In honor of the arrival of a new dog, we take a flashback to previous discussions of our lives with Barnaby, Daisy, and Nacho. We each decided to “Choose the bigger life,” and we’re very happy we did. Bonus: One of the all-time best episode of “A Little Happier,” all about Barnaby.

Resources & links related to this episode:
A Little Happier: We’ve Had Our Dog Barnaby Always.
Podcast 27: Choose the Bigger Life, Identify Your “Tell”–and I Reveal Whether I’ll Get a Dog.
Podcast 24: Take Photos of Everyday Life, the Tension that Exists in Love — and Should I Get a Dog?

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. 

In honor of the arrival of a new dog, we take a flashback to previous discussions of our lives with Barnaby, Daisy, and Nacho. We each decided to &ldquo;Choose the bigger life,&rdquo; and we&rsquo;re very happy we did. Bonus: One of the all-time best episode of &ldquo;A Little Happier,&rdquo; all about Barnaby.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/little-happier-weve-had-our-dog-barnaby-always/">A Little Happier: We&rsquo;ve Had Our Dog Barnaby Always.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/27-choose-the-bigger-life/">Podcast 27: Choose the Bigger Life, Identify Your &ldquo;Tell&rdquo;&ndash;and I Reveal Whether I&rsquo;ll Get a Dog.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/24-take-photos-of-everyday-life/">Podcast 24: Take Photos of Everyday Life, the Tension that Exists in Love &mdash; and Should I Get a Dog?</a></li>
</ul>
Get in touch:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehappierapp.com/">Happier&nbsp;app</a>.&nbsp;
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. 

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen&rsquo;s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully.&nbsp;
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

How to Build Happier Habits into Your Daily Life

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions

Listening to Lady Gaga sing the theme song of iconic children’s TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” made me pay attention to the song’s familiar words. I get choked up every time I hear them.

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, 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. 

Listening to Lady Gaga sing the theme song of iconic children&rsquo;s TV show &ldquo;Mister Rogers&rsquo; Neighborhood&rdquo; made me pay attention to the song&rsquo;s familiar words. I get choked up every time I hear them.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

A Little Happier: Why Lady Gaga Matters for My One-Word Theme for 2026

We discuss whether we might be expecting too much these days from the workplace, from marriage, from schools, from family. We also talk about the challenge of tackling a big project—and actually getting it done.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Listen to the Since You Asked podcast here 
Listen to my new Audible original, Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project 


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. 

We discuss whether we might be expecting too much these days from the workplace, from marriage, from schools, from family. We also talk about the challenge of tackling a big project&mdash;and actually getting it done.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thesinceyouaskedpodcast.com/">Listen to the Since You Asked podcast here&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Get-It-Done-Audiobook/B0G459HN6Y?clientContext=133-5821630-1507506&amp;loginAttempt=true&amp;noChallengeShown=true&amp;srsltid=AfmBOopbJi5pjC5v5wQDMS8a7ndxalY6qX6sjKK84Mz_3UutudJX-uOe&amp;showMosaicSSOView=true&amp;showAmznLopSignalBanner=true">Listen to my new Audible original, Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

More Happier: Do You Expect Too Much? Plus, How to Finish an Important Project

We talk about why proposing a toast can boost our happiness and discuss many do’s and don’ts for making a good toast. We also discuss some funny research about the “diversification bias” that might help you choose better snacks, and the common challenge of plugging in necessary accountability.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Funny TikTok related to the "Four Tendencies"
Download my free Getting Specific How-To Guide 
Check out the new Bingo Book and Don't Break the Chain Habit Tracker 
Elizabeth is reading: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Amazon, Bookshop) 
Gretchen is reading: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (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. 

 

We talk about why proposing a toast can boost our happiness and discuss many do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts for making a good toast. We also discuss some funny research about the &ldquo;diversification bias&rdquo; that might help you choose better snacks, and the common challenge of plugging in necessary accountability.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8xekUj2/">Funny TikTok related to the "Four Tendencies"</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/resource/habit-how-to-getting-specific/">Download my free Getting Specific How-To Guide&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="http://happiercast.com/shop">Check out the new Bingo Book and Don't Break the Chain Habit Tracker</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Elizabeth is reading: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/4rzOoEB">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781250806710">Bookshop</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Gretchen is reading: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/4aVxHxz">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781250007650">Bookshop</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

More Happier: Gretchen’s & Elizabeth’s Dog Decisions

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