Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project
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/
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 4, 2026 • 27min
More Happier: What Can the Real Housewives Teach Us About Hope? Plus the New Hollywood Trend
They use long-running reality shows to explore time, change, and perseverance. They unpack the end-of-history illusion and a character-perspective trick for emotional distance. A fast declutter scavenger hunt is shared. They examine the rise of microdramas: short, trope-driven vertical stories, cliffhanger paywalls, binge habits, and how this new form may evolve.
Apr 1, 2026 • 33min
Ep. 580: Very Special Episode! Ask Us Anything
They answer listener questions on sibling dynamics and how birth order might shape personality. They share tips for starting and running book clubs and why adult children’s literature groups are so rewarding. They discuss abstainer vs moderator approaches and planned exceptions. They talk accessibility in TV casting, turning a bad day around, museum must-sees, and nonverbal family rituals.
Mar 30, 2026 • 3min
A Little Happier: The Effort Doesn’t Get Easier, But You Get Stronger.
A family’s commitment to consistent high-intensity weight training and how they got their kids involved. A child’s candid remark about difficulty sparks a bigger idea: effort doesn’t get easier, you get stronger. Thoughtful connections between that lesson and parenting, promotions, and life transitions.
8 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 33min
How to Reduce Relationship Conflict with the Four Tendencies
Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and parenting expert behind the Good Inside approach, joins to explore relationship conflict through the Four Tendencies. Short, actionable conversations show how expectations drive repeat fights. Learn how different tendencies respond to rules, accountability, choice, and identity. Practical tactics for obligers and strategies for parenting rebels are highlighted.
Mar 25, 2026 • 31min
Ep. 579: Do You Have Trouble Making Plans with Friends? And How to Question a Questioner
They explain how proposing an anchor date makes scheduling with friends much easier. Practical tips include offering specific dates and doing the scheduling work for others. A segment explores why people who probe questions resist simple queries and how statements or context get better responses. The show also shares compassionate rituals and pacing strategies for coping with grief.
Mar 23, 2026 • 3min
A Little Happier: Why Lady Gaga Matters for My One-Word Theme for 2026
She shares three yearly exercises for designing 2026 and explains why a single word can shape your year. She announces her one-word theme "neighbor" and why neighborliness matters. She describes being moved by Lady Gaga’s cover of Mister Rogers’ theme and how that song stirs feelings about community and American ideals.
Mar 21, 2026 • 28min
More Happier: Do You Expect Too Much? Plus, How to Finish an Important Project
A lively conversation about whether we expect too much from work, marriage, schools, and friendships. A look at realistic expectations for parenting and relationships to avoid disappointment. Practical talk about why big projects stall and simple strategies to start, restart, and push through to finish. Short anecdotes about libraries, reading, and everyday conveniences.
Mar 18, 2026 • 31min
Ep. 578: Do You Dread Giving a Toast? And You Probably Want the Same Snack
They explore why proposing a toast can lift moods and when to offer one. Practical do's and don'ts for preparing, timing, and calming nerves come up. Funny research about diversification bias explains why you may prefer the same snack repeatedly. Creative accountability strategies and relatable listener stories round out the conversation.
Mar 16, 2026 • 2min
A Little Happier: A Happy Story about Queen Elizabeth II and the American Tourists
A charming tale about two American hikers who did not recognize a playful royal during a Balmoral walk. Stories of witty replies, a surprise photograph swap, and the royal's amused prediction about when her identity would be revealed. Brief reflections on staying grounded through life transitions with quick self-reflection prompts.
32 snips
Mar 14, 2026 • 29min
More Happier: How to Stick to an Exercise Habit with the Four Tendencies [Revisited]
They explore why exercise habits fail and practical habit strategies that actually help. Learn different approaches based on personality tendencies and real listener hacks. Hear creative accountability methods, from dogs and social groups to simple prep routines. Walks, efficient workouts, and everyday convenience get highlighted as ways to make movement stick.
