Happier with Gretchen Rubin

By Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Education

What's Happier with Gretchen Rubin about?

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. Part of the Panoply Network.

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Ep. 281: Start a Social-Iss...

07.08.2020

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 take a deep dive into the challenge of flaky friends, and put a spotlight on ...

Happier with Gretchen Rubin episodes:

07.08.2020 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. 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 take a deep dive into the challenge of flaky friends, and put a spotlight on ...
07.06.2020 Little Happier: Often, It’s the Small Gestures of Thoughtfulness that Make Us Feel Loved 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@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every ...
07.01.2020 Ep. 280: Very Special Episode: We Discuss Questions from Listeners about the Four Tendencies Personality Framework, and a Spotlight on Samantha Irby For this Very Special Episode, Elizabeth and I discuss listener questions related to my “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework of Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels—plus a spotlight on essayist Samantha Irby. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on ...
06.29.2020 Little Happier: Someone’s Casual Comment Can Show Us an Entirely New Path for Ourselves. Acclaimed writer Nnedi Okorafor describes how a friend’s casual comment redirected her life. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Order a copy of Gretchen’s ...
06.24.2020 Ep. 279: Halfway Through 2020: Check In with Your #20for2020 list and #Walk20in20—and a Spotlight on “Just Mercy.” The year 2020 is halfway over, so we check in with our “20 for 2020” lists and our “Walk 20 minutes in 2020” projects, and we talk about Bryan Stevenson’s brilliant memoir “Just Mercy.” Plus a hack for social-distancing. Get ...
06.22.2020 Little Happier: Illustrator Quentin Blake’s Use of Negative Space Is a Reminder of Its Possibilities. Illustrator Quentin Blake drew on the walls of a gallery exhibit—a great reminder that we shouldn’t overlook the possibilities of negative space. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show ...
06.17.2020 Ep. 278: Why We Should Do Something, and a Conversation with Sofy Solomon about Lessons from Safer-at-Home in a Childhood Bedroom--and How to Make Systems More Just. Why we should do something, a hack for measurement, and a conversation with Sofy Solomon about what we can learn about ourselves from spending time in our childhood bedrooms—and why we should treat our budgets as a moral document. Get ...
06.15.2020 Little Happier: We Really Don’t Have That Kind of Time. In this era of the coronavirus, I find myself thinking often about a passage from Anne Lamott’s book “Bird By Bird”—and reminding myself, “I really don’t have that kind of time.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch ...
06.10.2020 Ep. 277: Schedule an “Empower Hour,” a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Confiding Secrets, and a Spotlight on Writer Nnedi Okorafor Why you might schedule a weekly “empower hour,” how a dollar bill can come in handy, a spotlight on the writings of Nnedi Okorafor, and a revealing question about secrets. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on ...
06.08.2020 Little Happier: I Remind Myself: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature. A proverb from computer programmers can help us remember that sometimes, our limitations and weaknesses can also serve as our strengths. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes ...
06.03.2020 Ep. 276: Design Your Summer, Solutions to Create Sibling Harmony, and How Cornstarch Can Enliven a Boring Afternoon We discuss why you might design your summer, how you can use cornstarch for a fun, science-based activity, and review listeners’ solutions for creating harmony among siblings. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & ...
06.01.2020 Little Happier: Have You Ever Been So Impatient to Get to the End That You Couldn’t Start? Sometimes, we’re so eager for to reach the end that we can’t bear to start. It’s an irrational but real response. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes ...
05.27.2020 Ep. 275: Choose a Magic Number, How an Ironing Board Can Make Working from Home Easier, and a Pandemic-Time Question to Ask Yourself We discuss why you might want to choose a magic number, how an ironing board can help you work more comfortably from home, and explore a know-yourself-better question for pandemic times. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch ...
05.25.2020 Little Happier: Can You Call Spirits from the Vasty Deep? Sure, No Problem. A line from Shakespeare’s Henry IV summarizes a point that’s worth remembering: it’s not hard to put our words out into the world, it’s another thing to get a response. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on ...
05.20.2020 Ep. 274: Change Your Life When You’re Changing Your Life, Hacks for Sibling Harmony, and a Deep Dive into COVID-19 Mantras. We discuss why it’s often easier to change our lives when we’re changing our lives, we take a deep dive into COVID-19 mantras, and we discuss hacks for keeping harmony among siblings. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in ...
05.18.2020 Little Happier: This Nightly Ritual Gives Me the “New York City Feeling” During the Pandemic. I get my “America Feeling”— more specifically, my “New York City feeling”--every night at 7 p.m., when we all cheer and clap for the people working on the front lines of the pandemic. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get ...
05.13.2020 Ep. 273: Get Grounded in Your Body Through Your Senses, an Idea for a Quick, Inexpensive Gift, and a Conversation about Tough Times with Kate Bowler We discuss how we can feel calmer by getting grounded in our body, through our senses; we discuss a gift that’s easy, inexpensive, and thoughtful, and Kate Bowler joins us to talk about how to stay happier during these very ...
05.11.2020 Little Happier: My COVID-19 Song: “New York City, Lexington Avenue, Rush Hour.” As I stood in the middle of the unnaturally deserted Lexington Avenue at rush hour, I felt, “This is the moment when I should begin to sing.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & ...
05.06.2020 Ep. 272: Make a “Power Hour After” list, a Conversation about Parenting with Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz, and Elizabeth Talks about No Alcohol April. We talk about you might make a “Power Hour After list,” Dr. Elizabeth Schwarz joins us to talk about how to deal with common parenting challenges, and Elizabeth celebrates her completion of No Alcohol April. We have been nominated for ...
05.04.2020 Little Happier: What’s the Best Time to Plant a Tree? A famous proverb illustrates why now is the best time to start anything—because it’s the only time we can start anything. We have been nominated for a Webby Award. Please vote for "Happier with Gretchen Rubin" for here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2020/podcasts/general-series/health-wellness Get ...
04.29.2020 Ep. 271: Make Lists to Make Memories, an Easy Way to Make Zoom Meetings More Fun, and a Discussion about Meditation with Dan Harris of 10% Happier. We discuss why you might make lists to make memories, we talk about a fun, easy way to enliven Zoom meetings, and Dan Harris of 10% Happier explains how and why meditation can be helpful during these tough times. Get ...
04.27.2020 Little Happier: “I Love You as Much as the Salt in My Soup.” NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. This folk tale is a good reminder that it’s often the most ordinary ...
04.22.2020 Ep. 270: Very Special Episode with Advice for Graduates We asked listeners for advice for graduates: What’s the best advice you ever got? What advice do you give to others--or that you wish you could give to your younger self? Plus suggestions for marking the special day during the ...
04.20.2020 Little Happier: Michael Jordan Had a “Love of the Game” Clause NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. I love this example of an outstanding athlete staying true to his love ...
04.15.2020 Ep. 269: Choose a COVID-19 Mantra, a Fun Way to Celebrate These Difficult Days, and Casey Schwartz Talks about “Attention.” We discuss why you might pick a mantra for the COVID-19 situation, propose a fun way to celebrate while safe at home, and talk to Casey Schwartz about the challenge of paying attention. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get ...
04.13.2020 Little Happier: A Loud Noise Woke Me Up from a Sound Sleep in a Mississippi Hotel—and Made Me Very Happy. NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. The sound of a train racing across the countryside, deep in the night, ...
04.08.2020 Ep. 268: Limit Yourself to One Option, a Self-Care Solution, and Chris Guillebeau Talks about “The Money Tree” and Creating the Work Life We Want NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. We discuss why you might limit yourself to one option, we highlight a listener’s brilliant ...
04.06.2020 Little Happier: How Do You Write a Letter of Recommendation for Someone You Can’t Honestly Recommend? NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. When he was asked to write an informational letter about a difficult boss, ...
04.01.2020 Ep. 267: Write a Letter of Congratulations to Your Future-Self, Solutions to School Spirit T-Shirt Overload, and Why I Should Check My Calendar NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. We discuss why writing a letter of congratulations to your future-self can help you stick ...
03.30.2020 Little Happier: An Episode from the Life of Dr. Johnson Reminds Me to Do a Better Job of Staying Calm. NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. I was deeply moved by composure shown by Dr. Johnson in such a ...
03.25.2020 Ep. 266: Beware the Myths of Spring Cleaning, Rusty O’Kelley Explains How to Ace a Job Interview, and a Reminder about REAL ID . NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. How to do spring cleaning more effectively, a reminder about REAL ID, and a conversation ...
03.23.2020 Little Happier: A Dog’s Pleasure Can Remind Us All of the Joy of the Snow. NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it may be jarring to hear me ignore it—and that’s why. What a wonderful phrase! The joy of the snow. It’s not always easy ...
03.18.2020 Ep. 265: Give a Sensorium Gift, a Deep Dive into Suggestions to #Walk20in20, and a Conversation Hack NOTE: These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 situation took hold. Given the rapidly changing situation, it’s jarring to hear us ignore it—and that’s why. Why you should give a “Sensorium Gift” and how to create one, a deep dive ...
03.16.2020 Little Happier: The Joy of Listening to Music—Even for Someone Like Me. I’m thrilled that the copyright laws mean that now I’m able to play this beautiful song—George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”—for listeners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes ...
03.15.2020 Bonus: Coping During COVID-19: How to Stay Happier and Calmer in Difficult Times In this time of COVID-19, we’re all feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty. To stay calmer and happier, we discuss why you might keep some kind of journal during this period, and why you might create a three-tiered plan for ...
03.11.2020 Ep. 264: Keep a Stress Diary, Stop Rinsing Dirty Dishes, and Jordan Harbinger Explains How to Network Better Why you might keep a stress diary, why you can stop rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and podcaster Jordan Harbinger explains how to network better. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin ...
03.09.2020 Little Happier: Why We Should Be Polite to the Person Sitting Next to Us on the Airplane. A story about Dick Bass and Neil Armstrong was a great illustration of an aphorism I wrote recently: Modestly and good manners can save us from a lot of embarrassment. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on ...
03.04.2020 Ep. 263: What’s Your “Guiding Question,” a Twist on “20 for 20,” and Bestselling Author Dan Heath Talks about a Better Way to Solve Problems. Ask yourself, “What’s my guiding question?” an interesting twist on a “20 for 20” list, and we talk to bestselling author about his new book “Upstream.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft ...
03.02.2020 Little Happier: “I Remember Feeling the Warm Relief of Knowing What My Future Was.” This story from the life of the brilliant ad executive Mary Wells Lawrence is a great example of the fact that to discover the work that’s right for us, and to be able to pursue it, is one of the ...
02.28.2020 BONUS Episode: To Celebrate Our Fifth Anniversary, A Blast from the Past! Listen to Our Very First Episode. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the “Happier” podcast, we’re presenting our very first episode, along with some commentary from us about everything that’s happened and what we’ve learned since that episode aired. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get ...
02.26.2020 Ep. 262: Fifth Anniversary Extravaganza! Our Favorite Moments from the Past Five Years To celebrate Happier’s fifth anniversary, we look back on some of our favorite try-this-at-homes, big milestones, and funniest moments. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email ...
02.24.2020 Little Happier: How Did This Stockbroker Make So Many Accurate Predictions? Learning about a clever and successful financial scam reminded me of how hard it is to know what I don’t know. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes ...
02.19.2020 Ep. 261: Improve Your Posture, a New Way to Celebrate Birthdays, and Tackling T-Shirt Troubles I explain the back exercises we do to improve posture, a listener suggests a great way for an introvert to celebrate a milestone birthday, and we discuss the question, “Do you relax better at home or away?” Get in touch: ...
02.17.2020 Little Happier: What’s Inconvenient for You Might Be Convenient for Me A friend’s remark reminded me that even when we’re coming together, we’re all coming from different places. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Order ...
02.12.2020 Ep. 260: In Honor of Valentine’s Day, Listeners Give Their Best Relationship Advice For our Very Special Episode, we asked listeners for their best advice about strengthening relationships, and we talked to Lori Gottlieb, author of the bestseller “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch ...
02.10.2020 Little Happier: Why Pickpockets Benefit from Signs that Warn “Beware of Pickpockets.” Beware of unintended consequences! Pickpockets use “Beware of Pickpockets” signs to pickpocket more effectively. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Order a copy of ...
02.05.2020 Ep. 259: Happier Podcast Book Club: Adrienne Brodeur Talks About “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me” For the Happier Podcast Book Club, we talk to Adrienne Brodeur about her page-turning memoir, “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast ...
02.03.2020 Little Happier: Teacher Anne Sullivan Writes About Hellen Keller’s Moment of Profound Realization In her 1887 letter, teacher Anne Sullivan recounts the moment when Helen Keller understood the secret of language. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter ...
01.29.2020 Ep. 258: Try the “Pair & Share” Approach and a Conversation with “Yoga Girl” Rachel Brathen Try the “Pair & Share” approach to have more fun while getting some exercise, a quick hack for making it easier to do unpleasant tasks, and an interview with “Yoga Girl” Rachel Brathen about happiness. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; ...
01.27.2020 Little Happier: Helen Keller Tells the Story of the Moment Her Life Changed. Hellen Keller recounts the story of the extraordinary moment when she learned the meaning of “w-a-t-e-r.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Order a ...

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