Happier with Gretchen Rubin

What’s Really Going On When a Friend Ghosts You?

Why friendships sometimes end with no explanation, a surprising love of crystals, and a realization about traditions after our father died. Episode highlights Somethin

Voice Notes from Dollywood!

During a recent trip to Dollywood, we recorded voice notes about what Dolly Parton teaches us about ambition, “Dolly droppings,” a travel hack for when you’re meeting peo

I Really Don’t Want to See Entourage”: A Fundraiser Designed to Fail

Writer Wendy Molyneux put her own quirks to good use, turning a passionate dislike of Entourage into a fundraiser for a cause close to her heart. Connect with Us: Ema

Bonus: Holiday Visit Coming Up? How to Talk to Your Parents About Care

We talk to Colleen Dennis of CareScout about how to start the tough conversations about aging, care, and family responsibility, and the dos and don’ts of holiday visits.

How to Have Happier Relationships During the Holidays

Whether you’re facing a full social calendar, interacting with challenging relatives, or missing a loved one, we share our favorite insights on navigating this sometimes-

Are You Asking Too Much–of This Person, or This Job, or This School?

Why lowering your standards isn’t the answer, how to call friends without making it weird, and does it matter if everyone orders the same thing at a restaurant? Episode

Do You Replay Your Mistakes? Remember the “Coffee Cup”

When I can’t let go of a mistake I made, I take comfort in the stories of highly skilled teams who made mistakes of their own.   Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretc

Everyone’s Talking About the Same Movie, and We Love It

The fun of monoculture, a secret theme behind Steven Spielberg’s movies, and Jeff Probst visits a Survivor Fantasy League. Episode highlights Something Making Us Happi

Blockbuster Author Harlan Coben on Why Memory Is Partly Fiction

Ep. 610: Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author with over 100 million books in print and many hit TV adaptations, talks about his new book, Plot Twis

Little Happier: The Paradox at the Heart of the Open-Door Stage

I've come to see a great paradox at the heart of the "Open Door" stage: I want my daughters to know they're essential to my happiness, and also that my happiness doesn't

Use Daylight Savings to Rethink Your Morning Routine

A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and

A Secret to Creativity? Cultivate a Magpie Mind

A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks. Episode highlights: Try This At Home: Cultivate

Little Happier: A Superstar's Unforgettable Thank-You

I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work. Connect with

Exercise Tips from NPR’s LifeKit: Could Watching TV Actually Help You Get Moving?

For “Move Happier,” Gretchen talks with Marielle Segarra, host of NPR’s Life Kit, about ditching the all-or-nothing rule, making the most of everyday activities, and the

More Happier: Do you “Get to” or do you “Have to?”

We discuss the happiness of a trip with old friends, a way to reframe the task of taking our pills, and a surprising fact about GLP-1s. Episode highlights Something M

Ep. 608: Have You Ever Regretted a Good Decision? (Temporarily)

A listener shares a Know Yourself Better discovery, Elizabeth reports on what she learned from her Summer of Off-White Delight, and a recommendation for a new daily game.

Little Happier: What Seems Important Isn't Always What Is Important

Aphorisms are short, sharp, and easy to remember, and here are four surprising examples of one of my own: "What seems important isn't always what is important." Connect

More Happier: Lean into Fall with the Five Senses

We revisit some of our favorite try-this-at-home tips for tapping into our five senses this fall. Some ideas might turn into new annual traditions; others might be fun fo

Ep. 607: Do You Love Whimsy? Celebrate a New Holiday with Us

We discuss how we’re using whimsy to find the right date to celebrate our “How do we learn what everyone knows?” day, and listeners share their brilliant tips for elevati

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: