It's pilot production time! As Liz and Sarah prepare to shoot their pilot for ABC, The Fix , they share their hiring philosophy: "Volunteers, Not Recruits!" Only hire people who WANT to be there -- not people who have to be convinced. Then they discuss how -- from the mundane to the cosmic -- timing is everything. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal this week's old fashioned Hollywood Hack: get a library card! (This is not your mama's library!) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practic...
Mar 01, 2018•18 min
Liz and Sarah’s pilot got picked up by ABC! As they dive into production, they share the lessons they’ve learned on past pilots: if something is inevitable don't resist it, never test more than three roles at once, and always write in a horse because at some point you're going to be glad you have a cowboy. Then Liz and Sarah answer a listener question about why networks are all about reboots right now. This week's Hollywood Hack almost made Sarah want to go on a date: iPic Theaters! Finally, Liz...
Feb 22, 2018•20 min
Liz gets real about her fear of public speaking with speech coach extraordinaire Barbara Seymour Giordano. Barbara shares her tips on how to overcome fear and take control. She also talks about the importance of finding the love in your story. This week’s Hollywood Hack is chemical free and restores your natural hair color: Hairprint. Finally, in Hits and Bombs, Liz confesses her “hysterical female” moment while waiting for a pilot pick-up, and Sarah shares her heartwarming trip to Seattle to vi...
Feb 15, 2018•32 min
Sparked by a listener email, Liz and Sarah revisit the topic of freezing your eggs. Then they discuss Hollywood producing legend Robert Evans’ advice on making it: “You learn from success, kid, not failure.” Then Sarah shares how the three tiny diamonds on a ring helped her through challenging times— professionally and personally. This week's Hollywood Hack reduces motion sickness without medication: The Reliefband. Finally, Mary reveals her up close and personal Game of Thrones celebrity sighti...
Feb 08, 2018•29 min
Liz and Sarah discuss the rollercoaster that is pilot pick up season -- including the nail-biting anticipation that keeps them up for nights on end. In what other industry does so much ride on one phone call? Then they talk to Hollywood doctor and board certified physician nutrition specialist Melina Jampolis about her new book Spice Up, Slim Down. Who knew that adding a few spices to your diet could help control your blood sugar and fight Alzheimer's? (Also, is it pronounced Tur-mer-ick or Toom...
Feb 01, 2018•38 min
Liz and Sarah discuss the common phenomenon of over-apologizing. When SHOULD you say you're sorry? Then they debate the pros and cons of overbuying versus underbuying -- and share what compelled Sarah to buy a puppy stroller. This week's Hollywood Hack makes investing simple and easy -- the Robinhood app! Finally, Liz shares her Game of Thrones celebrity sighting: Peter Dinklage! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn mor...
Jan 25, 2018•21 min
Liz and Sarah choose their "team word" for 2018: Expand! Liz's 6th sense tells her that this will be their best year yet. Sarah vents about the unexpected sugar bombs in her food as she embarks on her year of no sugar. She also talks about how Diane Sanfilippo's "21 Day Sugar Detox" program is helping her stay on track. This week's Hollywood Hack is good for the environment -- aluminum straws! Finally, Mary shares her RHOBH celebrity sighting: Mohamed Hadid. (And her almost celebrity sighting of...
Jan 18, 2018•21 min
This episode is all about you! Liz and Sarah answer all of your pressing questions. How does Liz live with two first and last names? Where do sets go when no one's using them? How does Sarah manage her healthy lifestyle without obsessing? And more! Plus, their Assistant Mary offers advice on how to make friends in Los Angeles. (Insider Tip: start with finding an acquaintance.) Then this week's Hollywood Hack comes from listener Matt: Portrait Mode, the metaphor. To learn more about listener data...
Jan 11, 2018•25 min
Podcast Power! Liz and Sarah go behind the podcast curtain and talk to Panoply's Director of Nonfiction Programming and By the Book co-host Kristen Meinzer about what it takes to grow a successful podcast. Pro Tip: treat it like a college thesis. They also introduce their new assistant, Mary Mehrkens! What makes her Happier in Hollywood? Supporting her peers instead of stabbing them in the back. This week's Hollywood Hack: personalized stationery. Finally, Liz has a VEEP celebrity sighting. To l...
Jan 04, 2018•31 min
Assistant extravaganza! We talk to our former assistant, Elysse Applebaum, about her super intense Writer's Group— there’s an admissions process. We also sit down with our very first assistant, Tony Dodds (now a successful sitcom writer) to talk about what it takes to be not just a good assistant, but a GREAT one. Tony also provides this week's Hollywood Hack: using the PDF Reader to prepare a pitch. Finally, a celebrity sighting: Mandy Moore! To learn more about listener data and our privacy pr...
Dec 28, 2017•34 min
No assholes! Liz and Sarah talk to ABC's Agents of Shield Executive Producer, Maurissa Tancharoen, about her "no asshole policy" -- and about being a high-powered, ass-kicking writer/producer, boss, and mom all while living with Lupus. One way she copes — embracing the Spoon Theory. Then Liz has a Hit this week — reading books to Jack’s class at school — and Sarah has an exercise-related Bomb. Finally, this week's Hollywood Hack will up your parenting game: create a kid bag for the car. To learn...
Dec 21, 2017•33 min
This episode is all about change! Liz and Sarah discuss big changes in their professional lives and how they’re managing to stay (more or less) calm despite the chaos. They also reveal the changes they plan to make in 2018. Yes, it’s New Year’s Resolution time! Then, this week’s Hollywood Hack will up your selfie game: the Lumee. Finally, Sarah dishes on her bowling alley celebrity sighting. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-poli...
Dec 14, 2017•23 min
Sarah and Liz talk to former L.A. gang members Richard Cabral and Jose Arellano about their new podcast "Without Your Permission." Richard (who's now an Emmy-nominated actor) and Jose share how they survived traumatic childhoods, gang life, and years in prison, and then came out the other side through faith, hard work, and the help of the organization Homeboy Industries. Also, Liz responds to a listener who wants to know why she uses bad language on "Happier In Hollywood," but NOT on "Happier Wi...
Dec 07, 2017•29 min
They say "writing is rewriting," and this week Liz and Sarah talk about The Bad Draft. They've finally managed to finish a draft of their pilot script, but will it ever be... good? How do they move forward and dig in to make it not just good but great? Then they talk to Young Adult author extraordinaire Melissa De La Cruz ( The Descendants series, Alex & Eliza, Pride And Prejudice And Mistletoe )about her experience with the popular prescription drug Adderall. Taking it helped her be insanel...
Nov 30, 2017•30 min
It's officially the holidays! Liz and Sarah discuss how they cope with working over the holidays when they'd rather be drinking cocoa and making cookies. Pro tip -- compartmentalizing, setting boundaries, and reframing help them NOT turn into Grinches. Then Sarah and Liz debate the merits of giving business gifts. Will they get their lawyer wine this year? They also explain the very Hollywood concept of a "crew gift." Plus a Hollywood Holiday Hack: hire a company to put up Christmas lights! And ...
Nov 23, 2017•29 min
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 “Haunted,” “Family Ghosts,” in which people play detectives in their own family mysteries, “You Must Remember Manson,” which dives into the links between Charles Manson and Hollywood, the immersive fiction podcast “Tumanbay,” and “Battle Scars,” which features frank and sometimes funny conversations wi...
Nov 20, 2017•4 min
Emmy nominated actress Jenna Fischer ( The Office, Blades of Glory ) talks to Liz and Sarah about her new book The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide. From headshots gone wrong, to a breakdown Pottery Barn, to finally understanding that it takes fifty no's to get one yes, Jenna's experience will help anyone trying to make it in Hollywood and beyond. Then Liz and Sarah share an update on their Facebook group and the growing Happier in Hollywood community (hint — you should join!) and reveal this week...
Nov 16, 2017•37 min
Inspired by their Shondaland co-workers, Liz and Sarah reject the only-have-one-box approach to office space and embrace decorating. Then Sarah re-frames having to get up at 5 a.m. to write as a “Season of Sacrifice,” an approach she learned from a member of the Happier in Hollywood Facebook Group. Liz shares how her fantasy self and real self merged into one when she went to The Promised Land! That's right, Liz and Gretchen went to Oprah's house for a gospel brunch, which means there were celeb...
Nov 09, 2017•20 min
We've all caught ourselves binge-watching bad TV when we have deadlines that matter to us. Liz and Sarah talk to fellow writer and self-proclaimed procrastinator, Eileen Myers (Big Love, Hung, Masters of Sex), about why fear and resentment are the enemies of productivity. Eileen shares her techniques for conquering procrastination including the Pomodoro method. Liz and Sarah also answer listener questions about balancing career and family, and whether you can get a job when you're pregnant. Plus...
Nov 02, 2017•34 min
Push your boundaries! Liz and Sarah reflect on how stepping wayyyy out of their comfort zones to try new things (camping, unmedicated childbirth, even starting Happier in Hollywood) has ultimately helped them grow. Then they call their agent, Matt Solo, to answer one of Hollywood's most frequently asked questions -- How do you get an agent? They also share an update on horrible bosses. Plus, this week's Hollywood Hack -- have a morning list. To learn more about listener data and our privacy prac...
Oct 26, 2017•31 min
Emmy nominated casting director Sherry Thomas-Lane ( The Handmaid’s Tale, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead ) joins Liz and Sarah to discuss Harvey Weinstein and the sexual harassment allegations that have rocked Hollywood. Also, an update on work birthdays (we’ve seen the light!) and a Hollywood Hack about tipping. 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/adchoices ...
Oct 19, 2017•37 min
What's your currency? Liz and Sarah discuss what motivates them— and why it’s important for everyone to know their own currency. They also share how telling each other "this will be over by dinner," gets them through challenging moments. This week's Hollywood Hack: Say yes to the drink! And a celebrity sighting on the Paramount Lot. 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://podcastch...
Oct 12, 2017•21 min
Liz and Sarah have a guest co-host -- Gretchen Rubin! Liz's sister Gretchen takes a break from her The Four Tendencies book tour to weigh in on how to know if an idea is a good idea. She also offers Sarah advice on how to manage her Rebel daughter. They also debate gyms -- fancy vs. schlubby -- and share a Hollywood Hack that recently saved them a lot of money -- American Express Travel. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy L...
Oct 05, 2017•42 min
Liz and Sarah embrace their inner grinch as they debate the merits of office birthdays. (Spoiler alert: They're not fans.) After an update on the ongoing saga of Sarah's hair color, they answer a listener question about the value of an MFA in Hollywood. Liz and Sarah also check in with their former assistant, Brook, who left them earlier this year to focus on writing. Then this week's Hollywood Hack -- look up the menu and parking before a lunch meeting. To learn more about listener data and our...
Sep 28, 2017•32 min
What's on Liz and Sarah's mind? Crazy bosses! Liz and Sarah reminisce about their crazy ex-boss "Sam" and discuss the best ways to deal with difficult people in the workplace. Then they talk to Dr. Sara Gottfried about her book Younger: A Breakthrough Program to Reset Your Genes, Reverse Aging, and Turn Back the Clock 10 Years. Dr. Gottfried tells us how to shampoo our brains and why saunas might help us live longer. Plus, today's Hollywood Hack: smoothie delivery! To learn more about listener d...
Sep 21, 2017•42 min
Dr. Sherry Ross knows vaginas! OB-GYN to the stars Dr. Sherry Ross talks with Liz and Sarah about women's health-- including fertility, vaginal steaming, the Mona Lisa (all the rage in Hollywood right now) and vejazzling. And Self Improvement September continues! Liz and Sarah tackle the complicated issue of asking for what you want at work, then share a Hollywood Hack inspired by their Meditation Declaration -- use the Insight Timer app. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practic...
Sep 14, 2017•40 min
Writer's Retreat! After months of being stretched too thin, Liz and Sarah take a trip to Ojai for a writer's retreat. They discuss the productivity benefits of getting away from it all-- not just for writers, but for everyone. They also share the details of their "couples session" with spiritual guide Nancy Furst. (There was smudging, there were tears.) Finally, Liz and Sarah share a Hollywood Hack that can spare anyone in any career from unnecessary drama: Don't talk smack in public! To learn m...
Sep 07, 2017•35 min
In this episode, Liz and Sarah invite you to celebrate Self Improvement September! Each day, they will post a picture of something that improves their lives and they invite you to do the same using the hashtag #happierinhollywood. Then, a listener takes Liz to task for using beta blockers to calm her nerves before pitching. Speaking of nerves, Liz and Sarah are dealing with them big-time as they prepare to write a new script. They talk to fellow television writer, Bill Krebs, about writer's anxi...
Aug 31, 2017•28 min
Description: Do Liz and Sarah ever get jealous of other writers? What type of treadmill desks to they have? How do they deal with mansplaining? In this very special episode, Liz and Sarah answer listener questions! Plus, a listener Hollywood Hack -- buy and sell clothes on ThredUp. 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/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Aug 24, 2017•33 min
In this episode, Liz and Sarah share a wonderfully validating email from a listener who took their advice and had a professional headshot taken! Then they put in a call to their old friend, former high-powered film producer JEANNE ALLGOOD. After working on over 23 Hollywood films (including Terminator Salvation and We Are Marshall, which she executive produced) , Jeanne decided move with her family to a ranch in Montana. Jeanne shares what motivated her to pack up and leave it all behind-- and s...
Aug 17, 2017•33 min
