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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast “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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast As Liz and Sarah write the first draft of their new pilot script, they remember all over again how hard it is to face a blank page. Rewriting is so much easier than writing! In Take A Hike, they discuss why they enjoyed dressing up (and doing their hair and make up) for a recent night out together. Then, in The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah answer a question about how they became friends with a showrunner at the beginning of their career. Sarah swears this week’s Hollywood Hack will improve...
Sep 26, 2024•20 min•Ep 385•Transcript available on Metacast It’s September, and Liz and Sarah are setting their fall work agenda. They plan to write a pilot, pitch at least one show, finish their novel, and more. Ambitious? Yes. Doable? They’ll report back! Then they interview Brooke Siffrin and Aricia Skidmore-Williams, the cohosts of the mega popular podcast, Even The Rich, about why they’re not mean, what makes people succeed, and how they’ve forged their own path in Hollywood. This week’s Hollywood Hack is pe...
Sep 19, 2024•29 min•Ep 384•Transcript available on Metacast Liz and Sarah talk about getting a “heads up” before a notes call, and why having notes in advance is so helpful to the development process. In Take A Hike, they share why they’ve decided to start every workday with a ten minute meditation. Next, Liz and Sarah share two productivity tips in The Craft (& Fain). One: Label the days of the week on the calendar. Two: Set the meeting (even if you’re not ready). This week’s Hollywood Hack is a free feature on your iPhone: background noise. Finally...
Sep 12, 2024•26 min•Ep 383•Transcript available on Metacast Based on the level of productivity and flow they had during their recent time together in Ojai, Liz and Sarah are determined to spend more time in the same room — thus, they are starting Work Together Wednesdays. In HIH WFH (Happier In Hollywood Work From Home), they have a rant about wanting to return to an office. Liz is ready to wear real outfits, and Sarah is tired of sitting in her bedroom all day. Then Sarah gives herself and Violet a Hit for making the most of their summer. Liz gives hers...
Sep 05, 2024•27 min•Ep 382•Transcript available on Metacast Want to know how to deal with a toxic work environment? Curious about the best way to give feedback to a Gen Z staffer? Wondering if you should change jobs? This is the episode for you! Today Liz and Sarah talk to Kim Lessing and Kate Arend, the Co-Heads of Film and TV at Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions, about their funny, insightful podcast — Million Dollar Advice. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah’s recent outing to see the original Footloose : Find out if your local movie t...
Aug 29, 2024•29 min•Ep 381•Transcript available on Metacast 
