Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Little Happier: NBA Players on the “Today” Show: When Lighthearted Humor Is Better than Sympathetic Silence Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

An exchange between Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart illustrates the fact that sometimes, we’re better off treating a painful subject with lighthearted humor rather than sympathetic silence.

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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Move Happier: Clear the Decks for September with 26 Quick Tasks (Bonus) Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

It's time to clear the decks for September. Here are 26 quick tasks to get you moving while you refresh your space for fall.

Mentioned in This Episode:

The Move 26 in ‘26 Challenge: https://gretchenrubin.com/move26in26/

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: What Tattoo Would You Get? Plus How to Give Yourself Permission to Play Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

When relaxing feels like wasting time, you can trick yourself into enjoying it anyway. Plus, 16 things to try for happier, calmer parenting.

Episode highlights:

Something Making Us Happier: Gretchen shares Chuck's tip for an ultra-quiet desk fan, plus more things we didn’t know [00:00]
I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: We don’t personally like tattoos, but what would we get?[00:00]
Spotlight on a Tool—Gretchen's article on 16 things to try instead of yelling, just in time for back-to-school [00:00]
I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You: When rest feels like wasting time, you might have to trick yourself [00:00]

Mentioned in this episode:

Rowenta Ultra Quiet Desk Fan: https://amzn.to/3TEZgEZ
"How to Be a Happier, Calmer Parent: 16 Things to Try Instead of Yelling": happiercast.com/parenting
Burning the Days by James Salter

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

Ep. 600: 600 Episodes of Happier! Listeners Share the Ideas that Stuck Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Listeners share the insights and suggestions that have resonated with them most over the past 600 episodes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Power Hour (Apple, Spotify)
Ta-Da Lists (Apple, Spotify)
Outer Order, Inner Calm (Amazon, Bookshop)
Reframing (Apple, Spotify)
The Strategy of Pairing (Apple, Spotify)
Half-Way Day (Apple, Spotify)
Why Scheduling is Life (Apple, Spotify)
My America Feeling (Apple, Spotify)
Tackle One Big Hard Task (Apple, Spotify)
The Right Thing to Say When Someone Makes a Bad Mistake (Apple, Spotify)
The Four Tendencies
Gretchen’s Halloween Photo Display
Read 21 in 2021
Are You a Tree Person or a Book Person? (Apple, Spotify)
Are you an Abstainor or a Moderator?
Pick a Yearly Theme (Apple, Spotify)
Five Things Making Me Happy Newsletter
5 Senses Portrait (Apple, Spotify)
The Gift of the Ped Egg (Apple, Spotify)
21 Strategies for Habit Formation
Know Yourself Better (Apple, Spotify)
Establish Your Personal Policy (Apple, Spotify)
Choose the Bigger Life (Apple, Spotify)
Warm Hellos and Good-byes (Apple, Spotify)
A Quest is More Fun than a Jaunt
Celebrate Doggust (Apple, Spotify)

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

Little Happier: Why NBA Star Jalen Brunson Values Persistence over Pyrotechnics Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

NBA star Jalen Brunson gives a surprising answer to the question, “What play best embodies this entire title run?”

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: Take Better Care of Yourself—Treat Yourself Like a Toddler, Dog, Teenager, and Professor Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

We revisit one of our favorite happiness ideas: Treat Yourself Like a _____. Over the years, we've explored many variations on this theme, including treating yourself like a toddler, a dog, a teenager, and a professor. Sometimes it's easier to recognize what we need when we imagine we're taking care of someone else.

Revisited Highlights:

Get 20% off with code HAPPIER20:

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

Ep. 599: Treat Your Home Like a Hotel, Plus a Common Relationship Blindspot Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Why you should treat your home like a hotel, and a common blindspot that can lead to unnecessary conflict. Plus a relationship hack.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: treat your home like a hotel—declutter, fix small annoyances, and add small touches of luxury. [03:10]
Happiness Hack: A listener shares a tip on making helpful introductions [11:14]
Happiness Stumbling Block: Are you arguing that you are “right,” when you’re really talking about preferences? [04:20]
Demerits & Gold Stars: Gretchen's demerit: not taking away her old camera; Elizabeth's gold star: to her son Jack for his first solo flight [21:47]

Mentioned in this episode:

Better Than Beforeby Gretchen Rubin
The “Strategy of the Lightning Bolt”
Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin
Good Time Girls by Lael Morgan (Amazon, Bookshop)
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds (Amazon, Bookshop)

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

Little Happier: Are You a Clutch Player or a Fast Starter? Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Many players and teams struggle during clutch time—but not every player or team faces that challenge. Never assume that your problems are the same as other people’s.

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

More Happier: Have You Ever Felt Anonymous? Plus a Lesson for Upholders Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

Gretchen shares a recent insight on feeling "anonymous" versus "present." We also discuss a lesson for Upholders and gift-worthy pop-up books.

Episode Highlights

Something Making Us Happier—Elizabeth's new Wordle streak milestone and Gretchen’s favorite pop-up books [00:36]
I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You— Gretchen’s insight on feeling “anonymous” vs. “present.” And a lesson for Upholders [12:01]
Spotlight on a Tool: Sign up for Gretchen’s Five Things newsletter! [12:44]

Mentioned in This Episode

Robert Sabuda pop-up books:

Peter Pan (Amazon, Bookshop)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Amazon)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Amazon)
Winter's Tale (Amazon, Bookshop)
The Night Before Christmas (Amazon)
The Twelve Days of Christmas (Amazon, Bookshop)
America the Beautiful (Amazon, Bookshop)

Peter Dahmen Pop Up Sculptures
Sign up for Gretchen's free newsletter, Five Things Making Me Happy

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

Ep. 598: Spy on Your Own Habits, and Discover Your Empty-Nest Personality Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

“Treat yourself like…a person of interest” and try a month-long “self-stakeout” to track your habits. We also share an easy way to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit in your head. Plus we discuss three broad categories of empty nesters.

Episode highlights:

- Try This At Home— Do a "self-stakeout": Imagine you're a detective and tail yourself for a month. What will you find? [06:43]
- Happiness Hack— An easy trick for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit [12:08]
- Know Yourself Better: We discuss three "empty nester" types: Relaxers, Rekindlers, and Reinventors [13:44]
- Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: not reading as much this summer as planned; Gretchen’s Gold Star: staying calm during a keyboard malfunction [20:23]
Mentioned in this Episode:
- This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life by Lyz Lenz (Amazon, Bookshop)
- The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Vol. 3 by Virginia Woolf (Amazon, Bookshop)
- Free bingo cards and other resources