Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Little Happier: When to Listen to Criticism and When to Ignore It May 05, 2025

Show notes

Distinguishing helpful from unhelpful criticism is a challenge that every creative person faces. No formula exists for knowing which criticism to heed; we must each develop our own discernment.

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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More Happier: How Regret Can Make You Happier [Revisited] May 03, 2025

Show notes

We discuss how regret and reflection can help us make better decisions in the future, and increase our happiness. Regret can be a hard thing to talk about. Many people who actually prefer to avoid using the word. By anticipating future regret, we can make better choices in the present, and by reflecting on past regret, we can think about how to do better moving forward.

Resources & links related to this episode:

How Regret Can Make Us Happier

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 532: Favorite Words, a Simple Packing Hack, and Managing Obliger-Rebellion at Work Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

We explore why making a list of your favorite words ("whimsy," "crackle," "latibulate") and using them can boost happiness. We share a simple hack that makes packing easier, and we reflect on a dog-related Secret of Adulthood. We also tackle a listener question about how to manage Obliger-rebellion when facing increased workload after coworker layoffs.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Sign up for the Happier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
Happiness Hack: Ratio method of 3:1
Quiz for the Four Tendencies personality framework
I Want You to Know journal
Elizabeth is reading: Lights Out by Navessa Allen (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Catastrophe Hour by Meghan Daum (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Little Happier: When the Words of Ritual Give Me My “America Feeling” Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Certain moments inspire my "America feeling"—a profound connection to the ideals of the United States. For instance, the formal words of the opening ritual for a session of the United States Supreme Court reminds me of the value of justice.

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Happier: Puppy! Taffy Has Arrived Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

We talk about the happiness, rewards, and challenges of having a new dog.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Support your favorite indie booksellers and enjoy a fun perk from Bookshop
Follow me on Instagram for photos and videos of Taffy
Read Secrets of Adulthood

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing: Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

We’re excited to introduce you to Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan, a new show from Lemonada Media.

As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the-wall conversations will no doubt inspire anyone who’s interested in turning their own entrepreneurial dreams into a reality and anyone else who just wants to hear what really happens behind the scenes.

In this episode, you’ll hear Meghan in conversation with Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First—and a recent guest on our friendship roundtable. The two reunite to talk about redesigning workplaces for women and how to make the hard choice to put your health (and yourself) before your work.

After you listen, be sure to follow Confessions of a Female Founder wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/confessionsofafemalefounderfd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ep. 531: Arrive Right on Time, Benefits of Pill Organizers & the Strongest Way to Make Friends Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

We discuss why arriving right on time for events makes it easier to have fun and to network (especially for introverts or newcomers). We also share the benefits of using an ordinary weekly pill organizer, and explore research supporting the Secret of Adulthood: “One of the best ways to find friends is to make friends with the friends of our friends.” Plus, a listener asks for suggestions about how to request support from family and friends after her recent diabetes diagnosis.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Happier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
More discussion of networking in Happier in Hollywood episode 413
Elizabeth is reading: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: An Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Little Happier: Easy Answers or Hard Truths: Whom Do You Trust? Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

When we’re trying to make a point, it’s often more effective to tell a story than to deliver a lecture. Example: an episode from the popular TV show “Better Call Saul” memorably illustrates the important truth that we’re probably better off assigning a complex problem to the person who acknowledges the difficulties rather than to the person who offers suspiciously easy answers.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

In honor of the arrival of a new dog, we take a flashback to previous discussions of our lives with Barnaby, Daisy, and Nacho. We each decided to “Choose the bigger life,” and we’re very happy we did. Bonus: One of the all-time best episode of “A Little Happier,” all about Barnaby.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 530: Very Special Episode: Hacks, Products, and Tips for Spring Clearing & Organizing Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

To get ready for spring, we share some of our favorite habits, hacks, and resources for clearing clutter and getting organized.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Tools for getting organized this spring
Outer Order, Inner Calm
3-Tier Organizing Cart
Magic Erasers
Command Hooks
Packing Cubes
Shelf spinner
Swedish dishclothes
Label Maker
Wall Pops
Guardsman Reusable Watermark Remover cloth
Chalk labels + markers
Small digital scale
Apothecary Jars
Bank Box
Memento Keepsake Journal
One-minute rule
Ep. 10: Clearing Elizabeth’s closet
Ep. 160: Clearing Elizabeth’s office
Ep. 210: Favorite hacks from Outer Order, Inner Calm
Ep. 443: Clear the Decks
Sweep the Deck

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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