Best Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project Podcasts (2025)

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A Little Happier: What Happened When Steve Jobs’s Question Was Dismissed. 5:20

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6h ago5:20

5:20

In the “Four Tendencies” personality framework, tech legend Steve Jobs was a Questioner. At a crucial moment, his question was ignored—with profound consequences. 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 …

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More Happier: Watercoloring, Novel-Writing & 80’s Bestsellers 26:29

2d ago26:29

26:29

We discuss how we’re doing on some items from our “25 for ’25 lists,” and how book writing is going for both of us. Plus we talk about the joys of reading commercial fiction from the 1980s. Resources & links related to this episode: Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, p…

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Ep. 542: Point to Your Ugliest Thing, Use Photos to Save Memories & Understand Obliger-Rebellion 28:20

5d ago28:20

28:20

We discuss why it’s useful to identify the "ugliest thing" in your life—i.e., what aspect needs the most attention? We also share an easy hack about enhancing family memories, and we explore a Four-Tendencies situation involving a young-adult son's surprising reaction to his father's lateness. We wrap up with listener suggestions for creative befor…

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Little Happier: "Love Is Unconditional, and Love is Demanding” & Other Secrets of Adulthood for Parents 5:18

8d ago5:18

5:18

With time and experience, we learn “Secrets of Adulthood,” and parenthood teaches us many of those lessons. Resources & links related to this episode: "Secrets of Adulthood" 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 Happ…

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More Happier: Talking Secrets of Adulthood with Shannon Watts 24:11

9d ago24:11

24:11

In a recent Secrets of Adulthood Substack Live conversation, I talked to the terrific Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action (the nation’s largest grassroots group fighting gun violence. We discuss insights from her latest book and how we've arrived at several of our own Secrets of Adulthood, including why it’s important to ask yourself wheth…

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Ep. 541: Try These Parenting Hacks from Listeners, Manage Your Own Worry & an Easy Packing Hack 33:25

13d ago33:25

33:25

We share a treasure trove of creative, easy parenting hacks from our listeners, as well as a happiness hack about creating a "prep station" bin to stay organized for trips and special events. In our "Know Yourself Better" segment, we explore how the desire to manage our own worry can lead us to burden or try to control others. Plus, we share some i…

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Little Happier: Is it a Bug? Is it a Feature? It Depends on You 2:48

15d ago2:48

2:48

The familiar proverb “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature” is a reminder that one person may seek out a product, an experience, or a situation for the very reason that someone else avoids it. Resources & links related to this episode: Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, prod…

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More Happier: No “Guilty” Pleasures & Returning to the Treadmill Desk 25:03

17d ago25:03

25:03

We talk about why it can helpful to trust our interests and inclinations about what to read, watch, or listen to, without imposing a lot of judgment on our choices. Resources & links related to this episode: Elizabeth's treadmill desk Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books,…

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Ep. 540: Very Special Episode: Treasure Trove of Easy Ideas to Add Whimsy to Daily Life 30:15

20d ago30:15

30:15

In this Very Special Episode, we share dozens of ideas from listeners—and ourselves—about how to add an element of whimsy to everyday life, without needing to spend much time, energy, or money. Resources & links related to this episode: Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood My article: Why Whimsy Is Having a Moment Elizabeth's newsletter: Happier…

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Little Happier: “New Yorker” Covers and My Peculiar Yearning for a City I Already Have 2:20

21d ago2:20

2:20

New Yorker magazine covers capture something both true and elusive about the city, by distilling New York in single images, so that the place feels simultaneously familiar and out of reach. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collecti…

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More Happier: Bestselling Novel "The Ministry of Time" Audiobook Preview 39:53

24d ago39:53

39:53

In honor of our upcoming Read 25 Day, we are excited to share an audiobook preview of bestselling novel "The Ministry of Time" from Lemonada's own "Your Next Listen" podcast. More about the book: This genre-bending time-travel sci-fi slash romance slash mystery slash spy thriller was a breakout hit for debut author Kaliane Bradley. It’s been recomm…

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Ep. 539: Don't Disparage What Matters, Funny Travel Trends & Handling Hurtful "Jokes" 28:17

27d ago28:17

28:17

We discuss why we shouldn't downplay things that are actually important to us (such as saying “I don’t care about my birthday” if you do care). We also review some fun new travel terms, such as "townsizing" and "JOMO travel," and we address the problem of waiting until we're ready to make big decisions. Plus, we tackle a listener's question about d…

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Little Happier: Paris, Rose, a Fortune Cookie—an Anniversary Toast to My Husband Jamie 4:39

29d ago4:39

4:39

A double anniversary (of a wedding and of a life-saving medical cure) inspired this toast—with allusion to Gertrude Stein, Wendell Berry, and “The Office.” Resources & links related to this episode: The most purely happy day of my life Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books…

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More Happier: Gretchen on Totally Booked with Zibby Owens 32:22

1M ago32:22

32:22

We bring you a conversation with my friend Zibby Owens on her podcast Totally Booked. Taped in front of a life studio audience, we discuss my new book, Secrets of Adulthood, the beauty of frameworks, and why you should label your next email "confidential." Resources & links related to this episode: Zibby Owens Totally Booked Get in touch: podcast@g…

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Ep. 538: Set a Tripwire, Decide If You Need the Storage Unit & Do You Use that Gizmo? 31:16

1M ago31:16

31:16

We talk about why it can be helpful to set a tripwire for making a decision or moving forward. We also discuss a Secret of Adulthood that’s very relevant to the practice of keeping a storage unit (even one that’s not really needed), and a know-yourself-better question related to the use of gadgets and gizmos. Resources & links related to this episo…

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Little Happier: Four Helpful “Secrets of Adulthood” for Parents 5:46

1M ago5:46

5:46

Becoming a parent can be one of the most transformative, and instructive, experiences of our lives. These four “Secrets of Adulthood” examine some of the most important lessons parenthood can teach us. Resources & links related to this episode: Open-door stage Secrets of Adulthood A version of this piece was originally published on the CNBC site. G…

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More Happier: James Taylor, Unrealistic Expectations & Do You Love to Provision? 26:07

1M ago26:07

26:07

James Taylor and a new puppy are making us happier. We also explore the question of whether it’s common these days to have perhaps unrealistically high expectations from the people and organizations in our lives, from marriage to work to friendship. Plus we discuss an intriguing question: Do you love to "provision,” to stock up on essential items? …

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Ep. 537: Create a Family “Familect,” Organize Your Apps & Listeners’ Great Secrets of Adulthood 30:36

1M ago30:36

30:36

We discuss the idea of the “familect” and why it might be fun to create a dictionary for our own familect. We also talk about a hack that makes it easier to use a smartphone, and we share dozens of listeners’ thought-provoking “Secrets of Adulthood.” Resources & links related to this episode: Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Join Secrets of …

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Little Happier: Some Words from Winston Churchill—Among Other Things, He Was a Terrific Writer 8:36

1M ago8:36

8:36

Winston Churchill was an extraordinary presence on the world stage, and among his strengths, he had a tremendous gift with words. Here are just a few of the powerful, insightful, or hilarious observations he made. Resources & links related to this episode: Secrets of Adulthood Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill Episode of “A Little Happier on …

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More Happier: Parenting Roundtable with Dr. Becky and Samantha Bee 42:16

1M ago42:16

42:16

The Roundtable Series tackles the subject of parenthood. With parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy and comedian Samantha Bee, we discuss the most helpful lessons we’ve learned, big challenges we’ve faced, the anxieties that we sometimes feel as parents, and more. Resources & links related to this episode: Dr. Becky Kennedy Samantha Bee Get in touch: …

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Ep. 536: Make a Before-&-After Book, Enter the Library, and How to Deal with a Questioner Spouse 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

We discuss how creating before-and-after photo books of renovations or improvements can bring satisfaction and preserve memories. Our happiness hack suggests visiting your local library (or museum) for the first time; that first visit can be surprising to make. We also share listeners’ strategies for handling a spouse who asks too many questions at…

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Little Happier: The Surprising Origin of One of My Favorite Book Titles 4:19

2M ago4:19

4:19

I love book titles, and when I finally tracked down the book attached to one of my favorite titles, I was astonished to learn where I heard about it. 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 transc…

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More Happier: Our Longest-Lasting Relationships, a New Way to Think About Our Past & a Fun Quiz 23:50

2M ago23:50

23:50

We discuss why it’s interesting to consider our longest continuous non-family relationships. We spotlight a tool for spring: the Five-Senses Quiz that helps you discover which of our senses might be neglected. Plus, we explore how authors like Stephen King shape their creative landscapes from personal memories, and how viewing the own past through …

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Ep. 535: Create Your “Summer of __,” Some Reading Recommendations & Listeners’ Favorite Words 36:39

2M ago36:39

36:39

We discuss a fun summer challenge of focusing on a specific theme or goal. We also include a few helpful, fun hacks, and we share some of listeners’ favorite words—a delightful collection of language. Resources & links related to this episode: Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Read 25 in 25 Design Your Summer Reading List in the Happier app E…

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Little Happier: Good Smell, Bad Smell? Context Changes Our Experience. 2:47

2M ago2:47

2:47

Our perception of smells depends on context—the same scent is experienced as delightful when labeled "Parmesan cheese" but revolting when called "vomit." Our interpretation of our circumstances often matters just as much as the circumstances themselves. Resources & links related to this episode: Life in Five Senses Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrub…