Happier in Hollywood

By The Onward Project

Education Business Careers

What's Happier in Hollywood about?

Veteran TV writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain demystify Hollywood by making career and personal struggles universal. Friends since high school and writing partners for 17 years, Liz and Sarah have survived and thrived in Tinseltown’s male-dominated entertainment industry, guided by blind optimism and a Midwestern work ethic. Along the way they've learned a lot about kicking ass, kissing ass, and office yoga.

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Ep. 332: Time To Pause And ...

09.21.2023

Liz and Sarah are halfway through a draft of their novel. Yay! They explain why they’ve decided to take a moment to pause and reconnect with the characters before they plow forward to the finish line. In The Mailroom, they ...

Happier in Hollywood episodes:

09.21.2023 Ep. 332: Time To Pause And Reconnect Liz and Sarah are halfway through a draft of their novel. Yay! They explain why they’ve decided to take a moment to pause and reconnect with the characters before they plow forward to the finish line. In The Mailroom, they ...
09.14.2023 Ep. 331: Turn A Chore Into A Pleasure & Set A New Goal As the WGA strike continues to drag on, Liz and Sarah each offer a Take A Hike idea to boost mental, physical, and spiritual health. Sarah’s suggestion? Turn a chore into a pleasure by using it as time to connect ...
09.07.2023 Ep. 330: Running The Show With Jeff Melvoin Liz and Sarah talk to veteran showrunner Jeff Melvoin about his new book, Running The Show: Television From The Inside. What’s the biggest mistake first time showrunners make? How does he approach delegating? This book is essential reading for anyone ...
08.31.2023 Ep.329: A Johnny Cash Ranch Retreat & Getting Back On The Horse! Liz and Sarah discuss how the benefits of spending time together (actually in the same room for a whole day) led them to their big announcement: They’re hosting an HIH Retreat at the Johnny Cash Ranch in Ojai October 2–22! ...
08.24.2023 Ep. 328: Summer 2023 Listener Questions! As Summer 2023 winds down, Sarah and Liz are answering listener questions. What do they think will happen when the strike is over? Does Sarah refuse to cuddle any of Violet’s “icky” pets? Did Liz and Sarah have sleepovers with ...
08.17.2023 Ep. 327: Burn It Down With Mo Ryan Liz and Sarah talk to journalist Maureen Ryan about her incredible new book — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call For Change In Hollywood. What was the emotional impact of writing about toxicity in Hollywood? What concrete steps ...
08.10.2023 Ep. 326: Fresh Perspective & “Franking” Liz and Sarah discuss how 100 days of being on strike has a silver lining — it’s given them fresh perspective on a project that was feeling stale. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about her Do Nothing Day. Sometimes ...
08.03.2023 Ep. 325: On Being Creative Entrepreneurs Liz and Sarah talk about being Creative Entrepreneurs. How can they expand their vision of their career? What elements will strengthen their two person small company? Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they discuss whether they want to continue writing ...
07.27.2023 Ep. 324: Build A Frog Pond Even though it’s the last thing they feel like talking about, Liz and Sarah discuss the ongoing WGA strike and how it feels like it’s lasting forever. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why the concept of “building a frog ...
07.20.2023 Ep. 323: Strike News & Formatting Fun Liz and Sarah discuss SAG-AFTRA going out on strike. Will actors on strike pressure the AMPTP to come back to the table? They sure hope so. Then they Amplify a new book from journalist Maureen Ryan — Burn It Down: ...
07.13.2023 Ep. 322: Threads & The Perfect Tee Liz and Sarah have joined the new social media platform, Threads, and they think you should too! Getting onboard early makes a difference — so don’t delay. This week’s Hollywood Hack is deep dive into The Perfect Tee. Liz and ...
07.06.2023 Ep. 321: That Summer Vacation Feeling Liz and Sarah are both experiencing that summer vacation feeling — which means they DON’T feel like working. How can they harness the delight of summer but still make progress on their novel? In The Mailroom, they answer a question ...
06.29.2023 Ep. 320: Liz & Sarah’s “Before I Die” Pitch In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah share their CBS pitch “Before I Die,” about three older women solving crimes in Miami. Then they talk about the notes they received from network executives and how they incorporated those notes into ...
06.22.2023 Ep. 319: A Hollywood Dream Come True! Liz and Sarah talk to TV writer Nadia Abass-Madden about how she switched careers from being a real life 911 operator to writing for FOX’s hit show 9-1-1. It’s a dream-come-true-story to inspire all of us during this stressful time! ...
06.15.2023 Ep. 318: Liz & Sarah’s Most “Hollywood” Hollywood Moments In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah share some of their most “Hollywood” Hollywood moments, from getting yelled at by famous actors to spotting A-list stars in line at the pharmacy. They’ve driven around town to look at billboards of ...
06.08.2023 Ep. 317: Being A Number Two Liz and Sarah talk to one of their best friends, Karine Rosenthal, about what it means to be a Number Two on a TV show. What are the duties? How does she get into the mind of the Showrunner? Then ...
06.01.2023 Ep. 316: Novel Progress & You Do You Picketing Liz and Sarah have officially started writing their novel, and they’re gaining momentum. They have the first forty pages! Yes, it needs rewriting but they love where it’s going. In Hits & Bombs, they give a joint Hit to all ...
05.25.2023 Ep. 315: “Working” With Director Caroline Suh Liz and Sarah talk to director (and one of Liz’s best friends) Caroline Suh about “Working: What We Do All Day,” the gripping new documentary series she made with President Barack Obama. What do we need to be happy at ...
05.18.2023 Ep. 314: RIP FI & Strike Silver Linings Liz and Sarah discuss that sad news that Fantasy Island has been canceled. Why do they think it happened and how are they feeling about it? Then they reveal what they had planned for Season Three — including what was ...
05.11.2023 EP. 313: WGA Strike Talk With Negotiating Committee Member Nicole Yorkin Liz and Sarah discuss the WGA strike with their friend Nicole Yorkin, who is a member of the WGA Negotiating Committee. Why do writers view this moment in the business as existential? What is the AMPTP’s stance on AI? How ...
05.04.2023 Ep. 312: Spring Listener Questions Episode: Part Two Liz and Sarah answer more fantastic listener questions! Do they ever pay podcast guests? Why are television seasons fewer episodes than they used to be? How does Sarah being an only parent impact their team decision making? How do they ...
04.27.2023 Ep. 311: Spring Listener Questions: Part One Liz and Sarah are answering listener questions! Is Sarah still a vegan? What five things are they both hoping to accomplish before they retire? How do actors memorize their lines? What’s the silliest thing Liz and Sarah have every argued ...
04.20.2023 Ep. 310: Our New Development Motto: Premium Buttered Popcorn Liz and Sarah talk about the inspiration for their new team development motto — Premium Buttered Popcorn. In Take A Hike, they ask listeners to weigh in on whether their current state of not wanting to do anything (that involves ...
04.13.2023 Ep. 309: Finding The Words With Colin Campbell Liz and Sarah discuss the mental gymnastics of going down two possible roads at once as they try to prepare themselves for a possible WGA strike. Yes, they’re used to their future being uncertain, but this is on a whole ...
04.06.2023 Ep. 308: The Frustration Of Free Work & Why We Decided To Just Start Liz and Sarah discuss a topic that’s on their minds and the minds of so many TV writers — the frustration of free work. What can writers do to combat this problem? One solution— ask for transparency. In The Craft ...
03.30.2023 Ep. 307: Oh, What The Hell! As the TV business continues to rapidly evolve, Liz and Sarah have decided to embrace an “oh, what the hell” attitude when it comes to development. If they love a project and want to do it, they’re going to do ...
03.23.2023 Ep. 306: No Now Doesn’t Mean No Forever Liz and Sarah talk about how a recent conversation about a former development project reminded them that “no now doesn’t mean no forever.” In Take A Hike, Liz discusses why you might want to do your own version of her ...
03.16.2023 Ep. 305: Our Essential Tools & Put A Number On It Liz and Sarah share what tools they consider essential for their job as TV writers. On the list? Final Draft, Google Docs, dry erase board tiles, the reMarkable Tablet, and more. In A Day In The Life, they run through ...
03.09.2023 Ep. 304: Liz Vows To Be Positive (No Matter What) Liz tells Sarah she realized that she’s been going on endless rants about the state of TV writers in Hollywood — and she’s vowing to stop! From now on, Liz is going to be positive and try to manifest good ...
03.02.2023 Ep. 303: Why We Should All HUSSLUP Liz and Sarah talk to H Schuster about her plan to democratize and diversify access to the entertainment industry. The mission of H’s new company HUSSLUP is to transform Hollywood’s old clique with one click. Then, in The Mailroom, Liz ...
02.23.2023 Ep. 302: First Draft Difficulty & Setting Aside Worry Liz and Sarah are deep into the first draft of the pilot they’re writing — and discovering all over again how hard it is to write a pilot. Creating something out of nothing is never easy! In Take A Hike, ...
02.16.2023 Ep. 301: The Thrill (& And Terror) Of Being In Control As Liz and Sarah continue to work on the novel they plan to write, they realize that for once they’re in total control of their fate. That’s exciting — but also scary. There’s no one to blame but themselves if ...
02.09.2023 Ep. 300: Celebrating 300 Episodes! Liz and Sarah celebrate the 300th episode of Happier In Hollywood! What are some of listeners’ favorite moments of the podcast? Volunteers not recruits. Get to steppin’. Identify your personal canary in a coal mine. And so much more! For ...
02.02.2023 Ep. 299: The Excellence Of An Espresso Martini Liz and Sarah share an email from a listener that outlines the differences between writing a mystery and a thriller. One key takeaway? Curiosity fuels a mystery. Anxiety drives a thriller. Then they go Behind The Scenes of Episodes 203 ...
01.26.2023 Ep. 298: Liz & Sarah’s 20th Anniversary Trip (Finally!) Liz and Sarah are finally celebrating their 20th anniversary of being a writing team with a Caribbean cruise on the Regal Princess. Yes, they’re working onboard but they’re having plenty of fun too — including snorkeling over a shipwreck in ...
01.19.2023 Ep. 297: The Challenge Of Setting Our Own Deadlines Liz and Sarah are setting their own deadlines on a current project - and that can be a challenge for these two Obligers. How will they manage to stay on track? In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals how the recent ...
01.12.2023 Ep. 296: Back To Work & Behind The Scenes Liz and Sarah discuss what makes them feel like they’re back to work after a long break. For Liz, it’s getting on her treadmill desk. For Sarah, it’s setting an alarm. Then they go Behind The Scenes of Episode 201 ...
01.05.2023 Ep. 295: What Barbara Walters Meant To Us & New Year’s Resolutions Liz and Sarah pay tribute to the legendary Barbara Walters, whose career was an inspiration to both of them. Then they reveal their 2023 New Year’s resolutions. Liz is going to weigh herself every day. Sarah is making a 23 ...
12.29.2022 Ep. 294: Liz & Sarah’s Team Motto 2023! Liz and Sarah reveal (and explain) their Team Motto for 2023 — “Alt Ending Thelma & Louise!” They’re anticipating a difficult year but they’re in it together, just like ride or die pals Thelma and Louise. Then they revisit 2022 ...
12.22.2022 Ep. 293: They Got Dressed Up And Went! Recently, Liz and Sarah talked about how they were “all dressed up with no place to go” when a pitch meeting was cancelled last minute. Well, they got dressed and they went! Did they sell their pitch in the Zoom ...
12.15.2022 Ep. 292: The Perpetual Waiting Game As Liz and Sarah wait for news of a Season Three pickup of Fantasy Island, they discuss how in Hollywood there’s ALWAYS a wait. In HIH WFH (Happier In Hollywood Work From Home) they talk about why it’s a good ...
12.08.2022 Ep. 291: All Dressed Up & Freudenfraude Liz and Sarah discuss how they were all psyched up for a pitch meeting — and then it didn’t happen. The only consolation? Liz hadn’t paid for a blow out. In Take A Hike, they talk about the opposite of ...
12.01.2022 Ep. 290: The Note We Get And Give As Sarah and Liz hone a new pitch they realize that the note they often get is the same one that they always give — MORE EMOTION. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about how doing jigsaw puzzles is keeping ...
11.24.2022 Ep. 289: The 2022 Thanksgiving Episode! Liz and Sarah discuss what they’re grateful for— Sarah’s Ojai life is looking up, Liz has taken charge of her health, and their Fantasy Island cast is… well, a fantasy. In Take a Hike, Sarah shares her decision NOT to ...
11.17.2022 Ep. 288: Hurry Up And Wait! Liz and Sarah talk about how often they rush to meet a deadline — and then realize there was no rush at all. Then, in Take A Hike, they discuss how the realization that accepting can be easier than rejecting ...
11.10.2022 Ep. 287: Liz & Sarah’s 2022 Gift Guide! This week Liz and Sarah share their favorite holiday gift ideas for 2022 — cute AirPod cases, the Fermob Balad Lamp, the Click and Grow Smart Garden, a personalized vinyl record, Corkcicle coolers, and SO MANY MORE!!! Get in touch ...
11.03.2022 Ep. 286: The War Of Attrition (And Lessons From Leslie Jordan) Liz and Sarah mention “the war of attrition that is life in Los Angeles” every week in the Happier In Hollywood opener. This week they discuss why combating attrition feels harder than ever — and tactics for winning the battle. ...
10.27.2022 Ep. 285: Talking Transparency After a recent meeting, Liz and Sarah discuss the concept of transparency. How much is too much? And when do you know if it’s safe to be transparent at work? In Take A Hike, they examine the difference between “managing” ...
10.20.2022 Ep. 284: Reframing Work “Politics” As Work “Diplomacy” Liz and Sarah discuss their recent realization that they should reframe work “politics” as work “diplomacy.” In Take A Hike, they share insight from a member of the HIH Facebook group — sometimes you have to stand still and do ...
10.13.2022 Ep. 283: Fantasy Island Composer Genevieve Vincent Sings The Theme Song! Liz and Sarah discuss why sharing their expertise helped them hone in on their strengths and weaknesses as Showrunners. Then — do you love the Fantasy Island theme music as much as Liz and Sarah do? In Hollywood Jobs, they ...

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