Latest Episodes
Little Happier: A Mystery: How Possessions Change When Their Owner Dies
October 2, 2023
- 01:47
After people die, their possessions often seem transformed, because they’re no longer animated by the animating force of their owner....
Ep. 449: Make a Mindful Investment in Yourself, a Hack for Falling Asleep, and Fun with Pop-Tarts
September 27, 2023
- 32:21
We discuss why making a mindful investment in ourselves is a good way to spendour time, energy, and money. We also suggest a hack for...
Little Happier: What’s the Real Lesson from the Tortoise and the Hare? It’s Not What You Think
September 25, 2023
- 03:10
The familiar fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” offers many possible lessons, and the most common moral—“Slow and steady wins the...
About The Show
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. Part of the Cadence13 Network.
More Episodes
Little Happier: A Mystery: How Possessions Change When Their Owner Dies
October 2, 2023
- 01:47
After people die, their possessions often seem transformed, because they’re no longer animated by the animating force of their owner....
Ep. 449: Make a Mindful Investment in Yourself, a Hack for Falling Asleep, and Fun with Pop-Tarts
September 27, 2023
- 32:21
We discuss why making a mindful investment in ourselves is a good way to spendour time, energy, and money. We also suggest a hack for...
Little Happier: What’s the Real Lesson from the Tortoise and the Hare? It’s Not What You Think
September 25, 2023
- 03:10
The familiar fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” offers many possible lessons, and the most common moral—“Slow and steady wins the...
Ep. 448: Start Your 100 Day Countdown, Try the Library, and a Deep Dive into Issues for Rebels and School: ADHD & College
September 20, 2023
- 30:12
There are 100 days left until the end of the year, so if something needs to getdone, start the countdown! We also read a listener’s...
Little Happier: Do You Like the Idea of a “Happiness Project”—or Does It Remind You of Homework?
September 18, 2023
- 02:13
Our attitude toward a habit or an activity can be dramatically changed by the words we use to describe it. I love the idea of a...
More Happier: A Case of Obliger-Rebellion, Advice About Waking Up a Child, and Do Spoilers Spoil Stories?
September 16, 2023
- 25:18
A Case of Obliger-Rebellion, Advice About Waking Up a Child, and Do Spoilers Spoil Stories?We talk about Elizabeth’s rare episode of...
Ep. 447: Give a Meaningful Compliment, Protect Your Privacy, and What’s the Least-You Thing You Do?
September 13, 2023
- 28:37
We talk about why we should pay someone a meaningful complement, and weshare many wonderful, moving compliments received by listeners....
Little Happier: Opportunity Cost and Abstainers: A New Term Can Help Us See the World in a New Way
September 11, 2023
- 02:45
New terms allow us to understand the world in a deeper way. Opportunity cost, abstainers vs. moderators, finishers vs....
Ep. 446: Re-Think Our Daily Routine, Recognize the Warning Signs of Obliger-Rebellion, and a Back-to-School Demerit
September 6, 2023
- 30:36
We talk about why it’s a good idea to re-examine our personal, work, and familyroutines to look for opportunities to improve. We also...
Little Happier: As an Upholder, I Needed an Obliger Friend to Tell Me the Right Thing to Do
September 4, 2023
- 06:05
During the covid period, my daughter Eliza returned to live on campus for her final semester of college. She was told to pack lightly,...
More Happier: The Anniversary of a Favorite Book, a Lesson in Standing Up, and the Joy of Clearing Clutter
September 2, 2023
- 21:59
We talk about the eleventh anniversary of “Happier at Home,” which is Elizabeth’s favorite book written by Gretchen. We also discuss a...
Ep. 445: Have a Happier Labor Day, Nominate Someone, and Manage the Line Between Work and Leisure
August 30, 2023
- 32:22
We reflect on two questions that can help us make our work lives happier, moreproductive, and more creative. We also talk about why it’s...
Little Happier: When Do We Say “I’m Finished” and When Do We Say “I Can Still Make It Better?”
August 28, 2023
- 04:17
A story from the life of writer Shirley Hazzard illustrates the conundrum: When do we think, “It can still be better,” and when do we...
Ep. 444: Benefit from Tools You Already Use, a Gift Idea, and Traditions for the Other “New Year”
August 23, 2023
- 23:04
We talk about why and how we might try to get more benefit from a tool wealready use, and share an idea for a gift that’ very valuable...
Little Happier: A Story About a Man Who Couldn’t Resist Tempting Food—Until He Could
August 21, 2023
- 03:54
I never forgot a story I read about a man and his eating habits, and how it illustrated an essential lesson: What we think is not...
More Happier: A Surprising Benefit of Daily Visits to the Met, a Funny Sign from the Hollywood Picket Line, and a Same-Day Book
August 19, 2023
- 19:32
We talk about how making daily visits to the Metropolitan Museum have had unintended consequences. We also discuss a funny sign from the...
Ep. 443: Clear the Decks! We Try Something New to Get Ready for September, the Other New Year
August 16, 2023
- 28:52
We’re trying something new for this episode: a fun “Clear the Decks” exercise.This time, e’re using it to help prepare to return to the...
Little Happier: Have You Ever Walked Along a Desire Path?
August 14, 2023
- 02:20
As we go through our days, we can look for “desire paths”—the natural paths that emerge as we try to find the quickest and easiest way...
Ep. 442: Take Over a Disliked Task, Check Your Passport, and When Not to Do Something for the First Time
August 9, 2023
- 23:14
We talk about why we might take over a task that someone else particularlydislikes. We also mention that it’s a good idea to check...
Little Happier: You’re a Jerk, and I’m a Responsible Parent
August 7, 2023
- 02:45
Listening to the “Office Ladies” podcast reminds me of the psychological phenomenon of the fundamental attribution error. Both of which...
More Happier: How to Create Connections (Or, Butter People Up), Great TV, and Fun with the Five Senses
August 5, 2023
- 20:25
We talk about research into how people successfully flatter others, and how those insights can help us to build strong connections in...
Ep. 441: Escape Your Taste, an Easy Way to Remember Hard Names, and New Metaphors for “Empty Nest”
August 2, 2023
- 25:15
We talk about how we can boost our happiness by escaping from our own taste.We also suggest an easy way to make it easier to remember...
Little Happier: I’m Going to Take This Thing Home, Because Otherwise Someone Else Might Steal It
July 31, 2023
- 02:53
Idaho ghost towns have a problem with vandalism, because people think, “I’ll take this home so someone else doesn't steal it." I felt...
Ep. 440: Very Special Episode: We Talk About Regret—Our Own Regrets and Listeners’ Regrets
July 26, 2023
- 32:55
In this Very Special Episode, we explore the subject of regret. We talk about themost common categories of regrets and why reflecting on...
Little Happier: Would You Pay $500,000 for a Steve Jobs Paradox?
July 24, 2023
- 01:43
An amusing paradox arose in real life: Steve Jobs put his autograph on a letter to tell someone that he didn’t sign autographs....
More Happier: The Silver Lining of Summer Camp, a Happiness Bully for Writing, and Not Getting Choked Up
July 22, 2023
- 21:56
We talk about the silver lining of having a child away at summer camp. We also discuss how a happiness bully might “encourage” someone...
Ep. 439: Suggest the Default Option, Skip a Year of an Activity You Enjoy, and More Everyday Luxuries
July 19, 2023
- 31:08
We talk about how we can make planning easier by suggesting the default optionof time and place when coordinating with other people. We...
Little Happier: Something Brilliant Came Out of My Mouth—Something I Didn’t Know I Knew
July 17, 2023
- 02:03
Looking at a ‘zine made by some friends decades ago made me realize an important truth—a truth I didn’t know that I knew.Get in touch:...
“Bonus: Commencement Address Given by Gretchen Rubin: Five Essential Paradoxes for a Happy Life”
July 15, 2023
- 17:13
In this bonus episode, listen to the commencement address I gave at my daughter’s Eleanor’s high-school graduation. To help the new...
Ep. 438: Act Like a Teenager, Pick Up Your Food in Person, and “Ask Us Anything” About Writing
July 12, 2023
- 32:26
We talk about how we can boost our happiness by acting like teenagers (the good aspects of being ateenager). We also share a suggestion...
Little Happier: Journalist Connie Chung Influenced a Generation—Without Realizing It
July 10, 2023
- 02:17
In the New York Times, Connie Wang wrote about why so many families had named their daughters “Connie”: In the journalist Connie Chung,...
More Happier: More Strength and Stamina, a New Metaphor for “Empty Nest,” and an Easy Way to Keep a Journal
July 8, 2023
- 19:29
We talk about why and how we’re redoubling our efforts to work on our strength and stamina. We also try to figure out a better metaphor...
Ep. 437: To Make a Good Connection, Talk More; Learn the Lesson of the Enron Corpus; and a Collection of Positive Trends
July 5, 2023
- 28:33
We talk about the fact that despite the widespread “reticence bias,” research suggests that we appear more likeable and interesting to a...
Little Happier: The IKEA Effect, or How We Value Things According to What They Cost Us
July 3, 2023
- 03:04
As IKEA, instant cake mixes, and meal-kit delivery services demonstrate, we often value things according to how much they cost...
Ep. 436: We Use Halfway Day to Report on How We’re Doing on Our Aims for 2023: the “Happier Trifecta”
June 28, 2023
- 35:04
We use Halfway Day as a catalyst to reflect on how we’re doing with our aims for2023. Each year, we choose a one-word theme, make a list...
Little Happier: It Might Be Boring to Read About the “Land of Happy,” But It’s Probably a Nice Place to Live
June 26, 2023
- 03:29
People sometimes assume that happiness is boring—but as philosopher Simone Weil points out, while that may be true in literature, it’s...
More Happier: Two Pleasures of Summer, Breaking in My Feet (Not My Shoes), and Benefits of Going “On Pause”
June 24, 2023
- 20:49
We each explain a reason why summer is making us happier, why it’s important to break in our feet as well as our shoes, and why going...
Ep. 435: Start a New Habit on Vacation, Cultivate Everyday Luxuries, and Memorize Street Names
June 21, 2023
- 25:34
We discuss why it’s helpful to start a new habit while on vacation, and why takinga few minutes to memorize key street names can make...
Little Happier: Where Is Timbuktu?
June 19, 2023
- 02:51
A man in Timbuktu laughed when he heard that that people think of the place as being very far away.Get in touch:...
Ep. 434: Ways to Understand a Child Better, a Hack for Showing Love, & Eleanor Gives High-School Advice
June 14, 2023
- 34:22
We discuss ways to use the “Four Tendencies” personality profiles to communicate more effectively to the children in your life, whether...
Little Happier: Why Would a Sailor Decide Never to Learn to Swim?
June 12, 2023
- 02:23
A yachtsman refused to learn to swim, so that if ever found himself in the water, he’d cling to the wreckage—why? Get in touch:...
More Happier: The Happiness of Grabbing a Dishtowel, a Clutter-Clearing Triumph, and Getting Quality Screen Time
June 10, 2023
- 18:11
We talk about why having a dishtowel at the right moment brought me an irrational boost in happiness. We also discuss a suggestion for...
Ep. 433: A Surprising Way to Lift Your Mood, How to Decide Where to Move & Ideas for a Rebel Father
June 7, 2023
- 28:59
We discuss a counter-intuitive and creative way to boost our spirits, and talkabout a terrific hack for people who need to decide where...
Little Happier: A Jammed Zipper Teaches an Important Happiness Lesson I learned a very useful lesson from a very ordinary situation.
June 5, 2023
- 02:16
If I’m complaining about a problem and asking other people to help me solve it, I should ask myself: Have I, myself, actually taken the...
Ep. 432: Happier Podcast Book Club: Surprise! We Talk About How “Life in Five Senses” Makes Us Happier
May 31, 2023
- 38:03
Happier Podcast Book Club: We have a conversation about “Life in Five Senses”—abandoned titles, mostsurprising lessons, material that...
Little Happier: An Important Lesson from a Famous Illusionist and a Fake Gorilla
May 29, 2023
- 02:38
The famous “Monkey Business Illusion” video and the memoir of magician Darren Brown point to a similar conclusion: When we pay too much...
More Happier: A Great Icebreaker Question, a Startling Realization About Where We Live, and How to Know When Work Is an Escape
May 27, 2023
- 20:09
We talk about a fun, thought-provoking question to pose when we’re trying to make conversation, we discuss an astonishing fact about...
Ep. 431: Design Your Summer, an Easy Hack to Have More Fun with Food, and a Talk on the Joy of Dressing
May 24, 2023
- 33:32
As we do each year, we consider how we plan to design our summer. We alsodiscuss a hack from a food-scientist listener about an easy way...
Little Happier: Which of the Five Senses Do People Most Often Neglect? The Answer Is Surprising.
May 22, 2023
- 04:22
Tens of thousands of people have now taken the “What’s Your Neglected Sense?” quiz. The results are unexpected.Get in touch:...
Ep. 430: Very Special Episode: Hacks, Hacks, and More Hacks for Making Entertaining Easier and More Fun
May 17, 2023
- 31:52
For this Very Special Episode, we discuss dozens of hacks for entertaining,suggested by listeners and ourselves. We have suggestions and...
Little Happier: Two Staircases in the Metropolitan Museum Illustrate a Profound Truth
May 15, 2023
- 03:20
During my daily visits to the Metropolitan Museum, I noticed something about staircases that underscored a truth I already knew: the...
More Happier: Elizabeth Talks About Being on Strike as a TV Writer and Reveals Her New Philosophy of Life
May 13, 2023
- 22:35
Elizabeth talks about the experience of being on strike as a Hollywood TV writer (and, relatedly, working on her new novel), and she...
Ep. 429: Try the Strategy of Unpairing, an Easy Travel/Exercise Hack, and When to Push Out of a Comfort Zone
May 10, 2023
- 30:42
We talk about why and how we should try the Strategy of Unpairing when trying to change a habit. We also discuss an easy way to get more...
Little Happier: “What Famous Person Was Born on My Birthday?” “You Were.”
May 8, 2023
- 01:46
A conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made me realize: it must be very odd to be a historic figure.Get in touch:...
Bonus! Hear an Excerpt from Gretchen Rubin’s New Book “Life in Five Senses.”
May 6, 2023
- 12:19
As a thank-you to “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” listeners, this bonus episode features an excerpt from the audiobook of Gretchen Rubin’s...
Ep. 428: Be a Source of Opportunity, Find Good Books to Read, and How to Cope with Difficult Family Dogs
May 3, 2023
- 27:41
We talk about how and why we should try to be a source of opportunity forothers. We also discuss listeners’ suggestions for how to deal...
Little Happier: Am I Looking for My Wallet Where the Light Is Good, or Where I Dropped It?
May 1, 2023
- 02:21
An old joke illustrates an important truth: When we’re searching for a solution, it’s often tempting to look where we can see more...
More Happier: Hiking and Clutter-Clearing in L.A., a Secret of Great TV, and Personal Upgrades.
April 29, 2023
- 20:26
During our recent time together in Los Angeles, we did many things that made us happy: hike, clear Elizabeth’s office, and drink lots of...
Ep. 427: Do the Thing You’re Encouraging Someone Else to Do, a Networking Hack, and Finisher vs. Opener
April 26, 2023
- 26:47
We talk about why, when we’re encouraging someone else to do something, we should consider doing it ourselves. We also discuss a hack to...
Little Happier: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Corgis Show That We Can Interpret the Same Situation in Different Ways
April 24, 2023
- 02:59
A story about Queen Elizabeth II and her offer to feed her corgis illustrates how the same situation can be interpreted in different...
Ep. 426: Tackle a Project by Considering the Five Senses, Enjoy More Luxury, and Hold Better Meetings
April 19, 2023
- 31:54
We talk about why it’s useful to consider the five senses as we’re tackling a project or challenge—it’s a way to boost creativity and...
Little Happier: A Place from Childhood Haunts Stephen King’s Imagination
April 17, 2023
- 02:39
In his terrific book On Writing, Stephen King recounts how a certain place from his childhood recurs repeatedly in his fiction, under...
More Happier: How to Manage the Stress of Having a Book About to Hit the Shelves: Personal Mantras & Hacks
April 15, 2023
- 28:27
Because the book “Life in Five Senses” is just a few days away from being published, we talk about ways to deal with the anxiety of...
Ep: 425: Use Touch When Talk Is Tough, Close Your Eyes in a Dressing Room, and Answers for Questioners
April 12, 2023
- 27:48
We discuss why it’s helpful to touch someone during a tough conversation (ifappropriate, of course). We mention why closing your eyes in...
Little Happier: How Teachers Changed the Lives of Steve Carrell and Adrienne Kennedy
April 10, 2023
- 02:35
For actor Steve Carrell (Michael from “The Office) and playwright Adrienne Kennedy, the influence of a childhood teacher shaped their...
Ep. 424: "Taste It by 25," Ways to Make Networking Easier, and Why 4/10 Is a Day to Consider Your Tendency
April 5, 2023
- 31:27
We talk about why it’s a good idea to taste a new food, or listen to a new kind ofmusic, before the age of 25. We also discuss why the...
Little Happier: Why Did a Neighbor Object to a Brownstone’s Bright Yellow Door?
April 3, 2023
- 01:26
A neighbor asked, “Why would you paint your door such an ugly color?” as if everyone would agree that a particular color was objectively...
More Happier: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Makes Us Happier, Good Tools Make Spring Cleaning Fun—Plus, Quiz
April 1, 2023
- 19:29
We talk about why Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback from our hometown football team, is making us happier with his initiative to...
Ep. 423: Indulge in a Nostalgia Smell, Try One of These April Fool’s Day Pranks, and an Easy Way to Stop Snacking
March 29, 2023
- 30:55
We talk about why you might indulge in a “nostalgia smell,” share listeners’suggestions for simple, fun April Fool’s Day pranks, and...
Little Happier: The Same People Are Always Late, and the Same People Are Always on Time
March 27, 2023
- 01:59
My weight-training instructor observed, “The same people are always late, and others are always on time.” Even though they’re...
Ep. 422: Create an Audio Apothecary, Questioners Don’t Like to Answer Questions—and a Terrific New Quiz!
March 22, 2023
- 27:01
We talk about why and how we might create our own “Audio Apothecary” to helpus evoke certain moods. We also discuss a handy...
Little Happier: Why I Call My Sister Elizabeth “My Sister the Sage”
March 20, 2023
- 03:05
TV writer and producer Elizabeth Craft, “my sister the sage,” has given me more than a dozen brilliant observations about the workplace...
More Happier: What It’s Like to Uncover a Family Secret, the Value of Refurbishing Your Office, and Maj-Jongg
March 18, 2023
- 30:06
With author and friend Dani Shapiro as our guest host, we talk about her experience of uncovering an old family secret, as well as the...
Ep. 421: Ways to Look Around a Museum, Advice For Obligers Resisting Accountability, and a Health Hack
March 15, 2023
- 34:19
We talk about why it’s useful to find our own way to look around a museum—and we offer some unusual suggestions. We also discuss a...
Little Happier: One Thing That Surprised Me in My Study of the Five Senses
March 13, 2023
- 03:07
Each of us inhabits our own individual, idiosyncratic sensory worlds. One example: I love the fragrance of paperwhite narcissus flowers;...
Ep. 420: Very Special Episode: A Bonanza of Hacks for Using Our Five Senses for Happier Lives
March 8, 2023
- 28:39
In the Very Special Episode, we discuss hacks for tapping in to the five sense to help make our lives happier, healthier, more...
Little Happier: Through the Eyes of Love, We Are Ageless and Untouched by Time.
March 6, 2023
- 03:40
Authors Alix Kates Schulman and Joan Didion make the same observation from their very different experiences: during their long...
More Happier: The Thrill of a Creative Spark, the Anticipation of Tickets to a Show, and We Enter the Debate on Thank-You Notes
March 4, 2023
- 20:41
We discuss the fun of “March Fourth” (March 4th) and the anticipation of going Isaac Mizrahi’s cabaret show. We also talk about getting...
Ep. 419: Easy Ways to Boost Focus, a New Kind of Birthday Celebration, and Building Unlikely Friendships
March 1, 2023
- 36:06
We discuss several ways we can tap in to our five senses to boost productivity and focus, and we share a listener’s idea for a new way...
Little Happier: A Writer Gives Me an Easy Hack for Evoking Memories
February 27, 2023
- 02:18
A writer friend told me her strategy for evoking memories, by making a “memory visit.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Ep. 418: Eighth Anniversary: Our Favorite Try-This At Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks & Highlights
February 22, 2023
- 26:38
To celebrate the eighth anniversary of the podcast, we discuss the Try-This-at-Home ideas that have resonated most with listeners over...
Little Happier: During the Covid Lockdown, a Mother Found the Right Thing to Say
February 20, 2023
- 01:46
When her daughter was feeling dejected about all the things she was missing during the Covid lockdown, a friend was able to find the...
More Happier - The Joy of Ferry Rides, the Fun of Thrillers, and the Bittersweet Feeling of Family Milestones
February 18, 2023
- 18:04
We discuss the fun of reading psychological thrillers as well as the delights of taking a New York City ferry. We also talk about the...
Ep. 417: Celebrate “Determination Day,” Start a No-Homework Book Club, and Go Outside--or Read About It
February 15, 2023
- 29:09
We talk about the fact that while most people have given up their New Year’sresolutions by February 28, we can celebrate that day as...
Little Happier: It Makes Me Happy to Watch This Football Player’s Touchdown Celebration
February 13, 2023
- 02:05
Football player Jaylen Waddle has created a “touchdown celebration” that’s funny, humble, simple, and a clever play on his distinctive...
Ep. 416: Identify and Work Through Small Conflicts, Stay in Closer Touch, and How to Say the Right Thing
February 8, 2023
- 39:08
We talk about why it’s useful to identify and work through nagging conflicts (e.g.,whether and when to make the bed, load the...
Little Happier: Patti Smith and the Haircut that Changed Her Life
February 6, 2023
- 03:14
In a striking story from her memoir Just Kids, Patti Smith describes why she decided to cut her own hair and how that decision changed...
More Happier: We Discuss How Parenthood Has Changed Us and the TV Show “Better Call Saul,” and We Both Learn Something New
February 4, 2023
- 18:54
We discuss two questions: whether parenthood has changed us and whether we ask ourselves rhetorical questions. Then we realize we’re not...
Ep. 415: Aim to Show Up, Agree on a Code Phrase for “Change the Subject,” and Why No One’s Right or Wrong
February 1, 2023
- 30:16
We talk about why it’s a good idea to aim to show up, and why it’s helpful toestablish a code phrase with your sweetheart to let them...
Little Happier: The Old Story of Stone Soup Reminds Me that Magic Solutions Usually Don’t Exist
January 30, 2023
- 06:08
In an old story, a stone magically makes a soup out of water—but you do have to add carrots, beef, cabbage, onions, milk, salt, pepper,...
Ep. 414: Think About Your Past-Self. Plus a Valentine’s Hack, and Are You and Over- or Under-Estimator?
January 25, 2023
- 29:36
We talk about why instead of thinking about our future-selves, we might think about our past-selves. Also, a listener suggests a lovely...
Little Happier: When Do I Feel the Joyous, Childhood Feeling of Expectancy?
January 23, 2023
- 03:09
Writer Betty MacDonald’s memoir reminds me that even as adults, to be happier, we should seek out experiences that will give us the...
More Happier: Guest Co-Host! The Iconic Heather Dubrow of “Real Housewives” Fame
January 21, 2023
- 19:02
For this episode, we have a surprise co-host—an iconic figure who offers her own suggestions and insights for how to be (more)...
Happier - Ep. 413: Tune in to Your Five Senses, “Go Outside 23 in 23” Even in Bad Weather, and a Hack About Dread
January 18, 2023
- 27:08
We talk about how and why we should tune in to our five senses. We also share listeners’ practical suggestions for how to “Go Outside 23...
Little Happier: A Truth About Happiness That Confused Me for a Long Time
January 16, 2023
- 03:02
For a long time, when I tried to understand the nature of happiness, I was confused by one aspect of its nature. Finally, I figured it...
Ep. 412: Turn Deprivation into Indulgence, Creative Ways to Make a “23 in 23” List, and a Fun Tradition
January 11, 2023
- 28:16
In honor of “Dry January,” we explore why we might want to turn deprivation into indulgence (with alcohol or with anything else). We...
Little Happier: Advice from Mr. Rogers that’s Useful to Both Children and Adults.
January 9, 2023
- 01:39
Fred Rogers observed that when times are bad, we should “look for the helpers.” Is this suggestion appropriate only for children, or is...
More Happier: We Celebrate Four Big Milestones: in Hollywood, Health, Holidays, and More Happier.
January 7, 2023
- 25:02
We talk about four milestones. We discuss hitting the one-year anniversary of “More Happier” as well as the eighth anniversary of a very...
Ep. 411: Revealed! Our “23 for 23” Lists of What We Want to Accomplish in 2023
January 4, 2023
- 37:33
We reveal our “23 for 23” lists of the 23 things we each want to accomplish in 2023, and talk about why making this kind of list can...
You can do better than a New Year’s resolution | How to Be a Better Human
January 3, 2023
- 38:38
Why do so many of us wait until a new calendar year to start setting our goals? Gretchen recently sat down with Chris Duffy, host of How...
Little Happier: In the Movie “Before Sunrise,” with Which Character Do You Identify?
January 2, 2023
- 02:29
In the movie “Before Sunrise,” one character says, “I always have this strange feeling that I am this very old woman…that my life is...
Happier - Ep. 410: Top Tools for Habit Change! New Year, Same You--Better Tools for Sticking to Our Good Habits
December 28, 2022
- 27:52
For this Very Special Episode, we discuss some of the top tools for habit change. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for making or...
Little Happier: Why Does One Person Possess a Certain Kind of Magic?
December 26, 2022
- 03:33
Since childhood, I’ve been reflecting on the depiction of Beatrice d’Este, a duchess from fifteenth century Italy, in E. L. Konisgburg’s...
More Happier: Deciding How to Answer a Tough Question, a Great Snack, Plans for 2023, and More
December 24, 2022
- 18:27
We talk about how a friend planned in advance about how she would answer a tough question. We also discuss a delicious, healthy snack...
Happier - Ep. 409: We Reveal Our Yearly Challenge for 2023, Plus Post-Holiday Hacks and a Suggestion for Family TV
December 21, 2022
- 26:00
We reveal our yearly challenge for “____23 in 2023,” share listeners’ ideas for post-holidays hacks, and give a suggestion for a TV show...
Little Happier: Paraprosdokian is Much Funnier Than It Sounds
December 19, 2022
- 02:34
Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter half of a statement or a phrase has an unexpected ending, which makes the...
Happier - Ep. 408: We Reveal Our One-Word Themes, a Gift-Giving Hack, and Have You Ever Had an Uncanny Experience?
December 14, 2022
- 29:21
We reflect on our one-word themes for 2022 and reveal our themes for 2023. We also share an easy family gift-giving hack, as well as...
Little Happier: Why I Often Find Myself Reciting This Nursery Rhyme. Is It Well-Known, or Not?
December 12, 2022
- 01:42
An old nursery rhyme comes in handy for describing a common situation.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
More Happier: More Corgi Fun, a Secret for Finding Lost Objects, and the Trend That’s Sweeping the Nation
December 10, 2022
- 21:21
We discuss how the fun of Corgis is helping to allay anxiety, hear from a listener’s success using a hack for finding lost objects, and...
Happier - Ep. 407: We Review our “22 for 22 Lists,” Reflect on Getting “Rest” in 2022, and Share a Travel Hack
December 7, 2022
- 35:60
We review our “22 for 2022 lists” to report on which of the 22 items we did--and didn’t—accomplish during the year. We also reflect on...
Little Happier: The Things That Go Wrong Often Make the Best Memories—Like My Daughter’s Tough Train Trip
December 5, 2022
- 03:00
A visit to the train station reminded me of a morning, years ago, when my daughter Eliza had a tough time boarding the train. It wasn’t...
Happier - Ep. 406: Why We Might Upgrade the Makeshift, Gift Ideas for Teachers, and a Great Way to Use Photographs
November 30, 2022
- 27:47
We talk about why we might upgrade the makeshift—that is, address with any temporary situations that have become permanent. We also...
Little Happier: How Do We Stay Open to Constructive Criticism, Yet Also Committed to Our Creative Vision?
November 28, 2022
- 01:59
A passage from poet Stephen Spender’s autobiography is an example of a familiar tension: How do we stay open to constructive criticism...
More Happier - Hosting a Holiday, Reducing Food Waste, Embracing Audiobooks, and Tech That Actually Helps
November 26, 2022
- 24:15
We talk about technology; it can help a person who lacks a sense of direction and also help to reduce food waste. We also discuss how we...
Happier - Ep. 405: Kevin Hart! Plus Ways to Enhance Holiday Decorating and How to Save Someone’s Life (or Your Own)
November 23, 2022
- 37:31
Hollywood legend Kevin Hart shares his insights and stories about how to dealwith the “monsters” that lurk inside each of us. We also...
Little Happier: Sometimes, When We’re the Most Thankful, We Find It Hardest to Express Gratitude.
November 21, 2022
- 03:01
In Elizabeth Strout’s novel “Oh, William!” a character recalls the loving help she was given, and how she never forgot it.Get in touch:...
Happier - Ep. 404: Holiday Gift Guide, Save Time in a Long Line, and Temple Grandin Talks About “Visual Thinking”
November 16, 2022
- 44:13
We offer many suggestions for holiday gifts, of all kinds: substantial gifts, stock-stuffers, experiences-as-gifts, and handmade. We...
Little Happier: A Strategy That Works with Children Often Works with Adults, and Vice Versa
November 14, 2022
- 01:54
Reflecting back on the ritual of dismissal from my daughter’s day camp, I’m reminded of the importance of moments of transitions—for...
More Happier - The Secret of a Successful “Summer of Health,” Hacks for Easier Holiday Prep, and How to Read More
November 12, 2022
- 20:15
We talk about why Elizabeth managed to make so much progress on her “Summer of Health” and a new hack for getting more reading done—plus...
Happier - Ep. 403: Save Someone’s Life, Preserve Friendships, Try Packing Cubes, and Does It Matter If You’re Late?
November 9, 2022
- 33:47
We talk about the question, “Have you ever saved someone’s life?” and ways thatwe might save a life. We also discuss readers’...
Little Happier: It’s Okay that My Husband Doesn’t Read My Writing
November 7, 2022
- 02:45
When a friend told me that she felt hurt that her husband didn’t want to read the draft of her memoir, I was reminded of a line from...
Happier - Ep. 402: Why We Might Buy Ourselves Flowers, How to Find an Extra Hour, and Writing a Personal Manifesto
November 2, 2022
- 34:09
Inspired by listeners, we discuss the suggestion to buy ourselves flowers. We also discuss an easy way to carve out an extra hour each...
Little Happier: Why I Don’t Have to Outrun the Bear
October 31, 2022
- 01:45
The old story about “The Bear and the Two Hikers” is funny, and it also conveys a helpful truth: Sometimes, to succeed, we don’t have to...
More Happier: Family Tradition, Using a Shared Enthusiasm to Make Friends, and the Fun of Helping
October 29, 2022
- 23:38
We talk about the satisfaction of creating an easy and fun family tradition, and why it’s so satisfying to use your strengths to help...
Happier - Ep. 401: Create a Time Capsule, Give Crackers to Your Guests, and How to Help a Rebel Arrive on Time
October 26, 2022
- 33:07
We talk about why you might create a time capsule as a way to hold on to memories. We also discuss an easy way to make a party more fun,...
Little Happier: From Two Centuries Ago, 19 Tips for Happiness
October 24, 2022
- 02:58
In 1820, English writer and cleric Sydney Smith wrote a letter to an unhappy friend with suggestions for how to cheer up. Most of the 19...
Happier - Ep. 400: 400 Episodes! Listeners Share the Podcast Ideas That Have Done the Most to Make Them Happier
October 19, 2022
- 28:01
To celebrate our 400 th episode, we share listeners’ answers to the question,“From the previous 400 episodes, what favorite ideas or...
Little Happier: One Strategy to Take the Sting Out of Painful Words
October 17, 2022
- 02:31
Laughing about the fact that something I wrote was “boring and confusing” helped me stay open to criticism.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
More Happier - Dealing with Doctors’ Appointments, Easy Travel Hacks, and Why We Might Put Someone on Mute
October 15, 2022
- 21:03
We talk about the satisfaction of dealing with doctors’ appointment, share some great travel hacks, and explore how the terminology of...
Happier - Ep. 399: Give a Holiday Gift to Your Future-Self, an Easy Photo Hack, and How to Keep Healthy Boundaries
October 12, 2022
- 33:32
We talk about how we can give a gift to our future-selves by starting to prepare for the holidays early. We also share a listener’s hack...
Little Happier: “If You’re Going to Say That, You’d Better Be Holding My Hand.”
October 10, 2022
- 02:58
The touch of another person can be powerful. In Kate Bowler’s thought-provoking memoir, “Everything Happens for a Reason,” she tells a...
Happier - Ep. 398: Rest Your Senses, Give People Time to Themselves, and Find Tranquility by Tuesday
October 5, 2022
- 34:21
We talk about how and why we might rest our senses, discuss an easy hack for making family vacation time more pleasant, and talk to...
Little Happier: Paul McCartney Is Now a Fan of the Beatles
October 3, 2022
- 03:43
Paul McCartney describes himself as a “Beatles fan.” Perhaps, after so many years, he’s experiencing the band from the outside as well...
More Happier - Happier in Hometown Kansas City, Friday Flowers, and Do You Want to Wear Shoes?
October 1, 2022
- 22:51
We talk about the happiness of spending the weekend with our parents in our hometown of Kansas City, reminisce about “Flower Fridays,”...
Happier - Ep. 397: Stop “Phubbing” People, Plus Hacks to Get Organized, Clear Clutter, and Take Medications
September 28, 2022
- 28:38
We talk about why we should stop “phubbing” (phone snubbing) people during conversations. We also share suggestions from listeners about...
Little Happier: Does Love Make You Think, “I Must Be at My Very Best?”
September 26, 2022
- 02:36
Fashion icon Diana Vreeland said of her husband, “I can remember always pulling myself up, thinking, ‘I must be at my very best.’” Her...
Happier - Ep. 396: Observe the Birthday of a Spiritual Teacher, Plus the “Arrival Fallacy” and Happiness Bullies
September 21, 2022
- 34:38
We talk about why we observe the birthday of our spiritual teachers, discuss the challenge of the “arrival fallacy,” share a hack about...
Little Happier: A Story from the Ancient World Reminds Me to Be Grateful for Literature
September 19, 2022
- 02:37
A story from ancient Greece reminded me how much we humans value literature in all its forms.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
More Happier - The Value of Childhood Friends and Road Trips, and the Joy of Being Back in a Routine
September 17, 2022
- 23:38
We talk about the special quality of childhood friendships, why it’s nice to be back in a routine after the summer, and ask the...
Happier - Ep. 395: Stay Aware of STUFF, How to Make Time to Rest, & What to Say If You’re at a Loss for Words
September 14, 2022
- 31:51
We talk about why we should stay aware of STUFF, and also how to nudge ourselves to rest even when it’s hard to stop away from the to-do...
Little Happier: More Good Advice from My Mother
September 12, 2022
- 01:42
When I became editor-in-chief of the law review at Yale Law School, my mother made a helpful observation about the nature of success.Get...
Happier - Ep. 394: Fifth Anniversary of “The Four Tendencies!” We Discuss This Personality Framework, Hacks & Insights
September 7, 2022
- 37:04
It’s the fifth anniversary of my book “The Four Tendencies,” so we discuss the “Four Tendencies,” along with hacks, insights, stories,...
Little Happier: Reframing “I Have to Do It” to “I Get to Do It”
September 5, 2022
- 02:12
Mindy Kaling and I both give examples from our lives of when we reframed “I have to do it” into “I get to do it.”Get in touch:...
More Happier - House of the Dragon, Summer of Health—and What Makes a Great Sequel or Prequel?
September 3, 2022
- 29:26
We talk about watching the new TV show “House of the Dragon,” the question of what makes a good sequel, and we celebrate a big...
Happier - Ep. 393: Celebrate Labor Day with #HappierLaborDay, an Easy Hack to Delegate Tasks--and Are You Drifting?
August 31, 2022
- 30:28
We suggest using the Labor Day holiday as a catalyst for reflection on our work lives, and also suggest questions to help identify...
Little Happier: A Free Throw in Basketball Shows the Power of Words
August 29, 2022
- 02:24
Even though players tend to have much better success with the underhanded free throw, few are willing to use this approach, for fear...
Happier - Ep. 392: When Do People Know You’ve Stopped Listening? Plus a Moving Hack and a Way to Put Down Your Phone
August 24, 2022
- 31:32
We talk about why it’s helpful to ask people, “How do you know when I’ve stopped listening?” Plus we discuss a hack that makes moving...
Little Happier: How Refusing to Give Compliments Can Be Re-Framed as an Act of Love
August 22, 2022
- 03:02
Two people give two different interpretations of a family member’s failure to compliment their appearance—one was hurt; one chose to see...
More Happier - Happiness of Easy Shopping Returns, Great Interviews of Interesting People, and Dogs
August 20, 2022
- 24:22
We talk about why we get such a happiness boost from the fact that it’s become easier to return purchases, from reading collections of...
Happier - Ep. 391: Give Your Memory a Break, a Rebel Talks to His Boss, and What Kind of Procrastinator Are You?
August 17, 2022
- 32:42
We discuss why it’s helpful to give your memory a break, how you can improve your experiences by re-considering the time of day in which...
Little Happier: Why I Remind Myself, “Get a Hold of Yourself, Meredith.”
August 15, 2022
- 01:17
I’ve always remembered a story that I heard fourth hand—from my roommate’s friend’s sister—and use it to remind myself to buck up. “Get...
Happier - Ep. 390: Very Special Episode: Tips, Hacks, and Resources for a #HappierLaborDay
August 10, 2022
- 28:27
In honor of upcoming #HappierLaborDay, we discuss different tips, hacks, and resources that have worked for listeners--and for us--to...
Little Happier: Why My Father Decided to Pay the Tourist Tax
August 8, 2022
- 01:44
When we went on a big family trip, my father told us, “We need to be willing to pay the tourist tax.” That is, by being willing...
More Happier - A Suitcase Returns, Dogs Go on a Trip, and Iconic Singer Joni Mitchell Performs Live
August 6, 2022
- 20:02
We talk about what’s making us happier: my missing suitcase showed up after a week, Elizabeth took her two corgis on the road, and we...
Happier - Ep. 389: Take Time to Do What You Do Best, a Hack to Avoid Muscle Injury, and Are You Drinking Enough Water?
August 3, 2022
- 32:19
We talk about an effective way to lower stress: take time to do what you do best. We also discuss how to avoid injury during exercise,...
Little Happier: I Am Traffic, I am Nature
August 1, 2022
- 01:09
When I complain about traffic, I remember that I am traffic. When I admire nature, I remember that I am nature.Get in touch:...
Happier - Ep. 388: Reclaim a Dormant Activity, Share a Podcast Episode, and What Kind of Collector Are You?
July 27, 2022
- 33:16
We talk about why you might try to reclaim a dormant activity and ask the question “What kind of collector are you?” And we point out...
Little Happier: One Way that TV Can Make Us Happier
July 25, 2022
- 01:44
For some people, TV can offer a kind of company that gives them comfort when they’re feeling alone or frightened.Get in touch:...
More Happier - An Airport Epiphany, a Mystery Solved, and the Happiness of More Storage
July 23, 2022
- 18:51
We talk about a realization that Elizabeth had while waiting to board an airplane, and how a visit to the Met satisfied a longtime...
Happier - Ep. 387: Create a Five-Senses Portrait, Protect Bicyclists, and Ideas for Designing Your Summer
July 20, 2022
- 31:34
We talk about why creating a five-senses portrait of someone you love can help you appreciate their outer and inner presence. We also...
Little Happier: Nothing Makes Me Happier Than a Great Twist in a Story
July 18, 2022
- 03:34
It makes me so happy to watch the video of the actors of “The Good Place” learning about the big twist in the Season One finale—to see...
Happier - Ep. 386: Find the Right Metaphor, Chop Your Salad, and Why That Line Seems to Move So Slowly
July 13, 2022
- 31:33
We discuss why choosing the right metaphor can help us better to reframe a situation, why understanding the psychology of waiting in...
Little Happier: Have You Ever Wanted Something Just Because Someone Else Wanted It?
July 11, 2022
- 02:03
Oscar Wilde and Andy Warhol made the same observation: Sometimes, we want something or do something just because we know that someone...
More Happier - The Fun of Family Travel, Challenges of TV Casting, and How to Be Happier at Home
July 9, 2022
- 20:57
We talk about summer travels, discuss a question about casting a TV show, and recommend yet more great material from Paul McCartney.Get...
Happier - Ep. 385: Keep a Commonplace Book, Hacks for Headache and Parents, and Preventing Interruptions
July 6, 2022
- 28:58
We talk about the value of keeping a commonplace book (which I’ve done since I was ten years old), and we offer a hack for keeping...
Little Happier: Do You Know Any “Help-Rejecting Complainers?”
July 4, 2022
- 02:58
Knowing the phrase “help-rejecting complainer” may make it easier to identify, and therefore address, a challenging pattern of...
Happier - Ep. 384: We Use Halfway Day to Review Our “22 for 22” Lists and #Rest22in22 (We’ve Made Some Progress)
June 29, 2022
- 33:37
July 2 is Halfway Day, and we use that date as a catalyst to review how we’re doing on our “22 for 22” lists as well as how we’re doing...
Little Happier: The Positive Value of Negative Emotions
June 27, 2022
- 03:13
People sometimes assume that “a happy life” is a life without negative emotions, but in fact, negative emotions have a crucial role to...
More Happier - The Happiness of a Paul McCartney Concert, the Joy of Aphorisms, and the Delights of Audiobooks
June 25, 2022
- 17:42
We talk about the adventure of going to a Paul McCartney concert, the joy of writing and collecting aphorisms, and the new delight of...
Happier - Ep. 383: Reflect on Your One-Word Theme, Talk to a Rebel Who Wants to Switch Jobs, and a “Cool” Hack
June 22, 2022
- 31:33
Because the year is almost half over, we review our one-word themes for 2022 to see how we’re doing. We also discuss an inexpensive item...
Little Happier: The Value of the “Quality of Keeping People Together.”
June 20, 2022
- 02:32
Gertrude Stein wrote that the poet Guillaume Apollinaire had the “quality of keeping people together.” This is a rare and important...
Happier - Ep. 382: Responsibility-Shifting Questions, Being a Better Manager, and Why You Might Rent a Salad Bowl
June 15, 2022
- 37:07
We discuss why we’re trying to stop asking responsibility-shifting questions (which we both do, often), talk about an easy way to rent...
Little Happier: The Composer Sibelius Had the Right Words to Say about Contralto Marian Anderson
June 13, 2022
- 01:41
When renowned American contralto Marian Anderson visited the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in his home, he paid her a beautiful...
More Happier - Why a Necklace and a Dimmer System Made Us Happy. Plus How to Figure Out Someone’s Tendency
June 11, 2022
- 24:30
We talk about why a necklace, a dimmer system, and a TV show made us happier. We also discuss the unintended consequences of watching...
Happier - Ep. 381: Happier Podcast Book Club: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey Talk about “The Office” and Being BFFs
June 8, 2022
- 47:07
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk about “The Office BFFs” with Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela). We discuss the...
Little Happier: Someone Else’s Enthusiasm is a Powerful Teacher
June 6, 2022
- 02:06
Little Happier: Someone Else’s Enthusiasm is a Powerful TeacherGet in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Happier - Ep. 380: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything
June 1, 2022
- 30:11
Every tenth episode is a Very Special Episode, and in this episode we answer questions from listeners about reading, TV-writing, eating...
Little Happier: Some Brilliant, Short Observations About Human Nature
May 30, 2022
- 03:06
The brilliant aphorisms of writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach shed a clear light on human nature.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
More Happier - Good News from Fantasy Island, Discovering Books from a Favorite Author, and More Dolly Parton
May 28, 2022
- 24:10
We talk about some exciting news from the world of “Fantasy Island,” discuss the happiness of discovering some new books by a favorite...
Happier - Ep. 379: Summer Songs, Family Traditions, and Trouble with a Full Cup of Coffee
May 25, 2022
- 30:39
We talk about why we’re choosing a summer song, take Deep Dive II into wonderful family traditions, and suggest a terrific gift for new...
Little Happier: How a Writer Turned Her Dislike for the Movie “Entourage” into Support for a Cause She Believed In
May 23, 2022
- 03:56
Writer Wendy Molyneux found a way to use her own quirky tastes, and her hilarious writing, to make a contribution in her own way.Get in...
Happier - Ep. 378: Ideas for Family Traditions, an Accountability Hack for Obligers, and We Reveal Our Book Club Choice
May 18, 2022
- 27:07
As we do each year, we make a plan to design our summer, and we do a deep dive into listeners’ ideas for family traditions. A listener...
Little Happier: Agatha Christie Shows How the Games of a Child Can Become the Work as the Adult
May 16, 2022
- 02:58
What we loved to do as a child, for play, we often love to do as an adult, just the way Agatha Christie loved to murmur to The...
More Happier - The Joy of Watching Movies as a Family, The Power of Music from the Past, and How to Fight Right
May 14, 2022
- 20:35
We talk about how gratifying it is to introduce children to a movie that we love, the fun of listening to music from different times of...
Happier - Ep. 377: A Month of Compliments, an Easy Fridge Hack, and Relatives Who Ask Questions During TV Shows
May 11, 2022
- 26:04
After observing complaint-free April, we now begin Complimentary May, which will be full of compliments. We also discuss an intriguing...
Little Happier: An Unexpected Insight About Love from the Beatles
May 9, 2022
- 02:58
The lives of Paul McCartney and Trevor Noah suggest the same truth: with our love, we can shape someone else’s experience of the...
Happier - Ep. 376: Organize a Pop-Up Discussion Circle, a Brunch Hack, and Helping Someone Tackle Personal Admin Tasks
May 4, 2022
- 33:51
We talk about why you might organize a pop-up discussion circle to discuss a favorite book, podcast, TV show, or a common life...
Little Happier: One of My Happiest Memories of My Mother
May 2, 2022
- 03:31
One of my happiest memories of my mother was seeing her wade through the snow to come pick me up at school. Get in touch:...
More Happier - A Rare Email Triumph, the Joy of KidLit, a Good Fraud Story, and the Smell of Coffee
April 30, 2022
- 27:38
We talk about a rare moment of triumph over email, the joys of reading children’s literature and young-adult literature, the unforeseen...
Happier - Ep. 375: The Easiest Way to Clear Clutter, a Tempting Loophole to Avoid, and How Do You Like to Socialize?
April 27, 2022
- 29:11
We talk about the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to clear clutter, discuss a popular loophole identified by a listener, and explore...
Little Happier: My Surprising Trick to Re-Visit the Places from My Past
April 25, 2022
- 03:00
I’m always looking for fresh ways to reconnect with my memories and my past, and I found a surprising way to remember my grandparents’...
Happier - Ep. 374: Refraining from Complaining, an Easy Health Hack, and We Talk about “Deaf Utopia” with Star Nyle DiMarco
April 20, 2022
- 34:38
We talk about why we’re refraining from complaining (mostly) for this month, discuss an easy but important health hack, and interview...
Little Happier - James Baldwin’s Meditation on Love Explains Why I Know the Weather in Kansas City
April 18, 2022
- 02:16
James Baldwin’s beautiful meditation on the nature of love made me realize why I always know the weather in Kansas City.Get in touch:...
More Happier - Time Is Speeding Up, a Tool for Memories, and an Unusual Know-Yourself-Better Question
April 16, 2022
- 22:14
We talk about the feeling that time is going faster, discuss a terrific tool for organizing and preserving memories, and consider the...
Happier - Ep. 373: Ask for Knock, Dealing with “Obliger Shame,” and a Great Creativity Booster
April 13, 2022
- 24:17
We talk about why it’s useful to ask for a knock, how to deal with “Obliger Shame,” and share a listener’s terrific suggestion of an...
Little Happier - A Happiness Lesson from Alice in Wonderland About “Jam Today.”
April 11, 2022
- 02:14
The White Queen told Alice in Wonderland, “The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday—but never jam today.” When it comes to following...
Happier - Ep. 372: Make the Plan, Use the Print Function, and Susan Cain Describes the Beauty of the Bittersweet
April 6, 2022
- 32:16
We talk about why we should be the one to make the plan, a listener suggests ahack for making it easier to use online recipes, and...
Little Happier - Can We Rise to the Occasion? Is This Our Moment to Sing the Aria?
April 4, 2022
- 02:15
When something challenging happens, we must ask ourselves, “Can I rise to the occasion? Will I sing the aria?”Get in touch:...
More Happier - Trying To Fall Asleep? Listen to This Quiet Talk About Roles on a TV Set
April 2, 2022
- 36:58
For listeners who have trouble falling asleep, we record a calm, leisurely conversation that’s interesting enough to hold listeners’...
Happier - Ep. 371: A Talk with Matt Damon! And a Complaint-Free Month and Hack for Photo Albums.
March 30, 2022
- 34:32
We talk to superstar Matt Damon and water expert Gary White about “The Worth of Water.” We also decide to observe a complaint-free...
Little Happier - Even as a Member of the Beatles, It’s Possible to Feel Left Out and Bad at Your Job
March 28, 2022
- 02:42
A story told by Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles, is a good reminder that we can’t know how other people are feeling—which is...
Happier - Ep. 370: Very Special Episode! Hacks and Suggestions for Getting More Rest
March 23, 2022
- 29:29
In this Very Special Episode, in honor of #Rest22in22, we talk about how our own rest is going, and share hacks and suggestions from...
Little Happier - The Danger of Finish Lines, According to Kurt Vonnegut
March 21, 2022
- 01:57
Setting a finish line can help people reach a goal, but it can actually can undermine the process of forming a habit. In a letter to his...
More Happier - The Joy of Being a Minor Expert, Having Two Dogs, and Counting Your Steps
March 19, 2022
- 20:55
We talk about why learning more about the Beatles and watching short videos makes us happier—and the experience of having two dogs. Plus...
Happier - Ep. 369: Burned Out? Identify the Problem! Plus Kathryn Schulz Talks Love and Loss
March 16, 2022
- 36:56
Feeling burned out? We talk about the first, crucial step toward a solution: Identify the problem. Plus we talk about how to help in...
Little Happier - The Surreal Aphorisms of Comedian Steven Wright Shed Light on Human Nature
March 14, 2022
- 02:22
With his surreal one-liners, comedian Steven Wright helps us to understand human nature and the world in a clearer (and more hilarious)...
Happier - Ep. 368: Think by Talking, Start a Puzzle Exchange, and More Dates for the Calendar of Catalysts
March 9, 2022
- 30:24
We discuss why, when faced with a challenge, you might talk it through to think it through; why it could be fun to start a puzzle...
Little Happier - It Makes Me Happy to Think of the Calm, Alert Expression of a Child
March 7, 2022
- 02:45
A clinician working with a mother and child—as well as my own mother—gave helpful reminders to take notice of the people around us.Get...
More Happier - Snow Monkeys in Hot Springs, Creative Types, Quality Screen Time—and a Question about Mr. Roarke
March 5, 2022
- 27:54
We talk about why the sight of snow monkeys relaxing in hot springs makes us happier, how we can know ourselves better and grow closer...
Happier - Ep. 367: Try a 30-Day Challenge and the Joy of Scratch-Offs. Frank Bruni Talks About “The Beauty of Dusk.”
March 2, 2022
- 30:47
We discuss how to use thirty-day challenges as a way to stay engaged with your aims, and we also suggest a very simple and fun happiness...
Little Happier: Aesop’s Fable about the Fox and the Stork Illustrates an Important Truth about People
February 28, 2022
- 02:26
In Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Stork,” the Fox and the Stork play tricks on each other, and their actions illustrate an important...
Happier - Ep. 366: Seventh Anniversary! Our Favorite Try-This-at-Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks & Highlights
February 23, 2022
- 34:56
We just passed the seventh anniversary of the podcast! We looked back at our favorite moments from the previous year—the most popular...
Little Happier: The Anniversary of One of the Happiest Days of My Life
February 21, 2022
- 03:39
Every year, I celebrate the anniversary of one of the happiest days of my life.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
More Happier - Another Insight from The Beatles, Plus How to Jump-Start the Habit of Exercise
February 19, 2022
- 21:31
We discuss yet another realization after watching the “Get Back” documentary about the Beatles, we talk about how to get a jump-start...
Happier - Ep. 365: Go Exploring in Your Own House. What Food Texture Do You Prefer? And Elizabeth Has a New Dog
February 16, 2022
- 28:10
We talk about why we might go exploring in our home or office, and suggestsome easy hacks for getting things done. We discuss whether...
Little Happier: You Love Engineering and You Love Baking. Can That Be a Career?
February 14, 2022
- 02:27
In the Netflix TV show “Baking Impossible,” Andrew Smyth combines a passion for engineering with a passion for baking. Sometimes, it’s...
Happier - Ep. 364: Use the “Calendar of Catalysts,” How to Work Joyfully for Change, and a Great Gift for Booklovers
February 9, 2022
- 34:32
We discuss the “Calendar of Catalysts,” which is a list of many different calendar dates to consider using for a fresh start. We also...
Little Happier: What’s the Best Way to Change a Habit?
February 7, 2022
- 02:28
Whenever people ask me, “What’s the right way to change a habit? If you had to pick one best way, what would you say?” I answer, “What’s...
More Happier: Why We Love the Beatles Doc “Get Back,” Plus How to Get More Reading Done
February 5, 2022
- 28:58
We discuss the brilliant Beatles documentary “Get Back”—why we loved it so much, and what we learned from watching the creative process....
Happier - Ep. 363: Push Beyond a 30-Day “Challenge,” a Hack for Taking Pills, and Listeners Share Their One-Word Themes
February 2, 2022
- 29:07
We talk about the challenge of “30-day challenges” and how to push beyond the30 days, we suggest several ways to make it easier to...
Little Happier: Stephen Sondheim’s Rambling Style Wasn’t a Bug, It Was a Feature.
January 31, 2022
- 03:23
Legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim dealt with a challenging situation by figuring out how to harness his own particular...
Happier - Ep. 362: Give Yourself a Derby Name, an Easy Way to Give Yourself a Treat, and a Conversation with “The Good Place” Creator Mike Schur.
January 26, 2022
- 28:35
We talk about why you might give yourself a derby name (and reveal our names), discuss a suggestion for a listener about an easy way to...
Little Happier: The Happy Story of When Carol Burnett Fired Harvey Korman
January 24, 2022
- 03:10
I was fascinated to read a story from the life of the legendary comedian Carol Burnett.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
More Happier - Tackling an Eyesore, the Unforeseen Consequences of Getting a Dog, and YouTube!
January 22, 2022
- 21:55
We discuss the immense satisfaction that comes from clearing a messy shelf, Elizabeth describes some unforeseen consequences of getting...
Happier - Ep. 361: Cultivate a Rest Ritual. Celebrate “Twos-Day.” How to Stop Reading and Begin a Habit.
January 19, 2022
- 27:54
We discuss why you might cultivate a rest ritual, especially if you’re joining us for #Rest22in22. We also talk about celebrating the...
Little Happier: “Don’t Be So Modest. You’re Not That Good.”
January 17, 2022
- 02:41
Learning the words “humblebrag” and “humblevain” helped me see the world in a new way.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Happier - Ep. 360: Very Special Episode! Want to Change a Habit? Start Here.
January 12, 2022
- 35:13
There are 21 strategies we can use to make or break our habits. In this Very Special Episode, we highlight the seven strategies that...
Little Happier: Remember the Dog that Doesn’t Bark.
January 10, 2022
- 02:28
In a famous short story, detective Sherlock Holmes points to “the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime.” In my own life, I...
More Happier - Welcome to More Happier! The Beatles, the Real Housewives, and Why We Should Do What We Want
January 8, 2022
- 22:03
It's the first episode of "More Happier," the new bi-weekly series for 2022. We discuss what's making us more happier right now, and we...
Happier - Ep. 359: We Reveal our “22 in 2022” Lists! Plus a Way to Ship Items More Securely.
January 5, 2022
- 41:23
We reveal our “22 for 2022” lists, and we share a simple hack for shipping items more securely.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little Happier: If You Don’t Know the Answer, Don’t Ask the Question
January 3, 2022
- 02:22
A thought-provoking collection of proverbs from the legal profession offers wisdom even to people who aren’t lawyers.Get in touch:...
Ep. 358: Choose Your One-Word Theme for 2022 (We Reveal Ours). What Habit Loopholes Do You Use? Plus a Hack for Curiousity.
December 29, 2021
- 32:56
We discuss our experience with our one-word themes for 2021 and reveal our one-word themes for 2022. A listener suggests a terrific,...
Little Happier: Why It’s Okay to Be Boring
December 27, 2021
- 02:13
A passage from Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle reminded me of my own family’s practice of “update.” The fact...
Ep. 357: We Reveal the Yearly Challenge to “[Fill in the Blank] 22 in 2022.” Plus We Announce a Big Change to the Podcast.
December 22, 2021
- 28:54
Following on our challenges to “Walk 20 in 2020” and “Read 21 in 2021,” we reveal our (excellent) yearly challenge for 2022. Plus we...
Little Happier: An Ancient Story Gave Me a New Appreciation for the Beauty of Trees
December 20, 2021
- 00:59
A thought-provoking story from ancient times, in The Histories of Herodotus, gave me more appreciation for the beauty of trees.Get in...
Ep. 356: We Review Our “21 for 21” Lists. Do You Have Foreground and Background Senses? Plus Some Easy Holiday Hacks.
December 15, 2021
- 33:06
We review our “21 for 21” lists to see how we did, and we discuss some easy, fun holiday hacks. Plus we ask listeners a question: “With...
Little Happier: Do You Feel Like a Real Grown-Up? I Don’t.
December 13, 2021
- 01:47
On a trip to a department store, I told my husband, “We’ll buy the nice towels when we’re really grown up”—but we are grown up. I remind...
Ep. 355: Talk to Yourself by Name. Make a “To Don’t” List. How to Resist Over-Buying.
December 8, 2021
- 29:59
We talk about why it’s helpful to talk to yourself in the third person, a listener suggests the hack of making a “To Don’t” list, and we...
Little Happier: I Appreciate Anything That Helps Me to Pay Attention
December 6, 2021
- 04:11
A visit to an art gallery reminds me that it’s our listening that makes a conversation important; it's our vision that makes a...
Ep. 354: Consider the Vital 9 to Plan Your Aims for 2022. Boost Your Foot Comfort Level. With Magic, How Would You Change?
December 1, 2021
- 32:19
To begin to plan our aims for 2022, we discuss the “Vital 9,” the areas in which most people’s aims fall. We also consider a few...
Little Happier: Why a Taxi-Driver and I Saw Two Different Streets
November 29, 2021
- 01:44
As we looked at children playing in the street, the taxi driver and I saw two different scenes.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 353: Happier Gift Guide: Great Gifts to Help People Get Happier. Plus a Gratitude Hack
November 24, 2021
- 27:32
We discuss suggestions from listeners about suggestions for gifts that will help recipients to be happier, healthier, and more...
Little Happier: Now You’ll Be Working All the Time
November 22, 2021
- 02:12
When a friend quit her job to work as an artist, someone told her, “Now you’ll be working all the time.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 352: Try the “Happier” App! To Help You Become Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Creative
November 17, 2021
- 30:58
Announcing the new “Happier” app! Convenient, appealing, and intuitive, it offers many tools and strategies to help users to get...
Little Happier: The Sound of My Shoes Clicking on Marble Reminded Me of My Past
November 15, 2021
- 02:50
The distinctive click of my shoes against marble connected me to two memories from different points in my life. Our five senses help to...
Ep. 351: Consider Getting a Dog (Elizabeth Did). Do You Celebrate Moments? Spend 20 Minutes on Joy Each Day.
November 10, 2021
- 31:25
Elizabeth suggests that you consider getting a dog (or a pet); she and her family have been joined by Nacho, a corgi! Tiffany Dufu...
Little Happier: In a Public Restroom, Which Stall Do You Choose?
November 8, 2021
- 01:35
A woman told me her clever system for choosing the least-used stall in a public restroom, which reminded me that we’re more alike, and...
Ep. 350: Very Special Episode: Listeners Suggest Apps That Put the “App” in “Happier”
November 3, 2021
- 29:31
Listeners suggest apps that help them to become happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative—and more organized with...
Little Happier: In Ancient Greece, Two Painters Held a Contest. Who Won?
November 1, 2021
- 01:16
A delightful story from the ancient world describes a contest between two artists that was decided in a surprising way.Get in touch:...
Ep. 349: Happier Podcast Book Club: Kate Bowler Talks About Why There’s “No Cure for Being Human”
October 27, 2021
- 38:40
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Duke Divinity School professor Kate Bowler about her moving, funny, thought-provoking new...
Little Happier: You Can’t Win the Hands You Don’t Play
October 25, 2021
- 01:52
A thought-provoking collection of proverbs from poker-players offers wisdom even to people who aren’t playing poker.Get in touch:...
Ep. 348: Make a Choice (Like an Actor). Do a Favor for Your Future Self. Liz Lange Talks About Secrets, Success, Loss
October 20, 2021
- 34:37
We discuss how we can make a choice (like an actor), how we can do a favor for our future selves, and we talk to Liz Lange about her...
Little Happier: Happiness Doesn’t Always Make Us Feel Happy
October 18, 2021
- 02:16
A friend didn’t want to spend Thanksgiving with his family, but he did it anyway. Happiness doesn’t always make us feel happy.Get in...
Bonus Episode: Staying Happy During a Sudden Move to a New Town—Sarah Fain Reports
October 15, 2021
- 39:19
How do you stay happy when you suddenly decide it’s time for you and your daughter to move to a new town? And how do you make that...
Ep. 347: Consider: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature. Help Someone Ease into a New Job. How to Deal with Big Change?
October 13, 2021
- 31:38
We talk about why it can be helpful to consider, “Maybe this isn’t a bug, it’s a feature”; we discuss a hack for helping someone get...
Little Happier: Does a Teddy Bear Comfort You, Even Now?
October 11, 2021
- 02:33
Author John Green’s reflection on the moment when he realized that he was no longer comforted by his teddy bear is a reminder that...
Ep. 346: Keep Lists in the Way That’s Right for You. Avoid a Routine. Celebrate Something Surprising.
October 6, 2021
- 26:15
We talk about why we should keep to-do lists in the way that’s right for us (and we discuss the “Tackle Box” that give five options),...
Little Happier: Nebraska’s Tourist Slogan Offers a Valuable—and Hilarious—Lesson in Happiness
October 4, 2021
- 03:18
Nebraska’s hilarious tourist slogan demonstrates that it’s often most effective to admit the truth, even when that truth might not be...
Ep. 345: Escape from Zombie Mode, Help People Say “No,” and What Do You Want to Be Known For?
September 29, 2021
- 31:20
We discuss strategies for escaping “zombie mode,” share a hack to make it easy for people to say “no,” and talk to Crystal Ellefsen...
Little Happier: Mindy Kaling’s “Rules for Writing” Show That We Can Be Funny Without Being Mean
September 27, 2021
- 03:56
Mindy Kaling is a successful and productive writer, actor, and director. She’s hilarious and brilliant. In her “Rules for Writing,” she...
Ep. 344: How to Do a Quick Good Deed that Could Have Big Consequences, a Hack for Cutting Ourselves Some Slack, and an Interview with Anderson Cooper
September 22, 2021
- 38:52
We discuss a listener’s suggestion for an important way to help others, we talk about giving ourselves a “mercy week” during...
Little Happier: A Father Ate the Bananas Intended for His Children, and His Son Never Viewed Him the Same Way
September 20, 2021
- 04:20
Writer Auberon Waugh tells the story of how his father, novelist Evelyn Waugh, ate the bananas—at that time, a very rare treat--intended...
Ep. 343: Keep a Journal in the Way That’s Right for You, Check in with #Read21in21, and Health Hacks from Cassy Joy Garcia
September 15, 2021
- 28:28
We talk about why you should keep a journal in the way that’s right for you—and discuss several different journal options, depending on...
Little Happier: Writer Ann Patchett Describes How Sometimes, We Can Minister to the Spirit through the Body
September 13, 2021
- 01:50
In her brilliant memoir Truth and Beauty, Ann Patchett recalls how she helps a troubled friend by tapping into the power of the five...
Ep. 342: Join the Work Happier Challenge, Use a Rubber Duck to Tackle a Tough Problem, and How to Fight Against Falling into Zombie Mode
September 8, 2021
- 30:28
We suggest taking the free “Work Happier Challenge” by text as we head into the “other January” of September, explain why talking to a...
Little Happier: Actor Andrew McCarthy Faces the Question of How, as a Parent, to Acknowledge a Child’s Pain
September 6, 2021
- 02:53
When the young son of actor and writer Andrew McCarthy raised a tough issue, his father found the right words to respond.Get in touch:...
Ep. 341: Find Something Unconventional to Celebrate, How to Deal with a Happiness Regret, and Listeners Suggest Ways to Deal with a Talkative Co-worker
September 1, 2021
- 29:56
Inspired by “Garbage Eve,” we discuss about why we might find something unconventional to celebrate, we talk about listeners’...
Little Happier: For Writer Isabel Allende, January 8 Is the Right Day to Begin.
August 30, 2021
- 03:25
In remembrance of her grandfather’s death, writer Isabel Allende starts all her new books on January 8, which for her is the right day...
Ep. 340: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything
August 25, 2021
- 34:31
Every tenth episode is a Very Special Episode, and this episode is an “Ask Us Anything.” We answer listener questions about our parents,...
Little Happier: Ordinary Belongings Become Precious as They Persist—Like My Parents’ Brown Bowl
August 23, 2021
- 01:49
Ordinary belongings become precious as they persist. They make us feel rooted in our own existence, with the comforting feeling that...
Ep. 339: Why It’s More Helpful to Ask for Help than to Show Anger, a Listener Struggles with a Talkative Co-Worker, and What Textures Do You Enjoy Most?
August 18, 2021
- 29:28
We discuss why, if we’re facing a challenge, it can be more helpful to focus on need than anger, explore a know-yourself-better question...
Little Happier: Musician Rosanne Cash Reminds Me of a Paradox: Love Is Unconditional, and Love Is Demanding
August 16, 2021
- 04:42
Musician and writer Rosanne Cash tells the story of a conversation she had with her husband, which was a terrific illustration of a...
Bonus Episode: Fantasy Island! We Explore the Making of the New FOX TV Drama
August 13, 2021
- 38:11
In this bonus episode, we dive deep into questions about the making of the new FOX TV drama “Fantasy Island” and Elizabeth’s role as...
Ep. 338: If You’re Under Pressure, Give Yourself Less Time, an Easy Hack for Listening to Podcasts, and an Interview with Ramit Sethi about Money and Couples.
August 11, 2021
- 28:50
We talk about why, when under pressure, you might consider giving yourself less time, we suggest a hack that makes podcast-listening...
Little Happier: A Single Letter Reverses the Meaning of This Quotation from Leonardo da Vinci
August 9, 2021
- 03:01
I’d long been haunted by a line from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Notebooks,” but I learned that I’d mistyped a single letter, and had utterly...
Ep. 337: Take a Nap, an Easy Hack for Lowering Frustration, a New Way to Use Gold Stars—and Are You a “Song” Lover or a “Music” Lover?
August 4, 2021
- 30:49
We explore the many benefits of taking a nap (if schedules permit), one listener suggests a simple organization hack and another...
Little Happier: After Enron’s Downfall, a Massive Trove of Private Emails Were Made Public. Researchers Learned a Lot, and So Did I.
August 2, 2021
- 03:28
The fascinating history of the “Enron Corpus,” the trove of private emails that were made public in the wake of the collapse of the...
Ep. 336: Allow Others to Share Your Enthusiasm, the Props Listeners Use to Manage Anxiety, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ One-Word Themes—Plus a Hack for Asking Tough Questions
July 28, 2021
- 31:29
We discuss why it’s a good idea to allow others to share your enthusiasm, we review the props used by listeners to help manage anxiety,...
Little Happier: To the Curious and Prepared Mind, Something Dull Becomes Interesting.
July 26, 2021
- 01:40
A story about the small talk of two brilliant mathematicians reminds me that a curious and well-informed mind can find much of interest...
Ep. 335: Walk Away from a Bad Mood, a Rebel and an Obliger Offer Tips, and a Great Hack for Giving an Easy Yet Thoughtful Gift
July 21, 2021
- 23:22
We talk about how we can walk away from a bad mood, suggest an idea for giving very thoughtful gifts (that are easy to do), and discuss...
Little Happier: Both My Parents Made the Same Observation about Queen Elizabeth II.
July 19, 2021
- 03:15
I was surprised when both my parents commented on Queen Elizabeth II’s decision to direct the Royal Family to wear mourning clothes...
Ep. 334: Happier Podcast Book Club: Writer and Musician Michelle Zauner Talks about Family, Identity, and Food in Her Memoir “Crying in H Mart”
July 14, 2021
- 28:32
We talk to Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast about her compelling memoir “Crying in H Mart.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little Happier: Sometimes We Lash Out in Anger When In Fact We’re Feeling a Very Different Emotion
July 12, 2021
- 04:32
A poignant scene from Meredith Hall’s novel Beneficence, where a husband and father speaks with harsh words to deny his regrets, reminds...
Ep. 333: We Review Our One-Word Theme for the Year, Suggest a Hot-Weather Hack, and Discuss the Power of Plants with Michael Pollan
July 7, 2021
- 36:31
The year 2021 has hit the midway point, so we review our one-word themes to evaluate how we’re doing. We also suggest a hack for dealing...
Little Happier: Sometimes, When We Understand Someone’s Perspective, Our Anger Fades
July 5, 2021
- 03:32
Sometimes, understanding someone else’s point of view allows our anger to fade. When writer Julie Lythcott-Haims understood that her...
Ep. 332: We Review Our “21 for 2021” Lists to Consider What We’ve Done (or Not) and Discuss a Happiness Hack for Managing Anxiety.
June 30, 2021
- 36:14
The year is hitting the half-way mark, so we review our “21 for 2021” lists to mark our progress (and lack of progress). We also review...
Little Happier: Novelist Amy Tan Didn’t Ask Her Unnamed Goddess for Good Reviews, But for Something Else.
June 28, 2021
- 02:30
Novelist Amy Tan recounts that as she was writing her second book, she prayed to unnamed goddess that she “be able to write the best...
Ep. 331: Give Yourself a Prop to Hold, Ways to Maintain Healthy Habits as Ordinary Routines Resume, and Hack for Little Kids and Chores
June 23, 2021
- 34:17
We talk about why you might give yourself a prop to hold, discuss a friend’s hack for helping little kids to be independent, and explore...
Little Happier: Why Is It So Hard to See and Hear the World from Someone Else’s Perspective?
June 21, 2021
- 04:17
Despite all good intentions, an accomplished architect built a house with lousy acoustics, even though the owner—the writer Ved Mehta,...
EP. 330: Very Special Episode: Best Advice for Recent College Graduates, for Career, Finance, Roommates, and a Warning About Drift
June 16, 2021
- 27:08
Listeners contributed their best advice for people graduating from college, in areas including job search, finances, roommates, and...
Little Happier: What a Set of 3D “Magic Eye” Postcards Taught Me About Myself
June 14, 2021
- 02:50
Just because something isn’t often used doesn’t mean that it’s useless. My 3D “Magic Eye” postcards are fun to look at, and they also...
Bonus Episode: Mad Men
June 12, 2021
- 59:52
In this bonus episode, we talk about the TV show “Mad Men.” We discuss our favorite moments, questions, and listeners’ favorite...
Ep. 329: Explore the Five Senses of Summer, a Hack for Boosting Focus, and a Deep Dive into Solutions for Obliger-Rebellion
June 9, 2021
- 29:32
We talk about you might explore the five senses of summer, suggest a simple hack that makes it easier to focus, and review listeners’...
Little Happier: Re-Framing the Situation Can Mean that Someone Unexpected Wins a Prize
June 7, 2021
- 03:26
Rebecca Caudill’s 1962 picture book “The Best-Loved Doll” tells the story of a little girl and her shabby, beloved doll, and the medal...
Ep. 328: Eat Something You Saw on the Screen or Page, a Reading Hack, and Annie Murphy Paul Talks About the Extended Mind
June 2, 2021
- 35:01
Why you might eat something you saw on the screen or on the page, a clutter-clearing hack that makes reading more fun, and a...
Little Happier: My Brilliant Insight About the Title's Meaning for "The Phantom Tollbooth," Norton Juster's Classic Novel.
May 31, 2021
- 03:27
I have a tremendous insight that springs from my love of Norton Juster’s novel “The Phantom Tollbooth” and my longstanding fascinating...
Ep. 327: Something to Remember: Gretchen Passed Out on Live TV! Plus a Hand-Holding Hack, and Are You in an Age of Expansion or Concentration?
May 26, 2021
- 27:23
We talk about why it’s helpful to remember that the things that go wrong often make the best memories—for example, I passed out on live...
Little: Grover of Sesame Street and Arya of Game of Thrones Teach Me the Same Lesson.
May 24, 2021
- 03:34
Two characters from two very different kinds of stories—Sesame Street’s Grover and Game of Thrones’s Arya—illustrate the important...
Ep. 326: Write a Tastes Timeline, More Wisdom from Teachers, a Hack for Getting Better Service, and Question about Obliger-Rebellion
May 19, 2021
- 30:58
We discuss why you might want to write a Tastes Timeline; share a listener’s hack for getting easier, quicker service; discuss more...
Little Happier: “The Farm Was a Form: Not Like a Set of Rules on a Wall, But Like the Symmetry of Winter and Summer.”
May 17, 2021
- 02:42
The poet Donald Hall wrote a beautiful memoir of the childhood summers he spent with his grandparents on their New Hampshire farm. In...
Ep. 325: Design Your Summer, Splurge on Colorful Felt-Tip Pens, and a Conversation with Julianna Margulies of “The Good Wife”
May 12, 2021
- 30:16
We have our annual discussion about why and how we plan to design our summers, I explain why I splurged on some colorful felt-tip pens,...
Bonus Episode: Use Self-Knowledge to Be Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Successful as a Small Business Owner.
May 11, 2021
- 23:27
In this bonus episode sponsored by Dell Technologies, we explore how small-business owners and entrepreneurs can use the “Four...
Little Happier: Dolly Parton Knew Exactly What to Say to the Tennessee State Legislature.
May 10, 2021
- 01:50
Dolly Parton is such an admirable person. Her statement to the Tennessee legislature—to ask that they withdraw legislation proposing to...
Ep. 324: Learn from the Wisdom of Teachers, a Clever Way to Use Email, and Anna Sale Talks about How to Have Difficult Conversations
May 5, 2021
- 33:33
We review some terrific lessons we’ve learned from teachers, discuss an email hack that makes it easier to ask someone for help, and...
Little Happier: An Answer from Childhood Expert Michael Thompson Reminds Me of the Value of Considering a Different Perspective.
May 3, 2021
- 05:37
I’m a big fan of the work of childhood expert Michael Thompson, and his answer to a reader’s question reminds me of the importance of...
Ep: 323: Try Some Movie Therapy, an Easy Hack for Dealing with Small Toys and Trinkets, and Do Certain Situations Send You into Shock?
April 28, 2021
- 29:53
Our former producer, the podcaster and writer Kristen Meinzer, explains why we should try “movie therapy,” we discuss one of Gretchen’s...
Little Happier: How Ordinary Behavior at Work Can Amount to Sabotage—Really!
April 26, 2021
- 04:43
A document created during World War II describes how ordinary people can help the United States’s war effort through “simple...
Ep. 322: Pick the Right Word, Have Both a Weekend and a Weekday Book, and a Conversation with Actor, Singer, and Instagram Sensation Leslie Jordan
April 21, 2021
- 31:38
We talk about why it’s powerful to pick the right word, a listener suggests having a weekend book and a weekday book to enjoy reading...
Little Happier: A Friend Told Me, “I Can Find My Way Anywhere in Westchester, But I Have to Start from Scarsdale.”
April 19, 2021
- 01:34
A friend’s remark about growing up in the New York City suburbs reminded me of how valuable it is to have a strong home base.Get in...
Ep. 321: Ask for a Favor in the Right Way, an Easy Clutter-Clearing Hack, and Julie Lythcott-Haims Talks about How to Be an Adult
April 14, 2021
- 31:58
We discuss the advice from legendary women’s gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field about how to ask for a favor or an opportunity in the...
Little Happier: Happiness Lessons from a Friend and His Messy Wife
April 12, 2021
- 04:41
During a funny conversation with a friend about his messy wife, he realized how he could have a more orderly house, without necessarily...
Ep. 320: For Our 6th Anniversary, a Roundup of Favorite Try-This-at-Homes, Hacks, Strategies, and Solutions from Listeners—and From Us.
April 7, 2021
- 34:47
For this Very Special Episode, and in honor of our sixth anniversary, we asked listeners to send us their favorite moments, hacks,...
Little Happier: A Character from “K-Pop Confidential” and My Second-Grade Daughter Remind Me: We Want to Accept Ourselves, and Expect More From Ourselves
April 5, 2021
- 04:59
In Stephan Lee’s terrific young-adult novel K-Pop Confidential, the character Candace’s performance illustrates the same lesson that I...
Ep. 319: Ask Yourself, “Do I Use It, Need It, Love It?”, Using the Return to Work as a “Clean Slate” for Habits, and Rebels Give Advice about the Rebel Who Won’t Read Emails
March 31, 2021
- 28:42
For those in the mood for spring cleaning, we suggest clearing clutter by asking “Do I use it, need it, love it?” We talk about April...
Little Happier: Why Did I Insist on Taking My Little Girl to Pre-school in the Freezing Cold and Snow?
March 29, 2021
- 03:48
Understanding my Four Tendencies personality framework, and my own Tendency as an Upholder, revealed to me why I’d behaved inexplicably...
Ep. 318: Look at Your Home with the Eyes of a Stranger, Some Terrific Before-and-After Clutter Stories, and Valuable Lessons from the Pandemic
March 24, 2021
- 28:06
We discuss why you might look at your home through the eyes of a stranger, why a simple hook can be so useful , share some excellent...
Little Happier: We Can Learn from the Monkey Who Wouldn’t Let Go of the Bananas.
March 22, 2021
- 01:38
The old teaching story of the greedy monkey and the bananas illustrates many notions, including the idea that sometimes we have to let...
Ep. 317: Do You Thrive with a “Sense of Urgency,” a Hack for Drinking Less Alcohol, and a Conversation about Just Work with Kim Scott and Trier Bryant
March 17, 2021
- 40:16
We discuss whether we thrive in an atmosphere with a sense of urgency, share a listener’s happiness hack for drinking less alcohol...
Little Happier: Who’s Happier? My Husband, Who Got His iPod Back, or Me, Who Retrieved It for Him?
March 15, 2021
- 02:03
One of the best ways to make ourselves happier is to make other people happier. I was made happier by my gesture of loving in tracking...
Ep. 316: What Valuable Lessons Have We Learned from the Pandemic, a Hack to Fight Morning Grogginess, and a Question about a Rebel Teacher Who Doesn’t Read Emails
March 10, 2021
- 26:10
We discuss why we might ask ourselves, “What valuable lessons have I learned from the pandemic, now that a year has passed?” We also...
Little Happier: The Memory of a Delicious Night of Sleep, Four Hundred Years Later
March 8, 2021
- 01:56
In the 1600s, Samuel Pepys kept a diary, and of everything he wrote about, including the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of...
Ep. 315: Sixth Anniversary! Our Most Popular Try-This-at-Home Tips, Happiness Hacks & Favorite Moments
March 3, 2021
- 29:02
In honor of our sixth anniversary—an unusual year, due to the pandemic—we look back at the previous year and highlight our favorite...
Little Happier: Yogi Berra Was Funny, and He Also Hit on Some Profound Truths
March 1, 2021
- 02:27
Baseball legend Yogi Berra was famous for the hilarious things he said. And in his own inimitable way, he captured some profound...
Ep. 314: Re-Engage with Your Resolutions, A Hack for Helping People to Give Gifts, an Outdoors Demerit, and Why Humor Is Such a Powerful Tool at Work and in Life.
February 24, 2021
- 36:60
We talk about the 21 strategies that can help us re-engage with our resolutions, discuss a hack about helping people to give gifts (to...
Little Happier: How a Loose Piece of Popcorn in a Museum Inspired a Masterpiece
February 22, 2021
- 02:32
The brilliant children’s book From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was inspired when writer E. L. Konigsburg spotted a...
Ep. 313: Help People Not Disappoint You, a Hack for Reading More, a Talk with Deepa Iyer about Different Roles to Play in Social Change
February 17, 2021
- 30:18
We talk about how and why it’s a good idea to help people not disappoint us, share a reader suggestion about how to read more, and Deepa...
Little Happier: It’s a Lot of Work to Make Friendly Gestures, But We All Have to Try.
February 15, 2021
- 01:06
Whenever I think about the work that it takes to try to be friendly, I remember a funny story from my daughter’s childhood.Get in touch:...
Ep. 312: Confront a Clutter-Related Conflict, a Hack for Having Fun, and Using the Four Tendencies Framework to Get Chores Done
February 10, 2021
- 31:17
We discuss why you might confront a clutter-related conflict, how to use the Four Tendencies personality framework to help tackle...
Little Happier: A Beautiful Image: A Cabin in the Woods, with Flowers Growing Close to Its Walls
February 8, 2021
- 01:33
I’m haunted by an image from Erling Kagg’s book Walking One Step at a Time, when he describes a cabin in the wood where the owner had...
Ep. 311: Find a Manifestation of Your One-Word Theme, an Easy Hack to Spark Happy Memories, and a Conversation with Ron Lieber about the Price You Pay for College
February 3, 2021
- 37:50
We share listeners’ suggestions about creative ways to create physical representations of our one-word themes for 2021, discuss an...
Little Happier: A Question That Seemed to Make No Sense Was in Fact a Declaration of Love
February 1, 2021
- 02:21
Sometimes, gestures of love don’t look the way we expect. I found it wonderful to think that, many years after this time has passed, the...
Ep. 310: Very Special Episode! Great Hacks, Tips, Tools, and Suggestions About How to #Read21in21.
January 27, 2021
- 33:03
In this Very Special Episode, we share hacks, strategies, and tools from listeners—and our own experience—about how to get more reading...
Little Happier: Some of My Favorite Proverbs About Parenthood.
January 25, 2021
- 01:29
I love aphorisms, proverbs, true rules, and Secrets of Adulthood, and I offer some of my favorite proverbs for parenthood.Get in touch:...
Ep. 309: Heed a Suggestion, Look Better on Zoom, and a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Brilliant Ideas for “21 for 21” Lists.
January 20, 2021
- 28:37
We discuss why you should heed someone’s suggestion, take a deep dive into listeners’ imaginative ideas for their “21 for 2021” lists,...
Little Happier: An Ancient Story Is a Reminder that We Can Hurt People When We Try to Force Them to Fit into Our Model.
January 18, 2021
- 02:43
The famous Greek myth of the Bed of Procrustes illustrates the principle that we shouldn’t try to pressure everyone to fit into a single...
Ep. 308: Tackle Your Email for One Hour, A Hack for Dealing with Photo Clutter, and an Interview with Gary Taubes About “The Case for Keto.”
January 13, 2021
- 32:48
We discuss why spending one hour managing our email inbox can give us a happiness boost, highlight a listener hack about clearing out...
Little Happier: I Can’t Blame the Internet, or, The World Has Changed, But I Have Also Changed.
January 11, 2021
- 01:49
When I feel distracted or overwhelmed, I remind myself that I can’t blame the internet. If I want a life with more time for calm and...
Ep. 307: We Reveal Our “21 for ‘21” Lists, Discuss a Hack for Staying in Touch, and Give a Gold Star to a Documentary
January 6, 2021
- 30:36
We reveal our “21 for 2021” lists, discuss an easy hack for staying in touch with people long-distance, and Elizabeth gives a gold star...
Little Happier: To Calm Myself, I Imagine a Traffic Light in a Thunderstorm.
January 4, 2021
- 01:51
When I’m feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unhappy, I sometimes conjure up an image in my mind—an oak tree in Iowa, or a traffic light in...
Ep. 306: Choose Your One-Word Theme for 2021, a New Year’s Hack, and Listeners’ Suggestions for Ways to Show Love and Support from Far Away
December 30, 2020
- 36:49
We choose our one-word themes for the year, and encourage listeners to choose their own theme for 2021, we discuss a hack for heading...
Little Happier: What We See Depends Very Much on Where We Stand.
December 28, 2020
- 01:57
As several examples illustrate, it’s easy to forget that the way we see the world is very much shaped by our own perspective. One...
Ep. 305: We Share Listeners’ Success Stories from “Walk 20 in 2020” and Reveal Our Challenge for 2021
December 23, 2020
- 31:53
As 2020 draws to a close, we share many terrific success stories from listeners about their experiences following the “Walk 20 in 2020”...
Little Happier: After His Death, Actor Yul Brynner Made an Unforgettable Plea.
December 21, 2020
- 02:39
The simplicity and power of Yul Brynner’s anti-smoking ad, aired after his death, makes it unforgettable. This ad transformed his...
Ep. 304: We Reveal How We Did with Our “20 for 2020” Lists, Plus a Hack for Not Forgetting Items.
December 16, 2020
- 34:18
We review our “20 for 2020” lists and reveal what we did—and didn’t—get done in this strange year. We also talk about an easy hack to...
Little Happier: The Lesson I Learned from the Thumbtack in My Shoe.
December 14, 2020
- 02:22
I had a pain in my foot, and I blamed my foot—until a friend pointed out that I had a tack in my shoe. Whenever I get frustrated, I...
Bonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part II.
December 11, 2020
- 1:31:51
As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many...
Bonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part I.
December 10, 2020
- 1:17:07
As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many...
Ep. 303: Find a Ritual to “Exorcise 2020,” a Sleep Hack, and Tips for Sticking to a Schedule When Working from Home
December 9, 2020
- 34:57
We discuss why you might want to create a ritual to “Exorcise 2020” and share terrific suggestions from listeners, and our own ideas,...
Little Happier: “To Succeed in Business, Plan to Publish Bestsellers Only.”
December 7, 2020
- 02:13
Book-industry people love to tell this old (probably apocryphal) story, because it illustrates the temptation, and the folly, of...
Ep. 302: Revisit a Book You Remember from High School or College, Ask Yourself, “Is There a Food I Enjoy Only When It’s Made the Way My Family Makes It?” and Why It’s a Good Idea to Run Errands in the Morning
December 2, 2020
- 26:48
We suggest revisiting a book that you still remember from high school or college (and reveal the books that we plan to revisit), discuss...
Little Happier: When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Appears.
November 30, 2020
- 01:50
When I articulate very clearly in my own mind what I’m seeking to learn, that’s when I start to see the teachers. Teachers are out...
Ep. 301: Embrace an Attitude of Gratitude for What This Unprecedented Season Offers, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Personal Policies, and a Money Hack
November 25, 2020
- 32:20
We discuss why it’s helpful to embrace an attitude of gratitude for what this unprecedented Thanksgiving holiday offers; we do a deep...
Little Happier: If You Have a Fur Coat, You Don’t Need Snow Pants.
November 23, 2020
- 02:55
In the wonderful children’s book “Little Bear,” Mother Bear takes away Little Bear’s hat, coat, and snow pants so that he can be warm in...
Ep. 300: Very Special Episode 300: Ask Us Anything!
November 18, 2020
- 37:29
With every 100th episode, we have a very special episode where listeners can ask us anything. We discuss how we were raised, how we...
Little Happier: In a World Full of Suffering and Injustice, Is It Morally Appropriate to Work to Be Happier?
November 16, 2020
- 02:09
We don’t have to choose between working toward being happier ourselves and working to increase the happiness of others. The two states...
Ep. 299: Review How You’re Doing in the “Essential 7” Areas for Habits, a Hack to Make Thanksgiving More Memorable, and an Interview with Chef Carla Hall about How to “Say Yes!”
November 11, 2020
- 36:52
Review how you’re doing in the “Essential 7” areas for Habits, a fun, easy way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and an interview with renowned...
Little Happier: What We Can Learn from Mark Twain’s Cat Who Sat on a Hot Stove
November 9, 2020
- 02:43
It’s important to make sure that we don’t learn the wrong lessons from pain, frustration, criticism, or failure. Like a cat, we want to...
Ep 298: Award Yourself with a Sticker, A Memory Hack, and a Conversation with Rachel Hollis About Dealing with Unexpected Challenges
November 4, 2020
- 36:02
Inspired by “I Voted” stickers, we discuss why you might award yourself a sticker to mark an important accomplishment, talk about a hack...
Little Happier: Sometimes, Transcendent Forces Seem to Enter the World.
November 2, 2020
- 03:27
Sometimes, the transcendent seems to appear in the concreate, ordinary world—in a conversation, in an experience, or even in a...
Ep. 297: Happier Podcast Book Club: Author Yaa Gyasi Talks about Family, Faith, Science, and Belonging in “Transcendent Kingdom”
October 28, 2020
- 40:29
We talk to writer Yaa Gyasi about her compelling bestselling novel “Transcendent Kingdom.”Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner Calm...
Little Happier: A Pediatrician Shows How Well She Understands How Children Think.
October 26, 2020
- 01:50
My daughter’s pediatrician asked a question that showed how well she understand the way children’s minds work.Join my brand-new Outer...
Ep. 296: Establish Your Personal Policy, a Reading Hack, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Hidden Delights, and a Demerit That’s Common These Days
October 21, 2020
- 29:48
We discuss why you might want to establish your personal policy, I share a reading hack, we take a deep dive into listeners’ hidden...
Little Happier: Building More Roads Won’t Relieve Traffic—Literally and Figuratively.
October 19, 2020
- 01:44
Despite urban planner Robert Moses’s attempts to relieve congestion on New York City’s road, the traffic just got worse. The lesson of...
Ep. 295: Do Something Familiar in a New Way, an Easy Hack to Control Snacking, and a Conversation with Al Roker About Work and Life
October 14, 2020
- 30:30
We talk about why we should do something familiar in a new way, share a hack from a listener that makes it easier to control impulse...
Little Happier: On My Wedding Anniversary, It Makes Me Happy to Remember What a Nurse Said.
October 12, 2020
- 02:42
Jamie is the love of my life! I want to treat him that way, and so often, really, I don’t. But I try. It makes me happy to remember a...
Ep. 294: Imitate a Spiritual Master, a Hack for Toddlers, and a Conversation with Glennon Doyle About “Untamed.”
October 7, 2020
- 34:18
We talk about why you might imitate a spiritual master, discuss a listener’s hack for keeping a toddler safe, and talk to bestselling...
Little Happier: Why You Should Never Knit Your Boyfriend a Sweater.
October 5, 2020
- 02:18
A college friend advised me, “Never knit your boyfriend a sweater,” and that’s turned out to be very wise advice.Join my brand-new Outer...
Ep. 293: Anticipate Pandemic Regret, an Easy Household Hack, and a Deep Dive into Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables
September 30, 2020
- 32:19
We talk about why now is a good time to anticipate the pandemic regret you might feel in the future; we discuss a simple, effective,...
Little Happier: How Douglas Adams—Author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”—Gave Himself Confidence.
September 28, 2020
- 01:33
Teachers have enormous influence over our fates and our imaginations. Even a hugely bestselling writer like Douglas Adams took comfort...
Ep. 292: Create a Hidden Delight, a Hack to Encourage Exercising, and a Discussion about Accepting Something as a Gift vs. Paying for It.
September 23, 2020
- 27:53
We talk about why you might want to create a hidden delight, a listener suggests a hack for using clothes as a way to stick to an...
Little Happier: Sometimes, To Do a Simple Thing We Must Make a Huge Change.
September 21, 2020
- 02:31
The Oracle of Delphi told the people of Delos that they’d cure their present ills if they doubled the altar—because to double the altar,...
Ep. 291: Get Out of Your Storage Unit, a Hack for Reducing Unwanted Talk, and a Conversation about Relationships with Esther Perel
September 16, 2020
- 35:00
We talk about the benefits of getting out of a storage unit; we talk to relationship expert Esther Perel about love and work; and...
Little Happier: When Do We Tell Other People What We Think They Should Do? Two Beautiful Examples.
September 14, 2020
- 05:12
In Mark Salzman’s memoir “The Man in the Empty Boat,” he gives not just one, but two, examples of times when one person is able...
Ep. 290: Very Special Episode: An Extravaganza of Hacks! Hacks for Relationships, Productivity, Pandemic, Clutter, Travel, and More
September 9, 2020
- 30:18
In this Very Special Episode, we present an extravaganza of listeners’ simple, concrete hacks that can help us make our lives happier,...
Little Happier: Trevor Noah: “We Tell People to Follow Their Dreams, But You Can Only Dream of What You Can Imagine.”
September 7, 2020
- 02:23
In his terrific memoir “Born a Crime,” Trevor Noah notes that “you can only dream of what you can imagine,” and tells the story of how...
Ep. 289: Ask Yourself, “Do I Already Own This?” How to Feel Better in Just Five Minutes with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and Our Next Book Club Choice
September 2, 2020
- 33:53
We discuss why it’s helpful to ask, “Do I already own this?” We also talk to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee about his new book, “Feel Better in...
Little Happier: Zora Neale Hurston’s Vision Shows How Mysterious the World Is.
August 31, 2020
- 03:26
In her thought-provoking memoir “Dust Tracks in the Road,” Zora Neale Hurston’s vision of her future reminds me of how mysterious the...
Ep. 288: Learn Something with a Beginning, Middle, and End, a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Second-Guessing Yourself, and a Spotlight on Brit Bennett
August 26, 2020
- 28:21
We talk about why it’s helpful (especially these days) to learn something with a beginning, middle, and an end; we explore the Know...
Little Happier: What Can You Do When You Live in a Crowded, Messy, Noisy House?
August 24, 2020
- 02:47
In a traditional Yiddish folk tale, a farmer complains about his crowded, noisy house—and his wise rabbi gives him a surprising...
Ep. 287: Steer Clear of Quicksand, Beware of Catastrophizing, a Whimsical Hack, and a Spotlight on Baratunde Thurston
August 19, 2020
- 32:20
We discuss why you should steer clear of quicksand, beware of the happiness stumbling block of “catastrophizing,” suggest an affordable,...
Little Happier: Bryan Stevenson Points Out a Question: Are We There to Speak, or Are We There to Listen?
August 17, 2020
- 01:31
In his brilliant memoir “Just Mercy,” Bryan Stevenson makes the distinction: Am I invited someplace to speak, or am I invited to...
Ep. 286: September Is the Other January, Jay Shetty Explains How to Think Like a Monk, and a Spotlight on Colson Whitehead
August 12, 2020
- 35:22
Why we should remember that September is the other January; we have a conversation with podcaster and writer Jay Shetty about how to...
Little Happier: The More We Talk to Someone, the More We Have to Say.
August 10, 2020
- 02:49
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle: Book Six, he reflects on the counter-intuitive truth that the more we talk...
Ep. 285: Why It’s a Good Idea to Create a Catch-All, a Spotlight on Virginia Hamilton, and a Conversation with Susan Burton About Her Brilliant Memoir “Empty.”
August 5, 2020
- 37:52
We discuss why it’s a great idea to create a catch-all to help boost creativity, memories, and inspiration, we shine a spotlight on...
Little Happier: How Eating a Second Ice-Cream Cone Can Be an Act of Obliger-Rebellion
August 3, 2020
- 04:16
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s essay “Summer,” he perfectly describes an example of Obliger-rebellion that’s turned toward the self: he eats a...
Ep. 284: Why Buying Isn’t Doing, a Deep Dive into Ways to Display Your Favorite Quotations, and a Spotlight on Harriet Washington
July 29, 2020
- 25:49
We talk about why we shouldn’t confuse buying with doing, reveal a happiness hack for staying in touch with grandparents, review...
Little Happier: A Lesson Learned from the End of Life: Make Time for the People Who Matter Most
July 27, 2020
- 03:32
Eugene O’Kelley’s account of his experience of the end of his life is a reminder that our time and energy are limited, and we need to...
Ep. 283: Happier Podcast Book Club: Renowned Writer Ann Patchett Talks about Family, Forgiveness, and Memory in “The Dutch House”—and a Spotlight on Trevor Noah.
July 22, 2020
- 43:46
We talk to writer Ann Patchett about her powerful, compelling novel “The Dutch House.” Plus we shine a spotlight on Trevor Noah and his...
Little Happier: Habits Are the Invisible Architecture of Everyday Life
July 20, 2020
- 01:58
A passage from Christopher Alexander’s beautiful book The Timeless Way of Building is a good reminder of the importance of having habits...
Ep. 282: Do Good to Feel Good, Bruce Feiler Suggests Two Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Manage Transitions, and a Spotlight on Octavia Butler
July 15, 2020
- 37:10
We discuss why one way to overcome COVID-19 listlessness is to do good for other people, explore some Know-Yourself-Better questions to...
Little Happier: Do You Know the Famous Story of the Fox and the Sour Grapes?
July 13, 2020
- 02:13
One of Aesop’s most famous fables, and writer Virginia Woolf agree: it’s important to resist the temptation to deny the truth about what...
Ep. 281: Start a Social-Issues Book Club, a Deep Dive into the Problem of Flaky Friends, a Hack for Great Quotations, and a Spotlight on Author Jason Reynolds.
July 8, 2020
- 27:53
We discuss why you might start or join a social-issues book club, we talk about ways to incorporate your favorite quotations into...
Little Happier: Often, It’s the Small Gestures of Thoughtfulness that Make Us Feel Loved
July 6, 2020
- 02:13
A friend explained to me why her daily habit of making lunch came to have so much importance to her son.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 280: Very Special Episode: We Discuss Questions from Listeners about the Four Tendencies Personality Framework, and a Spotlight on Samantha Irby
July 1, 2020
- 30:46
For this Very Special Episode, Elizabeth and I discuss listener questions related to my “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework of...
Little Happier: Someone’s Casual Comment Can Show Us an Entirely New Path for Ourselves.
June 29, 2020
- 04:10
Acclaimed writer Nnedi Okorafor describes how a friend’s casual comment redirected her life. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 279: Halfway Through 2020: Check In with Your #20for2020 list and #Walk20in20—and a Spotlight on “Just Mercy.”
June 24, 2020
- 29:55
The year 2020 is halfway over, so we check in with our “20 for 2020” lists and our “Walk 20 minutes in 2020” projects, and we talk about...
Little Happier: Illustrator Quentin Blake’s Use of Negative Space Is a Reminder of Its Possibilities.
June 22, 2020
- 03:24
Illustrator Quentin Blake drew on the walls of a gallery exhibit—a great reminder that we shouldn’t overlook the possibilities of...
Ep. 278: Why We Should Do Something, and a Conversation with Sofy Solomon about Lessons from Safer-at-Home in a Childhood Bedroom--and How to Make Systems More Just.
June 17, 2020
- 26:55
Why we should do something, a hack for measurement, and a conversation with Sofy Solomon about what we can learn about ourselves from...
Little Happier: We Really Don’t Have That Kind of Time.
June 15, 2020
- 01:37
In this era of the coronavirus, I find myself thinking often about a passage from Anne Lamott’s book “Bird By Bird”—and reminding...
Ep. 277: Schedule an “Empower Hour,” a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Confiding Secrets, and a Spotlight on Writer Nnedi Okorafor
June 10, 2020
- 28:17
Why you might schedule a weekly “empower hour,” how a dollar bill can come in handy, a spotlight on the writings of Nnedi Okorafor, and...
Little Happier: I Remind Myself: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature.
June 8, 2020
- 03:59
A proverb from computer programmers can help us remember that sometimes, our limitations and weaknesses can also serve as our...
Ep. 276: Design Your Summer, Solutions to Create Sibling Harmony, and How Cornstarch Can Enliven a Boring Afternoon
June 3, 2020
- 20:27
We discuss why you might design your summer, how you can use cornstarch for a fun, science-based activity, and review listeners’...
Little Happier: Have You Ever Been So Impatient to Get to the End That You Couldn’t Start?
June 1, 2020
- 03:14
Sometimes, we’re so eager for to reach the end that we can’t bear to start. It’s an irrational but real response.Get in touch:...
Ep. 275: Choose a Magic Number, How an Ironing Board Can Make Working from Home Easier, and a Pandemic-Time Question to Ask Yourself
May 27, 2020
- 29:29
We discuss why you might want to choose a magic number, how an ironing board can help you work more comfortably from home, and explore a...
Little Happier: Can You Call Spirits from the Vasty Deep? Sure, No Problem.
May 25, 2020
- 02:09
A line from Shakespeare’s Henry IV summarizes a point that’s worth remembering: it’s not hard to put our words out into the world, it’s...
Ep. 274: Change Your Life When You’re Changing Your Life, Hacks for Sibling Harmony, and a Deep Dive into COVID-19 Mantras.
May 20, 2020
- 32:03
We discuss why it’s often easier to change our lives when we’re changing our lives, we take a deep dive into COVID-19 mantras, and we...
Little Happier: This Nightly Ritual Gives Me the “New York City Feeling” During the Pandemic.
May 18, 2020
- 02:14
I get my “America Feeling”— more specifically, my “New York City feeling”--every night at 7 p.m., when we all cheer and clap for the...
Ep. 273: Get Grounded in Your Body Through Your Senses, an Idea for a Quick, Inexpensive Gift, and a Conversation about Tough Times with Kate Bowler
May 13, 2020
- 36:04
We discuss how we can feel calmer by getting grounded in our body, through our senses; we discuss a gift that’s easy, inexpensive, and...
Little Happier: My COVID-19 Song: “New York City, Lexington Avenue, Rush Hour.”
May 11, 2020
- 05:33
As I stood in the middle of the unnaturally deserted Lexington Avenue at rush hour, I felt, “This is the moment when I should begin to...
Ep. 272: Make a “Power Hour After” list, a Conversation about Parenting with Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz, and Elizabeth Talks about No Alcohol April.
May 6, 2020
- 39:30
We talk about you might make a “Power Hour After list,” Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz joins us to talk about how to deal with common parenting...
Little Happier: What’s the Best Time to Plant a Tree?
May 4, 2020
- 02:24
A famous proverb illustrates why now is the best time to start anything—because it’s the only time we can start anything.We have been...
Ep. 271: Make Lists to Make Memories, an Easy Way to Make Zoom Meetings More Fun, and a Discussion about Meditation with Dan Harris of 10% Happier.
April 29, 2020
- 31:52
We discuss why you might make lists to make memories, we talk about a fun, easy way to enliven Zoom meetings, and Dan Harris of 10%...
Little Happier: “I Love You as Much as the Salt in My Soup.”
April 27, 2020
- 02:53
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 270: Very Special Episode with Advice for Graduates
April 22, 2020
- 36:41
We asked listeners for advice for graduates: What’s the best advice you ever got? What advice do you give to others--or that you wish...
Little Happier: Michael Jordan Had a “Love of the Game” Clause
April 20, 2020
- 01:58
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 269: Choose a COVID-19 Mantra, a Fun Way to Celebrate These Difficult Days, and Casey Schwartz Talks about “Attention.”
April 15, 2020
- 39:27
We discuss why you might pick a mantra for the COVID-19 situation, propose a fun way to celebrate while safe at home, and talk to Casey...
Little Happier: A Loud Noise Woke Me Up from a Sound Sleep in a Mississippi Hotel—and Made Me Very Happy.
April 13, 2020
- 01:23
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 268: Limit Yourself to One Option, a Self-Care Solution, and Chris Guillebeau Talks about “The Money Tree” and Creating the Work Life We Want
April 8, 2020
- 28:37
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear...
Little Happier: How Do You Write a Letter of Recommendation for Someone You Can’t Honestly Recommend?
April 6, 2020
- 02:02
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 267: Write a Letter of Congratulations to Your Future-Self, Solutions to School Spirit T-Shirt Overload, and Why I Should Check My Calendar
April 1, 2020
- 29:18
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear...
Little Happier: An Episode from the Life of Dr. Johnson Reminds Me to Do a Better Job of Staying Calm.
March 30, 2020
- 02:27
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 266: Beware the Myths of Spring Cleaning, Rusty O’Kelley Explains How to Ace a Job Interview, and a Reminder about REAL ID .
March 25, 2020
- 36:56
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear...
Little Happier: A Dog’s Pleasure Can Remind Us All of the Joy of the Snow.
March 23, 2020
- 01:39
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear...
Ep. 265: Give a Sensorium Gift, a Deep Dive into Suggestions to #Walk20in20, and a Conversation Hack
March 18, 2020
- 36:58
NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear...
Little Happier: The Joy of Listening to Music—Even for Someone Like Me.
March 16, 2020
- 04:16
I’m thrilled that the copyright laws mean that now I’m able to play this beautiful song—George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”—for...
Bonus: Coping During COVID-19: How to Stay Happier and Calmer in Difficult Times
March 15, 2020
- 32:25
In this time of COVID-19, we’re all feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty. To stay calmer and happier, we discuss why you...
Ep. 264: Keep a Stress Diary, Stop Rinsing Dirty Dishes, and Jordan Harbinger Explains How to Network Better
March 11, 2020
- 34:30
Why you might keep a stress diary, why you can stop rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and podcaster Jordan Harbinger...
Little Happier: Why We Should Be Polite to the Person Sitting Next to Us on the Airplane.
March 9, 2020
- 01:59
A story about Dick Bass and Neil Armstrong was a great illustration of an aphorism I wrote recently: Modestly and good manners can save...
Ep. 263: What’s Your “Guiding Question,” a Twist on “20 for 20,” and Bestselling Author Dan Heath Talks about a Better Way to Solve Problems.
March 4, 2020
- 39:54
Ask yourself, “What’s my guiding question?” an interesting twist on a “20 for 20” list, and we talk to bestselling author about his new...
Little Happier: “I Remember Feeling the Warm Relief of Knowing What My Future Was.”
March 2, 2020
- 02:01
This story from the life of the brilliant ad executive Mary Wells Lawrence is a great example of the fact that to discover the work...
BONUS Episode: To Celebrate Our Fifth Anniversary, A Blast from the Past! Listen to Our Very First Episode.
February 28, 2020
- 25:17
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the “Happier” podcast, we’re presenting our very first episode, along with some commentary from us...
Ep. 262: Fifth Anniversary Extravaganza! Our Favorite Moments from the Past Five Years
February 26, 2020
- 33:51
To celebrate Happier’s fifth anniversary, we look back on some of our favorite try-this-at-homes, big milestones, and funniest moments....
Little Happier: How Did This Stockbroker Make So Many Accurate Predictions?
February 24, 2020
- 02:08
Learning about a clever and successful financial scam reminded me of how hard it is to know what I don’t know.Get in touch:...
Ep. 261: Improve Your Posture, a New Way to Celebrate Birthdays, and Tackling T-Shirt Troubles
February 19, 2020
- 28:47
I explain the back exercises we do to improve posture, a listener suggests a great way for an introvert to celebrate a milestone...
Little Happier: What’s Inconvenient for You Might Be Convenient for Me
February 17, 2020
- 01:23
A friend’s remark reminded me that even when we’re coming together, we’re all coming from different places.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 260: In Honor of Valentine’s Day, Listeners Give Their Best Relationship Advice
February 12, 2020
- 40:50
For our Very Special Episode, we asked listeners for their best advice about strengthening relationships, and we talked to Lori...
Little Happier: Why Pickpockets Benefit from Signs that Warn “Beware of Pickpockets.”
February 10, 2020
- 00:59
Beware of unintended consequences! Pickpockets use “Beware of Pickpockets” signs to pickpocket more effectively.Get in touch:...
Ep. 259: Happier Podcast Book Club: Adrienne Brodeur Talks About “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me”
February 5, 2020
- 40:31
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Adrienne Brodeur about her page-turning memoir, “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and...
Little Happier: Teacher Anne Sullivan Writes About Hellen Keller’s Moment of Profound Realization
February 3, 2020
- 03:07
In her 1887 letter, teacher Anne Sullivan recounts the moment when Helen Keller understood the secret of language.Get in touch:...
Ep. 258: Try the “Pair & Share” Approach and a Conversation with “Yoga Girl” Rachel Brathen
January 29, 2020
- 38:22
Try the “Pair & Share” approach to have more fun while getting some exercise, a quick hack for making it easier to do unpleasant tasks,...
Little Happier: Helen Keller Tells the Story of the Moment Her Life Changed.
January 27, 2020
- 05:15
Hellen Keller recounts the story of the extraordinary moment when she learned the meaning of “w-a-t-e-r.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 257: Don’t Try to “Mind-Read,” and Talking about the Joy of Movement with Kelly McGonigal
January 22, 2020
- 32:25
Why we shouldn’t try to “mind-read,” a reading hack to strengthen habits, and a conversation about “The Joy of Movement” with Kelly...
Little Happier: The Fable “The Scorpion and the Frog” Warns Us to Stay Wary of the Dangerous Ones
January 20, 2020
- 01:35
The fable “The Scorpion and the Frog” reminds us not to trust a scorpion. No matter what argument it makes or what the situation is, in...
Ep. 256: Use Up What You Have, and a Conversation about Stillness with Ryan Holiday
January 15, 2020
- 29:06
Why we should use up what we have, how to find the most efficient route, and a conversation with bestselling author Ryan Holiday about...
Little Happier: From Writer James Agee: Could He Learn to Be the Kind of Person He’d Always Detested?
January 13, 2020
- 02:50
When his doctor told him that needed to quit drinking and smoking, James Agee wondered whether he could become the kind of person he’d...
Ep. 255: We Reveal Our “20 for 2020” Lists as well as a Color-Related Hack, and Give a Happiness-Bully Demerit
January 8, 2020
- 38:26
We reveal our “20 for 2020” lists and discuss some great ideas from listeners, discuss a color-related hack to make it easier to find...
Little Happier: The Right Thing to Say When Someone Says, “Whom Do You Love More?”
January 6, 2020
- 02:06
One of my favorite parenting books, Faber and Mazlish’s “Siblings Without Rivalry,” explains the right thing to say to a child (or...
Ep. 254: Choose a One-Word Theme for the Year, and a Tough Question about Neighbors
January 1, 2020
- 34:29
Why you might pick a one-word theme for the year; an idea for fun (but easy) date nights; and a tough dilemma involving a daily walk and...
Little Happier: A Mystery: In Order to Find Something Precious, We Must Possess It Already.
December 30, 2019
- 02:13
In different ways, many people have expressed the very powerful and mysterious idea: In order to find something, we must possess it.Get...
Ep. 253: Fight Through Post-Holiday Haze and How (Really) to Keep New Year’s Resolutions
December 26, 2019
- 30:34
Fight through post-holiday haze, how to get more reading done, tackle the challenge of New Year’s resolutions—and an office-party...
Little Happier: We Don’t Always Know What’s a Waste of Time, or What’s a Good Use of Our Time.
December 23, 2019
- 02:59
The career of a law-school friend reminded me of an important truth: it’s not always clear what’s a good use of our time. And it’s...
Ep. 252: Walk for 20 in ’20! Plus We Discuss “Power Hour” and Answering Frivolous Questions During Job Interviews
December 18, 2019
- 30:04
Let’s all walk for 20 minutes in 2020! The challenge is on! Plus a reminder to use Power Hour and Elizabeth gives a gold star to a “Fall...
Little Happier: A Different, Happy Way to Think About Exerting Our Willpower (a Task that Doesn’t Usually Sound Appealing).
December 16, 2019
- 02:06
Writer Christopher Isherwood remarked that he “raised his moral by asserting his willpower” by quitting smoking – a very interesting way...
Ep. 251: Try the Eight Stones Method; Are You on Team “You Do You” or Team “Let’s All Join In”; and the Fun of Holiday Movies
December 11, 2019
- 35:08
Actor, singer, and writer Melissa Errico suggests the Eight Stones Method for creativity, the fun of choosing a family holiday movies,...
Little Happier: I Love to See Justice in Action, and I Love to See Virtue Rewarded.
December 9, 2019
- 05:27
I love hearing a story of justice in action, and also of virtue recognized and praised. Virtue doesn’t always get rewarded! It’s...
Ep. 250: Very Special Episode: We Review Our “19 for 2019” Lists
December 4, 2019
- 39:10
In this Very Special Episode, we review our “19 for 2019” lists and report on what we did—and what we didn’t do—on our lists for...
Little Happier: You Can’t Protect Yourself from the Pigeon That’s Flying Overhead.
December 2, 2019
- 01:24
A funny episode from a long-ago family vacation is a great reminder that we can take all possible precautions, but we can’t protect...
Ep. 249: Happier Podcast Book Club: The Legendary Isaac Mizrahi Talks about Fashion, Family, and Self-Knowledge in “I.M.”
November 27, 2019
- 36:36
For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Isaac Mizrahi about the role of family, fashion, and making his way in the competitive,...
Little Happier: My Favorite Part of Going to the Philharmonic Isn’t the Music.
November 25, 2019
- 03:02
I realized that although I don’t have much of a taste for music, I love the sound of the possibility of music.Get in touch:...
Ep. 248: Write an Aphorism, and a Deep Dive into Food Pushing
November 20, 2019
- 36:47
Try writing an aphorism, ways to use the UV index to protect yourself from the sun, and a deep dive into the question: “If you press...
Little Happier: More Great Advice from My Father—About How to Succeed at Work
November 18, 2019
- 02:50
When I got my first real job, my father gave me some advice that has proved to be very true.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Ep. 247: Use the Solomon Paradox When Dealing with a Difficult Situation, and Would You Like to be a Twin?
November 13, 2019
- 26:26
Why you should think about the “Solomon Paradox” when you’re dealing with a difficult situation, how to respond to a Rebel who refuses...
Little Happier: Who Is the Main Character, Who Is the Supporting Character?
November 11, 2019
- 04:42
I realized that I often made the mistake of thinking of some people as main characters and some people as supporting characters. We’re...
Ep. 246: Have Your Words Ready, and a Conversation with Simon Sinek about “The Infinite Game”
November 6, 2019
- 36:14
When facing a tough situation, have your words ready, a hack related to email subject lines, and a conversation with Simon Sinek about...
Little Happier: At a Recent Dinner for Supreme Court Clerks, Even Longtime Lawyers Wanted This Table Gift.
November 4, 2019
- 03:09
At a recent event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the statute creating the Supreme Court clerkships, I got my “America feeling”...
Ep. 245: Avoid the Trap of the False Choice, and How to Eat Healthfully in the Face of Halloween Candy or Social Pressure
October 30, 2019
- 27:55
We discuss why it’s important to avoid false choices, and talk to Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig Urban about eating right when faced with...
Little Happier: On “Game of Thrones,” Tywin Lannister Has the Right Thing to Say in a Difficult Situation.
October 28, 2019
- 02:50
I’m always looking for good examples of people finding the right words, and I was very struck by this example from a crucial scene from...
Ep. 244: Go Out in the Early Morning Sunlight and Brush Your Teeth After Dinner
October 23, 2019
- 27:50
Why it’s important to go outside into the sunlight, how brushing your teeth after dinner can help with night snacking, and a dentist...
Little Happier: I Get Choked Up When I Hear the Song “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music”
October 21, 2019
- 05:52
The song and the scene “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” is a reminder that our love for our country can burn brightly, even when...
Ep. 243: Treat Yourself Like a Dog and How Obligers Can Resist Pressures to Indulge
October 16, 2019
- 32:23
Why you should treat yourself like a dog, why telling someone, “Calm down” is usually a bad idea, and ideas for Obligers who are trying...
Little Happier: A Moment in the Life of JFK Illustrates How Hard It Is to Know Other People
October 14, 2019
- 03:20
An episode from the life of John F. Kennedy is a terrific reminder of the fact that we don’t know, we can’t really understand, what...
Ep. 242: Buy Some Happiness, Plus Hacks for Taking Medication Regularly
October 9, 2019
- 32:40
We discuss why and how we can buy some happiness, do a hack round-up with terrific ideas for remembering to take daily medications, and...
Little Happier: Novelist John Steinbeck and King Arthur Show Me How to Think Outside the Box
October 7, 2019
- 04:13
Novelist John Steinbeck’s decision to set his King Arthur story in the hazy “before” showed me a solution that I would never have...
Ep. 241: Malcolm Gladwell Talks About “Talking to Strangers” Plus a Delicious, Healthy Hack
October 2, 2019
- 35:27
We talk to Malcolm Gladwell about “Talking to Strangers” and explore why taking a shower can boost your happiness, and I reveal the...
Little Happier: The Right Thing to Say to a Person Who Has Big Hopes
September 30, 2019
- 02:21
I remind myself and other writers, “There are many ways for a book to succeed.” And many ways for a vacation to succeed, or a college...
Ep. 240: Use the Emergency Kit for Anxiety, Worry, and Stress
September 25, 2019
- 36:01
For this Very Special Episode, we talk about the Emergency Kit for Anxiety—a long list of strategies to put to work immediately to...
Bonus Episode: A Deep Dive into the “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework
September 23, 2019
- 35:40
Want to learn whether you’re an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel—and what that means? Gretchen gives a quick overview of her...
Little Happier: My America Feeling: I’m Grateful for the Sound of Many Languages
September 23, 2019
- 03:05
As a child growing up in Kansas City, I loved to listen to languages other than English, but I rarely had the chance—so I remind myself...
Ep. 239: Tackling Life’s Big Questions with Kate Bowler
September 18, 2019
- 40:51
Why you should make a concrete offer when someone needs a hand, how to break the ice using a simple button-maker, and a thoughtful...
Little Happier: Like Oscar Wilde, Do You Find It Hard to Live Up to Your Blue China? I Sure Do.
September 16, 2019
- 02:34
Oscar Wilde famously observed: “‘I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.” What do you think he meant by...
Ep. 238: Back-to-School Habits, and Marie Forleo Talks About How Everything Is Figureoutable
September 11, 2019
- 33:56
Strategies to help you and your family create good back-to-school habits, the fun of undertaking a library quest, and author and host of...
Little Happier: An Old and Famous Story about How We Can’t Outrun Our Fate
September 9, 2019
- 02:07
The ancient and haunting teaching story about “an appointment in Samarra” is a wonderful illustration of the inevitability of fate.Get...
Ep. 237: #HappierLaborDay: What Career Aims Make Our Work Lives Happier
September 4, 2019
- 39:18
We can use the Labor Day holiday as a catalyst to think about making our work lives happier, healthier, more productive, or more...
Little Happier: The Musical “Song of Spider-Man” and the Problem of the Unknown Knowns
September 2, 2019
- 03:20
A memoir about the failure of the musical “Song of Spider-Man” is a sobering example of how sometimes, we choose not to know the things...
Ep. 236: Stay the Course with Your Good Habits
August 28, 2019
- 30:55
Why you should stay the course with your good habits, the challenge of taking daily medication, and a return to a favorite question,...
Little Happier: Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey Talk about Humility and Hubris
August 26, 2019
- 04:01
Back in 1992, Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey talk about pride, humbility, and hubris.Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin &...
Ep. 235: Talking Happiness with Bestselling Author Rachel Hollis
August 21, 2019
- 38:48
Why you might recreate a childhood menu, a conversation with blockbuster bestseller Rachel Hollis about how to be happier, and...
Little Happier: I Love an Emotion that I Call the “Varsity Team” Feeling.
August 19, 2019
- 01:58
I love being part of the “varsity team,” or witnessing a varsity team at work—and even knowing the phrase varsity team.Get in touch on...
Ep. 234: Try the SLANT Approach to Listen Better and How to Deal with a Sweetheart’s Unenthusiastic Support
August 14, 2019
- 26:06
Try the SLANT approach to help yourself listen and learn more effectively, an easy way to do a happiness-boosting good deed, and how to...
Little Happier: What Friendships Tend to Stick? An Observation from Game of Thrones
August 12, 2019
- 01:34
In an interview, Game of Thrones’s John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) makes an important observation about relationships: hard times make...
Ep. 233: Get Rid of Your Wart (Literal and Metaphorical) and Connect Better with Friends
August 7, 2019
- 28:37
Get rid of your wart, an internet-related hack (is it just me?), and a question to help you figure out how to connect better with other...
Little Happier: Churchill’s Life Proves that We Can’t Know What’s Good or Bad Luck
August 5, 2019
- 02:10
Winston Churchill reflects on his eventful life, and how impossible it was for him to discern what was good luck and what was bad...
Ep. 232: Remember to Consider the Company that Someone Keeps
July 31, 2019
- 32:22
When entering into a relationship, consider a person’s existing relationships, how to deal with podcast overload, and like Gloria...
Little Happier: Winston Churchill and “Game of Thrones” Illustrate the Same Observation About Power
July 29, 2019
- 04:28
Winston Churchill and Games of Thrones’s Lady Olenna illustrate the same point: when confronting a powerful and lawless foe, imagination...
Ep. 231: Choose Your TV Theme Song
July 24, 2019
- 37:25
Choose your TV theme song; listeners give many suggestions about dealing with getting laid off; why you should wear a new item...
Little Happier: “If He’ll Do It For You, He’ll Do It to You”: My Daughter and Father Hit on the Same Truth
July 22, 2019
- 02:44
My daughter and my father hit on the same truth about dealing with people who play favorites: “If they’ll do it for you, they’ll do it...
Ep. 230: Happier Podcast Book Club: Lisa Brennan-Jobs Reflects on Growing Up as Steve Jobs’s Daughter in “Small Fry”
July 17, 2019
- 44:14
For our second Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Lisa Brennan-Jobs about the role of family, love, and identity in her acclaimed...
Little Happier: How the Gift of a Dollhouse Illustrates the Philosophy of Bertrand Russell
July 15, 2019
- 03:15
In giving the gift of a dollhouse, these loving grandparents illustrate a point argued by philosopher Bertrand Russsell: “To be without...
Ep. 229: Spend 120 Minutes a Week in Nature and an Interview with Sheri Salata about “The Beautiful No”
July 10, 2019
- 32:44
Why you should spend 120 minutes a week in nature, a simple hack to make spending that time in nature more convenient, and an interview...
Little Happier: What’s the Best Way to Persuade? The Sun and the North Wind Disagree.
July 8, 2019
- 02:02
One of Aesop’s most famous fables—the one about the Sun and the North Wind—illustrates the power of persuasion over brute force.Get in...
Ep. 228: Make Your Own Art and a Lesson from Mr. Rogers
July 3, 2019
- 29:51
Make your own art, a lesson about managing transitions from Mr. Rogers, and dealing with the relationship challenge of “excessive...
Little Happier: Throughout My Life, I’ve Remembered One Line from the “Little Engine that Could”
July 1, 2019
- 02:18
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” may be a bit corny, but the fact is, I find myself repeating that line to myself. The...
Ep. 227: An Interview with Comedian, Actor, and Writer Pete Holmes
June 26, 2019
- 37:49
Create a memory box, enjoy some luxury around your first cup of coffee, and an interview with comedian and author Pete Holmes. Get in...
Little Happier: Reading Isaac Mizrahi Taught Me About Myself
June 24, 2019
- 03:54
Reading Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir I.M. helped me understand something about myself: my uncomfortable reaction to a work of art I admire.Get...
Ep. 226: Celebrate the Summer Solstice by Re-visiting your One-Word Theme
June 19, 2019
- 34:50
Celebrate the summer (or winter) solstice by re-visiting your one-word theme for the year, an alternative office activity if you want to...
Little Happier: My Husband Jamie Taught Me a Wonderful, Memorable Lesson About Plans.
June 17, 2019
- 03:26
My husband’s willingness to change plans gave me a lovely memory—and taught me a valuable lesson.Get in touch on Instagram:...
Ep. 225: Cultivate Your Casual Friendships
June 12, 2019
- 36:57
Cultivate your casual friendships, an interview with writer Ramit Sethi about money, and a terrific inexpensive gift to give.Get in...
Little Happier: How Do We Help? An Observation from the Life of the Creator of the Comic Strip “Cathy.”
June 10, 2019
- 04:27
This story from the life of Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the comic strip “Cathy,” is an example of how we can help people achieve...
Ep. 224: Design Your Summer (Again)
June 5, 2019
- 32:37
Design your summer, manage the challenge of making transitions throughout the day, and why “the stewing is worse than the doing.”Get in...
Little Happier: This Book Changed the Way I See the World.
June 3, 2019
- 04:06
Christopher Alexander’s book “A Pattern Language” changed the way I see the world; sometimes, at least in my case, it’s only through...
Ep. 223: Step Off a Cliff
May 29, 2019
- 36:36
Why you should step off a cliff, an interview with writer Ross Gay, and the fun of making the opposite of a to-do list.Want to watch the...
Little Happier: Why Did Dolly Parton Identify More with Barbara Walters than Barbara Walters Identified with Her?
May 27, 2019
- 03:27
My fascination with Dolly Parton continues, and her answer to Barbara Walters in a 1977 interview is a good example of why we shouldn’t...
Ep. 222: Go Someplace Alone
May 22, 2019
- 36:50
Why you might choose to go someplace alone, how to have a good conversation with a child, and listener suggests an easy, clever hack for...
Little Happier: One of the Greatest Luxuries? The Luxury of Giving a Gift.
May 20, 2019
- 05:10
In Sydney Taylor’s wonderful children’s book “All-of-a-Kind Family,” the girls’ father saw a way to give them a true luxury: the luxury...
Bonus episode: Game of Thrones! Gretchen and Elizabeth Discuss and Speculate Before the Show’s Finale.
May 16, 2019
- 21:51
Is Arya Stark a Rebel? Will Cersei Lannister manage to keep the Iron Throne? And how about that coffee cup! On this special short bonus...
Ep. 221: Do You Yearn for a Re-Set?
May 15, 2019
- 37:11
Do you yearn for a re-set, how to look better in photographs, and using voice-to-text to make it easier to take notes. And announcing...
Little Happier: Julia Child Makes a Profound Observation about Life in the Midst of Flipping a Potato
May 13, 2019
- 01:49
On her iconic 1960’s TV show, Julia Child drops a profound truth about human nature, in the middle of trying to flip a potato.Get in...
Ep. 220: Why We Should Deal with Something Negative Right Away
May 8, 2019
- 31:46
Deal with something negative right away, switch to electronic boarding passes if you still use paper, and a Four Tendencies break-down...
Little Happier: What Chef Julia Child Taught Me About the Nature of Enthusiasm and Happiness.
May 6, 2019
- 03:16
The life of Julia Child is a great example of the fact that sometimes, even when we can’t persuade people to take an interest in the...
Ep. 219: Very Special Episode: Going Deep into Giving Up with Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig-Urban
May 1, 2019
- 41:25
In this Very Special Episode, we go deeper into the try-this-at-home of “Give something up for a month” and talk to Whole30’s Melissa...
Little Happier: We Love Excellence--When We Can Recognize It. for Apr 29, 2019
April 29, 2019
- 04:38
In this hilarious “Funny or Die” video by the musician Jewel, she goes undercover at a karaoke bar. It’s a good example of the fact that...
Ep. 218: Invest in Your Identities
April 24, 2019
- 34:07
Invest in your identities, a way to respond to the “evil donut-bringer” at work, and listeners’ suggestions about how to help someone...
Little Happier: My Husband So Often Knows the Right Thing to Say
April 22, 2019
- 01:46
Sometimes when I complain, my husband Jamie reminds me, “This is what you wanted.” It’s comforting because it’s true. Get in touch on...
Ep. 217: Don’t Over-Consult
April 17, 2019
- 28:14
“Why you should stop over-consulting, a hack to make exercising more convenient, and a question for self-knowledge: When you’re upset,...
Little Happier: The Opposite of a Profound Truth Is Also True. Even in Goth
April 15, 2019
- 03:23
It’s one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood: The opposite of a profound truth is also true. In goth, and in so much else.Get in touch...
Ep. 216: Give Someone an Unusual Compliment
April 10, 2019
- 29:47
Give someone an unusual compliment, a hack to make it easier to leave the house, identify your favorite time of day, and Elizabeth...
Little Happier: Why the Children’s Book “Little Bear” Made Tears Come into My Eyes
April 8, 2019
- 03:07
One of our tasks as parents is to help our children remember themselves and their own past. I got tears in my eyes when I read the...
Ep. 215: Throw a Celebratory Party
April 3, 2019
- 31:44
Throw a celebratory party, the problem of feeling so worried about the future that you can’t enjoy the present, a question about ideas...
Little Happier: I’m Lucky to Have a Mother Who Is Lucky
April 1, 2019
- 02:58
I feel lucky to have a mother who views herself as lucky. It’s a beautiful atmosphere for a child to live in—even a grown-up child like...
Ep. 214: Try Giving Up Something for a Month
March 27, 2019
- 26:01
Try giving up something for a month, a confession and hack related to leather pants, and a question for listeners: How do you help...
Little Happier: A Friend’s Description of Herself Reminded Me of Who I Am
March 25, 2019
- 03:41
Sometimes, it’s other people who remind us of our deepest values, and the truest things about ourselves. I must read—but I needed a...
Ep. 213: Bonus Clutter-Clearing Tips: Find Out What Ideas Didn’t Make It into the Book
March 20, 2019
- 30:38
This week, we’ll talk about some bonus ideas for creating outer order and we’ll talk about an easy way to make it more fun to wake up in...
Little Happier: This Mother Knew Exactly What Career Advice to Give
March 18, 2019
- 04:14
I’m often wracked by indecision when I’m asked to give advice or take action. I love this example of a mother who knew exactly what...
Ep. 212: Happier Podcast Book Club: We Talk About Family Secrets in Dani Shapiro’s Memoir “Inheritance.”
March 13, 2019
- 41:05
This week is a milestone episode for us. It’s our first Happier Podcast Book Club episode. We talk to Dani Shapiro about her memoir:...
Little Happier: Would I Know the Way to Tell Right from Wrong?
March 11, 2019
- 03:47
As I read about the Enron scandal, I was relieved to see that one person could clearly articulate how to tell right from wrong.Get in...
Bonus Episode! An Excerpt from Gretchen’s New Book “Outer Order, Inner Calm”
March 8, 2019
- 06:47
This bonus episode features an excerpt from the audio-book of Gretchen’s new book “Outer Order, Inner Calm.” Order a copy of Gretchen’s...
Ep. 211: Spend Time Individually with Family Members, an Ice Cube Hack, and Obligers’ Relationships to Accountability and Possessions
March 6, 2019
- 31:31
This week, we’ll talk about why you might try to spend time individually with each member of your family, and we’ll discuss an...
Little Happier: Carrie’s Shoe Collection in “Sex and the City” Teaches an Important Lesson About Habits
March 4, 2019
- 03:57
If you’re trying to save money, does it matter if you splurge on one pair of expensive shoes? Probably not. What about two pairs? Three...
Ep. 210: Very Special Episode: Clutter-Busting!
February 27, 2019
- 32:13
Elizabeth reveals the clutter-busting ideas from Gretchen’s book “Outer Order, Inner Calm” that work best to help curb her natural...
Little Happier: From Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”--What Should We Fear More, Want or Ignorance?
February 25, 2019
- 04:16
Re-reading Charles Dickens’s story “A Christmas Carol” got me thinking about the question: What should we fear more, Ignorance or...
Ep. 209: Fourth Anniversary! Most Popular Ideas and Favorite Moments
February 20, 2019
- 37:47
It’s our fourth anniversary! We review our most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, Happiness Hacks, and favorite moments from the previous...
Little Happier: A Perhaps Apocryphal Story about Matisse--About Time and Mastery
February 18, 2019
- 01:31
This story about Matisse is probably apocryphal, but it’s a great illustration of an important point: a minute of effort may reflect a...
Ep. 208: To Fight Clutter, Beware the “Endowment Effect”
February 13, 2019
- 37:10
This week, we’ll talk about why you should beware the “endowment effect” as a way to combat clutter, and we’ll take a deep dive into...
Little Happier: My Favorite Story from My Favorite Book About Parenting
February 11, 2019
- 04:43
The “juice story” reminds me how much we can shape our perceptions, and other people’s perceptions, by the way that we speak.
Ep. 207: Elizabeth Reveals Why You Should Go to the Doctor
February 6, 2019
- 32:25
Why you should go to the doctor, meeting the challenge of decluttering a household—and announcing the first book for the Happier Podcast...
Little Happier: Ann Patchett’s Memoir Reminds Us of Why We Need to Take Care of Ourselves
February 4, 2019
- 03:59
Author Ann Patchett reminds herself that if she’s going to be of service to a friend, she must protect herself.
Ep. 206: What’s the Best Resolution You’ve Ever Made?
January 30, 2019
- 36:12
Why you might consider using gentle language, a gold star for “Winter of the Witch, a movie about magical pancakes, and listeners answer...
Little Happier: The Supreme Court Building Gave Me the “America Feeling”
January 28, 2019
- 01:38
Every time I read the words “Equal Justice Under Law,” carved into the front of the Supreme Court building, I get the America Feeling.
Ep. 205: An Interview about False Identities with Abby Ellin
January 23, 2019
- 40:60
Follow a ritual of completion, how to pour more easily from a carton (a small but useful hack!), and an interview with Abby Ellin about...
Little Happier: There’s Such Joy in Giving Delight
January 21, 2019
- 01:53
I saw the blockbuster movie “Avatar” back in 2009, and the only thing I remember is a look of pure joy.
Ep. 204: Put a Band-Aid On It
January 16, 2019
- 33:51
Why you should put a band-aid on it, consider “Me Time Tuesday,” and how to persuade a reluctant spouse to do more work.Get in touch:...
Little: Even Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Life Felt Rushed and Cluttered
January 14, 2019
- 02:15
We often assume that our new technology is making us feel rushed and overwhelmed, but perhaps it’s just really ourselves.
Ep. 203: Plan Your “19 for 2019”
January 9, 2019
- 40:18
We reveal our “19 for 2019” and “9 for 2019” lists and discuss some listeners’ suggestions and questions about making these lists.Get in...
Little: Eisenhower: To Do Some Work Well, We Have to Do Some Work Poorly
January 7, 2019
- 01:18
Eisenhower gave Nixon some helpful advice: to be excellent in some areas, we have to be willing to be mediocre in other areas.
Ep. 202 - Use the Checklist for Habit Change
January 2, 2019
- 35:17
Use the Checklist for Habit Change, how to encourage conversation with children, and the challenge of planning office birthday...
Little: Sometimes, What We Think Is a Weakness Is a Strength, and Vice Versa
December 31, 2018
- 04:07
Sometimes a weakness can be a strength, and a strength can be a weakness.
Ep. 201 - Choose a One-Word Theme for the Year
December 26, 2018
- 39:29
Choose a one-word theme for the year, a talk with Chris Guillebeau, and what’s been your most significant resolution?Get in touch:...
Little: Everything Would Be Easy, If It Weren’t For…
December 24, 2018
- 01:09
My mother observed sympathetically, “Everything would be easy, if it weren’t for people.”
Ep. 200 - Our 200th Episode! Ask Us Anything
December 19, 2018
- 43:54
To celebrate our 200thepisode, we answer questions from listeners: do we ever fight, how do we record the podcast, when did we choose...
Little : Do What You Love, and Then Your Friends Hire You
December 17, 2018
- 01:47
Do what you love, and then your friends hire you. It’s true for comedy-writers, and for everyone else, too.
Ep. 199 - Reflections on Our “18 for 2018” Lists
December 12, 2018
- 35:23
Evaluate your “18 for 2018” list, we reveal our own successes and failures with “18 for 2018,” plus a popular app for locating lost...
Little: While the Power of Story-Telling Is Trendy Now, It’s an Ancient Idea.
December 10, 2018
- 01:40
It’s a truth too important to be new: we listen best when we listen to a story.
Ep. 198 - Design Your Own “Happiness Project"
December 5, 2018
- 39:28
Design your happiness project for 2019, follow the five-second rule, and suggestions for dealing with the challenge of gift-giving.Get...
Little: Is This Person My Judge, or My Champion?
December 3, 2018
- 02:15
Sometimes, the people we fear are judging us are willing to be our enthusiastic champions and sympathizers, if we give them the chance.
Ep. 197 - Make a Plan to Read More in 2019
November 28, 2018
- 30:51
Plan to read more in 2019, how to make it easier to follow complex instructions, and what to do when your sweetheart won’t store keys in...
Little: A Lesson from Waitressing: It’s Not About You
November 26, 2018
- 01:40
We often think that people are acting in response to what we’ve done or said, when in fact, they’re just behaving the way they usually...
Ep. 196: Choose a Holiday Motto
November 21, 2018
- 33:21
Choose a holiday motto, give the “gift of a podcast,” and more ideas about drinking less alcohol and helping people face end-of-life...
Little: Finding a Meaning, Such as Sacrifice, Can Transform Suffering
November 19, 2018
- 01:10
Viktor Frankl makes a profound point: When our actions and experiences have meaning, our suffering is lightened.
Ep. 195: Do Something Scary
November 14, 2018
- 32:52
Why you should do something scary, what to do with your earbuds when you meet someone on the street, and how to schedule holiday visits...
Little: “The Salvation of Man Is Through Love and in Love.”
November 12, 2018
- 03:55
A passage from Viktor Frankl’s masterpiece Man’s Search for Meaning is a beautiful reminder of the significance of love.
Ep. 194: Make an Introduction
November 7, 2018
- 30:27
Make an introduction, accountability strategies to keep people exercising, and how to deal with digital information hoarding.Get in...
Little: The Idea of “Negative Space” and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
November 5, 2018
- 03:40
A visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter got me thinking about the importance of paying attention to “negative space.”
Ep. 193: Have You Ever Felt Your Personality Slip?
October 31, 2018
- 29:59
Celebrate a personal anniversary, a hack that makes it easier to use a cell phone, and persuading people to tackle end-of-life tasks.Get...
Little: A Puzzling Story from the Life of Pearl S. Buck
October 29, 2018
- 03:25
A thought-provoking story from the life of Pearl S. Buck’s missionary father raises many questions.
Ep. 192: The Problem of “You Cook, I Clean”
October 24, 2018
- 35:58
Why you should have people over, how to make time for your side hustle, and the challenge of the “you cook, I clean” approach Get in...
Little: During a Difficult Family Discussion, Someone Knows the Right Thing to Say
October 22, 2018
- 03:11
These words are comforting because they’re true: you’re not that powerful.
Ep. 191: Identify Your Pacesetter
October 17, 2018
- 35:38
Why you might identify your pacesetter, the value of creating a user-guide to yourself, and the common challenge of drinking less...
Little: Yet Another Piece of Advice from My Father
October 15, 2018
- 01:07
My father gave me excellent advice: if I think I might be ready for a change, I’m probably already long overdue.
Ep. 190: Very Special Episode: Think About Your Body
October 10, 2018
- 39:41
For this Very Special Episode, we focus on the role of the body in creating a happier life, and we talk to Jake Knapp about how to focus...
Little: I Experienced the "America Feeling" in Normandy, France
October 8, 2018
- 03:40
During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the beautiful description in the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.”
Ep. 189: Make Life More Complicated
October 3, 2018
- 30:03
Why you might want to make life more complicated, the challenge of the (non)Quiet Car, and a question about hotels.Get in touch:...
Little: A Stumble May Prevent a Fall
October 1, 2018
- 02:29
Little mistakes, little missteps, can help us learn and grow so that we don’t make bigger mistakes later.
Ep. 188: Create a Personal Timeline
September 26, 2018
- 29:54
Why you might create a personal timeline, a deep dive into the "Facts of Life" book, and yet another treadmill-desk-related demerit. Get...
Little: An 18th Century Story Makes Me Think About the Importance of Education
September 24, 2018
- 03:33
This story from the life of Samuel Johnson reminds us: “It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common...
Ep. 187: How to Find a Misplaced Object
September 19, 2018
- 38:46
Plan a short trip, how to find a misplaced object, and an interview with Bradley Tusk. Get in touch: @gretchinrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Why Are You Living in New York City?
September 17, 2018
- 01:19
For decades, I’ve been haunted by a public-service poster I once saw in a New York City subway.
Ep. 186: Create a Blues Bag
September 12, 2018
- 34:16
Why and how you might create a "blues bag," a reading-related hack for parents, and a deep dive on happiness at work. Get in touch:...
Little: When People Give No Solace, We Can Turn to Nature
September 10, 2018
- 02:25
This beautiful song by Nina Simone is a reminder that when people give us no solace, we can turn to nature.
Ep. 185: Make a "Facts of Life" Book
September 5, 2018
- 34:23
Why you should make a "Facts of Life" book, how to deal with an outer-order related conflict, and a hack for telling left from right....
Little: Laurence Olivier’s Advice to Dustin Hoffman Works for Me, Too
September 3, 2018
- 03:12
The advice that Laurence Olivier gave to Dustin Hoffman is a good reminder for all of us.
Ep. 184: Have a #HappierLaborDay
August 29, 2018
- 39:47
Just as New Year's Day prompts us to reflect on what we want from the coming year, Labor Day can remind us to reflect on how to be...
Little: It’s Good to be an Adult
August 27, 2018
- 01:33
It has its drawbacks, to be sure, but in general, it’s good to be an adult.
Ep. 183: Consider Going into "Low Power Mode"
August 22, 2018
- 26:26
Go into "low power mode," how to deal with a soul-destroying app (again), and the benefits of taking a two-hour class. Get in touch:...
Little: When We Give Ourselves Limits We Give Ourselves Creativity
August 20, 2018
- 03:59
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true: Imagination is often sparked more by constraint than by freedom.
Ep. 182: Take a Scent Snapshot of Your Life
August 15, 2018
- 30:52
Take a scent snapshot of your life to boost your happiness, and Eliza describes facing the happiness stumbling block of leaving home for...
Little: A Beautiful Moment of Elevation from Winston Churchill’s Tears
August 13, 2018
- 02:26
When visiting a poor neighborhood during the London Blitz, Winston Churchill cried—“tears not of sorrow but of wonder and admiration.”
Ep. 181: Practice Reverse Gossip
August 8, 2018
- 33:54
Practice reverse gossip, an email-related hack, and what to do when someone raises the bar. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: You Don’t Have to Be Good at Something to Be Good at Something.
August 6, 2018
- 02:29
Dolly Parton and Paul McCartney are yet more examples of my Secret of Adulthood: You don’t have to be good at something to be good at something.
Ep. 180: Very Special Episode: Travel Hacks!
August 1, 2018
- 34:59
We got terrific hacks from listeners about how to make travel more convenient, comfortable, and fun—so many great suggestions about...
Little: A Lesson from Harry Potter About Knowing Who You Are
July 30, 2018
- 03:51
One of my favorite moments in the Harry Potter books is when Harry accepts his own nature, and his own strengths, to face his dragon.
Ep. 179: Make Each Day of the Week Distinctive
July 25, 2018
- 29:55
Make each day of the week distinctive, use videos to solve common problems like inserting contact lenses, and why is “18 for 2018” so...
Little: Artist Anne Truitt Describes Her Moment of Transformation
July 23, 2018
- 04:18
Artist Anne Truitt gives a remarkable description of her moment of transformation and recognition—she knew exactly when and why it began.
Ep. 178: Schedule a Weekly Playdate with Yourself
July 18, 2018
- 38:14
Schedule a weekly playdate with yourself, a hack for dealing with a child’s curfew,and what are some ways to deal with the distractions...
Little: “There Are Many Things that We Would Throw Away If We Were Not Afraid that Others Might Pick Them Up.”
July 16, 2018
- 01:32
I’m haunted by a thought-provoking observation from Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Ep. 177: What is Luxury for You?
July 11, 2018
- 31:40
Do the “ten minute closer” to help yourself make orderly transitions, what’sluxury for you, and how to deal with demanding...
Little: It’s Not as Glamorous as It Sounds.
July 9, 2018
- 01:26
One of the nicest features of human nature is the fact that people are interested in such different subjects.
Ep. 176: An Interview with Hollywood Powerhouse Mark Duplass
July 4, 2018
- 38:23
Note the start date of any notable pain or symptom; suggest a window of time instead of a specific time; and interview with Hollywood...
Little: Dolly Parton Describes the Difference Between a Wish and a Dream
July 2, 2018
- 01:39
Action, work, that’s the different between a wish and a dream.
Ep. 175: Do You Struggle with Procrasticlearing?
June 27, 2018
- 29:21
Beware of procrasticlearing, plan a nice little surprise, and tips on how to take notes while listening to podcasts.Get in touch:...
Little: Schoolhouse Rock Gives Me the “America Feeling” and Taught Me the Preamble to the Constitution
June 25, 2018
- 02:39
Gold star and RIP to Bob Dorough, who made such a contribution to the world with his “Schoolhouse Rock” series.
Ep. 174: Make Something by Hand
June 20, 2018
- 34:44
Make something by hand that you’d ordinarily buy, have a “Take My Stuff” party, and are you more interested in the event or in the...
Little: There May Be a Very Good Explanation for That.
June 18, 2018
- 03:13
Sometimes, when people do things that seem inexplicable, there’s actually a very good explanation, if we take the time to find out what it is.
Ep. 173: Is It a Good Idea to Work with Your Best Friend?
June 13, 2018
- 42:41
Why it’s useful to know your purpose, the challenge of taking notes while listening to a podcast, and Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings of...
Little: I Love to See Virtue Rewarded
June 11, 2018
- 02:31
It’s wonderful to see people do a job well, and to extend themselves to help others—and then it’s even more wonderful to see that action...
Ep. 172: Toss Unnecessary Papers
June 6, 2018
- 38:41
Toss unnecessary papers, invent your own holidays, remember that people don’t necessarily perceive the world the way that you do, and...
Little: Yes, I Made a Dumb Mistake—But People Have Made Dumber Mistakes.
June 4, 2018
- 01:35
Even rocket scientists can make a simple math error. Mistakes happen. Nobody’s perfect.
Ep. 171: Question Your Limiting Beliefs
May 30, 2018
- 38:28
Why we should question our limiting beliefs, how to create outer accountability for saying “no," and a hack using measuring cups.Get in...
Little: A Happy Story from the Life of Dolly Parton
May 28, 2018
- 04:18
It makes me very happy to think of these three great artists taking such delight in their own powers, and persisting in their vision for...
Ep. 170: Very Special Episode with an “18 for 2018” Update
May 23, 2018
- 37:13
We give an update on our progress (and lack of progress) in our “18 for 2018” lists. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Always Orient Yourself to North.
May 21, 2018
- 01:37
My New York City roommate gave me good advice for any city, and for many situations: “Always take a moment to orient yourself toward north.”
Ep. 169: Use the Strategy of “Stop Talking”
May 16, 2018
- 39:47
Use the strategy to “Stop talking,” an interview about modern romance with Joanna Coles, and dealing with the end of a Season of...
Little: “Even a Dog Distinguishes Between Being Stumbled Over and Being Kicked.”
May 14, 2018
- 01:33
Oliver Wendell Holmes’s observation about dogs helps to clarify a very important distinction in human relationships.
Ep. 168: ”Remember, This Is Supposed to Be Fun”
May 9, 2018
- 34:48
Why you might remind yourself, “Remember, this is supposed to be fun,” two podcast-related hacks to help you fall asleep, and why it’s...
Little: A Lesson I Have to Learn Over and Over.
May 7, 2018
- 01:52
I keep learning this lesson, again and again. The days are long, but the years are short.
Ep. 167: Be a Tourist in Your Own Home
May 2, 2018
- 36:23
Be a tourist in your own home, how to deal with a Season of Stress, and how you can create an “empty shelf” in your smart-phone. Get in...
Little: The Statue of Liberty and My “America Feeling”
April 30, 2018
- 03:04
I never take for granted the sight of the majestic Statue of Liberty, and it gives me my “America feeling” every time.
Ep. 166: Watch Old Video Clips
April 25, 2018
- 35:07
Watch old video clips of celebrities, put-downers vs. put-awayers, and would you rather take one long vacation or several short ones?Get...
Little: Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination
April 23, 2018
- 01:03
It’s easy to be fooled! But working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination, because working makes it easier to justify...
Ep. 165: Have a Power Down Weekend
April 18, 2018
- 35:21
Have a Power Down Weekend, Sit on the Floor, and an Interview with Liz Dolan about Workplace Happiness.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: Lead Us by the Hand to Those We Are Looking For
April 16, 2018
- 02:44
For years, Flannery O’Connor’s prayed to Saint Raphael, and her prayer led me to realize how much we want to be led “toward those we are...
Ep. 164: Don’t Assign or Accept Homework
April 11, 2018
- 32:48
Don’t assign or accept homework, write an “unhappy list,” and a fun way to deal with a big milestone birthday.Get in touch:...
Little: Alas, There Are No Wizards.
April 9, 2018
- 01:50
My father gave me some very valuable advice: There are no wizards. There are no magical fixers. If I care about something, I have to...
Ep. 163: Set a Weekly Phone Date
April 4, 2018
- 28:57
Set a weekly phone date, why dogs make great accountability partners, how stickers can solve an annoying problem, and the challenge of...
Little: Now Is Now, and Now Is Already a Long Time Ago.
April 2, 2018
- 02:60
The last paragraphs of my book Happier at Home reflection something I learned from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods.
Ep. 162: Write It Down. Really.
March 28, 2018
- 31:46
Why you really should write something down, a system to allow two Obligers to create accountability as a couple, and a solution for...
Little: The Investor Is Wise Who Diversifies. Also True for Non-Investors.
March 26, 2018
- 01:36
In law school, my Business Administration professor told us, “The investor is wise who diversifies,” and it’s a point that’s true in...
Ep. 161: Embrace the Cheese
March 21, 2018
- 29:44
Why you might “embrace the cheese,” a low-stress variety of book group, and the question of what to do with a Magic Hour.Get in touch:...
Little: No Hard Feelings. These Things Happen.
March 19, 2018
- 02:31
When a person screws up, it’s very helpful to say, “No hard feelings. These things happen.”
Ep. 160: Very Special Episode! Live from Elizabeth’s Cluttered Home Office.
March 14, 2018
- 24:26
Gretchen and Elizabeth meet in Elizabeth’s home office to clear some clutter.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: From Rob Lowe: Sometimes You Have to Get Fired to Get Hired
March 12, 2018
- 02:27
We never know what’s good luck and what’s bad luck. Actor Rob Lowe illustrates this truth with a story about Amy Adams’s career.
Ep. 159: Do Something Badly
March 7, 2018
- 39:42
Decide to do something badly, an interview with Adam Grant about his WorkLife podcast, and tips for dealing with the upheaval of a...
Little: It’s Fun to Have Fun, But You Have to Know How
March 5, 2018
- 01:31
Throughout the ages, wise observers from Samuel Butler to Dr. Seuss have noted that it’s not as easy to have fun as you might expect.
Ep. 158: Create a Standardized Vacation
February 28, 2018
- 41:53
Why you might create a standardized vacation, a deep dive into the challenge of wearing “clothes,” and how to use unpairing to control a...
Little: Ever Thought, “It Doesn’t Make Any Difference If I Go to the Gym Today”?
February 26, 2018
- 02:37
To form habits, we need to focus on the “growing heap,” rather than the “one-coin” – terms that take their meaning from the “Argument of...
Ep. 157: Third Anniversary! Our Most Popular Try-This-at-Home Tips, Happiness Hacks & Favorite Moments.
February 21, 2018
- 27:08
To celebrate our third anniversary, we highlight our most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, Happiness Hacks, and favorite moments.Get in...
Little: “I Sell Beer to Them as Wants It. I Ain’t Making Nobody Drink It.”
February 19, 2018
- 03:02
One of my favorite passages from one of my favorite novels is a beautiful example of virtue rewarded.
Ep. 156: Kiss in the Morning, Kiss at Night
February 14, 2018
- 33:29
Why you might try having a kissing schedule, an easy way to make it easier to put down your phone, and discussion of Obliger...
Little: What I Do Every Day Matters More Than What I Do Once in a While
February 12, 2018
- 01:58
I remind myself that what I do every day matters more than what I do once in a while—which means that an occasional slip-up is fine, and...
Ep. 155: Choose a Signature Scent
February 7, 2018
- 26:08
Choose a signature scent, a before-and-after story about losing weight, and a great way to remember your theme for the year.Get in...
Little: That’s Okay, Buddy
February 5, 2018
- 02:01
Sometimes, when I’m pushing myself too hard, I remember a funny moment from the Mary Poppins show on Broadway. When the set broke down,...
Ep. 154: Wear “Clothes” Every Day
January 31, 2018
- 47:26
Wear clothes every day (!) and an interview about parenthood with Tanya Coke. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Whatever You Do, You Will Still Be You
January 29, 2018
- 01:12
When I was feeling uncertain about the future, a respected boss reassured me with an obvious yet profound observation: “Remember,...
Ep. 153: This Is Actually Good for Me.
January 24, 2018
- 29:42
Try saying, “This is actually good for me,” a great hack for quitting an addictive app, how Rebels (and others) can keep resolutions,...
Little: A Cure for Feeling Annoyed About Clutter? Remember Love
January 22, 2018
- 01:15
When your parents are driving you crazy because they’ve kept every piece of your schoolwork, all the way back to kindergarten, or when...
Ep. 152: Deep Dive into “18 for 2018”
January 17, 2018
- 38:46
Create a consistent body of work, use the Flic app to manage your photos, and a deep dive into the “18 for 2018” lists.Get in touch:...
Little: Don’t Know What Will Happen in the Future? Try to Understand Now
January 15, 2018
- 01:11
A professional futurist pointed out, “We know we can’t predict the future, so we try to understand what’s happening NOW. If you...
Ep. 151: Keep a Running List of Your Favorite Things
January 10, 2018
- 27:03
Keep a running list of your favorite things, identify your one-word theme for 2018, and how Obligers can create accountability even if...
Little: You Will Say Good-Bye to Your Child Many Times
January 8, 2018
- 01:22
I’ve never forgotten the words of the pre-school director who told me, “This is the first of many times that you will say good-by to...
Little: We’ve Had Our Dog Barnaby Always
January 1, 2018
- 02:60
Here’s the thing about love: it’s easy to see how it stretches into the future, but the funny thing is, it also changes the past. We’ve...
Ep. 149: "18 for 2018" and Roz Chast Interview
December 27, 2017
- 41:42
Plan your "18 for 2018" and an interview with legendary cartoonist and writer Roz Chast.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Everyday Life in Utopia
December 25, 2017
- 01:41
After watching the movie Lost Horizon, my daughter Eleanor gave a brilliant title to her “sequel”: Everyday Life in Utopia. That’s my life motto.
Ep. 148: Use the Checklist for Habit Change for 2018
December 20, 2017
- 35:08
Use the "Checklist for Habit Change" to help you change your habits in 2018, plus many holiday hacks from listeners. Get in touch:...
Little: Three Words for Success: “No Matter What”
December 18, 2017
- 01:50
Actor Niecy Nash explained that she made a career in Hollywood by promising herself that she’d do whatever was necessary to succeed, “No...
Ep. 147: 18 for 2018
December 13, 2017
- 39:05
Make a list of "18 for 2018," the challenge of in-laws who want to fill your empty closets with their clutter, and an instagram-related...
Little: Am I Wasting My Youth?
December 11, 2017
- 01:20
It’s not always possible to decide whether one course of action is a waste of time or not—nevertheless, it’s an important question to consider.
Ep. 146: Introduce a Note of Whimsy
December 6, 2017
- 33:22
Introduce a note of whimsy, use color to connect to the moment, and a four Tendencies talk with By The Book's Kristen Meinzer and...
Little: Do Good, Feel Good
December 4, 2017
- 01:43
A friend told me that during a tough time, “she’d been practically addicted to doing good deeds.” One of the best ways to make ourselves...
Ep. 145: Try These Happier Holiday Hacks
November 29, 2017
- 31:52
We suggest a long list of hacks to make the holidays a happier time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Reframing Helped Me Feel Lucky Instead of Resentful
November 27, 2017
- 01:19
My mother helped me to reframe a situation so I felt lucky, rather than resentful, at my husband’s lack of interest in our renovation.
Ep. 144: Be Willing to Delegate
November 22, 2017
- 27:53
Be willing to delegate, how a Rebel child started to cry less in class, and is it possible to make yourself happier?Get in touch:...
Panoply Fall 2017 Trailer
November 20, 2017
- 03:33
We’re thrilled to present Panoply’s Fall 2017 lineup of shows. They include the satirical self-improvement show “Dexter Guff is Smarter...
Little: Tell Me What You Want for Dinner
November 20, 2017
- 01:16
Sometimes, when we’re very specific about what we want, we help others to enjoy the pleasure of giving.
Ep. 143: Down with Boredom
November 15, 2017
- 37:27
Why you should say "down with boredom," try asking this extremely useful question, and an interview with Jancee Dunn about marriage. Get...
Little: A Happiness Reminder from E. B. White’s Masterpiece “Charlotte’s Web”
November 13, 2017
- 03:17
I love the opening passage from “Charlotte’s Web,” E. B. White’s masterpiece of children’s literature. It’s a great reminder that an...
Side Hustle School: 13-Year-Old Australian Creates Schoolyard Lollipop Fortune
November 10, 2017
- 08:32
Thanks to Chris Guillebeau for sharing this episode of Side Hustle School with the Happier feed. If you like it, please subscribe to...
Ep. 142: Schedule Some Daily Transcendence
November 8, 2017
- 34:54
Schedule some daily transcendence, skip the bad parts, and a conversation with Lewis Howes. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: “I Always Loved a Snow Day”
November 6, 2017
- 01:41
When I told my friend Kim Scott that I was sorry that it looked like heavy snow was going to interfere with her book party for her book...
Ep. 141: Find Your Oasis
November 1, 2017
- 33:49
Why you should find an oasis, whether talking to a rebel child in in his or her own language is actually coddling, and how wisely to...
Little: A Good Example is More Compelling than Good Advice
October 30, 2017
- 01:49
A teaching story about Torah study from Wendy Mogel’s book “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee” is a terrific reminder that a good example...
Ep. 140: It's More Important to Say Something Than the Right Thing
October 25, 2017
- 39:19
In this Very Special Episode, we hear from listeners on what they consider the best and worst things to say in different situations. Get...
Little: Don’t Wait Until You’re Moving Out to Clean Your Apartment
October 23, 2017
- 01:24
During our senior year of college, a friend made a remark that I’ve always remembered: don’t wait until you’re moving out to clean your...
Ep. 139: Be Full of Desire But Easy To Please
October 18, 2017
- 27:04
How to be a good guest, what to do if you don't want to act as an accountability partner - and Elizabeth grills for the first time. Get...
Little: Frequency Is More Important than Duration
October 16, 2017
- 01:07
When I was talking to my father about whether my family should make a very short trip to Kansas City, he made a very wise observation:...
Ep. 138: Always Leave Some Room in the Suitcase
October 11, 2017
- 29:14
Always leave some room in the suitcase, the stress of giving a toast, and what to bring to the office if you don't want to be the evil...
Little: Too Early, Too Early, Too Early—Too Late, Too Late, Too Late
October 9, 2017
- 01:43
It’s often easy to assume that now isn’t the right time—but the best time to do something is now.
Ep. 137: Gretchen Visits Elizabeth on the Disney Lot
October 4, 2017
- 28:06
It’s “Take Your Sister to Work Day!” Gretchen visits Elizabeth at her office in Burbank. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: People Succeed in Groups
October 2, 2017
- 01:37
My sister the sage Elizabeth told me that “People succeed in groups.” I think that’s objectively true, and in any event, it’s a helpful thought.
Ep. 136: Don't Fall into "Empty"
September 27, 2017
- 35:04
Why it's helpful not to let yourself fall into "empty," how a smartphone can be a memory aid, and dealing with the common challenge of...
Little: Reading Memoirs Reminds Me to Cut People Slack
September 25, 2017
- 01:07
I’ve read many memoirs written by people I know in real life. And it always reminds me of a very important truth: we should always cut...
Ep. 135: Plan a Virtual Move, 2.0
September 20, 2017
- 28:35
Plan a virtual move 2.0, the satisfaction of finding the perfect solution to even a small problem, and abrief conversation with writer...
Little: “An Investor Is Wise Who Diversifies”—True in Many Situations
September 18, 2017
- 01:42
Some rhyming advice I learned in law school turns out to apply in many situations in life.
Ep. 134: Write a "Ta-Da" List
September 13, 2017
- 34:56
Write a ta-da list, use the app Podsearch to discover great new podcasts, and ask yourself "What is my level of ambition?" Get in touch:...
Little: It’s Right to Do the Right Thing
September 11, 2017
- 01:29
It’s right to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t seem to make any difference. And we never can really know what the effect of our...
Ep. 133: Create a Spot for Things in Transition
September 6, 2017
- 31:32
Why it’s helpful to create a place for things in transition, how to create accountability if you’re introverted or shy—and do you have...
Little: B.J. Novak’s Reminder about the Importance of Gratitude.
September 4, 2017
- 01:54
In the Acknowledgements of B.J. Novak’s excellent book “One More Thing,” he remembers to pay tribute to some friends from childhood.
Ep. 132: Consider Children's Literature
August 30, 2017
- 34:51
Why you might consider reading children’s literature, how to reinvigorate your work space if you can’t make any changes, and the...
Little: The Book “The Hobbit Boredom” Illustrates How Boredom Can Spark Creativity
August 28, 2017
- 01:57
The dull task of grading papers inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the first line of his masterpiece, “The Hobbit.” Boredom can lay the...
Ep. 131: Do 10 Jumping Jacks
August 23, 2017
- 29:34
Do ten jumping jacks, how to stop constantly checking your devices, and why lifeis like high school. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: Sometimes, It’s Better to Help than to Sympathize
August 21, 2017
- 01:58
Instead of joining in the commiseration, my friend took action to help. Sometimes, it’s better to help than to sympathize.
Ep. 130: 7 Myths of Happiness
August 16, 2017
- 36:02
In this Very Special Episode, we discuss the seven myths of happiness. Get in touch:@gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: Don’t Sleep Through Beautiful Moments
August 14, 2017
- 01:11
This conversation happened 23 years ago, and lasted about five minutes, but I’ve regretted it ever since.
Ep. 129: September is the Other January
August 9, 2017
- 34:11
Why we should remember that September is the other January, the fun of personalized post-it notes, and the challenge of what “they”...
Little: Why Andy Warhol Wanted to Have a Boss—on Retainer
August 7, 2017
- 01:32
I agree wholeheartedly with Andy Warhol. Sometimes I wish I had a boss who could tell me what to do, so I wouldn’t have to figure it out...
Ep. 128: Connect With TV
August 2, 2017
- 36:52
Why it’s helpful to connect with TV, a way to give up the snooze alarm, and a discussion of whether you can be a mix of the Four...
Little: My Daughter’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Mother Found the Right Words to Say
July 31, 2017
- 01:12
Sometimes, it’s hard to put into words the exact nature of a loving relationship. “You’ll always have a place in my heart” says it all.
Ep. 127: Make or Accept a “Repair Attempt"
July 26, 2017
- 37:52
Why we should make or accept a repair attempt, a Sharpie hack, and how introverted Obligers can create outer accountability. Get in...
Little: Sometimes, You Feel Regret Either Way
July 24, 2017
- 01:19
Sometimes in life, going down one path means abandoning another path. It’s natural to feel regret about the path not taken.
Ep. 126: Do You Struggle with Perfectionism?
July 19, 2017
- 41:47
Look for an under-used area of your house, marking sad anniversaries in a happy way, and ways to deal with the challenge of...
Little: A Lesson from Pre-School: You Get What You Get, and You Don’t Get Upset
July 17, 2017
- 01:22
My daughter’s pre-school teachers used to tell the kids “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” and I’ve found this to be...
Ep. 125: Plan a Virtual Move
July 12, 2017
- 38:06
Plan a virtual move, a deep-dive into advice about sending a child off to college, a painless way to remove a splinter, and the summer...
Little: A Great School Motto: Go Forth Unafraid
July 10, 2017
- 01:40
A school motto can stick with you for your whole life. My daughters’ school motto is to “Go Forth Unafraid,” which is a great motto for...
Ep. 124: Remember Love
July 5, 2017
- 39:00
Remember love, a new great way to use Ziploc bags, dealing with sad anniversaries -- and do people tell you what you "should be able" to...
Little: Don’t Check Every Box
July 3, 2017
- 01:13
One of my Secrets of Adulthood is “The opposite of a profound truth is also true.” A few weeks ago I talked about the advice, “Check...
Ep. 123: Shield Yourself from Worry
June 28, 2017
- 32:31
Why we should shield ourselves from worry, open items carefully, and how clothes can transform our attitudes and emotions. Plus tips for...
Little: How to be Successful, Part 2
June 26, 2017
- 01:59
My law school friend repeated the advice that she’d been given: Try to check every box. This advice came to me in an indirect way, but...
Ep. 122: Tackle a “Power Day”
June 21, 2017
- 33:06
Tackle a “Power Day” as a way to finish onerous tasks, dealing with in-laws who undermine your healthy eating habits—and what’s your...
Little: How to Be Successful, Part 1
June 19, 2017
- 02:10
I heard this advice about success indirectly (my law school friend repeated what her boyfriend had told her), but I’ve remembered it,...
Ep. 121: Do You Want to Read More?
June 14, 2017
- 41:38
How to get more reading done, an interview with Sam Walker about the qualities of the world’s best captains, and a car-related travel...
Little: Flawed Can Be More Perfect Than Perfection
June 12, 2017
- 02:10
This delightful story about a seven-tentacled octopus, from legendary children's author Ursula Nordstrom reminds me that sometimes...
Ep. 120: VSE: Listener Questions About the Four Tendencies
June 7, 2017
- 41:06
In this Very Special Episode, we discuss listener questions related to the Four Tendencies (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or...
Little: Sometimes, We Can Be Generous by Taking
June 5, 2017
- 02:20
Eighteen years ago, on a plane to Kansas City, I had a brief encounter with a woman—and I’ve regretted my action (or rather, inaction)...
Ep. 119: Make Friends With People of Different Ages
May 31, 2017
- 32:27
Why it boosts happiness to make friends with people of different ages, look behind you every time you leave, and the happiness stumbling...
Little: A Picture Book Has an Important Lesson for Grown-Ups
May 29, 2017
- 01:59
In Russell Hoban’s brilliant picture book “A Bargain for Frances,” Frances observes, “Being careful is not as much fun as being friends....
Ep. 118: Are You the Difficult One?
May 24, 2017
- 39:13
Design your summer, start a podcast club, and ask yourself - are you the difficult one? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: A Happiness Lesson from Judd Apatow
May 22, 2017
- 01:34
We have to be very careful not to assume that we can predict how other people respond to our actions—especially to big, dramatic...
Ep. 1: Picking A New Work Mantra
May 18, 2017
- 31:03
Happier in Hollywood is here! In this episode, veteran TV writers/producers/showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain pick a new work mantra...
Ep. 117: Are You a Revealer or a Concealer?
May 17, 2017
- 37:03
Write a haiku, look for help from YouTube videos, how introverted parents can manage an extroverted child, and are you a "revealer" or a...
Little: Sometimes, the Best Solution Is to Do Nothing at All
May 15, 2017
- 02:09
My mother’s advice about an irksome renovation problem reminded me of an important Secret of Adulthood: Sometimes, the best solution is...
Ep. 116: Start a Side Hustle
May 10, 2017
- 36:08
Start your own side hustle, avoid the happiness stumbling block of "raising the bar," and whether we should plan our encounters with...
Little: It’s Time to Switch from Advisor to Cheerleader
May 8, 2017
- 01:52
My father told me, “At some point you have to switch from being advisor to being a cheerleader.” And I realized I’d probably already...
Ep. 115: Boost Your Energy
May 3, 2017
- 32:31
Boost your energy, why it can be helpful to listen to music in a foreign language, and a deep dive into the happiness stumbling block of...
Little: We Don’t Always Know When Children Are Wasting Their Time
May 1, 2017
- 02:02
We may wish our children used their time more “productively,” but we don’t always know when time is wasted—or not. What looks like...
Ep. 114: Interview with Hollywood Legend Sherry Lansing
April 26, 2017
- 43:27
Why and how to say you're sorry, an interview with Sherry Lansing, a travel-related happiness hack, and Elizabeth conquers blepharitis....
Little: Skip the Boring Parts
April 24, 2017
- 01:03
A note on a friend’s computer taught me a giant lesson about writing--and life: Down with boredom. Skip the boring parts!
Ep. 113: Reclaim Your Dump Zones
April 19, 2017
- 36:16
Why you should reclaim your dump zones, how to make a tough decision, and is your birthday important to you? Get in touch:...
Little: One of the Worst Ways to Waste Time
April 17, 2017
- 01:58
One of the most terrible wastes of time is to do something well that we need not do at all.
Ep. 112: Pick a Uniform
April 12, 2017
- 43:49
Pick a uniform, time yourself doing a task, a deep dive into an irksome request from a boss - plus the benefit of sloth videos. Get in...
Little: We Can Help Others to See Themselves Differently
April 10, 2017
- 01:25
Sometimes, with even just one comment, we can help other people to see themselves differently.
Ep. 111: Beware of Storing Stuff
April 5, 2017
- 39:39
Beware of "storage," a hack about flipping a coin, and more on the constant challenge of email. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: To Find Something, We Must Search in the Right Place
April 3, 2017
- 02:17
I often think of this old joke in the context of habit change: If we want to find what we’re looking for, we have to search in the right place.
Ep. 110: Are You Lonely?
March 29, 2017
- 39:26
Very Special Episode: We talk about different types of loneliness, and what to do about it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Little: If All Else Fails, We Can Try Minding Our Own Business
March 27, 2017
- 03:44
One of my favorite passages from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” holds a terrific happiness reminder: we can always try minding...
Ep. 109: Pay Attention to the Light
March 22, 2017
- 34:51
Pay attention to the light, a great idea for an April Fool's Day tradition, and a demerit for talking too much. Get in touch:...
Little: Experience is a Great Teacher
March 20, 2017
- 01:16
The great teacher is experience. A tough teacher, but a great teacher.
Ep. 108: Turn Your Shower Into a "Happiness Booth"
March 15, 2017
- 35:51
Turn your shower into a "happiness booth," the self-knowledge question inspired by the movie "Before Sunrise," and the challenge of...
Little: It’s Nice to Get a Gold Star
March 13, 2017
- 02:34
Even if it’s not necessary, it’s sweet when our efforts are appreciated.
Ep. 107: Talking to Susan Cain About Introverts
March 8, 2017
- 38:38
Plan a secret date, a fascinating conversation with Susan Cain, author of "Quiet," and how to discover and listen to more podcasts. Get...
Little: Never Have a Crush on Just One Person
March 6, 2017
- 01:23
In romance and in work, it’s helpful to have more than one thing going at a time.
Ep. 106: Our Second Anniversary! Year Two Highlights
March 1, 2017
- 41:29
Our favorite Try-This-At-Home tips, some great before-and-after stories, and our favorite moments from the past year. Get in touch:...
Little: Good Luck, Bad Luck—How Do You Know?
February 27, 2017
- 01:31
One of my mother’s favorite teaching stories is a reminder that we can never know what’s good news, or bad news.
Ep. 105: Leave on a High Note
February 22, 2017
- 32:04
Why we should try to end on a high note, child-like wonder vs. adult-like wonder, and a confession of unjust accusation. Get in touch:...
Little: A Happiness Lesson from the Broadway Show “Oklahoma!”
February 20, 2017
- 03:40
It’s one of the great dreams of the United States: “I don’t say I’m no better than anybody else, but I’ll be danged if I ain’t jist as good.”
Ep. 104: Happiness Stumbling Block: The News
February 15, 2017
- 27:59
Why it's fun to have a life-story conversation, how to handle the emotional toll of the news, and a gold star for the New York City...
Little: “Yes” Comes Right Away; “No” Never Comes
February 13, 2017
- 01:53
My sister the sage made one of her wise observations--which she learned the hard way, in Hollywood.
Ep, 103: Pick Your Moment
February 8, 2017
- 36:20
Pick the right moment to have a tough conversation, how to be happier during a tough time, and a deep dive into the Instagram...
Little: We Must Carry the Wealth of the Indies with Us
February 6, 2017
- 01:49
We can’t find more happiness, more adventure, more richness to an experience that we bring to it.
Ep. 102: Tame the Travel Beast
February 1, 2017
- 37:45
Why finding the missing puzzle piece can boost happiness, taming the "travel beast," and how personalized mugs can help solve the...
Little: No Deposit, No Return
January 30, 2017
- 00:60
There are few iron laws of the universe, but one such law seems to be: No deposit, no return. We never get out of things more than we...
Ep. 101: Are You an Integrator or a Compartmentalizer?
January 25, 2017
- 31:10
Do something for your future self, think about whether you’re an “integrator” or “compartmentalizer,” and how flying wish paper can...
Little: She Opened Up Heart So the Whale Could Swim Away
January 23, 2017
- 01:34
A passage from Ruth Ozeki’s novel “A Tale for the Time Being” provides a beautiful image of letting go of sorrow.
Special Episode 100: Ask Us Anything
January 18, 2017
- 36:34
To celebrate our 100th consecutive episode, we did a Very VERY Special Episode, where we answered questions from listeners. Get in...
Little: My Inconvenience May Be Someone’s Miracle
January 16, 2017
- 01:48
My friend told me the story of her personal miracle: the time her local subway ran express all the way downtown.
Ep. 99: Take Personality Quizzes
January 11, 2017
- 38:02
Get self-insight by taking personality quizzes, a hack for better emails, and how to address book club conflicts. Get in touch:...
Little: I Need “A Heart to Be Contented”
January 9, 2017
- 01:06
In 1662, Samuel Pepys made a diary entry that reminds me that to be happy, I have to keep a contented heart.
Ep. 98: Interview: The Case Against Sugar // Have a Quest
January 4, 2017
- 37:26
Why it boosts happiness to have a quest, an interview with Gary Taubes about the case against sugar, and impassioned praise for a Uniqlo...
Little: Announcing “The Onward Project” Podcasts
January 2, 2017
- 16:57
Announcement! I’m launching The Onward Project, a family of podcasts all about how to make your life happier, healthier, more...
Radical Candor Ep. 1: What is Radical Candor?
January 2, 2017
- 19:26
Too many of us feel that a boss has to choose between caring personally or challenging directly, when in fact a boss can and should do...
Welcome to Side Hustle School
January 2, 2017
- 06:47
In this first episode, you'll learn what side hustles are all about and what you can expect from this daily series. Side Hustle School...
Ep. 97: Start Your Own Happiness Project
December 28, 2016
- 43:06
How to start your own happiness project, a deep dive into the subject of break-ups, and a sweatpants-related demerit. Get in touch:...
Little: What Would an Englishman Do?
December 26, 2016
- 02:09
Reading Harold Nicolson’s reflection that an “Englishman would not like to take snapshots of a fine vessel sinking” reminds me to ask...
Ep. 96: Set Your Holiday Intention
December 21, 2016
- 31:49
Set your holiday intention, tackle the problem of shared work, identify some inexpensive gifts—and how to make a graham-cracker holiday...
Little: Do You Want to Take My Taxi?
December 19, 2016
- 01:41
We never know the true consequences of our actions, big or small, for good or for ill.
Ep. 95: Practice Mis-En-Place
December 14, 2016
- 32:44
Why it’s helpful to practice mis-en-place, the tragedy of the messy commons in the office kitchen, and a gold star related to the flu...
Holiday Hack: What’s Your One-Word Theme for the New Year?
December 12, 2016
- 05:28
A fun exercise is to choose a one-word theme for the new year, such as Novel, Travel, Rest, Free, Finish, Upgrade. Get in touch:...
Ep. 94: Don’t Treat Yourself
December 7, 2016
- 45:04
Don’t treat yourself, an interview with writer and podcaster Jonathan Fields, and why you should put a shoe in the hotel safe. Get in...
Holiday Hack: Say “Yes” If You Can
December 5, 2016
- 04:25
During busy holiday time, it’s tempting to say “no” to try to make life easier, but in the end, we’re usually happier if we say “yes”—to...
Ep. 93: How to Survive a Break-Up
November 30, 2016
- 34:45
Find something to admire, figure out your energy level, and how to survive an (amicable) romantic split. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...
Holiday Hack: Find Some Quiet Time During the Holidays
November 28, 2016
- 04:07
During the busy holiday season, remember to carve out some time for rest and silence. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Ep. 92: For Thanksgiving, Leave Something Unsaid
November 23, 2016
- 45:06
For the holidays, leave something unsaid, an interview with Note to Self’s Manoush Zomorodi, and how taking seconds might help you eat...
Little: Be Polite and Be Fair
November 21, 2016
- 01:06
A boss manages to sum up a library’s worth of good advice in a five-word sentence.
Ep. 91: Delete a Soul-Destroying App
November 16, 2016
- 33:10
Delete a productivity-depleting app and listen to some "Happier 911" songs. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: What Some Folks Will Do
November 14, 2016
- 01:48
Flannery O’Connor explains that a country lady remarked, of her short stories, “Them stories just gone and shown you how some folks...
Ep. 90: Consider the Essential Seven
November 9, 2016
- 35:09
In this Very Special Episode we discuss the "Essential 7" areas for happiness and habits. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft;...
Little: A Beautiful Image Can Be an Area of Refuge
November 7, 2016
- 02:28
In Willa Cather’s novel “O Pioneers!” a sister and brother never forget the wild duck they saw playing in the river.
Ep. 89: Control the Cubicle In Your Pocket
November 2, 2016
- 32:18
Control the cubicle in your pocket, send an actual invitation to an event, and consider the question: "If people could change one of...
Little: Getting Ready is a Key Aspect of Performance
October 31, 2016
- 03:04
Why the experience of taking exams in high school was so much better than taking exams in college.
Ep. 88: Celebrate Holiday Breakfasts
October 26, 2016
- 30:16
Why it's fun to celebrate holiday breakfasts, how keeping a journal for medical visits can make life easier, and the challenge of...
Little: Accept a Gift in the Spirit in Which it is Offered
October 24, 2016
- 03:34
A story from the life of St. Therese of Lisieux is a good reminder about how to accept a gift in the right spirit.
Ep. 87: Live: Find a Happiness 911 Song
October 19, 2016
- 1:12:19
Live from Seattle! Identify your “Happiness 911” song, take a deep dive into manifestos, explore the Four Tendencies -- plus an...
Little: Do What You Love, and Then Your Friends Hire You
October 17, 2016
- 01:11
When we follow our natural interests and inclinations, it’s surprising how often we form the relationships that can help us succeed.
Ep. 86: Be the Bearer of Some Good News
October 12, 2016
- 34:30
Why it's good to be the bearer of good news (at least sometimes), how other people affect our habits for better and for worse, why you...
Little: Someplace, Keep an Empty Shelf, and Someplace, Keep a Junk Drawer
October 10, 2016
- 01:42
In a happy life, it’s helpful to keep a little space completely clear and open, but it’s also helpful to make room for some messiness,...
Ep. 85: Ever Been Annoyed By A Gift?
October 5, 2016
- 36:14
Why you should give yourself something to look forward to; whether you’ve ever had an uneasy response to a gift, and Gretchen talk about...
Little: You Don’t Have to be Good at Something to be Good at Something
October 3, 2016
- 02:01
If we really want to pursue some course, the fact that we’re not “good” at it shouldn’t stop us.Panoply SurveyWe want you to tell us...
Ep. 84: Try Doing Something EVERY Day
September 28, 2016
- 32:31
Why it can be helpful to do something every day, instead of some days; why it's helpful to keep a trash bag in the car; and how to...
Little: Keep the Paint as Good as it is in the Can
September 26, 2016
- 02:21
The artist Frank Stella’s remark is a happiness koan; it has great meaning, though it’s not exactly clear what that meaning is.
Ep. 83: Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox?
September 21, 2016
- 35:39
Why reading three off-beat magazines can boost your happiness, the challenge of going freelance, and the question: Are you a hedgehog or...
Little: Justice O’Connor’s Three-Word Secret to Happiness
September 19, 2016
- 01:29
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor manages to sum up her secret of happiness in just three words.
Ep. 82: Make a List (If You Want)
September 14, 2016
- 31:15
Make a to-do list (if that works for you), buy that essential item every chance you get, and enlist the strategy of identity to form and...
Little: Your Question May Suggest Its Own Answer
September 12, 2016
- 02:26
In Piers Anthony’s fantasy novel “A Spell for Chameleon,” a character knows just what to say.
Ep. 81: Lets Give Them Something to Talk About
September 7, 2016
- 30:01
Why it's satisfying to introduce a specific topic into a conversation, why you might want to park at the far end of the parking lot -...
Little: Having More Doesn't Always Make Us Happier
September 5, 2016
- 01:34
Why a boy didn’t play with the toys his grandmother gave him.
Ep. 80: A Discussion of the Five Love Languages
August 31, 2016
- 35:17
This Very Special Episode is devoted to a discussion of "The Five Love Languages," a fascinating framework about how people best...
Little: Ray Bradbury Says, "Love What YOU Love!"
August 29, 2016
- 02:19
In a few words on a postcard to a fan, Ray Bradbury makes a key point about happiness.
Ep. 79: Revive a Dormant Friendship
August 24, 2016
- 35:59
Ep. 79: Why it's helpful to revive a dormant friendship, a deep dive into listeners' favorite "yearbook quotes," and the burning...
Little: Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote, “Pa Was No Businessman.”
August 22, 2016
- 03:25
We don’t have to pretend that the people we love are perfect.
Ep. 78: Seek Out Silence
August 17, 2016
- 29:14
Ep. 78: We talk about why you might want to seek out silence, why a happiness hack used by our parents worked so well, and why it's...
Little: The Intimacy of "I'll Open Your Fridge and Take What I Want"
August 15, 2016
- 01:54
Sisters Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron--and the reminder that there are many kinds of love.
Ep. 77: Plan an Errand Date
August 10, 2016
- 28:21
Ep. 77: We talk about why it's fun to plan an "errand date," a happiness hack for dealing with other people's clutter, abd the value of...
Little: As Promised: The Reading from Gretchen's Wedding
August 8, 2016
- 03:06
In Ep. 76 of Happier, Gretchen promised to share her favorite reading from her wedding. Here it is: "I Was Trying to Describe You to...
Ep. 76: Write Your Manifesto (& Bring Your Own Condiments)
August 3, 2016
- 29:50
Ep. 76: Why it's stimulating to write your manifesto; the joy of bringing your own condiments; and a listener requests suggestions for...
Little: A Happiness Lesson From the Cat in the Hat
August 1, 2016
- 02:25
"Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have but you have to know how." It can be surprisingly hard to know how to have fun.
Ep. 75: Become a Minor Expert
July 27, 2016
- 37:38
Why it’s fun to become a minor expert (like color or Real Housewives)—and also fun to use the app TimeHop, to spark happy memories. We...
Little: Sometimes, a Lot of Words Can Only Diminish What We Want to Convey
July 25, 2016
- 01:48
Why General Eisenhower’s 15-word telegram in 1945 was more powerful than any longer, more elaborate message would have been.This episode...
Ep. 74: Choose A Quote for Your Yearbook Page
July 20, 2016
- 30:07
Ep. 74: Choose your "senior quote," use the powerful Strategy of Pairing to change your habits, and we also talk quite a bit about the...
Little: We Can't Spare Our Children Normal Social Pain
July 18, 2016
- 02:30
As Gretchen drops off her daughter Eleanor at summer camp, she reflects on some of her favorite advice from parenting expert Michael...
Ep. 73: Get Rid of It As Soon As It's Worthless
July 13, 2016
- 47:45
Why we should get rid of something (like a shoe without a mate) as soon as it's useless; what to do when everything "turns to ashes," as...
Little: If Others Think I Can Do a Job, I Can Probably Do It
July 11, 2016
- 02:05
A friend found the right words to say to Gretchen, when she was nervous before an interview with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. This...
Ep. 72: Beware The Incomplete Upgrade
July 6, 2016
- 34:40
Ep. 72: Why we’re happier when we have room of our own, the challenge of the “incomplete upgrade,” and Gretchen gives herself a demerit...
Little: I May Not Be the Best, But I’m Probably Not the Worst
July 4, 2016
- 01:21
When she's feeling insecure, Gretchen reminds herself of this Secret of Adulthood. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start...
Ep. 71: Are You A Leopard Or An Alchemist?
June 29, 2016
- 34:01
Ep. 71: Choose a signature color, ask yourself, "Am I an alchemist or a leopard?" -- and fighting FOMO. Want to get in touch?...
Little: Sometimes We Can Be Generous By Taking
June 27, 2016
- 02:50
In his memoir, actor Rob Lowe recounts a conversation between his young son and President Clinton that shows that sometimes, we can be...
Ep. 70: Advice
June 22, 2016
- 38:16
Ep. 70: Very Special Episode: Advice! Gretchen, Elizabeth, and listeners reveal the best advice they’ve received for work,...
Little: Give Yourself a Lucky Charm
June 20, 2016
- 01:12
Back in episode 59, Elizabeth and Gretchen discussed lucky charms. That conversation reminded Gretchen of a charming (and possibly...
Ep. 69: An Interview with the Musician Moby
June 15, 2016
- 40:60
Ep. 69: Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should give someone a surprise treat, and address, yet again, the thought-provoking...
Little: No Magic One-Size-Fits-All Solution for Happiness
June 13, 2016
- 01:55
We've all heard the expert advice: do it for 30 days; do it first thing in the morning; start small. Problem? That advice works for some...
Ep. 68: How To Be On Time
June 8, 2016
- 25:01
Ep. 68: How to be on time, why we should treat ourselves, how an Obliger can stick to a budget, and Elizabeth is thrilled with an app...
Little: Am I Painting My Own Fakes?
June 6, 2016
- 01:55
Do you ever feel as though you’re just repeating yourself, instead of doing the best work you can do? Picasso did. This episode is...
Ep. 67: Design Your Summer
June 1, 2016
- 33:12
Ep. 67: Design your summer, a deep-dive into the emotionally charged subject of thank-you notes, mother-in-law woes, and the problem of...
Little: Accept Yourself & Also Expect More From Yourself
May 30, 2016
- 02:21
In their own way W. H. Auden and Flannery O’Connor each articulate an idea that I think about often: I want to accept myself, and also...
Ep. 66: The Pain of Email Etiquette
May 25, 2016
- 29:31
Ep. 66: Give advice only when asked, and the challenges of email etiquette and vacation hangovers. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
Little: There's Great Value In Knowing When To Say Nothing
May 23, 2016
- 01:45
As my grandfather looked out the window into our backyard, I could hear the disapproving thoughts swimming around in his head. This...
Ep. 65: Arianna Huffington Says Go To Bed
May 18, 2016
- 37:21
Ep. 65: Enjoy your home's special features, Arianna= Huffington talks about why we should get enough sleep, and I give a gold star to my...
Little: People Do Best What Comes Naturally
May 16, 2016
- 01:57
When JFK was first elected president, his advisors had some serious reservations about his wife Jackie...This episode is brought to you...
Ep. 64: What Do You Lie About?
May 11, 2016
- 29:27
Ep. 64: Go slow to go fast; what do you lie about (Elizabeth and I confess our lies), and we introduce a new segment, the "Happiness...
Little: The Days are Long, But the Years are Short
May 9, 2016
- 02:18
I was riding the bus with my daughter, when something outside the window caught her eye...This episode is brought to you by Audible.com....
Ep. 63: A Debate About Thank You Notes
May 4, 2016
- 40:22
Ep. 63: Why it's important to have a strategy for online passwords, the trickiness of using rewards to strengthen habits, and Elizabeth...
Little: Don't Let The Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Good
May 2, 2016
- 03:15
My mom simply asked if she could come to New York for a visit... This episode is brought to you by Audible.com. Go to...
Ep. 62: Do You Have 100 Packets of Soy Sauce?
April 27, 2016
- 35:29
Ep. 62: Don't accumulate excessive amounts of anything; it's tough when worlds collide; a Questioner wants to be a better spouse to an...
Little: Go Outside
April 25, 2016
- 01:39
Get some fresh air and sunlight. It's an easy way to stimulate your brain and boost your memory, alertness, and wellbeing. Brought to...
Ep. 61: Stop Apologizing
April 20, 2016
- 38:46
Ep. 61: Stop apologizing, do you prefer variety or familiarity, and the problem of passwords. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
Little: Outer Order Contributes To Inner Calm
April 18, 2016
- 02:22
This is one of my all time favorite secrets of adulthood, because it's true for so many people, and it's so accessible. Outer order...
Ep. 60: On Set With Elizabeth
April 13, 2016
- 33:40
Ep. 60: A Very Special Episode. Henry and I visit Elizabeth on the set, and discuss you should let people do their jobs, interview Helen...
Little: Flawed Is More Perfect Than Perfection
April 11, 2016
- 02:06
Listen to Glenn Gould hum along as he plays Bach and maybe you'll agree with me: sometimes flawed is more perfect than perfection....
Ep. 59: Do You Have A Lucky Charm?
April 6, 2016
- 31:16
Ep. 59: Find your lucky charm, distract yourself for 15 minutes, some great mantras from listeners -- and Elizabeth feels godparent...
Little: Tell Me What You Want For Dinner
April 4, 2016
- 01:45
Often we're afraid to tell people exactly what we want for fear of sounding demanding. But by holding back, we may be denying our...
Ep. 58: The Pressure of Birthdays
March 30, 2016
- 24:15
Ep. 58: Find your area of refuge, the pressure of birthdays, and how to get up earlier. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
Little: When You're Stressed, Try This
March 28, 2016
- 02:59
Last week was full of deadlines and travel arrangements and all around stress. Fortunately, when this happens, Gretchen Rubin knows the...
Ep. 57: The Awful Habit of Awfulizing
March 23, 2016
- 32:42
Ep. 57: Pick a mantra for the day, avoid the awful habit of "awfulizing," and dealing with "The Chair" where clothes collect. Want to...
Little: The Best Teacher
March 21, 2016
- 03:01
Gretchen Rubin remembers few specific facts from college. But she can recall a couple lessons vividly, and they both have this one thing...
Ep. 56: Schedule Time To Worry
March 16, 2016
- 37:29
Ep. 56: Schedule time to worry, learn to avoid loopholes, and how to deal with a writers' accountability group that is starting to shirk...
Ep. 55: The Dilemma of Switching Bags
March 9, 2016
- 27:26
Ep. 55: The dilemma of switching bags, do you prefer long or short discussions, the story of the Monkey and the Banana--and...
Ep. 54: Celebrating A Year of Happier
March 2, 2016
- 41:24
Ep. 54: Our one-year anniversary! We talk about the most popular try-this-at-home tips, listeners give their before-and-after stories,...
Ep. 53: Meditation...Sort Of
February 24, 2016
- 28:57
Ep. 53: Put the word "meditation" before any dull task, consider the stumbling block of competitive parenting, and listener ideas for...
Ep. 52: Habits and Whole30 With Melissa Hartwig
February 17, 2016
- 34:35
Ep. 52: Ask yourself, "What happens if I ignore this?" an interview with Whole30's Melissa Hartwig, I struggle with an unwanted errand,...
Ep. 51: Help! I Always Forget Names
February 10, 2016
- 34:16
Ep. 51: How to disguise the fact that you don't remember someone's name; why if-then planning helps us to keep good habits, the...
Ep. 50: Ask For A Favor
February 3, 2016
- 33:00
Ep. 50: Why you should ask for a favor, cooperation vs. competition, information overload, and I don't do a good job handling my...
Ep. 49: LIVE In San Francisco!
January 27, 2016
- 1:08:47
Ep. 49: Live from San Francisco! With special guests Nir Eyal and Jake Knapp. Plus how to travel with tears, deal with public speaking...
Ep. 48: Got The Sunday Blues?
January 20, 2016
- 31:52
Ep. 48: Create a temporary photo gallery, the happiness challenge of the Sunday blues, and the joy of listening to the Harry Potter...
Ep. 47: Liz Misses Out On A Romantic Moment
January 13, 2016
- 29:34
Ep. 47: Control your exit, harness the power of convenience, and Elizabeth misses out on the opportunity to have a romantic moment with...
Ep. 46: Don't Get Organized
January 6, 2016
- 24:33
Ep. 46: Don't get organized, dealing with storing sentimental items, coping with rewards and treats -- and we hit five million...
Ep. 45: Home for the Holidays – Kansas City Edition
December 30, 2015
- 30:54
Ep. 45: Elizabeth and I are both home for the holidays, back in Kansas City. We start the episode in our favorite KC diner, Winstead's,...
Ep. 44: Drew Barrymore Gets Personal. And Happier
December 23, 2015
- 41:60
Ep. 44: Drew Barrymore interview! So fascinating. Plus we talk about having an end-of-the-year ritual, procrastinating about Christmas...
Ep. 43: You Can't Make Me, And Neither Can I
December 16, 2015
- 34:23
Ep. 43: Listener Roundup of the Four Tendencies. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com;...
Ep. 42: Act How You Want To Feel
December 9, 2015
- 31:37
Ep. 42: Act the way you want to feel; try resisting temptation by abstaining altogether; and I use the Strategy of Convenience to get...
Ep. 41: Put An End To Impulse Shopping
December 2, 2015
- 27:46
Ep. 41: Take one thing with you to fight clutter, tackle the challenge of impulse buying -- and I haven't been going to the gym. Want to...
Ep. 40: Holiday Special -- Try These At Home
November 25, 2015
- 39:10
Ep. 40: Very Special Episode, holiday theme! Listeners answer: "What's your Try This at Home tip for the holidays?" and "What's the...
Ep. 39: Elizabeth Talks About Getting Fired
November 18, 2015
- 28:16
Ep. 39: Elizabeth talks about getting fired; do you want more time for friends or for solitude; and Elizabeth gets a surprise dinner....
Ep. 38: Rebels - Do You Hate Being Told What To Do?
November 11, 2015
- 40:30
Ep. 38: A close look at the Rebel Tendency. Do you hate being told what to do--even telling yourself what to do? Want to get in touch?...
Ep. 37: Obligers - Are You an Elizabeth?
November 4, 2015
- 35:45
Ep. 37: A close look at the Obliger Tendency. Are you like Elizabeth, and find it easy to meet outer expectations (a work deadline) but...
Ep. 36: Questioners - Do You Always Ask Why?
October 28, 2015
- 38:30
Ep. 36: We're talking about the Four Tendencies Framework, and this week, we focus on the Questioner Tendency, with the help of Christy...
Ep. 35: Upholders - Are You A Hermione?
October 21, 2015
- 35:45
Ep. 35: In the first of four episodes about the Four Tendencies framework, we talk about "Upholders." Also, Elizabeth misses the blood...
Ep. 34: The Habits of A Rebel Harvard Physicist
October 14, 2015
- 28:01
Ep. 34: Have a difficult conversation; a talk with Lisa Randall, Harvard physics professor and Writer (and Rebel) -- plus, hard-boiled...
Ep. 33: Send Yourself To Boot Camp
October 7, 2015
- 27:36
Ep. 33: Try a boot camp, put away those last items -- and have you ever experienced a "Lightning Bolt" change in your habits? I have....
Ep. 32: Why Teasing May Be Bad For Happiness
September 30, 2015
- 28:19
Ep. 32: Why Elizabeth and I raise the bar; why, surprisingly, teasing can be a happiness stumbling block--and we want your comments...
Ep. 31: Choose A Personal Symbol
September 23, 2015
- 28:04
Ep. 31: Observe a threshold ritual, for gratitude; identify your personal symbols; and remember to check your passport's expiration...
Ep. 30: Remember What It Was Like Being A Teenager?
September 16, 2015
- 28:25
Ep. 30: Very Special Episode! My daughter Eliza is our guest. Her try-this-at-home is "Give yourself a mission." She asks: "What advice...
Ep. 29: The Fantasy of Perfection
September 9, 2015
- 27:38
Ep. 29: Why Elizabeth and I lower the bar ("don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"), use the clean slate to change habits, and...
Ep. 28: We Live The Stories We Tell Ourselves
September 2, 2015
- 29:24
Ep. 28: Don't interview for pain; face the challenge of shared work--and whether or not to keep ice cream in the freezer. Want to get in...
Ep. 27: The Bigger Life
August 26, 2015
- 23:48
Ep. 27: Need to make an important decision? Choose the bigger life. Also, what's your "tell"?--and I reveal whether we're getting a dog....
Ep. 26: Procrastinating and Tomorrow Logic
August 19, 2015
- 28:18
Ep. 26: Pick a one-word theme for the year. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com;...
Ep. 25: Try This At Home-A-Palooza with A.J. Jacobs
August 12, 2015
- 30:04
Ep. 25: Hilarious writer A. J. Jacobs suggests several try-this-at-home tips: improve your posture; brainstorm for fifteen minutes;...
Ep. 24: Let's Talk About Dogs
August 5, 2015
- 25:15
Ep. 24: We discuss why we should take photos of everyday life; the tension that exists in love ("you're awesome" vs. "you can do...
Ep. 23: Nothing Stays in Vegas
July 29, 2015
- 26:03
Ep. 23: Why you should choose an office TV show; when enjoying something, do you prefer to "savor" or "spree," how to keep healthy...
Ep. 22: Creative Habits with Guest Rosanne Cash
July 22, 2015
- 34:10
Ep. 22: We have a theme this week -- creativity! Save Your String, Listen to Rosanne Cash, Fight Drift, and a Lesson from the Writers'...
Ep. 21: Join a Group, Or Start Your Own
July 15, 2015
- 24:29
Ep. 21: Why it's a good idea to join or start a group, and also to put something on the schedule. Also, how to enjoy the present moment...
Happier With Gretchen Rubin: A Very Special Episode (All About You)
July 8, 2015
- 37:23
Ep. 20: Listen to listeners! We hear answers to the question, "If you could change one aspect of a relationship, what would you change?"...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Dan Harris Is 10% Happier
July 1, 2015
- 25:47
Ep. 19: Enjoy the fun of failure, here ABC news anchor Dan Harris discuss his on-air panic attack and why he started meditation. Want to...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Focus on Your Foundations
June 24, 2015
- 22:33
Ep. 18: Buy an experience, use the Strategy of Foundation (eat and drink right, sleep, move, and unclutter) and the challenge of good...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: My Precious!
June 17, 2015
- 23:35
Ep. 17: Why it's a good idea to have an exact place for everything; beware of anything we call "our preciousss," the challenge of...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Imitate Your Spiritual Master
June 10, 2015
- 27:06
Ep. 16: Imitate a spiritual master, use the Strategy of Monitoring to improve your habits, stay happy through transitions--and...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: An Interview with Tom Rath (Plus Gretchen’s Favorite Office Supply!)
June 3, 2015
- 33:53
Ep. 15: Be a tourist in your own city, a talk with Tom Rath, the challenge of snooze alarms, Gretchen's deep appreciation of clear...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Shrines, Chronotypes, and Hostess Neurosis
May 27, 2015
- 23:49
Ep. 14: Cultivate a shrine, know what's different about you to figure out how to set up your habits for success, and -- do you suffer...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Stop Reading That Book!
May 20, 2015
- 24:58
Ep. 13: Why you should stop reading a book, a know-yourself-better quiz (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?), and the...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Learning from Tigger and Eeyore
May 13, 2015
- 29:35
Ep. 12: Why it can be a good idea to indulge in a modest splurge, Tiggers vs. Eeyores, the challenge of road rage, and April Fool's Day...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Obligers, Abundance Lovers, and Remember the Sunscreen
May 6, 2015
- 25:36
Ep. 11: Why we should "make the positive argument," are you a simplicity-lover or an abundance-lover, why it's hard to do the things...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: The “Cleaning Liz’s Closet” Edition
April 29, 2015
- 23:07
Ep. 10: We recorded this episode as we observed one of our sisterly rituals: when we're together, we clean Elizabeth's closet. Hilarious...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Treat Yo'self But Don’t Say "YOLO"
April 22, 2015
- 30:25
Ep. 9: Treat yourself, but be wary of invoking "YOLO"; the challenge of changing someone else's habit; Elizabeth TPs a friend's house....
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Deep Down, What Makes You Happy?
April 15, 2015
- 20:13
Ep. 8: Why we should give warm hellos and good-byes, ask ourselves what we did for fun when we were ten years old, and cultivate an...
Happier With Gretchen Rubin: Indulge Your Inner Toddler
April 8, 2015
- 21:15
Ep. 7: Treat yourself like a toddler, consider the "oppositional conversational style" (a/ka/ "I'm right, you're wrong"), what to do if...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: The Power of Envy
April 1, 2015
- 21:06
Ep. 6: Try the habit of weekly Power Hour, learn about yourself by asking the uncomfortable question "Whom do I envy?" and remember to...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Stop and Smell the Happy
March 25, 2015
- 21:10
Ep. 5: Embrace good smells, and remember that working can be one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination. Want to get in touch?...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Are You a Marathoner or a Sprinter?
March 18, 2015
- 22:49
Ep: 4: On the One-Sentence Journal, Marathoners vs. Sprinters at Work, and Parking Lot Snacks. Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin;...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: The Evil Donut Bringer
March 11, 2015
- 20:27
Ep: 3: Gretchen and Elizabeth share one of the easiest, quickest, and most popular ways to start your day off right. Plus, they discuss...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 2: All—or Nothing?
March 4, 2015
- 21:15
Ep. 2: In this episode, Gretchen and Elizabeth vow to set alarms for their bed times, decide if they're abstainers or moderators,...
Happier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 1: The One-Minute Rule
February 25, 2015
- 20:53
Ep. 1: We discuss the one-minute rule for tackling clutter, whether you're a "satisficer" or "maximizer," the infamous one-coin...