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. Part of the Audacy Network.
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During a visit to the Metropolitan Museum, a former museum guard showed me something interesting that I’d never noticed before, even though it was right in front of my eyes. Before, I didn’t see it; now I look for it every time. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @Gretc…
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Oxymoron alert: We talk about “new traditions” that have sprung up. We also talk about the interesting term of “house trust” and why we want it, and we discuss a gift idea that makes it easy to be creative and heartfelt—even if we have trouble putting your feelings into words. Resources and links related to this episode: Moment of Happiness Calenda…
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Ep. 507: Happier Book Club: Elizabeth Strout Talks About Love & Secrets in “Tell Me Everything”
42:56
We talk to prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout about her acclaimed new novel, “Tell Me Everything.” In it, Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and other characters return in connected stories of murder, marriage, parents and children, and love. This novel is thought-provoking and compulsively readable. Resources and links related to this episode: Tell…
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We’re often told “Don’t put words in people’s mouths” or “Don’t tell other people what they feel,” but as these examples from “Game of Thrones” and “Terms of Endearment” illustrate, sometimes the tender thing to do is to say, “I know you love me.” Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRub…
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We revisit a conversation with bestselling author Susan Cain, renowned author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking and Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. We also talk about why we should be the one to make the plan, and a listener suggests a hack for making it easier t…
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We explore ways to make each day of the week special by recognizing small pleasures. We discuss a practical hotel checkout tip to avoid forgetting items. Also, we examine the value of allowing yourself to go into “shock” when facing big assignments or feedback, and how this pause can lead to clearer thinking and better responses. Plus we ask, “What…
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A passage from “A Wrinkle in Time,” a masterpiece of children’s literature, holds a subtle but important lesson about human nature and the transformative power of love. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podc…
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More Happier: Call Don’t Text, the Joy of Finishing Photo Albums & Do You Enjoy TV “Previously” Openings?
30:26
We discuss a useful lesson in communication drawn from “Real Housewives” drama. We also talk about why it’s such a relief to get up-to-date on photo albums, and we compare our views on the “Previously, on XYZ…” segments at the beginning of TV shows. Resources and links related to this episode: Gift Giving Quiz What's Your Gift-Appreciation Profile …
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We discuss a challenge to wear three items of clothing we are not currently using--and explore ways to overcome common obstacles. We also share creative happiness hacks for welcoming overnight guests, and examine how people who tend to be rigid can adjust their rules to reduce stress in changing circumstances. Resources and links related to this ep…
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At Giverny, artist Claude Monet spent a lot of time, energy, and money to create the circumstances that he knew would feed his creativity. He made the pond and planted the water lilies that inspired some of his greatest masterpieces. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, …
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October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and to mark the event, Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos of the Happiness Lab podcast has assembled the “Titans of Happiness”: a crew of hosts and happiness experts from the top wellness podcasts. I was thrilled to join this panel with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a clinical psychologist and host of the podcast Th…
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We discuss a listener’s suggestion for scheduling a “sour hour” of complaints and grievances. We also share some useful information about how to relieve the pain of muscle knots, as well as some ideas for avoiding avoidance. Resources and links related to this episode: Muscle knots Vote Forward Happier app Elizabeth is reading: The Thursday Murder …
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A brief discussion about this question posed to the AI assistant Claude—“What’s going on in your head?”—has haunted me ever since I first heard it. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by ema…
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October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and to mark the event, Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos of the Happiness Lab podcast has assembled the “Titans of Happiness”: a crew of hosts and happiness experts from the top wellness podcasts. I was thrilled to join this panel with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a clinical psychologist and host of the podcast Th…
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continue reading
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Ep. 503: An Unexpected Way to Spark Creativity, Gamifying Clutter- Clearing & Why Quirks Matter
33:53
We discuss an unexpected way to boost creativity (both ideas and production) that has worked for both of us. We also share a listener’s suggestion about an easy way to gamify clutter-clearing (an approach that also reduces decision-fatigue), and we talk about why identifying our quirks can contribute to our happiness. Get in touch: podcast@gretchen…
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A change in the standing operating procedure of the CIA demonstrates a basic truth about human nature. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get …
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In honor of Get Organized Week, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips to clear clutter from our daily lives. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Instagram @LizCraft on Threads Get the podcast show notes…
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Ep. 502: Attend a Reunion, Note the “Dinner-Party Problem” & Are You a Sculptor or Lifeguard Parent?
33:51
We talk about why going to a reunion can give us such a big happiness boost. We also discuss research about the “dinner-party problem,” and what to do about it, and we explore a question about attitudes towards parenting. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubi…
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Little Happier: An Encounter with Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder Reveals a Truth About Human Nature
4:38
We often assume that someone is a certain “kind” of person instead of realizing how circumstances may be influencing their behavior—a mistake I made when judging the actions of stars Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder in a drugstore. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @Gretch…
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More Happier: Why “Scheduling Is Life,” Orange Theory Report, and What It’s Like to Hike in LA
30:06
We discuss a new mantra to reframe a all-too-common annoyance, and the value of a new parasocial friend. Also, we discuss Orange Theory and hiking in Fryman Canyon. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads @LizCraft on Ins…
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Ep. 501: Turn Acquaintances into Friends, an Email Hack & a Happiness Lesson Learned from Our Parents
35:39
We discuss why you might want to transform an acquaintance into a friend as well as specific ways to deepen that relationship. We also discuss an important happiness lesson modeled for us by our parents, and suggest a hack to make emails more efficient (and shorter). Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on …
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A sweet story about a dog named Sparkle reveals many truths about the nature of love, sacrifice, independence, and marriage. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happierc…
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We’re bringing you my conversation with Jessica St. Clair and June Diane Raphael on their podcast, The Deep Dive. We discuss my tips on how to combat anxiety and use all five senses to get more happiness in our lives. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on…
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In celebration of our 500th original weekly episode (without one break!), we share our Podcast Manifesto and use it to reminisce and reflect on this big milestone. In work and in life, it’s easy to focus on the “To-do”; today we stop for a “Ta-da!” Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRu…
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Little Happier: A Famous Art Historian Experiences a Spiritual Epiphany with a Surprising Result
4:53
Art historian Kenneth Clark describes his experience of an intense spiritual awakening—a “flood of grace”—and what resulted from it. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: …
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