Happier with Gretchen Rubin

We revisit a favorite Try This at Home tip for getting more reading done, share listener hacks for building a happier reading life, and discuss how to discover books you'll love. Plus: recommendations for fascinating books about how things work.

Revisited Highlights:

Try This at Home: Read More (episode 121)

Happiness Hacks:

Listener Question: How to Find Good Books to Read (episode 428)

Listener Recommendations: Books on How Things Work (episode 481)

Mentioned in This Episode:

Tips for Reading More from “Better Than Before”

Gretchen’s Favorite Children’s and Young-Adult Books

The New York Times Book Review Podcast

Connect with Us:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz → gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should always RSVP, and how to stop a simple gathering from, over time, becoming too much work.

Episode Highlights:

Try This at Home: Always RSVP — Why responding promptly (even with a "no") makes us a better guest [05:49]

Happiness Hack: Try a bag organizer insert — A simple way to keep a carry-on, tote, or structureless bag tidy and travel-ready. [14:22]

Happiness Stumbling Block: Presentation Creep — How over-delivering can gradually turn a casual get-together into something burdensome. [16:00]

Listener Update: Hearing Aids — Listeners share how hearing aids changed their lives, plus a practical tip on using Apple AirPods Pro as a starter hearing test. [01:44]

Demerits & Gold Stars — Gretchen’s demerit: not enough watercoloring; Elizabeth’s gold star: for the friend who created "Trail and Talk" [21:29]

Mentioned in This Episode:

Bag organizer insert: [https://amzn.to/4oc1oPO]

Five-Senses Journal (20% off with code HAPPIER20):

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Amazon, Bookshop)

Listen to our Bookclub interview with Elizabeth Strout here!

Connect with Us:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take the free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify — it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A haunting story from ancient Rome remains relevant to our lives today.

Connect with Us:


Email: [email protected]


Website: gretchenrubin.com


Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft


Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the biggest obstacles to moving more this summer with Sarah Fain from the “Happier in Hollywood” podcast, and share practical strategies for getting regular exercise.

This special episode is part of the Move 26 in ‘26 challenge to help all of us find more ways to move every day.

Try This at Home: Identify your biggest obstacle to movement — Figure out what's getting in the way of moving more, so you can find a solution that works for you.

Deep Dive: Tips for getting regular exercise — we talk about practical strategies for making movement easier: scheduling workouts, lowering the bar, embracing accountability, convenience, and fresh starts.

Take a Hike: Take a loop — Elizabeth and Sarah discuss why taking a short walk around the block can help you think more clearly, get unstuck, and return to your work with fresh ideas.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Join the Move 26 in '26 challenge here

Get in touch: [email protected].

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Practical ways to build more play into your summer and the surprising research on how physical touch improves athletic performance.

Design Your Summer check-in: How Gretchen and Liz are spending their summers: reading lists, doodling-sketching, and no worry! [08:25]

Spotlight on a Tool:Daily Recess: Adults need unstructured play too. How to figure out what kind of recess actually works for you [18:45]

The Science of Touch: Research shows that in basketball, physical touch from teammates reduces stress and boosts performance [19:46]

Mentioned in This Episode:

Daily Recess guide with prompts and ideas

Download the Happier app to track your Design Your Summer reading list

Physical touch improves free-throw performance

Tactile communication and NBA performance

Josh Hart moment, Game Four

Connect with Us:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz → gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices