Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Episodes
Ep. 232: Remember to Consider the Company that Someone Keeps
31 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When entering into a relationship, consider a person’s existing relationships, how to deal with podcast overload, and like Gloria Vanderbilt, do you...
Little Happier: Winston Churchill and “Game of Thrones” Illustrate the Same Observation About Power
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Winston Churchill and Games of Thrones’s Lady Olenna illustrate the same point: when confronting a powerful and lawless foe, imagination matters.Get...
Ep. 231: Choose Your TV Theme Song
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Choose your TV theme song; listeners give many suggestions about dealing with getting laid off; why you should wear a new item immediately; and Elizab...
Little Happier: “If He’ll Do It For You, He’ll Do It to You”: My Daughter and Father Hit on the Same Truth
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My daughter and my father hit on the same truth about dealing with people who play favorites: “If they’ll do it for you, they’ll do it to you.”...
Ep. 230: Happier Podcast Book Club: Lisa Brennan-Jobs Reflects on Growing Up as Steve Jobs’s Daughter in “Small Fry”
17 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For our second Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Lisa Brennan-Jobs about the role of family, love, and identity in her acclaimed memoir Small Fry....
Little Happier: How the Gift of a Dollhouse Illustrates the Philosophy of Bertrand Russell
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In giving the gift of a dollhouse, these loving grandparents illustrate a point argued by philosopher Bertrand Russsell: “To be without some of the ...
Ep. 229: Spend 120 Minutes a Week in Nature and an Interview with Sheri Salata about “The Beautiful No”
10 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should spend 120 minutes a week in nature, a simple hack to make spending that time in nature more convenient, and an interview with former “...
Little Happier: What’s the Best Way to Persuade? The Sun and the North Wind Disagree.
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One of Aesop’s most famous fables—the one about the Sun and the North Wind—illustrates the power of persuasion over brute force.Get in touch on ...
Ep. 228: Make Your Own Art and a Lesson from Mr. Rogers
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Make your own art, a lesson about managing transitions from Mr. Rogers, and dealing with the relationship challenge of “excessive reassurance-seekin...
Little Happier: Throughout My Life, I’ve Remembered One Line from the “Little Engine that Could”
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” may be a bit corny, but the fact is, I find myself repeating that line to myself. The Little Engine ...
Ep. 227: An Interview with Comedian, Actor, and Writer Pete Holmes
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Create a memory box, enjoy some luxury around your first cup of coffee, and an interview with comedian and author Pete Holmes. Get in touch on Instagr...
Little Happier: Reading Isaac Mizrahi Taught Me About Myself
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Reading Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir I.M. helped me understand something about myself: my uncomfortable reaction to a work of art I admire.Get in touch on...
Ep. 226: Celebrate the Summer Solstice by Re-visiting your One-Word Theme
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrate the summer (or winter) solstice by re-visiting your one-word theme for the year, an alternative office activity if you want to avoid being t...
Little Happier: My Husband Jamie Taught Me a Wonderful, Memorable Lesson About Plans.
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My husband’s willingness to change plans gave me a lovely memory—and taught me a valuable lesson.Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @...
Ep. 225: Cultivate Your Casual Friendships
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Cultivate your casual friendships, an interview with writer Ramit Sethi about money, and a terrific inexpensive gift to give.Get in touch on Instagram...
Little Happier: How Do We Help? An Observation from the Life of the Creator of the Comic Strip “Cathy.”
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This story from the life of Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the comic strip “Cathy,” is an example of how we can help people achieve their dreams ...
Ep. 224: Design Your Summer (Again)
05 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Design your summer, manage the challenge of making transitions throughout the day, and why “the stewing is worse than the doing.”Get in touch on I...
Little Happier: This Book Changed the Way I See the World.
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Alexander’s book “A Pattern Language” changed the way I see the world; sometimes, at least in my case, it’s only through words tha...
Ep. 223: Step Off a Cliff
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should step off a cliff, an interview with writer Ross Gay, and the fun of making the opposite of a to-do list.Want to watch the "Roadmap to H...
Little Happier: Why Did Dolly Parton Identify More with Barbara Walters than Barbara Walters Identified with Her?
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My fascination with Dolly Parton continues, and her answer to Barbara Walters in a 1977 interview is a good example of why we shouldn’t under-estima...
Ep. 222: Go Someplace Alone
22 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you might choose to go someplace alone, how to have a good conversation with a child, and listener suggests an easy, clever hack for remembering t...
Little Happier: One of the Greatest Luxuries? The Luxury of Giving a Gift.
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In Sydney Taylor’s wonderful children’s book “All-of-a-Kind Family,” the girls’ father saw a way to give them a true luxury: the luxury of g...
Bonus episode: Game of Thrones! Gretchen and Elizabeth Discuss and Speculate Before the Show’s Finale.
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is Arya Stark a Rebel? Will Cersei Lannister manage to keep the Iron Throne? And how about that coffee cup! On this special short bonus episode, Gretc...
Ep. 221: Do You Yearn for a Re-Set?
15 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you yearn for a re-set, how to look better in photographs, and using voice-to-text to make it easier to take notes. And announcing our next Book Cl...
Little Happier: Julia Child Makes a Profound Observation about Life in the Midst of Flipping a Potato
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On her iconic 1960’s TV show, Julia Child drops a profound truth about human nature, in the middle of trying to flip a potato.Get in touch on Instag...
Ep. 220: Why We Should Deal with Something Negative Right Away
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deal with something negative right away, switch to electronic boarding passes if you still use paper, and a Four Tendencies break-down of the “Game ...
Little Happier: What Chef Julia Child Taught Me About the Nature of Enthusiasm and Happiness.
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The life of Julia Child is a great example of the fact that sometimes, even when we can’t persuade people to take an interest in the things we love,...
Ep. 219: Very Special Episode: Going Deep into Giving Up with Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig-Urban
01 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this Very Special Episode, we go deeper into the try-this-at-home of “Give something up for a month” and talk to Whole30’s Melissa Hartwig-Ur...
Little Happier: We Love Excellence--When We Can Recognize It. for Apr 29, 2019
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this hilarious “Funny or Die” video by the musician Jewel, she goes undercover at a karaoke bar. It’s a good example of the fact that people ...
Ep. 218: Invest in Your Identities
24 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Invest in your identities, a way to respond to the “evil donut-bringer” at work, and listeners’ suggestions about how to help someone get thro...
Little Happier: My Husband So Often Knows the Right Thing to Say
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes when I complain, my husband Jamie reminds me, “This is what you wanted.” It’s comforting because it’s true. Get in touch on Instagra...
Ep. 217: Don’t Over-Consult
17 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“Why you should stop over-consulting, a hack to make exercising more convenient, and a question for self-knowledge: When you’re upset, do you feel...
Little Happier: The Opposite of a Profound Truth Is Also True. Even in Goth
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood: The opposite of a profound truth is also true. In goth, and in so much else.Get in touch on Instagram:...
Ep. 216: Give Someone an Unusual Compliment
10 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Give someone an unusual compliment, a hack to make it easier to leave the house, identify your favorite time of day, and Elizabeth reports on her batt...
Little Happier: Why the Children’s Book “Little Bear” Made Tears Come into My Eyes
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One of our tasks as parents is to help our children remember themselves and their own past. I got tears in my eyes when I read the beautiful lines fro...
Ep. 215: Throw a Celebratory Party
03 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Throw a celebratory party, the problem of feeling so worried about the future that you can’t enjoy the present, a question about ideas for healthy t...
Little Happier: I’m Lucky to Have a Mother Who Is Lucky
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I feel lucky to have a mother who views herself as lucky. It’s a beautiful atmosphere for a child to live in—even a grown-up child like me. Get in...
Ep. 214: Try Giving Up Something for a Month
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Try giving up something for a month, a confession and hack related to leather pants, and a question for listeners: How do you help someone get through...
Little Happier: A Friend’s Description of Herself Reminded Me of Who I Am
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, it’s other people who remind us of our deepest values, and the truest things about ourselves. I must read—but I needed a friend to remi...
Ep. 213: Bonus Clutter-Clearing Tips: Find Out What Ideas Didn’t Make It into the Book
20 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’ll talk about some bonus ideas for creating outer order and we’ll talk about an easy way to make it more fun to wake up in the morni...
Little Happier: This Mother Knew Exactly What Career Advice to Give
18 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I’m often wracked by indecision when I’m asked to give advice or take action. I love this example of a mother who knew exactly what career advice ...
Ep. 212: Happier Podcast Book Club: We Talk About Family Secrets in Dani Shapiro’s Memoir “Inheritance.”
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a milestone episode for us. It’s our first Happier Podcast Book Club episode. We talk to Dani Shapiro about her memoir: Inheritance: A ...
Little Happier: Would I Know the Way to Tell Right from Wrong?
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As I read about the Enron scandal, I was relieved to see that one person could clearly articulate how to tell right from wrong.Get in touch on Instagr...
Bonus Episode! An Excerpt from Gretchen’s New Book “Outer Order, Inner Calm”
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This bonus episode features an excerpt from the audio-book of Gretchen’s new book “Outer Order, Inner Calm.” Order a copy of Gretchen’s new...
Ep. 211: Spend Time Individually with Family Members, an Ice Cube Hack, and Obligers’ Relationships to Accountability and Possessions
06 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’ll talk about why you might try to spend time individually with each member of your family, and we’ll discuss an intriguing hack abo...
Little Happier: Carrie’s Shoe Collection in “Sex and the City” Teaches an Important Lesson About Habits
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re trying to save money, does it matter if you splurge on one pair of expensive shoes? Probably not. What about two pairs? Three pairs? In th...
Ep. 210: Very Special Episode: Clutter-Busting!
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth reveals the clutter-busting ideas from Gretchen’s book “Outer Order, Inner Calm” that work best to help curb her natural messiness, an...
Little Happier: From Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”--What Should We Fear More, Want or Ignorance?
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Re-reading Charles Dickens’s story “A Christmas Carol” got me thinking about the question: What should we fear more, Ignorance or Want?Get in to...
Ep. 209: Fourth Anniversary! Most Popular Ideas and Favorite Moments
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s our fourth anniversary! We review our most popular Try-This-at-Home tips, Happiness Hacks, and favorite moments from the previous year.Get in t...
Little Happier: A Perhaps Apocryphal Story about Matisse--About Time and Mastery
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This story about Matisse is probably apocryphal, but it’s a great illustration of an important point: a minute of effort may reflect a lifetime of p...
Ep. 208: To Fight Clutter, Beware the “Endowment Effect”
13 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’ll talk about why you should beware the “endowment effect” as a way to combat clutter, and we’ll take a deep dive into listeners...
Little Happier: My Favorite Story from My Favorite Book About Parenting
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The “juice story” reminds me how much we can shape our perceptions, and other people’s perceptions, by the way that we speak. To learn m...
Ep. 207: Elizabeth Reveals Why You Should Go to the Doctor
06 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should go to the doctor, meeting the challenge of decluttering a household—and announcing the first book for the Happier Podcast Book Club.G...
Little Happier: Ann Patchett’s Memoir Reminds Us of Why We Need to Take Care of Ourselves
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Author Ann Patchett reminds herself that if she’s going to be of service to a friend, she must protect herself. To learn more about listener data a...
Ep. 206: What’s the Best Resolution You’ve Ever Made?
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you might consider using gentle language, a gold star for “Winter of the Witch, a movie about magical pancakes, and listeners answer the questio...
Little Happier: The Supreme Court Building Gave Me the “America Feeling”
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every time I read the words “Equal Justice Under Law,” carved into the front of the Supreme Court building, I get the America Feeling. To learn m...
Ep. 205: An Interview about False Identities with Abby Ellin
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Follow a ritual of completion, how to pour more easily from a carton (a small but useful hack!), and an interview with Abby Ellin about her fascinatin...
Little Happier: There’s Such Joy in Giving Delight
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I saw the blockbuster movie “Avatar” back in 2009, and the only thing I remember is a look of pure joy. To learn more about listener data and our...
Ep. 204: Put a Band-Aid On It
16 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should put a band-aid on it, consider “Me Time Tuesday,” and how to persuade a reluctant spouse to do more work.Get in touch: @gretchenrub...
Little: Even Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Life Felt Rushed and Cluttered
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We often assume that our new technology is making us feel rushed and overwhelmed, but perhaps it’s just really ourselves. To learn more about liste...
Ep. 203: Plan Your “19 for 2019”
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We reveal our “19 for 2019” and “9 for 2019” lists and discuss some listeners’ suggestions and questions about making these lists.Get in tou...
Little: Eisenhower: To Do Some Work Well, We Have to Do Some Work Poorly
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eisenhower gave Nixon some helpful advice: to be excellent in some areas, we have to be willing to be mediocre in other areas. To learn more about li...
Ep. 202 - Use the Checklist for Habit Change
02 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Use the Checklist for Habit Change, how to encourage conversation with children, and the challenge of planning office birthday celebrations.Get in tou...
Little: Sometimes, What We Think Is a Weakness Is a Strength, and Vice Versa
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes a weakness can be a strength, and a strength can be a weakness. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://...
Ep. 201 - Choose a One-Word Theme for the Year
26 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Choose a one-word theme for the year, a talk with Chris Guillebeau, and what’s been your most significant resolution?Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @...
Little: Everything Would Be Easy, If It Weren’t For…
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
My mother observed sympathetically, “Everything would be easy, if it weren’t for people.” To learn more about listener data and our privacy pra...
Ep. 200 - Our 200th Episode! Ask Us Anything
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate our 200thepisode, we answer questions from listeners: do we ever fight, how do we record the podcast, when did we choose our careers, and...
Little : Do What You Love, and Then Your Friends Hire You
17 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do what you love, and then your friends hire you. It’s true for comedy-writers, and for everyone else, too. To learn more about listener data and o...
Ep. 199 - Reflections on Our “18 for 2018” Lists
12 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Evaluate your “18 for 2018” list, we reveal our own successes and failures with “18 for 2018,” plus a popular app for locating lost items.Get ...
Little: While the Power of Story-Telling Is Trendy Now, It’s an Ancient Idea.
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a truth too important to be new: we listen best when we listen to a story. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: ...
Ep. 198 - Design Your Own “Happiness Project"
05 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Design your happiness project for 2019, follow the five-second rule, and suggestions for dealing with the challenge of gift-giving.Get in touch: @gret...
Little: Is This Person My Judge, or My Champion?
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we fear are judging us are willing to be our enthusiastic champions and sympathizers, if we give them the chance. To learn more...
Ep. 197 - Make a Plan to Read More in 2019
28 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Plan to read more in 2019, how to make it easier to follow complex instructions, and what to do when your sweetheart won’t store keys in the key bow...
Little: A Lesson from Waitressing: It’s Not About You
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We often think that people are acting in response to what we’ve done or said, when in fact, they’re just behaving the way they usually do. And tha...
Ep. 196: Choose a Holiday Motto
21 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Choose a holiday motto, give the “gift of a podcast,” and more ideas about drinking less alcohol and helping people face end-of-life tasks.Get in ...
Little: Finding a Meaning, Such as Sacrifice, Can Transform Suffering
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Viktor Frankl makes a profound point: When our actions and experiences have meaning, our suffering is lightened. To learn more about listener data an...
Ep. 195: Do Something Scary
14 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should do something scary, what to do with your earbuds when you meet someone on the street, and how to schedule holiday visits with family.Ge...
Little: “The Salvation of Man Is Through Love and in Love.”
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A passage from Viktor Frankl’s masterpiece Man’s Search for Meaning is a beautiful reminder of the significance of love. To learn more about list...
Ep. 194: Make an Introduction
07 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Make an introduction, accountability strategies to keep people exercising, and how to deal with digital information hoarding.Get in touch: @gretchenru...
Little: The Idea of “Negative Space” and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter got me thinking about the importance of paying attention to “negative space.” To learn more about ...
Ep. 193: Have You Ever Felt Your Personality Slip?
31 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrate a personal anniversary, a hack that makes it easier to use a cell phone, and persuading people to tackle end-of-life tasks.Get in touch: @gr...
Little: A Puzzling Story from the Life of Pearl S. Buck
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A thought-provoking story from the life of Pearl S. Buck’s missionary father raises many questions. To learn more about listener data and our pri...
Ep. 192: The Problem of “You Cook, I Clean”
24 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should have people over, how to make time for your side hustle, and the challenge of the “you cook, I clean” approach Get in touch: @gret...
Little: During a Difficult Family Discussion, Someone Knows the Right Thing to Say
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
These words are comforting because they’re true: you’re not that powerful. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: htt...
Ep. 191: Identify Your Pacesetter
17 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you might identify your pacesetter, the value of creating a user-guide to yourself, and the common challenge of drinking less alcohol.Get in touch...
Little: Yet Another Piece of Advice from My Father
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
My father gave me excellent advice: if I think I might be ready for a change, I’m probably already long overdue. To learn more about listener data ...
Ep. 190: Very Special Episode: Think About Your Body
10 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For this Very Special Episode, we focus on the role of the body in creating a happier life, and we talk to Jake Knapp about how to focus on what matte...
Little: I Experienced the "America Feeling" in Normandy, France
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the beautiful description in the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.” To learn ...
Ep. 189: Make Life More Complicated
03 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you might want to make life more complicated, the challenge of the (non)Quiet Car, and a question about hotels.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliz...
Little: A Stumble May Prevent a Fall
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Little mistakes, little missteps, can help us learn and grow so that we don’t make bigger mistakes later. To learn more about listener data and our...
Ep. 188: Create a Personal Timeline
26 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you might create a personal timeline, a deep dive into the "Facts of Life" book, and yet another treadmill-desk-related demerit. Get in touch: @g...
Little: An 18th Century Story Makes Me Think About the Importance of Education
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This story from the life of Samuel Johnson reminds us: “It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse ...
Ep. 187: How to Find a Misplaced Object
19 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Plan a short trip, how to find a misplaced object, and an interview with Bradley Tusk. Get in touch: @gretchinrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretche...
Little: Why Are You Living in New York City?
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, I’ve been haunted by a public-service poster I once saw in a New York City subway. To learn more about listener data and our privacy p...
Ep. 186: Create a Blues Bag
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why and how you might create a "blues bag," a reading-related hack for parents, and a deep dive on happiness at work. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @...
Little: When People Give No Solace, We Can Turn to Nature
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This beautiful song by Nina Simone is a reminder that when people give us no solace, we can turn to nature. To learn more about listener data and our...
Ep. 185: Make a "Facts of Life" Book
05 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should make a "Facts of Life" book, how to deal with an outer-order related conflict, and a hack for telling left from right. Get in touch @g...
Little: Laurence Olivier’s Advice to Dustin Hoffman Works for Me, Too
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The advice that Laurence Olivier gave to Dustin Hoffman is a good reminder for all of us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices...
Ep. 184: Have a #HappierLaborDay
29 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Just as New Year's Day prompts us to reflect on what we want from the coming year, Labor Day can remind us to reflect on how to be happier at work in ...
Little: It’s Good to be an Adult
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It has its drawbacks, to be sure, but in general, it’s good to be an adult. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: http...