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Ep. 532: Favorite Words, a Simple Packing Hack, and Managing Obliger-Rebellion at Work
30 april 2025 · 37 min
We explore why making a list of your favorite words ("whimsy," "crackle," "latibulate") and using them can boost happiness. We share a simple hack that makes packing easier, and we reflect on a dog-related Secret of Adulthood. We also tackle a listener question about how to manage Obliger-rebellion when facing increased workload after coworker layoffs.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerSign up for the Happier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
Happiness Hack: Ratio method of 3:1
Quiz for the Four Tendencies personality framework
I Want You to Know journal
Elizabeth is reading: Lights Out by Navessa Allen (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Catastrophe Hour by Meghan Daum (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: When the Words of Ritual Give Me My “America Feeling”
28 april 2025 · 4 min
Certain moments inspire my "America feeling"—a profound connection to the ideals of the United States. For instance, the formal words of the opening ritual for a session of the United States Supreme Court reminds me of the value of justice.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Puppy! Taffy Has Arrived
26 april 2025 · 29 min
We talk about the happiness, rewards, and challenges of having a new dog.
Resources & links related to this episode: Lees meerSupport your favorite indie booksellers and enjoy a fun perk from Bookshop
Follow me on Instagram for photos and videos of Taffy
Read Secrets of Adulthood
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan
24 april 2025 · 44 min
We’re excited to introduce you to Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan, a new show from Lemonada Media.
As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the-wall conversations will no doubt inspire anyone who’s interested in turning their own entrepreneurial dreams into a reality and anyone else who just wants to hear what really happens behind the scenes.
In this episode, you’ll hear Meghan in conversation with Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First—and a recent guest on our friendship roundtable. The two reunite to talk about redesigning workplaces for women and how to make the hard choice to put your health (and yourself) before your work.
After you listen, be sure to follow Confessions of a Female Founder wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/confessionsofafemalefounderfd
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Ep. 531: Arrive Right on Time, Benefits of Pill Organizers & the Strongest Way to Make Friends
23 april 2025 · 29 min
We discuss why arriving right on time for events makes it easier to have fun and to network (especially for introverts or newcomers). We also share the benefits of using an ordinary weekly pill organizer, and explore research supporting the Secret of Adulthood: “One of the best ways to find friends is to make friends with the friends of our friends.” Plus, a listener asks for suggestions about how to request support from family and friends after her recent diabetes diagnosis.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerHappier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
More discussion of networking in Happier in Hollywood episode 413Elizabeth is reading: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: An Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: Easy Answers or Hard Truths: Whom Do You Trust?
21 april 2025 · 10 min
When we’re trying to make a point, it’s often more effective to tell a story than to deliver a lecture. Example: an episode from the popular TV show “Better Call Saul” memorably illustrates the important truth that we’re probably better off assigning a complex problem to the person who acknowledges the difficulties rather than to the person who offers suspiciously easy answers.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Secrets of Adulthood
The Four Tendencies
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions
19 april 2025 · 29 min
In honor of the arrival of a new dog, we take a flashback to previous discussions of our lives with Barnaby, Daisy, and Nacho. We each decided to “Choose the bigger life,” and we’re very happy we did. Bonus: One of the all-time best episode of “A Little Happier,” all about Barnaby.
Resources & links related to this episode:
A Little Happier: We’ve Had Our Dog Barnaby Always.
Podcast 27: Choose the Bigger Life, Identify Your “Tell”–and I Reveal Whether I’ll Get a Dog.
Podcast 24: Take Photos of Everyday Life, the Tension that Exists in Love — and Should I Get a Dog?
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 530: Very Special Episode: Hacks, Products, and Tips for Spring Clearing & Organizing
16 april 2025 · 34 min
To get ready for spring, we share some of our favorite habits, hacks, and resources for clearing clutter and getting organized.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Tools for getting organized this springOuter Order, Inner Calm
3-Tier Organizing Cart
Magic Erasers
Command Hooks
Packing Cubes
Shelf spinner
Swedish dishclothes
Label Maker
Wall Pops
Guardsman Reusable Watermark Remover cloth
Chalk labels + markers
Small digital scale
Apothecary Jars
Bank Box
Memento Keepsake Journal
One-minute rule
Ep. 10: Clearing Elizabeth’s closet
Ep. 160: Clearing Elizabeth’s office
Ep. 210: Favorite hacks from Outer Order, Inner CalmEp. 443: Clear the Decks
Sweep the Deck
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: When One Proverb Sparks Dozens: the Inspiration of “No Receiver, No Thief”
14 april 2025 · 7 min
While writing my book "Secrets of Adulthood," I discovered how the structure of a single traditional proverb could spark dozens of new insights. The elegant formula "No X, no Y" began with the traditional wisdom "No receiver, no thief," but soon expanded into observations ranging from the paradoxical ("No expectations, no disappointment") to the historical ("No Plato, No Socrates ") to the practical ("More highways, more traffic").
Resources & links related to this episode:
Secrets of Adulthood
More highways, more traffic
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Listen In! Recordings from a Visit in Los Angeles
12 april 2025 · 30 min
During the book tour for “Secrets of Adulthood,” we had the chance to spend the day together in Los Angeles. Listen in and follow along as we hush the Corgis, clear office clutter, and learn some happy book-related news.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Secrets of Adulthood
Organization hub
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 529: Cutting Back on Cussing, Easier Traveling & Do Possessions Have Feelings?
9 april 2025 · 37 min
We explore the surprising benefits of swearing—from pain tolerance to social bonding—while also discussing why cutting back on cussing might still improve conversation quality and emotional climate. We share a listener hack for making a long, frequent car trip easier. We also consider a Know-Yourself- Better question about possessions, and we tackle a poignant listener question about maintaining family connections with adult children who seem to be creating unexpected distance after marriage.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Profane Waste by Gretchen Rubin and Dana Hoey (Amazon, Bookshop)
Four Tendencies quiz
Sign-up for my newsletter
Elizabeth is reading: Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: When Zero Isn't Nothing: The Fresh Eyes of a Basketball Beginner
7 april 2025 · 5 min
Through my "Operation Knicks Knowledge" experiment, I was astonished to learn that some professional basketball players have the number zero for their jersey number. Sometimes, a newcomer notices things that people with more knowledge take for granted.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Secrets of Adulthood
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Reading Hacks [Revisited]
5 april 2025 · 35 min
In honor of #read25in25, we're revisiting one of our Very Special Episodes about how to get more reading done. We share hacks, strategies, and tools from listeners—and our own experience.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Join our annual challenge: #read25in25 Lees meer#read25in25 PDF tracker
Don’t Break the Chain Resolution Chart
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jay Shetty on Pursuing What You Love, from IMO
3 april 2025 · 44 min
Sharing a new show from my friends at Higher Ground, called IMO. You know on Happier, Gretchen gives practical advice meant to uplift you, help you reach goals, and leave you feeling fulfilled. Similarly on IMO, Michelle Obama and her big brother Craig Robinson tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs.
Each week, they’re joined by a guest, bringing candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you.
In this episode, renowned life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to puzzle through a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. They ask: Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it?
You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigHA
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Ep. 528: Improve Your Hedonic Forecasting, Hacks for Reading More, and Mystery Revealed (Name of New Dog)
2 april 2025 · 36 min
We explore the science of "hedonic forecasting"—our often-flawed ability to predict future happiness—and share strategies to make better life decisions. We debate the right approach to a “task cascade.” Plus, as part of #Read25in25, we discuss hacks for doing more reading. Finally, an answer to the burning question: What will my family name our new dog?
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Read 25 in 25
Elizabeth is reading: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Sun City by Tove Jansson (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: A Secret Kept for Thousands of Years Inspires My Owns Secrets (of Adulthood)
31 maart 2025 · 5 min
During my daily Metropolitan Museum visits, an ancient marble sculpture connected to the Eleusinian Mysteries—one of history's best-kept secrets—inspired me to start a major creative project, “Secrets of Adulthood.”
Resources & links related to this episode:
Life in Five Senses
Outer Order, Inner Calm
Secrets of Adulthood
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Behind-the-Scenes Book Making, Secret Eating Habits, and Sisterly Memories
29 maart 2025 · 28 min
We dive behind-the-scenes about the making of Gretchen’s new book, “Secrets of Adulthood,” discussing everything from cover design to audiobook creation. Plus we raise a new question in our continuing discussions about quirky eating.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Pre-order my new book Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerTools for getting organized this spring
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 527: What a Favorite Book Reveals, Photo Selection Tips & Family Secrets Explored
26 maart 2025 · 40 min
We discuss how paying attention to the books, movies, or TV shows someone loves can provide profound insights into their character and inner life. Our happiness hack shares surprising research that shows we're actually terrible at choosing our own most flattering photos; strangers select better images of us than we do ourselves. Plus we talk to Rich Benjamin about his compelling new memoir, Talk to Me, in which he explores the history and secrets that have haunted his family.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Talk to Me by Richard Benjamin (Amazon, Bookshop)
Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
Elizabeth is reading: War and Peace and nothing else these days! (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Crush by Ada Calhoun (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: When Your Life Feels Like “Groundhog Day”: Movies That Capture Concepts
24 maart 2025 · 4 min
Sometimes, the title of a movie manages to become shorthand for entire life situations—think "The Matrix," "Gaslight," and “The Devil Wears Prada.” Also, this collection illustrates my deep appreciation for the pleasure of examples.
Resources & links related to this episode:
More Happier episode
My “24 for 24” list
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Friendship Roundtable: How to Make, Keep & Deepen Friendships
22 maart 2025 · 40 min
First in a new discussion series on happiness: Friendship Roundtable. Joining me is a longtime friend, Laurie Santos, and a new friend, Reshma Saujani. We talk about how our friendships have changed over time, how to handle conflict, and how to make new friends in adulthood. Yale professor Laurie Santos is host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast. Reshma Saujani is founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First and host of the “My So-Called Midlife” podcast.
Resources & Links Related to this episode: Lees meerFour Tendencies Quiz
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 526: The Rule of More, a Fun Way to Clear Family Clutter & More Secrets of Adulthood
19 maart 2025 · 34 min
We explore the powerful “Rule of More” that we can make our lives happier—or less happy. We share an easy yet highly effective hack for prompting the entire family to help clear clutter. Plus we share listeners’ excellent Secrets of Adulthood.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
"Read 25 in 25"
Here are my favorite products to get organizedElizabeth is reading: Say Everything: A Memoir by Ione Skye (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: The Villagers and the Crocodile: When We Assume That We’re Not Next
17 maart 2025 · 8 min
In my version of a traditional teaching story, a village is terrorized by a crocodile. This story explores the dangers of dismissing threats to others while hoping that we’ll be spared.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: We Talk Money: Finances, Love, Conflict, Debt, and Self-Knowledge
15 maart 2025 · 39 min
In a conversation with the brilliant and hilarious Ramit Sethi, we talk about “money for couples.” We discuss issues such as the four money types, how to handle conflict within a relationship, when to start talking about money when dating, red flags, and more.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Become a Super-Fan! Lees meerMoney for Couples by Ramit Sethi (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Ep. 525: Should I Get a Dog? Plus Using Podcasts to Get Tasks Done & Listener Insights
12 maart 2025 · 34 min
We explore the big question of whether to get a dog, sharing results from our listener poll, research on how pets boost happiness, and hilarious "worst-case scenarios.” We share a hack for getting tasks done more quickly and pleasantly. Plus we feature a rich collection of listener insights on restaurant plate-rotating secrets, balance-building while tooth-brushing, how grief can lead to new friendships, and more.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
We mention the podcast Side Hustle SchoolThe Library of Congress
National Archives
A Little Happier: The Efforts that Allow a Grandmother's Love to Speak Across Time
Elizabeth is reading: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Little Happier: A Truth About Human Nature, Illustrated by a Change in Basketball Rules
10 maart 2025 · 4 min
Through my "Operation Knicks Knowledge" experiment, I've discovered that basketball rules evolve constantly—and one particular change reveals a profound truth about human nature. We manage what we monitor, and we encourage what we reward.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Revisiting Everyone’s Favorite Moment: The Gift of the Ped Egg
8 maart 2025 · 40 min
In honor of our tenth anniversary, we revisit a fan-favorite episode: The one where Elizabeth talks about giving a Ped Egg to her mother-in-law. Many listeners cited this segment as one of the all-time funniest discussions on the show. We also discuss Gretchen’s travel hack, the “Bowl of Requirement,” and our favorite wedding readings.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Collection of Wedding Readings Lees meerGet in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Ep. 524 Use a Messy Closet, a 3-Hour Rule for Difficult People & Renowned Judy Blume on Reading
5 maart 2025 · 32 min
We explore a helpful approach for handling important tasks that can’t be dealt with at present, by stashing them in the metaphorical "messy closet" without guilt. Our happiness hack offers expert advice for managing social situations with difficult people. We also feature a special interview with legendary author Judy Blume about fostering a love of reading, her experiences with book banning, and insights from owning an indie bookstore.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerJoin me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Take the Four Tendencies quizElizabeth is reading: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Little Happier: A Military Pamphlet from WWII Reflects My Dream for the United States
3 maart 2025 · 6 min
During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.” Its plain words, aimed at soldiers headed to France, captured my dream for America.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Survivor Fantasy League, Gold Star for Teachers on the Subway & Reading Renaissance
1 maart 2025 · 25 min
We share what's making us happier: Survivor Fantasy League and teachers herding middle schoolers on the subway. We discuss whether reading is having a cultural moment (we think so) and explore the differences between club soda, sparkling water, and seltzer.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Take the Habits for Happiness quiz Lees meerGet in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 523: Write Your Secrets of Adulthood, Magazine Happiness & Helping the (Obliger) Helper
26 februari 2025 · 35 min
We explore the powerful practice of distilling your hard-earned observations into concise "Secrets of Adulthood,” such as "Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination" and "The more I write, the more I write." We also talk about the simple pleasure of physical magazines, and we tackle a complex Four Tendencies question about supporting an Obliger mother-in-law whose helpfulness contributed to her health problems.
Resources and links related to this episode:
A Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth--What Nebraska's and Oslo's Tourists Know
Pre-order my new book, Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerTake the Next Novel quiz
Take the Four Tendencies quiz
Elizabeth is reading: Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Give War and Peace a Chance: Tolstoyan Wisdom for Troubled Times by Andrew Kaufman (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: We All Have Our Luna Park: Places That Capture Our Imagination Forever
24 februari 2025 · 6 min
Three distinct childhood memories—from an art-carnival creator, a food writer, and a horror master—illuminate how the “luna parks” of our childhoods can live in our imaginations for our entire lives.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Very First Episode [Revisited]
22 februari 2025 · 32 min
For our 10th anniversary, we’re revisiting our very first episode of Happier. We discuss how the “one-minute rule” contributes to outer order and inner calm, the difference between a satisficer and a maximizer, and the one-coin loophole. Plus, for the first time, we give ourselves Demerits and Gold Stars.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
One Minute Rule
Are you a satisficer or a maximizer?
Better than Before
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 522: Tenth Anniversary! Best Try-This-At-Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks, and Highlights
19 februari 2025 · 41 min
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the podcast, we highlight our favorite ideas, hacks, and moments from the last decade. Everything from the “one-minute rule” to “clear the decks” to “give yourself a derby name” to Elizabeth’s famous recommendation of the Ped Egg.
Resources and links related to this episode:
Pre-order my new book, Secrets of Adulthood Lees meerBetter Than Before, my book about habit change
Follow the one-minute rule
Observe the family “update”
Identify your signature anything: color, scent, personal symbol.Go to the doctor
Celebrate minor holidays
Start a side hustle
“Identify your Happiness 911 song”
Give yourself a “derby name”
Create a five-senses portrait
Organize trinkets
Outer Order, Inner Calm bookPacking cubes
Share a podcast episode
Closet-clearing montageCleaning Elizabeth's office
Hacks for reading moreHacks for making entertaining easier and more fun
Hacks for performance
Thank-you note debate
Happiness lessons from teachers in episodes 324 and 326Object sacrificing itself
“Unplugged Episode”
Clear the Decks
Sweep the Decks
Deck the Halls
Voice memos from England
Ped Egg“Have you ever been upset by a well-intentioned gift?”
Happier in Hollywood podcast
We made merchandise! Buy your merch!
10th Anniversary Celebration Sale
Find the resources hereGet in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: The Efforts Made That Allow a Grandmother’s Love to Speak Across Time
17 februari 2025 · 4 min
The inscription on an ancient Greek grave marker illustrates the purpose of preserving art across millennia. A grandmother's words about holding her beloved grandchild, both in life and death, bridge more than two thousand years.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: The “More Happier” Debate, Do You Eat Before You Pay & Advice For Creative People
15 februari 2025 · 29 min
We review the great debate among listeners about whether our ungrammatical jokes about “More Happier” are fun—or annoying. We also discuss whether, as creative people, we expect our friends and family to read, watch, or listen to what we create. Plus we explore a silly question about whether we’d start to eat an item before we’d pay for it.
Resources and links related to this episode:
5 Things Making Me Happy Newsletter Lees meerThe Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr (Amazon, Bookshop)
Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky (Amazon, Bookshop)
After Hours with Jamie Rubin podcast
Eliza Starting at 16 podcast
People My Age podcast
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 521: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything, Part II
12 februari 2025 · 42 min
For this Very Special Episode, we answer questions from listeners about our relationships, happiness, watercolor, celebrities, our reading habits, and more.
Resources and links related to this episode:
Bookshop
Quiz: Fall In Love With Your Next Novel
Happier in Hollywood Substack
Simon Haisell's slow read of War and Peace
Five-Senses Journal
Dabble Writer
Elizabeth is reading: Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Many Lives of Anne Frank by Ruth Franklin (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: It’s Right to Do the Right Thing, Even When It Makes No Difference
10 februari 2025 · 6 min
Three distinct voices—Leonard Woolf, Gerald Heard, and Thomas Merton—point to the same truth world: The value of right action lies not in the results we achieve for others, but in the rightness of the action itself, and its significance for ourselves.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Happiness Lessons from Evacuation: When We Have to Leave Home Fast
8 februari 2025 · 30 min
We talk about the unexpected lessons Elizabeth learned during her family’s emergency evacuation from their home, from the practical (“know your zone”) to the emotional (dogs can provide comfort in displacement). We discuss how information networks proved crucial, the reality of evacuation traffic, and how different people react in crisis. We also explore how to maintain productivity during disruption and the importance of advance preparation, including the value of a well-planned "go bag" and a pre-made list of irreplaceable items.
Resources & Links Related to this episode:
Habits for Happiness Quiz
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 520: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything, Part I
5 februari 2025 · 39 min
For this Very Special Episode, we answer questions from listeners about relationships, happiness, habits, reading, writing, and working together as sisters.
Resources and links related to this episode:
Super-Fan Sign-Up
Elizabeth is reading: Colored Television by Danzy Senna (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: A Stitch in Time by Penelope Lively (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth: What Nebraska’s and Oslo’s Tourists Know
3 februari 2025 · 4 min
Through two brilliant tourism campaigns—Nebraska's "Honestly, it's not for everyone" and Oslo's “Is it even a city?”--we discover the surprising power of embracing what others might see as flaws. These campaigns reveal a liberating truth: What some see as drawbacks, others may view as advantages. It's a reminder that we're often at our most appealing when we tell truth.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Gretchen on David Duchovny’s “Fail Better”
1 februari 2025 · 49 min
We’re bringing you my conversation with David Duchovny on his podcast, Fail Better. We talk action-led thoughts and aphorisms — anything in pursuit of leaving a conversation feeling happy.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 519: College Freshman Advice, Night Snacking & a Hack for Being a Good Guest
29 januari 2025 · 40 min
We explore how advice meant for college freshmen—from practical packing tips to strategies for making friends—can benefit all of us. (Special guest: Gretchen’s daughter, currently a college freshman.) We also offer suggestions for a Rebel who struggles with late-night snacking, and share hacks for being a considerate houseguest and for getting more pleasure of reading.
Resources and links related to this episode:
Happier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
Happiness Project shop
"Five Things" newsletter
Four Tendencies quiz
Elizabeth is reading: Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: The World Changes More than We Assume
27 januari 2025 · 4 min
Through two seemingly unrelated pursuits—following the Knicks and visiting the Met—we discover a surprising truth. When we're casual observers, things appears fixed and permanent, like basketball's rules or a museum's "permanent" collection. But as we look closer and learn more, we discover that what seemed unchanging is actually in constant flux.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Happier Podcast Book Club: Bestselling Author Kate Bowler [Revisited]
25 januari 2025 · 40 min
For the Happier Podcast Book Club we’re revisiting our conversation with our friend and bestselling author Kate Bowler about her moving, funny, thought-provoking new memoir, “No Cure for Being Human.” In this wide-ranging chat we discuss her writing process, work as a “calling” vs “career” and why we can be more honest in writing than we can out loud.
Resources and links related to this episode:
#Read25in25 Lees meerElizabeth is listening to: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Zen Inklings by Donald Richie (Amazon)
No Cure for Being Human: And Other Truths I Need to Hear (Amazon, Bookshop).Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 518: Make One New Friend, Make Walking More Fun & the Benefit of Question Time
22 januari 2025 · 35 min
We discuss why and how we might try to make one new friend in 2025—a huge happiness booster. We also explore two creative happiness hacks that make it easier to stick to a habit of walking. Plus we tackle a fascinating Four Tendencies question about managing a Questioner spouse's barrage of daily questions, and we delve into how people differ in remembering their past experiences, comparing "snapshot" versus "movie" memory styles.
Resources and links related to this episode:
“The Paradox of Purpose: Those We Support Become Our Strength”
Secrets of Adulthood
Memento Keepsake Journal
One-Sentence Journal
Four Tendencies hub
Elizabeth is reading: Look Closer by David Ellis (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: When Mrs. Coverlet Was Away by Mary Nash (Amazon)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier-What Andy Warhol Taught Me About Drama Queens: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature
20 januari 2025 · 5 min
Andy Warhol's observation of stars Edie Sedgwick and Judy Garland reveals a surprising truth about why some people are drawn to those surrounded by constant drama. What seems like a flaw—perpetual chaos and drama—can actually be an attraction, offering others an escape from their own problems by becoming absorbed in someone else's compelling crisis.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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More Happier: Movies That Represent Concepts, the Pleasure of Examples & QuirkyWays of Eating
18 januari 2025 · 21 min
For Quality Screen Time, we find examples of movies that perfectly represent a concept (think “Groundhog Day.”) We also talk about the characteristic ways that people approach their meals, and the benefit of using a paper planner.
Resources and links related to this episode:
The Happier app Lees meerLegend Planner
Newsletter sign -up
Happier in Hollywood newsletterZurau Aphorisms by Franz Kafka (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 517: Strengthen Your Grip, a Haiku Hack & Musician Mike Posner Talks Happiness
15 januari 2025 · 41 min
We talk about why grip strength is an important factor for good health and fitness—and how to work on it. We share a fun and easy hack for elevating any occasion, and we talk to Grammy-nominated musician Mike Posner about his insights about success, creativity, and happiness.
Resources and links related to this episode:
"How to help those affected by fires raging across L.A."
Habits for Happiness course
http://happiercast.com/shop
Elizabeth is reading: Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Talk to Me by Rich Benjamin (Amazon, Bookshop)
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Lees meerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Little Happier: Even NBA Stars Take the Subway: A Perfect New York City Moment
13 januari 2025 · 3 min
When Marathon Day meets NBA Game Day in New York City, a truth about New York City is revealed: No matter how famous or successful you are, and no matter where you’re going, sometimes it’s just faster and easier to take the subway.
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Lees meer -
More Happier: Tools for sticking to your New Year's Resolutions [Revisited]
11 januari 2025 · 30 min
Many people use January 1 as a catalyst for habit change. While people say “new year, new you,” it’s really new year, same you! But we can find better tools and in this Very Special Episode, we're revisiting some of the most popular, effective tools. Each of these tools is available in the Happier app, or if you prefer tangible tools, many are also available in physical form.
Resources and links related to this episode:
Better Than Before
“Checklist for Habit Change.”
One-Sentence Journal Lees meerDon’t Break the Chain Journal
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices