Podcast
Happier in Hollywood
Hosted by The Onward Project · EN
Veteran TV writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain demystify Hollywood by making career and personal struggles universal. Friends since high school and writing partners for over 20 years, Liz and Sarah have survived and thrived in Tinseltown’s male-dominated entertainment industry, guided by blind optimism and a Midwestern work ethic. Along the way they've learned a lot about kicking ass, kissing ass, and office yoga.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 472: Baby Talk & Summer Schemes
6d ago00:34:18Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah are trying out a new pitch technique — instead of writing out their latest pitch word for word, they’re prepping it in bullet points to keep the flow more spontaneous. In The Mailroom, Sarah answers a question from a listener who’s wondering if she should have a baby on her own like Sarah did. The short answer? Do it! Then, in Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah talk about Designing Their Summer. Sarah is going to “move into her house” and Liz is planning a summer of “off-white delight.” Together, they’re going to write their novel! This week’s Hollywood Hack was inspired by a recent mixer Liz attended — put your last name on your name tag at networking events. Finally, Sarah recommends the Apple Playlist Gen X Threads by Elizabeth Maxwell. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Feed Your Fertility by Emily Bartlett & Laura Erlich https://amzn.to/3RMgShb Knock Yourself Up by Louise Sloan: https://amzn.to/4fJ9xJa Going Solo by Genevieve Roberts: https://amzn.to/4nNKZ3I Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman’s Guide by Mikki Morrissette: https://amzn.to/49puSUb Uniqlo Straight Jeans — Off White: https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E482279-000/00?colorDisplayCode=01&sizeDisplayCode=028&pldDisplayCode=031 Gen X Threads Apple Playlist by Elizabeth Maxwell: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/gen-x-threads/pl.u-r2yB16XCP37j6l Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 471: Financial Wellness In New Hollywood (Yes, It’s Possible!)
2w ago00:36:31Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah talk to trauma-informed financial wellness coach Katy Chen Mazzara about the connection between money blocks and creative blocks, why it’s never a good idea to negotiate with a “starving artist” mentality, and how making a budget might negatively impact your relationship to your finances. This week’s Hollywood Hack will relieve stress and help you have a better time: Get there early! Finally, Liz recommends the third season of The Comeback on HBO Max. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Katy Chen Mazzara: https://www.katychenmazzara.com/ Mindful Money Mastery guide:https://www.subscribepage.com/mindfulmoneymastery Katy’s Instagram, LinkedIn, & Substack:https://www.instagram.com/katychenmazzara/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-chen-mazzara/ https://substack.com/@katychenmazzara The Comeback Season Three Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1rVpVCNBgE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 470: Prepping Small Talk & Lazarus Projects
3w ago00:35:27Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah talk about why it’s helpful to prepare small talk topics before a Zoom meeting. Knowing how to fill that awkward time before everyone arrives will reduce your anxiety and improve meeting flow! In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about reality TV lingo. Then, in Take Two, Liz and Sarah revisit the topic of projects they once thought were dead coming suddenly back to life. This week’s Hollywood Hack can make life easier — try the weird tech thing that intimidates you. Finally, Sarah recommends some of her favorite Verticals on DramaBox, including All the Little Ways I Love You, Chained by Affection, and Like Roses, In Summer’s Tender Kiss. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Kayla’s song suggestions: Icona Pop's I LOVE IT Bruno Mars' UPTOWN FUNK Lorde's GREEN LIGHT DramaBox: https://www.dramaboxdb.com/ Han— Back to Life music video: https://youtu.be/F0UIsSnotlA?si=qcvGjRv2ggsXkAUc KC and the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia0zeuZMJbo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 469: Putting Our Reading Into Our Writing
4w ago00:33:42Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah talk about how they plan to incorporate what they’ve gleaned from Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, into the next draft of their novel Bad Trip. Inner censor be damned! In Take A Hike, they share whimsy ideas from listeners who are participating in Mimsy May. Then they talk about why Writers Room Pro is one of their favorite HIH WFH tools. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from career coach Carole Kirschner — spend twenty minutes researching whoever you’re going to meet with. Finally Liz recommends Caro Claire Burke’s buzzy new novel, Yesteryear. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within https://amzn.to/4umNtbn Writing Down the Bones Deck: 60 Cards to Free the Writer Within https://amzn.to/4tare7B WritersRoom Pro: https://www.writersroompro.com/ Career Coach Carole Kirschner: https://www.carolekirschner.com/ Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke: https://amzn.to/3RkCbWQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 468: Schrodinger’s Cat Is Alive! Sort of.
Apr 3000:31:57Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah are wrapping their heads around the fact that in New Hollywood previously declared dead projects may come back to life unexpectedly. That’s great — but it can make it hard to gain momentum on new things. In Take Two, Liz and Sarah share all the many things listeners Don’t Feel Bad About Anymore. Then they give a Hit to all the people who have been showing up to the Killer Bee Zoom Work Hour every Friday at 10:30am PT. Liz gives herself a Bomb for her messy office, and Sarah gives herself a Bomb for her out of control nightstand. This week’s Hollywood Hack is good for your gut and your wallet: the Bruusta kombucha maker. Finally, Sarah recommends the audio book Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Bruusta: https://bruusta.com Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: https://amzn.to/4cQD54Q Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 467: Let’s Celebrate Mimsy May!
Apr 2300:30:20Tap to summarizeEvery week on the podcast Liz and Sarah mention “how they balance a career and friendship.” They usually talk about the career part, but today they’re leaning into friendship. Find out what they’re doing just for fun and female bonding. In Take A Hike, the fun continues with the announcement of Mimsy May. Sarah and Liz are embracing whimsy in May, and they think you should too! Next, in The Craft (& Fain), they talk about the importance of separating the “creator” and the “editor.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is for the birds: the Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain. Finally, Liz recommends Famesick: A Memoir by Lena Dunham. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Mahjong Pajamas: https://amzn.to/4cmsq2L Oxford Red Women’s Steady State SuperLoft Jogger: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/womens-steady-state-superloft-jogger/dk9wcfq3p3?cid=EM_TR_20260416_391711_TX_OC_US_WOMEN_SGV2_1_0_0_0_0_TRANSCARD-1-1&ismcid=A7BB6D07-2D05-4CA8-AAF0-1439AB5C9AC7&mcid=A7BB6D07-2D05-4CA8-AAF0-1439AB5C9AC7&utm_campaign=EM_TR_20260416_391711_TX_OC_US_WOMEN_SGV2_1_0_0_0_0&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=SFMC&color=72757 Rage Consumes Me Cat T-shirt: https://amzn.to/4tmQsAB Block Shop: https://www.blockshoptextiles.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqRf9lkohFDR8mvB1NsFoeKReBTFFqucOngagunrX2DCT1RCzHH Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within: https://amzn.to/4u4CzqV Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones Deck: https://amzn.to/4tsWIXC Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain: https://amzn.to/4mDbkB0 Famesick: A Memoir by Lena Dunham: https://amzn.to/4tcz8OB Las Culturistas podcast with Lena Dunham: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/las-culturistas-with-matt-rogers-and-bowen-yang/id1092361338?i=1000761509517 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 466: 10 Things We Don’t Feel Bad About Anymore
Apr 1600:33:53Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah are entering Phase Two of working on their novel, Bad Trip. Next up? They have a plan to be done tracking each character through the story by the end of May. In Take A Hike, they each share a list of ten things they don’t feel bad about anymore. Sarah doesn’t feel bad about not being married, and Liz doesn’t feel bad about the gap between her front teeth. This week’s Hollywood Hack will make it easier to dance at weddings this summer — bring along a pair of crocs that match your outfit to fancy parties. Finally, Sarah recommends Serial’s latest podcast, The Idiot. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 465: Help! We Need Book Therapy!
Apr 900:30:06Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah talk to their thriller writing mentor and book therapist, best-selling author Greer Hendricks, about how to approach tense and point of view in their work-in-progress novel, Bad Trip. Their biggest takeaway? There’s no one right answer. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help with those high gas prices: the Gas Buddy app. Plus, Liz had a major celebrity sighting at the iconic Mexican restaurant Casa Vega — rock star John Mellencamp. Finally, Liz recommends the Oscar-winning short film, The Singers, on Netflix. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Greer Hendricks: https://greerhendricks.com/ An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen: https://amzn.to/3PTPop8 Greer’s Substack — Sincerely, Greer: https://substack.com/@sincerelygreer?utm_source=top-search Gas Buddy: https://www.gasbuddy.com John Mellencamp’s Pink Houses video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOfkpu6749w The Singers trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHkfy0GIwTESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 464: Meet Our Pitch Coach!
Apr 200:36:08Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah sit down with their amazing pitch coach, Jordana Oberman, to talk about how to create and deliver a pitch that will actually sell. One piece of advice? Lead with theme and emotion. Save plot for later. Also — practice, practice, practice. This week Sarah has a Hollywood Adjacent/Ojai Hack for her fellow gardeners — use Vego Garden seed trays and Happy Frog potting soil. Finally Sarah recommends the delightful novel, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion, by Fannie Flagg. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Jordana Oberman: https://www.jordanaoberman.com/ Vego Garden Germination Cell Bundle: https://www.vegogarden.com/products/standard-1020-germination-cell-bundle Happy Frog potting soil: https://amzn.to/40SpVi5 The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion: https://amzn.to/3PCaBUf Fannie Flagg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Flagg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 463: Doubling Down On Our Novel Deadline!
Mar 2600:29:48Tap to summarizeLiz and Sarah finally have some momentum on their novel, Bad Trip, about a group of friends who travel to Peru to do ayahuasca. And they’re vowing to finish the new break by April 1. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares why using social media comparisons has made her happier. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they talk about why it’s such a good idea to think up scenes you want to see. This week’s Hollywood Hack will get you to use that massage gift certificate you’ve held onto for years — don’t hoard self-care. Finally, Liz recommends the movie Is This Thing On? Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Is This Thing On? trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4jx0Xgc_Pc Photo by ostudio on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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