Happier In Hollywood

Liz and Sarah discuss their plan to forge a clear path amidst the post-WGA strike chaos. That includes committing to finishing a first draft of their novel before Christmas! In Take A Hike, they talk about the benefit of creating a discussion agenda. Then Liz and Sarah give themselves a Bomb for letting the HIH website falter, and listener Laura gets a Hit for reaching out about fixing it. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your Zoom meetings: put parchment over your ring light to prevent a reflection in your glasses. Finally, this week Liz and Sarah have a joint recommendation — Mayim Bialik’s video about what it feels like to Jewish right now.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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. Ch

When Liz and Sarah sat down to discuss ideas for their next HIH retreat, they realized having one idea made it easier to have another and another. Creativity begets creativity! In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about the benefit of knowing your neighbors. She even borrowed an actual cup of sugar from someone on her cul-de-sac! Liz and Sarah answer a question about how to know if your child might be a future writer in The Mailroom. (Note: Asking for a typewriter is a definite sign.) This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from HIH retreat attendee Jenn — sing bad news. Then Liz is on a Celebrity Sighting roll. She saw Maya Rudolph at a cross country meet. Finally, this week Liz recommends two books for people interested in the world of crypto — Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis and Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall by Zeke Faux.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywo

The Happier In Hollywood Retreat 2023 is in the books! It was a huge success, and now Sarah and Liz are discussing what was fantastic (the people, the place, the sound bath, the conversation) and what they’d change for the next one (less food). In Take A Hike, inspired by the weekend, they talk about the Magic of Community. Next, in The Craft (& Fain), they share a writing exercise (suggested by a retreat attendee) designed to help you tell your story in meetings. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your posture: the Gaiam Balance Ball Chair. Finally, Sarah has an Audible series recommendation — Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 O

Liz and Sarah are prepping for the 2023 HIH Retreat. It’s all the scary things rolled into one — entertaining, public speaking, meeting new people. They’re excited but nervous! In Take A Hike, Sarah discusses why she’s happy she found a volunteer opportunity that works for her (spoiler alert: dogs are involved). This week’s Hollywood Hack makes working at home more pleasant and quite possibly more productive: Try a work change of scene in your home. Then Liz had another Celebrity Sighting: Tiffani Amber Thiessen at the Encino Katsuya. Finally, Liz has a book recommendation — End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood by Patty Lin.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 On

Liz and Sarah are back to work on several development projects, and after such a long strike they are very much appreciating the beauty of being busy. In A Day In The Life, they talk about how they’re spending their time now that life for WGA writers is getting back to “normal.” One thing they’re happy about? They’re still making time to do things they care about outside of work. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they talk about why they always take their own notes. This week’s Hollywood Hack is about maintaining friendships: Make sure to stay in touch with people you met on the picket line. Finally, this week Sarah has a podcast episode recommendation: the Sept 19th episode of The Ezra Klein Show — Boundaries, Burnout and the “Goopification” of Self-Care.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward P

The WGA strike is over! Liz and Sarah discuss how they’re getting their work legs back as they pick up projects where they left off five months ago. One essential step? Setting deadlines for themselves! In Take A Hike, they talk about why they’ve created a one-time book group to discuss Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Sarah: get your local farm box. In Celebrity Sightings, Liz reveals that she saw Nicole Richie and husband Joel Madden at Fryman Canton. Finally, Liz recommends Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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

Liz and Sarah are ecstatic! The WGA strike is FINALLY coming to an end! They discuss how it feels to be on the other side of the battle, and what they’re looking forward to in the weeks and months to come. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares why she had a Gratitude Day, and Liz decides to have one too. Then they answer a Mailroom question about whether they get segment ideas from listeners. The answer? Yes! To illustrate the point, Liz and Sarah share a bunch of fantastic recommendations they recently got from the HIH Facebook group. This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for anyone who likes to eat eggs: the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker. Finally, Sarah recommends playing a few new word game from the New York Times — Connections.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought toget

Liz and Sarah are halfway through a draft of their novel. Yay! They explain why they’ve decided to take a moment to pause and reconnect with the characters before they plow forward to the finish line. In The Mailroom, they answer a question about how to finish a pitch meeting. Then they have a WGA strike Hit and a WGA strike Bomb. This week’s Hollywood Hack is something Sarah discovered when she moved into her house in Ojai — fridge organizers. Finally, Liz recommends The Retrievals podcast.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, pl

As the WGA strike continues to drag on, Liz and Sarah each offer a Take A Hike idea to boost mental, physical, and spiritual health. Sarah’s suggestion? Turn a chore into a pleasure by using it as time to connect with someone. Meanwhile, Liz decided to set a new goal to distract herself from strike stress — she’s upped her Fryman 50 to Fryman 100! In the Mailroom, they answer a question about how to deal with financial instability as a writer. Then this week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener: bringfido.com. Finally, Sarah has a jigsaw puzzle recommendation - wooden puzzles from Liberty Puzzles.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 wi

Liz and Sarah talk to veteran showrunner Jeff Melvoin about his new book, Running The Show: Television From The Inside. What’s the biggest mistake first time showrunners make? How does he approach delegating? This book is essential reading for anyone who aspires to be a showrunner. This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for those looking to collaborate: Canva for Teams. Plus, Liz had a Celebrity Sighting — Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson! Finally, Liz recommends Mindhunter on Netflix. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, pleas

Liz and Sarah discuss how the benefits of spending time together (actually in the same room for a whole day) led them to their big announcement: They’re hosting an HIH Retreat at the Johnny Cash Ranch in Ojai October 2–22! Email them at happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more details! In Take A Hike, they resolve to get back on the health horse now that summer is over. On the list? Hiking, eating well, writing, and meditation for Sarah. They also answer a Mailroom question about how they approach research. This week’s Hollywood Hack will transform your Zoom meetings: the Saiji Tablet Stand Holder. And finally, Sarah recommends Dan Harris’ Ten Percent Happier app. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your lif

As Summer 2023 winds down, Sarah and Liz are answering listener questions. What do they think will happen when the strike is over? Does Sarah refuse to cuddle any of Violet’s “icky” pets? Did Liz and Sarah have sleepovers with each other when they were younger? They discuss all this and so much more— including their upcoming HIH Retreat in Ojai! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com

Liz and Sarah talk to journalist Maureen Ryan about her incredible new book — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call For Change In Hollywood. What was the emotional impact of writing about toxicity in Hollywood? What concrete steps can be taken to make the entertainment industry better for everyone? This week’s Hollywood Hack is a video that will keep you healthier on the picket line — WGA Picket Line Warm Up! (And Cool Down) on YouTube from WGA member Sheila Callaghan. Finally Sarah has a book rec — How to Survive Middle School: U.S. History.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everythin

Liz and Sarah discuss how 100 days of being on strike has a silver lining — it’s given them fresh perspective on a project that was feeling stale. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about her Do Nothing Day. Sometimes doing nothing is everything. Next, in The Craft (& Fain), they offer tips for coming up with character names. This week’s Hollywood Hack will be helpful for anyone worried about no new TV this fall: read a book series. Finally, Liz has a podcast recommendation — Spellcaster: The Fall Of Sam Bankman-Fried.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If y

Liz and Sarah talk about being Creative Entrepreneurs. How can they expand their vision of their career? What elements will strengthen their two person small company? Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they discuss whether they want to continue writing their novel in the past tense, or whether they’d rather change to the present tense. In The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah answer a question from a Pre-WGA writer about how to approach an established writer with helpful information. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener: the Bite Away Insect Sting & Itch Relief Stick. Finally, Sarah has a whimsical recommendation — follow the Whitney Museum on Threads.Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life bett

Even though it’s the last thing they feel like talking about, Liz and Sarah discuss the ongoing WGA strike and how it feels like it’s lasting forever. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why the concept of “building a frog pond” (both literally and metaphorically) is helping her cope. Then Sarah has a Hit for Escape Rooms, and they both give a Bomb to the heatwave in Los Angeles. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from the FB group: When in doubt, write a note. And finally, Sarah has a perfect summer movie recommendation — Joy Ride. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bow

Liz and Sarah discuss SAG-AFTRA going out on strike. Will actors on strike pressure the AMPTP to come back to the table? They sure hope so. Then they Amplify a new book from journalist Maureen Ryan — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah talk about what they’ve learned about creative formatting while working on their novel. Small changes can make a big impact on the reader. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a low tech way to help pass time while you wait — keep a deck of playing cards in the car. Finally, Liz has a controversial TV recommendation: The Idol on MAX.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram and Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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.

Liz and Sarah have joined the new social media platform, Threads, and they think you should too! Getting onboard early makes a difference — so don’t delay. This week’s Hollywood Hack is deep dive into The Perfect Tee. Liz and Sarah asked listeners for suggestions and got so many great ideas! Then Liz had a Celebrity Sighting (Alan Ruck) while dropping Jack off at camp. And Sarah recommends seeing Pixar’s new movie, Elemental. Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please sub

Liz and Sarah are both experiencing that summer vacation feeling — which means they DON’T feel like working. How can they harness the delight of summer but still make progress on their novel? In The Mailroom, they answer a question about how good material needs to be before showing it to a person with hiring power. Answer — pretty damn good. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener: Take the necessary extra steps to make your tech (or anything else) work for you. And Celebrity Sighting is back! Liz saw David Duchovny on the plane from JFK to LAX. Finally, Liz has a TV show recommendation — Alaskan wilderness competition “Outlast” on Netflix.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life

In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah share their CBS pitch “Before I Die,” about three older women solving crimes in Miami. Then they talk about the notes they received from network executives and how they incorporated those notes into their pilot script.Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraftGet in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftVisit our website: https://happierinhollywood.comJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/Happier 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 Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!PHOTO:https://unsplash.com/photos/K05jLvJACiA To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about