Happier in Hollywood
Onward Project
A podcast about how to be happier, healthier, saner, more creative, more successful, and more productive in a back-biting, superficial, chaotic, unpredictable, and fundamentally insane world.
- 27 minutes 10 secondsEp. 460: The Inside Board Is Everything
Liz and Sarah recently learned the concept of an “Inside Board.” From now on, whenever they run a show they’ll be forming one. In Take A Hike, they share how a listener turning Sarah on to a fiber center in North Dakota made them realize the value of leaning into Niche Nirvana. A recent visit with American writer Fannie Flagg led to this week’s The Craft (& Fain) — ask yourself “who are you writing for?” Fannie Flagg is also the source of the Hollywood Hack: To figure out structure, clip scenes to a clothesline and move them around. Finally, Sarah recommends the book Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Nome Schoolhouse:
Fannie Flagg:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg:
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach: https://amzn.to/4r5ngvU
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 March 2026, 8:00 am - 37 minutes 13 secondsEp. 459: The Cat Is Dead, But Verticals Are Alive!
Liz and Sarah got news that their Netflix pilot isn’t moving forward, and they expected to be devastated… but they’re totally and completely fine. Why??? Next they talk to writer Shelby Farrell about Verticals, the newish form of entertainment that’s exploding all over the world. What are they, who makes them, and what do you do if you want to write one? This week’s Hollywood Hack will give you back many hours of your life: The Brick. Finally, Liz recommends a powerful and compelling new book — Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe by Brooke Nevils.
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox!
Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox!
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Join 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg:
Shelby Farrell’s Flipping the Screen: Intro to Vertical Scripts:
https://forms.gle/a8Sj9xWDRWvt7yqE6
The Brick: https://getbrick.app/products/the-brick
Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe by Brooke Nevils: https://amzn.to/4tZCyVZ
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 February 2026, 8:00 am - 38 minutes 26 secondsEp. 458: Find The Fun & The 80% Promise Method
Lately, Liz and Sarah are finding the fun in their work, and today they break down the reasons why — setting priorities, taking ownership, embracing adventure, and more. In Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to Career Coach Laverne McKinnon about The 80% Promise Method, and how it helps build the confidence you need to get something done. This week’s Hollywood Hack falls under the subheading of “Ojai Hack” — the Knitpatch. Finally, Sarah recommends the podcast Beth’s Dead.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Laverne McKinnon:
https://www.lavernemckinnon.com/
Laverne’s Moonshot Lab:
https://laverne-mckinnon.mykajabi.com/the-moonshot-lab
Knitpatch:
Beth’s Dead podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beths-dead/id1842968648?i=1000734116361
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 February 2026, 8:00 am - 28 minutes 36 secondsEp. 457: Community V. Engagement & Working Outside
Lately, Liz and Sarah have been loving their work community! From the HIH Facebook Group to the Killer Bee Zoom Work Hours and Live BTS: Working Lunches on Substack, they feel buoyed by being around other people — even if it’s virtual. In HIH WFH, they discuss the value of creating an outdoor workspace. Then they give a joint Hit to the WGA Moms Facebook Group, and a joint Bomb to the latest Apple iOS update. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your email communication — break up your paragraphs to make them easier for the reader to digest. Finally, Liz recommends Half His Age by Jenette McCurdy.
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox!
Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox!
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Join 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams:
Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 February 2026, 8:00 am - 29 minutes 51 secondsEp. 456: Don’t Water Dead Roses
Liz and Sarah have turned in another draft of their pilot to Netflix, which means once again they’re in a suspended “Schroedinger’s Cat” state. For now, they’re going to assume the cat is alive and well! In Take A Hike, they discuss their new favorite aphorism — Don’t water dead roses. It reminds them to put their energy where it can actually make a difference. They also answer a fun Mailroom question about their favorite duos. Liz’s is Laverne and Shirley. Sarah’s is cheese and crackers because of her dogs Cheesy Feet and Crackers. This week’s Hollywood Hack smells delightful — the Veuve Cliquot candle. Finally, Sarah recommends the app DramaBox.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Denitra Letrice on Threads: @denitraletrice
Veuve Cliquot candle:
Tequila Corrido:
https://ilovetequilacorrido.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorhL8_yxp5wzt54x1vBrSPE1UIf0T7ScprkQ5PZKx4ygACLxXCn
DramaBox:
https://www.dramaboxdb.com/movie/42000003486/kissing-the-wrong-brother
Reel Short:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 February 2026, 8:00 am - 25 minutes 2 secondsEp. 455: Remix ‘26 & Zen Gardening
Liz and Sarah are happy to report that a feeling of positivity (at least regarding their life in Hollywood) has descended upon them in 2026. So far the evidence is just anecdotal, but it feels like things are getting better! And in a recent meeting, actor Joy Bryant offered a perfect 2026 slogan — Remix ‘26! In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share their inclination to protect characters and how it (negatively) impacts storytelling. Don’t do it! Then, in Take A Hike, Sarah explains how she realized that gardening is her meditation practice. (Is Liz’s listening to Real Housewives podcasts?) This week’s Hollywood Hack is so obvious and yet many of us didn’t know about it — schedule your texts. Finally, Liz recommends the comedy special Robby Hoffman: Wake Up on Netflix.
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Join 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Joy Bryant:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0117146/
Robby Hoffman: Wake Up trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lTpP-tU_p7c
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 January 2026, 8:00 am - 26 minutes 50 secondsEp. 454: Hollywood Hack Jackpot!
Hacks, hacks, and more hacks! Liz and Sarah have been saving up Hollywood Hacks, and today they reveal them all! Looking for an inexpensive Chardonnay? Tired of carrying around your laptop? From Sarah’s new food dehydrator to the personalized candle holders Liz is lusting after, there’s something for everyone.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Sous vide immersion circulator:
Food dehydrator Psiidan:
Kirkwood Signature Chardonnay at Costco:
Rhode Pocket Blush:
Il Makiage Power Camo Redness Defense Primer Treatment:
Bandolier:
https://www.bandolierstyle.com/products/remi-magnet-wallet-crossbody-phone-case-black-gold
Bandolier AirPod Case:
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad:
Effing Candle Co:
Personalized Candle Holders:
Curifurn Collapsible Rain Barrel:
Marley’s Monsters Bowl Covers:
Honeycomb Luxury Bamboo Toilet Paper: honeycombluxury.com/products/honeycomb-eco-friendly-toilet-tissue-24-rolls-box
Hydro Flask Micro Bottle:
Miss Mary of Sweden Bras:
Forme Power Bra:
Vibration Plate:
Weighted Vest:
Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack: https://happierinhollywood.substack.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22 January 2026, 8:00 am - 26 minutes 27 secondsEp. 453: Go Behind The Scenes With Liz & Sarah!
Liz and Sarah discuss their recent ChexMix ‘26 at the Emerald Iguana Inn in Ojai. They covered everything from how to tackle getting a draft of their novel finished to prioritizing their 2026 slate to the possibility of getting into microdramas. Next: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to collaborate on a creative project? Now you can find out! In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah reveal a new feature they’re offering on Substack — BTS: Working Lunch. Every week, they’ll go live to let viewers drop in while they work on various projects. It may not be pretty, but it’s real! Next, in the Mailroom, they answer a question about why it seems like fewer shows are being greenlit. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Liz and Sarah’s amazing manager, Dianne Fraser: Easy Plant. Finally, Liz recommends the hotel bar and restaurant at the new El Roblar in Ojai.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Join 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
LINKS:
Emerald Iguana Inn:
https://www.emeraldiguana.com/
Easy Plant:
El Roblar:
https://theroblar.com/dining-experiences/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 January 2026, 8:00 am - 29 minutes 54 secondsEp. 452: Buying In & Chickening Out
Liz and Sarah discuss what they learned about New Hollywood in 2025 and how those lessons are impacting their approach to 2026. The key? Buy in! In Take Two, Liz grills Sarah about her Year of No Buying. How did it go? Is she still an overbuyer? In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives a Hit to Sarah for introducing her to the wonders of Legend Planner, and Sarah gives a Hit to Violet for her skill at gift-giving. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your shower experience — Kitsch shampoo and conditioner bags. Finally, Sarah has an exciting recommendation related to her plan to roast a chicken every week in 2026 — her new Substack newsletter Chickening Out.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Legend Planner: https://amzn.to/4ssHNww
Kitsch Bar Shampoo & Conditioner: https://amzn.to/4pqAB1c
Kitsch Bar Soap Saver Bags: https://amzn.to/4sqJNW5
Chickening Out Substack: https://happierinhollywood.substack.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 January 2026, 8:00 am - 27 minutes 51 secondsEp. 451: ChexMix ‘26 — Looking Back & Looking Forward
Liz and Sarah are continuing their tradition of Roar ‘24 and Hive ‘25 with ChexMix ‘26. In a few days, they’ll spend the night at the Emerald Iguana Inn in Ojai and plot the next year of their career. Also? They’ll drink wine. In Take A Hike, they each share a new practice for 2026. Inspired by the book I Remember by Joe Brainard, Liz is going to record memories about her beloved dad. Sarah is going to roast a chicken every week — and use items from her own garden to season it! Next, in Take Two, Sarah shares what she’s learned about her algorithm after their recent Alter Your Algorithm Challenge. This week’s Hollywood Hack is pure whimsy: Hinge Heads. Finally Liz recommends the new season of Vanderpump Rules on Bravo.
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Join 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Emerald Iguana Inn:
https://www.emeraldiguana.com/
I Remember by Joe Brainard:
Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell:
Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein:
Hinge Heads:
Mushrooms: https://amzn.to/4pXnwh4
Chickens:https://amzn.to/4983t8c
Vanderpump Rules Season 12 trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oKgvwAFpHTE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 January 2026, 8:00 am - 30 minutes 26 secondsEp. 450: Celebrating 450 Episodes!
Liz and Sarah are celebrating 450 episodes of Happier In Hollywood by sharing listeners’ favorite takeaways (and a few of their own). Some winners? Volunteers not recruits. People succeed in groups. Show up as yourself. And everyone’s favorite “get to steppin’” story from friend-of-the-pod Nichelle Tramble Spellman. Also Liz manages to squeeze in a bonus recommendation — Heated Rivalry on HBO Max.
Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraftGet in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft
Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com
Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox!
Join 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!
LINKS:
Lizness School podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lizness-school/id1775855173?i=1000724051123
Hard As Hoof: https://amzn.to/3MNqE0c
Giftful: https://giftful.com/
Ojai Olive Oil Company:
https://ojaioliveoil.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqbhG3DkQfiymLw1jcSSBpV9fH5oOg0hxWjQ37jq7JFiRuH0yn9
Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil:
Fearless Negotiating: The Wish-Want-Walk Method to Reaching Solutions That Work by Michael Donaldson:
Heated Rivalry trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKO26odltss
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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