Little Happier: When Everything Changes, What Remains? The Mystery of Persistent Identity
From the Ship of Theseus to the Grand Shrine of Ise, from the Tin Woodman to our own constantly renewing bodies, humans have long wrestled with a profound question: When something is replaced piece by...
16 Dec 20242min
More Happier: Bonus: I Read “The Snow Queen” to You, Pt. 1
As a holiday gift to listeners, I reading aloud “The Snow Queen,” one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most famous fairy tales. This week is Part One; next week is Part Two. Get in touch: podcast@gretchen...
14 Dec 202433min
Ep. 512: We Review Our “24 for ‘24” Lists to See What We Accomplished—or Not
We each review our “24 for 24 lists” and report on what we did, what we didn’t do, and why. We also reflect on which items made us happier, which ones fizzled out, and which ones we’ll repeat next yea...
11 Dec 202434min
Little Happier: A Beautiful Image from Nature Can Be a Solace in Hard Times
In Willa Cather’s novel “O Pioneers!” a sister and brother never forget the beautiful afternoon when they saw a wild duck playing in the river. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's...
9 Dec 20242min
More Happier: What Makes a Holiday Movie? Plus Holiday Creep & the Joy of a Long Vacation
We debate how to decide if a movie counts as a “holiday” movie. We also discuss how the holiday season seems to be morphing into one long celebration, with Halloween flowing directly into Christmas. P...
7 Dec 202425min
Ep. 511: Choose a One-Word Theme: We Review Our 2024 Themes and Reveal Our 2025 Themes
Choosing a one-word theme is one of the most fun and thought-provoking exercises within the “Design Your Year” set. Here, we review our themes for 2024 and reveal the themes we’ve chosen for 2025. We ...
4 Dec 202435min
Little Happier: What Do Humans Possess that Artificial Intelligence Doesn’t Possess?
My reflections about artificial intelligence reminded me of the climactic scene in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, a masterpiece of children’s literature. That scene illuminates a profound trut...
2 Dec 20245min
More Happier: How to be Perfect with TV Producer Mike Schur
We revisit a conversation with TV writer and producer Mike Schur, who has created some of our favorite TV shows ever including "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and "The Good Place." We also talk ...
30 Nov 202429min
