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1373 episodes

Ep. 603: Avoid the Sunk-Cost Fallacy, and Why it’s Hard to Plan for Emergencies
2026/09/09 | 32 mins.
We talk about how to avoid the mental trap of the “sunk-cost fallacy.” Plus, why it’s so hard to plan for emergencies and the biases that keep us from preparing for risk.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Avoid the sunk-cost fallacy—the mental trap that keeps us committed because of the time, money, or energy we’ve already spent [04:57]

Happiness Hack: Create a personal reading syllabus with deadlines to help you read more [12:58]

Happiness Stumbling Block: Six common biases that make it difficult to assess and prepare for rare but serious emergencies [16:03]

Demerits and Gold Stars: Gretchen’s Demerit: Turning into a Knicks bore; Elizabeth’s Gold Star: To her friend Mindy for a new exercise experience [24:11]

Mentioned in this episode:

The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters by Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther (Amazon, Bookshop)

This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark by Craig Fehrman (Amazon, Bookshop)

Audition by Katie Kitamura (Amazon, Bookshop)

Rolling utility cart

Happier Labor Day resources

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Little Happier: After His Death, I Can Still Learn More About My Beloved Father
2026/09/07 | 3 mins.
Even after a person has died, we can continue to understand them in new ways.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More Happier: How Do People Know What To Do? Plus Making Friends at the Gym
2026/09/05 | 26 mins.
We discuss how people know what to do in certain situations. Plus why you might–or might not–make friends at the gym.

Episode highlights:

Something Making Us Happier: Elizabeth finds connection to our beloved father through reading history. Gretchen delights in discovering Jamie’s rock-skipping skills [00:48]

I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: How do people know what to do in certain situations? [07:29]

Spotlight on a Tool: Check out my free 7-day email challenge designed to help you head into fall with more energy [13:03]

I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: Do you make friends at the gym? [14:40]

Mentioned in this episode:

This Vast Enterprise (Amazon, Bookshop)

Check out Gretchen’s free 7-day movement challenge here

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep. 602: Spend Your Money at Home Instead of Away, and Why You Should Delegate
2026/09/02 | 36 mins.
Why you might consider spending your vacation money on a home experience that you’ll enjoy for years, and why delegating tasks is more important–and harder–than it may seem.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Why you might "spend out" on your space, instead of on vacation, to give yourself fun and comfort at home [02:35]

Happiness Hack: A listener's three-system method for documenting daily life and family milestones [13:14]

Happiness Stumbling Block: Why we avoid delegating and how to let go, especially during the empty-nest years [17:25]

Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: still need to visit the Encino Mah Jong parlor; Gretchen’s Gold Star: Winsteads! The ice! The lacy burgers! [25:57]

Mentioned in this episode:

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Amazon, Bookshop)

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Amazon, Bookshop)

Check out Gretchen's free quizzes here

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Little Happier: Why the Knicks Play Basketball with the Attitude of “Zero-Zero.”
2026/08/31 | 3 mins.
With a simple answer of “Zero-zero,” Jalen Brunson communicated the attitude of his team as they pushed toward the NBA Championship.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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About Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

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