Ep. 576: What Was the Value of Our “No-Spend February?” Plus a Warning About Social-Media Stories

We reflect on No-Spend February—what we didn’t buy, what we did buy, and what we learned. We also share a hack for successfully mixing friendship and business, and talk about how to spot a sneaky social-media practice that can distort our perception of the world. Reminder: as an exclusive offer fo…

A Little Happier: What Makes a Face Stand Out from a Crowd?

Seeing my beloved father as a patient in the hospital reminded me of looking at class photos of young children. Among a sea of faces, it’s my love that makes one face stand out from the anonymous crowd. Reminder: as an exclusive offer for “Happier” listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE plus a specia…

More Happier: Four Tendencies for Obligers—3 Challenges and How to Handle Them [Revisited]

Some people have no trouble meeting expectations for others but struggle to follow through on what they want for themselves. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We revisit the Four Tendencies to explore the three biggest challenges Obligers face—shame, exploitation, and rebellion—and …

Bonus: How to Make Progress on What Matters to You (Even If You Feel Stuck) with Mimi Bouchard

Struggling to make progress on a habit? This episode offers a different approach—get a 14-day free trial of Activations (plus a big discount) at activations.com/happier. Determination Day, February 28, is a useful time to take stock of your progress (or lack of it) on any change you’re trying to m…

Ep. 575: Our 11th Anniversary! Favorite Moments from the Past Year

In honor of our “Steel” anniversary, we share some of our favorite suggestions, insights, hacks, and highlights from the previous year. Resources & links related to this episode: Listen to my Audible Original Get It Done Very Special Episode 540 on Whimsy  Design Your Summer Simon Haisell's Footn…

A Little Happier: A Very Surprising Truth that I Learned in Law School

I learned something surprising in law school: To a great extent, we can’t be forced to follow the law; we must decide to follow the law. Resources & links related to this episode: Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books…

More Happier: Does Money Stress You Out? Mrs. Dow Jones & Reema Khrais on What Helps

For many people, money is a source of anxiety and guilt. In this Roundtable conversation, we explore why the subject of money is so challenging, and also the small, realistic changes that can make money management feel easier. Resources & links related to this episode: Mrs. Dow Jones Reema Khrais …

Ep. 574: Are You Already Falling Behind on Your New Year’s Resolutions? Plus Ideas for “Move 26”

We talk about how we’re using Determination Day (February 28) to reengage with our “26 for ’26” list. We also share listeners’ excellent suggestions for “Move 26 in ’26,” as well as an example of how understanding someone’s Tendency reduces conflict in a marriage. Resources & links related to this…

A Little Happier: When I Called the Emergency Veterinarian, She Asked a Question that Made the Answer Obvious

When I called the emergency vet to ask a question about my dog Barnaby, her answer gave me an important insight into the challenge of decision-making. Resources & links related to this episode: Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best…

Move Happier: Why Does Movement Matter? Michelle Obama Weighs In

As part of the Move 26 in ’26 Challenge, we’re sharing a listen-along episode to pair with your 26 minutes of daily movement. Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson discuss the role movement plays in a happier life and share favorite clips from podcasts like IMO and The Second Opinion with D…