Happier In Hollywood

It’s a Listener Questions episode! Liz and Sarah open the mailbag and answer your questions. How does Liz feel about working at Sarah’s house? If they could be flies on the wall at someone else’s work, what would it be? How has Happier In Hollywood helped or hindered their TV writing career? Sarah and Liz give up the dirt on these and so many other questions. This week’s Hollywood Hack also comes from a listener: keep a twenty dollar bill tucked in your phone case for emergencies!The Real Housewives:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_HousewivesSingle Mothers by Choice:https://www.singlemothersbychoice.org/Get tickets for Liz and Gretchen's live podcast events in Chicago, Kansas City, Providence, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Charlotte and Brooklyn here:https://gretchenrubin.com/eventsPhoto by Jon Tyson on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adc

Liz and Sarah give an update on a listener suggestion that they coordinate their meeting outfits. They did it! And it was surprisingly easy. Their new vow? Try a personal shopper together. Then they discuss how to be — and create — happy campers at work with parenting expert Audrey Monke, author of Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. Audrey owns Gold Arrow Camp, and her tips for developing a positive culture at camp are just as relevant to the workplace. Some advice? Take a moment to say good morning. And build in time for compliments! This week’s Hollywood Hack: arrive early.Nordstrom stylist:https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/personal-stylistsHappy Campershttps://www.amazon.com/Happy-Campers-Secrets-Raising-Thriving/dp/1546081798/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31953NQYNKAUF&keywords=happy+campers+audrey+monke&qid=1568760000&sprefix=Happy+Campers+audrey%2Caps%2C543&sr=8-1Audrey Monke:https://sunshine-parenting.com/Tony Dodds:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3386150/ To le

“Bachelor Happy Hour with Rachel & Ali” takes fans behind the scenes with all things Bachelor Nation-related in the first ever, official Bachelor podcast. You’ll hear from current cast members and get the details on what really happened when the cameras stopped rolling.   Start listening now at:  wondery.fm/inhollywood To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by an overheard conversation (and a thousand notes calls), Liz and Sarah ask listeners to weigh in on what makes a character “likable.” Then they discuss how to deal with the fact that everything— from a home remodel to a series sale— takes longer than you think it will. In their new segment, You’re The Boss, Liz and Sarah discuss their  recent realization that doing the podcast has improved their pitching ability. How can we all develop skills that transfer to other elements of our careers?  Then Sarah has a Power Hour hit and Liz shares a slacking-at-home bomb. This week’s Hollywood Hack? The Scriptnotes podcast!Scriptnotes: https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotesSuccession: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Jess Lewis: http://jefflewiscompany.com/Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudi

After an update on the great how-to-pronounce “gif” (is it a hard “g” or a soft “g”) debate of 2019, Liz and Sarah discuss the back-to-school productivity boost that September brings. Then they do a listener inspired Take Two deep dive on how to get out of health lull. Some favorite ideas? Reconnect with your “why” and treat being healthy  like it’s a job. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Sarah’s recent obsession with Candy Crush Saga: what’s the goal? “Gif” Pronunciation: https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/battle-over-gif-pronunciation-erupts/Prolon:https://prolonfmd.com/Candy Crush Saga:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Crush_SagaGet tickets for Liz and Gretchen's live podcast events in Seattle, Portland, San Fransisco, Chicago, Kansas City,  Providence, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Charlotte and Brooklyn here:https://gretchenrubin.com/events To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choi

The Onward Project is celebrating Labor Day with #HappierLaborDay! Liz and Sarah invite Sheri Salata (author of The Beautiful No, co-host of the podcast The Sheri & Nancy Show) to be their special Labor Day co-host! Sheri shares how a “beautiful no” led to her job as the powerhouse Executive Producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Then they discuss how we can all have a happier work life by reframing work as creativity and innovation. Sheri’s Hollywood Hack? Make a radical change! Finally, Sheri— who’s met literally EVERYONE— reveals her very favorite celebrity encounter: Tom Hanks.The Beautiful No: https://smile.amazon.com/Beautiful-No-Other-Transcendence-Transformation/dp/0062743198/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=The+beautiful+no&qid=1566950608&s=gateway&sr=8-2The Sheri & Nancy Show: https://thepillarlife.com/sheri-nancy-show/Tom Hanks: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hanks To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more abou

Liz and Sarah have an update on their new office space in Sarah’s house. It’s done! And they love it! In From The Treadmill Desks Of, they reveal that Liz recently hit the wall and declared they needed a break. Turns out, taking a few days off made them way more productive when they came back. Then Liz and Sarah debut a new segment, You’re The Boss, about how we can all be in charge of our own careers. Starting with our social media presence. Umpqua Oats Director of Marketing, Jessica Berberian, offers concrete tips for building an Instagram following. Hint — use hashtags. Lots of them. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a wedding Liz recently attended: rent arcade games to make a party more fun. Finally, at that same wedding Liz had a celebrity sighting — Masi Oka from Heroes.The Strength Code:https://www.thestrengthcode.com/Umpqua Oats:https://umpquaoats.com/Masi Oka:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1199811/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-

Liz and Sarah share the details of their first Happier In Hollywood Q&A Cocktail Party. It was a huge success! Then they interview TV writers Jess Burkle and Ryan Knighton from the CW show “In the Dark” about how they navigate Hollywood while being blind, their superpower in the writers’ room, and why they hate being called “inspirational.” Then Liz and Sarah answer a listener question about whether we should all be wearing Mom Jeans/overalls to meetings. This week’s Hollywood Hack makes it easier to return clothes you ordered online: take them back to the IRL store!Jess Burkle on Twitter: @jessburkleRyan Knighton on Twitter: @ryanknightonIn the Dark: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7772602/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that Liz and Sarah don’t have an official office, they’re creating “a room of their own” at Sarah’s house. While Sarah insists on following the feng shui guidelines in the book Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life, Liz just wants a functional, pleasant space to work in. Then they debut a new segment, The Craft (And Fain) on the craft of writing. Their first topic? Swim out. This week’s Hollywood Hack will make your legs red-carpet ready: Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Legs. Then Liz has a vicarious double Celebrity Sighting (Chris Pratt and Jeff Goldblum) courtesy of her husband, Adam.A Room of One’s Own:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Room_of_One%27s_OwnMove Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Karen Rauch Carter:https://www.karenrauchcarter.com/Best office color:https://cdispaces.ca/blog/best-office-colors/A Room of One’s Own: Why We Need Space and QuietThe Shield:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/Vampire Diaries:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405406/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1The Fix:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7

Liz and Sarah discuss a listener suggestion that they coordinate their meeting outfits. Are they up for the task? Then they talk about the difficulty of compartmentalizing when they need to work on several projects at once. Next, Liz and Sarah answer a listener question about whether they think a different network president would have kept The Fix on the air. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares her “health lull.” She was so motivated to keep improving her health for so long, but now she feels over it. How can she get back in the zone? Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack: have a personal focus group. Channing Dungey on HIH:http://happierinhollywood.com/episode69/Merrin Dungey: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242257/Photo by Hannah Morgan on UnsplashHappier In Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better.  Check out the other Onward Project podcasts — Happier With Gretchen Ruben, Do The Thing, and Side Hustle School. If you liked

Inspired by listener demand, Liz and Sarah announce their August 8th Happier In Hollywood Q & A Cocktail Party.  (For more information email happierinhollywood@gmail.com.) Then Liz and Sarah talk to Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, the cohosts of one of their favorite podcasts, By The Book, about being each other’s work wife. What IS a work wife? How is work marriage different from actual marriage?  And what makes a work marriage successful? In Take Two, they revisit the subject of saving money. Liz and Sarah’s favorite new tip from a listener? Try a No Spend Week. This week’s Hollywood Hack: Apple Wallet. By The Book Podcast https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/by-the-bookThe EveryDollar App https://www.everydollar.com/budget-appIconsumer.com: https://www.iconsumer.com/Let Go: https://us.letgo.com/enOfferUp: https://offerup.com/Apple Wallet: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204003Photo: TK To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-po

Liz and Sarah discuss why they’ve recently decided NOT to take every meeting. Sometimes they need to go deep instead of going wide. Then Sarah’s recent bout of pneumonia is a reminder that we all need to listen to our bodies. In The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah tackle a listener question about whether they ever feel like the “weak link” in their partnership. Short answer? Yes! This week Sarah and Liz have a dual parenting bomb — failing to set up summer play dates. And they give a hit to their fellow WGA writers for supporting one another through a tough time in the industry. Finally, this a Hollywood Hack: make plans immediately!WGA-ATA Dispute:https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/writers-agents-wga-ata-writers-guild-of-america-association-of-talent-agents-1202057979/June Diane Raphael:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2053085/The Jane Club:https://www.janeclub.com/Photo by Maria Krasnova on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more a

Liz and Sarah break down the experience of being a Staff Writer on a TV show with their former assistant turned TV writer, Brook Sitgraves Turner. Brook’s advice: show up prepared and stay late. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah discuss the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning and why we should all accumulate less stuff. Finally, Liz shares yet another Hollywood Hack that will help you achieve “meeting hair:” Dry Bar’s new 25 dollar 20 minute option! Brook Sitgraves Turner — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8223801/The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning — https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/dp/1501173243/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1ZS7B2KMCFXHB&keywords=swedish+death+cleaning+book&qid=1562009398&s=gateway&sprefix=Swedish+Death%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-3Dry Bar — https://www.thedrybar.com/services/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.c

Liz and Sarah discuss the importance of saving money in Hollywood’s perennially unstable gig economy. Hint: avoid mindless spending. And shop your closet! Then they share a listener question about fertility and the problem/dilemma of waiting to start a family. Have they come to terms with having only children? Liz offers two Hollywood Hacks from entertainment attorney Michael Donaldson’s WGA workshop on negotiating: make the first offer, and negotiate in the other person’s space. Finally, a Netflix celebrity sighting (Gary Oldman) and a near-miss (Brad Pitt)!Rakuten: http://www.rakuten.comHer Money: https://www.hermoney.com/t/podcasts/Offer Up:https://offerup.com/Let Go: https://us.letgo.com/enEgg freezing: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/egg-freezing/about/pac-20384556Michael Donaldson: http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/attorneys/Gary Oldman: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000198/Brad Pitt: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash To learn more about liste

Liz and Sarah talk to their mentor, the brilliant television writer/producer, Shawn Ryan (The Shield, S.W.A.T.), about how he picks projects. Spoiler alert: he actually needs to like the material. They also grill Shawn about his famous calm demeanor. Is he really as zen as he seems? In the Mailroom segment, Liz and Sarah answer a question about being a technical consultant for TV and movies. This week’s Hollywood Hack is an easy gift: a textable Starbuck’s gift card.Shawn Ryan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752841/Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/menu?&utm_source=google&utm_term=starbucks&utm_campaign=BR+-+Brand+-+Starbucks+-+Desktop+-+Exact&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9JzoBRDjARIsAGcdIDVrs7hJHIGUOWLFAmHOUFE7DuZTRqztu0li9mZljRNhpMAUcFuQxUUaAmMpEALw_wcB To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio

Liz and Sarah discuss the issue of doing free work in Hollywood. It’s necessary, but how much is too much? And how can they do free work without resenting it? Then they answer a Mailroom Question about passion. Is it fair to expect people to be passionate about their work ALL of the time? And what do you do when you’re not feelin’ it? In L v. S (Lis versus Sarah), Sarah tries to convince Liz to try roller skating. Finally, in this week’s Hollywood Hack, Liz shares two tools that are helping her achieve “meeting hair:” the John Frieda Hot Hair Brush and The Wrap Party Curling and Styling Wand from Dry Bar.Jenna Fisher’s The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide:https://www.amazon.com/Actors-Life-Survival-Guide/dp/1944648224/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZXHNTT6X8NC2&keywords=jenna+fisher+the+actors+life&qid=1560803920&s=gateway&sprefix=Jenna+Fisher%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-1Skate land:http://www.skateland.net/John Frieda Hot Air Brush:https://www.amazon.com/John-Frieda-Hot-Brush-inch/dp/B0056GDG90/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid

Everyone gets knocked down once in awhile— the question is, what do you do AFTER you get knocked down? If you’re resilient, you get back up! Liz and Sarah discuss the brilliance of resilience and share how working in the entertainment business has helped them develop their own resilience muscles. Then in a very special Take A Hike, executive producer Chuck Reed’s mom, Michelene Reed Laski, reveals why June 13th is a cherished anniversary for her Hollywood family— and why every family should find a reason to celebrate. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Robot Chick co-founder Matt Senreich: Ask for favors! (And Liz has a bonus selfie hack.)The Fix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942774/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Chuck Reed: @sancolasound (Instagram)Sancola Sound: https://www.sancolasound.com/Michelene Reed Laski: https://michreedlaski.artspan.com/homeHermes Pan: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_PanHermes Pan obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/23/obituaries/hermes-pan-dancer-79-is-dead-choreographer-of-asta

Liz and Sarah start with a poetic update— a reading of Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese.” Then in From The Treadmill Desks Of, they discuss the “cacophony of choice” they’re dealing with now that their overall at ABC Studios is over. It’s exciting that they’re free to do ANYTHING— but also overwhelming. As they analyze how to navigate their opportunities, they decide to stretch but also stay in their wheelhouse. One this is for sure— they’ll be Riding The Dragon, which they discuss in The Mailroom segment. This week’s Hollywood Hack: Take No For An Answer (something they wish they’d done sooner on a recent endeavor). Finally, Liz and Sarah bid Mary farewell as she offers a final Celebrity Sighting — Damon Wayans Jr. at the HaHa Comedy  Club.Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese:” http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlLivingston Taylor: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlStage Performance by Livingston Taylor:https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Performance-Livingston-Taylor/dp/

The Fix has been cancelled! It’s not unexpected, but it still sucks. Liz and Sarah share what Season 2 would have been and how they’re moving on! Then they discuss all things negotiation with Michael Donaldson, renowned entertainment attorney and author of Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Negotiating Agreements That Work. Michael’s advice is crucial for everyone— but is particularly useful to Hollywood writers who have recently fired their agents. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal a career-building Hollywood Hack: keep a Meeting Master List!The Fix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942774/Michael C. Donaldson: http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/attorneys/Michael C. Donaldson’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/copyrightguideNegotiating for Dummies: https://www.amazon.com/Negotiating-Dummies-Donaldson/dp/0470045221Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Reaching Solutions That Work: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331758.Fearless_NegotiatingIf you want to watch the PBS pledge show L

Liz and Sarah discuss being calm versus acting calm — and how they were recently “Shawn Ryan Calm” during a tough conversation. Then in Take A Hike, Sarah shares why “not knowing if it’s going to snow in March” helped her stop anticipating the worst. Next, Liz and Sarah fess up to a Happier in Hollywood Retreat bomb, and Sarah gives a hit to her aunt for stepping up in a crisis. Sarah’s HOT Hollywood Hack has changed her life: a Sunlighten sauna! Finally, they reveal a listener’s British Celebrity Sighting: Jeremy Irons!Shawn Ryan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752841/The Shield: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Sunlighten Sauna: https://www.sunlighten.com/Jeremy Irons: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Photo by Bekir Dönmez on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for p