Happier with Gretchen Rubin

By Gretchen Rubin / The Onward ProjectHealth & Fitness Education Self-Improvement

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Happier with Gretchen Rubin episodes

October 28Blockbuster Author Harlan Coben on Why Memory Is Partly Fiction
Ep. 610: Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author with over 100 million books in print and many hit TV adaptations, talks about his new book, Plot Twist, messy first drafts, how fiction is memoir, and the simple trick that leaves him with no excuses.

Episode highlights
Why bestselling novelist, Harlan Coben, wrote a memoir about the writing life, and how the process differed from his other books. [04:33]

“Fiction is memoir, and memoir is fiction.” [06:27]

Whether you want to pursue writing, sculpting, or painting, it’s never too late. [16:38]

Why characters don’t have to be likeable, and how “incremental ambition” helps you keep going. [32:00]

Listener questions (and Harlan Coben’s answers) about modern technology in plotting, working with Reese Witherspoon, and book cover art [22:12]
Mentioned in this Episode
Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben (Amazon, Bookshop)

Harlan Coben’s novels

Evaporated: Gone with the Gods podcast, about Japan’s “johatsu” (people who deliberately vanish)

NYT profile of Harlan Coben

Haruki Murakami and the baseball game where he decided to write a novel
Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

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37 min
October 26Little Happier: The Paradox at the Heart of the Open-Door Stage
I've come to see a great paradox at the heart of the "Open Door" stage: I want my daughters to know they're essential to my happiness, and also that my happiness doesn't depend on them.

Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

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4 min
October 24Use Daylight Savings to Rethink Your Morning Routine
A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and energy to your life.

Episode highlights
Get early morning light to reset your body clock (01:11)

Set a bedtime alarm (04:49)

Stop the morning snooze battle (09:42)

Build a rest ritual of 3-5 calming actions done before bed(22:38)
Mentioned in this Episode:
Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes (Amazon, Bookshop)

Better Than Before (Amazon, Bookshop)

Alarmy alarm clock app
Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31 min
October 21A Secret to Creativity? Cultivate a Magpie Mind
A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks.

Episode highlights:
Try This At Home: Cultivate a magpie mind [07:10]

Happiness Hack—Rename a chore to make it more appealing[16:00]

Know Yourself Better— How do you like to work? [26:00]

Demerits and Gold Stars: A sisterly trip to Dollywood [30:00]
Mentioned in this Episode:
Download the Creativity Bingo here

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Amazon, Bookshop)

SongTeller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton (Amazon, Bookshop)
Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
36 min
October 19Little Happier: A Superstar's Unforgettable Thank-You
I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work.

Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
October 18Exercise Tips from NPR’s LifeKit: Could Watching TV Actually Help You Get Moving?
For “Move Happier,” Gretchen talks with Marielle Segarra, host of NPR’s Life Kit, about ditching the all-or-nothing rule, making the most of everyday activities, and the importance of smell and lighting.

Episode highlights:
Reduce friction: set out your gear the night before [00:00]

The five-minute rule: tell yourself you only have to move for five minutes, and momentum carries you [00:00]

Strength training basics: bodyweight moves like air squats and wall push-ups, no equipment needed [00:00]

Why strength work matters for bone density, brain function, and joint health [00:00]

Mentioned in this Episode:
NPR Life Kit: How to move more this year, featuring Michelle Segarra and Katy Bowman

NPR Life Kit: It’s ok to run slow AF, featuring Martinus Evans

NPR Life Kit: Get into strength training

NPR Life Kit: How to stop procrastinating and start exercising

Move 26 in ‘26 resources
Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
33 min
October 17More Happier: Do you “Get to” or do you “Have to?”
We discuss the happiness of a trip with old friends, a way to reframe the task of taking our pills, and a surprising fact about GLP-1s.

Episode highlights
Something Making Us Happier—Say “I’ve made this plan, come if you can,” & reframe prescriptions as “I’m lucky to live when my health issues can be fixed,” not “I have to take lots of pills”[00:00]

I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: Perfume sales and GLP-1s[00:00]

Spotlight on a Tool—Find the full collection of Darker Secrets of Adulthood: Uncomfortable Truths for Our Complex Lives on Substack [00:00]
Mentioned in this Episode
NYT: “Rise of GLP-1s Leaves Food Industry Holding Party-Size Bag” [Insert Link]

Secrets of Adulthood (Gretchen’s Substack, including the Darker Secrets of Adulthood collection, Oct 21) [Insert Link]

Secrets of Adulthood book [Insert Link]
Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
October 14 Ep. 608: Have You Ever Regretted a Good Decision? (Temporarily)
A listener shares a Know Yourself Better discovery, Elizabeth reports on what she learned from her Summer of Off-White Delight, and a recommendation for a new daily game.

Episode highlights:
Try This at Home— Figure out your Tendency [02:10]
Happier Highlights— Elizabeth’s verdict on her Summer of Off-White Delight [15:34]
Know Yourself Better: Listener describes her “new-pet regret” [21:30]
Demerits and Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: skipping posture exercises; Gretchen’s Gold Star: sticky notes [23:39]

Mentioned in this Episode:
⁠Anthropeum, the daily Met art guessing game⁠
⁠Try the Happier app monthly jump-start challenge⁠ (this month: 7 quick wins to clear the decks)
Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen (⁠Amazon⁠, ⁠Bookshop⁠)
⁠Take the Four Tendencies quiz for free ⁠

Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]
Website: gretchenrubin.com
Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

⁠Learn more about Gretchen’s Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz.⁠

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. It helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
35 min
October 12Little Happier: What Seems Important Isn't Always What Is Important
Aphorisms are short, sharp, and easy to remember, and here are four surprising examples of one of my own: "What seems important isn't always what is important."

Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 min
October 10More Happier: Lean into Fall with the Five Senses
We revisit some of our favorite try-this-at-home tips for tapping into our five senses this fall. Some ideas might turn into new annual traditions; others might be fun for this year as a way to make the most of the season.

Episode Highlights:
Choose a signature color for little bursts of happiness [01:20]

Celebrate a minor holiday with a fast, low-effort breakfast [06:38]

Make a five senses portrait to notice what's familiar [11:10]

Organize a tasting for whiskey, tea, chocolate, or vanilla ice cream [22:56]

Collect gratitude leaves each Thanksgiving [24:07]

Mentioned in this Episode:
Better Than Before (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Happiness Project (Amazon, Bookshop)

Pantone color finder

Connect with Us:
Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31 min

About Happier with Gretchen Rubin

From the publisher's feed

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully.