This week, we released the 500th weekly original episode of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast! Yes, I have to brag: Since the week we started, we haven’t taken a single break or repeated ourselves in our weekly Wednesday episode. To celebrate this milestone, I’m sharing some of my favorite episodes, going back to the very beginning.
Onward,
5 Things I Published This Month
1
EPISODE 1
The First Episode of “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” — Exciting!
We discuss the one-minute rule for tackling clutter, whether you’re a “satisficer” or “maximizer,” the infamous one-coin loophole—plus Elizabeth talks about the treadmill desk that I gave her (the best gift I’ve ever given anyone). So many things have changed since that first episode—we record at home, not in studios; our producer is Chuck Reed, not Henry Molofsky; our network is Audacy, not Panoply; and Elizabeth and I are much more relaxed when we record. But we’ve kept the same basic format since we started. It really works.
2
EPISODE 160
Live from Elizabeth’s Cluttered Home Office.
We meet in Elizabeth’s home office to clear some clutter, and I must admit, in this episode, I really indulge my happiness-bully side. I enjoyed working on this episode much more than Elizabeth did, but as a kind sister, she went along—she knows that clearing her clutter is one of my favorite things to do.
3
EPISODE 277
Schedule an “Empower Hour” and a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Confiding Secrets.
We talk about why you might schedule a weekly “empower hour” to put your values into the world and how a dollar bill can come in handy. We also shine a spotlight on the writings of the brilliant Nnedi Okorafor, and explore a revealing question about secrets. Each week, one of our most popular recurring segments is the “Happiness Hack,” in which we discuss some simple hack for making life happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative.
4
EPISODE 362
Give Yourself a Derby Name and a Conversation with “The Good Place” Creator Mike Shur.
I didn’t expect the idea of a “derby name” to make such a splash! My derby name is “The Arrow.” Listen if you want to know why. (Side note on Mike Schur: One reason that I love his TV shows is that they all show a deep intuitive grasp of the Four Tendencies framework. It’s so fun for me to see the Tendencies play out on the screen. Mike Schur himself is an Upholder.)
5
EPISODE 440
We Talk About Regret—Our Own Regrets and Listeners’ Regrets.
Every tenth episode, we do a “Very Special Episode,” where we go deep on a single subject or do something unusual. In this episode, we explore the subject of regret. We talk about the most common categories of regrets and why reflecting on regret can help us make our lives happier. We share some of our own regrets, and also listeners’ regrets. This episode really resonated with listeners.
NOW AVAILABLE
Four Tendencies Sticker Sheets
Use these stickers as a reminder to harness your Tendency and find the strategies that work for you to build the habits that make you happier. Place them on your water bottle, laptop, notebook, or equipment.
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