Podcast Episodes

Little Happier: I Get Choked Up When I Hear the Song “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music”

The song and the scene “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” is a reminder that our love for our country can burn brightly, even when events look very dark.

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Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Ep. 243: Treat Yourself Like a Dog and How Obligers Can Resist Pressures to Indulge

Episode 243

Why you should treat yourself like a dog, why telling someone, “Calm down” is usually a bad idea, and ideas for Obligers who are trying to resist expectations that they eat or drink.

Get in touch: @gr…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Little Happier: A Moment in the Life of JFK Illustrates How Hard It Is to Know Other People

An episode from the life of John F. Kennedy is a terrific reminder of the fact that we don’t know, we can’t really understand, what other people are thinking, why they’re doing the things they do, or…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Ep. 242: Buy Some Happiness, Plus Hacks for Taking Medication Regularly

Episode 242

We discuss why and how we can buy some happiness, do a hack round-up with terrific ideas for remembering to take daily medications, and tackle a listener’s question about her husband’s brewing Oblige…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Little Happier: Novelist John Steinbeck and King Arthur Show Me How to Think Outside the Box

Novelist John Steinbeck’s decision to set his King Arthur story in the hazy “before” showed me a solution that I would never have devised—and taught me a great lesson.

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Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Ep. 241: Malcolm Gladwell Talks About “Talking to Strangers” Plus a Delicious, Healthy Hack

Episode 241

We talk to Malcolm Gladwell about “Talking to Strangers” and explore why taking a shower can boost your happiness, and I reveal the easy, new low-carb recipe I love.

Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eli…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Little Happier: The Right Thing to Say to a Person Who Has Big Hopes

I remind myself and other writers, “There are many ways for a book to succeed.” And many ways for a vacation to succeed, or a college student to succeed. It’s a comforting thought, because it’s true.…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Ep. 240: Use the Emergency Kit for Anxiety, Worry, and Stress

Episode 240

For this Very Special Episode, we talk about the Emergency Kit for Anxiety—a long list of strategies to put to work immediately to manage anxiety, worry, stress, and fear.

Get in touch: @gretchenrubin…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Bonus Episode: A Deep Dive into the “Four Tendencies” Personality Framework

Want to learn whether you’re an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel—and what that means? Gretchen gives a quick overview of her popular personality framework, and explains how you can use it to e…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago

Little Happier: My America Feeling: I’m Grateful for the Sound of Many Languages

As a child growing up in Kansas City, I loved to listen to languages other than English, but I rarely had the chance—so I remind myself to feel grateful for hearing so many languages here in New York…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago