Podcast Summary: No One Is Coming to Save Us / Happier with Gretchen Rubin: "Did We Get Everything Done on Our 25 for '25' Lists?"

Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Date: December 21, 2025
Producer: Lemonada Media

Overview

This episode is a thoughtful, lively year-end reflection on Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft’s “25 for 25” lists: a yearly habit where they each set 25 goals, habits, or intentions for 2025. The sisters candidly review what they accomplished, what fell through, and what they learned from the process. They also touch on themes of habit formation, family connection, and personal happiness. The tone is warm, introspective, candid, and sisterly.

A major theme is celebrating progress, not perfection, and using these lists as both a tool for self-motivation and a source of joy. They discuss the evolution of their approach, patterns in what gets accomplished or repeatedly postponed, creative list-making ideas sent in by listeners, and how the exercise helps shape the coming year’s ambitions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Power and Purpose of the “25 for 25” List

Timestamps: 06:49–09:15

• Review as a Ritual: The year-end review is central—seeing what got done, tracing patterns, and celebrating victories with “ta-da” moments, not just “to-dos.”
• Patterns and Repeat Items: Some items repeat each year because they’re never done; others because they’re loved and worth repeating.
• Display for Accountability: Both hosts talk about methods for keeping lists visible—on walls, folders, or as digital artifacts—to keep intentions top of mind.
• Categories and Whimsy: Lists can be strictly themed, whimsical, alphabetical, or simply fun—listener Mary shared organizing her upcoming 26 for 26 list by alphabet for each letter (09:22).

“It’s easy to get focused on the to-dos and not give yourself the ta-da. So you wanna see what you got done and look for patterns.”
—Gretchen Rubin (07:07)

2. Listener Hacks and Innovations

Timestamps: 03:23–06:48

• Medication Cheat Sheets: Listener Kathy shared a sophisticated medical tracking system—QR-coded Google Docs for emergency info—which both hosts praised as a brilliant use of technology.
• Encouragement to Adapt Technology: The segment encouraged listeners to find creative ways to use technology for well-being and personal admin.

“I printed and laminated credit card sized QR codes...this simple strategy has proven worth the time and effort many times.”
—Listener Kathy (excerpt read by Elizabeth Craft, 04:33–06:24)

3. Elizabeth’s 25 for 25 List: Progress & Process

Timestamps: 15:15–26:34

Personal Theme: "Bounce" (Symbol: Kangaroo)

• Chosen for positivity, ability to rebound, and forward movement

Highlights and Wins

• Reading Category: Finished a “slow read” of War and Peace (16:04), organized a reading retreat with Gretchen—a new perennial highlight (16:43).
• Health: Over 85 Orange Theory classes, better medication habits, consistent flossing and Waterpik use (18:26–19:54).
• Career: Launched and sustained a Substack with her writing partner (21:08), new headshots taken (21:44).
• Family: Visited Kansas City every season (22:33), visited niece at college (23:55).
• Fun/Personal: Attended at least seven live events (24:51), consistently hiked Fryman Canyon (26:09).

Missed or Modified Goals

• Did not start a new book club, try "Solid Core," or finish her novel.
• Some goals (expensive bag) consciously abandoned (“…I’m just over the whole idea of expensive bags.”—24:51).
• Not all plans (such as regular movie nights) panned out, often due to lack of family interest or logistical challenges.

“Sometimes something that seems small and easy doesn’t get done, and something that’s huge…that’s a funny pattern to notice.”
—Gretchen Rubin (08:11)

“I have not finished our novel. We have gotten ensconced in many things, but it’s on our minds.” —Elizabeth Craft (22:15)

4. Gretchen’s 25 for 25 List: Progress & Process

Timestamps: 30:29–44:25

Personal Theme: "Door" (Emptiness → Open Door phase)

• Inviting new adventures, hospitality, personal and literal openness

Highlights and Wins

• Major Life Events: Organized a Supreme Court clerks’ reunion (“…one of the more ambitious things on my list.” —34:31), got a new puppy (“…we were happiness bullied into getting a puppy…” —38:44).
• Learning and Projects: Dived into AI experimentation and adopted voice-to-text tools (34:38), hosted a podcasters' gathering (35:08).
• New Experiences: Followed through with “Operation Knicks Knowledge,” getting genuinely interested in sports for her husband (36:40).
• Travel and Family: Went on adventurous family trip (though didn’t plan it herself!) (37:56).
• Creativity: Expanded watercoloring habit, set up watercolor stations at both homes for maximum convenience (43:04–44:04).

Missed or Modified Goals

• Still procrastinating on some “fun” items, like seeing all essential movies (Forrest Gump, Die Hard—checked; Frozen, Inside Out, Boyhood—pending) (31:54).
• Let go of goals that lost relevance (transcendental meditation, anniversary party).
• Some creative ambitions (postcard project, bench sketching at the Met) only partially met or abandoned after reassessing satisfaction.

“I haven’t done it every day. In a way I was letting myself down, but I have watercolored so much more than I would have otherwise. And I really love trying to do it every day, so I’m going to repeat it.”
—Gretchen Rubin (43:04)

5. Reflections on Goal Setting: Patterns and Lessons

Timestamps: Scattered—esp. 07:13–09:15, 26:09–26:34, 44:04–44:25

• Progress > Perfection: Both sisters stressed the value of trying, adapting, and learning—sometimes abandoning a goal is its own accomplishment.
• External Influence: Noted influence of one person’s goals on the other’s motivation (e.g., flossing habits, visits to Kansas City).
• Visibility & Celebration: Recommending visible lists and rewarding progress with “ta-da” moments.

6. Listener Resource Sharing & Community Participation

Timestamp: 44:25–46:05

• Shared various ways to join in ("Move 26 in 26 challenge," design tools for future listmaking).
• Encouraged sharing results via email, social media, show notes.

7. Memorable Closing: Family and Recognition

Timestamps: 45:03–46:05

• Gold Stars for Dad: The show’s only award this week goes to their father, “the best father ever,” described as “good natured” with a “great, great smile.”

“I think, wow, to have piercing blue eyes, but nobody notices them because you have such a great, great smile. That makes me smile.”
—Elizabeth Craft (45:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “[Creating your own QR code for medical details]—what a great idea.”
  —Elizabeth Craft (06:36)
• “It’s a great example of just a creative use of a new technology.”
  —Gretchen Rubin (06:40)
• “Neither one of us has [finished the list]. Not even close.”
  —Gretchen Rubin (07:57)
• “I think War and Peace might count for 12 books in and of itself.”
  —Elizabeth Craft (17:19)
• “You can decide to accomplish an item by deciding you don’t want to do it after all.”
  —Gretchen Rubin (25:01)
• “Love a game night. I gotta raise my hand and be the one to have a game night.”
  —Elizabeth Craft (25:21)
• “Some things you didn’t do, but there were many things you did do, and you got a lot of benefit from it.”
  —Gretchen Rubin (26:34)
• “Operation Knicks Knowledge. Mission accomplished.”
  —Gretchen Rubin (37:28)
• “This is something where I could just go and look at it anytime. And I haven’t done it, but I really want to.”
  —Gretchen Rubin, on the Earth Room (32:36)
• “It’s so interesting. Now we have to think about what’s coming up in ’26…”
  —Gretchen Rubin (44:25)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Listener Hack: Medical QR Codes: 03:23–06:48
• List Review Rituals & Tips: 06:49–09:15
• Alphabetical Goal-Setting (listener story): 09:22–10:24
• Elizabeth’s List Review: 15:15–26:34
• Gretchen’s List Review: 30:29–44:25
• Reflecting on Lessons, Gold Star for Dad: 45:03–46:05

Tone and Style Notes

• Candid, friendly, and supportive
• Celebratory of effort, forgiving of unfinished goals
• Practical advice tinged with humor and sibling warmth
• Encourages listeners to personalize and enjoy the process

Takeaway

Whether or not every item gets completed, the “25 for 25” list tradition helps Gretchen, Elizabeth, and their listeners deepen self-knowledge, nurture habits, and organize meaningful intentions—while embracing both whimsy and imperfection along the way.

Listener Call to Action:
“Remember to try this at home. Review your 25 for 25 list. Let us know—what did you learn? What did you get done? What did you not get done? We want to know.” (46:32)

Resource Links

• Happiercast.com/DesignYourYear — Tools for annual planning and list templates
• Show notes for this episode

End of summary.