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
12 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 30min
Ep. 577: How Well Do You Know Yourself? Plus Hacks for Staying Warm & Putting Down Your Phone
They explore self-knowledge through personality quizzes and frameworks like the Four Tendencies, Big Five, Enneagram, and Values Bridge. They mention practical uses of quizzes for relationships and decision-making. Listeners share clever hacks for staying warm, including electric mattress pads. They discuss strategies to curb doomscrolling and ways to add accountability for habits.
Mar 9, 2026 • 3min
A Little Happier: Is There Anything Special About Human Beings?
A lively run-through of traits that set humans apart, from language creativity and precision thumbs to the odd rarity of chins. Everyday behaviors like cooking, emotional tears, and complex shame get quick attention. Social inventions such as trade, laws, stories, art, and marriage rituals are highlighted. The conversation ends by asking which human qualities will stay distinct in the age of AI.
Mar 8, 2026 • 40min
Move Happier: How Do You Move On After College Drop-Off? with Author Ben Markovits
Ben Markovits, novelist and author of The Rest of Our Lives, reads from his book and reflects on a cross-country drive that became a narrative frame. He talks about illness shaping the story, why he writes about family and marriage, and his daily two-hour writing ritual. He also shares influences, road-trip structure, and a simple physical practice for focus.
Mar 7, 2026 • 29min
More Happier: Do You Ever Have Post-Party Blues? Plus the Raymond Carver/Chandler Problem
They talk about the awkwardness and regret that can follow putting yourself out there, and how to be kinder to yourself after social missteps. They share nostalgic travel memories and the value of quirky local recommendations. They laugh over funny literary mix-ups, from confusing famous authors to muddling classic stories.
Mar 4, 2026 • 28min
Ep. 576: What Was the Value of Our “No-Spend February?” Plus a Warning About Social-Media Stories
They reflect on a month of intentional spending, listing what they resisted, what slipped through, and surprising time saved from not shopping. They share a practical tip for blending friendship and work. They warn about sneaky social-media stories, how to spot AI or bot-written posts, and why those posts can warp our sense of reality.
Mar 2, 2026 • 2min
A Little Happier: What Makes a Face Stand Out from a Crowd?
A reflection on seeing a loved one in a hospital and how personal love makes one face stand out in a crowd. Comparisons to class photos explore why certain faces are memorable. Thought-provoking questions invite listeners to consider how love and attention shape recognition and identity.
57 snips
Feb 28, 2026 • 39min
More Happier: Four Tendencies for Obligers—3 Challenges and How to Handle Them [Revisited]
A revisit to the Four Tendencies focusing on people who meet others’ expectations but struggle with their own. They tackle three big challenges: shame, being taken advantage of, and rebellion. Practical outer-accountability ideas and boundary-setting strategies come up. Listeners share rituals and warning signs to prevent burnout and turn rebellion into positive change.
15 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 35min
Bonus: How to Make Progress on What Matters to You (Even If You Feel Stuck) with Mimi Bouchard
Mimi Bouchard, creator of the Activations app and author who builds future-self visualization practices. She describes how cinematic, energizing guided audios can build consistency. Short practices paired with daily tasks create conditioning. She explains why visualization beats passive meditation for her and offers practical ways to reset stalled habits.
Feb 25, 2026 • 33min
Ep. 575: Our 11th Anniversary! Favorite Moments from the Past Year
They celebrate their 11th anniversary and reflect on keeping a long-running streak. Conversations cover personal updates like empty nest transitions and a new puppy. Practical favorite hacks pop up, from wetsuits to heated throws and Zoom paddle lights. Themes include whimsy, accountability systems, reading challenges, and memorable listener stories.
4 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 5min
A Little Happier: A Very Surprising Truth that I Learned in Law School
A surprising law school insight that people often choose whether to obey laws rather than being fully compelled. Reflections on why enforcement can fail and how social norms and costs shape behavior. Personal reactions to deliberate lawbreaking and how that changed the narrator’s perspective. Brief warnings about consequences and practical resources.
