Podcast Episodes

Little Happier: “To Succeed in Business, Plan to Publish Bestsellers Only.”

Book-industry people love to tell this old (probably apocryphal) story, because it illustrates the temptation, and the folly, of deciding that your plan for business success is to do only those ventu…

Published on 5 years ago

Ep. 302: Revisit a Book You Remember from High School or College, Ask Yourself, “Is There a Food I Enjoy Only When It’s Made the Way My Family Makes It?” and Why It’s a Good Idea to Run Errands in the Morning

Episode 302

We suggest revisiting a book that you still remember from high school or college (and reveal the books that we plan to revisit), discuss a funny food-related Know-Yourself-Better question, and explai…

Published on 5 years ago

Little Happier: When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Appears.

When I articulate very clearly in my own mind what I’m seeking to learn, that’s when I start to see the teachers. Teachers are out there—it’s myself that I need to make ready, by acknowledging and de…

Published on 5 years ago

Ep. 301: Embrace an Attitude of Gratitude for What This Unprecedented Season Offers, a Deep Dive into Listeners’ Personal Policies, and a Money Hack

Episode 301

We discuss why it’s helpful to embrace an attitude of gratitude for what this unprecedented Thanksgiving holiday offers; we do a deep dive into listeners’ useful personal policies; we share an easy m…

Published on 5 years ago

Little Happier: If You Have a Fur Coat, You Don’t Need Snow Pants.

In the wonderful children’s book “Little Bear,” Mother Bear takes away Little Bear’s hat, coat, and snow pants so that he can be warm in the fur coat in which he was born.

Get in touch: @gretchenrubin…

Published on 5 years ago

Ep. 300: Very Special Episode 300: Ask Us Anything!

Episode 300

With every 100th episode, we have a very special episode where listeners can ask us anything. We discuss how we were raised, how we prepare to record the podcast, tips for Obligers, why Elizabeth has…

Published on 5 years, 1 month ago

Little Happier: In a World Full of Suffering and Injustice, Is It Morally Appropriate to Work to Be Happier?

We don’t have to choose between working toward being happier ourselves and working to increase the happiness of others. The two states reinforce each other.

Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretc…

Published on 5 years, 1 month ago

Ep. 299: Review How You’re Doing in the “Essential 7” Areas for Habits, a Hack to Make Thanksgiving More Memorable, and an Interview with Chef Carla Hall about How to “Say Yes!”

Episode 299

Review how you’re doing in the “Essential 7” areas for Habits, a fun, easy way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and an interview with renowned chef Carla Hall about the power of food, why it’s important to…

Published on 5 years, 1 month ago

Little Happier: What We Can Learn from Mark Twain’s Cat Who Sat on a Hot Stove

It’s important to make sure that we don’t learn the wrong lessons from pain, frustration, criticism, or failure. Like a cat, we want to learn not to sit on a hot stove—but maybe we still want to be a…

Published on 5 years, 1 month ago

Ep 298: Award Yourself with a Sticker, A Memory Hack, and a Conversation with Rachel Hollis About Dealing with Unexpected Challenges

Episode 298

Inspired by “I Voted” stickers, we discuss why you might award yourself a sticker to mark an important accomplishment, talk about a hack for remembering forgotten details, and talk to bestselling wri…

Published on 5 years, 1 month ago