Happier in Hollywood

Inspired by listener demand, Liz and Sarah announce their August 8th Happier In Hollywood Q & A Cocktail Party.  (For more information email happierinhollywood@gmail.com.) Then Liz and Sarah talk to Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, the cohosts of one of their favorite podcasts, By The Book, about being each other’s work wife. What IS a work wife? How is work marriage different from actual marriage?  And what makes a work marriage successful? In Take Two, they revisit the subject of saving money. Liz and Sarah’s favorite new tip from a listener? Try a No Spend Week. This week’s Hollywood Hack: Apple Wallet. By The Book Podcast https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/by-the-bookThe EveryDollar App https://www.everydollar.com/budget-appIconsumer.com: https://www.iconsumer.com/Let Go: https://us.letgo.com/enOfferUp: https://offerup.com/Apple Wallet: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204003Photo: TK 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 why they’ve recently decided NOT to take every meeting. Sometimes they need to go deep instead of going wide. Then Sarah’s recent bout of pneumonia is a reminder that we all need to listen to our bodies. In The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah tackle a listener question about whether they ever feel like the “weak link” in their partnership. Short answer? Yes! This week Sarah and Liz have a dual parenting bomb — failing to set up summer play dates. And they give a hit to their fellow WGA writers for supporting one another through a tough time in the industry. Finally, this a Hollywood Hack: make plans immediately!WGA-ATA Dispute:https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/writers-agents-wga-ata-writers-guild-of-america-association-of-talent-agents-1202057979/June Diane Raphael:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2053085/The Jane Club:https://www.janeclub.com/Photo by Maria Krasnova 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 break down the experience of being a Staff Writer on a TV show with their former assistant turned TV writer, Brook Sitgraves Turner. Brook’s advice: show up prepared and stay late. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah discuss the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning and why we should all accumulate less stuff. Finally, Liz shares yet another Hollywood Hack that will help you achieve “meeting hair:” Dry Bar’s new 25 dollar 20 minute option! Brook Sitgraves Turner — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8223801/The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning — https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/dp/1501173243/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1ZS7B2KMCFXHB&keywords=swedish+death+cleaning+book&qid=1562009398&s=gateway&sprefix=Swedish+Death%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-3Dry Bar — https://www.thedrybar.com/services/ 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 the importance of saving money in Hollywood’s perennially unstable gig economy. Hint: avoid mindless spending. And shop your closet! Then they share a listener question about fertility and the problem/dilemma of waiting to start a family. Have they come to terms with having only children? Liz offers two Hollywood Hacks from entertainment attorney Michael Donaldson’s WGA workshop on negotiating: make the first offer, and negotiate in the other person’s space. Finally, a Netflix celebrity sighting (Gary Oldman) and a near-miss (Brad Pitt)!Rakuten: http://www.rakuten.comHer Money: https://www.hermoney.com/t/podcasts/Offer Up:https://offerup.com/Let Go: https://us.letgo.com/enEgg freezing: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/egg-freezing/about/pac-20384556Michael Donaldson: http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/attorneys/Gary Oldman: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000198/Brad Pitt: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1Photo by Fabian Blank 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 to their mentor, the brilliant television writer/producer, Shawn Ryan (The Shield, S.W.A.T.), about how he picks projects. Spoiler alert: he actually needs to like the material. They also grill Shawn about his famous calm demeanor. Is he really as zen as he seems? In the Mailroom segment, Liz and Sarah answer a question about being a technical consultant for TV and movies. This week’s Hollywood Hack is an easy gift: a textable Starbuck’s gift card.Shawn Ryan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752841/Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/menu?&utm_source=google&utm_term=starbucks&utm_campaign=BR+-+Brand+-+Starbucks+-+Desktop+-+Exact&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9JzoBRDjARIsAGcdIDVrs7hJHIGUOWLFAmHOUFE7DuZTRqztu0li9mZljRNhpMAUcFuQxUUaAmMpEALw_wcB 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 the issue of doing free work in Hollywood. It’s necessary, but how much is too much? And how can they do free work without resenting it? Then they answer a Mailroom Question about passion. Is it fair to expect people to be passionate about their work ALL of the time? And what do you do when you’re not feelin’ it? In L v. S (Lis versus Sarah), Sarah tries to convince Liz to try roller skating. Finally, in this week’s Hollywood Hack, Liz shares two tools that are helping her achieve “meeting hair:” the John Frieda Hot Hair Brush and The Wrap Party Curling and Styling Wand from Dry Bar.Jenna Fisher’s The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide:https://www.amazon.com/Actors-Life-Survival-Guide/dp/1944648224/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZXHNTT6X8NC2&keywords=jenna+fisher+the+actors+life&qid=1560803920&s=gateway&sprefix=Jenna+Fisher%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-1Skate land:http://www.skateland.net/John Frieda Hot Air Brush:https://www.amazon.com/John-Frieda-Hot-Brush-inch/dp/B0056GDG90/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1TA0R10JLEF5H&keywords=john+frieda+hot+hair+brush&qid=1560803849&s=gateway&sprefix=John+Frieda+Hot+h%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1The Wrap Party Curling and Styling Wand from Dry Bar:https://www.amazon.com/Drybar-Wrap-Party-Hair-Styling/dp/B074WNLK3Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3IBDQ5B64ZW1G&keywords=drybar+wand&qid=1560803997&s=gateway&sprefix=Dry+bar+wand%2Caps%2C425&sr=8-1Photo by Sean Bernstein 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.

Everyone gets knocked down once in awhile— the question is, what do you do AFTER you get knocked down? If you’re resilient, you get back up! Liz and Sarah discuss the brilliance of resilience and share how working in the entertainment business has helped them develop their own resilience muscles. Then in a very special Take A Hike, executive producer Chuck Reed’s mom, Michelene Reed Laski, reveals why June 13th is a cherished anniversary for her Hollywood family— and why every family should find a reason to celebrate. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Robot Chick co-founder Matt Senreich: Ask for favors! (And Liz has a bonus selfie hack.)The Fix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942774/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Chuck Reed: @sancolasound (Instagram)Sancola Sound: https://www.sancolasound.com/Michelene Reed Laski: https://michreedlaski.artspan.com/homeHermes Pan: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_PanHermes Pan obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/23/obituaries/hermes-pan-dancer-79-is-dead-choreographer-of-astaire-classics.htmlRobot Chicken: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_ChickenMatt Senreich: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1803552/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1Photo by Mel Elías 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 start with a poetic update— a reading of Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese.” Then in From The Treadmill Desks Of, they discuss the “cacophony of choice” they’re dealing with now that their overall at ABC Studios is over. It’s exciting that they’re free to do ANYTHING— but also overwhelming. As they analyze how to navigate their opportunities, they decide to stretch but also stay in their wheelhouse. One this is for sure— they’ll be Riding The Dragon, which they discuss in The Mailroom segment. This week’s Hollywood Hack: Take No For An Answer (something they wish they’d done sooner on a recent endeavor). Finally, Liz and Sarah bid Mary farewell as she offers a final Celebrity Sighting — Damon Wayans Jr. at the HaHa Comedy  Club.Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese:” http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlLivingston Taylor: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlStage Performance by Livingston Taylor:https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Performance-Livingston-Taylor/dp/1461068843/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UET3Q49X6AIP&keywords=stage+performance+livingston+taylor&qid=1559685914&s=gateway&sprefix=Stage+Performan%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1HaHa Comedy Club: http://hahacafecomedyclub.com/You can follow Mary Mehrkens: Instagram — @marymerkdog and Twitter — @MehrkdogIf you want to watch the PBS pledge show Liz recorded with her sister Gretchen, click here to check your local listings for show times. Many stations start airing it on June 1st. 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 Do The Thing. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends to Do the Thing.Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster 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.

The Fix has been cancelled! It’s not unexpected, but it still sucks. Liz and Sarah share what Season 2 would have been and how they’re moving on! Then they discuss all things negotiation with Michael Donaldson, renowned entertainment attorney and author of Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Negotiating Agreements That Work. Michael’s advice is crucial for everyone— but is particularly useful to Hollywood writers who have recently fired their agents. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal a career-building Hollywood Hack: keep a Meeting Master List!The Fix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942774/Michael C. Donaldson: http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/attorneys/Michael C. Donaldson’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/copyrightguideNegotiating for Dummies: https://www.amazon.com/Negotiating-Dummies-Donaldson/dp/0470045221Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Reaching Solutions That Work: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331758.Fearless_NegotiatingIf you want to watch the PBS pledge show Liz recorded with her sister Gretchen, click here to check your local listings for show times. Many stations start airing it on June 1st.  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 being calm versus acting calm — and how they were recently “Shawn Ryan Calm” during a tough conversation. Then in Take A Hike, Sarah shares why “not knowing if it’s going to snow in March” helped her stop anticipating the worst. Next, Liz and Sarah fess up to a Happier in Hollywood Retreat bomb, and Sarah gives a hit to her aunt for stepping up in a crisis. Sarah’s HOT Hollywood Hack has changed her life: a Sunlighten sauna! Finally, they reveal a listener’s British Celebrity Sighting: Jeremy Irons!Shawn Ryan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752841/The Shield: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Sunlighten Sauna: https://www.sunlighten.com/Jeremy Irons: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Photo by Bekir Dönmez 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.