Liz and Sarah share networking event tips for those who don’t particularly like networking events. Some ideas? Look at the guest list beforehand, get there early, and try to connect with deeper conversation. In Hits & Bombs, Sarah gives a Hit to the neighbors who bandaged her bleeding finger, and Liz gives a Bomb to how long it took her to relax during her Palm Springs getaway. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah choose a Team Muse! (Their 15-year-old selves.) This week&rsqu...
Apr 10, 2025•28 min•Ep. 413
Liz and Sarah are getting ready to pitch a show, and they’re battling the bad feeling that nothing will sell. They remind themselves that no matter the climate in Hollywood, their work stays the same. The outcome will be what it will be. In Take A Hike, they discuss why their slow read of Stephen King’s memoir (with pens and highlighters in hand) is giving them a collective pep in their step. Next, The Craft (& Fain) is inspired by the revisions they did of their pitch — tr...
Apr 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 412
Liz and Sarah talk to Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Charles Duhigg, about his fantastic book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. One piece of advice? Ask the deep question. Then, in Day In The Life, they share a typical day in their work life right now. They’re kind of all over the place — in a good way! This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Charles’ Substack newsletter, The Science of Better — to improve a meeting, serve spicy food...
Mar 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 411
Sarah and Liz are Substack zealots, but they realize many listeners don’t even know what Substack is — six months ago, they’d barely heard of it. So they break down the ABC’s of Substack from a user’s point of view. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about why giving micro loans through Kiva makes her happier. Then Liz and Sarah answer a question about the signs that project isn’t going well. The biggest sign? Silence from the executives. This week’s Hollywood ...
Mar 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 410
Liz and Sarah talk to Gretchen Rubin, aka Liz’s sister, about her fantastic new book of witty and thought-provoking aphorisms, Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives. Some favorites: What can be done at any time is often done at no time. Easy children raise good parents. Accept yourself, and expect more from yourself. Choose the bigger life. This week’s Hollywood Hack is one of Sarah’s favorite skincare products — Biossance toner. Finally, Sarah r...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 409
Liz and Sarah talk to Hollywood veteran and career coach Laverne McKinnon about career transitions, career grief, and the tumult happening in Hollywood. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they share a tip that will improve your writing — set a high bar. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a product Sarah has been using for over a decade: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lip Balm. Finally, Liz recommends the limited series Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free we...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 408
Liz and Sarah have video anxiety! They’ve started making at least two videos a week for their new Substack venture, and it’s a learning curve! What do they wear? How much lighting do they need? And will they survive without Chuck editing out all their uhs and ums? In The Craft (& Fain), they discuss why they always “go down the road” — even if they end up taking a U-turn. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a great gift for the reader in your life: the Elsa Pere...
Feb 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 407
We’ve all tortured ourselves by stewing over something we said or did — or didn’t say or didn’t do. It’s time to stop the stewing! Liz and Sarah’s advice? If you think you’ve offended someone, reach out. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah talk about a reader who reframed taking a walk as “genius activation,” and it’s inspired them to reframe things in their own lives with whimsical monikers. Sarah’s now thinking of picking up poop as &...
Feb 20, 2025•24 min•Ep. 406
Sarah talks about how much her work life has improved since she got an office space in downtown Ojai — and how it’s made her realize that Liz needs to make her office into her own space too. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares how participating in Emily Gaines Demskey’s Three Good Things Substack every day has made her happier. Liz is passionate about this week’s Hollywood Hack: Croc slides. Next, Liz and Sarah both had sort of Celebrity Sightings. Liz saw a crew filming for the...
Feb 13, 2025•25 min•Ep. 405
Liz and Sarah are answering all of your questions! What advice do they have for someone new to Hollywood given the state of the industry? Do they receive residuals from TV shows they’ve worked on? What is their opinion about the ongoing legal conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? Do Jack and Violet listen to the podcast? They discuss all these and more! If you want to see videos of Liz and Sarah answering even more questions every Saturday, sign up for their free weekly S...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 404
Liz and Sarah have entered an era of completion. They’ve had so many open projects, but now some are wrapping up — or at least moving to the next phase. It feels good! In Take A Hike, Sarah shares her list of things to do instead of doom scrolling. Some ideas? Meditate, bake something gluten-free, or “organize a small space.” Next, they revisit an L v. S (Liz versus Sarah) about planners. Liz has come around to Sarah’s planner love! This week’s Hollywood Hack ...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min•Ep. 403
Liz and Sarah have decided that it’s time to embrace the identity of “content creator” — in the evolving world of Hollywood, it’s part of stepping into the future. In Take Two, they revisit the topic of allowing for “disproportionate joy.” Turns out the idea is catching! Next, in The Mailroom, they answer a question from Liz’s sister, Gretchen, about getting notes. This week’s Hollywood Hack is an upgrade of a past Hollywood Hack: Loop Switch...
Jan 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 402
Along with everyone else in Los Angeles, Liz and Sarah are feeling so much love for their city. But they’re also suffering from crisis fatigue. Every time they think life in L.A. is getting back to “normal,” something else happens. This time, it’s the devastating wildfires that have taken lives and destroyed thousands of beloved homes and businesses. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals the twenty-five categories of things she is NOT going to buy in 2025. Next, in The Craft (&am...
Jan 16, 2025•27 min•Ep. 401
It’s Episode 400 of Happier In Hollywood! Liz and Sarah are so grateful to all the listeners who are part of their dynamic podcast community! In honor of this milestone (and the state of Hollywood) Liz and Sarah are declaring a reset. They’re stepping into the future with all of the excitement and blind optimism they harnessed at the beginning of their career. Next, Liz and Sarah reveal their 2025 Team Theme — “Flower and Fly 2025.” Their symbol is a bee, and they b...
Jan 09, 2025•26 min•Ep. 400
Liz and Sarah are thrilled to announce that Happier In Hollywood has moved to Lemonada Media! It’s 2025, and Liz and Sarah are VERY excited about their huge new undertaking — they’re going to have a Substack newsletter! They’ll be sharing Hollywood spotlights of the week, pro tips, HIH retreat and meet up info, and so much more. Sign up at happierinhollywood.com or send an email to happierinhollywoodpod@substack.com . In The Happiness Project Revisited, Sarah looks back a...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 399
“Is this just a dirge?” Liz and Sarah discuss how a question from mega-producer and friend of the pod David Hoberman about a show they were working on has stayed with them for years. Sometimes a single comment can put a filter on all future work — and that’s a good thing. In Take Two, they revisit the topic of authenticity. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share why it can be so helpful to color code scenes when they’re breaking an episode. This week&r...
Dec 26, 2024•26 min
Liz and Sarah sit down with friend of the pod, Satellite Sister Liz Dolan, to talk about her new podcast Lizness School , which chronicles her fascinating year as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute. What compelled her to move to Palo Alto for nine months? Which of the institute’s three pillars of purpose, wellness, and community is resonating most with her? This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener who doesn’t like “to do&...
Dec 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 397
Inspired by the CIA (yes, really), Liz and Sarah talk about the notion of a “failure to be compelling.” From now on, they’re going to put every pitch through the Compelling Machine. In Take A Hike, they suggest organizing an Ask An Expert session in your field. It benefits the asker AND the expert. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share why a question they were asked at lunch with one of their favorite executives is a good conversation starter — “Who d...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min•Ep. 396
In a Happier In Hollywood Bonus Book Club Episode, Liz and Sarah dive into their discussion of Richard Osman’s new book, We Solve Murders . Does it qualify as a “cozy mystery?” Which character did HIH listeners like the most? And do most of us talk to loved ones who are no longer with us like one of the main characters, Steve, does? Plus so much more. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website:...
Dec 10, 2024•27 min
Liz and Sarah got notes on their latest pilot script — and they were knocked on their asses! But they’ve regrouped and are moving forward with a new structure. In Take A Hike, they talk about their new habit of hunting for disproportionate joy. Sarah never knew that a fresh journal could make her so elated! Next, in Take Two, Sarah shares her thoughts on Amazon’s Three Pines TV series, based on the Louise Penny books. Liz shares a Holiday Hollywood Hack — get ...
Dec 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 395
Happy Thanksgiving! Liz and Sarah reflect on the power of authenticity — and how women are often trained out of being authentic in the workplace. In Take A Hike, they discuss a recent revelation that having a bit of Mad Money makes life more fun. Liz and Sarah’s plan about what to do with their Mad Money? Spend a night at their favorite place, The Emerald Iguana Inn in Ojai. Then Sarah shares a meal-planning Hollywood Hack: You know the full month section of your planner? Use it for ...
Nov 28, 2024•27 min•Ep. 394
Liz and Sarah will soon receive notes on their latest pilot script, and they know they’ll need to plan some recovery time before they dive into the rewrite. It’s their job to take criticism, but they need time to process. In Take A Hike, they talk about the benefit of remaking your social media feeds — and offer listener suggestions for feel-good accounts. Want to smile? Fill your feed with mini cows! This week Liz has a Holiday Hollywood Hack: As you decorate for the holidays,...
Nov 21, 2024•26 min•Ep. 393
It’s November, which means the annual Hollywood Holiday Shut Down has begun. Liz and Sarah have a pitch ready to sell, but they’ll likely wait until 2025 to take it out to networks. In Hits & Bombs, Sarah gives a Hit to her dog Jelly Bean’s canine ophthalmologist, and Liz gives a Hit to Patricia Arquette for her amazing performance in The Act on Hulu. Then, in The Happiness Project Revisited, Sarah shares what she’s planning to do for the November theme of...
Nov 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 392
In this Bonus Episode, Liz and Sarah share their 2024 Gift Guide! They recommend everything from a cute tape measure to personalized pencils to a Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit Game. Need a gift for a dog lover? Choose the Nambe Pet Collection Dog Treat Jar. Looking for something to wear? Sarah suggests Mismatched Socks from Solmate. They also have books on the list — including the super buzzy novel All Fours by Miranda July. And if you want to splurge on yourself, get an Oura Ri...
Nov 12, 2024•33 min
Liz and Sarah sit down with friend of the pod and Entertainment Career Coach, Carole Kirschner, to discuss the state of Hollywood and what the future might hold. Carole’s advice to struggling writers? Keep working on your craft and meet as many people as you can. The business WILL turn around — eventually. In Take a Hike, Liz talks about why sometimes it’s good to surround yourself with people who don’t do what you do — like she did at a recent high school reunion i...
Nov 07, 2024•27 min•Ep. 391
Liz and Sarah announce their HIH Book Club selection — We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. Then they dive into more listener questions! How do Liz and Sarah maintain their close friendship? What are Sarah’s favorite skincare products? Would Liz consider applying to be on Survivor? Is it possible to stay positive in Hollywood right now? They answer all of these burning questions — and more! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on ...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Ep. 390
Liz and Sarah are answering all of your burning questions! What are their biggest regrets — personally and professionally? Which episode of TV they’ve written are they most proud of? How do they feel about writers using text messages in TV shows? And is Liz seeing quantifiable results from her Orange Theory Fitness classes? And so much more! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood....
Oct 24, 2024•28 min•Ep. 389
As Liz and Sarah rewrite their latest pilot script, they’re reminded that some notes never go away. From story area to outline to script, there may be an issue that keeps bumping readers. Eventually, a solution will present itself— but it may take layers of work to get there. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about why her new Oura Ring is helping her be healthier. Then Liz and Sarah give themselves a joint Hit for writing a pitch while waiting for script notes. And Liz gives a Bomb to Rea...
Oct 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 388
Liz and Sarah are making progress on their pilot script — it’s gone to the producer. In this uncertain time in Hollywood, they’re making a point to celebrate all the small victories on the development path, and this is one of them! In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about why sometimes we all need to take a “sick” day — even if we’re not actually sick. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah talk about why they still ALWAYS print a script — nothing...
Oct 10, 2024•24 min•Ep. 387
Right now Liz and Sarah are totally focused on writing their pilot script, and they’re loving that their time isn’t bifurcated or trifurcated (or even quadfurcated). In Take A Hike, Sarah shares how a recent visit from a repairman reminded her that sometimes a band-aid is good enough. At least for now. Then Liz and Sarah discuss the October theme of The Happiness Project Revisited — mindful investment. What does it mean and how are they going to embrace it? (Hint: It involves M...
Oct 03, 2024•24 min•Ep. 386
