Ep. 288: Learn Something with a Beginning, Middle, and End, a Know-Yourself-Better Question about Second-Guessing Yourself, and a Spotlight on Brit Bennett
We talk about why it’s helpful (especially these days) to learn something with a beginning, middle, and an end; we explore the Know Yourself Better question of “Do you second-guess yourself in convers...
26 Aug 202031min
Little Happier: What Can You Do When You Live in a Crowded, Messy, Noisy House?
In a traditional Yiddish folk tale, a farmer complains about his crowded, noisy house—and his wise rabbi gives him a surprising solution. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in...
24 Aug 20204min
Ep. 287: Steer Clear of Quicksand, Beware of Catastrophizing, a Whimsical Hack, and a Spotlight on Baratunde Thurston
We discuss why you should steer clear of quicksand, beware of the happiness stumbling block of “catastrophizing,” suggest an affordable, whimsical hack, and shine a spotlight on Baratunde Thurston. G...
19 Aug 202035min
Little Happier: Bryan Stevenson Points Out a Question: Are We There to Speak, or Are We There to Listen?
In his brilliant memoir “Just Mercy,” Bryan Stevenson makes the distinction: Am I invited someplace to speak, or am I invited to listen? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in ...
17 Aug 20202min
Ep. 286: September Is the Other January, Jay Shetty Explains How to Think Like a Monk, and a Spotlight on Colson Whitehead
Why we should remember that September is the other January; we have a conversation with podcaster and writer Jay Shetty about how to “think like a monk”; we suggest a surprisingly obvious kitchen hack...
12 Aug 202038min
Little Happier: The More We Talk to Someone, the More We Have to Say.
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s autobiographical novel My Struggle: Book Six, he reflects on the counter-intuitive truth that the more we talk to people, the more we have to say to them. Get in touch: @gretc...
10 Aug 20204min
Ep. 285: Why It’s a Good Idea to Create a Catch-All, a Spotlight on Virginia Hamilton, and a Conversation with Susan Burton About Her Brilliant Memoir “Empty.”
We discuss why it’s a great idea to create a catch-all to help boost creativity, memories, and inspiration, we shine a spotlight on children’s author Virginia Hamilton, and we talk to Susan Burton ab...
5 Aug 202041min
Little Happier: How Eating a Second Ice-Cream Cone Can Be an Act of Obliger-Rebellion
In Karl Ove Knausgaard’s essay “Summer,” he perfectly describes an example of Obliger-rebellion that’s turned toward the self: he eats a second ice-cream cone in front of the envious eyes of his child...
3 Aug 20205min
