Happier with Gretchen Rubin

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

Connect with Us:


Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com


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.

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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: podcast@gretchenrubin.com.

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: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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

Becoming a fan—of sports or anything—can improve your happiness. We share listener tips for dealing with people who share every boring detail of their latest trip.

Episode highlights:


Try This at Home: Become a fan— Research shows that fandom reduces loneliness and gives your life more structure, connection, and ritual [04:37]


Happiness Hack: Cross off the common denominator—When you're anxious about a decision, ask yourself: does this worry apply to every option? [14:45]


Listener strategies for dealing with travel bores: How to redirect the conversation and ask targeted questions that make travel stories actually interesting. [17:41]


Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth's demerit: return timing regret; Gretchen's gold star: a perfect souvenir find. [25:03]

Mentioned in this Episode:

"Why Watching Sports Makes People Happy" — Time Magazine


Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer by Warren St. John (Amazon, Bookshop) 


There's Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson (Amazon, Bookshop)


The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Amazon, Bookshop)

Summer Bingo card + Design Your Summer tool — Happier App

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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 star player for the NBA illustrates an important Secret of Adulthood: We don’t have to be good at something to be good at something.

Connect with Us:


Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com


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