Podcast Episodes

Avoid Avoidance, “Planned Maintenance,” a Cooking Hack, and Books on How Things Work

Episode 481

Ep. 481. We talk about why it’s helpful to try to avoid avoidance, and why “planned maintenance” is more effective than “unplanned maintenance.” Plus we share a hack for making cooking easier and fas…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Little Happier: Are You “Practicing the Piano” or “Playing the Piano?”

When it comes to happiness and human nature, the words and metaphors we choose have a surprisingly large influence over our actions.

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Follow on social media:

@Gret…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Why Ketchup Is Magic, and More on Delights of Taste from "Life in Five Senses"

Listen to a bonus episode featuring an excerpt from Gretchen Rubin's latest bestselling book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. This excerpt come…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Ep. 480: Hacks, Hacks, and More Hacks from the Proverbs of the Professions

Episode 480

In this Very Special Episode, we share hilarious and insightful “proverbs of the

professions”—the collective wisdom of people in particular roles or professions

about how to manage the dilemmas of life…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Little Happier: Funny Reminders to Beware of Unintended Consequences.

Three amusing examples—from the worlds of pickpockets, farmers, and archeologists—illustrate the point that we must beware of unintended consequences.

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Follow on …

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

More Happier: The Power of Personal Style, a Great Proposal Story, and Less Email Spam

Episode 61

We talk about yet another lesson from the Real Housewives: the power of a personal style. We also share a lovely marriage proposal story that involves stationery products, as well as a quick hack for…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Ep. 479: A Creativity Hack, “Happy Mail,” and How to Avoid Both Lying and Telling the Truth

Episode 479

We explore an imaginative, manageable way to write your autobiography, and we

share a suggestion from a listener about using cards to help someone make it

through a tough time. Plus listeners respond t…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Little Happier: This Remark from 1773 Always Makes Me Laugh

I keep a list of quotations, images, and memories that make me happy or make me laugh. Whenever I’m feeling low, I conjure up one of those items to give myself a quick mental boost.

Get in touch: podc…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Ep. 478: An Easy Way to Make Life More Interesting, Plus Hacks for Creativity and Commuting

Episode 478

We talk about why it’s so enjoyable to read a book that sheds a light on how

things work. We also share a hack for making driving more pleasant, as well as an

easy and fun hack for sparking creativity.…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Little Happier: One Easy Way to Make a Tough Decision

A corporation president found an unconventional way to make a multi-million dollar decision—a solution that could be employed by any child in grade school.

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Follo…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago