Best Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project Podcasts (2025)

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

18h 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…

1
Little Happier: Four Helpful “Secrets of Adulthood” for Parents 5:46

3d 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…

1
More Happier: James Taylor, Unrealistic Expectations & Do You Love to Provision? 26:07

5d 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? …

1
Ep. 537: Create a Family “Familect,” Organize Your Apps & Listeners’ Great Secrets of Adulthood 30:36

8d 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

10d 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

12d 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

15d 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

17d 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

19d 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 …

1
Ep. 535: Create Your “Summer of __,” Some Reading Recommendations & Listeners’ Favorite Words 36:39

22d 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

24d 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…

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More Happier: Gretchen Rubin on NPR's Life Kit 22:01

26d ago22:01

22:01

We bring you my interview with NPR's Life Kit where I discuss that the key to happiness is actually to know yourself better and what questions to ask yourself. We also discuss my Four Tendencies framework and one of my favorite "try this at home" hacks: the one minute rule. Resources & links related to this episode: Four Tendencies Quiz One-minute …

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Ep. 534: Recognize Your Exceptional Advantage, Don’t Be Fooled by Familiarity & an Empty-Nest Question 30:23

29d ago30:23

30:23

We discuss why it's valuable to identify your "exceptional advantages" in both work and personal life—those unique blessings or abilities you might take for granted but actually set you apart. We also share a hack that can save you time and frustration when going somewhere, and a simple, revealing question that can help you know yourself (and other…

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Little Happier: Drifting Through Life: When Not Deciding Becomes a Decision 5:15

1M ago5:15

5:15

Drift—the powerful force of making decisions by not deciding—can shape our lives without our conscious participation. Resources & links related to this episode: Secrets of Adulthood If you’re wondering if you’re drifting, I created a checklist Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selli…

1
More Happier: How Do We Know Ourselves and Our Values? A Short Quiz Reveals So Much 35:01

1M ago35:01

35:01

We talk to the brilliant Suzy Welch about her new book, “Becoming You,” and her Values Bridge quiz which can tells us how we rank fifteen core values—and we explore why knowing our values is such a key element to creating happier lives. Resources & links related to this episode: Becoming You by Suzy Welch (Amazon, Bookshop) "The Summer Day" by Mary…

1
Ep. 533: Dust It Off or Let Go, the Power of PT & How to Create Compelling TV Characters 26:53

1M ago26:53

26:53

We discuss why it’s useful to dust off unused items--and either start using them or give them away. We also share a happiness hack from a listener who explains why it can be very valuable to give physical therapy another chance. Finally, we explore the Secret of Adulthood about cultivating friendship, and we answer a listener's question about how a…

1
Little Happier: When to Listen to Criticism and When to Ignore It 3:55

1M ago3:55

3:55

Distinguishing helpful from unhelpful criticism is a challenge that every creative person faces. No formula exists for knowing which criticism to heed; we must each develop our own discernment. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Coll…

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More Happier: How Regret Can Make You Happier [Revisited] 33:28

1M ago33:28

33:28

We discuss how regret and reflection can help us make better decisions in the future, and increase our happiness. Regret can be a hard thing to talk about. Many people who actually prefer to avoid using the word. By anticipating future regret, we can make better choices in the present, and by reflecting on past regret, we can think about how to do …

1
Ep. 532: Favorite Words, a Simple Packing Hack, and Managing Obliger-Rebellion at Work 33:55

1M ago33:55

33:55

We explore why making a list of your favorite words ("whimsy," "crackle," "latibulate") and using them can boost happiness. We share a simple hack that makes packing easier, and we reflect on a dog-related Secret of Adulthood. We also tackle a listener question about how to manage Obliger-rebellion when facing increased workload after coworker layo…

1
Little Happier: When the Words of Ritual Give Me My “America Feeling” 2:34

1M ago2:34

2:34

Certain moments inspire my "America feeling"—a profound connection to the ideals of the United States. For instance, the formal words of the opening ritual for a session of the United States Supreme Court reminds me of the value of justice. Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling …

1
More Happier: Puppy! Taffy Has Arrived 25:37

2M ago25:37

25:37

We talk about the happiness, rewards, and challenges of having a new dog. Resources & links related to this episode: Support your favorite indie booksellers and enjoy a fun perk from Bookshop Follow me on Instagram for photos and videos of Taffy Read Secrets of Adulthood Get in touch: [email protected] Visit Gretchen's website to learn more…

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Introducing: Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan 43:01

2M ago43:01

43:01

We’re excited to introduce you to Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan, a new show from Lemonada Media. As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the-wall conversations will no doubt inspi…

1
Ep. 531: Arrive Right on Time, Benefits of Pill Organizers & the Strongest Way to Make Friends 27:53

2M ago27:53

27:53

We discuss why arriving right on time for events makes it easier to have fun and to network (especially for introverts or newcomers). We also share the benefits of using an ordinary weekly pill organizer, and explore research supporting the Secret of Adulthood: “One of the best ways to find friends is to make friends with the friends of our friends…

1
Little Happier: Easy Answers or Hard Truths: Whom Do You Trust? 9:01

2M ago9:01

9:01

When we’re trying to make a point, it’s often more effective to tell a story than to deliver a lecture. Example: an episode from the popular TV show “Better Call Saul” memorably illustrates the important truth that we’re probably better off assigning a complex problem to the person who acknowledges the difficulties rather than to the person who off…

1
More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions 27:58

2M ago27:58

27:58

In honor of the arrival of a new dog, we take a flashback to previous discussions of our lives with Barnaby, Daisy, and Nacho. We each decided to “Choose the bigger life,” and we’re very happy we did. Bonus: One of the all-time best episode of “A Little Happier,” all about Barnaby. Resources & links related to this episode: A Little Happier: We’ve …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

1
Ep. 538: Set a Tripwire, Decide If You Need the Storage Unit & Do You Use that Gizmo? 31:16

1
Little Happier: Four Helpful “Secrets of Adulthood” for Parents 5:46

1
More Happier: James Taylor, Unrealistic Expectations & Do You Love to Provision? 26:07

1
Ep. 537: Create a Family “Familect,” Organize Your Apps & Listeners’ Great Secrets of Adulthood 30:36

1
Little Happier: Some Words from Winston Churchill—Among Other Things, He Was a Terrific Writer 8:36

1
More Happier: Parenting Roundtable with Dr. Becky and Samantha Bee 42:16

1
Ep. 536: Make a Before-&-After Book, Enter the Library, and How to Deal with a Questioner Spouse 35:27

1
Little Happier: The Surprising Origin of One of My Favorite Book Titles 4:19

1
More Happier: Our Longest-Lasting Relationships, a New Way to Think About Our Past & a Fun Quiz 23:50

1
Ep. 535: Create Your “Summer of __,” Some Reading Recommendations & Listeners’ Favorite Words 36:39

1
Little Happier: Good Smell, Bad Smell? Context Changes Our Experience. 2:47

1
More Happier: Gretchen Rubin on NPR's Life Kit 22:01

1
Ep. 534: Recognize Your Exceptional Advantage, Don’t Be Fooled by Familiarity & an Empty-Nest Question 30:23

1
Little Happier: Drifting Through Life: When Not Deciding Becomes a Decision 5:15

1
More Happier: How Do We Know Ourselves and Our Values? A Short Quiz Reveals So Much 35:01

1
Ep. 533: Dust It Off or Let Go, the Power of PT & How to Create Compelling TV Characters 26:53

1
Little Happier: When to Listen to Criticism and When to Ignore It 3:55

1
More Happier: How Regret Can Make You Happier [Revisited] 33:28

1
Ep. 532: Favorite Words, a Simple Packing Hack, and Managing Obliger-Rebellion at Work 33:55

1
Little Happier: When the Words of Ritual Give Me My “America Feeling” 2:34

1
More Happier: Puppy! Taffy Has Arrived 25:37

1
Introducing: Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan 43:01

1
Ep. 531: Arrive Right on Time, Benefits of Pill Organizers & the Strongest Way to Make Friends 27:53

1
Little Happier: Easy Answers or Hard Truths: Whom Do You Trust? 9:01

1
More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions 27:58

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