Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
We explore the power of creating a "love list" to help us stay connected with the people who matter most. We share a clever way for getting someone’s honest opinions, plus, we dive into listeners' most practical back-to-school tips.
Resources & links related to this episode:
- Order my new book Secrets of Adulthood
- Request a signed bookplate here
- Elizabeth is reading: Summer in Sonoma by Robyn Carr (Amazon, Booksh...
A touch of levity can help us navigate awkward or painful situations by making it easier for people to hear difficult things—as illustrated by a funny moment from the popular TV show Friends.
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, produc...
In this Roundtable discussion, we explore the role of romance in fiction and real life. Author and political leader Stacey Abrams explains how she weaves it into her suspense novels by focusing on authentic human connection, while therapist Lori Gottlieb brings her perspective on love off the page. Together, we look at how romance is imagined, experienced, and sustained today.
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We explore how we can signal dedication to an aim by putting our money where our mouth is—though it’s important to note that merely spending money isn’t enough. We also share listeners' delightfully surprising answers about what they do for fun. Plus we tackle a fascinating Rebel dilemma: having a spirit of resistance against something she actually really does want to do.
Resources & links related to this epis...
Super-star musician Taylor Swift has three categories of imaginary pens that she uses to write her songs. Having the right tools helps to make work a joy—and in Taylor Swift’s case, even imaginary tools help to make work a joy.
Resources & links related to this episode:
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling boo...
From Dan Harris’s podcast, 10% Happier—a conversation about how to remember and use what truly makes us happier. We talk about why it’s so easy to forget helpful ideas, what to notice when you’re hiding something, and a simple habit that can strengthen your relationships.
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We discuss why we should beware of the impulse to disengage when we feel lonely, purposeless, or overwhelmed by bad news. We also share listener responses about creative themed-retreat ideas, such as a heal-the-heartache getaway. Plus we discuss an interesting know-yourself-better question.
Resources & links related to this episode:
- Listen to episode 110 here
- If you want to see how you’ll look on video, go to Zoom.us...
Creating an orderly environment can be surprisingly energizing and mood-boosting. And while an empty shelf holds invitation and promise, so does a junk drawer.
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.
F...
We talk about the joys of summer and of navigating airports and subways. We also discuss how the Real Housewives can set a bad example (surprise!), and we grapple with how parenthood changes during the empty-nest/open-door transition.
Resources & links related to this episode:
- Get a free month of the Happier app
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to learn more ab...
Strong relationships are essential for happiness—but they can be hard to maintain. In this bonus episode, we try something totally new: a live experiment using LG’s “Radio Optimism” platform. Can a simple creative gesture actually make us feel closer? We wanted to find out.
Try it yourself at https://RadioOptimism.LG.com
Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
Visit Gretchen's website to ...
We discuss why embracing regret can help us make our lives happier, by helping point the way to a life that better reflects our values. We also share a listener's hack for using customized stickers to label children's belongings. Plus, we explore whether Upholders can experience Upholder-rebellion.
Resources & links related to this episode:
- Take the survey here
- Memento Keepsake Journal with free companion guide
- The P...
This humorous collection of phrases, puns, and other kinds of wordplay is a good reminder of the delights of language.
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 fo...
“Money can’t buy happiness.” “It’s selfish to try to be happier.” These familiar ideas seem wise—but they often hold us back. This week, we revisit 7 common happiness myths and share how letting go of them can help us use our time, energy, and attention more effectively.
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We discuss why a themed retreat can boost our happiness, and talk about different possible themes. We also share safety tips for staying safe when caught in a crowd, plus we explore a very simple solution for making water activities more enjoyable.
Resources & links related to this episode:
- Neoprene Wet Suit
- Gretchen Rubin's Secrets of Adulthood newsletter on Substack
- Stage Performance by Livingston Taylor (Amazon, Booksho...
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 ...
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 l...
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.
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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 S...
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 trans...
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 & li...
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