We talk about our upcoming adventure, a hiking trip in England. Plus we discuss a big writing announcement, and debate the question of whether and why we might want to push ourselves to take an interest in some lighthearted subject. 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: happie...
Jun 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 65
Ep. 487: Book Club: We Talk to Writer Anne Lamott About Love, Family, and Forgiveness For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to renowned writer Anne Lamott about her beautiful new collection of essays, “Somehow: Thoughts on Love,” as well as her other works, such as “Bird by Bird” and “Operating Instructions,” and life in general. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Th...
Jun 19, 2024•40 min•Ep. 487
Mathew Knowles, the father and musical manager of Beyoncé and Solange, gave great advice about preparing for an important performance. 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,...
Jun 17, 2024•4 min
Ep. 486: As we do each year, we talk about how and why to design our summer. We also discuss whether we prefer comfort or adventure, as well as how to tell the differences among colds, allergies, and Covid. Plus we explore a listener’s question about feeling burned out by the friendship duties she usually enjoys. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Ins...
Jun 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 486
A casual conversation during brunch caused my friend to reevaluate her attitude toward skiing. 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 i...
Jun 10, 2024•4 min
We talk about a major milestone we just reached: one thousand episodes! Plus we discuss what suggestions for watching, reading, and listening we’ve gotten from our children, and Elizabeth mentions a TV show she’s looking forward to watching. 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 wee...
Jun 08, 2024•26 min•Ep. 64
Episode 485: We share many useful hacks from listeners about how to make summertime activities easier and more fun. We also have a candid, hilarious conversation with legendary TV talk-show host Kelly Ripa. Plus, a whimsical smartphone tool. 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 sho...
Jun 05, 2024•37 min•Ep. 485
A producer observed that Bob Dylan isn’t a singer the way that Stevie Wonder is a singer. They both belong to a group of top musicians, however, because there’s not merely one way to be a singer. 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 h...
Jun 03, 2024•4 min
Last year, I gave the commencement address for my daughter’s high-school graduation. This is the commencement address I did not give. For the actual occasion, I explored transcendent, timeless themes; here are the concrete, useful suggestions that didn’t make it into the actual commencement address. 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 @LizCra...
Jun 01, 2024•24 min
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, 2024•36 min•Ep. 484
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, 2024•5 min
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, 2024•25 min•Ep. 63
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, 2024•33 min•Ep. 483
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, 2024•3 min
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, 2024•48 min
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, 2024•34 min•Ep. 482
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, 2024•6 min
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, 2024•25 min•Ep. 62
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, 2024•37 min•Ep. 481
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, 2024•3 min
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, 2024•41 min
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, 2024•34 min•Ep. 480
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, 2024•3 min
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, 2024•23 min•Ep. 61
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, 2024•34 min•Ep. 479
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, 2024•3 min
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, 2024•35 min•Ep. 478
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, 2024•4 min
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, 2024•24 min•Ep. 60
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, 2024•36 min•Ep. 477