Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Ep. 422: Create an Audio Apothecary, Questioners Don’t Like to Answer Questions—and a Terrific New Quiz!

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why and how we might create our own “Audio Apothecary” to helpus evoke certain moods. We also discuss a handy pronunciation hack, an...

Little Happier: Why I Call My Sister Elizabeth “My Sister the Sage”

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TV writer and producer Elizabeth Craft, “my sister the sage,” has given me more than a dozen brilliant observations about the workplace and creati...

More Happier: What It’s Like to Uncover a Family Secret, the Value of Refurbishing Your Office, and Maj-Jongg

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With author and friend Dani Shapiro as our guest host, we talk about her experience of uncovering an old family secret, as well as the value of writin...

Ep. 421: Ways to Look Around a Museum, Advice For Obligers Resisting Accountability, and a Health Hack

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s useful to find our own way to look around a museum—and we offer some unusual suggestions. We also discuss a useful health h...

Little Happier: One Thing That Surprised Me in My Study of the Five Senses

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Each of us inhabits our own individual, idiosyncratic sensory worlds. One example: I love the fragrance of paperwhite narcissus flowers; my daughter...

Ep. 420: Very Special Episode: A Bonanza of Hacks for Using Our Five Senses for Happier Lives

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the Very Special Episode, we discuss hacks for tapping in to the five sense to help make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more cr...

Little Happier: Through the Eyes of Love, We Are Ageless and Untouched by Time.

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Authors Alix Kates Schulman and Joan Didion make the same observation from their very different experiences: during their long marriages, they and the...

More Happier: The Thrill of a Creative Spark, the Anticipation of Tickets to a Show, and We Enter the Debate on Thank-You Notes

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the fun of “March Fourth” (March 4th) and the anticipation of going Isaac Mizrahi’s cabaret show. We also talk about getting a creati...

Ep. 419: Easy Ways to Boost Focus, a New Kind of Birthday Celebration, and Building Unlikely Friendships

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss several ways we can tap in to our five senses to boost productivity and focus, and we share a listener’s idea for a new way to celebrate ...

Little Happier: A Writer Gives Me an Easy Hack for Evoking Memories

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A writer friend told me her strategy for evoking memories, by making a “memory visit.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...

Ep. 418: Eighth Anniversary: Our Favorite Try-This At Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks & Highlights

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate the eighth anniversary of the podcast, we discuss the Try-This-at-Home ideas that have resonated most with listeners over the past year. ...

Little Happier: During the Covid Lockdown, a Mother Found the Right Thing to Say

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When her daughter was feeling dejected about all the things she was missing during the Covid lockdown, a friend was able to find the right words to co...

More Happier - The Joy of Ferry Rides, the Fun of Thrillers, and the Bittersweet Feeling of Family Milestones

18 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the fun of reading psychological thrillers as well as the delights of taking a New York City ferry. We also talk about the bittersweet plea...

Ep. 417: Celebrate “Determination Day,” Start a No-Homework Book Club, and Go Outside--or Read About It

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the fact that while most people have given up their New Year’sresolutions by February 28, we can celebrate that day as “Determinatio...

Little Happier: It Makes Me Happy to Watch This Football Player’s Touchdown Celebration

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Football player Jaylen Waddle has created a “touchdown celebration” that’s funny, humble, simple, and a clever play on his distinctive name.Get ...

Ep. 416: Identify and Work Through Small Conflicts, Stay in Closer Touch, and How to Say the Right Thing

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s useful to identify and work through nagging conflicts (e.g.,whether and when to make the bed, load the dishwasher, get off yo...

Little Happier: Patti Smith and the Haircut that Changed Her Life

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a striking story from her memoir Just Kids, Patti Smith describes why she decided to cut her own hair and how that decision changed her life.Get in...

More Happier: We Discuss How Parenthood Has Changed Us and the TV Show “Better Call Saul,” and We Both Learn Something New

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss two questions: whether parenthood has changed us and whether we ask ourselves rhetorical questions. Then we realize we’re not entirely cl...

Ep. 415: Aim to Show Up, Agree on a Code Phrase for “Change the Subject,” and Why No One’s Right or Wrong

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s a good idea to aim to show up, and why it’s helpful toestablish a code phrase with your sweetheart to let them know, “Cha...

Little Happier: The Old Story of Stone Soup Reminds Me that Magic Solutions Usually Don’t Exist

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In an old story, a stone magically makes a soup out of water—but you do have to add carrots, beef, cabbage, onions, milk, salt, pepper, and potatoes...

Ep. 414: Think About Your Past-Self. Plus a Valentine’s Hack, and Are You and Over- or Under-Estimator?

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why instead of thinking about our future-selves, we might think about our past-selves. Also, a listener suggests a lovely family Valenti...

Little Happier: When Do I Feel the Joyous, Childhood Feeling of Expectancy?

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Betty MacDonald’s memoir reminds me that even as adults, to be happier, we should seek out experiences that will give us the “wonderful, jo...

More Happier: Guest Co-Host! The Iconic Heather Dubrow of “Real Housewives” Fame

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode, we have a surprise co-host—an iconic figure who offers her own suggestions and insights for how to be (more) happier.Get in touch:...

Happier - Ep. 413: Tune in to Your Five Senses, “Go Outside 23 in 23” Even in Bad Weather, and a Hack About Dread

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how and why we should tune in to our five senses. We also share listeners’ practical suggestions for how to “Go Outside 23 in 23” ...

Little Happier: A Truth About Happiness That Confused Me for a Long Time

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time, when I tried to understand the nature of happiness, I was confused by one aspect of its nature. Finally, I figured it out: One of th...

Ep. 412: Turn Deprivation into Indulgence, Creative Ways to Make a “23 in 23” List, and a Fun Tradition

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of “Dry January,” we explore why we might want to turn deprivation into indulgence (with alcohol or with anything else). We discuss liste...

Little Happier: Advice from Mr. Rogers that’s Useful to Both Children and Adults.

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fred Rogers observed that when times are bad, we should “look for the helpers.” Is this suggestion appropriate only for children, or is it helpful...

More Happier: We Celebrate Four Big Milestones: in Hollywood, Health, Holidays, and More Happier.

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about four milestones. We discuss hitting the one-year anniversary of “More Happier” as well as the eighth anniversary of a very happy day...

Ep. 411: Revealed! Our “23 for 23” Lists of What We Want to Accomplish in 2023

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We reveal our “23 for 23” lists of the 23 things we each want to accomplish in 2023, and talk about why making this kind of list can boost happine...

You can do better than a New Year’s resolution | How to Be a Better Human

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do so many of us wait until a new calendar year to start setting our goals? Gretchen recently sat down with Chris Duffy, host of How to Be a Bette...

Little Happier: In the Movie “Before Sunrise,” with Which Character Do You Identify?

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the movie “Before Sunrise,” one character says, “I always have this strange feeling that I am this very old woman…that my life is just her ...

Happier - Ep. 410: Top Tools for Habit Change! New Year, Same You--Better Tools for Sticking to Our Good Habits

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For this Very Special Episode, we discuss some of the top tools for habit change. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for making or breaking habit...

Little Happier: Why Does One Person Possess a Certain Kind of Magic?

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since childhood, I’ve been reflecting on the depiction of Beatrice d’Este, a duchess from fifteenth century Italy, in E. L. Konisgburg’s novel ...

More Happier: Deciding How to Answer a Tough Question, a Great Snack, Plans for 2023, and More

24 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how a friend planned in advance about how she would answer a tough question. We also discuss a delicious, healthy snack and our upcoming...

Happier - Ep. 409: We Reveal Our Yearly Challenge for 2023, Plus Post-Holiday Hacks and a Suggestion for Family TV

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We reveal our yearly challenge for “____23 in 2023,” share listeners’ ideas for post-holidays hacks, and give a suggestion for a TV show for fam...

Little Happier: Paraprosdokian is Much Funnier Than It Sounds

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter half of a statement or a phrase has an unexpected ending, which makes the listener reinterp...

Happier - Ep. 408: We Reveal Our One-Word Themes, a Gift-Giving Hack, and Have You Ever Had an Uncanny Experience?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We reflect on our one-word themes for 2022 and reveal our themes for 2023. We also share an easy family gift-giving hack, as well as listeners’ answ...

Little Happier: Why I Often Find Myself Reciting This Nursery Rhyme. Is It Well-Known, or Not?

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An old nursery rhyme comes in handy for describing a common situation.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected] in t...

More Happier: More Corgi Fun, a Secret for Finding Lost Objects, and the Trend That’s Sweeping the Nation

10 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss how the fun of Corgis is helping to allay anxiety, hear from a listener’s success using a hack for finding lost objects, and consider a p...

Happier - Ep. 407: We Review our “22 for 22 Lists,” Reflect on Getting “Rest” in 2022, and Share a Travel Hack

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We review our “22 for 2022 lists” to report on which of the 22 items we did--and didn’t—accomplish during the year. We also reflect on 2022’...

Little Happier: The Things That Go Wrong Often Make the Best Memories—Like My Daughter’s Tough Train Trip

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A visit to the train station reminded me of a morning, years ago, when my daughter Eliza had a tough time boarding the train. It wasn’t much fun at ...

Happier - Ep. 406: Why We Might Upgrade the Makeshift, Gift Ideas for Teachers, and a Great Way to Use Photographs

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we might upgrade the makeshift—that is, address with any temporary situations that have become permanent. We also share listeners’...

Little Happier: How Do We Stay Open to Constructive Criticism, Yet Also Committed to Our Creative Vision?

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A passage from poet Stephen Spender’s autobiography is an example of a familiar tension: How do we stay open to constructive criticism and direction...

More Happier - Hosting a Holiday, Reducing Food Waste, Embracing Audiobooks, and Tech That Actually Helps

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about technology; it can help a person who lacks a sense of direction and also help to reduce food waste. We also discuss how we can elevate a...

Happier - Ep. 405: Kevin Hart! Plus Ways to Enhance Holiday Decorating and How to Save Someone’s Life (or Your Own)

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood legend Kevin Hart shares his insights and stories about how to dealwith the “monsters” that lurk inside each of us. We also share listen...

Little Happier: Sometimes, When We’re the Most Thankful, We Find It Hardest to Express Gratitude.

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Elizabeth Strout’s novel “Oh, William!” a character recalls the loving help she was given, and how she never forgot it.Get in touch: @gretche...

Happier - Ep. 404: Holiday Gift Guide, Save Time in a Long Line, and Temple Grandin Talks About “Visual Thinking”

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We offer many suggestions for holiday gifts, of all kinds: substantial gifts, stock-stuffers, experiences-as-gifts, and handmade. We also share a hack...

Little Happier: A Strategy That Works with Children Often Works with Adults, and Vice Versa

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reflecting back on the ritual of dismissal from my daughter’s day camp, I’m reminded of the importance of moments of transitions—for children an...

More Happier - The Secret of a Successful “Summer of Health,” Hacks for Easier Holiday Prep, and How to Read More

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why Elizabeth managed to make so much progress on her “Summer of Health” and a new hack for getting more reading done—plus we disc...

Happier - Ep. 403: Save Someone’s Life, Preserve Friendships, Try Packing Cubes, and Does It Matter If You’re Late?

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the question, “Have you ever saved someone’s life?” and ways thatwe might save a life. We also discuss readers’ suggestions abou...

Little Happier: It’s Okay that My Husband Doesn’t Read My Writing

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When a friend told me that she felt hurt that her husband didn’t want to read the draft of her memoir, I was reminded of a line from ancient philoso...

Happier - Ep. 402: Why We Might Buy Ourselves Flowers, How to Find an Extra Hour, and Writing a Personal Manifesto

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by listeners, we discuss the suggestion to buy ourselves flowers. We also discuss an easy way to carve out an extra hour each day and talk ab...

Little Happier: Why I Don’t Have to Outrun the Bear

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The old story about “The Bear and the Two Hikers” is funny, and it also conveys a helpful truth: Sometimes, to succeed, we don’t have to be perf...

More Happier: Family Tradition, Using a Shared Enthusiasm to Make Friends, and the Fun of Helping

29 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the satisfaction of creating an easy and fun family tradition, and why it’s so satisfying to use your strengths to help someone else. ...

Happier - Ep. 401: Create a Time Capsule, Give Crackers to Your Guests, and How to Help a Rebel Arrive on Time

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why you might create a time capsule as a way to hold on to memories. We also discuss an easy way to make a party more fun, and consider ...

Little Happier: From Two Centuries Ago, 19 Tips for Happiness

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In 1820, English writer and cleric Sydney Smith wrote a letter to an unhappy friend with suggestions for how to cheer up. Most of the 19 items on his ...

Happier - Ep. 400: 400 Episodes! Listeners Share the Podcast Ideas That Have Done the Most to Make Them Happier

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate our 400 th episode, we share listeners’ answers to the question,“From the previous 400 episodes, what favorite ideas or hacks have he...

Little Happier: One Strategy to Take the Sting Out of Painful Words

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laughing about the fact that something I wrote was “boring and confusing” helped me stay open to criticism.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabet...

More Happier - Dealing with Doctors’ Appointments, Easy Travel Hacks, and Why We Might Put Someone on Mute

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the satisfaction of dealing with doctors’ appointment, share some great travel hacks, and explore how the terminology of devices has s...

Happier - Ep. 399: Give a Holiday Gift to Your Future-Self, an Easy Photo Hack, and How to Keep Healthy Boundaries

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how we can give a gift to our future-selves by starting to prepare for the holidays early. We also share a listener’s hack about getti...

Little Happier: “If You’re Going to Say That, You’d Better Be Holding My Hand.”

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The touch of another person can be powerful. In Kate Bowler’s thought-provoking memoir, “Everything Happens for a Reason,” she tells a doctor th...

Happier - Ep. 398: Rest Your Senses, Give People Time to Themselves, and Find Tranquility by Tuesday

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how and why we might rest our senses, discuss an easy hack for making family vacation time more pleasant, and talk to author Laura Vande...

Little Happier: Paul McCartney Is Now a Fan of the Beatles

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paul McCartney describes himself as a “Beatles fan.” Perhaps, after so many years, he’s experiencing the band from the outside as well as from t...

More Happier - Happier in Hometown Kansas City, Friday Flowers, and Do You Want to Wear Shoes?

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the happiness of spending the weekend with our parents in our hometown of Kansas City, reminisce about “Flower Fridays,” and discuss...

Happier - Ep. 397: Stop “Phubbing” People, Plus Hacks to Get Organized, Clear Clutter, and Take Medications

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we should stop “phubbing” (phone snubbing) people during conversations. We also share suggestions from listeners about simple wa...

Little Happier: Does Love Make You Think, “I Must Be at My Very Best?”

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fashion icon Diana Vreeland said of her husband, “I can remember always pulling myself up, thinking, ‘I must be at my very best.’” Her observa...

Happier - Ep. 396: Observe the Birthday of a Spiritual Teacher, Plus the “Arrival Fallacy” and Happiness Bullies

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we observe the birthday of our spiritual teachers, discuss the challenge of the “arrival fallacy,” share a hack about creating m...

Little Happier: A Story from the Ancient World Reminds Me to Be Grateful for Literature

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A story from ancient Greece reminded me how much we humans value literature in all its forms.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gr...

More Happier - The Value of Childhood Friends and Road Trips, and the Joy of Being Back in a Routine

17 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the special quality of childhood friendships, why it’s nice to be back in a routine after the summer, and ask the question, “Do we h...

Happier - Ep. 395: Stay Aware of STUFF, How to Make Time to Rest, & What to Say If You’re at a Loss for Words

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we should stay aware of STUFF, and also how to nudge ourselves to rest even when it’s hard to stop away from the to-do list. We al...

Little Happier: More Good Advice from My Mother

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When I became editor-in-chief of the law review at Yale Law School, my mother made a helpful observation about the nature of success.Get in touch: @gr...

Happier - Ep. 394: Fifth Anniversary of “The Four Tendencies!” We Discuss This Personality Framework, Hacks & Insights

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the fifth anniversary of my book “The Four Tendencies,” so we discuss the “Four Tendencies,” along with hacks, insights, stories, refle...

Little Happier: Reframing “I Have to Do It” to “I Get to Do It”

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mindy Kaling and I both give examples from our lives of when we reframed “I have to do it” into “I get to do it.”Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...

More Happier - House of the Dragon, Summer of Health—and What Makes a Great Sequel or Prequel?

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about watching the new TV show “House of the Dragon,” the question of what makes a good sequel, and we celebrate a big anniversary.Get in ...

Happier - Ep. 393: Celebrate Labor Day with #HappierLaborDay, an Easy Hack to Delegate Tasks--and Are You Drifting?

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We suggest using the Labor Day holiday as a catalyst for reflection on our work lives, and also suggest questions to help identify useful changes at w...

Little Happier: A Free Throw in Basketball Shows the Power of Words

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even though players tend to have much better success with the underhanded free throw, few are willing to use this approach, for fear that people will ...

Happier - Ep. 392: When Do People Know You’ve Stopped Listening? Plus a Moving Hack and a Way to Put Down Your Phone

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s helpful to ask people, “How do you know when I’ve stopped listening?” Plus we discuss a hack that makes moving easier, ...

Little Happier: How Refusing to Give Compliments Can Be Re-Framed as an Act of Love

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two people give two different interpretations of a family member’s failure to compliment their appearance—one was hurt; one chose to see it as evi...

More Happier - Happiness of Easy Shopping Returns, Great Interviews of Interesting People, and Dogs

20 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we get such a happiness boost from the fact that it’s become easier to return purchases, from reading collections of interviews of...

Happier - Ep. 391: Give Your Memory a Break, a Rebel Talks to His Boss, and What Kind of Procrastinator Are You?

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why it’s helpful to give your memory a break, how you can improve your experiences by re-considering the time of day in which you do them...

Little Happier: Why I Remind Myself, “Get a Hold of Yourself, Meredith.”

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve always remembered a story that I heard fourth hand—from my roommate’s friend’s sister—and use it to remind myself to buck up. “Get a ...

Happier - Ep. 390: Very Special Episode: Tips, Hacks, and Resources for a #HappierLaborDay

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of upcoming #HappierLaborDay, we discuss different tips, hacks, and resources that have worked for listeners--and for us--to make work life h...

Little Happier: Why My Father Decided to Pay the Tourist Tax

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When we went on a big family trip, my father told us, “We need to be willing to pay the tourist tax.” That is, by being willing sometimes to pay a...

More Happier - A Suitcase Returns, Dogs Go on a Trip, and Iconic Singer Joni Mitchell Performs Live

06 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about what’s making us happier: my missing suitcase showed up after a week, Elizabeth took her two corgis on the road, and we talked about J...

Happier - Ep. 389: Take Time to Do What You Do Best, a Hack to Avoid Muscle Injury, and Are You Drinking Enough Water?

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about an effective way to lower stress: take time to do what you do best. We also discuss how to avoid injury during exercise, and we tackle t...

Little Happier: I Am Traffic, I am Nature

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When I complain about traffic, I remember that I am traffic. When I admire nature, I remember that I am nature.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabet...

Happier - Ep. 388: Reclaim a Dormant Activity, Share a Podcast Episode, and What Kind of Collector Are You?

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why you might try to reclaim a dormant activity and ask the question “What kind of collector are you?” And we point out that it’s ...

Little Happier: One Way that TV Can Make Us Happier

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For some people, TV can offer a kind of company that gives them comfort when they’re feeling alone or frightened.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliz...

More Happier - An Airport Epiphany, a Mystery Solved, and the Happiness of More Storage

23 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about a realization that Elizabeth had while waiting to board an airplane, and how a visit to the Met satisfied a longtime curiosity. Plus, th...

Happier - Ep. 387: Create a Five-Senses Portrait, Protect Bicyclists, and Ideas for Designing Your Summer

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why creating a five-senses portrait of someone you love can help you appreciate their outer and inner presence. We also highlight an eas...

Little Happier: Nothing Makes Me Happier Than a Great Twist in a Story

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It makes me so happy to watch the video of the actors of “The Good Place” learning about the big twist in the Season One finale—to see the surpr...

Happier - Ep. 386: Find the Right Metaphor, Chop Your Salad, and Why That Line Seems to Move So Slowly

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why choosing the right metaphor can help us better to reframe a situation, why understanding the psychology of waiting in line can make wai...

Little Happier: Have You Ever Wanted Something Just Because Someone Else Wanted It?

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar Wilde and Andy Warhol made the same observation: Sometimes, we want something or do something just because we know that someone else might want ...

More Happier - The Fun of Family Travel, Challenges of TV Casting, and How to Be Happier at Home

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about summer travels, discuss a question about casting a TV show, and recommend yet more great material from Paul McCartney.Get in touch: @gre...

Happier - Ep. 385: Keep a Commonplace Book, Hacks for Headache and Parents, and Preventing Interruptions

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the value of keeping a commonplace book (which I’ve done since I was ten years old), and we offer a hack for keeping perspective as a ...

Little Happier: Do You Know Any “Help-Rejecting Complainers?”

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing the phrase “help-rejecting complainer” may make it easier to identify, and therefore address, a challenging pattern of behavior.Get in tou...

Happier - Ep. 384: We Use Halfway Day to Review Our “22 for 22” Lists and #Rest22in22 (We’ve Made Some Progress)

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

July 2 is Halfway Day, and we use that date as a catalyst to review how we’re doing on our “22 for 22” lists as well as how we’re doing with #...

Little Happier: The Positive Value of Negative Emotions

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

People sometimes assume that “a happy life” is a life without negative emotions, but in fact, negative emotions have a crucial role to play in hel...

More Happier - The Happiness of a Paul McCartney Concert, the Joy of Aphorisms, and the Delights of Audiobooks

25 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the adventure of going to a Paul McCartney concert, the joy of writing and collecting aphorisms, and the new delight of listening to an ...

Happier - Ep. 383: Reflect on Your One-Word Theme, Talk to a Rebel Who Wants to Switch Jobs, and a “Cool” Hack

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Because the year is almost half over, we review our one-word themes for 2022 to see how we’re doing. We also discuss an inexpensive item that’s us...