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 her. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/1; 774-277-9336. To ... more
A common happiness stumbling block: interviewing for a job. We're bringing you some helpful tips for acing your next job interview. Hint: prepare! Get in touch: [email protected] on social media:@GretchenRubin on YouTube@GretchenRubin on TikTok@GretchenRubin on Instagram@GretchenRubin on Threads@LizCraft ... more
A concept from Japanese culture reframes what seems like pure misfortune—the loss of a beloved engagement ring—into an act of invisible grace and protection. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection... more
For this Very Special Episode, we discuss some of the top tools for habit change. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for making or breaking habits, but some tools are particularly effective and popular. We talk about accountability, “don’t break the chain,” track your total, and more.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @e... more
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; [email protected] in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraftGet the podcast show notes by email every week here: ... more
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: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected] in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraftGet the podcast show note... more
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 the power of changing for 30 days.Get tickets for Gretchen's book tour and Happier podcast live events at: http://gretchenrub... more
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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoic... more
Setting a finish line can help people reach a goal, but it can actually can undermine the process of forming a habit. In a letter to his son, renowned author Kurt Vonnegut explains why finish lines can be risky for writers.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected] in touch on Instagram... more
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, soft teddy bear, perhaps we don’t wholly outgrow it.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; [email protected] in touch on Ins... more
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 happier during these very difficult times. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected] in ... more
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 memoir “The Beautiful No.”Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraftGet the podcast show notes by email every w... more
For this episode of More Happier, for your weekend listening, we’re bringing you Gretchen’s recent conversation on Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. Gretchen spoke with Jonathan earlier this year about New Year’s resolutions; now they are sitting down together again to discuss how things are going halfway through... more
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 b... more
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... more
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: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to ... more
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 peo... more
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 ... more
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 w... more
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: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from ... more
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 h... more
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 ... more
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... more
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 delv... more
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 so... more