Bonus: We Tried a New Tool to Grow Closer—Here’s What Happened

Summary

Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin | Bonus Episode: Why We’re All Feeling So Disconnected—and a Fun Hack to Help Make Us Close

Release Date: August 8, 2025
Hosted by Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft
Sponsored by LG Electronics

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this bonus episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, delve into the pervasive issue of disconnection in today’s society. Sponsored by LG Electronics, the episode explores why meaningful relationships are crucial for happiness and introduces LG's innovative solution, the Radio Optimism campaign. The sisters also engage in a live musical experiment to demonstrate how music can foster deeper connections.

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2. The Importance of Relationships to Happiness

Gretchen and Elizabeth begin by highlighting alarming statistics from a recent LG survey: "68% of people are finding it hard to make authentic friendships and meaningful connections" ([01:28]). Elizabeth attributes this struggle partly to the dominance of social media, which she believes fosters superficial interactions over deep, meaningful relationships ([01:45]). Gretchen emphasizes the timeless truth supported by both ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists: "Deep and meaningful relationships are a key and maybe the key to happiness" ([02:00]).

Gretchen elaborates on the essential elements of happiness tied to relationships:

• Intimate Connection: "To be happy, we need to feel a sense of intimate connection." ([02:10])
• Support Systems: "We need to be able to get the support that we need." ([02:15])
• Reciprocal Support: "We need to be able to offer support to others." ([02:20])
• Belonging: "We need to feel like there is a place for us, that we're connected." ([02:25])

These elements underscore why investing time and energy into relationships invariably leads to greater happiness.

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3. LG's Radio Optimism Campaign

Addressing the disconnection issue, Elizabeth introduces LG's new global campaign, Radio Optimism, designed to strengthen meaningful connections and boost optimism through shared musical experiences ([03:19]). LG's initiative seeks to counteract the superficiality of digital interactions by leveraging the universal language of music. Gretchen describes the paradox of our times: "We're hyperconnected, but we're actually disconnected. We feel hyperconnected, but it actually contributes to a lack of connection." ([04:36]).

The campaign’s objective is to foster genuine human connections by encouraging shared musical experiences that transcend mere online interactions.

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4. The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

Elizabeth shares her personal experiences, expressing a longing for in-person interactions: "I miss my day-to-day interactions with other people. Just being in the office kitchen and making coffee together, eating lunch around the table..." ([04:36]). Gretchen reinforces the significance of these statistics, noting that "nearly nine in 10 respondents believe that meaningful connections lead to a more optimistic outlook on life" ([05:20]). She cites research indicating that the happiest individuals often attribute their happiness to having deep, supportive relationships both at home and work ([07:35]).

Elizabeth adds that younger generations, in particular, struggle to form meaningful relationships amidst the constant barrage of social media interactions: "They might be chasing likes and comments. They're looking at thousands of photos and always online. But that's not a way to have a deep conversation with someone or to make a real friend." ([07:35]).

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5. Introducing the Interactive Music Experiment

To provide a tangible solution, Gretchen and Elizabeth decide to explore LG's Radio Optimism platform live on the podcast. They demonstrate how the platform allows users to create personalized songs using AI-powered tools, making it easier to express emotions and connect with loved ones through music.

Elizabeth explains, "The platform lets you easily create new songs using AI-powered tools, which are trained on a thoughtfully curated music data set." ([09:32]). Gretchen adds, "Radio Optimism seeks to counteract the disconnection that is often felt in this era." ([09:46]).

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6. Creating Personalized Songs: A Live Demonstration

The sisters embark on creating personalized songs for each other, showcasing the platform’s user-friendly interface and creative potential.

Elizabeth Creates a Song for Gretchen:

• Genre: K-pop
• Vibe: Energetic
• Lyrics Excerpt:
  "Reading retreats where stories unfold with every page...
  Sister of the sage, you light the way into the future."
  ([14:34])

Elizabeth captures their sibling bond and shared experiences, highlighting Gretchen’s role as her "happiness bully" and "podcasting partner" ([12:22], [12:27]).

Gretchen Creates a Song for Elizabeth:

• Genre: Pop
• Vibe: Melodic
• Lyrics Excerpt:
  "In the fields of dreams we sow...
  Together we grow. It's your rock, you never fall."
  ([16:36])

Gretchen’s song emphasizes mutual support and the growth she experiences through their relationship: "With you, life feels just right." ([16:19]).

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7. Reflections on the Musical Connection

Post-experiment, both Gretchen and Elizabeth express the joy and closeness they felt through the exercise. Gretchen notes, "Sharing this music did make me feel closer to you, Elizabeth." ([19:32]). Elizabeth echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the uplifting nature of creating and sharing personalized songs: "It's very uplifting both to give it and to get it." ([20:23]).

They reflect on how such activities can bridge the gap created by digital disconnection, fostering deeper, more meaningful relationships.

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8. Conclusion and Call to Action

Wrapping up the episode, Gretchen and Elizabeth encourage listeners to try the Radio Optimism platform themselves. They provide the website link and invite listeners to share their creations on social media using the hashtag #RadioOptimism. Additionally, LG invites participants to submit their personalized songs for potential featuring, further promoting connection and optimism.

Gretchen concludes with a heartfelt reminder: "Life is good." ([20:17]), encapsulating the episode’s central theme of finding joy and connection through meaningful relationships.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Elizabeth Craft ([01:28]): "A sobering statistic in a recent survey from LG is that 68% of people are finding it hard to make authentic friendships and meaningful connections."

• Gretchen Rubin ([02:00]): "Deep and meaningful relationships are a key and maybe the key to happiness."

• Gretchen Rubin ([04:36]): "We're hyperconnected, but we're actually disconnected. We feel hyperconnected, but it actually contributes to a lack of connection."

• Gretchen Rubin ([07:35]): "One of the most reliable predictors of happiness is having deep and meaningful relationships."

• Gretchen Rubin ([09:46]): "Radio Optimism seeks to counteract the disconnection that is often felt in this era."

• Elizabeth Craft ([12:22]): "I always say this to you, Gretch. You help me live in an atmosphere of growth."

• Gretchen Rubin ([16:19]): "Hand in hand through it all our laughter echoes wide and free."

• Gretchen Rubin ([20:17]): "It really reminded me that life is good."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin effectively underscores the vital role of meaningful relationships in achieving happiness and addresses the challenges posed by modern digital interactions. Through LG’s Radio Optimism campaign and the live musical experiment, Gretchen and Elizabeth offer practical, engaging solutions to foster deeper connections in an increasingly disconnected world.

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Transcript

[Elizabeth Craft]

Lemonada.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast that gives you strategies and tips for how to build happier habits into your daily life. This week is a bonus episode brought to you by lg. We're gonna talk about why relationships are so important to happiness, why so many people are struggling to feel strong bonds with other people. These, and how LG is tackling this problem with its latest endeavor, Radio Optimism plus, we'll be trying a music related happiness experiment to see whether we end up feeling more connected. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits and 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. My sister, the sage.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in la. And speaking of music, this is my yacht, Rock Summer, Gretch, and you and I listened to my Yacht Rock playlist on the way to and from our recent reading retreat. So I brought you into my yacht Rock Summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, you did. And it definitely added a whole element to that experience which was delightful. And sharing that music was part of what made the trip such a terrific sisterly adventure indeed.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, Gretchen, a sobering statistic in a recent survey from LG is that 2/3, that 68% of people, are finding it hard to make authentic friendships and meaningful connections. Of course, connecting is something we talk about all the time.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

One contributing factor is living in the age of social media. It can distract us from the work of relationships. And it can also mean that we have many shallow relationships, but not the deep ones we really crave and need.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And this issue is very, very significant when it comes to happiness, because there is one thing that is clear and that is that deep and meaningful relationships are a key and maybe the key to happiness. Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists show us that over and over, our happiness depends on our relationships with other people. To be happy, we need to feel a sense of intimate connection. We need to be able to get the support that we need. And perhaps surprisingly, just as important for happiness, we need to be able to offer support to others. We need to be able to confide. We need to feel like there are people who we can tell our secrets to, people that have our backs. We need to have the feeling that we really belong, that there is a place for us, that we're connected. And this is just an essential element to happiness. So whenever we are thinking about how to spend our precious us time, energy or money, anything that we're thinking about whether we should take a moment to Carve it out of our ordinary lives. Anything that goes to relationships, whether to deepening relationships or broadening relationships, is something that is very, very likely to make us happier. We just know for a million reasons why that's true.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, and I just love that. LG has launched a new global campaign which is called Radio Optimism that tackles this challenge. It's designed to help strengthen meaningful connections, just like you were talking about, and boost optimism through shared musical experiences. LG is committed to bringing optimism into customers lives because their brand promise is life's good, lg, Life's good.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Life's good. Yeah. Well, these days when we are connecting through screens, it can feel hard to connect. We've all felt that. We all know what that's like. Radio Optimism seeks to counteract the disconnection that is often felt in this era that is dominated by superficial interactions. You know, the likes and the comments that we all get on social media. And the thing is, it's easy to feel like we're engaging meaningfully with other people when actually we are just sitting on a sofa and staring into our phone. You know, it's this funny paradox. I love a paradox of happiness. And this is a paradox which is on the one hand we're hyperconnected and on the other hand we're disconnected, we feel hyperconnected, but it actually contributes to a lack of connection.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, Gretch, I have been talking about this lately because I've been saying how much I wish that we could go back into the office. Like working at home is just not doing it for me. I miss my day to day interactions with other people. Just being in the office kitchen and making coffee together, eating lunch around the table, inside jokes, taking a walk around, around the studio. I really miss that. You know, I've been saying I want to start a book club in my neighborhood because I just again, I'm looking for connections for actual interaction. It always boosts my mood to be talking and joking with people. I say that all the time and it is just not the same when I'm alone so much of the time. Connecting through a screen.

[Gretchen Rubin]

No, it really isn't the same at all. We all feel it. You're not the only one. A new Global study from LG on social connection reveals that 68 of people report finding it harder to make real friends and a third reported having one or fewer meaningful connections in the past month. 8% experienced none at all. Those numbers are very sobering.

[Elizabeth Craft]

They really are. And that is really a challenge for people because relationships, as we talk about almost every week are so important to our happiness. But it's tough to have those bonds. We are all so busy, and maintaining relationships takes time and energy. It's not always easy to know what to say or how to reach out or how to make a fun connection with a friend or family member. I think we can all feel shy about it at times, but we know how important it is.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, according to the survey, nearly nine in 10 respondents believe that meaningful connections lead to a more optimistic outlook on Life. I mean, nine out of 10 people feel that way. And no surprise, the research shows that they are right. One of the most reliable predictors of happiness is having deep and meaningful relationships. In fact, when researchers study the happiest people, when they try to understand what are the elements that help to make a person feel happy, what they see is relationships. So, for instance, when they look at someone who's happy at work, what they find is that that person reports having a friend at work, not just somebody that they have casual chit chat with, somebody that they feel has their back or somebody that they could confide an important secret to. When they ask people if they're happy at work, they will often say that they have a manager who really cares about them, who wants to see them succeed. You know, not a distant boss who has, like, a vision for the company, but like somebody who really knows them and cares for them. Having relationships at home and at work and in life, it just matters tremendously to our happiness. I mean, I know that in the past few years I have made three new friends, and I'll even say this is my new friend, added so much to my happiness because we get so much energy and cheer and just like a feeling of optimism from these kinds of relationships.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, Gretch, especially young people are finding it hard to create meaningful relationships in this era of social media. You know, they might be like, chasing likes and comments. They're looking at thousands of photos and always online. But that's not a way to have a deep conversation with someone or to make a real friend. Yeah, and without those connections, life is just not going to be fulfilling. Social media might be good for shallow connections, but it doesn't help with the deep bonds that we all need. You can have hundreds of followers but not have anyone to talk to in real life, when you need support and that's going to happen, you're going to need that person.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. Yeah, but, you know, it's tough. We all know how easy it is to get sucked into our phones. Time passes so quickly. You just Glance down. And then before you know it, an entire hour has gone by. And I think, gosh, I have nothing to show for that time, and yet it just slipped out of my fingers. And it's very easy to feel like you've had a million micro encounters with people, but none of it really sticks.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, we have all done that, Gretch. I know that. I've sat down on my sofa and just let a whole afternoon slip by. I mean, I'll lose a whole Saturday to my phone screen.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, okay. Now that we've identified that relationships are a crucial element to happiness and that sometimes social media can get in the way and that there's a problem of disconnection in the age of social media, the question becomes, how do we find ways to connect? And the good news is, LG has found a way through music.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Inspired by traditional radio's unique way of connecting people through music and storytelling, for Radio Optimism, LG has created its interactive Radio Optimism platform, where participants can create and send personalized songs to their loved ones. This is so fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's so fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So the platform lets you easily create new songs using AI powered tools, which are trained on a thoughtfully curated music data set. As everyone knows, music is a universal language that helps express emotions and connect people. But not everyone has the ability to create a song that captures what they truly feel. Put me in that category. Cannot create a song.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You and me both.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's why LG brought AI to this campaign, to provide a fun experience that helps people express their messages and emotions more effectively. So these tools interpret user prompts to produce unique musical pieces, helping people turn their message into personalized songs they can share with others. They even generate matching album art. Don't we always say, oh, that's my album cover? Generate an album cover. Traditionally, radio created a shared emotional bond for people who were physically apart, but were listening to the same broadcast in real time. It was also common to send in personal stories and song requests with a specific person in mind as the intended recipient.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But instead of talking about this idea, let's actually try it right now. Let's do it live on the podcast.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Ooh, good idea, Gretch. Okay, let's do it together. Everyone can follow along, and then they can do it themselves. I'm going to go to the Radio Optimism website right now. And so everybody knows it's radio optimism.LG.com yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. I'm here too. I'm going to do it for you, Elizabeth. I'm, like, filling out the form.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. And I'm going to do one for you, too. It starts with let's make a song. So I'm pushing that. Agreeing to the terms.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. And then it says. Okay, your name. And then it's like, who's your song for? I'll say Elizabeth C. Next. Okay. And then it says, why do they deserve a shout out? Okay. For me, Elizabeth, I'm gonna write about I love our sisterly adventures.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. And I'm in the shout out part. Gretch, I'm saying that you're the best happiness bully.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, that's a good thing. Yes, in a good way. All our coffee conversations, our reading retreats, you always support me on hiking trips. You're my happiness guinea pig.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And I'm saying, you know, I always say this to you, Gretch. You help me live in an atmosphere of growth. Oh, that's great.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I love that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's probably my number one thing with you.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I'm saying that you always step into the future.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, nice.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And then I'm going to say kangaroos, too, in case I can work that in, because kangaroos always go forward. Okay, I'm done. I'm going to hit done.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, okay. I'm almost done. I also have to say you're my podcasting partner.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. So I'm done. I'm going to.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Next.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. So then we. I love this. They have a whole thing about what genre is your song, so you can pick punk, rb, hip hop, jazz, rock, K pop. I did a K pop song for Sarah, my writing partner's daughter, because she loves K pop. So I made Violet a K pop song.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, you couldn't resist trying it at a time?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, of course. I had to.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Okay, I'm gonna do yours. What are you gonna do? Let's do something different. I'll do pop for you. What are you gonna do for me?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I'm doing country.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, okay, that's cool. So I'm picking pop. All right. Elizabeth and I picked the vibe of energetic. How about you?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I'm picking melodic.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Ooh, nice. Okay, it's going.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, next. Oh, yep. Mine says it's generating my song. Could take one to three minutes. That's not long to wait for a whole song.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, I see the life's good slowly turning colorful.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. This is so fun. I can't wait to hear my song.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. I can't wait to hear my song.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. Mine says one total bop coming right up. And Gretchen, I can't wait to see what my album art is when the song is done.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, I Know, I love that. It's creating album art. It's like having your own personal recording so studio. Oh, I've got mine.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Really is.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I've got mine.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, mine came through, too.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Mine is called the Sis Sister the Sage. What's yours called?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Mine's called Together we grow.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, Elizabeth, here's my album art.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, that looks cool.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, looks very cool. Okay, and here's the song. Hang on.

[C]

Reading retreats where stories unfold with every page new tales are told oh, sister the sage, you lead the way into the future come one day with coffee cups and endless guys in every step wisdom lies adventures new and now you s in every clim Sister of my wearing our. Oh, sister the stage you light the way into the future come one day coffee cups and endless guys in every step wisdom line.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I love that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's so great, Gretchen.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It is funny that it titled it sister the Sage because that really, I really do call you my sister the sage. That was perfect. Okay, now I want to hear yours.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, Gretch, here is my album art. It's got a nice country feel. It's like a porch swing hanging from a tree.

[D]

Fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Okay, here we go With Together we Grow.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Let's hear it.

[D]

In the fields of dreams we sow. Gretchen, you're my guiding light you lift me up, help me grow with your support everything feels right Together we signed away. In a world that's ever bright you're my sister every day with you life feels just right hand in hand through it all our laughter echoes wide and free. You're my rock you never fall. Podcasting partner and family Together we find a way In a world that's ever bright you're my sister Every day with you life feels just right.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Sa.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I love that. I know. And oops, I started it again. I love the nice flourish at the end.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, yeah, I know. And then together we grow. That's such a perfect motto for us. It's so great.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It really is.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's funny, you know, even though these were so quick to do, I really did enjoy thinking about why you deserve a shout out and all the great memories that we've made together. It was really fun to be able to give that back to you as a song that made it feel special and something that I could never do otherwise. It's so fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I know. And then listening to them together is really fun, too.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Exactly. Oh, that's so fun. And it's true. LG has an enduring commitment to bringing optimism into customers daily lives. Their brand philosophy is life's good. And they're looking for ways to bring enriching experiences not only offline, but also in digital spaces where, I mean, let's face it, after all, is where all of us spend a significant amount of time these days, especially young people.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. With Radio Optimism, LG is providing a terrific experience to strengthen meaningful human connections and optimism through sharing personalized songs. It is so easy and quick to do and so fun to listen to. The result? I'm going to go do a hip hop one for Jack as soon as we're done recording.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So fun. Well, sharing this music did make me feel closer to you, Elizabeth. I felt closer because of deciding what kind of song I wanted to create. And it was also so fun to hear what you created. For me. It went both ways.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, me too. You know, you and I don't sing or play instruments, so we've never been able to do this kind of thing before. It was really fun to be able to pull it off with what I think were some pretty excellent results.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, absolutely. It really reminded me that life is good.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. It's very uplifting both to give it and to get it. It is something we share.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And that is it for this bonus episode of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Create a song to connect with someone you [e-mail] the website is now available in six languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, Korean and Portuguese. If you want more details, you can go to lg.com lifesgood if you're on social media, share your song using the hashtag Radio Optimism. And like Life's good. It's a great way to spread a little optimism and connection. Plus, we want to hear what you make. Send us your songs. We're going to share some of the best ones with LG and they might even feature them to show other people how this works. Send them to podcastretchenrubin.com thanks to our sponsor, LG Electronics.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Thank you to our executive producer, Chuck Reed and everyone at Lemonada.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And you know what I'm gonna say. It's your Remy reminder. If you like the show, tell others.

[Elizabeth Craft]

You know, until next week. I'm Elizabeth Craft.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I'm Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Gretchen. It's Nacho's birthday, so you know he's gonna get a birthday song.

[Gretchen Rubin]

What. What genre?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I think I'll probably do a little pop music for Nacho and I think.

[Gretchen Rubin]

The vibe has to be energetic for that dog.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, for sure.

[Gretchen Rubin]

From the onward project.