Happier in Hollywood

The hosts answer listener questions about the strike, discuss finding side jobs during the strike, share their preferences for pets and talk about household recycling. They also recommend their favorite podcasts, talk about their decision-making process, and reminisce about high school sleepovers and their favorite SNL skit.

Liz and Sarah talk to journalist Maureen Ryan about her incredible new book — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call For Change In Hollywood. What was the emotional impact of writing about toxicity in Hollywood? What concrete steps can be taken to make the entertainment industry better for everyone? This week’s Hollywood Hack is a video that will keep you healthier on the picket line — WGA Picket Line Warm Up! (And Cool Down) on YouTube from WGA member Sheila Callaghan. Finally Sarah has a book rec — How to Survive Middle School: U.S. History.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call For Change:Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywoodamazon.comWGA Picket Line Warm Up! (And Cool Down):WGA Picket Line Warm Up! (And Cool Down)youtube.comHow to Survive Middle School: U.S. HistoryHow to Survive Middle School: U.S. History: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide (HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL books)amazon.comPhoto by Claire Rush on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss how 100 days of being on strike has a silver lining — it’s given them fresh perspective on a project that was feeling stale. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about her Do Nothing Day. Sometimes doing nothing is everything. Next, in The Craft (& Fain), they offer tips for coming up with character names. This week’s Hollywood Hack will be helpful for anyone worried about no new TV this fall: read a book series. Finally, Liz has a podcast recommendation — Spellcaster: The Fall Of Sam Bankman-Fried.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Book Series For Adults:20 Best Book Series for Adultstckpublishing.comSpellcaster: The Fall Of Sam Bankman-Fried:Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Friedwondery.comPhoto by Teodor Drobota on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk about being Creative Entrepreneurs. How can they expand their vision of their career? What elements will strengthen their two person small company? Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they discuss whether they want to continue writing their novel in the past tense, or whether they’d rather change to the present tense. In The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah answer a question from a Pre-WGA writer about how to approach an established writer with helpful information. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener: the Bite Away Insect Sting & Itch Relief Stick. Finally, Sarah has a whimsical recommendation — follow the Whitney Museum on Threads.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Bite Away:bite away Insect Sting & Itch Relief Stick, Chemical-Free Treatment with Heat for Symptom Relief from Mosquito and Bug Bites, 2 Devicesamazon.comWhitney Museum on Threads:@whitneymuseumPhoto by Sascha Bosshard on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even though it’s the last thing they feel like talking about, Liz and Sarah discuss the ongoing WGA strike and how it feels like it’s lasting forever. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why the concept of “building a frog pond” (both literally and metaphorically) is helping her cope. Then Sarah has a Hit for Escape Rooms, and they both give a Bomb to the heatwave in Los Angeles. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from the FB group: When in doubt, write a note. And finally, Sarah has a perfect summer movie recommendation — Joy Ride. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Joy Ride trailer:Joy Ride (2023) Official Red Band Trailer - Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wuyoutube.comPhoto by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss SAG-AFTRA going out on strike. Will actors on strike pressure the AMPTP to come back to the table? They sure hope so. Then they Amplify a new book from journalist Maureen Ryan — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah talk about what they’ve learned about creative formatting while working on their novel. Small changes can make a big impact on the reader. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a low tech way to help pass time while you wait — keep a deck of playing cards in the car. Finally, Liz has a controversial TV recommendation: The Idol on MAX.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram and Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Burn It Down by Maureen Ryan:Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywoodamazon.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah have joined the new social media platform, Threads, and they think you should too! Getting onboard early makes a difference — so don’t delay. This week’s Hollywood Hack is deep dive into The Perfect Tee. Liz and Sarah asked listeners for suggestions and got so many great ideas! Then Liz had a Celebrity Sighting (Alan Ruck) while dropping Jack off at camp. And Sarah recommends seeing Pixar’s new movie, Elemental. Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!The Perfect Tees:Icebreaker — Women’s Merino Tech Lite II Short SleeveJ Crew Factory. Vintage Cotton.Garnet HillPopflex Perfect Tee or Perfect Boyfriend TeeMeUndiesAlbion Fit basic fit tee.Sipaya Women’s Basic V Neck Tee.ATMLL BeanLands EndTalbots.Isaac Mizrahi tees on QVC, especially the Pima CottonLiz’s faves:Hanes Women’s Nano T-shirt.Uniqlo U Crew T-shirtSarah’s faves:Anthropology’s Pima cotton t-shirts.MadewellElemental trailer:Elemental | Official Traileryoutube.comAlan Ruck:Alan Ruck | Actor, Soundtrackimdb.comPhoto by Mediamodifier on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah are both experiencing that summer vacation feeling — which means they DON’T feel like working. How can they harness the delight of summer but still make progress on their novel? In The Mailroom, they answer a question about how good material needs to be before showing it to a person with hiring power. Answer — pretty damn good. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener: Take the necessary extra steps to make your tech (or anything else) work for you. And Celebrity Sighting is back! Liz saw David Duchovny on the plane from JFK to LAX. Finally, Liz has a TV show recommendation — Alaskan wilderness competition “Outlast” on Netflix.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:David Duchovny:David Duchovnyimdb.comOutlast trailer:Outlast - Official Trailer - Netflixyoutube.comPhoto by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah share their CBS pitch “Before I Die,” about three older women solving crimes in Miami. Then they talk about the notes they received from network executives and how they incorporated those notes into their pilot script.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!PHOTO:https://unsplash.com/photos/K05jLvJACiA To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk to TV writer Nadia Abass-Madden about how she switched careers from being a real life 911 operator to writing for FOX’s hit show 9-1-1. It’s a dream-come-true-story to inspire all of us during this stressful time! Then, in Take A Hike, Liz discusses why it’s a good idea to reconnect with old friends if you’re feeling adrift. This week’s Hollywood Hack will revolutionize your kitchen experience: Marley’s Monsters Unpaper Towels. Finally, Sarah recommends the podcast Ologies hosted by Alie Ward.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!LINKS:Nadia Abass-Madden:Nadia Abass-Maddenimdb.comMarley’s Monsters Unpaper Towels:Eco-Friendly & Reusable Home Goodsmarleysmonsters.comOlogies podcast:https://www.alieward.com/ologiesPhoto by Alex Azabache on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.