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 Cadence13 Network.
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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More Happier: A Great Icebreaker Question, a Startling Realization About Where We Live, and How to Know When Work Is an Escape
22:53
22:53
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We talk about a fun, thought-provoking question to pose when we’re trying to make conversation, we discuss an astonishing fact about where we each live, and share a useful framework to decide whether we’re taking refuge in work when we should be dealing with the challenges of personal life. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social m…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 431: Design Your Summer, an Easy Hack to Have More Fun with Food, and a Talk on the Joy of Dressing
36:17
36:17
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As we do each year, we consider how we plan to design our summer. We also discuss a hack from a food-scientist listener about an easy way to have more fun with the sense of taste, and we talk to Sarah LaFleur, founder and CEO of M.M.LaFleur, about the pleasures of clothes. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRub…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: Which of the Five Senses Do People Most Often Neglect? The Answer Is Surprising.
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5:06
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Tens of thousands of people have now taken the “What’s Your Neglected Sense?” quiz. The results are unexpected. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin’s …
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 430: Very Special Episode: Hacks, Hacks, and More Hacks for Making Entertaining Easier and More Fun
34:36
34:36
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For this Very Special Episode, we discuss dozens of hacks for entertaining, suggested by listeners and ourselves. We have suggestions and tips for making tasks easier, lowering the bar, doing preparations efficiently, and generally having more fun. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRu…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: Two Staircases in the Metropolitan Museum Illustrate a Profound Truth
4:04
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During my daily visits to the Metropolitan Museum, I noticed something about staircases that underscored a truth I already knew: the same experience can be drastically changed by design, and even a subtle difference can have a dramatic consequence. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRu…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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More Happier: Elizabeth Talks About Being on Strike as a TV Writer and Reveals Her New Philosophy of Life
25:20
25:20
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Elizabeth talks about the experience of being on strike as a Hollywood TV writer (and, relatedly, working on her new novel), and she also reveals her new insight about how she wants to live her life. Plus we discuss people’s enthusiastic responses to the “What’s Your Neglected Sense?” quiz. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social m…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 429: Try the Strategy of Unpairing, an Easy Travel/Exercise Hack, and When to Push Out of a Comfort Zone
33:27
33:27
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We talk about why and how we should try the Strategy of Unpairing when trying to change a habit. We also discuss an easy way to get more exercise while traveling, and how to know when to accept ourselves—and when to expect more from ourselves. Plus a listener asks for suggestions for dealing more effectively with a Rebel father who resists help. Ge…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: “What Famous Person Was Born on My Birthday?” “You Were.”
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2:30
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A conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made me realize: it must be very odd to be a historic figure. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretc…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Bonus! Hear an Excerpt from Gretchen Rubin’s New Book “Life in Five Senses.”
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As a thank-you to “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” listeners, this bonus episode features an excerpt from the audiobook of Gretchen Rubin’s new book, “Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World.” Narrated by Gretchen Rubin. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on You…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 428: Be a Source of Opportunity, Find Good Books to Read, and How to Cope with Difficult Family Dogs
30:26
30:26
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We talk about how and why we should try to be a source of opportunity for others. We also discuss listeners’ suggestions for how to deal with family members who won’t control their dogs, as well how we get recommendations for books to read. Plus we suggest new dates for the Calendar of Catalysts which are based on the five senses. Get in touch: pod…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: Am I Looking for My Wallet Where the Light Is Good, or Where I Dropped It?
3:05
3:05
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An old joke illustrates an important truth: When we’re searching for a solution, it’s often tempting to look where we can see more clearly, rather than to look to look into obscurity—even if it’s more likely that we’ll find our answer there. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on …
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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More Happier: Hiking and Clutter-Clearing in L.A., a Secret of Great TV, and Personal Upgrades.
23:10
23:10
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During our recent time together in Los Angeles, we did many things that made us happy: hike, clear Elizabeth’s office, and drink lots of coffee. We also talk about a little-discussed explanation for why “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” and “Mad Men” are such enjoyable TV shows, and about the ripple effect of a personal upgrade. Get in touch: pod…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 427: Do the Thing You’re Encouraging Someone Else to Do, a Networking Hack, and Finisher vs. Opener
29:32
29:32
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We talk about why, when we’re encouraging someone else to do something, we should consider doing it ourselves. We also discuss a hack to make networking easier, as well as the helpful know-yourself-better question: “Are you a finisher or an opener?” Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenR…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Corgis Show That We Can Interpret the Same Situation in Different Ways
3:44
3:44
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A story about Queen Elizabeth II and her offer to feed her corgis illustrates how the same situation can be interpreted in different ways. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/show…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 426: Tackle a Project by Considering the Five Senses, Enjoy More Luxury, and Hold Better Meetings
34:39
34:39
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We talk about why it’s useful to consider the five senses as we’re tackling a project or challenge—it’s a way to boost creativity and unlock ideas. We also discuss how we can heighten our appreciation for our five senses by using our non-dominant hand and by asking the know-yourself-better question, “What is luxury?” Get in touch: podcast@gretchenr…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: A Place from Childhood Haunts Stephen King’s Imagination
3:24
3:24
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In his terrific book On Writing, Stephen King recounts how a certain place from his childhood recurs repeatedly in his fiction, under different names. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happierc…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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More Happier: How to Manage the Stress of Having a Book About to Hit the Shelves: Personal Mantras & Hacks
31:12
31:12
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31:12
Because the book “Life in Five Senses” is just a few days away from being published, we talk about ways to deal with the anxiety of putting a big piece of work out into the world—personal mantras, hacks, and strategies. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin …
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep: 425: Use Touch When Talk Is Tough, Close Your Eyes in a Dressing Room, and Answers for Questioners
32:32
32:32
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We discuss why it’s helpful to touch someone during a tough conversation (if appropriate, of course). We mention why closing your eyes in a store dressing room can make it easier to make good buying decisions, and we take a deep dive into listeners’ answers to two common questions from Questioners. We also raise a listener question: “My relatives w…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: How Teachers Changed the Lives of Steve Carrell and Adrienne Kennedy
3:20
3:20
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For actor Steve Carrell (Michael from “The Office) and playwright Adrienne Kennedy, the influence of a childhood teacher shaped their lives. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft on Instagram Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happie…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 424: "Taste It by 25," Ways to Make Networking Easier, and Why 4/10 Is a Day to Consider Your Tendency
36:11
36:11
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We talk about why it’s a good idea to taste a new food, or listen to a new kind of music, before the age of 25. We also discuss why the date of April 10 makes a good catalyst to think about harnessing the Four Tendencies, and executive coach Michael Melcher describes many practical ways to make networking easier—and why it matters. Get in touch: po…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: Why Did a Neighbor Object to a Brownstone’s Bright Yellow Door?
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2:11
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A neighbor asked, “Why would you paint your door such an ugly color?” as if everyone would agree that a particular color was objectively ugly. It can be helpful to remember that our preferences don’t reflect an objective truth. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @Gretch…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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More Happier: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Makes Us Happier, Good Tools Make Spring Cleaning Fun—Plus, Quiz
25:13
25:13
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25:13
We talk about why Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback from our hometown football team, is making us happier with his initiative to encourage children to read every day. We also discuss whether spring actually makes us feel like doing spring cleaning, and how fun tools can making clutter-clearing more enjoyable. Plus, we talk about audience enthus…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 423: Indulge in a Nostalgia Smell, Try One of These April Fool’s Day Pranks, and an Easy Way to Stop Snacking
37:40
37:40
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37:40
We talk about why you might indulge in a “nostalgia smell,” share listeners’ suggestions for simple, fun April Fool’s Day pranks, and discuss an easy way to resist the temptation of snacking. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft on Instagram Get…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Little Happier: The Same People Are Always Late, and the Same People Are Always on Time
2:44
2:44
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My weight-training instructor observed, “The same people are always late, and others are always on time.” Even though they’re experiencing the same traffic, the same weather, and the same usual challenges of everyday life. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRub…
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Happier with Gretchen Rubin


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Ep. 422: Create an Audio Apothecary, Questioners Don’t Like to Answer Questions—and a Terrific New Quiz!
33:45
33:45
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We talk about why and how we might create our own “Audio Apothecary” to help us evoke certain moods. We also discuss a handy pronunciation hack, and two Questioners ask how a Questioner can handle the annoyance of being peppered with questions or being told to follow arbitrary rules. Plus a big announcement! The launch of a great new know-yourself-…
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