Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

More Happier: Reading Hacks, Book Recommendations, and Finding Your Perfect Summer Read Jul 18, 2026

Show notes

We revisit a favorite Try This at Home tip for getting more reading done, share listener hacks for building a happier reading life, and discuss how to discover books you'll love. Plus: recommendations for fascinating books about how things work.

Revisited Highlights:

Try This at Home: Read More (episode 121)
Happiness Hacks:
Listener Question: How to Find Good Books to Read (episode 428)
Listener Recommendations: Books on How Things Work (episode 481)

Mentioned in This Episode:

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz → gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Ep. 595: Always RSVP, & Why We Should Stop Over-delivering Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should always RSVP, and how to stop a simple gathering from, over time, becoming too much work.

Episode Highlights:

Try This at Home: Always RSVP — Why responding promptly (even with a "no") makes us a better guest [05:49]
Happiness Hack: Try a bag organizer insert — A simple way to keep a carry-on, tote, or structureless bag tidy and travel-ready. [14:22]
Happiness Stumbling Block: Presentation Creep — How over-delivering can gradually turn a casual get-together into something burdensome. [16:00]
Listener Update: Hearing Aids — Listeners share how hearing aids changed their lives, plus a practical tip on using Apple AirPods Pro as a starter hearing test. [01:44]
Demerits & Gold Stars — Gretchen’s demerit: not enough watercoloring; Elizabeth’s gold star: for the friend who created "Trail and Talk" [21:29]

Mentioned in This Episode:

Bag organizer insert: [https://amzn.to/4oc1oPO]
Five-Senses Journal (20% off with code HAPPIER20):
More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (Amazon, Bookshop)
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Amazon, Bookshop)

Listen to our Bookclub interview with Elizabeth Strout here!

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take the free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify — it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Little Happier: Why the King Paid Just as Much for Three Books as He Would Have Paid for Nine Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

A haunting story from ancient Rome remains relevant to our lives today.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Move Happier: Tips for Regular Exercise, How Walking Helps You Think, Plus Can Your Garden Be an Accountability Partner? (Bonus) Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

We discuss the biggest obstacles to moving more this summer with Sarah Fain from the “Happier in Hollywood” podcast, and share practical strategies for getting regular exercise.

This special episode is part of the Move 26 in ‘26 challenge to help all of us find more ways to move every day.

Try This at Home: Identify your biggest obstacle to movement — Figure out what's getting in the way of moving more, so you can find a solution that works for you.
Deep Dive: Tips for getting regular exercise — we talk about practical strategies for making movement easier: scheduling workouts, lowering the bar, embracing accountability, convenience, and fresh starts.
Take a Hike: Take a loop — Elizabeth and Sarah discuss why taking a short walk around the block can help you think more clearly, get unstuck, and return to your work with fresh ideas.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Join the Move 26 in '26 challenge here

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.

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

More Happier: Design Your Summer & Why a Teammate's Touch Can Change an Outcome Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

Practical ways to build more play into your summer and the surprising research on how physical touch improves athletic performance.

Design Your Summer check-in: How Gretchen and Liz are spending their summers: reading lists, doodling-sketching, and no worry! [08:25]
Spotlight on a Tool:Daily Recess: Adults need unstructured play too. How to figure out what kind of recess actually works for you [18:45]
The Science of Touch: Research shows that in basketball, physical touch from teammates reduces stress and boosts performance [19:46]

Mentioned in This Episode:

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz → gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Ep. 594: Try Becoming a Fan, Plus Tips for Dealing with Travel Bores Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Becoming a fan—of sports or anything—can improve your happiness. We share listener tips for dealing with people who share every boring detail of their latest trip.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Become a fan— Research shows that fandom reduces loneliness and gives your life more structure, connection, and ritual [04:37]
Happiness Hack: Cross off the common denominator—When you're anxious about a decision, ask yourself: does this worry apply to every option? [14:45]
Listener strategies for dealing with travel bores: How to redirect the conversation and ask targeted questions that make travel stories actually interesting. [17:41]
Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth's demerit: return timing regret; Gretchen's gold star: a perfect souvenir find. [25:03]

Mentioned in this Episode:

"Why Watching Sports Makes People Happy" — Time Magazine
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer by Warren St. John (Amazon, Bookshop)
There's Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson (Amazon, Bookshop)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Amazon, Bookshop)
Summer Bingo card + Design Your Summer tool — Happier App

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take the free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify — it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Little Happier: You Don’t Have to Be Good at Basketball to Be Good at Basketball Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

A star player for the NBA illustrates an important Secret of Adulthood: We don’t have to be good at something to be good at something.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Do You Need More Comfort or Adventure? Plus More Tips for Designing Your Summer Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

We revisit some of our favorite hacks and tips for designing a happier summer, including why you might choose a summer song, how to think about comfort versus adventure, and practical hacks for making summer more memorable, manageable, and fun.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Start Designing Your Summer on the Tools page of the Happier app, or ⁠download the app here⁠

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.

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

Ep. 593: Ditch Your Storage Unit, Plus How to Start a New Tradition Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Stop renting space for stuff you've forgotten. Plus a simple framework for starting a new tradition.

Try This at Home: Make a new tradition — Why creating a deliberate, recurring ritual can strengthen relationships and make scheduling easier. [03:24]
Happiness Hack: Treat yourself like your own daughter — The latest in the “treat yourself like a___” series. [11:41]
Happiness Stumbling Block: Your storage unit is costing you more than you think. [12:52]
Listener Question: How do you set aside worry for a whole season? [20:15]
Demerits & Gold Stars: Gretchen's demerit: ongoing battle with foot exercises; Elizabeth's gold star: using the Design Your Summer tool in the Happier app. [28:30]

Mentioned in This Episode:

Design Your Summer tool
Atlas Obscura app
Habits for Happiness quiz
The Wreck of the Mentor by Eric J. Dolin (Amazon, Bookshop)
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies framework and take the free quiz.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify — it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

Little Happier: Why Winston Churchill Used Courteous Speech in a Letter About War Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

A letter from Churchill demonstrates the value of courtesy, even—or perhaps especially—at moments of highest battle.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

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

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

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