Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Little Happier: A New Moral for An Old Fable

I've always loved Aesop's fables, but I've come to think the accepted morals don't always fit the stories. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Website:

More Happier: Embrace a Party Theme, Plus a Lesson About How to Fight Right

Turn party-planning stress into fun with a theme, and why one person downplaying can lead the other to overreact. Episode highlights: Something Making Us Happier: Embr

Ep. 606: What We Learned from “Do-Spend September,” Plus What’s Safe in the Microwave & Try a Day Pass

Here’s what we learned from our own Do-Spend September, and how to get a luxury-resort experience for a fraction of the cost. Plus: really, what can go in a microwave? E

Little Happier: Dolly Parton Always Knew Just What to Say

Remembering the gracious words Dolly Parton used to decline a statue in her honor—and how that moment captured her humility, her love for Tennessee, and her commitment to

More Happier: Helping Rebel Kids with School—and Other Rebel Questions Answered

We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies conversations about Rebels, including listener advice for navigating school and ADHD, what actually motivates Rebels, a

Ep. 605: Why You Should Leave the House, Plus Why Sometimes You Don’t Need to Have an Opinion

We discuss why we should make an effort to leave the house. Plus, a stumbling block related to “having a take,” and a simple hack for reconnecting with people. Episode h

Little Happier: Some of My Favorite Rules, Paradoxes, Laws, and Razors

Whether through science, personal observation, or humor, short statements of these human “laws” help us understand that world we live in. Connect with Us: Email: podca

More Happier: A Lesson from the Real Housewives, Plus a Tool for Dealing with Shared Work

What reality TV can teach us about miscommunication, plus a simple tool for dealing with shared work based on your tendency. Episode highlights: Something Making Us Ha

Ep. 604: Clear Clutter With a Courtroom Hack, Plus How to Decline a Request for Accountability

Clear clutter fast with a courtroom-inspired trick, and we discuss how Upholders might set boundaries for unwanted accountability partners.  Episode highlights: Try Th

Little Happier: A Lesson from the World Cup: Danger and Temptation Don’t Always Appear When We Expect

As the World Cup illustrated, in the happy moments of scoring a goal or celebrating, we may find it hard to stay focused on our aims. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@g

Move Happier: Getting Unstuck: A Fresh Start for Your Move 26 Habit

Not sticking to a habit that’s important to you? Dan Harris and Laurie Santos join Gretchen to share how to spot what's holding you back — and get moving again. Mentione

More Happier: Four Tendencies Solutions to Real-Life Problems

We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies listener questions, including how to help a Rebel stick to exercise, work with a Questioner boss, and keep Obliger peop

Ep. 603: Avoid the Sunk-Cost Fallacy, and Why it’s Hard to Plan for Emergencies

We talk about how to avoid the mental trap of the “sunk-cost fallacy.” Plus, why it’s so hard to plan for emergencies and the biases that keep us from preparing for risk.

Little Happier: After His Death, I Can Still Learn More About My Beloved Father

Even after a person has died, we can continue to understand them in new ways. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Website: gretchenrubin.com Instagra

More Happier: How Do People Know What To Do? Plus Making Friends at the Gym

We discuss how people know what to do in certain situations. Plus why you might–or might not–make friends at the gym.  Episode highlights: Something Making Us Happier

Ep. 602: Spend Your Money at Home Instead of Away, and Why You Should Delegate

Why you might consider spending your vacation money on a home experience that you’ll enjoy for years, and why delegating tasks is more important–and harder–than it may se

Little Happier: Why the Knicks Play Basketball with the Attitude of “Zero-Zero.”

With a simple answer of “Zero-zero,” Jalen Brunson communicated the attitude of his team as they pushed toward the NBA Championship. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gr

More Happier: Try These 7 Habit Strategies for a Fresh Start This September

September is the other January. We revisit seven of our favorite habit strategies to help you get back into your routines after summer and build habits that actually stic

Ep. 601: Try "Do-Spend September," Plus a Five-Senses Hack For a Memorable Vacation

A counterpart to No-Spend February, "Do-Spend September" helps us spend what we have. We also share a five-senses hack for planning vacations that are much more fun. Epi

Little Happier: NBA Players on the “Today” Show: When Lighthearted Humor Is Better than Sympathetic Silence

An exchange between Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart illustrates the fact that sometimes, we’re better off treating a painful subject with lighthearted humor