the sight of the majestic Statue of Liberty, and it gives me my “America feeling” every time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 166: Watch Old Video Clips from 2018-04-25T04:00
Watch old video clips of celebrities, put-downers vs. put-awayers, and would you rather take one long vacation or several short ones? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchen...
ListenLittle: Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination from 2018-04-23T04:00
It’s easy to be fooled! But working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination, because working makes it easier to justify avoiding the task that’s the real priority. Learn more about yo...
ListenEp. 165: Have a Power Down Weekend from 2018-04-18T04:00
Have a Power Down Weekend, Sit on the Floor, and an Interview with Liz Dolan about Workplace Happiness. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/165; 77...
ListenLittle: Lead Us by the Hand to Those We Are Looking For from 2018-04-16T04:00
For years, Flannery O’Connor’s prayed to Saint Raphael, and her prayer led me to realize how much we want to be led “toward those we are waiting for.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...
ListenEp. 164: Don’t Assign or Accept Homework from 2018-04-11T04:00
Don’t assign or accept homework, write an “unhappy list,” and a fun way to deal with a big milestone birthday. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/...
ListenLittle: Alas, There Are No Wizards. from 2018-04-09T04:00
My father gave me some very valuable advice: There are no wizards. There are no magical fixers. If I care about something, I have to stay involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...
ListenEp. 163: Set a Weekly Phone Date from 2018-04-04T04:00
Set a weekly phone date, why dogs make great accountability partners, how stickers can solve an annoying problem, and the challenge of staying happier during a period of intense stress. Get in touc...
ListenLittle: Now Is Now, and Now Is Already a Long Time Ago. from 2018-04-02T04:00
The last paragraphs of my book Happier at Home reflection something I learned from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a...
ListenEp. 162: Write It Down. Really. from 2018-03-28T04:00
Why you really should write something down, a system to allow two Obligers to create accountability as a couple, and a solution for unwanted prescription medication. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @...
ListenLittle: The Investor Is Wise Who Diversifies. Also True for Non-Investors. from 2018-03-26T04:00
In law school, my Business Administration professor told us, “The investor is wise who diversifies,” and it’s a point that’s true in many situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...
ListenEp. 161: Embrace the Cheese from 2018-03-21T04:00
Why you might “embrace the cheese,” a low-stress variety of book group, and the question of what to do with a Magic Hour. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happi...
ListenLittle: No Hard Feelings. These Things Happen. from 2018-03-19T04:00
When a person screws up, it’s very helpful to say, “No hard feelings. These things happen.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 160: Very Special Episode! Live from Elizabeth’s Cluttered Home Office. from 2018-03-14T04:00
Gretchen and Elizabeth meet in Elizabeth’s home office to clear some clutter. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/75; 774-277-9336.Learn more about...
ListenLittle: From Rob Lowe: Sometimes You Have to Get Fired to Get Hired from 2018-03-12T04:00
We never know what’s good luck and what’s bad luck. Actor Rob Lowe illustrates this truth with a story about Amy Adams’s career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 159: Do Something Badly from 2018-03-07T05:00
Decide to do something badly, an interview with Adam Grant about his WorkLife podcast, and tips for dealing with the upheaval of a renovation. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenLittle: It’s Fun to Have Fun, But You Have to Know How from 2018-03-05T05:00
Throughout the ages, wise observers from Samuel Butler to Dr. Seuss have noted that it’s not as easy to have fun as you might expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
ListenEp. 158: Create a Standardized Vacation from 2018-02-28T05:00
Why you might create a standardized vacation, a deep dive into the challenge of wearing “clothes,” and how to use unpairing to control a bad habit.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; pod...
ListenLittle: Ever Thought, “It Doesn’t Make Any Difference If I Go to the Gym Today”? from 2018-02-26T05:00
To form habits, we need to focus on the “growing heap,” rather than the “one-coin” – terms that take their meaning from the “Argument of the Growing Heap.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...
ListenEp. 157: Third Anniversary! Our Most Popular Try-This-at-Home Tips, Happiness Hacks&Favorite Moments. from 2018-02-21T05:00
To celebrate our third anniversary, we highlight our most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, Happiness Hacks, and favorite moments. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin;...
ListenLittle: “I Sell Beer to Them as Wants It. I Ain’t Making Nobody Drink It.” from 2018-02-19T05:00
One of my favorite passages from one of my favorite novels is a beautiful example of virtue rewarded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 156: Kiss in the Morning, Kiss at Night from 2018-02-14T05:00
Why you might try having a kissing schedule, an easy way to make it easier to put down your phone, and discussion of Obliger accountability and conflicts about messiness. Get in touch: @gretchenrub...
ListenLittle: What I Do Every Day Matters More Than What I Do Once in a While from 2018-02-12T05:00
I remind myself that what I do every day matters more than what I do once in a while—which means that an occasional slip-up is fine, and also that rare heroic efforts don’t matter much over the lon...
ListenEp. 155: Choose a Signature Scent from 2018-02-07T05:00
Choose a signature scent, a before-and-after story about losing weight, and a great way to remember your theme for the year.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; hap...
ListenLittle: That’s Okay, Buddy from 2018-02-05T05:00
Sometimes, when I’m pushing myself too hard, I remember a funny moment from the Mary Poppins show on Broadway. When the set broke down, the boy playing Michael kept on with the show, until a deep v...
ListenEp. 154: Wear “Clothes” Every Day from 2018-01-31T05:00
Wear clothes every day (!) and an interview about parenthood with Tanya Coke. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/154; 774-277-9336. Learn more abo...
ListenLittle: Whatever You Do, You Will Still Be You from 2018-01-29T05:00
When I was feeling uncertain about the future, a respected boss reassured me with an obvious yet profound observation: “Remember, whatever you do, you will still be you.” Learn more about your ad c...
ListenEp. 153: This Is Actually Good for Me. from 2018-01-24T05:00
Try saying, “This is actually good for me,” a great hack for quitting an addictive app, how Rebels (and others) can keep resolutions, and a terrific before-and-after story.Get in touch: @gretchenru...
ListenLittle: A Cure for Feeling Annoyed About Clutter? Remember Love from 2018-01-22T05:00
When your parents are driving you crazy because they’ve kept every piece of your schoolwork, all the way back to kindergarten, or when you’re driving yourself crazy because you can’t bring yourself...
ListenEp. 152: Deep Dive into “18 for 2018” from 2018-01-17T05:00
Create a consistent body of work, use the Flic app to manage your photos, and a deep dive into the “18 for 2018” lists.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happierc...
ListenLittle: Don’t Know What Will Happen in the Future? Try to Understand Now from 2018-01-15T05:00
A professional futurist pointed out, “We know we can’t predict the future, so we try to understand what’s happening NOW. If you understand now, you learn a lot about the future.” Learn more about y...
ListenEp. 151: Keep a Running List of Your Favorite Things from 2018-01-10T05:00
Keep a running list of your favorite things, identify your one-word theme for 2018, and how Obligers can create accountability even if they want to keep resolutions private. Get in touch: @gretche...
ListenLittle: You Will Say Good-Bye to Your Child Many Times from 2018-01-08T05:00
I’ve never forgotten the words of the pre-school director who told me, “This is the first of many times that you will say good-by to your children.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
ListenEp. 150: Gretchen and Elizabeth Unplugged from 2018-01-03T05:00
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenLittle: We’ve Had Our Dog Barnaby Always from 2018-01-01T05:00
Here’s the thing about love: it’s easy to see how it stretches into the future, but the funny thing is, it also changes the past. We’ve had Barnaby always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...
ListenEp. 149: "18 for 2018" and Roz Chast Interview from 2017-12-27T05:00
Plan your "18 for 2018" and an interview with legendary cartoonist and writer Roz Chast. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com; 774-277-9336. Lea...
ListenLittle: Everyday Life in Utopia from 2017-12-25T05:00
After watching the movie Lost Horizon, my daughter Eleanor gave a brilliant title to her “sequel”: Everyday Life in Utopia. That’s my life motto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...
ListenEp. 148: Use the Checklist for Habit Change for 2018 from 2017-12-20T05:00
Use the "Checklist for Habit Change" to help you change your habits in 2018, plus many holiday hacks from listeners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happie...
ListenLittle: Three Words for Success: “No Matter What” from 2017-12-18T05:00
Actor Niecy Nash explained that she made a career in Hollywood by promising herself that she’d do whatever was necessary to succeed, “No matter what.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...
ListenEp. 147: 18 for 2018 from 2017-12-13T05:00
Make a list of "18 for 2018," the challenge of in-laws who want to fill your empty closets with their clutter, and an instagram-related project. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podca...
ListenLittle: Am I Wasting My Youth? from 2017-12-11T05:00
It’s not always possible to decide whether one course of action is a waste of time or not—nevertheless, it’s an important question to consider. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...
ListenEp. 146: Introduce a Note of Whimsy from 2017-12-06T05:00
Introduce a note of whimsy, use color to connect to the moment, and a four Tendencies talk with By The Book's Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenLittle: Do Good, Feel Good from 2017-12-04T05:00
A friend told me that during a tough time, “she’d been practically addicted to doing good deeds.” One of the best ways to make ourselves happy is to make other people happy; one of the best ways to...
ListenEp. 145: Try These Happier Holiday Hacks from 2017-11-29T05:00
We suggest a long list of hacks to make the holidays a happier time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/145; 774-277-9336, Learn more about yo...
ListenLittle: Reframing Helped Me Feel Lucky Instead of Resentful from 2017-11-27T05:00
My mother helped me to reframe a situation so I felt lucky, rather than resentful, at my husband’s lack of interest in our renovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
ListenEp. 144: Be Willing to Delegate from 2017-11-22T05:00
Be willing to delegate, how a Rebel child started to cry less in class, and is it possible to make yourself happier?Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast...
ListenPanoply Fall 2017 Trailer from 2017-11-20T17:00
We’re thrilled to present Panoply’s Fall 2017 lineup of shows. They include the satirical self-improvement show “Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You (And You Can Be Too),” the creepy paranormal series ...
ListenLittle: Tell Me What You Want for Dinner from 2017-11-20T05:00
Sometimes, when we’re very specific about what we want, we help others to enjoy the pleasure of giving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 143: Down with Boredom from 2017-11-15T05:00
Why you should say "down with boredom," try asking this extremely useful question, and an interview with Jancee Dunn about marriage. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenr...
ListenLittle: A Happiness Reminder from E. B. White’s Masterpiece “Charlotte’s Web” from 2017-11-13T05:00
I love the opening passage from “Charlotte’s Web,” E. B. White’s masterpiece of children’s literature. It’s a great reminder that an ordinary day can remind us of the most transcendent values. Lear...
ListenSide Hustle School: 13-Year-Old Australian Creates Schoolyard Lollipop Fortune from 2017-11-10T07:00
Thanks to Chris Guillebeau for sharing this episode of Side Hustle School with the Happier feed. If you like it, please subscribe to Side Hustle School in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you...
ListenEp. 142: Schedule Some Daily Transcendence from 2017-11-08T05:00
Schedule some daily transcendence, skip the bad parts, and a conversation with Lewis Howes. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/142; 774-277-93...
ListenLittle: “I Always Loved a Snow Day” from 2017-11-06T05:00
When I told my friend Kim Scott that I was sorry that it looked like heavy snow was going to interfere with her book party for her book “Radical Candor,” she told me “I always loved a snow day.” Le...
ListenEp. 141: Find Your Oasis from 2017-11-01T04:00
Why you should find an oasis, whether talking to a rebel child in in his or her own language is actually coddling, and how wisely to plan an exception to a good habit. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
ListenLittle: A Good Example is More Compelling than Good Advice from 2017-10-30T04:00
A teaching story about Torah study from Wendy Mogel’s book “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee” is a terrific reminder that a good example is more compelling than good advice. Learn more about your ad ...
ListenEp. 140: It's More Important to Say Something Than the Right Thing from 2017-10-25T04:00
In this Very Special Episode, we hear from listeners on what they consider the best and worst things to say in different situations. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenr...
ListenLittle: Don’t Wait Until You’re Moving Out to Clean Your Apartment from 2017-10-23T04:00
During our senior year of college, a friend made a remark that I’ve always remembered: don’t wait until you’re moving out to clean your apartment. After it’s clean, you realize how nice it was all ...
ListenEp. 139: Be Full of Desire But Easy To Please from 2017-10-18T04:00
How to be a good guest, what to do if you don't want to act as an accountability partner - and Elizabeth grills for the first time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenru...
ListenLittle: Frequency Is More Important than Duration from 2017-10-16T04:00
When I was talking to my father about whether my family should make a very short trip to Kansas City, he made a very wise observation: frequency is more important than duration. Learn more about yo...
ListenEp. 138: Always Leave Some Room in the Suitcase from 2017-10-11T04:00
Always leave some room in the suitcase, the stress of giving a toast, and what to bring to the office if you don't want to be the evil donut-bringer. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenLittle: Too Early, Too Early, Too Early—Too Late, Too Late, Too Late from 2017-10-09T04:00
It’s often easy to assume that now isn’t the right time—but the best time to do something is now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 137: Gretchen Visits Elizabeth on the Disney Lot from 2017-10-04T04:00
It’s “Take Your Sister to Work Day!” Gretchen visits Elizabeth at her office in Burbank. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/138; 774-277- 9336...
ListenLittle: People Succeed in Groups from 2017-10-02T04:00
My sister the sage Elizabeth told me that “People succeed in groups.” I think that’s objectively true, and in any event, it’s a helpful thought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
ListenEp. 136: Don't Fall into "Empty" from 2017-09-27T04:00
Why it's helpful not to let yourself fall into "empty," how a smartphone can be a memory aid, and dealing with the common challenge of photo anxiety. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenLittle: Reading Memoirs Reminds Me to Cut People Slack from 2017-09-25T04:00
I’ve read many memoirs written by people I know in real life. And it always reminds me of a very important truth: we should always cut people slack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
ListenEp. 135: Plan a Virtual Move, 2.0 from 2017-09-20T04:00
Plan a virtual move 2.0, the satisfaction of finding the perfect solution to even a small problem, and a brief conversation with writer Ann Brashares, who made a listener very happy. Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle: “An Investor Is Wise Who Diversifies”—True in Many Situations from 2017-09-18T04:00
Some rhyming advice I learned in law school turns out to apply in many situations in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 134: Write a "Ta-Da" List from 2017-09-13T04:00
Write a ta-da list, use the app Podsearch to discover great new podcasts, and ask yourself "What is my level of ambition?" Get in touch: @gretchenrubin.com; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; ...
ListenLittle: It’s Right to Do the Right Thing from 2017-09-11T04:00
It’s right to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t seem to make any difference. And we never can really know what the effect of our actions will be – on the world, or on ourselves. Learn more a...
ListenEp. 133: Create a Spot for Things in Transition from 2017-09-06T04:00
Why it’s helpful to create a place for things in transition, how to create accountability if you’re introverted or shy—and do you have strong views about how to load a dishwasher? Get in touch: @gr...
ListenLittle: B.J. Novak’s Reminder about the Importance of Gratitude. from 2017-09-04T04:00
In the Acknowledgements of B.J. Novak’s excellent book “One More Thing,” he remembers to pay tribute to some friends from childhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...
ListenEp. 132: Consider Children's Literature from 2017-08-30T04:00
Why you might consider reading children’s literature, how to reinvigorate your work space if you can’t make any changes, and the question of whether you can change your Tendency. Get in touch: @gre...
ListenLittle: The Book “The Hobbit Boredom” Illustrates How Boredom Can Spark Creativity from 2017-08-28T04:00
The dull task of grading papers inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the first line of his masterpiece, “The Hobbit.” Boredom can lay the groundwork for great creativity. Learn more about your ad choic...
ListenEp. 131: Do 10 Jumping Jacks from 2017-08-23T04:00
Do ten jumping jacks, how to stop constantly checking your devices, and why life is like high school. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com;happiercast.com/131; 7...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, It’s Better to Help than to Sympathize from 2017-08-21T04:00
Instead of joining in the commiseration, my friend took action to help. Sometimes, it’s better to help than to sympathize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 130: 7 Myths of Happiness from 2017-08-16T04:00
In this Very Special Episode, we discuss the seven myths of happiness. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/130; 774-277-9336.Learn more about y...
ListenLittle: Don’t Sleep Through Beautiful Moments from 2017-08-14T04:00
This conversation happened 23 years ago, and lasted about five minutes, but I’ve regretted it ever since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 129: September is the Other January from 2017-08-09T04:00
Why we should remember that September is the other January, the fun of personalized post-it notes, and the challenge of what “they” think. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gre...
ListenLittle: Why Andy Warhol Wanted to Have a Boss—on Retainer from 2017-08-07T04:00
I agree wholeheartedly with Andy Warhol. Sometimes I wish I had a boss who could tell me what to do, so I wouldn’t have to figure it out myself. Agree? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...
ListenEp. 128: Connect With TV from 2017-08-02T04:00
Why it’s helpful to connect with TV, a way to give up the snooze alarm, and a discussion of whether you can be a mix of the Four Tendencies. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@g...
ListenLittle: My Daughter’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Mother Found the Right Words to Say from 2017-07-31T04:00
Sometimes, it’s hard to put into words the exact nature of a loving relationship. “You’ll always have a place in my heart” says it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
ListenEp. 127: Make or Accept a “Repair Attempt" from 2017-07-26T04:00
Why we should make or accept a repair attempt, a Sharpie hack, and how introverted Obligers can create outer accountability. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, You Feel Regret Either Way from 2017-07-24T04:00
Sometimes in life, going down one path means abandoning another path. It’s natural to feel regret about the path not taken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 126: Do You Struggle with Perfectionism? from 2017-07-19T04:00
Look for an under-used area of your house, marking sad anniversaries in a happy way, and ways to deal with the challenge of perfectionism. Plus how to review a podcast. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...
ListenLittle: A Lesson from Pre-School: You Get What You Get, and You Don’t Get Upset from 2017-07-17T04:00
My daughter’s pre-school teachers used to tell the kids “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” and I’ve found this to be extremely useful advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...
ListenEp. 125: Plan a Virtual Move from 2017-07-12T04:00
Plan a virtual move, a deep-dive into advice about sending a child off to college, a painless way to remove a splinter, and the summer fallacy. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcas...
ListenLittle: A Great School Motto: Go Forth Unafraid from 2017-07-10T04:00
A school motto can stick with you for your whole life. My daughters’ school motto is to “Go Forth Unafraid,” which is a great motto for all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
ListenEp. 124: Remember Love from 2017-07-05T04:00
Remember love, a new great way to use Ziploc bags, dealing with sad anniversaries -- and do people tell you what you "should be able" to do? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@g...
ListenLittle: Don’t Check Every Box from 2017-07-03T04:00
One of my Secrets of Adulthood is “The opposite of a profound truth is also true.” A few weeks ago I talked about the advice, “Check every box.” Listeners reminded me of another piece of excellent...
ListenEp. 123: Shield Yourself from Worry from 2017-06-28T04:00
Why we should shield ourselves from worry, open items carefully, and how clothes can transform our attitudes and emotions. Plus tips for new dog owners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraf...
ListenLittle: How to be Successful, Part 2 from 2017-06-26T04:00
My law school friend repeated the advice that she’d been given: Try to check every box. This advice came to me in an indirect way, but I’ve followed it ever since. Learn more about your ad choices....
ListenEp. 122: Tackle a “Power Day” from 2017-06-21T04:00
Tackle a “Power Day” as a way to finish onerous tasks, dealing with in-laws who undermine your healthy eating habits—and what’s your advice about sending a child off to college? Get in touch: @gret...
ListenLittle: How to Be Successful, Part 1 from 2017-06-19T04:00
I heard this advice about success indirectly (my law school friend repeated what her boyfriend had told her), but I’ve remembered it, and followed it for years. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
ListenEp. 121: Do You Want to Read More? from 2017-06-14T04:00
How to get more reading done, an interview with Sam Walker about the qualities of the world’s best captains, and a car-related travel hack. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...
ListenLittle: Flawed Can Be More Perfect Than Perfection from 2017-06-12T04:00
This delightful story about a seven-tentacled octopus, from legendary children's author Ursula Nordstrom reminds me that sometimes flawed can be more perfect than perfection. Learn more about you...
ListenEp. 120: VSE: Listener Questions About the Four Tendencies from 2017-06-07T04:00
In this Very Special Episode, we discuss listener questions related to the Four Tendencies (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel? -- and how that matters). Get in touch: @gretchenrubi...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, We Can Be Generous by Taking from 2017-06-05T04:00
Eighteen years ago, on a plane to Kansas City, I had a brief encounter with a woman—and I’ve regretted my action (or rather, inaction) ever since. Sometimes, we can be generous by taking. Learn mor...
ListenEp. 119: Make Friends With People of Different Ages from 2017-05-31T04:00
Why it boosts happiness to make friends with people of different ages, look behind you every time you leave, and the happiness stumbling block of pain. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft...
ListenLittle: A Picture Book Has an Important Lesson for Grown-Ups from 2017-05-29T04:00
In Russell Hoban’s brilliant picture book “A Bargain for Frances,” Frances observes, “Being careful is not as much fun as being friends. Do you want to be careful, or do you want to be friends?” An...
ListenEp. 118: Are You the Difficult One? from 2017-05-24T04:00
Design your summer, start a podcast club, and ask yourself - are you the difficult one? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/118; 774-277-9336. ...
ListenLittle: A Happiness Lesson from Judd Apatow from 2017-05-22T04:00
We have to be very careful not to assume that we can predict how other people respond to our actions—especially to big, dramatic gestures. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; 7...
ListenEp. 1: Picking A New Work Mantra from 2017-05-18T04:00
Happier in Hollywood is here! In this episode, veteran TV writers/producers/showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain pick a new work mantra to get them through development season; talk to their agent a...
ListenEp. 117: Are You a Revealer or a Concealer? from 2017-05-17T04:00
Write a haiku, look for help from YouTube videos, how introverted parents can manage an extroverted child, and are you a "revealer" or a "concealer"? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, the Best Solution Is to Do Nothing at All from 2017-05-15T04:00
My mother’s advice about an irksome renovation problem reminded me of an important Secret of Adulthood: Sometimes, the best solution is to do nothing at all. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@g...
ListenEp. 116: Start a Side Hustle from 2017-05-10T04:00
Start your own side hustle, avoid the happiness stumbling block of "raising the bar," and whether we should plan our encounters with friends. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@...
ListenLittle: It’s Time to Switch from Advisor to Cheerleader from 2017-05-08T04:00
My father told me, “At some point you have to switch from being advisor to being a cheerleader.” And I realized I’d probably already reached that point with my older daughter. Get in touch: @gretch...
ListenEp. 115: Boost Your Energy from 2017-05-03T04:00
Boost your energy, why it can be helpful to listen to music in a foreign language, and a deep dive into the happiness stumbling block of loneliness. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenLittle: We Don’t Always Know When Children Are Wasting Their Time from 2017-05-01T04:00
We may wish our children used their time more “productively,” but we don’t always know when time is wasted—or not. What looks like wasted time could actually turn out to be quite productive. Get in...
ListenEp. 114: Interview with Hollywood Legend Sherry Lansing from 2017-04-26T04:00
Why and how to say you're sorry, an interview with Sherry Lansing, a travel-related happiness hack, and Elizabeth conquers blepharitis. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretch...
ListenLittle: Skip the Boring Parts from 2017-04-24T04:00
A note on a friend’s computer taught me a giant lesson about writing--and life: Down with boredom. Skip the boring parts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 113: Reclaim Your Dump Zones from 2017-04-19T04:00
Why you should reclaim your dump zones, how to make a tough decision, and is your birthday important to you? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.co...
ListenLittle: One of the Worst Ways to Waste Time from 2017-04-17T04:00
One of the most terrible wastes of time is to do something well that we need not do at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 112: Pick a Uniform from 2017-04-12T04:00
Pick a uniform, time yourself doing a task, a deep dive into an irksome request from a boss - plus the benefit of sloth videos. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin....
ListenLittle: We Can Help Others to See Themselves Differently from 2017-04-10T04:00
Sometimes, with even just one comment, we can help other people to see themselves differently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 111: Beware of Storing Stuff from 2017-04-05T04:00
Beware of "storage," a hack about flipping a coin, and more on the constant challenge of email. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/111; 774-27...
ListenLittle: To Find Something, We Must Search in the Right Place from 2017-04-03T04:00
I often think of this old joke in the context of habit change: If we want to find what we’re looking for, we have to search in the right place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...
ListenEp. 110: Are You Lonely? from 2017-03-29T04:00
Very Special Episode: We talk about different types of loneliness, and what to do about it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/110; 774-277-93...
ListenLittle: If All Else Fails, We Can Try Minding Our Own Business from 2017-03-27T04:00
One of my favorite passages from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” holds a terrific happiness reminder: we can always try minding our own business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...
ListenEp. 109: Pay Attention to the Light from 2017-03-22T04:00
Pay attention to the light, a great idea for an April Fool's Day tradition, and a demerit for talking too much. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast...
ListenLittle: Experience is a Great Teacher from 2017-03-20T04:00
The great teacher is experience. A tough teacher, but a great teacher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 108: Turn Your Shower Into a "Happiness Booth" from 2017-03-15T04:00
Turn your shower into a "happiness booth," the self-knowledge question inspired by the movie "Before Sunrise," and the challenge of saying "no" to your boss. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabet...
ListenLittle: It’s Nice to Get a Gold Star from 2017-03-13T04:00
Even if it’s not necessary, it’s sweet when our efforts are appreciated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 107: Talking to Susan Cain About Introverts from 2017-03-08T05:00
Plan a secret date, a fascinating conversation with Susan Cain, author of "Quiet," and how to discover and listen to more podcasts. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenru...
ListenLittle: Never Have a Crush on Just One Person from 2017-03-06T05:00
In romance and in work, it’s helpful to have more than one thing going at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 106: Our Second Anniversary! Year Two Highlights from 2017-03-01T05:00
Our favorite Try-This-At-Home tips, some great before-and-after stories, and our favorite moments from the past year. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happi...
ListenLittle: Good Luck, Bad Luck—How Do You Know? from 2017-02-27T05:00
One of my mother’s favorite teaching stories is a reminder that we can never know what’s good news, or bad news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 105: Leave on a High Note from 2017-02-22T05:00
Why we should try to end on a high note, child-like wonder vs. adult-like wonder, and a confession of unjust accusation. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; ha...
ListenLittle: A Happiness Lesson from the Broadway Show “Oklahoma!” from 2017-02-20T05:00
It’s one of the great dreams of the United States: “I don’t say I’m no better than anybody else, but I’ll be danged if I ain’t jist as good.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....
ListenEp. 104: Happiness Stumbling Block: The News from 2017-02-15T05:00
Why it's fun to have a life-story conversation, how to handle the emotional toll of the news, and a gold star for the New York City subway system. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; pod...
ListenLittle: “Yes” Comes Right Away; “No” Never Comes from 2017-02-13T05:00
My sister the sage made one of her wise observations--which she learned the hard way, in Hollywood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp, 103: Pick Your Moment from 2017-02-08T05:00
Pick the right moment to have a tough conversation, how to be happier during a tough time, and a deep dive into the Instagram #Happier2017 project. Get in touch @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; pod...
ListenLittle: We Must Carry the Wealth of the Indies with Us from 2017-02-06T05:00
We can’t find more happiness, more adventure, more richness to an experience that we bring to it. Learn more about your adchoices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 102: Tame the Travel Beast from 2017-02-01T05:00
Why finding the missing puzzle piece can boost happiness, taming the "travel beast," and how personalized mugs can help solve the problem of the messy office kitchen. Get in touch @gretchenrubin; @...
ListenLittle: No Deposit, No Return from 2017-01-30T05:00
There are few iron laws of the universe, but one such law seems to be: No deposit, no return. We never get out of things more than we put into them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
ListenEp. 101: Are You an Integrator or a Compartmentalizer? from 2017-01-25T05:00
Do something for your future self, think about whether you’re an “integrator” or “compartmentalizer,” and how flying wish paper can soothe heartache. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenLittle: She Opened Up Heart So the Whale Could Swim Away from 2017-01-23T05:00
A passage from Ruth Ozeki’s novel “A Tale for the Time Being” provides a beautiful image of letting go of sorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenSpecial Episode 100: Ask Us Anything from 2017-01-18T05:00
To celebrate our 100th consecutive episode, we did a Very VERY Special Episode, where we answered questions from listeners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com;...
ListenLittle: My Inconvenience May Be Someone’s Miracle from 2017-01-16T05:00
My friend told me the story of her personal miracle: the time her local subway ran express all the way downtown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 99: Take Personality Quizzes from 2017-01-11T05:00
Get self-insight by taking personality quizzes, a hack for better emails, and how to address book club conflicts. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happierca...
ListenLittle: I Need “A Heart to Be Contented” from 2017-01-09T05:00
In 1662, Samuel Pepys made a diary entry that reminds me that to be happy, I have to keep a contented heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 98: Interview: The Case Against Sugar // Have a Quest from 2017-01-04T05:00
Why it boosts happiness to have a quest, an interview with Gary Taubes about the case against sugar, and impassioned praise for a Uniqlo vest. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenLittle: Announcing “The Onward Project” Podcasts from 2017-01-02T08:13:03
Announcement! I’m launching The Onward Project, a family of podcasts all about how to make your life happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. Here, I introduce Kim Scott and Russ Lar...
ListenRadical Candor Ep. 1: What is Radical Candor? from 2017-01-02T05:02
Too many of us feel that a boss has to choose between caring personally or challenging directly, when in fact a boss can and should do both. Kim and Russ explain how they learned this lesson the ha...
ListenWelcome to Side Hustle School from 2017-01-02T05:00
In this first episode, you'll learn what side hustles are all about and what you can expect from this daily series. Side Hustle School features a new story EVERY DAY of someone who started a hustle...
ListenEp. 97: Start Your Own Happiness Project from 2016-12-28T05:00
How to start your own happiness project, a deep dive into the subject of break-ups, and a sweatpants-related demerit. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happi...
ListenLittle: What Would an Englishman Do? from 2016-12-26T05:00
Reading Harold Nicolson’s reflection that an “Englishman would not like to take snapshots of a fine vessel sinking” reminds me to ask myself: How, in my own life, can I live up to the highest ideas...
ListenEp. 96: Set Your Holiday Intention from 2016-12-21T05:00
Set your holiday intention, tackle the problem of shared work, identify some inexpensive gifts—and how to make a graham-cracker holiday house. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenLittle: Do You Want to Take My Taxi? from 2016-12-19T05:00
We never know the true consequences of our actions, big or small, for good or for ill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 95: Practice Mis-En-Place from 2016-12-14T05:00
Why it’s helpful to practice mis-en-place, the tragedy of the messy commons in the office kitchen, and a gold star related to the flu vaccine. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenHoliday Hack: What’s Your One-Word Theme for the New Year? from 2016-12-12T05:00
A fun exercise is to choose a one-word theme for the new year, such as Novel, Travel, Rest, Free, Finish, Upgrade. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast....
ListenEp. 94: Don’t Treat Yourself from 2016-12-07T05:00
Don’t treat yourself, an interview with writer and podcaster Jonathan Fields, and why you should put a shoe in the hotel safe. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.c...
ListenHoliday Hack: Say “Yes” If You Can from 2016-12-05T05:00
During busy holiday time, it’s tempting to say “no” to try to make life easier, but in the end, we’re usually happier if we say “yes”—to the office party, the school show, or the holiday gathering....
ListenEp. 93: How to Survive a Break-Up from 2016-11-30T05:00
Find something to admire, figure out your energy level, and how to survive an (amicable) romantic split. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/93...
ListenHoliday Hack: Find Some Quiet Time During the Holidays from 2016-11-28T05:00
During the busy holiday season, remember to carve out some time for rest and silence. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com; 774-277-9336. Learn more...
ListenEp. 92: For Thanksgiving, Leave Something Unsaid from 2016-11-23T05:00
For the holidays, leave something unsaid, an interview with Note to Self’s Manoush Zomorodi, and how taking seconds might help you eat more healthfully. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraf...
ListenLittle: Be Polite and Be Fair from 2016-11-21T05:00
A boss manages to sum up a library’s worth of good advice in a five-word sentence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 91: Delete a Soul-Destroying App from 2016-11-16T05:00
Delete a productivity-depleting app and listen to some "Happier 911" songs. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/91; 774-277-9336. Learn more a...
ListenLittle: What Some Folks Will Do from 2016-11-14T05:00
Flannery O’Connor explains that a country lady remarked, of her short stories, “Them stories just gone and shown you how some folks would do.” And so it goes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
ListenEp. 90: Consider the Essential Seven from 2016-11-09T05:00
In this Very Special Episode we discuss the "Essential 7" areas for happiness and habits. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/90; 774-277-9336....
ListenLittle: A Beautiful Image Can Be an Area of Refuge from 2016-11-07T05:00
In Willa Cather’s novel “O Pioneers!” a sister and brother never forget the wild duck they saw playing in the river. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 89: Control the Cubicle In Your Pocket from 2016-11-02T04:00
Control the cubicle in your pocket, send an actual invitation to an event, and consider the question: "If people could change one of your habits, what would they pick?" Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...
ListenLittle: Getting Ready is a Key Aspect of Performance from 2016-10-31T04:00
Why the experience of taking exams in high school was so much better than taking exams in college. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 88: Celebrate Holiday Breakfasts from 2016-10-26T04:00
Why it's fun to celebrate holiday breakfasts, how keeping a journal for medical visits can make life easier, and the challenge of handling criticism. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenLittle: Accept a Gift in the Spirit in Which it is Offered from 2016-10-24T04:00
A story from the life of St. Therese of Lisieux is a good reminder about how to accept a gift in the right spirit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 87: Live: Find a Happiness 911 Song from 2016-10-19T04:00
Live from Seattle! Identify your “Happiness 911” song, take a deep dive into manifestos, explore the Four Tendencies -- plus an interview with Chris Guillebeau. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliza...
ListenEp. 86: Be the Bearer of Some Good News from 2016-10-12T04:00
Why it's good to be the bearer of good news (at least sometimes), how other people affect our habits for better and for worse, why you should read a book related to a vacation, and a look at Oblige...
ListenLittle: Someplace, Keep an Empty Shelf, and Someplace, Keep a Junk Drawer from 2016-10-10T04:00
In a happy life, it’s helpful to keep a little space completely clear and open, but it’s also helpful to make room for some messiness, some unexpected treasure. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
ListenEp. 85: Ever Been Annoyed By A Gift? from 2016-10-05T04:00
Why you should give yourself something to look forward to; whether you’ve ever had an uneasy response to a gift, and Gretchen talk about her “Bowl of Requirement.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @el...
ListenEp. 84: Try Doing Something EVERY Day from 2016-09-28T04:00
Why it can be helpful to do something every day, instead of some days; why it's helpful to keep a trash bag in the car; and how to handle the annoyance of a friend who's always late. Get in touch: ...
ListenLittle: Keep the Paint as Good as it is in the Can from 2016-09-26T04:00
The artist Frank Stella’s remark is a happiness koan; it has great meaning, though it’s not exactly clear what that meaning is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 83: Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox? from 2016-09-21T04:00
Why reading three off-beat magazines can boost your happiness, the challenge of going freelance, and the question: Are you a hedgehog or a fox? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcas...
ListenLittle: Justice O’Connor’s Three-Word Secret to Happiness from 2016-09-19T04:00
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor manages to sum up her secret of happiness in just three words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 82: Make a List (If You Want) from 2016-09-14T04:00
Make a to-do list (if that works for you), buy that essential item every chance you get, and enlist the strategy of identity to form and break habits. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
ListenLittle: Your Question May Suggest Its Own Answer from 2016-09-12T04:00
In Piers Anthony’s fantasy novel “A Spell for Chameleon,” a character knows just what to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 81: Lets Give Them Something to Talk About from 2016-09-07T04:00
Why it's satisfying to introduce a specific topic into a conversation, why you might want to park at the far end of the parking lot - and is it acceptable to ignore the Olympics? Get in touch @gret...
ListenLittle: Having More Doesn't Always Make Us Happier from 2016-09-05T04:00
Why a boy didn’t play with the toys his grandmother gave him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 80: A Discussion of the Five Love Languages from 2016-08-31T04:00
This Very Special Episode is devoted to a discussion of "The Five Love Languages," a fascinating framework about how people best experience love. Get in touch @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podca...
ListenLittle: Ray Bradbury Says, "Love What YOU Love!" from 2016-08-29T04:00
In a few words on a postcard to a fan, Ray Bradbury makes a key point about happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 79: Revive a Dormant Friendship from 2016-08-24T04:00
Ep. 79: Why it's helpful to revive a dormant friendship, a deep dive into listeners' favorite "yearbook quotes," and the burning question of whether an Abstainer can indulge in chocolate, in modera...
ListenLittle: Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote, “Pa Was No Businessman.” from 2016-08-22T04:00
We don’t have to pretend that the people we love are perfect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 78: Seek Out Silence from 2016-08-17T04:00
Ep. 78: We talk about why you might want to seek out silence, why a happiness hack used by our parents worked so well, and why it's helpful to consider "Am I more pulled toward leisure or toward wo...
ListenLittle: The Intimacy of "I'll Open Your Fridge and Take What I Want" from 2016-08-15T04:00
Sisters Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron--and the reminder that there are many kinds of love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ListenEp. 77: Plan an Errand Date from 2016-08-10T04:00
Ep. 77: We talk about why it's fun to plan an "errand date," a happiness hack for dealing with other people's clutter, abd the value of improving the nasty areas of your home. Get in touch: @gretch...
ListenLittle: As Promised: The Reading from Gretchen's Wedding from 2016-08-08T04:00
In Ep. 76 of Happier, Gretchen promised to share her favorite reading from her wedding. Here it is: "I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone," by Richard Brautigan.Learn more about your ad choices...
ListenEp. 76: Write Your Manifesto (&Bring Your Own Condiments) from 2016-08-03T04:00
Ep. 76: Why it's stimulating to write your manifesto; the joy of bringing your own condiments; and a listener requests suggestions for great wedding readings. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabe...
ListenLittle: A Happiness Lesson From the Cat in the Hat from 2016-08-01T04:00
"Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have but you have to know how." It can be surprisingly hard to know how to have fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...
ListenEp. 75: Become a Minor Expert from 2016-07-27T11:00
Why it’s fun to become a minor expert (like color or Real Housewives)—and also fun to use the app TimeHop, to spark happy memories. We do a deep dive into the choice of a signature color and discus...
ListenLittle: Sometimes, a Lot of Words Can Only Diminish What We Want to Convey from 2016-07-25T04:00
Why General Eisenhower’s 15-word telegram in 1945 was more powerful than any longer, more elaborate message would have been. This episode is brought to you by Better Than Before, the book Gretchen ...
ListenEp. 74: Choose A Quote for Your Yearbook Page from 2016-07-20T04:00
Ep. 74: Choose your "senior quote," use the powerful Strategy of Pairing to change your habits, and we also talk quite a bit about the Four Tendencies. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizab...
ListenLittle: We Can't Spare Our Children Normal Social Pain from 2016-07-18T04:00
As Gretchen drops off her daughter Eleanor at summer camp, she reflects on some of her favorite advice from parenting expert Michael Thompson. This episode is brought to you by The Moment of Happi...
ListenEp. 73: Get Rid of It As Soon As It's Worthless from 2016-07-13T04:00
Why we should get rid of something (like a shoe without a mate) as soon as it's useless; what to do when everything "turns to ashes," as recently happened to Elizabeth--and something beautiful that...
ListenLittle: If Others Think I Can Do a Job, I Can Probably Do It from 2016-07-11T04:00
A friend found the right words to say to Gretchen, when she was nervous before an interview with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. This episode is brought to you Gretchen's #1 New York Times bestseller...
ListenEp. 72: Beware The Incomplete Upgrade from 2016-07-06T04:00
Ep. 72: Why we’re happier when we have room of our own, the challenge of the “incomplete upgrade,” and Gretchen gives herself a demerit for a parenting mistake. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubi...
ListenLittle: I May Not Be the Best, But I’m Probably Not the Worst from 2016-07-04T04:00
When she's feeling insecure, Gretchen reminds herself of this Secret of Adulthood. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website and get your free trial today. Go to ...
ListenEp. 71: Are You A Leopard Or An Alchemist? from 2016-06-29T04:00
Ep. 71: Choose a signature color, ask yourself, "Am I an alchemist or a leopard?" -- and fighting FOMO. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast...
ListenEp. 70: Advice from 2016-06-22T04:00
Ep. 70: Very Special Episode: Advice! Gretchen, Elizabeth, and listeners reveal the best advice they’ve received for work, relationships, and life. So much great advice. And Gretchen and Elizabeth...
ListenLittle: Give Yourself a Lucky Charm from 2016-06-20T04:00
Back in episode 59, Elizabeth and Gretchen discussed lucky charms. That conversation reminded Gretchen of a charming (and possibly apocryphal) story about physicist Niels Bohr and a lucky horseshoe...
ListenEp. 69: An Interview with the Musician Moby from 2016-06-15T04:00
Ep. 69: Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should give someone a surprise treat, and address, yet again, the thought-provoking subject of thank-you notes. They also talk to a special guest: the ...
ListenLittle: No Magic One-Size-Fits-All Solution for Happiness from 2016-06-13T04:00
We've all heard the expert advice: do it for 30 days; do it first thing in the morning; start small. Problem? That advice works for some people, but it doesn't work for everyone. There's no single ...
ListenEp. 68: How To Be On Time from 2016-06-08T04:00
Ep. 68: How to be on time, why we should treat ourselves, how an Obliger can stick to a budget, and Elizabeth is thrilled with an app that lets her scan documents. Want to get in touch? @gretchenr...
ListenLittle: Am I Painting My Own Fakes? from 2016-06-06T04:00
Do you ever feel as though you’re just repeating yourself, instead of doing the best work you can do? Picasso did. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website and get...
ListenEp. 67: Design Your Summer from 2016-06-01T04:00
Ep. 67: Design your summer, a deep-dive into the emotionally charged subject of thank-you notes, mother-in-law woes, and the problem of the partial move. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @eli...
ListenLittle: Accept Yourself&Also Expect More From Yourself from 2016-05-30T04:00
In their own way W. H. Auden and Flannery O’Connor each articulate an idea that I think about often: I want to accept myself, and also expect more from myself. This episode is brought to you by Squ...
ListenEp. 66: The Pain of Email Etiquette from 2016-05-25T04:00
Ep. 66: Give advice only when asked, and the challenges of email etiquette and vacation hangovers. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/...
ListenLittle: There's Great Value In Knowing When To Say Nothing from 2016-05-23T04:00
As my grandfather looked out the window into our backyard, I could hear the disapproving thoughts swimming around in his head. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your we...
ListenEp. 65: Arianna Huffington Says Go To Bed from 2016-05-18T04:00
Ep. 65: Enjoy your home's special features, Arianna= Huffington talks about why we should get enough sleep, and I give a gold star to my children's literature reading groups. Want to get in touch?...
ListenLittle: People Do Best What Comes Naturally from 2016-05-16T04:00
When JFK was first elected president, his advisors had some serious reservations about his wife Jackie... This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website and get your fre...
ListenEp. 64: What Do You Lie About? from 2016-05-11T04:00
Ep. 64: Go slow to go fast; what do you lie about (Elizabeth and I confess our lies), and we introduce a new segment, the "Happiness Hack." My hack is trivial, but a happiness-booster. Want to get...
ListenLittle: The Days are Long, But the Years are Short from 2016-05-09T04:00
I was riding the bus with my daughter, when something outside the window caught her eye... This episode is brought to you by Audible.com. Go to Audible.com/Happier for an audiobook of your choice, ...
ListenEp. 63: A Debate About Thank You Notes from 2016-05-04T04:00
Ep. 63: Why it's important to have a strategy for online passwords, the trickiness of using rewards to strengthen habits, and Elizabeth and I debate a question about thank-you notes. Want to get i...
ListenLittle: Don't Let The Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Good from 2016-05-02T04:00
My mom simply asked if she could come to New York for a visit... This episode is brought to you by Audible.com. Go to Audible.com/Happier for an audiobook of your choice, and a free 30 day trial.L...
ListenEp. 62: Do You Have 100 Packets of Soy Sauce? from 2016-04-27T04:00
Ep. 62: Don't accumulate excessive amounts of anything; it's tough when worlds collide; a Questioner wants to be a better spouse to an Obliger, and I fail to visit Central Park--again. Want to get...
ListenLittle: Go Outside from 2016-04-25T04:00
Get some fresh air and sunlight. It's an easy way to stimulate your brain and boost your memory, alertness, and wellbeing. Brought to you by Audible, with 180,000 audio books and spoken word audio...
ListenEp. 61: Stop Apologizing from 2016-04-20T04:00
Ep. 61: Stop apologizing, do you prefer variety or familiarity, and the problem of passwords. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/61; ...
ListenLittle: Outer Order Contributes To Inner Calm from 2016-04-18T04:00
This is one of my all time favorite secrets of adulthood, because it's true for so many people, and it's so accessible. Outer order contributes to inner calm. Brought to you by Audible, with 180,0...
ListenEp. 60: On Set With Elizabeth from 2016-04-13T04:00
Ep. 60: A Very Special Episode. Henry and I visit Elizabeth on the set, and discuss you should let people do their jobs, interview Helen Childress, and hear a guest gold star from Elizabeth's writi...
ListenLittle: Flawed Is More Perfect Than Perfection from 2016-04-11T04:00
Listen to Glenn Gould hum along as he plays Bach and maybe you'll agree with me: sometimes flawed is more perfect than perfection. Brought to you by Audible, with 180,000 audio books and spoken wo...
ListenEp. 59: Do You Have A Lucky Charm? from 2016-04-06T04:00
Ep. 59: Find your lucky charm, distract yourself for 15 minutes, some great mantras from listeners -- and Elizabeth feels godparent guilt. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; pod...
ListenEp. 58: The Pressure of Birthdays from 2016-03-30T04:00
Ep. 58: Find your area of refuge, the pressure of birthdays, and how to get up earlier. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/58; 774-27...
ListenLittle: When You're Stressed, Try This from 2016-03-28T04:00
Last week was full of deadlines and travel arrangements and all around stress. Fortunately, when this happens, Gretchen Rubin knows the perfect trick to charge her own personal battery and get back...
ListenEp. 57: The Awful Habit of Awfulizing from 2016-03-23T04:00
Ep. 57: Pick a mantra for the day, avoid the awful habit of "awfulizing," and dealing with "The Chair" where clothes collect. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchen...
ListenLittle: The Best Teacher from 2016-03-21T04:00
Gretchen Rubin remembers few specific facts from college. But she can recall a couple lessons vividly, and they both have this one thing in common. Brought to you by Audible, with 180,000 audio bo...
ListenEp. 56: Schedule Time To Worry from 2016-03-16T05:00
Ep. 56: Schedule time to worry, learn to avoid loopholes, and how to deal with a writers' accountability group that is starting to shirk writing. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcra...
ListenEp. 55: The Dilemma of Switching Bags from 2016-03-09T05:00
Ep. 55: The dilemma of switching bags, do you prefer long or short discussions, the story of the Monkey and the Banana--and scratch-n-sniffs! Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
ListenEp. 54: Celebrating A Year of Happier from 2016-03-02T05:01
Ep. 54: Our one-year anniversary! We talk about the most popular try-this-at-home tips, listeners give their before-and-after stories, and we highlight our favorite moments. Want to get in touch? ...
ListenEp. 53: Meditation...Sort Of from 2016-02-24T05:01
Ep. 53: Put the word "meditation" before any dull task, consider the stumbling block of competitive parenting, and listener ideas for storing recipes. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabe...
ListenEp. 52: Habits and Whole30 With Melissa Hartwig from 2016-02-17T05:01
Ep. 52: Ask yourself, "What happens if I ignore this?" an interview with Whole30's Melissa Hartwig, I struggle with an unwanted errand, and Elizabeth discloses her favorite reality TV podcasts. Wa...
ListenEp. 51: Help! I Always Forget Names from 2016-02-10T05:01
Ep. 51: How to disguise the fact that you don't remember someone's name; why if-then planning helps us to keep good habits, the challenge of returning family phone calls--and adult coloring books! ...
ListenEp. 50: Ask For A Favor from 2016-02-03T05:01
Ep. 50: Why you should ask for a favor, cooperation vs. competition, information overload, and I don't do a good job handling my daughter's request for more ear-piercings. Want to get in touch? @g...
ListenEp. 49: LIVE In San Francisco! from 2016-01-27T05:01
Ep. 49: Live from San Francisco! With special guests Nir Eyal and Jake Knapp. Plus how to travel with tears, deal with public speaking -- and Elizabeth identifies her favorite new place in San Fran...
ListenEp. 48: Got The Sunday Blues? from 2016-01-20T05:01
Ep. 48: Create a temporary photo gallery, the happiness challenge of the Sunday blues, and the joy of listening to the Harry Potter audio-books. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcra...
ListenEp. 47: Liz Misses Out On A Romantic Moment from 2016-01-13T05:01
Ep. 47: Control your exit, harness the power of convenience, and Elizabeth misses out on the opportunity to have a romantic moment with Adam. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
ListenEp. 46: Don't Get Organized from 2016-01-06T05:01
Ep. 46: Don't get organized, dealing with storing sentimental items, coping with rewards and treats -- and we hit five million downloads! Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; pod...
ListenEp. 45: Home for the Holidays – Kansas City Edition from 2015-12-30T05:01
Ep. 45: Elizabeth and I are both home for the holidays, back in Kansas City. We start the episode in our favorite KC diner, Winstead's, then talk to some special guests. Want to get in touch? @gret...
ListenEp. 44: Drew Barrymore Gets Personal. And Happier from 2015-12-23T05:01
Ep. 44: Drew Barrymore interview! So fascinating. Plus we talk about having an end-of-the-year ritual, procrastinating about Christmas decorations, and the joy of temporary tattoos. Want to get in...
ListenEp. 43: You Can't Make Me, And Neither Can I from 2015-12-16T05:01
Ep. 43: Listener Roundup of the Four Tendencies. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/43; 774-277-9336. Learn more about your ad choices...
ListenEp. 42: Act How You Want To Feel from 2015-12-09T05:01
Ep. 42: Act the way you want to feel; try resisting temptation by abstaining altogether; and I use the Strategy of Convenience to get back to the gym. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizab...
ListenEp. 41: Put An End To Impulse Shopping from 2015-12-02T05:01
Ep. 41: Take one thing with you to fight clutter, tackle the challenge of impulse buying -- and I haven't been going to the gym. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenEp. 40: Holiday Special -- Try These At Home from 2015-11-25T05:01
Ep. 40: Very Special Episode, holiday theme! Listeners answer: "What's your Try This at Home tip for the holidays?" and "What's the essential element of the holidays, for you?" Want to get in touch...
ListenEp. 39: Elizabeth Talks About Getting Fired from 2015-11-18T05:01
Ep. 39: Elizabeth talks about getting fired; do you want more time for friends or for solitude; and Elizabeth gets a surprise dinner. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@...
ListenEp. 38: Rebels - Do You Hate Being Told What To Do? from 2015-11-11T05:01
Ep. 38: A close look at the Rebel Tendency. Do you hate being told what to do--even telling yourself what to do? Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; ha...
ListenEp. 37: Obligers - Are You an Elizabeth? from 2015-11-04T05:01
Ep. 37: A close look at the Obliger Tendency. Are you like Elizabeth, and find it easy to meet outer expectations (a work deadline) but struggle to meet inner expectations (New Year's resolution)? ...
ListenEp. 36: Questioners - Do You Always Ask Why? from 2015-10-28T04:01
Ep. 36: We're talking about the Four Tendencies Framework, and this week, we focus on the Questioner Tendency, with the help of Christy Fletcher. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcra...
ListenEp. 35: Upholders - Are You A Hermione? from 2015-10-21T04:01
Ep. 35: In the first of four episodes about the Four Tendencies framework, we talk about "Upholders." Also, Elizabeth misses the blood moon and Gretchen recommends a Jewel video. Want to get in tou...
ListenEp. 34: The Habits of A Rebel Harvard Physicist from 2015-10-14T04:01
Ep. 34: Have a difficult conversation; a talk with Lisa Randall, Harvard physics professor and Writer (and Rebel) -- plus, hard-boiled eggs. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenEp. 33: Send Yourself To Boot Camp from 2015-10-07T04:01
Ep. 33: Try a boot camp, put away those last items -- and have you ever experienced a "Lightning Bolt" change in your habits? I have. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@...
ListenEp. 32: Why Teasing May Be Bad For Happiness from 2015-09-30T04:01
Ep. 32: Why Elizabeth and I raise the bar; why, surprisingly, teasing can be a happiness stumbling block--and we want your comments about the Four Tendencies! Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
ListenEp. 31: Choose A Personal Symbol from 2015-09-23T04:01
Ep. 31: Observe a threshold ritual, for gratitude; identify your personal symbols; and remember to check your passport's expiration date. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podc...
ListenEp. 30: Remember What It Was Like Being A Teenager? from 2015-09-16T04:01
Ep. 30: Very Special Episode! My daughter Eliza is our guest. Her try-this-at-home is "Give yourself a mission." She asks: "What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?" Too many facial produc...
ListenEp. 29: The Fantasy of Perfection from 2015-09-09T04:01
Ep. 29: Why Elizabeth and I lower the bar ("don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"), use the clean slate to change habits, and try to end food waste. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
ListenEp. 28: We Live The Stories We Tell Ourselves from 2015-09-02T04:01
Ep. 28: Don't interview for pain; face the challenge of shared work--and whether or not to keep ice cream in the freezer. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrub...
ListenEp. 27: The Bigger Life from 2015-08-26T04:01
Ep. 27: Need to make an important decision? Choose the bigger life. Also, what's your "tell"?--and I reveal whether we're getting a dog. (What's your guess?) Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; ...
ListenEp. 26: Procrastinating and Tomorrow Logic from 2015-08-19T04:01
Ep. 26: Pick a one-word theme for the year. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/26; 774-277-9336. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
ListenEp. 25: Try This At Home-A-Palooza with A.J. Jacobs from 2015-08-12T04:01
Ep. 25: Hilarious writer A. J. Jacobs suggests several try-this-at-home tips: improve your posture; brainstorm for fifteen minutes; sustainable honesty; eat from the fridge, not the pantry. Want to...
ListenEp. 24: Let's Talk About Dogs from 2015-08-05T04:01
Ep. 24: We discuss why we should take photos of everyday life; the tension that exists in love ("you're awesome" vs. "you can do better") -- and should my family get a dog? Want to get in touch? @...
ListenEp. 23: Nothing Stays in Vegas from 2015-07-29T04:01
Ep. 23: Why you should choose an office TV show; when enjoying something, do you prefer to "savor" or "spree," how to keep healthy habits while traveling; and why it's great to have a lovey-dovey h...
ListenEp. 22: Creative Habits with Guest Rosanne Cash from 2015-07-22T04:01
Ep. 22: We have a theme this week -- creativity! Save Your String, Listen to Rosanne Cash, Fight Drift, and a Lesson from the Writers' Room. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; p...
ListenEp. 21: Join a Group, Or Start Your Own from 2015-07-15T04:01
Ep. 21: Why it's a good idea to join or start a group, and also to put something on the schedule. Also, how to enjoy the present moment -- and Elizabeth again celebrates her treadmill desk. Want to...
ListenHappier With Gretchen Rubin: A Very Special Episode (All About You) from 2015-07-08T04:01
Ep. 20: Listen to listeners! We hear answers to the question, "If you could change one aspect of a relationship, what would you change?" and people's demerits and gold stars. Want to get in touch?...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Dan Harris Is 10% Happier from 2015-07-01T04:01
Ep. 19: Enjoy the fun of failure, here ABC news anchor Dan Harris discuss his on-air panic attack and why he started meditation. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Focus on Your Foundations from 2015-06-24T04:01
Ep. 18: Buy an experience, use the Strategy of Foundation (eat and drink right, sleep, move, and unclutter) and the challenge of good table manners. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabet...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: My Precious! from 2015-06-17T04:01
Ep. 17: Why it's a good idea to have an exact place for everything; beware of anything we call "our preciousss," the challenge of staying in touch, and how to re-frame the experience of plane rides...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Imitate Your Spiritual Master from 2015-06-10T04:01
Ep. 16: Imitate a spiritual master, use the Strategy of Monitoring to improve your habits, stay happy through transitions--and acknowledge pink eye right away. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: An Interview with Tom Rath (Plus Gretchen’s Favorite Office Supply!) from 2015-06-03T04:01
Ep. 15: Be a tourist in your own city, a talk with Tom Rath, the challenge of snooze alarms, Gretchen's deep appreciation of clear plastic sleeves to organize papers, and Elizabeth's bad habit of a...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Shrines, Chronotypes, and Hostess Neurosis from 2015-05-27T04:01
Ep. 14: Cultivate a shrine, know what's different about you to figure out how to set up your habits for success, and -- do you suffer from hostess neurosis? Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @e...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Stop Reading That Book! from 2015-05-20T04:01
Ep. 13: Why you should stop reading a book, a know-yourself-better quiz (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?), and the trap of free stuff. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @el...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Learning from Tigger and Eeyore from 2015-05-13T04:01
Ep. 12: Why it can be a good idea to indulge in a modest splurge, Tiggers vs. Eeyores, the challenge of road rage, and April Fool's Day pranks. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Obligers, Abundance Lovers, and Remember the Sunscreen from 2015-05-06T04:01
Ep. 11: Why we should "make the positive argument," are you a simplicity-lover or an abundance-lover, why it's hard to do the things that make us happy--and Elizabeth's sunscreen confession. Want ...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: The “Cleaning Liz’s Closet” Edition from 2015-04-29T04:01
Ep. 10: We recorded this episode as we observed one of our sisterly rituals: when we're together, we clean Elizabeth's closet. Hilarious discussion of many clutter-clearing ideas. Want to get in to...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Treat Yo'self But Don’t Say "YOLO" from 2015-04-22T04:00
Ep. 9: Treat yourself, but be wary of invoking "YOLO"; the challenge of changing someone else's habit; Elizabeth TPs a friend's house. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Deep Down, What Makes You Happy? from 2015-04-15T04:01
Ep. 8: Why we should give warm hellos and good-byes, ask ourselves what we did for fun when we were ten years old, and cultivate an atmosphere of growth. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @eli...
ListenHappier With Gretchen Rubin: Indulge Your Inner Toddler from 2015-04-08T04:01
Ep. 7: Treat yourself like a toddler, consider the "oppositional conversational style" (a/ka/ "I'm right, you're wrong"), what to do if other people won't cooperate with a habit change, and the ben...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: The Power of Envy from 2015-04-01T04:01
Ep. 6: Try the habit of weekly Power Hour, learn about yourself by asking the uncomfortable question "Whom do I envy?" and remember to enjoy the process. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @eliz...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Stop and Smell the Happy from 2015-03-25T04:01
Ep. 5: Embrace good smells, and remember that working can be one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; ha...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: Are You a Marathoner or a Sprinter? from 2015-03-18T04:01
Ep: 4: On the One-Sentence Journal, Marathoners vs. Sprinters at Work, and Parking Lot Snacks. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/4; 7...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin: The Evil Donut Bringer from 2015-03-11T04:01
Ep: 3: Gretchen and Elizabeth share one of the easiest, quickest, and most popular ways to start your day off right. Plus, they discuss Elizabeth’s biggest pet peeve at the office, and share their ...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 2: All—or Nothing? from 2015-03-04T05:01
Ep. 2: In this episode, Gretchen and Elizabeth vow to set alarms for their bed times, decide if they're abstainers or moderators, discuss how novelty boosts happiness, and share their weekly Demeri...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 1: The One-Minute Rule from 2015-02-25T01:58
Ep. 1: We discuss the one-minute rule for tackling clutter, whether you're a "satisficer" or "maximizer," the infamous one-coin loophole--plus Elizabeth talks about the treadmill desk that I gave h...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 1: The One-Minute Rule from 2015-02-25T01:58
Ep. 1: We discuss the one-minute rule for tackling clutter, whether you're a "satisficer" or "maximizer," the infamous one-coin loophole--plus Elizabeth talks about the treadmill desk that I gave h...
ListenHappier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 1: The One-Minute Rule from 2015-02-25T01:58
Ep. 1: We discuss the one-minute rule for tackling clutter, whether you're a "satisficer" or "maximizer," the infamous one-coin loophole--plus Elizabeth talks about the treadmill desk that I gave h...
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