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Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Panoply

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. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

Location:

United States

Networks:

Panoply

Description:

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. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

Language:

English


Episodes
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Jay Shetty on Pursuing What You Love, from IMO

4/3/2025
Sharing a new show from my friends at Higher Ground, called IMO. You know on Happier, Gretchen gives practical advice meant to uplift you, help you reach goals, and leave you feeling fulfilled. Similarly on IMO, Michelle Obama and her big brother Craig Robinson tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Each week, they’re joined by a guest, bringing candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you. In this episode, renowned life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to puzzle through a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. They ask: Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it? You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigHA See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:43:09

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Ep. 528: Improve Your Hedonic Forecasting, Hacks for Reading More, and Mystery Revealed (Name of New Dog)

4/2/2025
We explore the science of "hedonic forecasting"—our often-flawed ability to predict future happiness—and share strategies to make better life decisions. We debate the right approach to a “task cascade.” Plus, as part of #Read25in25, we discuss hacks for doing more reading. Finally, an answer to the burning question: What will my family name our new dog? Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodJoin me on book tourRead 25 in 25The Spy CoastAmazonBookshopSun CityAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:33:00

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Little Happier: A Secret Kept for Thousands of Years Inspires My Owns Secrets (of Adulthood)

3/31/2025
During my daily Metropolitan Museum visits, an ancient marble sculpture connected to the Eleusinian Mysteries—one of history's best-kept secrets—inspired me to start a major creative project, “Secrets of Adulthood.” Resources & links related to this episode: Life in Five SensesOuter Order, Inner CalmSecrets of Adulthood 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:03:58

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More Happier: Behind-the-Scenes Book Making, Secret Eating Habits, and Sisterly Memories

3/29/2025
We dive behind-the-scenes about the making of Gretchen’s new book, “Secrets of Adulthood,” discussing everything from cover design to audiobook creation. Plus we raise a new question in our continuing discussions about quirky eating. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of Adulthood organized this spring 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:25:29

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Ep. 527: What a Favorite Book Reveals, Photo Selection Tips & Family Secrets Explored

3/26/2025
We discuss how paying attention to the books, movies, or TV shows someone loves can provide profound insights into their character and inner life. Our happiness hack shares surprising research that shows we're actually terrible at choosing our own most flattering photos; strangers select better images of us than we do ourselves. Plus we talk to Rich Benjamin about his compelling new memoir, Talk to Me, in which he explores the history and secrets that have haunted his family. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodJoin me on book tourTalk to MeAmazonBookshopOuter Order, Inner CalmWar and PeaceAmazonBookshopCrushAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:37:22

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Little Happier: When Your Life Feels Like “Groundhog Day”: Movies That Capture Concepts

3/24/2025
Sometimes, the title of a movie manages to become shorthand for entire life situations—think "The Matrix," "Gaslight," and “The Devil Wears Prada.” Also, this collection illustrates my deep appreciation for the pleasure of examples. Resources & links related to this episode: More Happier episode 24 for 24 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:02:53

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More Happier: Friendship Roundtable: How to Make, Keep & Deepen Friendships

3/22/2025
First in a new discussion series on happiness: Friendship Roundtable. Joining me is a longtime friend, Laurie Santos, and a new friend, Reshma Saujani. We talk about how our friendships have changed over time, how to handle conflict, and how to make new friends in adulthood. Yale professor Laurie Santos is host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast. Reshma Saujani is founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First and host of the “My So-Called Midlife” podcast. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Four Tendencies Quiz 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:37:02

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Ep. 526: The Rule of More, a Fun Way to Clear Family Clutter & More Secrets of Adulthood

3/19/2025
We explore the powerful “Rule of More” that we can make our lives happier—or less happy. We share an easy yet highly effective hack for prompting the entire family to help clear clutter. Plus we share listeners’ excellent Secrets of Adulthood. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodJoin me on book tour"Read 25 in 25"products to get organizedSay Everything: A MemoirAmazonBookshopOrbitalAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:31:03

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Little Happier: The Villagers and the Crocodile: When We Assume That We’re Not Next

3/17/2025
In my version of a traditional teaching story, a village is terrorized by a crocodile. This story explores the dangers of dismissing threats to others while hoping that we’ll be spared. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:06:44

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More Happier: We Talk Money: Finances, Love, Conflict, Debt, and Self-Knowledge

3/15/2025
In a conversation with the brilliant and hilarious Ramit Sethi, we talk about “money for couples.” We discuss issues such as the four money types, how to handle conflict within a relationship, when to start talking about money when dating, red flags, and more. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Super-FanMoney for CouplesAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:36:07

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Ep. 525: Should I Get a Dog? Plus Using Podcasts to Get Tasks Done & Listener Insights

3/12/2025
We explore the big question of whether to get a dog, sharing results from our listener poll, research on how pets boost happiness, and hilarious "worst-case scenarios.” We share a hack for getting tasks done more quickly and pleasantly. Plus we feature a rich collection of listener insights on restaurant plate-rotating secrets, balance-building while tooth-brushing, how grief can lead to new friendships, and more. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodJoin me on book tourSide Hustle SchoolThe Library of CongressNational ArchivesA Little Happier: The Efforts that Allow a Grandmother's Love to Speak Across TimeCode Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War IIAmazonBookshopLegendbornAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:31:05

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Little Happier: A Truth About Human Nature, Illustrated by a Change in Basketball Rules

3/10/2025
Through my "Operation Knicks Knowledge" experiment, I've discovered that basketball rules evolve constantly—and one particular change reveals a profound truth about human nature. We manage what we monitor, and we encourage what we reward. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:02:46

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More Happier: Revisiting Everyone’s Favorite Moment: The Gift of the Ped Egg

3/8/2025
In honor of our tenth anniversary, we revisit a fan-favorite episode: The one where Elizabeth talks about giving a Ped Egg to her mother-in-law. Many listeners cited this segment as one of the all-time funniest discussions on the show. We also discuss Gretchen’s travel hack, the “Bowl of Requirement,” and our favorite wedding readings. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Collection of Wedding Readings 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:36:40

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Ep. 524 Use a Messy Closet, a 3-Hour Rule for Difficult People & Renowned Judy Blume on Reading

3/5/2025
We explore a helpful approach for handling important tasks that can’t be dealt with at present, by stashing them in the metaphorical "messy closet" without guilt. Our happiness hack offers expert advice for managing social situations with difficult people. We also feature a special interview with legendary author Judy Blume about fostering a love of reading, her experiences with book banning, and insights from owning an indie bookstore. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodJoin me on book tourFour Tendencies quizCode Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War IIAmazonBookshopStone Yard DevotionalAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:31:12

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Little Happier: A Military Pamphlet from WWII Reflects My Dream for the United States

3/3/2025
During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.” Its plain words, aimed at soldiers headed to France, captured my dream for America. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:05:06

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More Happier: Survivor Fantasy League, Gold Star for Teachers on the Subway & Reading Renaissance

3/1/2025
We share what's making us happier: Survivor Fantasy League and teachers herding middle schoolers on the subway. We discuss whether reading is having a cultural moment (we think so) and explore the differences between club soda, sparkling water, and seltzer. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Habits for Happiness quiz 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:24:22

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Ep. 523: Write Your Secrets of Adulthood, Magazine Happiness & Helping the (Obliger) Helper

2/26/2025
We explore the powerful practice of distilling your hard-earned observations into concise "Secrets of Adulthood,” such as "Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination" and "The more I write, the more I write." We also talk about the simple pleasure of physical magazines, and we tackle a complex Four Tendencies question about supporting an Obliger mother-in-law whose helpfulness contributed to her health problems. Resources and links related to this episode: A Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth--What Nebraska's and Oslo's Tourists KnowSecrets of AdulthoodNext NovelTake the Four Tendencies quizFruit of the Dead AmazonBookshopGive War and Peace a Chance: Tolstoyan Wisdom for Troubled TimesAmazonBookshop 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:31:53

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Little Happier: We All Have Our Luna Park: Places That Capture Our Imagination Forever

2/24/2025
Three distinct childhood memories—from an art-carnival creator, a food writer, and a horror master—illuminate how the “luna parks” of our childhoods can live in our imaginations for our entire lives. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:04:45

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More Happier: Very First Episode [Revisited]

2/22/2025
For our 10th anniversary, we’re revisiting our very first episode of Happier. We discuss how the “one-minute rule” contributes to outer order and inner calm, the difference between a satisficer and a maximizer, and the one-coin loophole. Plus, for the first time, we give ourselves Demerits and Gold Stars. Resources & Links Related to this episode: One Minute RuleAre you a satisficer or a maximizer?Better than Before 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:28:44

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Ep. 522: Tenth Anniversary! Best Try-This-At-Home Ideas, Happiness Hacks, and Highlights

2/19/2025
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the podcast, we highlight our favorite ideas, hacks, and moments from the last decade. Everything from the “one-minute rule” to “clear the decks” to “give yourself a derby name” to Elizabeth’s famous recommendation of the Ped Egg. Resources and links related to this episode: Secrets of AdulthoodBetter Than BeforeFollow the one-minute ruleObserve the family “update”colorscentpersonal symbolGo to the doctorCelebrate minor holidaysStart a side hustle“Identify your Happiness 911 song”Give yourself a “derby nameCreate a five-senses portraitOrganize trinketsOuter Order, Inner Calm bookPacking cubesShare a podcast episodeCloset-clearing montageCleaning Elizabeth's officeHacks for reading moreHacks for making entertaining easier and more fun Hacks for performanceThank-you note debate episodes 324326Object sacrificing itself“Unplugged Episode”Clear the Decks Sweep the Decks Deck the HallsVoice memos from EnglandPed Egg“Have you ever been upset by a well-intentioned gift?Happier in Hollywood podcastmerchandise10th Anniversary Celebration Sale the resources here 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:37:47