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

More Happier: Happiness of Hiking, a Big Announcement & Can You Make Yourself Interested?

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, 202427 minEp. 65

Ep. 487: Book Club: We Talk to Writer Anne Lamott About Love, Family, and Forgiveness

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, 202440 minEp. 487

Little Happier: A Lesson Learned by Beyoncé and Solange Can Be Learned by Us, Too.

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, 20244 min

Ep. 486: Design Your Summer, Comfort vs. Adventure, & Friendship Burnout

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, 202433 minEp. 486

Little Happier: A Friend Is Startled by Her Realization About Skiing

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, 20244 min

More Happier: A Major Milestone, Getting Ideas for What to Watch or Read, & Survivor

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, 202426 minEp. 64

Ep. 485: Easy, Helpful Hacks for Summer, Surprising Whimsy, & Kelly Ripa Talks Off Camera

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, 202437 minEp. 485

Little Happier: Bob Dylan Isn’t a Singer the Way the Others Are Singers

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, 20244 min

More Happier: My Practical Advice for Graduates

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, 202424 min

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
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