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Every episode
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
30 episodes
Little Happier: Why NBA Star Jalen Brunson Values Persistence over Pyrotechnics
Ep 59902 · Aug 17, 2026 · 6 min
NBA star Jalen Brunson gives a surprising answer to the question, “What play best embodies this entire title run?” Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
More Happier: Take Better Care of Yourself—Treat Yourself Like a Toddler, Dog, Teenager, and Professor
Ep 59901 · Aug 15, 2026 · 33 min
We revisit one of our favorite happiness ideas: Treat Yourself Like a _____. Over the years, we've explored many variations on this theme, including treating yourself like a toddler, a dog, a teenager, and a professor. Sometimes it's easier to recognize what we need when we imagine we're taking care of someone else. Revisited Highlights: Episode 7: Treat Yourself Like a Toddler Episode 243: Treat Yourself Like a Dog Episode 438: Treat Yourself Like a Teenager Episode 467: Treat Yourself Like a P…
Ep. 599: Treat Your Home Like a Hotel, Plus a Common Relationship Blindspot
Ep 599 · Aug 12, 2026 · 33 min
Why you should treat your home like a hotel, and a common blindspot that can lead to unnecessary conflict. Plus a relationship hack. Episode highlights: Try This at Home: treat your home like a hotel—declutter, fix small annoyances, and add small touches of luxury. [03:10] Happiness Hack: A listener shares a tip on making helpful introductions [11:14] Happiness Stumbling Block: Are you arguing that you are “right,” when you’re really talking about preferences? [04:20] Demerits & Gold Stars…
Little Happier: Are You a Clutch Player or a Fast Starter?
Ep 59802 · Aug 10, 2026 · 4 min
Many players and teams struggle during clutch time—but not every player or team faces that challenge. Never assume that your problems are the same as other people’s. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
More Happier: Have You Ever Felt Anonymous? Plus a Lesson for Upholders
Ep 59801 · Aug 8, 2026 · 31 min
Gretchen shares a recent insight on feeling "anonymous" versus "present." We also discuss a lesson for Upholders and gift-worthy pop-up books. Episode Highlights Something Making Us Happier—Elizabeth's new Wordle streak milestone and Gretchen’s favorite pop-up books [00:36] I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You— Gretchen’s insight on feeling “anonymous” vs. “present.” And a lesson for Upholders [12:01] Spotlight on a Tool: Sign up for Gretchen’s Five Things newsletter! [12:44] Mentioned in This Episode…
Ep. 598: Spy on Your Own Habits, and Discover Your Empty-Nest Personality
Ep 598 · Aug 5, 2026 · 35 min
“Treat yourself like…a person of interest” and try a month-long “self-stakeout” to track your habits. We also share an easy way to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit in your head. Plus we discuss three broad categories of empty nesters. Episode highlights: Try This At Home— Do a "self-stakeout": Imagine you're a detective and tail yourself for a month. What will you find? [06:43] Happiness Hack— An easy trick for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit [12:08] Know Yourself Better: We discuss three "e…
Little Happier: Why People Don't Ride Horses If They Can Take a Bus
Ep 59702 · Aug 3, 2026 · 5 min
George Orwell’s observation about work performed by machines is very relevant to our discussions of AI. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
More Happier: Introduce Whimsy, Schedule a Personal Playdate, and Embrace Fun Plans
Ep 59701 · Aug 1, 2026 · 35 min
We revisit listener-favorite hacks for cultivating summer fun. If you want to make the most of the weeks ahead, these practical ideas can help you add more fun, adventure, and whimsy to everyday life. Revisited Highlights: Episode 146: Introduce a note of whimsy Episode 178: Schedule a weekly playdate with yourself Episode 98: Give yourself a quest Episode 477: Embrace fun plans Mentioned in This Episode: Share your Summer Recap in the Happier App Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon…
EP. 597: Celebrate "Dogust," Plus a Special Challenge for Upholders With Little Kids
Ep 597 · Jul 29, 2026 · 37 min
August is “Dogust,” so we talk about celebrating the dogs in our lives. Plus, we answer a listener question about our reading habits. Episode Highlights: Try This at Home: Celebrate "Dogust" with five easy ways to celebrate your dog [06:10] Four Tendencies Tip: We share strategies for helping a parent Upholder who is struggling to maintain her habits [15:23] Happiness Hack: Why a backpacking pack might be a better travel alternative to your roller bag [12:48] Listener Question: How do we get so…
Little Happier: Have You Ever Felt Like the Little Red Hen?
Ep 59602 · Jul 27, 2026 · 5 min
A classic children’s fable is very relevant to the work of adults. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
More Happier : Easing Painful Moments with Humor, Plus, Are Coasters Outdated?
Ep 59601 · Jul 25, 2026 · 24 min
A viral clip shows two NBA stars turning a painful mistake into a moment of friendship through humor. We also discuss a surprisingly divisive topic: coasters. Episode highlights: Something Making Us Happier: Running a mile in under 12 minutes, and weird soda flavors [00:41] I've Been Meaning to Tell You: How "joshing" and affectionate teasing helped two Knicks teammates reframe a painful playoff moment [03:57] Spotlight on a Tool: Sign up for my free newsletter for "Five Things to Try" [10:…
Ep. 596: How Do People Learn the Things Everyone Already Knows? Plus a Ladder Warning
Ep 596 · Jul 22, 2026 · 35 min
Listeners share the "everyone knows that" facts they learned the hard way and we share an important warning about falls. Episode highlights: Listener Follow-Up: Remember that even a small fall can lead to a big injury. [00:57] Lessons Learned the Hard Way—spare tires, elevator exit stars, gas tank arrows, and more [02:42] Try This at Home: We share listeners' examples of facts everyone else seemed to know--but they didn't. [15:05] Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s demerit: late to fill ou…
Little Happier: The Challenge of the “Help-Rejecting Complainer”
Ep 59502 · Jul 20, 2026 · 5 min
It’s very draining to deal with someone who complains and rejects any help that’s offered—but effective responses exist. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 de…
More Happier: Reading Hacks, Book Recommendations, and Finding Your Perfect Summer Read
Ep 59501 · Jul 18, 2026 · 35 min
We revisit a favorite Try This at Home tip for getting more reading done, share listener hacks for building a happier reading life, and discuss how to discover books you'll love. Plus: recommendations for fascinating books about how things work. Revisited Highlights: Try This at Home: Read More (episode 121) Happiness Hacks: Listener Question: How to Find Good Books to Read (episode 428) Listener Recommendations: Books on How Things Work (episode 481) Mentioned in This Episode: Tips for Reading…
Ep. 595: Always RSVP, & Why We Should Stop Over-delivering
Ep 595 · Jul 15, 2026 · 31 min
Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should always RSVP, and how to stop a simple gathering from, over time, becoming too much work. Episode Highlights: Try This at Home: Always RSVP — Why responding promptly (even with a "no") makes us a better guest [05:49] Happiness Hack: Try a bag organizer insert — A simple way to keep a carry-on, tote, or structureless bag tidy and travel-ready. [14:22] Happiness Stumbling Block: Presentation Creep — How over-delivering can gradually turn a casual get-tog…
Little Happier: Why the King Paid Just as Much for Three Books as He Would Have Paid for Nine
Ep 59402 · Jul 13, 2026 · 3 min
A haunting story from ancient Rome remains relevant to our lives today. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
Move Happier: Tips for Regular Exercise, How Walking Helps You Think, Plus Can Your Garden Be an Accountability Partner? (Bonus)
Ep 59403 · Jul 12, 2026 · 37 min
We discuss the biggest obstacles to moving more this summer with Sarah Fain from the “Happier in Hollywood” podcast, and share practical strategies for getting regular exercise. This special episode is part of the Move 26 in ‘26 challenge to help all of us find more ways to move every day. Try This at Home: Identify your biggest obstacle to movement — Figure out what's getting in the way of moving more, so you can find a solution that works for you. Deep Dive: Tips for getting regular exercise —…
More Happier: Design Your Summer & Why a Teammate's Touch Can Change an Outcome
Ep 59401 · Jul 11, 2026 · 32 min
Practical ways to build more play into your summer and the surprising research on how physical touch improves athletic performance. Design Your Summer check-in: How Gretchen and Liz are spending their summers: reading lists, doodling-sketching, and no worry! [08:25] Spotlight on a Tool:Daily Recess: Adults need unstructured play too. How to figure out what kind of recess actually works for you [18:45] The Science of Touch: Research shows that in basketball, physical touch from teammates reduces…
Ep. 594: Try Becoming a Fan, Plus Tips for Dealing with Travel Bores
Ep 594 · Jul 8, 2026 · 36 min
Becoming a fan—of sports or anything—can improve your happiness. We share listener tips for dealing with people who share every boring detail of their latest trip. Episode highlights: Try This at Home: Become a fan— Research shows that fandom reduces loneliness and gives your life more structure, connection, and ritual [04:37] Happiness Hack: Cross off the common denominator—When you're anxious about a decision, ask yourself: does this worry apply to every option? [14:45] Listener strategies for…
Little Happier: You Don’t Have to Be Good at Basketball to Be Good at Basketball
Ep 59302 · Jul 6, 2026 · 5 min
A star player for the NBA illustrates an important Secret of Adulthood: We don’t have to be good at something to be good at something. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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…
Do You Need More Comfort or Adventure? Plus More Tips for Designing Your Summer
Ep 59301 · Jul 4, 2026 · 31 min
We revisit some of our favorite hacks and tips for designing a happier summer, including why you might choose a summer song, how to think about comfort versus adventure, and practical hacks for making summer more memorable, manageable, and fun. Resources & links related to this episode: Start Designing Your Summer on the Tools page of the Happier app, or download the app here Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-sell…
Ep. 593: Ditch Your Storage Unit, Plus How to Start a New Tradition
Ep 593 · Jul 1, 2026 · 38 min
Stop renting space for stuff you've forgotten. Plus a simple framework for starting a new tradition. Try This at Home: Make a new tradition — Why creating a deliberate, recurring ritual can strengthen relationships and make scheduling easier. [03:24] Happiness Hack: Treat yourself like your own daughter — The latest in the “treat yourself like a___” series. [11:41] Happiness Stumbling Block: Your storage unit is costing you more than you think. [12:52] Listener Question: How do you set aside wor…
Little Happier: Why Winston Churchill Used Courteous Speech in a Letter About War
Ep 59202 · Jun 29, 2026 · 5 min
A letter from Churchill demonstrates the value of courtesy, even—or perhaps especially—at moments of highest battle. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 detail…
More Happier: Get Better at Socializing & Make the Most of “Halfway Day”
Ep 59201 · Jun 27, 2026 · 29 min
Why summer is the perfect time to revisit your goals for the year. Gretchen and Elizabeth share a hack for making socializing easier. Build Your Social Muscles: The more you socialize, the less mental energy it costs [00:39] Spotlight on a Tool: July 2nd is the halfway point of the year, so it’s a great time to revisit the goals and lists you made in January [18:24] I've Been Meaning to Ask You: We talk about happiness all the time. Does we ever get tired of thinking about how to be happier? [10…
Ep. 592: Reflect on “Halfway Day,” Plus How Abstainers Can Moderate
Ep 592 · Jun 24, 2026 · 39 min
We’re halfway through the year. Gretchen and Liz share how to treat July 2 as a built-in reset to reflect on what's working and what isn't. Try This at Home: Prepare for Halfway Day — Use “Halfway Day” on July 2 to review your aims for the year [05:48] Happiness Hack: Name Your Days of the Week — To make work easier, give a name to each day of the week [21:34] Listener Question: When Abstainers Try to Moderate — Can an abstainer occasionally indulge in moderation? [24:29] Question for Listeners:…
Little Happier: An Important Creativity Lesson from “Green Eggs and Ham”
Ep 59102 · Jun 22, 2026 · 4 min
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true: imagination is often sparked more by constraint than by freedom. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Halfway Day Check-In—Plus, How to Adjust Your Habits for Summer
Ep 59101 · Jun 20, 2026 · 30 min
We revisit a special audio episode from the “Habits for Happiness” course about adapting your habits for summer. With Halfway Day approaching on 7/2, it's a useful reminder that a small adjustment can help you get more out of the season and the second half of the year. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out the new Design Your Summer tool in the Happier app Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com. Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products…
Ep. 591: How to Fight Perfectionism—Plus a Simple Happiness Hack That Really Matters
Ep 591 · Jun 17, 2026 · 40 min
We discuss how perfectionism is driven not by high standards but by anxiety—and how embracing imperfection is a great way to overcome it. We also share an important reminder about hearing health and why it matters so much for our happiness and wellbeing. Resources & links related to this episode: Cass Aarssen—Clutterbug Life in Five Senses (Amazon, Bookshop) Check out the Don't Break the Chain Habit Tracker in The Happiness Project Shop Elizabeth: Rewilding by Jane Green (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretc…
Little Happier: A Valuable Lesson in Happiness from the 2014 London Tube Strike
Ep 59002 · Jun 15, 2026 · 4 min
Studies from commuter patterns after the 2014 London Underground Strike illustrate an important point: even when we resist change, it holds the possibility of making our lives better. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. Learn more about your a…
More Happier: Are People Socializing More? Plus, Things That Have Achieved Perfection
Ep 59001 · Jun 13, 2026 · 34 min
We explore familiar objects that have achieved perfection—from blue jeans to the perfume bottle—and which ones resonate with us most. We also explore whether people are socializing more since Covid, or if it's just to Elizabeth. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Check out my free newsletter, “5 Things Making Me Happy” Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin (Amazon, Bookshop) Everybody's Autobiography by Gertrude Stein (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com. Visit Gre…
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