Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Ep. 594: Try Becoming a Fan, Plus Tips for Dealing with Travel Bores

Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should always RSVP, and how to stop a simple gathering from, over time, becoming too much work.
Episode Highlights:
- Try This at Home: Always RSVP — Why responding promptly (even with a “no”) makes us a better guest [05:49]
- Happiness Hack: Try a bag organizer insert — A simple way to keep a carry-on, tote, or structureless bag tidy and travel-ready. [14:22]
- Happiness Stumbling Block: Presentation Creep — How over-delivering can gradually turn a casual get-together into something burdensome. [16:00]
- Listener Update: Hearing Aids — Listeners share how hearing aids changed their lives, plus a practical tip on using Apple AirPods Pro as a starter hearing test. [01:44]
- Demerits & Gold Stars — Gretchen’s demerit: not enough watercoloring; Elizabeth’s gold star: for the friend who created “Trail and Talk” [21:29]
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Bag organizer insert: [https://amzn.to/4oc1oPO]
- Five-Senses Journal (20% off with code HAPPIER20):
- More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (Amazon, Bookshop)
- The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Amazon, Bookshop)
Listen to our Bookclub interview with Elizabeth Strout here!
Connect with Us:
- Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
- Website: gretchenrubin.com
- Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft
- Take the free Four Tendencies quiz
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify — it helps other listeners find the show!
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
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