
Hosted by Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project · EN

We should give ourselves healthy treats because when we give more to ourselves, we can ask more from ourselves. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Roundtable Conversation, we discuss caregiving. With actress and podcast host Yvette Nicole Brown, author and podcaster Courtney Martin, and AARP’s senior director of caregiving Rita Choula, we talk about the challenges and satisfactions of caregiving, and how planning can help. Resources & links related to this episode: Yvette Nicole Brown, Squeezed Courtney Martin, The Wise Unknown Rita Choula Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We share our "Design Your Summer" plans—an annual tradition. We also discuss a common happiness stumbling block–an item that’s too nice for its purpose—as well as a know-yourself-better question related to chores. Resources & links related to this episode: Download the Design Your Summer guide here Start Designing Your Summer here on the Happier app Elizabeth: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen: Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard, which is part of the Cazalet Chronicles (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trainer gave us good advice about our new puppy, Taffy: sometimes, a casual attitude is more calming than the most earnest reassurance. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We check in on our “Move 26 in ‘26” progress and discuss adding more whimsy to the month of May–plus a clever April Fools prank. We also highlight a helpful tool to get started on spring cleaning. Resources & links related to this episode: Click here if you'd like to join "Move 26 in '26" Here are easy and fun ways to start decluttering Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple (Amazon) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about why you should treat yourself like a grandchild (or a toddler, puppy, professor, or factory), and we share a helpful tip if you’re trying to do certain things every day. Plus we discuss a listener’s question about meeting inner and outer expectations as an Upholder. Resources & links related to this episode: My Four Tendencies personality framework Take the "Four Tendencies" quiz Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle Graduation Gift Guide Simon Haisells "slow reads" My book Secrets of Adulthood makes for a great graduation gift Elizabeth: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprising formula to create a compelling title provides the name for a card deck of creative inspiration. Resources & links related to this episode: If you’d like to look at the Muse Machine, and maybe even buy one for yourself, you can check it out here. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a part of the “Move 26” challenge, podcaster (“The Secret Life of Books”) and professor Sophie Gee joins for a literary walk. We explore the Metropolitan Museum together and look for items related to the iconic children's novel “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” Resources & links related to this episode: Secret Life of Books podcast, hosted by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg (Amazon, Bookshop) Join the "Move 26" challenge in the Happier app Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re revisiting a listener-favorite episode from 2015, recorded as we cleared out Elizabeth’s closet. It's a hilarious discussion of many clutter-clearing ideas you can use right away. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out the Organization Hub on my website dedicated to my favorite tips, hacks, and advice for getting organized Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We explore how asking paired questions can lead to more open, engaging conversations. We also discuss the “end-of-history illusion”; we keep changing more than we expect. Plus we share a simple hack for using photos to reduce worry. Resources & links related to this episode: Michael Melcher Writes Substack newsletter The House by the Sea by May Sarton (Amazon, Bookshop) Sign up for the "5 Things Making Me Happy" newsletter Elizabeth: Liars by Sarah Manguso (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices