Sharing a new show from my friends at Higher Ground, called IMO. You know on Happier, Gretchen gives practical advice meant to uplift you, help you reach goals, and leave you feeling fulfilled. Similarly on IMO, Michelle Obama and her big brother Craig Robinson tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs.

Each week, they’re joined by a guest, bringing candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you. 

In this episode, renowned life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to puzzle through a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. They ask: Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it?

You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigHA

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the science of "hedonic forecasting"—our often-flawed ability to predict future happiness—and share strategies to make better life decisions. We debate the right approach to a “task cascade.” Plus, as part of #Read25in25, we discuss hacks for doing more reading. Finally, an answer to the burning question: What will my family name our new dog? 

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
• Read 25 in 25
• Elizabeth is reading: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Gretchen is reading: Sun City by Tove Jansson (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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During my daily Metropolitan Museum visits, an ancient marble sculpture connected to the Eleusinian Mysteries—one of history's best-kept secrets—inspired me to start a major creative project, “Secrets of Adulthood.”

Resources & links related to this episode:

• Life in Five Senses
• Outer Order, Inner Calm
• Secrets of Adulthood

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We dive behind-the-scenes about the making of Gretchen’s new book, “Secrets of Adulthood,” discussing everything from cover design to audiobook creation. Plus we raise a new question in our continuing discussions about quirky eating.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Pre-order my new book Secrets of Adulthood 
• Tools for getting organized this spring 

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss how paying attention to the books, movies, or TV shows someone loves can provide profound insights into their character and inner life. Our happiness hack shares surprising research that shows we're actually terrible at choosing our own most flattering photos; strangers select better images of us than we do ourselves. Plus we talk to Rich Benjamin about his compelling new memoir, Talk to Me, in which he explores the history and secrets that have haunted his family.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
• Talk to Me by Richard Benjamin (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin 
• Elizabeth is reading: War and Peace and nothing else these days! (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Gretchen is reading: Crush by Ada Calhoun (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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, the title of a movie manages to become shorthand for entire life situations—think "The Matrix," "Gaslight," and “The Devil Wears Prada.” Also, this collection illustrates my deep appreciation for the pleasure of examples. 

Resources & links related to this episode:

• More Happier episode 
• My “24 for 24” list

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First in a new discussion series on happiness: Friendship Roundtable. Joining me is a longtime friend, Laurie Santos, and a new friend, Reshma Saujani. We talk about how our friendships have changed over time, how to handle conflict, and how to make new friends in adulthood. Yale professor Laurie Santos is host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast. Reshma Saujani is founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First and host of the “My So-Called Midlife” podcast. 

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Four Tendencies Quiz 

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the powerful “Rule of More” that we can make our lives happier—or less happy. We share an easy yet highly effective hack for prompting the entire family to help clear clutter. Plus we share listeners’ excellent Secrets of Adulthood.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
• "Read 25 in 25"
• Here are my favorite products to get organized
• Elizabeth is reading:  Say Everything: A Memoir by Ione Skye (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Gretchen is reading: Orbital by Samantha Harvey (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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In my version of a traditional teaching story, a village is terrorized by a crocodile. This story explores the dangers of dismissing threats to others while hoping that we’ll be spared. 

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a conversation with the brilliant and hilarious Ramit Sethi, we talk about “money for couples.” We discuss issues such as the four money types, how to handle conflict within a relationship, when to start talking about money when dating, red flags, and more.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Become a Super-Fan! 
• Money for Couples by Ramit Sethi (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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the big question of whether to get a dog, sharing results from our listener poll, research on how pets boost happiness, and hilarious "worst-case scenarios.” We share a hack for getting tasks done more quickly and pleasantly. Plus we feature a rich collection of listener insights on restaurant plate-rotating secrets, balance-building while tooth-brushing, how grief can lead to new friendships, and more.

Resources & Links Related to this episode:

• Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
• We mention the podcast Side Hustle School
• The Library of Congress
• National Archives
• A Little Happier: The Efforts that Allow a Grandmother's Love to Speak Across Time
• Elizabeth is reading: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Gretchen is reading: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.