Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Introducing: The Deep Dive Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Each week, comedians and best friends Jessica St. Clair and June Diane Raphael take a ‘deep dive’ into their real lives and discuss a wide range of topics including how to pursue joy amidst the insanity of motherhood and family, grief and loss, sh*t they put on their faces, and why they refuse to check their voicemails or unpack their suitcases. The Deep Dive captures the friendship of two women trying to survive adult womanhood. Their motto, shared by their loyal Deep Divers, is "Let Us Live!"

In this week’s very spooky episode, Jessica is on the lookout for sharks and June is avoiding crows. Plus we chat big dinosaurs, white on white cars, oral historians, and Jessica and June’s experiences working for the mafia.

After you hear this episode, search for The Deep Dive wherever you get your podcast or head to https://lnk.to/thedeepdivefd

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A Little Happier: A True Story About Friendship at the Olympics—and We’re More Free Than We Think Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

The extraordinary story of two Olympics-prize-winners Japanese pole vaulters is a testament to the power of friendship—and also a great reminder that if we don't like the decisions being made around us, we may, with our own ingenuity and initiative, be able to find a different outcome.

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: A New Barbie, Quality Screen Time & the Joy of Working on a Porch Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

We discuss the fact that a new Barbie has the gear of a Type 1 diabetic. We also talk about how having an additional monitor makes writing more enjoyable and a new TV show that we’ve both been watching. Plus we talk about Barnaby’s recovery from surgery, and the challenge of helping dogs heal when they don’t understand what’s happening to them.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Design Your Summer worksheet
Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham (Amazon, Bookshop)
Too Much on Netflix

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. 544: ”25 for ’25 List” Mid-Year Check-In—How Are We Doing? Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

The year is half over, and we review our “25 for 2025 Lists” to see what progress we’ve made—and to remind ourselves of our unfinished aims for the year. There’s still plenty of time to get a lot done.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Simon Haissel's Footnotes and Tangents newsletter on Substack
Liz Craft and Sarah Fain's Happier in Hollywood newsletter on Substack
Gretchen Rubin's Secrets of Adulthood newsletter on Substack
Check out the sale in The Happiness Project Shop
Elizabeth is reading: Rivals by Jilly Cooper (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (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.

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A Little Happier: The Parable of the Raft, or, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Important truths endure. Three different teachers across the centuries have commented, in their own way, on an important aspect of the human 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.

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More Happier: Traveling Soon? 30 Hacks for a Happier Trip [Revisited] Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes—our travel hacks extravaganza. These 30 tips range from the obvious (check the weather!) to the oddly specific (pack Downy Wrinkle Releaser), and as we get ready for our first-ever sisters reading retreat, we’re realizing how many of these tricks we’ve forgotten—and how helpful they still are. Some things really do stand the test of time.

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. 543: Make a Decision and Make It Work, a Text-Scheduling Hack & Following Up on Mean "Jokes" Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

We discuss how to make use of counterintuitive research that shows that our ability to change our minds often makes us less satisfied with our choices. We share a helpful smartphone hack for scheduling text messages. Plus we continue our discussion about handling a spouse who makes hurtful "jokes," with practical advice from listeners who've successfully addressed this issue.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Take the Four Tendencies quiz to find out whether you're an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
Sign up for Bookshop's summer reading challenge on the homepage at gretchenrubin.com
Download the Happier app
Elizabeth is reading: The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Round the Bend by Neville Shute (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

A Little Happier: What Happened When Steve Jobs’s Question Was Dismissed. Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

In the “Four Tendencies” personality framework, tech legend Steve Jobs was a Questioner. At a crucial moment, his question was ignored—with profound consequences.

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: Watercoloring, Novel-Writing & 80’s Bestsellers Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

We discuss how we’re doing on some items from our “25 for ’25 lists,” and how book writing is going for both of us. Plus we talk about the joys of reading commercial fiction from the 1980s.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Sign up for the 30-day summer reading challenge at gretchenrubin.com
For the Love with Jen Hatmaker

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. 542: Point to Your Ugliest Thing, Use Photos to Save Memories & Understand Obliger-Rebellion Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

We discuss why it’s useful to identify the "ugliest thing" in your life—i.e., what aspect needs the most attention? We also share an easy hack about enhancing family memories, and we explore a Four-Tendencies situation involving a young-adult son's surprising reaction to his father's lateness. We wrap up with listener suggestions for creative before-and-after photo books.

Resources & links related to this episode: