Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Little Happier: Re-Framing the Situation Can Mean that Someone Unexpected Wins a Prize

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca Caudill’s 1962 picture book “The Best-Loved Doll” tells the story of a little girl and her shabby, beloved doll, and the medal her doll ...

Ep. 328: Eat Something You Saw on the Screen or Page, a Reading Hack, and Annie Murphy Paul Talks About the Extended Mind

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why you might eat something you saw on the screen or on the page, a clutter-clearing hack that makes reading more fun, and a conversation with Annie M...

Little Happier: My Brilliant Insight About the Title's Meaning for "The Phantom Tollbooth," Norton Juster's Classic Novel.

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 I have a tremendous insight that springs from my love of Norton Juster’s novel “The Phantom Tollbooth” and my longstanding fascinating with Ze...

Ep. 327: Something to Remember: Gretchen Passed Out on Live TV! Plus a Hand-Holding Hack, and Are You in an Age of Expansion or Concentration?

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s helpful to remember that the things that go wrong often make the best memories—for example, I passed out on live TV! Plus a...

Little: Grover of Sesame Street and Arya of Game of Thrones Teach Me the Same Lesson.

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Two characters from two very different kinds of stories—Sesame Street’s Grover and Game of Thrones’s Arya—illustrate the important reminder ...

Ep. 326: Write a Tastes Timeline, More Wisdom from Teachers, a Hack for Getting Better Service, and Question about Obliger-Rebellion

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might want to write a Tastes Timeline; share a listener’s hack for getting easier, quicker service; discuss more terrific proverb...

Little Happier: “The Farm Was a Form: Not Like a Set of Rules on a Wall, But Like the Symmetry of Winter and Summer.”

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The poet Donald Hall wrote a beautiful memoir of the childhood summers he spent with his grandparents on their New Hampshire farm. In his account, he ...

Ep. 325: Design Your Summer, Splurge on Colorful Felt-Tip Pens, and a Conversation with Julianna Margulies of “The Good Wife”

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We have our annual discussion about why and how we plan to design our summers, I explain why I splurged on some colorful felt-tip pens, and we talk to...

Bonus Episode: Use Self-Knowledge to Be Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Successful as a Small Business Owner.

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode sponsored by Dell Technologies, we explore how small-business owners and entrepreneurs can use the “Four Tendencies” persona...

Little Happier: Dolly Parton Knew Exactly What to Say to the Tennessee State Legislature.

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dolly Parton is such an admirable person. Her statement to the Tennessee legislature—to ask that they withdraw legislation proposing to erect a stat...

Ep. 324: Learn from the Wisdom of Teachers, a Clever Way to Use Email, and Anna Sale Talks about How to Have Difficult Conversations

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We review some terrific lessons we’ve learned from teachers, discuss an email hack that makes it easier to ask someone for help, and Anna Sale discu...

Little Happier: An Answer from Childhood Expert Michael Thompson Reminds Me of the Value of Considering a Different Perspective.

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I’m a big fan of the work of childhood expert Michael Thompson, and his answer to a reader’s question reminds me of the importance of remaining op...

Ep: 323: Try Some Movie Therapy, an Easy Hack for Dealing with Small Toys and Trinkets, and Do Certain Situations Send You into Shock?

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our former producer, the podcaster and writer Kristen Meinzer, explains why we should try “movie therapy,” we discuss one of Gretchen’s all-time...

Little Happier: How Ordinary Behavior at Work Can Amount to Sabotage—Really!

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A document created during World War II describes how ordinary people can help the United States’s war effort through “simple sabotage”—and the...

Ep. 322: Pick the Right Word, Have Both a Weekend and a Weekday Book, and a Conversation with Actor, Singer, and Instagram Sensation Leslie Jordan

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s powerful to pick the right word, a listener suggests having a weekend book and a weekday book to enjoy reading more, and we t...

Little Happier: A Friend Told Me, “I Can Find My Way Anywhere in Westchester, But I Have to Start from Scarsdale.”

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A friend’s remark about growing up in the New York City suburbs reminded me of how valuable it is to have a strong home base.Get in touch: @gretchen...

Ep. 321: Ask for a Favor in the Right Way, an Easy Clutter-Clearing Hack, and Julie Lythcott-Haims Talks about How to Be an Adult

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the advice from legendary women’s gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field about how to ask for a favor or an opportunity in the right way, ...

Little Happier: Happiness Lessons from a Friend and His Messy Wife

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During a funny conversation with a friend about his messy wife, he realized how he could have a more orderly house, without necessarily winning her co...

Ep. 320: For Our 6th Anniversary, a Roundup of Favorite Try-This-at-Homes, Hacks, Strategies, and Solutions from Listeners—and From Us.

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For this Very Special Episode, and in honor of our sixth anniversary, we asked listeners to send us their favorite moments, hacks, solutions, try-this...

Little Happier: A Character from “K-Pop Confidential” and My Second-Grade Daughter Remind Me: We Want to Accept Ourselves, and Expect More From Ourselves

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Stephan Lee’s terrific young-adult novel K-Pop Confidential, the character Candace’s performance illustrates the same lesson that I saw in my ...

Ep. 319: Ask Yourself, “Do I Use It, Need It, Love It?”, Using the Return to Work as a “Clean Slate” for Habits, and Rebels Give Advice about the Rebel Who Won’t Read Emails

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For those in the mood for spring cleaning, we suggest clearing clutter by asking “Do I use it, need it, love it?” We talk about April Fool’s Day...

Little Happier: Why Did I Insist on Taking My Little Girl to Pre-school in the Freezing Cold and Snow?

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Understanding my Four Tendencies personality framework, and my own Tendency as an Upholder, revealed to me why I’d behaved inexplicably years ago, w...

Ep. 318: Look at Your Home with the Eyes of a Stranger, Some Terrific Before-and-After Clutter Stories, and Valuable Lessons from the Pandemic

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might look at your home through the eyes of a stranger, why a simple hook can be so useful , share some excellent before-and-afte...

Little Happier: We Can Learn from the Monkey Who Wouldn’t Let Go of the Bananas.

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The old teaching story of the greedy monkey and the bananas illustrates many notions, including the idea that sometimes we have to let go of a desire ...

Ep. 317: Do You Thrive with a “Sense of Urgency,” a Hack for Drinking Less Alcohol, and a Conversation about Just Work with Kim Scott and Trier Bryant

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss whether we thrive in an atmosphere with a sense of urgency, share a listener’s happiness hack for drinking less alcohol (without giving i...

Little Happier: Who’s Happier? My Husband, Who Got His iPod Back, or Me, Who Retrieved It for Him?

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best ways to make ourselves happier is to make other people happier. I was made happier by my gesture of loving in tracking down my husband...

Ep. 316: What Valuable Lessons Have We Learned from the Pandemic, a Hack to Fight Morning Grogginess, and a Question about a Rebel Teacher Who Doesn’t Read Emails

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why we might ask ourselves, “What valuable lessons have I learned from the pandemic, now that a year has passed?” We also suggest an ea...

Little Happier: The Memory of a Delicious Night of Sleep, Four Hundred Years Later

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1600s, Samuel Pepys kept a diary, and of everything he wrote about, including the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London fair, one...

Ep. 315: Sixth Anniversary! Our Most Popular Try-This-at-Home Tips, Happiness Hacks & Favorite Moments

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of our sixth anniversary—an unusual year, due to the pandemic—we look back at the previous year and highlight our favorite try-this-at-ho...

Little Happier: Yogi Berra Was Funny, and He Also Hit on Some Profound Truths

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Baseball legend Yogi Berra was famous for the hilarious things he said. And in his own inimitable way, he captured some profound truths.Get in touch: ...

Ep. 314: Re-Engage with Your Resolutions, A Hack for Helping People to Give Gifts, an Outdoors Demerit, and Why Humor Is Such a Powerful Tool at Work and in Life.

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the 21 strategies that can help us re-engage with our resolutions, discuss a hack about helping people to give gifts (to avoid disappoin...

Little Happier: How a Loose Piece of Popcorn in a Museum Inspired a Masterpiece

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The brilliant children’s book From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was inspired when writer E. L. Konigsburg spotted a piece of po...

Ep. 313: Help People Not Disappoint You, a Hack for Reading More, a Talk with Deepa Iyer about Different Roles to Play in Social Change

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how and why it’s a good idea to help people not disappoint us, share a reader suggestion about how to read more, and Deepa Iyer explai...

Little Happier: It’s a Lot of Work to Make Friendly Gestures, But We All Have to Try.

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Whenever I think about the work that it takes to try to be friendly, I remember a funny story from my daughter’s childhood.Get in touch: @gretchenru...

Ep. 312: Confront a Clutter-Related Conflict, a Hack for Having Fun, and Using the Four Tendencies Framework to Get Chores Done

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might confront a clutter-related conflict, how to use the Four Tendencies personality framework to help tackle clutter and chores, ...

Little Happier: A Beautiful Image: A Cabin in the Woods, with Flowers Growing Close to Its Walls

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I’m haunted by an image from Erling Kagg’s book Walking One Step at a Time, when he describes a cabin in the wood where the owner had carefully a...

Ep. 311: Find a Manifestation of Your One-Word Theme, an Easy Hack to Spark Happy Memories, and a Conversation with Ron Lieber about the Price You Pay for College

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We share listeners’ suggestions about creative ways to create physical representations of our one-word themes for 2021, discuss an extremely easy, f...

Little Happier: A Question That Seemed to Make No Sense Was in Fact a Declaration of Love

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, gestures of love don’t look the way we expect. I found it wonderful to think that, many years after this time has passed, the writer real...

Ep. 310: Very Special Episode! Great Hacks, Tips, Tools, and Suggestions About How to #Read21in21.

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this Very Special Episode, we share hacks, strategies, and tools from listeners—and our own experience—about how to get more reading done in 20...

Little Happier: Some of My Favorite Proverbs About Parenthood.

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I love aphorisms, proverbs, true rules, and Secrets of Adulthood, and I offer some of my favorite proverbs for parenthood.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin...

Ep. 309: Heed a Suggestion, Look Better on Zoom, and a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Brilliant Ideas for “21 for 21” Lists.

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you should heed someone’s suggestion, take a deep dive into listeners’ imaginative ideas for their “21 for 2021” lists, and rev...

Little Happier: An Ancient Story Is a Reminder that We Can Hurt People When We Try to Force Them to Fit into Our Model.

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The famous Greek myth of the Bed of Procrustes illustrates the principle that we shouldn’t try to pressure everyone to fit into a single approach. ...

Ep. 308: Tackle Your Email for One Hour, A Hack for Dealing with Photo Clutter, and an Interview with Gary Taubes About “The Case for Keto.”

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why spending one hour managing our email inbox can give us a happiness boost, highlight a listener hack about clearing out the photos on ou...

Little Happier: I Can’t Blame the Internet, or, The World Has Changed, But I Have Also Changed.

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When I feel distracted or overwhelmed, I remind myself that I can’t blame the internet. If I want a life with more time for calm and reflection, I n...

Ep. 307: We Reveal Our “21 for ‘21” Lists, Discuss a Hack for Staying in Touch, and Give a Gold Star to a Documentary

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We reveal our “21 for 2021” lists, discuss an easy hack for staying in touch with people long-distance, and Elizabeth gives a gold star to a great...

Little Happier: To Calm Myself, I Imagine a Traffic Light in a Thunderstorm.

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When I’m feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unhappy, I sometimes conjure up an image in my mind—an oak tree in Iowa, or a traffic light in a thunder...

Ep. 306: Choose Your One-Word Theme for 2021, a New Year’s Hack, and Listeners’ Suggestions for Ways to Show Love and Support from Far Away

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We choose our one-word themes for the year, and encourage listeners to choose their own theme for 2021, we discuss a hack for heading into the new yea...

Little Happier: What We See Depends Very Much on Where We Stand.

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As several examples illustrate, it’s easy to forget that the way we see the world is very much shaped by our own perspective. One person’s reason ...

Ep. 305: We Share Listeners’ Success Stories from “Walk 20 in 2020” and Reveal Our Challenge for 2021

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As 2020 draws to a close, we share many terrific success stories from listeners about their experiences following the “Walk 20 in 2020” challenge,...

Little Happier: After His Death, Actor Yul Brynner Made an Unforgettable Plea.

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The simplicity and power of Yul Brynner’s anti-smoking ad, aired after his death, makes it unforgettable. This ad transformed his suffering into a s...

Ep. 304: We Reveal How We Did with Our “20 for 2020” Lists, Plus a Hack for Not Forgetting Items.

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We review our “20 for 2020” lists and reveal what we did—and didn’t—get done in this strange year. We also talk about an easy hack to avoid ...

Little Happier: The Lesson I Learned from the Thumbtack in My Shoe.

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I had a pain in my foot, and I blamed my foot—until a friend pointed out that I had a tack in my shoe. Whenever I get frustrated, I remind myself th...

Bonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part II.

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many people have...

Bonus Episode: Gretchen Rubin Reads Charles Dickens’s Timeless Story, “A Christmas Carol.” Part I.

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As a holiday gift for listeners, I read a story: Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, “A Christmas Carol.” These days, while many people have...

Ep. 303: Find a Ritual to “Exorcise 2020,” a Sleep Hack, and Tips for Sticking to a Schedule When Working from Home

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might want to create a ritual to “Exorcise 2020” and share terrific suggestions from listeners, and our own ideas, for how to b...

Little Happier: “To Succeed in Business, Plan to Publish Bestsellers Only.”

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Book-industry people love to tell this old (probably apocryphal) story, because it illustrates the temptation, and the folly, of deciding that your pl...

Ep. 302: Revisit a Book You Remember from High School or College, Ask Yourself, “Is There a Food I Enjoy Only When It’s Made the Way My Family Makes It?” and Why It’s a Good Idea to Run Errands in the Morning

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We suggest revisiting a book that you still remember from high school or college (and reveal the books that we plan to revisit), discuss a funny food-...

Little Happier: When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Appears.

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When I articulate very clearly in my own mind what I’m seeking to learn, that’s when I start to see the teachers. Teachers are out there—it’s ...

Ep. 301: Embrace an Attitude of Gratitude for What This Unprecedented Season Offers, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Personal Policies, and a Money Hack

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why it’s helpful to embrace an attitude of gratitude for what this unprecedented Thanksgiving holiday offers; we do a deep dive into list...

Little Happier: If You Have a Fur Coat, You Don’t Need Snow Pants.

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the wonderful children’s book “Little Bear,” Mother Bear takes away Little Bear’s hat, coat, and snow pants so that he can be warm in the f...

Ep. 300: Very Special Episode 300: Ask Us Anything!

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With every 100th episode, we have a very special episode where listeners can ask us anything. We discuss how we were raised, how we prepare to record ...

Little Happier: In a World Full of Suffering and Injustice, Is It Morally Appropriate to Work to Be Happier?

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We don’t have to choose between working toward being happier ourselves and working to increase the happiness of others. The two states reinforce eac...

Ep. 299: Review How You’re Doing in the “Essential 7” Areas for Habits, a Hack to Make Thanksgiving More Memorable, and an Interview with Chef Carla Hall about How to “Say Yes!”

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Review how you’re doing in the “Essential 7” areas for Habits, a fun, easy way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and an interview with renowned chef Ca...

Little Happier: What We Can Learn from Mark Twain’s Cat Who Sat on a Hot Stove

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s important to make sure that we don’t learn the wrong lessons from pain, frustration, criticism, or failure. Like a cat, we want to learn not ...

Ep 298: Award Yourself with a Sticker, A Memory Hack, and a Conversation with Rachel Hollis About Dealing with Unexpected Challenges

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by “I Voted” stickers, we discuss why you might award yourself a sticker to mark an important accomplishment, talk about a hack for remem...

Little Happier: Sometimes, Transcendent Forces Seem to Enter the World.

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, the transcendent seems to appear in the concreate, ordinary world—in a conversation, in an experience, or even in a person.Get in touch: ...

Ep. 297: Happier Podcast Book Club: Author Yaa Gyasi Talks about Family, Faith, Science, and Belonging in “Transcendent Kingdom”

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk to writer Yaa Gyasi about her compelling bestselling novel “Transcendent Kingdom.”Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner Calm 30-Day SMS Chal...

Little Happier: A Pediatrician Shows How Well She Understands How Children Think.

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

My daughter’s pediatrician asked a question that showed how well she understand the way children’s minds work.Join my brand-new Outer Order Inner ...

Ep. 296: Establish Your Personal Policy, a Reading Hack, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Hidden Delights, and a Demerit That’s Common These Days

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might want to establish your personal policy, I share a reading hack, we take a deep dive into listeners’ hidden delights, and El...

Little Happier: Building More Roads Won’t Relieve Traffic—Literally and Figuratively.

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Despite urban planner Robert Moses’s attempts to relieve congestion on New York City’s road, the traffic just got worse. The lesson of “induced ...

Ep. 295: Do Something Familiar in a New Way, an Easy Hack to Control Snacking, and a Conversation with Al Roker About Work and Life

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we should do something familiar in a new way, share a hack from a listener that makes it easier to control impulse snacking, and hav...

Little Happier: On My Wedding Anniversary, It Makes Me Happy to Remember What a Nurse Said.

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie is the love of my life! I want to treat him that way, and so often, really, I don’t. But I try. It makes me happy to remember a time when, fro...

Ep. 294: Imitate a Spiritual Master, a Hack for Toddlers, and a Conversation with Glennon Doyle About “Untamed.”

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why you might imitate a spiritual master, discuss a listener’s hack for keeping a toddler safe, and talk to bestselling author Glennon...

Little Happier: Why You Should Never Knit Your Boyfriend a Sweater.

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A college friend advised me, “Never knit your boyfriend a sweater,” and that’s turned out to be very wise advice.Join my brand-new Outer Order I...

Ep. 293: Anticipate Pandemic Regret, an Easy Household Hack, and a Deep Dive into Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why now is a good time to anticipate the pandemic regret you might feel in the future; we discuss a simple, effective, household hack ab...

Little Happier: How Douglas Adams—Author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”—Gave Himself Confidence.

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers have enormous influence over our fates and our imaginations. Even a hugely bestselling writer like Douglas Adams took comfort in the words of...

Ep. 292: Create a Hidden Delight, a Hack to Encourage Exercising, and a Discussion about Accepting Something as a Gift vs. Paying for It.

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why you might want to create a hidden delight, a listener suggests a hack for using clothes as a way to stick to an exercise habit, and ...

Little Happier: Sometimes, To Do a Simple Thing We Must Make a Huge Change.

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Oracle of Delphi told the people of Delos that they’d cure their present ills if they doubled the altar—because to double the altar, they must...

Ep. 291: Get Out of Your Storage Unit, a Hack for Reducing Unwanted Talk, and a Conversation about Relationships with Esther Perel

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the benefits of getting out of a storage unit; we talk to relationship expert Esther Perel about love and work; and Elizabeth’s office...

Little Happier: When Do We Tell Other People What We Think They Should Do? Two Beautiful Examples.

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Mark Salzman’s memoir “The Man in the Empty Boat,” he gives not just one, but two, examples of times when one person is able thoughtfully to ...

Ep. 290: Very Special Episode: An Extravaganza of Hacks! Hacks for Relationships, Productivity, Pandemic, Clutter, Travel, and More

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this Very Special Episode, we present an extravaganza of listeners’ simple, concrete hacks that can help us make our lives happier, healthier, mo...

Little Happier: Trevor Noah: “We Tell People to Follow Their Dreams, But You Can Only Dream of What You Can Imagine.”

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In his terrific memoir “Born a Crime,” Trevor Noah notes that “you can only dream of what you can imagine,” and tells the story of how his mo...

Ep. 289: Ask Yourself, “Do I Already Own This?” How to Feel Better in Just Five Minutes with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and Our Next Book Club Choice

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why it’s helpful to ask, “Do I already own this?” We also talk to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee about his new book, “Feel Better in 5,” a...

Little Happier: Zora Neale Hurston’s Vision Shows How Mysterious the World Is.

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In her thought-provoking memoir “Dust Tracks in the Road,” Zora Neale Hurston’s vision of her future reminds me of how mysterious the world is.G...

Ep. 288: Learn Something with a Beginning, Middle, and End, a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Second-Guessing Yourself, and a Spotlight on Brit Bennett

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why it’s helpful (especially these days) to learn something with a beginning, middle, and an end; we explore the Know Yourself Better ...

Little Happier: What Can You Do When You Live in a Crowded, Messy, Noisy House?

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a traditional Yiddish folk tale, a farmer complains about his crowded, noisy house—and his wise rabbi gives him a surprising solution.Get in touc...

Ep. 287: Steer Clear of Quicksand, Beware of Catastrophizing, a Whimsical Hack, and a Spotlight on Baratunde Thurston

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you should steer clear of quicksand, beware of the happiness stumbling block of “catastrophizing,” suggest an affordable, whimsical...

Little Happier: Bryan Stevenson Points Out a Question: Are We There to Speak, or Are We There to Listen?

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In his brilliant memoir “Just Mercy,” Bryan Stevenson makes the distinction: Am I invited someplace to speak, or am I invited to listen?Get in tou...

Ep. 286: September Is the Other January, Jay Shetty Explains How to Think Like a Monk, and a Spotlight on Colson Whitehead

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why we should remember that September is the other January; we have a conversation with podcaster and writer Jay Shetty about how to “think like a m...

Little Happier: The More We Talk to Someone, the More We Have to Say.

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle: Book Six, he reflects on the counter-intuitive truth that the more we talk to people...

Ep. 285: Why It’s a Good Idea to Create a Catch-All, a Spotlight on Virginia Hamilton, and a Conversation with Susan Burton About Her Brilliant Memoir “Empty.”

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why it’s a great idea to create a catch-all to help boost creativity, memories, and inspiration, we shine a spotlight on children’s aut...

Little Happier: How Eating a Second Ice-Cream Cone Can Be an Act of Obliger-Rebellion

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s essay “Summer,” he perfectly describes an example of Obliger-rebellion that’s turned toward the self: he eats a secon...

Ep. 284: Why Buying Isn’t Doing, a Deep Dive into Ways to Display Your Favorite Quotations, and a Spotlight on Harriet Washington

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about why we shouldn’t confuse buying with doing, reveal a happiness hack for staying in touch with grandparents, review listeners’ sugges...

Little Happier: A Lesson Learned from the End of Life: Make Time for the People Who Matter Most

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eugene O’Kelley’s account of his experience of the end of his life is a reminder that our time and energy are limited, and we need to make sure to...

Ep. 283: Happier Podcast Book Club: Renowned Writer Ann Patchett Talks about Family, Forgiveness, and Memory in “The Dutch House”—and a Spotlight on Trevor Noah.

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We talk to writer Ann Patchett about her powerful, compelling novel “The Dutch House.” Plus we shine a spotlight on Trevor Noah and his memoir “...

Little Happier: Habits Are the Invisible Architecture of Everyday Life

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A passage from Christopher Alexander’s beautiful book The Timeless Way of Building is a good reminder of the importance of having habits that make...

Ep. 282: Do Good to Feel Good, Bruce Feiler Suggests Two Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Manage Transitions, and a Spotlight on Octavia Butler

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why one way to overcome COVID-19 listlessness is to do good for other people, explore some Know-Yourself-Better questions to help manage to...

Little Happier: Do You Know the Famous Story of the Fox and the Sour Grapes?

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of Aesop’s most famous fables, and writer Virginia Woolf agree: it’s important to resist the temptation to deny the truth about what we really...

Ep. 281: Start a Social-Issues Book Club, a Deep Dive into the Problem of Flaky Friends, a Hack for Great Quotations, and a Spotlight on Author Jason Reynolds.

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss why you might start or join a social-issues book club, we talk about ways to incorporate your favorite quotations into everyday life, we ta...

Little Happier: Often, It’s the Small Gestures of Thoughtfulness that Make Us Feel Loved

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A friend explained to me why her daily habit of making lunch came to have so much importance to her son.Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchen...