Podcasts · Health & Fitness · Education

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

300 episodes

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.

More about the show

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

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Little Happier: The Paradox at the Heart of the Open-Door Stage

    · 3:01 · Episode 60902

    I've come to see a great paradox at the heart of the "Open Door" stage: I want my daughters to know they're essential to my happiness, and also that my happiness doesn't depend on them. Connect with Us: • Email:…

  2. Use Daylight Savings to Rethink Your Morning Routine

    · 31 min · Episode 60901

    A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and energy to your life. Episode highlights • Get…

  3. A Secret to Creativity? Cultivate a Magpie Mind

    · 36 min · Episode 609

    A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks. Episode highlights: • Try This At Home: Cultivate a magpie mind [07:10] • Happiness Hack—Rename a…

  4. Little Happier: A Superstar's Unforgettable Thank-You

    · 3:38 · Episode 60802 · Explicit

    I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com •…

  5. Exercise Tips from NPR’s LifeKit: Could Watching TV Actually Help You Get Moving?

    · 33 min · Episode 60803 · Bonus

    For “Move Happier,” Gretchen talks with Marielle Segarra, host of NPR’s Life Kit, about ditching the all-or-nothing rule, making the most of everyday activities, and the importance of smell and lighting. Episode…

  6. More Happier: Do you “Get to” or do you “Have to?”

    · 29 min · Episode 60801

    We discuss the happiness of a trip with old friends, a way to reframe the task of taking our pills, and a surprising fact about GLP-1s. Episode highlights • Something Making Us Happier—Say “I’ve made this plan, come…

  7. Ep. 608: Have You Ever Regretted a Good Decision? (Temporarily)

    · 35 min · Episode 608

    A listener shares a Know Yourself Better discovery, Elizabeth reports on what she learned from her Summer of Off-White Delight, and a recommendation for a new daily game. Episode highlights: Try This at Home— Figure…

  8. Little Happier: What Seems Important Isn't Always What Is Important

    · 4:45 · Episode 60702

    Aphorisms are short, sharp, and easy to remember, and here are four surprising examples of one of my own: "What seems important isn't always what is important." Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com •…

  9. More Happier: Lean into Fall with the Five Senses

    · 31 min · Episode 60701

    We revisit some of our favorite try-this-at-home tips for tapping into our five senses this fall. Some ideas might turn into new annual traditions; others might be fun for this year as a way to make the most of the…

  10. Ep. 607: Do You Love Whimsy? Celebrate a New Holiday with Us

    · 34 min · Episode 607

    We discuss how we’re using whimsy to find the right date to celebrate our “How do we learn what everyone knows?” day, and listeners share their brilliant tips for elevating your home and how to stop working against…

  11. Little Happier: A New Moral for An Old Fable

    · 5:10 · Episode 60602

    I've always loved Aesop's fables, but I've come to think the accepted morals don't always fit the stories. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com • Website: gretchenrubin.com • Instagram:…

  12. More Happier: Embrace a Party Theme, Plus a Lesson About How to Fight Right

    · 30 min · Episode 60601

    Turn party-planning stress into fun with a theme, and why one person downplaying can lead the other to overreact. Episode highlights: • Something Making Us Happier: Embrace a party theme. [00:40] • I’ve Been…

  13. Ep. 606: What We Learned from “Do-Spend September,” Plus What’s Safe in the Microwave & Try a Day Pass

    · 33 min · Episode 606

    Here’s what we learned from our own Do-Spend September, and how to get a luxury-resort experience for a fraction of the cost. Plus: really, what can go in a microwave? Episode highlights: • Try This at Home— Reflect…

  14. Little Happier: Dolly Parton Always Knew Just What to Say

    · 4:04 · Episode 60502

    Remembering the gracious words Dolly Parton used to decline a statue in her honor—and how that moment captured her humility, her love for Tennessee, and her commitment to doing good. Connect with Us: • Email:…

  15. More Happier: Helping Rebel Kids with School—and Other Rebel Questions Answered

    · 40 min · Episode 60501

    We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies conversations about Rebels, including listener advice for navigating school and ADHD, what actually motivates Rebels, and practical habit strategies shared by Rebels…

  16. Ep. 605: Why You Should Leave the House, Plus Why Sometimes You Don’t Need to Have an Opinion

    · 34 min · Episode 605

    We discuss why we should make an effort to leave the house. Plus, a stumbling block related to “having a take,” and a simple hack for reconnecting with people. Episode highlights: • Try This At Home—Why leaving the…

  17. Little Happier: Some of My Favorite Rules, Paradoxes, Laws, and Razors

    · 8:18 · Episode 60402

    Whether through science, personal observation, or humor, short statements of these human “laws” help us understand that world we live in. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com • Website:…

  18. More Happier: A Lesson from the Real Housewives, Plus a Tool for Dealing with Shared Work

    · 31 min · Episode 60401

    What reality TV can teach us about miscommunication, plus a simple tool for dealing with shared work based on your tendency. Episode highlights: • Something Making Us Happier: Elizabeth's first-ever September…

  19. Ep. 604: Clear Clutter With a Courtroom Hack, Plus How to Decline a Request for Accountability

    · 35 min · Episode 604

    Clear clutter fast with a courtroom-inspired trick, and we discuss how Upholders might set boundaries for unwanted accountability partners. Episode highlights: • Try This at Home: A hack for decluttering by issuing…

  20. Little Happier: A Lesson from the World Cup: Danger and Temptation Don’t Always Appear When We Expect

    · 3:55 · Episode 60302

    As the World Cup illustrated, in the happy moments of scoring a goal or celebrating, we may find it hard to stay focused on our aims. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com • Website:…

  21. Move Happier: Getting Unstuck: A Fresh Start for Your Move 26 Habit

    · 1 h 09 min · Episode 60303 · Bonus

    Not sticking to a habit that’s important to you? Dan Harris and Laurie Santos join Gretchen to share how to spot what's holding you back — and get moving again. Mentioned in This Episode: • 10% Happier podcast • 10%…

  22. More Happier: Four Tendencies Solutions to Real-Life Problems

    · 39 min · Episode 60301

    We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies listener questions, including how to help a Rebel stick to exercise, work with a Questioner boss, and keep Obliger people-pleasing from getting in the way of dating.…

  23. Ep. 603: Avoid the Sunk-Cost Fallacy, and Why it’s Hard to Plan for Emergencies

    · 33 min · Episode 603

    We talk about how to avoid the mental trap of the “sunk-cost fallacy.” Plus, why it’s so hard to plan for emergencies and the biases that keep us from preparing for risk. Episode highlights: • Try This at Home: Avoid…

  24. Little Happier: After His Death, I Can Still Learn More About My Beloved Father

    · 3:17 · Episode 60202

    Even after a person has died, we can continue to understand them in new ways. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com • Website: gretchenrubin.com • Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft • Take…

  25. More Happier: How Do People Know What To Do? Plus Making Friends at the Gym

    · 26 min · Episode 60201

    We discuss how people know what to do in certain situations. Plus why you might–or might not–make friends at the gym. Episode highlights: • Something Making Us Happier: Elizabeth finds connection to our beloved…

  26. Ep. 602: Spend Your Money at Home Instead of Away, and Why You Should Delegate

    · 37 min · Episode 602

    Why you might consider spending your vacation money on a home experience that you’ll enjoy for years, and why delegating tasks is more important–and harder–than it may seem. Episode highlights: • Try This at Home:…

  27. Little Happier: Why the Knicks Play Basketball with the Attitude of “Zero-Zero.”

    · 3:22 · Episode 60102

    With a simple answer of “Zero-zero,” Jalen Brunson communicated the attitude of his team as they pushed toward the NBA Championship. Connect with Us: • Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com • Website: gretchenrubin.com…

  28. More Happier: Try These 7 Habit Strategies for a Fresh Start This September

    · 34 min · Episode 60101

    September is the other January. We revisit seven of our favorite habit strategies to help you get back into your routines after summer and build habits that actually stick. Episode Highlights: • Episode 360: Want to…

  29. Ep. 601: Try "Do-Spend September," Plus a Five-Senses Hack For a Memorable Vacation

    · 34 min · Episode 601

    A counterpart to No-Spend February, "Do-Spend September" helps us spend what we have. We also share a five-senses hack for planning vacations that are much more fun. Episode highlights: • Try This at Home: Observe a…

  30. Little Happier: NBA Players on the “Today” Show: When Lighthearted Humor Is Better than Sympathetic Silence

    · 6:05 · Episode 60002

    An exchange between Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart illustrates the fact that sometimes, we’re better off treating a painful subject with lighthearted humor rather than sympathetic silence. Connect with…

  31. Move Happier: Clear the Decks for September with 26 Quick Tasks (Bonus)

    · 33 min · Episode 60003 · Bonus

    It's time to clear the decks for September. Here are 26 quick tasks to get you moving while you refresh your space for fall. Mentioned in This Episode: • The Move 26 in ‘26 Challenge:…

  32. More Happier: What Tattoo Would You Get? Plus How to Give Yourself Permission to Play

    · 26 min · Episode 60001

    When relaxing feels like wasting time, you can trick yourself into enjoying it anyway. Plus, 16 things to try for happier, calmer parenting. Episode highlights: • Something Making Us Happier: Gretchen shares Chuck's…

  33. Ep. 600: 600 Episodes of Happier! Listeners Share the Ideas that Stuck

    · 34 min · Episode 600

    Listeners share the insights and suggestions that have resonated with them most over the past 600 episodes. Mentioned in this episode: • Power Hour (Apple, Spotify) • Ta-Da Lists (Apple, Spotify) • Outer Order, Inner…

  34. Little Happier: Why NBA Star Jalen Brunson Values Persistence over Pyrotechnics

    · 5:45 · Episode 59902

    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:…

  35. More Happier: Take Better Care of Yourself—Treat Yourself Like a Toddler, Dog, Teenager, and Professor

    · 33 min · Episode 59901

    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.…

  36. Ep. 599: Treat Your Home Like a Hotel, Plus a Common Relationship Blindspot

    · 33 min · Episode 599

    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,…

  37. Little Happier: Are You a Clutch Player or a Fast Starter?

    · 4:12 · Episode 59802

    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:…

  38. More Happier: Have You Ever Felt Anonymous? Plus a Lesson for Upholders

    · 31 min · Episode 59801

    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…

  39. Ep. 598: Spy on Your Own Habits, and Discover Your Empty-Nest Personality

    · 35 min · Episode 598

    “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…

  40. Little Happier: Why People Don't Ride Horses If They Can Take a Bus

    · 4:38 · Episode 59702

    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:…

  41. More Happier: Introduce Whimsy, Schedule a Personal Playdate, and Embrace Fun Plans

    · 35 min · Episode 59701

    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…

  42. EP. 597: Celebrate "Dogust," Plus a Special Challenge for Upholders With Little Kids

    · 37 min · Episode 597

    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…

  43. Little Happier: Have You Ever Felt Like the Little Red Hen?

    · 5:24 · Episode 59602

    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…

  44. More Happier : Easing Painful Moments with Humor, Plus, Are Coasters Outdated?

    · 24 min · Episode 59601

    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:…

  45. Ep. 596: How Do People Learn the Things Everyone Already Knows? Plus a Ladder Warning

    · 35 min · Episode 596

    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…

  46. Little Happier: The Challenge of the “Help-Rejecting Complainer”

    · 4:34 · Episode 59502

    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 •…

  47. More Happier: Reading Hacks, Book Recommendations, and Finding Your Perfect Summer Read

    · 35 min · Episode 59501

    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…

  48. Ep. 595: Always RSVP, & Why We Should Stop Over-delivering

    · 31 min · Episode 595

    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…

  49. Little Happier: Why the King Paid Just as Much for Three Books as He Would Have Paid for Nine

    · 3:01 · Episode 59402

    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…

  50. Move Happier: Tips for Regular Exercise, How Walking Helps You Think, Plus Can Your Garden Be an Accountability Partner? (Bonus)

    · 37 min · Episode 59403 · Bonus

    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…

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