Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Little Happier: When One Proverb Sparks Dozens: the Inspiration of “No Receiver, No Thief” Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

While writing my book "Secrets of Adulthood," I discovered how the structure of a single traditional proverb could spark dozens of new insights. The elegant formula "No X, no Y" began with the traditional wisdom "No receiver, no thief," but soon expanded into observations ranging from the paradoxical ("No expectations, no disappointment") to the historical ("No Plato, No Socrates ") to the practical ("More highways, more traffic").

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.

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More Happier: Listen In! Recordings from a Visit in Los Angeles Apr 12, 2025

Show notes

During the book tour for “Secrets of Adulthood,” we had the chance to spend the day together in Los Angeles. Listen in and follow along as we hush the Corgis, clear office clutter, and learn some happy book-related news.

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.

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Ep. 529: Cutting Back on Cussing, Easier Traveling & Do Possessions Have Feelings? Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

We explore the surprising benefits of swearing—from pain tolerance to social bonding—while also discussing why cutting back on cussing might still improve conversation quality and emotional climate. We share a listener hack for making a long, frequent car trip easier. We also consider a Know-Yourself- Better question about possessions, and we tackle a poignant listener question about maintaining family connections with adult children who seem to be creating unexpected distance after marriage.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Profane Waste by Gretchen Rubin and Dana Hoey (Amazon, Bookshop)
Four Tendencies quiz
Sign-up for my newsletter
Elizabeth is reading: Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz (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 Zero Isn't Nothing: The Fresh Eyes of a Basketball Beginner Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Through my "Operation Knicks Knowledge" experiment, I was astonished to learn that some professional basketball players have the number zero for their jersey number. Sometimes, a newcomer notices things that people with more knowledge take for granted.

Resources & links related to this episode:

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

More Happier: Reading Hacks [Revisited] Apr 05, 2025

Show notes

In honor of #read25in25, we're revisiting one of our Very Special Episodes about how to get more reading done. We share hacks, strategies, and tools from listeners—and our own experience.

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

Jay Shetty on Pursuing What You Love, from IMO Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Sharing a new show from my friends at Higher Ground, called IMO. You know on Happier, Gretchen gives practical advice meant to uplift you, help you reach goals, and leave you feeling fulfilled. Similarly on IMO, Michelle Obama and her big brother Craig Robinson tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs.

Each week, they’re joined by a guest, bringing candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you.

In this episode, renowned life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to puzzle through a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. They ask: Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it?

You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigHA

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ep. 528: Improve Your Hedonic Forecasting, Hacks for Reading More, and Mystery Revealed (Name of New Dog) Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

We explore the science of "hedonic forecasting"—our often-flawed ability to predict future happiness—and share strategies to make better life decisions. We debate the right approach to a “task cascade.” Plus, as part of #Read25in25, we discuss hacks for doing more reading. Finally, an answer to the burning question: What will my family name our new dog?

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Read 25 in 25
Elizabeth is reading: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Sun City by Tove Jansson (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: A Secret Kept for Thousands of Years Inspires My Owns Secrets (of Adulthood) Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

During my daily Metropolitan Museum visits, an ancient marble sculpture connected to the Eleusinian Mysteries—one of history's best-kept secrets—inspired me to start a major creative project, “Secrets of Adulthood.”

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: Behind-the-Scenes Book Making, Secret Eating Habits, and Sisterly Memories Mar 29, 2025

Show notes

We dive behind-the-scenes about the making of Gretchen’s new book, “Secrets of Adulthood,” discussing everything from cover design to audiobook creation. Plus we raise a new question in our continuing discussions about quirky eating.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

Pre-order my new book Secrets of Adulthood
Tools for getting organized this spring

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. 527: What a Favorite Book Reveals, Photo Selection Tips & Family Secrets Explored Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

We discuss how paying attention to the books, movies, or TV shows someone loves can provide profound insights into their character and inner life. Our happiness hack shares surprising research that shows we're actually terrible at choosing our own most flattering photos; strangers select better images of us than we do ourselves. Plus we talk to Rich Benjamin about his compelling new memoir, Talk to Me, in which he explores the history and secrets that have haunted his family.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
Talk to Me by Richard Benjamin (Amazon, Bookshop)
Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
Elizabeth is reading: War and Peace and nothing else these days! (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Crush by Ada Calhoun (Amazon, Bookshop)