Liz and Sarah delve into one of the key aspects of prepping for a TV pitch— the questions and answers that follow your presentation. Pro tip? Be ready to drill down on tone. In Take A Hike, inspired by Taylor Swift’s new album, they talk about why it can be helpful to define your eras. What do you want your next era to be? Next, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share their favorite takeaways from their slow read of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. This week they have two Hollywood Hacks — try using a steering wheel desk and always wear the same outfit to travel. Finally, Sarah recommends Richard Osman’s new Thursday Murder Club book, The Impossible Fortune.

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

 

LINKS:

 

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift:

https://amzn.to/4o4E2dC

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott:

https://amzn.to/46L14k8

 

EcoNour steering wheel desk:

https://amzn.to/3KCGUjD

 

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman: 

https://amzn.to/4pYQdua

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah have been pingponging around on various projects for months. Now several of their projects are converging, and it’s controlled chaos! In Take A Hike, they issue the Control Your Algorithm October Challenge. Stop doomscrolling and get more good in your feed! Next, Liz and Sarah introduce their brand new segment — Disproportionate Joy. Sarah’s getting joy from Violet’s new swim meet times and Liz is giddy about certain members of her Survivor Fantasy League. This week’s Hollywood Hack will save you money AND is good for the environment: Shop your favorite brand’s secondhand section. Finally, Liz recommends Lena Dunham’s Substack newsletter, Good Thing Going. 

Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Legend Planner:

https://amzn.to/3KN9q1K

 

Clare V Le Resale:

https://leresaleclarev.com

 

Patagonia Worn Wear: 

https://wornwear.patagonia.com

 

Apiece Apart Archive:

https://archive.apieceapart.com/

 

Lululemon:

https://likenew.lululemon.com/

 

Eileen Fisher Renew: 

https://www.eileenfisherrenew.com/

 

The North Face Renewed:

https://www.thenorthfacerenewed.com

 

Levi’s Secondhand:

https://www.secondhand.levi.com/

 

Lena Dunham’s Good Thing Going newsletter:

https://goodthinggoing.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips

 

Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah are hearing a trickle of good things about their pilot script, which means… absolutely nothing. They discuss how to regulate their nervous systems and keep expectations low while the waiting continues. Then, in Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to their favorite career coach, Laverne McKinnon, about how to know when it’s time to pivot in your career. One helpful tip? Recognize the difference between instinct and intuition. This week’s Hollywood Hack is for anyone getting professional photos taken: Bring the photographer examples of poses you like. Finally, Sarah recommends the books of British TV writer, Anthony Horowitz, including Magpie Murders and The Word is Murder.

Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at  https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com.

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Laverne McKinnon:

https://www.lavernemckinnon.com/

 

Allie Coyle Photography:

http://alliecoylephotography.com/category/allie-coyle-photography/

 

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz:

https://amzn.to/4pvZauN

 

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz: 

https://amzn.to/4gximEk

 

Photo by Aserusainhuu on Unsplash

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah are waiting for a reaction to the latest draft of their Netflix pilot, and this is when the rubber hits the road. Either something good will happen… or the project will be dead. Wish them luck! In Take A Hike, Sarah shares Finch, a self-care app that’s been making her (and Violet) happier. Who doesn’t love to tend a virtual pet “birb?” Then in The Craft (& Fain), they discuss one of their favorite subjects — giving and getting notes. Remember— listen and be gentle! This week’s Hollywood Hack has transformed Sarah’s gardening experience: the GreenStalk Virtual Planter. Finally Liz recommends the memoir Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller.

Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Finch:

https://finchcare.com/

 

GreenStalk Vertical Planter:

https://greenstalkgarden.com/products/inventors-bundle-blackberry-basic-texture

 

Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller

https://amzn.to/4m5F5IK

 

Photo by RB H on Unsplash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss the process of writing a new TV pitch and explain why it takes so damn long to get one done. In Take A Hike, they share listener Brandy’s HIH inspired Mahjong journey which exemplifies choosing the bigger life and so many other happiness boosting principles. Then Liz and Sarah vent about their frustration with printers in HIH WFH (Work From Home). This week’s Hollywood Hack will make your house smell good: the Malin & Goetz leather candle. Finally Sarah recommends “Cooking for Levi” on Threads.

Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at  https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com.

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Brandy’s mahjong site:

https://solomahj.com

 

Malin & Goetz leather candle:

https://amzn.to/46nltez

 

Cooking for Levi: @cookingforlevi

 

Photo by Jing Bo Wang on Unsplash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk about how a recent survey from the WGA prompted them to try using AI to make images for their latest pitch deck. In Take A Hike, they recommend “living vicariously.” They are absolutely living vicariously through Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, and they are loving it! Next, Sarah and Liz give a Hit to the new NYT game, Pips, and a Bomb to the same game for being hard to figure out the first time. The solution? Sarah teaches Liz how to play live on the podcast! Liz wishes she’d had this week’s Hollywood Hack earlier in the summer: a self-tanning mitt. Finally, Liz recommends the fascinating new podcast Unicorn Girl.

Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

Note: Go to the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group for Liz and Sarah’s extensive Teens/Tweens Gift Guide. Thanks to listeners for such great ideas! Link below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/903150719832696/permalink/3081705578643855/

LINKS:

Mr. Seifert and Miss Barker get engaged:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfIYDqSvnb0

 

Self-Tanning Mitt: 

https://amzn.to/4lTVDmW

 

Sally Hansen Body Makeup:

https://amzn.to/47onrfN

 

Unicorn Girl podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unicorn-girl/id1813180252?i=1000721964497

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by recent conversations with other Content Creators, Liz and Sarah talk about their determination to start “batching,” especially when it comes to all of their non-TV work. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why planning a celebration for her recent birthday has made her happier. Spoiler alert: fondue is involved. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they share listener Kayla’s advice to drastically lower their daily goals as they work on their novel. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your puzzling: The NYT Games app. Finally, Sarah recommends the memoir How To Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast

 

Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at  https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com.

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Stay In LA:

https://www.stayinla.org/

 

The Melting Pot:

https://www.meltingpot.com/thousand-oaks-ca/

 

How To Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast:

https://amzn.to/4mwGmdd

 

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk to L.A. City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian about what he’s doing to bring production back to Los Angeles — including tax incentives, an easier permit process, and ending price gouging for crew parking. Then, in Take A Hike, Sarah shares why we should all make a Laugh List. This week Liz has a Hit for her recent experience getting blood drawn, and Sarah has a Bomb for the price of dry cleaning. This week’s Hollywood Hack is perfect for the end of summer: the Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker. Finally, Liz recommends two dating reality shows on Netflix — Perfect Match Season 3 and Love is Blind UK Season 2.

Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian:

https://cd2.lacity.gov/about/Adrin-Nazarian

 

Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker:

https://amzn.to/3UzyFX9

 

Dash Heart Waffle Maker:

https://amzn.to/4oYxPBt

 

Perfect Match Season 3 trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBjXB_l6GMo

 

Love is Blink UK Season 2 trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIHBRA4qoMA

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk to social media star Kristen Tepper about navigating Hollywood from the point of view of a writer who’s kicking ass and making a name for herself while working toward her first big break as a screenwriter. How did she get her current job as a Showrunner’s assistant? How should reluctant writers approach the use of social media? Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they talk about why you can’t game the system — no matter how much you’d like to. This week’s Hollywood Hack (inspired by Liz’s recent closet purge) comes from listener Laurie: try the clothing swap app Lucky Sweater. Finally, Sarah recommends the (very dark) podcast Root of Evil.

Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at  https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com.

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Tepper Talks on Substack:

https://ktepper.substack.com/

 

Hollywood Hang podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hollywood-hang/id1805490059

 

Lucky Sweater:

https://www.luckysweater.com/

 

Root of Evil podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/root-of-evil-the-true-story-of-the/id1450277129?i=1000429776640

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss feeling invigorated by the new slate of projects they’re working on. Right now they’re basking in a creative bubble — the hard part comes later. In The Craft (& Fain), they share wisdom from one of their favorite producers, Michael Goldstein — to make  a TV pitch land with executives, the Pilot and Season One should each have two or three “oh shit” moments. Next, Liz and Sarah announce The First Five, a new Substack offering in which they critique the First Five pages of scripts from annual subscribers. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah’s journey into gardening — the Vigoro 3-tier stackable planter. Then Sarah shares a recent Celebrity Sighting. She and Violet saw Megan and Yoonchae from the group Katseye in the audience at the Blackpink concert. Finally, Liz recommends the book Wild West Village by Lola Kirke.

Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!

Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft

Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/

Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

LINKS:

Michael Goldstein:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0326285/

 

The First Five:

https://open.substack.com/pub/happierinhollywoodpod/p/introducing-the-first-five?r=23d20&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

 

Vigoro Stackable Planter:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-6-in-W-x-17-in-H-3-Tier-Stackable-Black-Indoor-Outdoor-Plastic-Decorative-Pot-MT5100953/331433433

 

“Gnarly” video by Katseye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2-yomhYAj4

 

Wild West Village by Lola Kirke:

https://amzn.to/3ULA8K2

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.