Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 588: Find More Time for Fun During the Work Week, Plus a Common Activity That's Riskier Than You Think May 27, 2026

Show notes

We discuss how to make the most of your weekday evenings by setting small, intentional plans. We also talk about an everyday activity that feels so familiar that it (wrongly) feels safe.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Laura Vanderkam, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance (Amazon, Bookshop)
Before Breakfast and Best of Both Worlds podcasts hosted by Laura Vanderkam
Check out my free newsletter, “5 Things Making Me Happy.”
Elizabeth: Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen: The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis (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.

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

Little Happier: When We Give More to Ourselves, We Can Ask More from Ourselves May 25, 2026

Show notes

We should give ourselves healthy treats because when we give more to ourselves, we can ask more from ourselves.

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

More Happier: Caregiving Roundtable: How Do We Embrace Elder Care Without Losing Ourselves? May 23, 2026

Show notes

In this Roundtable Conversation, we discuss caregiving. With actress and podcast host Yvette Nicole Brown, author and podcaster Courtney Martin, and AARP’s senior director of caregiving Rita Choula, we talk about the challenges and satisfactions of caregiving, and how planning can help.

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.

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

Ep. 587: Design Your Summer! We Share Our Plans—Plus the Fun of Creating a Signature Drink May 20, 2026

Show notes

We share our "Design Your Summer" plans—an annual tradition. We also discuss a common happiness stumbling block–an item that’s too nice for its purpose—as well as a know-yourself-better question related to chores.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Download the Design Your Summer guide here
Start Designing Your Summer here on the Happier app
Elizabeth: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen: Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard, which is part of the Cazalet Chronicles (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.

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

Little Happier: Why You Shouldn’t Comfort a Scared Puppy May 18, 2026

Show notes

A trainer gave us good advice about our new puppy, Taffy: sometimes, a casual attitude is more calming than the most earnest reassurance.

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

More Happier: Embracing Whimsy, Plus Our “Move 26” Progress & a Great April Fool’s Prank May 16, 2026

Show notes

We check in on our “Move 26 in ‘26” progress and discuss adding more whimsy to the month of May–plus a clever April Fools prank. We also highlight a helpful tool to get started on spring cleaning.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Click here if you'd like to join "Move 26 in '26"
Here are easy and fun ways to start decluttering
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple (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.

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

Ep. 586: Treat Yourself Like a Grandchild, Plus a Hack for Sticking to Daily Habits May 13, 2026

Show notes

We talk about why you should treat yourself like a grandchild (or a toddler, puppy, professor, or factory), and we share a helpful tip if you’re trying to do certain things every day. Plus we discuss a listener’s question about meeting inner and outer expectations as an Upholder.

Resources & links related to this episode:

My Four Tendencies personality framework
Take the "Four Tendencies" quiz
Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle
Graduation Gift Guide
Simon Haisells "slow reads"
My book Secrets of Adulthood makes for a great graduation gift
Elizabeth: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (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.

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

Little Happier: My Favorite Formula for a Great Title May 11, 2026

Show notes

A surprising formula to create a compelling title provides the name for a card deck of creative inspiration.

Resources & links related to this episode:

If you’d like to look at the Muse Machine, and maybe even buy one for yourself, you can check it out 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

Move Happier: Would You Spend a Week Hiding Out in the Metropolitan Museum? May 10, 2026

Show notes

As a part of the “Move 26” challenge, podcaster (“The Secret Life of Books”) and professor Sophie Gee joins for a literary walk. We explore the Metropolitan Museum together and look for items related to the iconic children's novel “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.”

Resources & links related to this episode:

Secret Life of Books podcast, hosted by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg (Amazon, Bookshop)
Join the "Move 26" challenge in the Happier app

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

Live from Elizabeth’s Cluttered Closet! May 09, 2026

Show notes

We’re revisiting a listener-favorite episode from 2015, recorded as we cleared out Elizabeth’s closet. It's a hilarious discussion of many clutter-clearing ideas you can use right away.

Resources & links related to this episode: