Best Gretchen Rubin The Onward Project Podcasts (2025)

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

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1d 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…

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

3d 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] …

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

4d 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…

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

5d 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…

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

8d 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…

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

10d 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…

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More Happier: Is It Always a Bad Idea to Gossip? Plus: Choosing a One-Word Theme for the Year 25:01

12d ago25:01

25:01

We talk about the challenge of choosing a one-word theme for the upcoming year, as well as the surprising value of gossip. Plus we talk about a fun reason to have a party. Resources & links related to this episode: Send recommendations for your favorite books to give for the holidays Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website …

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Ep. 560: Very Special Episode: What Secrets Does Your Therapist Wish They Could Tell You? 38:50

15d ago38:50

38:50

We talk to Lori Gottlieb—psychotherapist, bestselling author, and co-host of the “Since You Asked” advice podcast—about what she wishes she could tell her patients. We discuss questions like why patients lie to their therapists, how to know if you’re the toxic friend, how to handle a challenging holiday gathering, and how to end rumination. Resourc…

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A Little Happier: A Teaching Story So Good That It Should Be True 3:00

17d ago3:00

3:00

Sometimes a teaching story has such a great lesson that it doesn’t even matter if it’s not true. While the famous story of the sardines and the catfish turns out to be apocryphal, it illustrates a useful truth: Being in an environment where we need to show hustle can be better for us than quiet, stagnant surroundings. Get in touch: podcast@gretchen…

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More Happier: Deck the Halls! 24 Quick Tasks to Get Holiday-Ready [Revisited] 21:29

19d ago21:29

21:29

A twist on our “Clear the Decks” strategy—this episode guides you through a series of quick, one-minute tasks to help you get organized for the holidays. Resources & links related to this episode: Sign up to be an organ donor! We mention the Five-Senses Journal, which includes spaces to do five-senses portraits. To make it easier to identify good g…

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Ep. 559: Feel Lonely? Out of Touch? Try This. Plus the Beautiful Pressure to “Use It Up” 30:07

22d ago30:07

30:07

We talk about the value of having a party (a party that’s not family- or child-centric). We share an easy hack for assembling furniture. Plus listeners give their examples of how they feel the pressure to “use up”—the beautiful offerings of the world. Resources & links related to this episode: Here's a guide to help you generate thoughtful gift ide…

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A Little Happier: Surprise: Gossip Can Be Good for You 2:57

24d ago2:57

2:57

Despite its bad reputation, gossip is actually a ubiquitous and important feature of human communication. 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 details…

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More Happier: Embrace the Immersive, Reflect on Your Algorithm & Clear Clutter to Boost Energy 25:25

26d ago25:25

25:25

We talk about why immersive experiences are so energizing and interesting. We also explore how we can know ourselves better by considering what the algorithm reflects back to us about our interests, and we talk about the satisfaction of clearing clutter. Resources & links related to this episode: Masquerade Viola's Room Life in Five Senses Titanic …

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Ep. 558: Have “One Big Thing” Holding You Back? Listeners Weigh In. Plus the Value of Making Space 35:04

29d ago35:04

35:04

We discuss why making space to put things away can free up your time, energy, and space—also, buying duplicates of necessary items can make life easier. Plus listeners give their answers about the “one big thing” they had to tackle, and how finally confronting that challenge made their lives happier. Resources & links related to this episode: Check…

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A Little Happier: A Story from Real Life: Sometimes, We Help Best by Hanging Back 3:09

1M ago3:09

3:09

Sometimes, helping can hurt. When people are struggling, our impulse is to try to pull them back on their feet, when what they really need is for someone to sit beside them and ask, "What do you need? What can I do?" Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The…

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More Happier: You Can’t Outrun Fate—and Other Haunting Truths [Revisited] 22:37

1M ago22:37

22:37

Sometimes, looking at what unsettles us gives us a clearer view of what matters most. In this Halloween episode, we revisit a collection of Little Happier stories about fate, superstition, loss, and the mysterious truths that shape our lives. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-sellin…

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Ep. 557: Happier Book Club: Liz Gilbert Talks About Love, Addiction & Grief in “All the Way to the River” 38:35

1M ago38:35

38:35

We talk to blockbuster bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert about her latest book —a compelling memoir that’s impossible to put down. Resources & links related to this episode: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert Check out the new Happiness Project tools Liz Gilbert's Substack newsletter: Letters from Love Gretchen's Substack newsletter: …

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A Little Happier: A Counter-Intuitive Truth About How to Be a Good Guest 2:26

1M ago2:26

2:26

Observing my own parents—and realizing why they make sure good houseguests—helped me discover a Secret of Adulthood: “Be full of desires and easy to please.” 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 th…

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More Happier: The Joys of Working in an Office, Making Great Recommendations & Tom Cruise Cake 26:48

1M ago26:48

26:48

We talk about why working in an office can be a source of happiness—and why making a very successful recommendation is so satisfying. Plus we talk about why a quest is more fun than a jaunt. Resources & links related to this episode: Dog cave bed Visit happiercast.com/finishstrong to find your Tendency and get the tools you need to finish the year …

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Ep. 556: Schedule a Saturday Synch-up, Lessons About Getting a New Dog & How to Question a Questioner 34:07

1M ago34:07

34:07

We discuss why a weekly "Saturday Synch-up" can reduce squabbling and make coordinating schedules much easier. We also share happiness lessons learned from six months of living with a puppy. Plus, we answer a listener question about the best way for an Obliger to ask questions of a Questioner without causing resistance. Resources & links related to…

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A Little Happier: One Surprising Reason that the TV Show “Friends” Is So Popular 5:26

2M ago5:26

5:26

There are books, movies, and TV shows that we return to again and again—often because they include moments of transcendence, when the most enduring and important values are invoked. 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 …

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More Happier: How to Build Your Own Anxiety Emergency Kit [Revisited] 29:59

2M ago29:59

29:59

Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? This Revisited episode shares our Emergency Kit—small, practical strategies to interrupt the spiral when everything feels like too much. Resources & links related to this episode: Podcast 240: Very Special Episode: Use the Emergency Kit for Anxiety, Worry, and Stress. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gre…

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Ep. 555: Invest in Tools, an Orange Theory Hack & a Sobering Fact about Books 30:07

2M ago30:07

30:07

By Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

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Little Happier: A Happiness Lesson from Author Kurt Vonnegut’s Uncle 4:04

2M ago4:04

4:04

Gratitude is a key to happiness, and while gratitude journals work for some, alternative practices also work—such as one simple approach suggested by author Kurt Vonnegut's uncle. 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 th…

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More Happier: The Joy of Giving Away Toys, the Pleasure of Parasocial Relationships & TV Tourism 26:01

2M ago26:01

26:01

We talk about the energy (and space) gained from giving away items that others will appreciate, and we explore the surprisingly positive aspects of parasocial relationships with podcast hosts and TV personalities. Plus, we dive into the phenomenon of TV tourism. Resources & links related to this episode: Listen to the Since You Asked with Lori Gott…