A Little Happier: Do You Agree: Pregnancy and Volcanoes Seem Anachronistic

Summary

Podcast Summary

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode: A Little Happier: Do You Agree: Pregnancy and Volcanoes Seem Anachronistic

Host: Gretchen Rubin
Date: April 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode of "A Little Happier," Gretchen Rubin draws inspiration from Andy Warhol’s book The Philosophy of Andy Warhol to explore the idea of anachronisms—things that, despite all advances and modernity, still seem oddly out of place or old-fashioned. Gretchen shares Warhol's unique perspectives and reflects on her own list of phenomena that feel similarly anachronistic today, inviting listeners to consider what, in their own lives, strikes them as oddly persistent.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Enduring Wisdom of Andy Warhol

• Gretchen expresses admiration for Warhol’s writing and insights into human nature.
  • “He is the most extraordinarily interesting writer and observer of human nature. I find myself quoting him all the time.” [00:36]
• Quotes Warhol’s wish for a “boss on retainer” to give direction, and aligns with the sentiment that knowing what to do is half the battle in working life.

Quote Highlight

• On the challenge of self-direction:
  • “The hardest part about working is telling yourself what to do. Once you know what to do, things get much easier. At times I wish I had someone around who could just tell me what to do.” [00:47]

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2. Warhol’s “Anachronisms” and Gretchen’s Reflection

• Warhol’s observation:
  • Quoted from Warhol:
    • “When I look around today, the biggest anachronism I see is pregnancy. I just can't believe that people are still getting pregnant.” [01:12]
  • Gretchen notes this seems “ridiculous,” but admits she resonates with the underlying feeling.

Quote Highlight

• “This is obviously a ridiculous thing to say, but somehow I feel that I know exactly what he means.” [01:19]

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3. Gretchen’s List of Modern-Day Anachronisms

• Inspired by Warhol, Gretchen keeps her own list of things that seem oddly outdated or surprising to still encounter:
  • Volcanoes erupting
  • Museum guards standing in galleries
  • Political adversaries of the Russian government being thrown out of windows
  • Birds causing an airplane to crash
  • Growing crops for food
  • Relying on a physical wall to keep out intruders
  • Heart attacks rising in frequency during the Super Bowl [01:26–01:52]
• She acknowledges the absurdity; even necessary or inevitable things can feel strangely behind-the-times when considered in this light.

Quote Highlight

• “Obviously I see the absurdity. It’s ridiculous to think that growing crops for food seems anachronistic. And yet I do have that vague feeling.” [01:55]

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4. Invitation for Listener Reflection

• Gretchen closes by encouraging listeners to consider:
  • Is there anything in your daily life or in the world you find anachronistic?
  • The question is left open for personal contemplation.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Warhol’s unusual wisdom:
  • “He is the most extraordinarily interesting writer and observer of human nature. I find myself quoting him all the time.” (Gretchen Rubin) [00:36]
• On self-direction in work:
  • “The hardest part about working is telling yourself what to do. Once you know what to do, things get much easier.” (Gretchen Rubin, quoting Warhol) [00:47]
• On anachronisms—pregnancy:
  • “When I look around today, the biggest anachronism I see is pregnancy. I just can't believe that people are still getting pregnant.” (Andy Warhol, via Gretchen Rubin) [01:12]
• On feeling the same:
  • “This is obviously a ridiculous thing to say, but somehow I feel that I know exactly what he means.” (Gretchen Rubin) [01:19]
• On her own list:
  • “Here is my list. Volcanoes erupting, museum guards standing in galleries, political adversaries of the Russian government being thrown out of windows, birds causing an airplane to crash, growing crops for food, relying on a physical wall to keep out intruders, heart attacks rising in frequency during the Super Bowl.” (Gretchen Rubin) [01:26–01:52]
• On the paradox of the old and new:
  • “Obviously I see the absurdity. It’s ridiculous to think that growing crops for food seems anachronistic. And yet I do have that vague feeling.” (Gretchen Rubin) [01:55]

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Closing Thought

• Gretchen wraps with a question for self-reflection:
  • “How about you? Is there anything that happens today that seems somehow anachronistic?” [02:03]
  • She hopes this unusual perspective can make listeners’ weeks “a little happier.”

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Summary Table of Contents

• Overview
• Warhol’s Wisdom on Self-Direction
• The Strangeness of Everyday Anachronisms
• Gretchen’s Personal List
• Invitation for Listener Reflection
• Notable Quotes & Timestamps

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This concise, reflective episode invites listeners to find humor and wonder in the things that persist despite all our progress, blending Warhol’s offbeat observations with Gretchen’s thoughtful, personal take.

Transcript

[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

I'm Gretchen Rubin, and this is a little happier I like some of Andy Warhol's art, but I love his writing. He is the most extraordinarily interesting writer and observer of human nature. I find myself quoting him all the time. For instance, I often find myself quoting a comment he made in the Philosophy of Andy Warhol from A to B and back again. He wrote, When I think about what sort of person I would most like to have on a retainer, I think it would be a boss. A boss who could tell me what to do. Because that makes everything easy when you're working. I find that so true about work that the hardest part about working is telling yourself what to do. Once you know what to do, things get much easier. At times I wish I had someone around who could just tell me what to do. Sometimes, too, Andy Warhol makes observations that seem odd, eerie, or even nonsensical, but that strike a deep chord with me. For instance, in the same book he wrote, when I look around today, the biggest anachronism I see is pregnancy. I just can't believe that people are still getting pregnant. This is obviously a ridiculous thing to say, but somehow I feel that I know exactly what he means. Inspired by Andy Warhol, I've been keeping a list of things that I would add things that seem anachronistic when I think, wow, is this still happening in the same old way? Here is my list. Volcanoes erupting, museum guards standing in galleries, political adversaries of the Russian government being thrown out of windows, Birds causing an airplane to crash, growing crops for food, relying on a physical wall to keep out intruders, Heart attacks rising in frequency during the Super Bowl. Obviously I see the absurdity. It's ridiculous to think that growing crops for food seems anachronistic. And yet I do have that vague feeling. How about you? Is there anything that happens today that seems somehow anachronistic? I'm Gretchen Rubin and I hope this makes your week a little happier.