Best Onward Project Podcasts (2025)

1
A Little Happier: Do You Suffer from “Paris Syndrome?” 5:00

Play Pause

12h ago5:00

5:00

The gap between expectations and reality determines whether we feel happy or disappointed. From empty-nest parents hoping for daily texts to tourists experiencing "Paris syndrome," our expectations shape our emotions. Sometimes adjusting expectations—rather than changing reality—is the key to happiness. Resources & links related to this episode: Ge…

1
Ep. 3257 - First $1,000: DIY Headshot Stations for University Job Fairs 5:35

12h ago5:35

5:35

In this week’s First $1,000 segment, campus recruiters needed polished LinkedIn photos—but photographers were booked solid. One creative grad built a plug-and-play headshot booth, rented it four times in a month, and snapped up his first grand without clicking the shutter himself. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detai…

1
Bonus: Hacks to Make the Holidays Happier [Revisited] 29:52

1d ago29:52

29:52

We revisit our long list of hacks to make the holidays a happier time. Resources & links related to this episode: 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. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode…

1
Ep. 3256 - Weekend Workshop: Building Teams Without Hiring Employees 7:51

1d ago7:51

7:51

This new segment is all about helping you learn the key steps to a new side hustle in 2025, one step or concept per week. It includes activities, examples, and more—and of course it’s all free. Today’s topic: a small-scale, large-reach transcription business. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of pe…

1
More Happier: Do You Specifically Recollect Yourself at Different Ages? 25:06

2d ago25:06

25:06

We discuss a know-yourself-better question related to how we conceive of ourselves at different ages. Plus we talk about a way to find excellent book recommendations. Resources & links related to this episode: Join the The Happiness Project: Revisited course Since You Asked advice podcast Shop the biggest journal sale of the year! Substack Live wit…

1
Ep. 3255 - Q&A: “When is uneven side-hustle income safe to rely on?” 4:44

2d ago4:44

4:44

Today’s caller makes more money on weekends than at the day job—but their revenue graph looks like a heart monitor. Can they rely enough on their extra income to go all-in? Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free…

1
Ep. 3254 - Q&A: “How do I price my VA work for true value?” 4:31

3d ago4:31

4:31

If clients praise your speed but you’re still billing like a beginner, it’s time to level up. Today we pinpoint the three value levers that justify higher VA rates—and a script that keeps loyal clients on board. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their…

1
Ep. 3253 - TBT: Scarce Lego Sets Build Value Over Time 6:18

4d ago6:18

6:18

In this week’s Throwback Thursday segment, find out how one patient side hustler stockpiled retired LEGO sets, held them like collectibles, and eventually parlayed the profits into a full-on store. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This yea…

1
Ep. 446: Thanksgiving Listener Hacks Bonanza! 30:35

4d ago30:35

30:35

Happy Thanksgiving! Liz and Sarah share a veritable cornucopia of practical hacks from listeners. Some faves? Use a hotel room pants hanger to clip the curtains closed. Put whitening mouthwash in your water flosser. Attach a house key to your dog’s leash. And so many more! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfai…

1
Ep. 562: Do You Hesitate to Raise Your Hand to Make Something Happen? Plus a Medication Hack 29:22

5d ago29:22

29:22

We talk about why it’s such a happiness-booster to raise your hand to organize an event or undertaking—to realize that if you don’t do it, no one will. We also share a hack for making it easier to take medication, and why it’s a good idea to “suffer fools gladly.” Resources & links related to this episode: Shop the Black Friday Sale in the Happines…

1
Ep. 3252 - STORY: Frenchman Says Bonjour to $35,000/Month Foodie Hustle 8:02

5d ago8:02

8:02

After relocating to Quebec, this continental creative brings seasonal flavor to an artisanal food retailing biz. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&A several days each week. Sho…

1
Ep. 3251 - Q&A: “Is my burnout a signal to pivot?” 5:13

6d ago5:13

5:13

Are you just tired—or do you need a bigger break? In this episode, we’ll help a listener take a stress-test to know if they need rest, a redesign, or a full business pivot. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free…

1
A Little Happier: A True Story of Redeeming a Loss Through Sacrifice 3:01

7d ago3:01

3:01

The awe-inspiring true story of “Mountain Man” Dashrath Manjhi is an example of how we can transform pain into action that can help others. After his wife died for lack of medical care, Dashrath Manjhi spent more than twenty years single-handedly carving out a path to make his remote village more accessible. Get in touch: [email protected] …

1
Ep. 3250 - First $1,000: Digital Window Menu Boards for Food Trucks 6:00

7d ago6:00

6:00

In this week’s First $1,000 segment, a designer helps food trucks and pop-up restaurants get rid of chalk dust and update to the digital age. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&…

1
Ep. 3249 - Weekend Workshop: From Ski Bum to Six-Figure Teacher 7:07

8d ago7:07

7:07

This new segment is all about helping you learn the key steps to a new side hustle in 2025, one step or concept per week. It includes activities, examples, and more—and of course it’s all free. Today’s topic: an online snow-skiing school. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra m…

1
Bonus Episode: Who Am I Without Kids at Home? (Gretchen Rubin on “Laugh Lines”) 44:18

8d ago44:18

44:18

I joined Kim and Penn Holderness on their podcast "Laugh Lines" for a funny, thoughtful talk about parenting after the kids move out—a great listen as families come back together for the holidays. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project C…

1
Ep. 3248 - Q&A: “Should I spend $2,000 on retention or acquisition?” 5:18

9d ago5:18

5:18

Today’s caller runs a tiny subscription app and has two grand to spend. Should that money patch cancelations or chase new sign-ups? We’ll do the napkin math and land on a clear next step. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the sho…

1
More Happier: Do Holidays Leave You Exhausted, Not Restored? Priya Parker, Francis Lam & Kate Bowler on Celebration 36:38

9d ago36:38

36:38

It’s easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning. Resources & links related to this episode: Francis Lam Priya Parker Kate Bowler The Happiness Project b…

1
Ep. 3247 - Q&A: “Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn—how do I choose?” 5:25

10d ago5:25

5:25

Posting everywhere spreads you thin; posting in the right place compounds momentum. Today we break down a three-question filter that shows exactly where this side hustler’s wallets should live first. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This y…

1
Ep. 3246 - TBT: Recruiters Pay Me to Tear Apart Their Emails 5:38

11d ago5:38

5:38

In this week’s Throwback Thursday segment, hear how one copy-savvy side hustler turned a collection of recruiter emails into a paid “swipe file,” and then built a monthly subscription around it. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, …

1
Ep. 445: Fighting The War Of Attrition 32:34

11d ago32:34

32:34

Every episode, Liz and Sarah refer to winning the “war of attrition.” Today they discuss concrete ways to get IN that war — you can’t win if you’re not in the fight! In Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to career coach extraordinaire, Laverne McKinnon, about how to handle someone being incredibly rude. This week’s Hollywood Hack is for pet own…

1
Ep. 561: Need Some Fresh Ideas for Gift-Giving? Here Are Many Great Suggestions 32:25

12d ago32:25

32:25

It can be a real challenge to find new, useful ideas for gifts. We suggest many of our own recommendations, plus we include dozens of ideas from listeners. Resources & links related to this episode: Request bookplates now to get them in time for the holidays! Sign up for The Happiness Project Revisited and get 40% off enrollment Florist Wire Electr…

1
Ep. 3245 - STORY: Six-Figure Beekeeping Biz Buzzes for Minnesota Couple 6:49

12d ago6:49

6:49

The buzzworthy journey of Minnesotan bees and their keepers. These hardy bees don’t mess around—last year they produced $150,000 in sweet profits. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listen…

1
Ep. 3244 - Q&A: “How do I upsell without sounding pushy?” 4:26

13d ago4:26

4:26

Great contracting work often reveals the next problem to solve. Here’s a simple script that turns an “upsell” into an obvious win for the client—and leaves everyone feeling good about the extra invoice. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. Thi…

1
A Little Happier: A Beautiful Ending & the Final Passage of Queen Victoria 5:03

14d ago5:03

5:03

As a writer, I'm particularly drawn to great endings, and I read the extraordinary closing paragraphs of Lytton Strachey’s biography Queen Victoria. Strachey imagines Victoria's fading mind retracing the vanished visions of her long history—passing back through decades of memories in a poignant, poetic cascade that captures both the end of a life a…

1
Ep. 3243 - First $1,000: Cozy Reading Gadget Turns Pages and Profit 6:20

14d ago6:20

6:20

A bedtime-reading addict bend a paperclip into a page holder, refines it into a soft-touch clip, and flips his ledger from red ink to a four-figure win. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and …

Onward Project Podcasts

1
Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

1
Side Hustle School

Chris Guillebeau / Onward Project

1
Happier in Hollywood

The Onward Project

1
Strategic Consulting Experts

Clarence Rick Nappier, President

1
The Plutarch Project

Joshua Nieubuurt

1
A Little Happier: Do You Suffer from “Paris Syndrome?” 5:00

1
Ep. 3257 - First $1,000: DIY Headshot Stations for University Job Fairs 5:35

1
Bonus: Hacks to Make the Holidays Happier [Revisited] 29:52

1
Ep. 3256 - Weekend Workshop: Building Teams Without Hiring Employees 7:51

1
More Happier: Do You Specifically Recollect Yourself at Different Ages? 25:06

1
Ep. 3255 - Q&A: “When is uneven side-hustle income safe to rely on?” 4:44

1
Ep. 3254 - Q&A: “How do I price my VA work for true value?” 4:31

1
Ep. 3253 - TBT: Scarce Lego Sets Build Value Over Time 6:18

1
Ep. 446: Thanksgiving Listener Hacks Bonanza! 30:35

1
Ep. 562: Do You Hesitate to Raise Your Hand to Make Something Happen? Plus a Medication Hack 29:22

1
Ep. 3252 - STORY: Frenchman Says Bonjour to $35,000/Month Foodie Hustle 8:02

1
Ep. 3251 - Q&A: “Is my burnout a signal to pivot?” 5:13

1
A Little Happier: A True Story of Redeeming a Loss Through Sacrifice 3:01

1
Ep. 3250 - First $1,000: Digital Window Menu Boards for Food Trucks 6:00

1
Ep. 3249 - Weekend Workshop: From Ski Bum to Six-Figure Teacher 7:07

1
Bonus Episode: Who Am I Without Kids at Home? (Gretchen Rubin on “Laugh Lines”) 44:18

1
Ep. 3248 - Q&A: “Should I spend $2,000 on retention or acquisition?” 5:18

1
More Happier: Do Holidays Leave You Exhausted, Not Restored? Priya Parker, Francis Lam & Kate Bowler on Celebration 36:38

1
Ep. 3247 - Q&A: “Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn—how do I choose?” 5:25

1
Ep. 3246 - TBT: Recruiters Pay Me to Tear Apart Their Emails 5:38

1
Ep. 445: Fighting The War Of Attrition 32:34

1
Ep. 561: Need Some Fresh Ideas for Gift-Giving? Here Are Many Great Suggestions 32:25

1
Ep. 3245 - STORY: Six-Figure Beekeeping Biz Buzzes for Minnesota Couple 6:49

1
Ep. 3244 - Q&A: “How do I upsell without sounding pushy?” 4:26

1
A Little Happier: A Beautiful Ending & the Final Passage of Queen Victoria 5:03

1
Ep. 3243 - First $1,000: Cozy Reading Gadget Turns Pages and Profit 6:20