Happier with Gretchen Rubin - podcast cover

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Projectwww.gretchenrubin.com
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.  Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
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Episodes

Ep. 484: Document Then Destroy Bad Feelings, Ways to Train for Tough Transitions, Plus Hacks

We discuss why it can be useful to write down bad feelings on a piece of paper, then shred, toss, or burn it. We also mention a hack from a listener that makes it easier to stay in touch with far-flung friends and family, and listeners share their stories about how they’ve trained (or plan to train) for a tough transition. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCr...

May 29, 202436 minEp. 484

Little Happier: A Very Happy Moment Featuring Harry Belafonte

In the documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop,” dozens of top musicians pay tribute to Harry Belafonte in the most fitting way—by spontaneously serenading him with his signature “Day-O.” Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she di...

May 27, 20245 min

More Happier: A Three-Word Method of Style, Fictional Universes & The Joy of a New Identity

We talk about our three-word descriptions of our personal aesthetic, and what fictional universes we’d like to visit. We also discuss why it’s so energizing to have a new identity. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest New ...

May 25, 202425 minEp. 63

Ep. 483: Hacks for Summer, Coping with Inconsiderate Co-Workers & Improving a Family Party

We discuss many listener suggestions of hacks that makes summertime more fun and less work. We also tackle a question from a listener who has a co-worker who won’t stop borrowing her supplies Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shown...

May 22, 202433 minEp. 483

Little Happier: The Right Thing to Say When Someone Makes a Bad Mistake.

My husband had just the right words to reassure a friend who’d made an embarrassing mistake. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck, and love: by tuning in ...

May 20, 20243 min

More Happier: Drew Barrymore Shares a Way to Connect, Plus Some Quick, Cheap Fun (Revisited)

For this episode of More Happier, for your weekend listening, we’re bringing you our conversation with Drew Barrymore, one of our favorite interviews from the very first year of Happier . Plus we talk about having an end-of-year ritual, procrastinating about holiday decorations, and the joy of temporary tattoos. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Inst...

May 18, 202448 min

Ep. 482: How to Handle a Hard Transition, a Toys Hack, and Discussion of Our Most Popular Ideas

Ep. 482: We discuss why you might decide to train for a tough transition—perhaps for an entire year. We also revisit a listener’s response from years ago that listeners continue to comment on; it’s an idea that has deeply resonated with people. Plus we suggest an excellent hack for storing collections of stuffed animals. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraf...

May 15, 202434 minEp. 482

Little Happier: Wise and Hilarious Greatest Hits from Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is a spectacularly successful investor, and he’s also a master communicator. Lines from his “Letters to Shareholders” are easy to understand and enjoy, and are therefore more compelling and persuasive. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in...

May 13, 20246 min

More Happier: Sweep the Deck! A “Clear the Decks” Episode of Quick Tasks for Summer Prep

Because listeners asked for another “Clear the Decks” episode--where we suggest quick, manageable, tasks to accomplish while listening--this episode features a list of short tasks to help us prepare for summer. Follow along, and by the end of the episode, we’ll all have accomplished a lot. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Thre...

May 11, 202425 minEp. 62

Ep. 481: Avoid Avoidance, “Planned Maintenance,” a Cooking Hack, and Books on How Things Work

Ep. 481. We talk about why it’s helpful to try to avoid avoidance, and why “planned maintenance” is more effective than “unplanned maintenance.” Plus we share a hack for making cooking easier and faster, as well as many suggestions from listeners of excellent books about how things work. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Thread...

May 08, 202437 minEp. 481

Little Happier: Are You “Practicing the Piano” or “Playing the Piano?”

When it comes to happiness and human nature, the words and metaphors we choose have a surprisingly large influence over our actions. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life of more energy, c...

May 06, 20243 min

Why Ketchup Is Magic, and More on Delights of Taste from "Life in Five Senses"

Listen to a bonus episode featuring an excerpt from Gretchen Rubin's latest bestselling book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World . This excerpt comes from the chapter Tasting: The Taste of the Tea and the Cake, or Why Ketchup is Magic. Audio excerpt courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio from LIFE IN FIVE SENSES by Gretchen Rubin; Read by the author. © 2023 by Gretchen Rubin ℗ 2023, Penguin Random House, LLC To learn more about listener data an...

May 04, 202441 min

Ep. 480: Hacks, Hacks, and More Hacks from the Proverbs of the Professions

In this Very Special Episode, we share hilarious and insightful “proverbs of the professions”—the collective wisdom of people in particular roles or professions about how to manage the dilemmas of life. We include proverbs that come from parents, poker players, doctors, ski instructors, and many more. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizC...

May 01, 202434 minEp. 480

Little Happier: Funny Reminders to Beware of Unintended Consequences.

Three amusing examples—from the worlds of pickpockets, farmers, and archeologists—illustrate the point that we must beware of unintended consequences. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life...

Apr 29, 20243 min

More Happier: The Power of Personal Style, a Great Proposal Story, and Less Email Spam

We talk about yet another lesson from the Real Housewives: the power of a personal style. We also share a lovely marriage proposal story that involves stationery products, as well as a quick hack for reducing email spam. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/sh...

Apr 27, 202423 minEp. 61

Ep. 479: A Creativity Hack, “Happy Mail,” and How to Avoid Both Lying and Telling the Truth

We explore an imaginative, manageable way to write your autobiography, and we share a suggestion from a listener about using cards to help someone make it through a tough time. Plus listeners respond to the question from the veterinarian who didn’t want to lie about her profession, but also didn’t want to tell the truth. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraf...

Apr 24, 202434 minEp. 479

Little Happier: This Remark from 1773 Always Makes Me Laugh

I keep a list of quotations, images, and memories that make me happy or make me laugh. Whenever I’m feeling low, I conjure up one of those items to give myself a quick mental boost. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discove...

Apr 22, 20243 min

Ep. 478: An Easy Way to Make Life More Interesting, Plus Hacks for Creativity and Commuting

We talk about why it’s so enjoyable to read a book that sheds a light on how things work. We also share a hack for making driving more pleasant, as well as an easy and fun hack for sparking creativity. Plus we ask: Does your sleep feel heavy or light? Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the p...

Apr 17, 202435 minEp. 478

Little Happier: One Easy Way to Make a Tough Decision

A corporation president found an unconventional way to make a multi-million dollar decision—a solution that could be employed by any child in grade school. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a...

Apr 15, 20244 min

More Happier: Orangetheory, Excitement in Central Park, and Great Stationery

We talk about Elizabeth’s first visit to Orangetheory, Gretchen’s experience of the eclipse, and a celebration of picture books in Kansas City. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest New York Times bestselling book Life in F...

Apr 13, 202424 minEp. 60

Ep. 477: Show Yourself, Embrace Fun Plans, Realize You’re a Mentor—Plus a Great Hack for Altoids Tins

We talk about why it’s a good idea to show ourselves (inspired by a Hollywood headshot story). We also tackle a listener’s question about how to recognize when we’ve become a mentor and the happiness stumbling block of dreading plans, even when they will be a lot of fun. Plus a listener suggests a great hack for using an Altoids tin. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Thr...

Apr 10, 202436 minEp. 477

Little Happier: Justice O’Connor, “America the Beautiful,” and My America Feeling

During the memorial service for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the lyrics of “America the Beautiful” invoked the principle aim of her life, and one of the great dreams of the United States. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to...

Apr 08, 20245 min

Ep. 476: If You Want Neither to Lie nor Tell the Truth, Plus a “Silky” Debate and a Yoga-Block Hack

We talk about how we can boost happiness by paying attention to the textures in our everyday lives. We also share an easy hack for improving video meetings and share listeners’ creative ideas for #Write24in24. We also discuss a question from a listener who faces a tough challenge: for understandable reasons, she doesn’t want to lie, and she also doesn’t want to share the truth.Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @Gret...

Apr 03, 202437 minEp. 476

Little Happier: All This Junk Is an Expression of Love

When we’re unsuccessfully trying to get rid of our children’s old toys, or a sweetheart’s ragged t-shirts from college, and can’t figure out why it’s so hard to make progress, remember: all this junk is an expression of love. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest boo...

Apr 01, 20244 min

More Happier: Treadmill Days vs. Finish-Line Days, a Dance-Party Challenge, and Plans for April Fool’s Day

We explore the difference between discouraging “treadmill days” and energizing “finish-line days.” We also discuss the creative challenge of planning a good family April Fool’s Day joke and coming up with clever t-shirt mottos. Plus, the satisfaction of attending a dance party. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the ...

Mar 30, 202422 minEp. 59

Ep. 475: Listeners’ “No-Spend February” Ideas, Boost Happiness by Sending Cards, and a Quick Way to Connect

In honor of National Card and Letter Writing Month, we suggest writing cards or letters to boost happiness—perhaps as part of #Write24in24. We also share listeners’ useful insights and resources from observing “No-Spend February,” and we share a quick, easy, whimsical suggestion for staying in touch. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCr...

Mar 27, 202428 minEp. 475

Little Happier: What Seems Important Isn’t Always What’s Actually Important

What seems important when events are unfolding isn’t always what turns out to be most significant, when we look back. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck...

Mar 25, 20243 min

Ep. 474: Watch Your Vent/Non-Vent Ratio, Why Rebels Dislike SMART Goals, and Top Habits for Happiness

We talk about why it’s helpful to pay attention to how much time we spend venting, versus not venting, to our family and friends. We also answer a listener’s question about why SMART goals don’t work for Rebels, and share listeners’ creative responses to the “Habits for Happiness” quiz. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads...

Mar 20, 202433 minEp. 474

Little Happier: Dangers Don’t Always Feel Dangerous

When an activity feels ordinary—such as texting while walking—it doesn’t feel dangerous, and that familiarity can mislead us. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life of more energy, creativi...

Mar 18, 20243 min

More Happier: Quality Screen Time: Getting Free from Debt and Calmly Leading a Crowd. Plus, More Outer Order.

We talk about two shows that we’re enjoying: the YouTube Channel “Financial Audit” and the Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop.” Plus we talk about how to get lots of tips for using outer order to find more inner calm. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happierca...

Mar 16, 202424 minEp. 58
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