Highly Recommended

Host Michelle Rubin explains why the podcast is taking a bit of a hiatus. Plus a soothing reco for these trying times!

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Email me at [email protected].

Recos & Related Episodes

Prose Pre-Shampoo Scalp Mask

Olive & June Mani System

Headspace

54: Reco Redux

27: The Planner

Finish out 2020 with a look back on our favorite recommendations for happiness resources, life hacks and television binge opportunities from this year's episodes.

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Email me at [email protected].

Recos & Related Episodes

Happiness resources (2:12)

The Happiness Lab 2:41

46: Get Out of Your Own Way

Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat (7:32)

53: Let's Talk About Racism

Life hacks (9:43)

Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Is So Much More by Courtney Carver (10:24)

49: Care Package

Rotating meal schedules (18:11)

52: State of the Union

Velour jumpsuit movement (29:07)

57: Welcome to the Anxiety Club

TV binge opportunities (36:46)

McMillions (38:23)

48: A Bevy of Binge Options

Never Have I Ever (41:58)

Ted Lasso (47:55)

Forget resolutions. This year, make goals. Jenifer Linder and Michelle Rubin share their tips for personal goal planning and adjusting for life changes—and pandemics. Plus recos for what's making them happy in these troubled times.

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Angus Eye Tea podcast

Conversation

How this year's plans went (10:35)

How having a plan for the year helped when the unexpected happened (13:35)

Just showing up was enough this year (16:33)

Taking baby steps helps you move forward (22:55)

How this year can help us clarify what we want (25:19)

The importance of writing down goals and displaying them (30:11)

How the pandemic will affect our 2021 goals (39:21)

Reco Squad downloadable: The Annual Manual (43:23)

Recos

The Comfy (47:28)

Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty (51:48)

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (58:03)

The Daily Dish Podcast

Related Episodes

61: Gratitude as a Superpower

58: Tales from Junior High

57: Welcome to the Anxiety Club

52: State of the Union

49: Care Package

41: 10 Years' Time

Looking for a strategy for coping with 2020? Have you tried escapism? Steve Scheideman and Michelle Rubin share three recent favorite movies that almost helped them forget the stresses of this year.

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Leave me a message on SpeakPipe!

Recos

Greyhound (8:35)

Uncle Frank (17:28)

Superintelligence (23:28)

Movies Premiering on Dec. 25

Wonder Woman 1984

Soul

Related Episodes

61: Gratitude as a Superpower

59: And We're Back

55: The Time Loop That Is 2020

Struggling to find gratitude? Just in time for Thanksgiving, guest Terri Hale shares how to cultivate a greater sense of gratitude—even during challenging times.

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Conversation

Terri's daily gratitude project (7:10)

The role of accountability (9:38)

How it helps her feel connected (11:38)

Looking for gratitude in the the things that frustrate you (13:12)

How gratitude changes your perspective (18:23)

Gratitude as a mindfulness tactic (25:47)

Advice for those struggling to find gratitude right now (30:01)

Advice for those who want to start their own gratitude project (33:26)

Resources

The original Wall Street Journal article that inspired Terri's daily gratitude project (here's a version posted on a blog if you don't have a subscription)

A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life by John Kralik

Choosing Gratitude by James Autry

Thanks!:How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert Emmons

Look Up, Your Unexpected Guide to Good by Jan Sokoloff Harness

Recos

Jackbox Games (39:04)

The Game of Things Consumer Reports Ratings App (46:06)

Storyworth (51:03)

Related Episodes

57: Welcome to the Anxiety Club

54: Reco Redux

50: The Upside of the Worst Month of My Life

Trying to figure out your holiday plans this year? You're not alone. Michelle Rubin shares her guide for how to safely and creatively celebrate the holidays in these unprecedented times.

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Recos & Resources

CDC Holiday Guide (4:20)

CDC Thanksgiving Guidelines

Online Experiences by AirBNB (7:53)

'True Vs. False' Funny Historical Game

Fun Travel Quiz With a Pro Travel Writer

Meal exchange ideas (New York Times article) (13:45)

Goldbelly (15:27)

Virtual game night (19:23)

The Game Gal Word Generator (to play Catchphrase online)

Code Names

Jackbox Games

Gathering in person safely (21:47)

"Innovative Holiday and Winter Gatherings in the Time of COZID–19," Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Pods and social bubbles (22:58)

Sample pod agreement

Thinking about the holidays differently (25:57)

Related Episodes

57: Welcome to the Anxiety Club

50: The Upside of the Worst Month of My Life

40: My Holiday Survival Guide

Michelle Rubin returns from hiatus with occasional co-host Steve Scheideman in tow to share their latest geeky obsessions, including Song Exploder and Airtable.

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Recos

Song Exploder (4:52)

Airtable (12:36)

Informed Delivery by USPS (21:00)

Related Episodes

55: The Time Loop That Is 2020

54: Reco Redux

31: The Griller

Junior high is hard enough without adding a pandemic on top of it. In this episode, host Michelle Rubin talks with her niece, Reece Rubin, who has some great recommendations for trying to find some normalcy in the midst of a pandemic.

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Conversation

Going back to school (10:14)

Navigating the new rules and procedures (18:04)

Socializing during a pandemic (19:40)

How her parents are coping (28:18)

What's helping her cope (29:27)

How running cross country helps her socialize (34:20)

Outlook on trying new things (40:03)

Recos

Drop 7 (32:24)

Sing to Me Instead by Ben Platt (46:31)

Ben Platt: Live From Radio City Music Hall

One Last Forking Table Read (The Good Place) (52:00)

Related Episodes

57: Welcome to the Anxiety Club

49: Care Package

45: Marathon Woman

Are you dealing with anxiety? On this week's episode, podcaster Elaine Best shares the story of how she came to realize she might have an anxiety disorder — and then started a comedy podcast about it. Plus: the magic of velour.

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Listen to Elaine's podcast, Angus Eye Tea.

Conversation

Why Elaine decided to podcast about anxiety (9:32)

The story behind the name "Angus Eye Tea" (13:02)

How she came to realize she was dealing with anxiety (16:00)

You don't have to "qualify" to be anxious (18:41)

How she learned to deal with her anxiety (25:28)

Elaine's rubber band theory of anxiety (30:47)

Dealing with anxiety in 2020 (32:37)

Recommendations for people who have recently been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (51:15)

Recos

Bollywood movies (1:00:57)

Imran Khan

I Hate Luv Storys

Bride and Prejudice

Ghost World

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Don't Ask Tig (1:07:37)

Black Frasier

Velour jumpsuits (1:12:47)

Related Episodes

53: Let's Talk About Racism

50: The Upside of the Worst Month of My Life

43: Tales From a Mixed-Orientation Marriage

Connect with Elaine

Instagram: @anguseyetea

Twitter: @AngusEyeTea

Pinterest: Angus Eye Tea

Are you a student of enneagram? Or just want to understand those enneagram references on your Instagram feed? Polly Maly joins Michelle Rubin to talk about her enneagram obsession, type and favorite resources and how it helps her understand her family better. Plus: Crafty recos!

Join the Reco Squad.

Conversation

How Polly became interested in enneagrams (6:38)

The Enneagram Institute Test (8:42)

Our types (10:22)

Enneagram wings (19:24)

Better understanding yourself through your type (28:04)

Better understanding your partner and children (33:04)

Polly's recommendation for others (39:46)

Your Enneagram Coach

Recos

• Enneagram resources (43:12)
  • The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
  • The Enneagram Journey podcast
  • Enneagram and Coffee on Instagram
  • Ashton.Creates on Instagram
  • Jamie Gordon Life Coaching on Instagram

• Positivity Passport (46:44)
• Annie's Crochet of the Month Kit (52:03)

Related Episodes

51: So You Want to Write a Book

46: Get Out of Your Own Way

10: The Gift Curator