Podcast Episodes

Ep. 326: Write a Tastes Timeline, More Wisdom from Teachers, a Hack for Getting Better Service, and Question about Obliger-Rebellion

Episode 326

We discuss why you might want to write a Tastes Timeline; share a listener’s hack for getting easier, quicker service; discuss more terrific proverbs from teachers; and pose a crucial question about …

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Little Happier: “The Farm Was a Form: Not Like a Set of Rules on a Wall, But Like the Symmetry of Winter and Summer.”

The poet Donald Hall wrote a beautiful memoir of the childhood summers he spent with his grandparents on their New Hampshire farm. In his account, he conveys the safety and orderliness of that countr…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Ep. 325: Design Your Summer, Splurge on Colorful Felt-Tip Pens, and a Conversation with Julianna Margulies of “The Good Wife”

Episode 325

We have our annual discussion about why and how we plan to design our summers, I explain why I splurged on some colorful felt-tip pens, and we talk to award-winning actor Julianna Margulies about her…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Bonus Episode: Use Self-Knowledge to Be Happier, Healthier, More Productive, and More Successful as a Small Business Owner.

In this bonus episode sponsored by Dell Technologies, we explore how small-business owners and entrepreneurs can use the “Four Tendencies” personality profiles to know themselves and others better. T…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Little Happier: Dolly Parton Knew Exactly What to Say to the Tennessee State Legislature.

Dolly Parton is such an admirable person. Her statement to the Tennessee legislature—to ask that they withdraw legislation proposing to erect a statue of her on the Capitol grounds—was gracious, humb…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Ep. 324: Learn from the Wisdom of Teachers, a Clever Way to Use Email, and Anna Sale Talks about How to Have Difficult Conversations

Episode 324

We review some terrific lessons we’ve learned from teachers, discuss an email hack that makes it easier to ask someone for help, and Anna Sale discusses her new book, “Let’s Talk About Hard Things.”

G…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Little Happier: An Answer from Childhood Expert Michael Thompson Reminds Me of the Value of Considering a Different Perspective.

I’m a big fan of the work of childhood expert Michael Thompson, and his answer to a reader’s question reminds me of the importance of remaining open to an entirely different view of a problem.

Get in …

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Ep: 323: Try Some Movie Therapy, an Easy Hack for Dealing with Small Toys and Trinkets, and Do Certain Situations Send You into Shock?

Episode 323

Our former producer, the podcaster and writer Kristen Meinzer, explains why we should try “movie therapy,” we discuss one of Gretchen’s all-time favorite hacks of her own invention, and we explore th…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Little Happier: How Ordinary Behavior at Work Can Amount to Sabotage—Really!

A document created during World War II describes how ordinary people can help the United States’s war effort through “simple sabotage”—and the kinds of behavior the document suggests sound uncomforta…

Published on 4 years, 7 months ago

Ep. 322: Pick the Right Word, Have Both a Weekend and a Weekday Book, and a Conversation with Actor, Singer, and Instagram Sensation Leslie Jordan

Episode 322

We talk about why it’s powerful to pick the right word, a listener suggests having a weekend book and a weekday book to enjoy reading more, and we talk to the hilarious actor, writer, and singer Lesl…

Published on 4 years, 8 months ago