When Queen Elizabeth II encountered some friendly but clueless American tourists, she revealed her prankish sense of humor.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard to keep an exercise habit, even when we want to? We discuss what the Four Tendencies reveals about finding the approach that works for you—and the single strategy that almost anyone can use to make exercise stick. Spoiler: it's not motivation.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk about the value of self-knowledge and explore some of our favorite online personality quizzes and assessments. We also share listeners’ suggestions for staying warm, and tackle an Upholder’s question about why her Tendency isn’t helping her stop doomscrolling.

Resources & links related to this episode:

• Read about the Four Tendencies personality framework and take the quiz
• Check out the Know Yourself Better journal collection 
• Join me on My Color Pilgrimage on Substack 
• Elizabeth is reading: You Better Believe I’m Going to Talk About It by Lisa Rinna (Amazon, Bookshop) 
• Gretchen is reading: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there anything special about human beings? A long list of characteristics—some obvious, some surprising—sets humans apart from other creatures. (Who knew that having a chin was so unusual?)

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the Move 26 in ’26 Challenge, we’re sharing a bonus episode designed to pair with your 26 minutes of daily movement.

In this episode, I talk with writer Ben Markovits about his acclaimed new novel, “The Rest of Our Lives” (available at bit.ly/4lbfDTq). The novel follows the journey and reflections of a father who is driving his daughter to college—and then keeps going.

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the fact that when we extend ourselves—when we put ourselves out into the world—we can expect sometimes to feel awkward, remorseful, or frustrated. We also talk about some funny mix-ups that passed unnoticed for years.

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

Resources & links related to this episode:

• Find all the tools you need to design your year 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We reflect on No-Spend February—what we didn’t buy, what we did buy, and what we learned. We also share a hack for successfully mixing friendship and business, and talk about how to spot a sneaky social-media practice that can distort our perception of the world.

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

Resources & links related to this episode:

• Subscribe to Lemonada Premium here
• Find my No-Spend Guide here
• Check out the new Bingo Book and Don't Break the Chain Habit Tracker 
• Elizabeth is reading: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Amazon, Bookshop) 
• Gretchen is reading: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seeing my beloved father as a patient in the hospital reminded me of looking at class photos of young children. Among a sea of faces, it’s my love that makes one face stand out from the anonymous crowd.

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people have no trouble meeting expectations for others but struggle to follow through on what they want for themselves. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We revisit the Four Tendencies to explore the three biggest challenges Obligers face—shame, exploitation, and rebellion—and what actually helps.

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

Resources & links related to this episode:

• To identify your Tendency, take the free quiz at gretchenrubin.com/quiz.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Struggling to make progress on a habit? This episode offers a different approach—get a 14-day free trial of Activations (plus a big discount) at activations.com/happier.

Determination Day, February 28, is a useful time to take stock of your progress (or lack of it) on any change you’re trying to make. In this bonus episode, we talk with Mimi Bouchard, creator of the Activations app, about a practical, science-backed way to adjust your approach when progress feels harder than expected.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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

Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a special discount to the Activations app at activations.com/happier. These guided audios are designed to help you feel motivated, confident, and in charge of your life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.