Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Little Happier: A Lesson from the World Cup: Danger and Temptation Don’t Always Appear When We Expect Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

As the World Cup illustrated, in the happy moments of scoring a goal or celebrating, we may find it hard to stay focused on our aims.

Connect with Us:

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

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

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Move Happier: Getting Unstuck: A Fresh Start for Your Move 26 Habit Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Not sticking to a habit that’s important to you? Dan Harris and Laurie Santos join Gretchen to share how to spot what's holding you back — and get moving again.

Mentioned in This Episode:

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.

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More Happier: Four Tendencies Solutions to Real-Life Problems Sep 12, 2026

Show notes

We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies listener questions, including how to help a Rebel stick to exercise, work with a Questioner boss, and keep Obliger people-pleasing from getting in the way of dating.

Revisited Highlights:

Mentioned in This Episode:

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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.

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Ep. 603: Avoid the Sunk-Cost Fallacy, and Why it’s Hard to Plan for Emergencies Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

We talk about how to avoid the mental trap of the “sunk-cost fallacy.” Plus, why it’s so hard to plan for emergencies and the biases that keep us from preparing for risk.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Avoid the sunk-cost fallacy—the mental trap that keeps us committed because of the time, money, or energy we’ve already spent [04:57]
Happiness Hack: Create a personal reading syllabus with deadlines to help you read more [12:58]
Happiness Stumbling Block: Six common biases that make it difficult to assess and prepare for rare but serious emergencies [16:03]
Demerits and Gold Stars: Gretchen’s Demerit: Turning into a Knicks bore; Elizabeth’s Gold Star: To her friend Mindy for a new exercise experience [24:11]

Mentioned in this episode:

The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters by Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther (Amazon, Bookshop)
This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark by Craig Fehrman (Amazon, Bookshop)
Audition by Katie Kitamura (Amazon, Bookshop)
Rolling utility cart
Happier Labor Day resources

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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: After His Death, I Can Still Learn More About My Beloved Father Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Even after a person has died, we can continue to understand them in new ways.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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

More Happier: How Do People Know What To Do? Plus Making Friends at the Gym Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

We discuss how people know what to do in certain situations. Plus why you might–or might not–make friends at the gym.

Episode highlights:

Something Making Us Happier: Elizabeth finds connection to our beloved father through reading history. Gretchen delights in discovering Jamie’s rock-skipping skills [00:48]
I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: How do people know what to do in certain situations? [07:29]
Spotlight on a Tool: Check out my free 7-day email challenge designed to help you head into fall with more energy [13:03]
I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: Do you make friends at the gym? [14:40]

Mentioned in this episode:

This Vast Enterprise (Amazon, Bookshop)
Check out Gretchen’s free 7-day movement challenge here
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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

Ep. 602: Spend Your Money at Home Instead of Away, and Why You Should Delegate Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Why you might consider spending your vacation money on a home experience that you’ll enjoy for years, and why delegating tasks is more important–and harder–than it may seem.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Why you might "spend out" on your space, instead of on vacation, to give yourself fun and comfort at home [02:35]
Happiness Hack: A listener's three-system method for documenting daily life and family milestones [13:14]
Happiness Stumbling Block: Why we avoid delegating and how to let go, especially during the empty-nest years [17:25]
Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: still need to visit the Encino Mah Jong parlor; Gretchen’s Gold Star: Winsteads! The ice! The lacy burgers! [25:57]

Mentioned in this episode:

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Amazon, Bookshop)
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Amazon, Bookshop)
Check out Gretchen's free quizzes here

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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 Knicks Play Basketball with the Attitude of “Zero-Zero.” Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

With a simple answer of “Zero-zero,” Jalen Brunson communicated the attitude of his team as they pushed toward the NBA Championship.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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

More Happier: Try These 7 Habit Strategies for a Fresh Start This September Aug 29, 2026

Show notes

September is the other January. We revisit seven of our favorite habit strategies to help you get back into your routines after summer and build habits that actually stick.

Episode Highlights:

Episode 360: Want to Change a Habit? Start with These 7 Strategies

Mentioned in this Episode:

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
Take Gretchen's 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

Ep. 601: Try "Do-Spend September," Plus a Five-Senses Hack For a Memorable Vacation Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

A counterpart to No-Spend February, "Do-Spend September" helps us spend what we have. We also share a five-senses hack for planning vacations that are much more fun.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Observe a "Do-Spend September," the counterpart to No-Spend February [03:06]
Fun with the Five Senses: We share a listener's Five Senses hack for turning a familiar long weekend into a fresh, memorable vacation [15:55]
Happiness Hack: The joys of a dolly. [12:28]
Demerits and Gold Stars: Gretchen’s Demerit: dust bunnies in the office; Elizabeth’s Gold Star: Marathon Month at Orange Theory [20:08]

Mentioned in this episode: