During our recent Reading Retreat 2025, we made voice memos to record our sisterly adventure. We talk about our reading, plus we also report on the evening we spent clearing out a very crowded closet. Listen in and follow along as we report from Los Olivos and Encinco, California.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Read 25 in '25
Elizabeth's same-day book: James by Percival Everett (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen's same-day book: A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute (Amazon, Bookshop)
Happier in Hollywood Substack


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. 

During our recent Reading Retreat 2025, we made voice memos to record our sisterly adventure. We talk about our reading, plus we also report on the evening we spent clearing out a very crowded closet. Listen in and follow along as we report from Los Olivos and Encinco, California.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/join-us-for-read-25-in-25/">Read 25 in '25</a></li>
<li>Elizabeth's same-day book: James by Percival Everett (<a href="https://amzn.to/4mIKCWU">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780385550369">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li>Gretchen's same-day book: A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute (<a href="https://amzn.to/4mI1UDA">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780307474001">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/">Happier in Hollywood Substack</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;

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: Listen In! Recording from Our Reading Retreat (and Closet Clearing)

As part of our Happier Podcast Book Club, we revisit our conversation with Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast about her compelling bestselling memoir “Crying in H Mart.” 

Resources & links related to this episode:
Crying in H Mart


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. 

As part of our Happier Podcast Book Club, we revisit our conversation with Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast about her compelling bestselling memoir &ldquo;Crying in H Mart.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781984898951" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781984898951&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1740845960972000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FSmufP_4qWQo-M9fFzClv">Crying in H Mart</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: “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner [Revisited]

Intro & Update

Try This at Home

Reveal...for 26!

Happiness Hack

Demerits & Gold Stars

Resource

What We're Reading

Wrap Up

We report on our experience with the “Design Your Year” exercise of the annual challenge: Read 25 in ’25. We also reveal the annual challenge for 2026—join us.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Move 26 in 2026 
Visit the Happiness Project shop 
The science-backed trick that soothes an itch better than scratching
Elizabeth: is coming into the end of War and Peace (Amazon, Bookshop) 
Gretchen is reading: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (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 report on our experience with the &ldquo;Design Your Year&rdquo; exercise of the annual challenge: Read 25 in &rsquo;25. We also reveal the annual challenge for 2026&mdash;join us.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/design-your-year-2026-tools/">Move 26 in 2026</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="http://happiercast.com/shop">Visit the Happiness Project shop</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/09/29/how-to-stop-itchy-skin/">The science-backed trick that soothes an itch better than scratching</a></li>
<li>Elizabeth: is coming into the end of War and Peace (<a href="https://amzn.to/3KcNehZ">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781400079988">Bookshop</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Gretchen is reading: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/4pPrUhB">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781101971727">Bookshop</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;

Ep. 564: Revealing…the Annual Challenge for 2026! Plus a Report on Read 25 in 2025

Do You Feel Like an Employee of Your Former Self? Renowned novelist Ian McEwan makes a funny observation about book tours that’s applicable to many familiar situations.

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. 

Do You Feel Like an Employee of Your Former Self?&nbsp;Renowned novelist Ian McEwan makes a funny observation about book tours that&rsquo;s applicable to many familiar situations.
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;

More Happier: Listen In! Recording from Our Reading Retreat (and Closet Clearing)

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