Update
I’m excited to hit the road for the paperback release of my book Life in Five Senses.
- June 6, 2024, in Atlanta, GA with Charis Books & More at First Baptist Church of Decatur
- June 7, 2024, in Dallas, TX at Interabang Books
Get details at happiercast.com/bookevents.
Try This at Home
Try these summer hacks from listeners. So many great suggestions!
Happiness Hack
A listener explains that if you use an iPhone, you can use Harry Potter spells to turn the flashlight on and off for a hands-free touch of whimsy.
Say “Siri, lumos” to turn it on and “Siri, knox” to turn it off.
Interview
We talk to Kelly Ripa, legendary actor and television daytime talk-show host. Since 2001, she has been the co-host of the morning talk show Live! With Kelly and Mark in its various formats since Live! With Regis and Kelly.
She’s also the host of the terrific new podcast, Let’s Talk Off Camera.
She has just published her first book, the New York Times bestselling collection of essays Live Wire: Long Winded Short Stories (Amazon, Bookshop).
We talk about how she decides what to reveal and what to keep private; why she always assumes she can do something; how she’s always had the ability to get people to confide; and more.
Kelly’s Tendency: I attempt a flash analysis of Kelly’s Tendency…I think she’s an Upholder or a Questioner, but I’d be interested to hear what result she gets from the Four Tendencies quiz.
Kelly’s Try This at Home: Somewhere in your home, dance with reckless abandon.
Demerits & Gold Stars
Gretchen’s Demerit: I didn’t take notes as I was talking to many different people at various conferences and reunions.
Elizabeth’s Gold Star: She gives a gold star to the outstanding clerk who helped her buy hiking boots at REI.
Resource
Earlier this month, in a fun “More Happier” episode, we shared quick, manageable tasks to get ready for summer. Sweep the deck! If you missed that episode or couldn’t participate, don’t worry. I’ve created a bingo card to gamify your summer preparations. Download the “Sweep the Deck Bingo Card” from happiercast.com/resources.
What We’re Reading
*This transcript is unedited*
[485]
[music]
Gretchen
Hello and welcome to a happier a podcast where we talk about ideas, strategies and hacks for making our lives happier. This week we’ve got a lot of hacks. This week we ask for your hacks and we share listeners hacks for summer. Plus, we’ll talk to the legendary Kelly Ripa about her new book, Live Wire. Long Winded Short Stories.
Gretchen
I’m Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, Good habits, the Five Senses, Human Nature. I’m in my little home office in New York City. And joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. Kraft. And, Elizabeth, you and I love a hack.
Elizabeth
That’s me. Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A.. Yes, Gretch. We love all kinds of hacks, travel hacks, summer hacks, style hacks, any kind of hack. And I love Kelly Ripa, who happens to be best friends. Gretch with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper are two of my favorites.
Gretchen
It will be so fun to talk to her. So before we jump in, first, speaking of hacks, we are gathering a set of hacks that will be useful to us personally. We are not going to reveal anything more at this time, but let’s just say we would like any hacks related to travel, hiking and exercise generally. So send in your hacks.
Gretchen
We are gathering them up.
Elizabeth
And remember to send us questions for our Ask US Anything episode. We’re getting so many fun questions.
Gretchen
That’s going to be a great episode. And then finally, I am hitting the road for the paperback release of my book Life in Five Senses. June six, 2024. I will be in Atlanta, Georgia, with Caris books and more at First Baptist Church of Decatur. And then June 7th, I will be heading to Dallas, Texas for interrabang books. Please join me.
Gretchen
It’s going to be so fun. You can get all the details at happier cars.com slash book events.
Elizabeth
Excellent. Yeah.
Gretchen
Okay. Now, this week I tried this at home is to try these summer hacks. We have a smorgasbord of summer hacks sent in by listeners. So fun.
Elizabeth
Yes. Karen says when you’re on a trip, find a bookshop and buy a book. Not necessarily. What about that place? Although it could be. But what do you want to read then, when you’re reading it after your trip? And every time you see it on your bookshelf after that, it will remind you of your trip. It’s amazing how often you can find bookshops all over the world with sections of books in English.
Elizabeth
I just bought Killers of the Flower Moon in Bari, Italy, for example. Also, finding the bookshop itself can be a fun little expedition, and often you see streets in a city you might not have walked down otherwise.
Gretchen
This reminds me of my secret of adulthood that a quest is more fun than a jaunt. Yeah. So going to look for a bookstore is like a fun thing to do in a new city, Stacy says. I’m in the middle of a trip right now. We are doing a road trip with a family wedding in the middle and hiking along the way, which has meant a weird combo of clothes.
Gretchen
We got a used cooler, some plastic plates, and some actually really nice kitchen knives with sheets at a thrift store in our starting city, Phoenix, and have been picnicking along the way to save money. It’s also been hard for vegetarians to find decent meals in these smaller Southwest towns and tourist sites. Also, I brought a plain water bottle and have been adding souvenir stickers to it along the way.
Gretchen
I love a sticker and this is a great way. You’re creating a keepsake and getting to do fun things with stickers. I love that.
Elizabeth
Yes. Tonight either says a notebook or travel journal. It’s great to jot down notes or memories to enjoy later. I recently found one from a trip I took years ago. There were little details I had forgotten, but as I read my notes, I could see it in my mind and enjoy the memories all over again.
Gretchen
Yeah, and I should mention that we’ve heard from listeners that they use my five Senses journal or the one sentence journal in this way. So if you’re interested in that, check out those journals on my site. Jenny Bell says Pack one mesh laundry bag for the entire family to share. It takes up almost no room, but is invaluable.
Gretchen
As clothes get dirty, throw them in whether you’re doing laundry on the trip or after you get home. This always saves a lot of time. Very good idea.
Elizabeth
Yes. And I like keeping the dirty clothes separate. Yeah, the clean clothes. It makes them feel like they’re still clean. Yes. Good point. Marie Claire says less is enough. My latest mantra. I mean.
Gretchen
Easier said than done.
Elizabeth
Yes.
Gretchen
So true. Yes. Coleen has a suggestion that we’ve discussed before, but because it’s kind of a life in five senses hack, I can’t resist including it by a new perfume or body spray and use it on your trip. Then whenever you use it, when you get home, it will evoke memories from your travels. Lovely.
Elizabeth
Karen says. I make sure all my clothes mix and match. Yes, I have taken to that philosophy when packing and that is very helpful.
Gretchen
Yeah, Julia says, Always pack your own pillowcase. It will feel like home when you sleep, and that makes it easier to sleep. This is sort of next level. I’ve never thought to do that, but it’s a good idea.
Elizabeth
It is, especially for people who have trouble sleeping away from home.
Gretchen
And Julia has another one. I try on everything I’m packing before I leave to make sure it is still comfortable and matches. I also note what I’m wearing each day to ensure I have something for every activity. It prevents me from over packing. This is really good because I have a tendency to pack clothes that I haven’t worn in a while, thinking like, I’ve worn this in a while.
Gretchen
I’ll pocket so I’ll make sure to wear it. But there’s a reason I haven’t worn it. Yes. And then it might not work very well. So this is a good hack.
Elizabeth
Barb says pack a spoon. That way you can stop into a grocery store and grab a yogurt or even a pasta salad for a quick snack.
Gretchen
Yeah, I pack a fork to. I find them really useful. Just says pack all dark colored clothes easier to wash everything in one go rather than needing to separate your light to darks. Plus, dark clothes don’t show stains as easily. Also, you need fewer shoes than you think, depending on the type of trip a pair of comfortable, smart sneakers will probably do it in every situation.
Gretchen
It certainly would have been enough for my current trip to Japan. That’s good because shoes take up so much space and they’re so heavy.
Elizabeth
Yes, we have another Gretchen who says I always pack a lightweight, reusable tote bag, one that can lay flat Athleta bag any tote bag that I got for free as it can be used as a pool or beach bag or if I buy too much for my luggage, I can carry it on and check my bag. I do this, you do this Gretch.
Elizabeth
And this is one of my favorite hacks. Yeah. Also a small handheld battery operated or USB chargeable fan. Good for on planes before the air is on hotel rooms standing in lines at airports. I was once told by a flight attendant that many of them carry them for those exact reasons.
Gretchen
Excellent. Holly says put names on masking tape on the outside of the passport. It sounds silly, but is surprisingly helpful for families or groups to know which passport is which without having to flip open to the picture page. Each time I’m going to do this, I have to say I thought the passport was like a sacred document that you couldn’t do that to.
Gretchen
But I think as long as you’re like on the cover, it should be fine. And it is a pain taking it in the open. Yeah.
Elizabeth
And you never know which page the photo is on. I’m always having to remember where it now where is the photo?
Gretchen
And then what if you grabbed the wrong one and you’re often, you know, I mean it’s this is a really that’s a good ask.
Elizabeth
Kim said pack your sense of humor some stage you will need it. Yes.
Gretchen
Yes it remember one of my secrets of adulthood mishaps often make the best memories. Christmas as I always pack a pashmina with me when I travel. It has so many uses covers my head when the sun is too strong, covered shoulders, when going into a church or mosque scarper shoulder wrap. If you’re chilly or just to add personality to an outfit, it rolls up and fits in a purse.
Gretchen
Endless uses. I always have this when I travel because I get so cold.
Elizabeth
Yes, I even like just putting it over myself, laying on the bed and reading or something rather than messing up the nice bed. Yes, Shannon said before a trip, I make a list on my phone of everything I’m packing, which of course helps stay organized during the packing process. But after the trip, I go through the list in reverse, identifying all the things I packed but never bothered to use, or where this helps me plan for the next time away eliminating clothes, accessories, toiletries that I’m prone to think I need.
Elizabeth
But actually don’t.
Gretchen
Get, S.l said. New one after this week’s trip to Toronto. Bring two phone chargers, one for the hotel, one for the rental car mats can really drain a battery room.
Elizabeth
Midha says. Bring an empty water bottle that you can fill after you pass through security. Always good to have water on hand. And you know, most airports now have water bottles filling places.
Gretchen
Dispensers.
Elizabeth
You know, you’re getting nice, clean, cold water.
Gretchen
Yeah. Genesis says packing cubes can keep you organized and save space, especially when packing for a family. Well, one thing I’ll say is you can also use a plastic bag if you don’t want to buy packing cubes. They’re clear. Which a lot of people like that in the packing cube. But you and I are big fans of the official packing cube.
Gretchen
You gave them to me for Christmas. I use them all the time. You gave them to Eliza And Eleanor, they use them constantly.
Elizabeth
Yes. I just gave them to someone graduating high school. Yeah. For college? Yes.
Gretchen
They’re the kind of thing that for the rest of your life, you can use those packing cubes. Yeah. So here’s my.
Elizabeth
Hack.
Gretchen
And it’s related to the Ziploc bag, which is pack anything that can leak in a plastic bag and this could just be like a grocery store plastic bag. But you never regret it because it’s rare that they leak. But when they leak, it’s so bad, it’s completely worth the effort to put something in a plastic bag and pack snacks.
Gretchen
That’s a hat for me. And here’s a hack that I just saw Jamie use, and it reminded me of how clever this is, which is take a picture of your room key or your room so that you remember it. If you don’t or like where you parked your car, because it’s easier to think, of course I’ll remember it.
Gretchen
And then you just don’t think of it and then it’s a big hassle. So just taking that quick photo can save you a lot of time and energy.
Elizabeth
Yes. Well, here is my hack. And this is for anybody who’s traveling with dogs, like a road trip, because, you know, Adam and I have found we love taking Nacho and Daisy away for a few days. My hack is bring more towels than you think you need. So we always bring a couple of towels when we have the dogs with us.
Elizabeth
And I found it’s good to bring maybe an extra couple. Yeah, because somehow they’ll get wet. They get dirty, You can put it over your lap if they’re going to sit on your lap in the car for some reason and maybe shed. Yeah. It’s just good that when you have a dog, it’s just better to have a towel than not have a towel.
Elizabeth
Yes.
Gretchen
Good hack. Well, let us know if you do try these at home and how these summer hacks work for you. What did we miss? We are always in the market. For more hacks, let us know on Instagram. Tik Tok threads Facebook. Send us an email at podcast to Gretchen Rubicam. Or as always, you can go to the Shownotes go to have your cars.com slash 485 for everything related to this episode.
Elizabeth
Coming up, we’ve got a fun iPhone hack. But first this break.
[music]
Gretchen
This week’s happiness hack has whimsy and I cannot get enough of whimsy. This is hilarious. I have tried it. It works.
Elizabeth
This comes from Juliet. She says you mention the iPhone light being great. Did you know you can turn it on and off with Harry Potter spells? Say Siri Lumos to turn it on and Siri Knox to turn it off. It’s great for hands free use and a touch of whimsy.
Gretchen
Yeah. We were talking in an earlier episode about how handy it is to have a flashlight on your smartphone. But who knew that you could turn it on with a verbal spell?
Elizabeth
Yes, which is especially handy if you’re in the dark.
Gretchen
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And now for an interview. We are so excited to be talking to the legendary Kelly Ripa. Kelly Ripa is an actor and television daytime talk show host. Since 2001, she has been the co-host of the morning talk show Live with Kelly and Mark in its various formats since Live with Regis and Kelly. She’s also the host of the terrific new podcast.
Gretchen
Let’s talk off camera.
Elizabeth
And if all that’s not enough, she has just published her first book. It’s a New York Times best seller, a collection of essays called Live Wire, Long Winded Short Stories. And I’ll read a description in Live Wire. Her first book. Kelly’s shows what really makes her tick as a professional, as a wife, as a daughter, and as a mother, she brings a hard earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day.
Elizabeth
It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification. Once she proves that you cannot in fact die of embarrassment, Kelly always tells it like it is.
Elizabeth
Kelly takes no prisoners.
Gretchen
Well, just you know, what I just realized is that the book is called Live Wire, and her show is called Live. And I live Wire made so much sense I didn’t connect it to the TV show. But that’s a very clever title.
Elizabeth
Very clever.
Gretchen
Hey, Kelly.
Kelly Ripa
Hi, Kelly. Ladies. Good day.
Kelly Ripa
Thanks for having.
Kelly Ripa
Me. I appreciate it.
Gretchen
We’re so happy to be talking to you.
Elizabeth
We are. Now, Kelly, you are extremely candid. You’re known for that. For instance, you talk a lot about the inner workings of your marriage behind the scenes of the TV show and a lot of details about your family and friends in the book. How did you decide where to draw the line or do you draw or not?
Kelly Ripa
So I draw so many lines. So I’m very careful about what I put in the book. I sent out the chapters that involved the innocent, as I like to correct the record in any way to make notations, to say, you know, I remember it differently than that. And so I was very careful. Any story that I tell in the book are stories that I’ve told either on the air, on my talk show or at dinner parties where it’s kind of public.
Kelly Ripa
So nothing is that mysterious. If it’s really personal and super private, and I am an excellent secret keeper. And Gretchen and Liz, if you were to say to me in confidence between us, can I tell you, then it will go to the grave with me because I am excellent at keeping secrets. But when things happen sort of publicly, or if something happens privately and it’s ludicrous and funny, I will say, Hey, do you mind if I.
Kelly Ripa
Ask.
Kelly Ripa
How? How was this for you? Is this the way you recall? Do you like this? Is there something to this? Or would you prefer I take it out entirely? So that’s how I went about writing the book.
Gretchen
Well, it’s interesting because I think to a reader or a viewer, they feel like you’re you’re you’re being so open about so many things. They feel like they’re they’re getting everything, but they don’t realize all the things that you’re not disclosing.
Kelly Ripa
So, yeah, there is there’s it would be a 6000.
Kelly Ripa
Volume.
Kelly Ripa
Document that nobody would be interested in reading as it was. My editor cut 200 pages out of this book because, wow, she actually said to me, because I did not understand some of the things that were left out. I thought some real gems were left out of the book. And Carrie Thornton, in her infinite wisdom, said, Kelly, have you ever seen a movie that’s one hour?
Kelly Ripa
Yeah. Yeah.
Kelly Ripa
And and so she put it in a language I could easily understand. And I said, Got it. Okay. You’re right.
Gretchen
Well, this is your first book. You just started a podcast, too. So you’re doing these new things and you say in your book that you always assume that you can do anything, which is remarkable. Now, did that help when you were first starting with Live with Regis and Kelly? That gave you the courage to do it.
Kelly Ripa
They say ignorance is bliss for a reason, because it really is bliss. When you go into something not knowing what it is you’re undertaking, you come at it from a place of joy and enthusiasm. It’s only after you do it for a while that you realize, my gosh, I’ve bitten off so much more than I can show.
Kelly Ripa
How do I? So I liken myself to sort of a human hamster wheel. I shove it all in my cheeks, get stuffed down to here, and I’m like, I’ll break this down later. I’ll just work on digesting this at a later date. And that’s how I tackle everything. I mean, that’s how I tackled writing the book.
Kelly Ripa
I actually thought that because I talk for a living, that writing a book would just be like talking. When, in fact, I realized quickly that it was very hard for me. And I am uneducated in that way. I have no formal education in terms of beyond high school, and so writing a book was a really profoundly difficult experience for me, and it took me a long.
Gretchen
You wore out your chair. I mean, that is as a writer, that is next level.
Kelly Ripa
Yeah.
Kelly Ripa
I, I wore out my chair and more and more horrifying, I wore out my butt off. So I still to this day.
Kelly Ripa
Is like my chair, like.
Kelly Ripa
Nobody understands it. I can send you a picture if you promise not to share it with everybody. But my butt is now square. It’s shaped like a square and I can’t figure out how to fix it. I work out. I work out a lot trying to fix it. I’ve done microneedling to try to fix it. my God.
Kelly Ripa
And I think it’s just permanently shaped like a chair professional.
Elizabeth
Well, it shows you put the work into the book.
Kelly Ripa
I was determined to do it myself. That was my big determining factor, was that if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it myself. I don’t want help doing it. But therefore, you know, physically, my furniture and I suffered.
Elizabeth
You paid the price?
Kelly Ripa
Yes.
Elizabeth
Well, now, just over a year ago, you launched your podcast. Let’s talk off camera, which I am enjoying so much fun that, Kelly, you make people so comfortable that they say things they probably wouldn’t normally say.
Gretchen
You laugh with an evil.
Kelly Ripa
Yes. Yes.
Elizabeth
Is that something you’ve always been able to do to get people to confide? You mentioned you’re a good secret keeper. Maybe that’s part of it. Yeah.
Kelly Ripa
I mean, I think that there it’s a sort of a multi-part answer. So I think that I’ve always been an active listener, which, as you both know from from what you do, being an active listener is part of squeezing the juice out of the lemon in the right way. I also think that because our podcast is off camera, there is a certain relaxed environment surrounding that that you just see people even I think even when people are logging on to do the podcast, they’re truly not entirely convinced that it’s off camera until they see me.
Kelly Ripa
And then they’re like, it really is off camera.
Elizabeth
Yeah, ha ha ha ha ha.
Kelly Ripa
So then they sort of relax back into their furniture or I we’ve done it. People have been in their car picking up their kids from school. I mean, people do people do the podcast in myriad ways. Carol BURNETT did it over the telephone. So we really a comedy. We meet people where they are. If they’re still in bed, then we’re still in bed.
Kelly Ripa
And so I think there’s a relaxed nature around that. The whole formation for the podcast came from people coming into my dressing room after the talk show and really telling me the most interesting things off camera because it was off camera. It wasn’t in front of an audience. And we are very mindful of sometimes people share things they wish they hadn’t, and we always allow everyone the option to take out whatever they wish they had and said, I don’t want to be the person that I don’t want to be the one night stand that people regret.
Kelly Ripa
You know, not to be in a one night stand and they go, That was great. And I feel amazing about the way that went down.
Gretchen
Okay, Kelly, I want to do a rapid fire, a set of questions to see if I can tell your tendency, if you’re an upholder question obliger rebel, I can ask you a few questions. Now, of course, you’d have to take the quiz to get like an actual answer to Gretchen Rubin dot com slash quiz. But sometimes I can do a flash one.
Gretchen
So I. I want to see. Okay, So let me ask you this. How do you feel about New Year’s resolutions?
Kelly Ripa
I feel that they are really nonsense. However, I do like the idea of setting an intention with out the caveat of feeling guilty if it doesn’t come to fruition.
Gretchen
Now, why are they nonsense?
Kelly Ripa
I just. I don’t like the idea that people put pressure in starting out a new year with a with the idea of you could set yourself up for fun.
Gretchen
Okay. Okay. Do you ever think, why can I keep my promises to other people? But I can’t keep my promises to myself?
Kelly Ripa
No, because I’m pretty good at keeping my promises to both. I’m a woman of my word, So if I’m a woman of my word to other people, then I’m a woman of my word to myself.
Gretchen
Would people ever say that you’re rigid in your scheduling? Yes. I mean, apart from your work is obviously incredibly rigid, yet.
Kelly Ripa
No.
Gretchen
Like in your private life.
Kelly Ripa
Yeah. No, I am. I’m pretty. I’m pretty decent. And in my scheduling, even even when I’m not working, I have a routine and I. I wouldn’t be hard to I hate to say this, but I wouldn’t be hard to, like, assassinate. I really like that routine. And it’s it’s it’s. I never deviate.
Gretchen
Okay, so last question. I think I’m getting a handle on you. Let’s say you and I were in a we live. We live near each other. Let’s say we were in a coffee shop. Read the back room. There’s nobody really around. There’s a big sign that says absolutely no cell phone use. And I pull out my cell phone and I start using it.
Gretchen
How do you feel?
Kelly Ripa
I mean, I feel I am very I am uncomfortable because I know that sign is there. We’re not following the rules because I’m a rule follower by nature. But mostly I feel bad that I’ve not been able to hold your attention that. However, I am so used to not holding people’s attention rapidly. I this happens to me all the time.
Kelly Ripa
My husband pulls out his cell phone all the time and utilizes it with abandon. And I’m friends with Andy Cohen, who is one of the world’s great cell phone manipulators during our conversations. So I have like I can glaze over it with a certain acceptance because it’s just a part of daily life.
Gretchen
Okay. Well, I’m guessing that you’re an upholder or a questioner. I would have to, like, dig a little bit deeper to see.
Kelly Ripa
I’m going to take I’m going to take the quiz. Yeah.
Gretchen
And there’s no pressure to to act on it. It’s just fun.
Kelly Ripa
I want you to figure me out.
Gretchen
Yeah. I wish we had, like, 2 hours, because I would I would love nothing more than to just pepper you with questions and try to dial in. But finally, we ask every guest. Do you have a suggestion for a try? This at home suggestion? Something that. That listeners can do is just part of their ordinary day. Something to be happier, healthier, more productive, more creative.
Gretchen
Something. Something that you do or something that you wish you did.
Kelly Ripa
100%. Dance with reckless abandon anywhere in your house. Crank up the music, whatever song you like, Whatever song is your jam, whether it’s in the car or the dentist or wherever it is that you’re like, this is my jam. People do it a lot. I think, in their cars. I don’t know. I don’t drive a car because I live in New York City, but I do it in my earbuds but dance like no one is watching.
Kelly Ripa
Because if you’re home alone, chances are one is watching. That elevates your mood. It elevates your sort of ability to conceptualize your life in ways that you can’t imagine.
Gretchen
That’s a great suggestion, and that’s something that gets you right away. So that’s wonderful.
Kelly Ripa
Works like a charm, even if you are even if you are unable to move your body in that way. If you crank up a song that you love in your house and you’re seated, you’re sat in your sofa, you’re sat in your chair, wherever you can still use the rest of your body to just even your your mind’s your mind’s by, you know, the body in your mind.
Kelly Ripa
You can get yourself there by just cranking up the music and letting yourself go. It it really works. It is an it immediate mood improver.
Gretchen
Well, this is a great suggestion. Research totally backs you up that listening to your one of your favorite upbeat songs is one of the quickest, easiest ways to intervene in your mood. And if you’re dancing around and you just get all that exercise and you just pumpin it up all the more, that’s great.
Kelly Ripa
I’m so glad the data back.
Gretchen
I got it. You got.
Elizabeth
sorry. I says you have to dance.
Gretchen
Well, thank you so much, Kelly. This is so fun to talk to you.
Kelly Ripa
Really appreciate it. Thanks so much, Gretchen and Liz, I’m so impressed that you can work together.
Gretchen
Well, you work with your husband, so that seems harder than working with a sister.
Kelly Ripa
I know, but we’re not like blood relatives. There’s still. That seems to be, like, some mystery between us.
Gretchen
Yeah. The lack of history between illicit than me. Maybe that’s part of why it works. Yeah, we know each other so well.
Elizabeth
And we’re 3000 miles yesterday.
Kelly Ripa
okay. So there is that. There is that.
Gretchen
Well, thanks so much.
Elizabeth
Appreciate it.
Kelly Ripa
Kelly, enjoy your day. Bye.
Elizabeth
Coming up, Gretchen gives herself a note taking demerit. But first, this break.
[music]
Elizabeth
Okay, gretch. We’re back with demerits and gold stars. And you are up this week with a happiness to demerit.
Gretchen
Yes. And this I suspect this is a repeat, Tamara, though I can’t remember for sure, but anyway, over the last several weeks, I’ve been in situations where I’ve been talking to a lot of people that I don’t usually see. For instance, I went to my college reunion and I went to a conference and when I do that, I hear so many interesting stories and examples and anecdotes and questions, and I get ideas for like television shows and podcasts and books.
Gretchen
And the problem is, I just didn’t take enough notes. Sometimes I did take notes, but sometimes, you know, I didn’t have my pen and paper at the ready. I don’t like pulling out my phone and typing into it when I’m talking to somebody somehow that I don’t know. And even pulling out paper sometimes takes you out of the moment where you’re having an intense conversation.
Gretchen
But now I really regret it. And Elizabeth, you and I keep learning over and over. Never think, this is such a big idea. I’ll never forget it because I keep thinking, so tell me about this amazing book that I really, really want to read. But what was it? Or I heard this really interesting hack, but now I can’t remember what it was.
Gretchen
So anyway, my demerit is always have pen and paper and just pull it out, even if it feels a little awkward in the long run. I will be glad that I took notes.
Elizabeth
Yes. And I worst case, I’ll just tell somebody I’m going to text this. You all texts myself. Yes. Yeah. Especially podcast segment ideas. I will text myself the idea and I just announced I’m doing it.
Gretchen
In the funny thing is, I think people actually sometimes feel flattered because they’re like, wow, she really is hearing what I’m saying or she’s really interested in following up. So it’s not like they take it amiss. It’s just that it pulls me out of the conversation. Just sort of the fussing. Yeah, but you’re right. It’s just it’s worth doing.
Gretchen
So take us up. What is your gold star?
Elizabeth
My gold star goes to the guy who helps me buy hiking boots. So I needed to get some hiking boots, you know, real ones, which I’ve never had and have, like, ankle support. And I was at REI, which was super crowded because they were having a big sale. And this guy who was helping me was helping. I think at least six or seven people at once.
Elizabeth
He was getting, you know, what size you need, what size you need, running to the back, carving out checking sizes, because it’s not an easy thing to get hiking boots like now you need advice.
Gretchen
You know, it’s very high stakes, too, because if they don’t fit.
Elizabeth
Yes, he was grabbing me socks, hiking socks to try on with the boots. He was answering another question from someone across the way and I just was really admiring his ability to help so many people to stay calm, but also focus. On your question when you ask it and not just blowing you off, which would have been, I’m sure, very tempting to do so.
Elizabeth
Gold Star.
Gretchen
that’s great. No, I feel like selling shoes is really hard and to do it simultaneously with multiple people, that is very difficult. Okay, well, Gold Star, that’s great.
Elizabeth
By the way, I did, because I know from this podcast it’s something we want to do. I complimented him on the spot. that’s good. And I think he appreciated.
Gretchen
that’s great. Yeah. We should always tell people when we notice that they deserve a gold star. Yes. The resource for this week. Earlier this month, in a more happier episode, we shared some quick, manageable tasks to get ready for summer In our Sweep the Deck episode. One of those on deck episodes, if you missed that episode or couldn’t participate do not worry, I will put a link in the show notes.
Gretchen
And also I have created a bingo card to gamify your summer preparation. Some people love to gamify anything. You might be even more motivated when you can see yourself cross things off the list and working towards bingo. And if you want the bingo card, want to join the fun, just download the Sweep the deck bingo card PDF from Happy Hour Cars.com slash Resources.
Gretchen
People love these episodes. Elizabeth’s super fun.
Elizabeth
so fun.
Gretchen
So what are we reading? Elizabeth? What are you reading?
Elizabeth
I am reading Before We Were Innocent by Ella Burman.
Gretchen
And I am reading The Rook by Daniel O’Malley. And that’s it for this episode of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Try some of the summer hacks. Let us know what you tried and what worked for you.
Elizabeth
Thank you to Kelly Ripa. Read her new book, Live Wire and listen to her podcast. Let’s talk off camera. Thank you to our executive producer, Chuck Reed and everyone at Odyssey. Get in touch. Gretchen’s on Instagram threads, Facebook and Tik Tok. Add Gretchen Rubin and I’m on Instagram and threads at Liz Craft. Our email address is podcast at Gretchen Rubin dot com.
Gretchen
And if you like the show, please rate review. Follow it and tell a friend. Here comes your rhyming reminder. If the show brightens your day, send others this way.
Elizabeth
Until next week. I’m Elizabeth.
Gretchen
Craft. And I’m Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward.
Kelly Ripa
You guys are the best. I appreciate it. I just want you to know you have Liz there. Here, Jen and Albert. I have Jen and Albert are here with me. The other voices that.
Elizabeth
I was wondering when we met Jen, if she was the one.
Kelly Ripa
We had to do the lives of.
Kelly Ripa
People. Now it’s.
Kelly Ripa
Albert gets discovered by his laugh, like at the.
Kelly Ripa
Door this.
Weekend. And I laughed, and someone turned the corner and said, Are you Kelly’s Albert?
Gretchen
Are you Kelly’s Albert? I love that you got voice. Recognize excellence. I died. from the onword project.