Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 519: College Freshman Advice, Night Snacking & a Hack for Being a Good Guest Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

We explore how advice meant for college freshmen—from practical packing tips to strategies for making friends—can benefit all of us. (Special guest: Gretchen’s daughter, currently a college freshman.) We also offer suggestions for a Rebel who struggles with late-night snacking, and share hacks for being a considerate houseguest and for getting more pleasure of reading.

Resources and links related to this episode:

Happier in Hollywood Substack newsletter
Happiness Project shop
"Five Things" newsletter
Four Tendencies quiz
Elizabeth is reading: Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves (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: The World Changes More than We Assume Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Through two seemingly unrelated pursuits—following the Knicks and visiting the Met—we discover a surprising truth. When we're casual observers, things appears fixed and permanent, like basketball's rules or a museum's "permanent" collection. But as we look closer and learn more, we discover that what seemed unchanging is actually in constant flux.

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: Happier Podcast Book Club: Bestselling Author Kate Bowler [Revisited] Jan 25, 2025

Show notes

For the Happier Podcast Book Club we’re revisiting our conversation with our friend and bestselling author Kate Bowler about her moving, funny, thought-provoking new memoir, “No Cure for Being Human.” In this wide-ranging chat we discuss her writing process, work as a “calling” vs “career” and why we can be more honest in writing than we can out loud.

Resources and links related to this episode:

- #Read25in25
- Elizabeth is listening to: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Amazon, Bookshop)
- Gretchen is reading: Zen Inklings by Donald Richie (Amazon)
- No Cure for Being Human: And Other Truths I Need to Hear (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

Ep. 518: Make One New Friend, Make Walking More Fun & the Benefit of Question Time Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

We discuss why and how we might try to make one new friend in 2025—a huge happiness booster. We also explore two creative happiness hacks that make it easier to stick to a habit of walking. Plus we tackle a fascinating Four Tendencies question about managing a Questioner spouse's barrage of daily questions, and we delve into how people differ in remembering their past experiences, comparing "snapshot" versus "movie" memory styles.

Resources and links related to this episode:

“The Paradox of Purpose: Those We Support Become Our Strength”
Secrets of Adulthood
Memento Keepsake Journal
One-Sentence Journal
Four Tendencies hub
Elizabeth is reading: Look Closer by David Ellis (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: When Mrs. Coverlet Was Away by Mary Nash (Amazon)

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-What Andy Warhol Taught Me About Drama Queens: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Andy Warhol's observation of stars Edie Sedgwick and Judy Garland reveals a surprising truth about why some people are drawn to those surrounded by constant drama. What seems like a flaw—perpetual chaos and drama—can actually be an attraction, offering others an escape from their own problems by becoming absorbed in someone else's compelling crisis.

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: Movies That Represent Concepts, the Pleasure of Examples & QuirkyWays of Eating Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

For Quality Screen Time, we find examples of movies that perfectly represent a concept (think “Groundhog Day.”) We also talk about the characteristic ways that people approach their meals, and the benefit of using a paper planner.

Resources and links related to this episode:

The Happier app
Legend Planner
Newsletter sign -up
Happier in Hollywood newsletter
Zurau Aphorisms by Franz Kafka (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com.

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. 517: Strengthen Your Grip, a Haiku Hack & Musician Mike Posner Talks Happiness Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

We talk about why grip strength is an important factor for good health and fitness—and how to work on it. We share a fun and easy hack for elevating any occasion, and we talk to Grammy-nominated musician Mike Posner about his insights about success, creativity, and happiness.

Resources and links related to this episode:

"How to help those affected by fires raging across L.A."
Habits for Happiness course
http://happiercast.com/shop
Elizabeth is reading: Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Talk to Me by Rich Benjamin (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: Even NBA Stars Take the Subway: A Perfect New York City Moment Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

When Marathon Day meets NBA Game Day in New York City, a truth about New York City is revealed: No matter how famous or successful you are, and no matter where you’re going, sometimes it’s just faster and easier to take the subway.

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: Tools for sticking to your New Year's Resolutions [Revisited] Jan 11, 2025

Show notes

Many people use January 1 as a catalyst for habit change. While people say “new year, new you,” it’s really new year, same you! But we can find better tools and in this Very Special Episode, we're revisiting some of the most popular, effective tools. Each of these tools is available in the Happier app, or if you prefer tangible tools, many are also available in physical form.

Resources and 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. 516: Listeners’ Creative One-Word Themes, Use It or Lose It & Make Everyday Life More Fun Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

We talk about why the familiar advice “use it or lose it” has an additional useful meaning. We also share many imaginative ideas for one-word themes from listeners, as well as some further thoughts on our own one-word themes (“Bounce” and “Door.”) Plus we discuss an easy way to make everyday life more festive.

Resources and links related to this episode:

Habits for Happiness course
Design Your Year
Elizabeth is reading: Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: The English Understand Wool by Helen Dewitt (Amazon, Bookshop)