Happier in Hollywood

Lemonada
Lemonada
  • 4.8 (2.4K)
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Veteran TV writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain demystify Hollywood by making career and personal struggles universal. Friends since high school and writing partners for over 20 years, Liz and Sarah have survived and thrived in Tinseltown’s male-dominated entertainment industry, guided by blind optimism and a Midwestern work ethic. Along the way they've learned a lot about kicking ass, kissing ass, and office yoga. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

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  1. 1d ago

    Ep. 493: Free Range Writing!

    Liz and Sarah are psyching themselves up for free range writing! They’re about to start a draft of their spec pilot, Angry, Unlikable, Women, and they want to write like nobody’s watching. Then, in Making It Happen, they talk to romantasy novelist Amy Suto about how she successfully pivoted from a burgeoning television career to writing novels and a hit Substack. One piece of advice? Find your superpower and lean into it. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you pronounce tricky names and words: youglish.com. Finally, Liz recommends the new HBO Max show, War. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Amy Suto: https://www.amysuto.com/ Write for Money & Power by Amy Suto: https://link.amazon/B0gihe9yv Youglish: https://youglish.com/ Wells Adams: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8141895/ War trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZybkHGaoPvQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Oct 15

    Ep. 492: Work Joy & The (Good) Grief Of Getting Rid of Stuff

    Liz and Sarah discuss the joy they’re getting from their work — which is helping Sarah cope with her puppy-related Season of Sacrifice. Then they talk to grief coach and career strategist Laverne McKinnon about the grief of getting rid of stuff. Should Liz let go of her work momentos? Is it disrespectful of Sarah to get rid of her grandmother’s china? Laverne has advice! This week’s Hollywood Hack makes a tedious task easy: the Ogee Makeup Brush Cleaner. Finally, Sarah recommends the 3Racha Sessions Podcast featuring Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han.  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: This Is Grief Too: https://substack.com/@thisisgrieftoo?utm_source=global-search Laverne McKinnon: https://www.lavernemckinnon.com/ Ogee Makeup Brush Cleaner:  https://link.amazon/B09Ew4R6N 3Racha Sessions Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsRe1HOD2e0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Oct 8

    Ep. 491: Merger Madness & Silent Showers

    Liz and Sarah discuss the anxiety surrounding the Paramount/Warner Brothers merger that has all of Hollywood speculating about where the chips will fall. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why she’s decided to take silent showers from now on. Then, in HIH WFH (Happier In Hollywood Work From Home), they talk about the downsides of working in bed. This week’s multi-product Hollywood Hack is for anyone with a puppy: Paw Inspired Washable Crate Liners, Woof Pupcicles, Kong Knot dog toys, and Martingale collars. Finally, Liz recommends the book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. 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. 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’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! LINKS: Paw Inspired Washable Crate Liners: https://link.amazon/B01JofQBI WOOF Pupsicle Dog Treat Toy:https://link.amazon/B048sqrQr WOOF Pupsicle Balanced Belly Mix: https://link.amazon/B0cVHhbOU Kong Floppy Knots Rope and Plush Dog Toy (Hippo): https://link.amazon/B0ed0EoDK Martingale Dog Collar: https://link.amazon/B0g7Ag5Am Jean Smart: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005443/ Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty: https://link.amazon/B0dFC1oNi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Oct 1

    Ep. 490: Define Your (Cup Of) Ambition

    Liz and Sarah examine what’s working (and what’s not) over on their HIH Substack. They love live videos but are wary about overloading readers’ inboxes. In their new segment in honor of Dolly Parton, Cup of Ambition, they talk about why it’s important to define your ambition. What is it you actually WANT? Then Liz gives a Hit to the fearless Megan Stalter, and Sarah gives herself a Bomb for being inconsistent with her Chickening Out newsletter. This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for organization and pleasing to look at: the Steele Canvas Elevated Truck. Finally, Sarah recommends Whistler by Ann Patchett. 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! Get in touch on Instagram: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Get in touch on Threads: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ 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, and⁠Side Hustle School⁠ . If you liked this episode, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Megan Stalter: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11005835/ Steele Canvas Elevated Truck: https://www.steelecanvas.com/products/elevated-truck-permanent-canvas-3bu?variant=712931675&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cse&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23507190718&gbraid=0AAAAACaJfDslJgf3Y7ScpNxDpGRkpaktT&gclid=CjwKCAjwwrPVBhA1EiwAv_YO-VIQ2f2GtPNBnX4NcoLeAJKjfpjxstk2J92-qJx0XJDiVXBXEWXe0BoCTDMQAvD_BwE Whistler by Ann Patchett: https://link.amazon/B0eeK2FzQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Sep 24

    Ep. 489: Feeling Less Fractured & Giving Good Logline

    Liz and Sarah often talk about feeling pulled in a thousand directions during their work day. But lately, they’ve been significantly less fractured — and it’s great! The only problem? It won’t last. In Take A Hike, they revisit the subject of Season of Sacrifice. Sarah is in one with her new puppy, Pumpkin Spice. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah talk about what makes a good logline and read a couple of their past favorites. This week’s Hollywood Hack will keep your floors clean:  the Tineco Floor One Stretch S6 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner. Finally, Liz recommends The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Tineco Floor One Stretch S6 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner: https://link.amazon/B07Om51K6 Bissell TurboClean Pet Upright: https://link.amazon/B08JM4NHK The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: https://link.amazon/B0gBgCIgr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Sep 17

    Ep. 488: No Wallowing Policy & Start In Neutral

    Liz and Sarah have discovered that, for them, productivity is the best medicine. After a major disappointment they thought about taking the day off and wallowing in bed. Instead, they had an incredibly productive work day and felt SO MUCH better. From now on, they’re going to implement a No Wallow Policy. In Take A Hike, Liz shares Jack’s advice to “start in neutral.” Then they answer a Mailroom question about their writing nemeses — both as a team and as individuals. Liz shares this week’s makeup Hollywood Hack: the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick. Finally, Sarah recommends the book Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.  LINKS: You Can See Everything documentary trailer: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGJSRFWALTI⁠ Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick:  ⁠https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/dior-forever-skin-perfect-stick?ID=5222087&swatchColor=0.5N+Neutral⁠ Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: ⁠https://link.amazon/B0iSQj47G⁠ 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, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Sep 10

    Ep. 487: Killin’ It Killer Bee Style

    Liz and Sarah check in on their 2026 Team Theme “Be the Bee,” and decide to update it to “Be the Killer Bee.” In Take A Hike, Liz shares a strategy for putting yourself in the right mindset for the day. Then they answer a Mailroom question about how they battle internal doubt about whether an idea “has already been done.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is for all the bread bakers: the Mercer Culinary Bread Knife. Finally, Liz recommends the drama Drops of God on Apple TV. 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. 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’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! LINKS: Dry Erase Dots: https://amzn.to/4iLrto0 Lian Dolan: https://www.liandolan.com/ Liz Dolan: https://satellitesisters.com/about-lian-liz-and-julie-dolan/ Mercer Culinary Bread Knife: https://amzn.to/4h9vwJG Drops of God Season 1 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XxSeLUwRDM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Sep 3

    Ep. 486: What Will We Do Without Dolly?

    In honor of the incredible life and legacy of Dolly Parton, Liz and Sarah are doing an all-Dolly episode! In From The Treadmill Desks Of, they reveal how they wish they’d had Dolly’s backbone when they caved on a business decision that is having ramifications today. In Take A Hike, they discuss how Dolly lived her values. Then they introduce a new segment, Cup Of Ambition, in which they’ll talk about how to maintain healthy ambition — just like Dolly did. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a summer grown up glitter make up trend that Dolly would approve of — L’Oreal Le Shadow Stick. Finally, they recommend the classic 1980 Dolly Parton movie 9 to 5 and a tribute to Dolly as a writer from Tressie McMillan Cottom. LINKS: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/ Happier In Hollywood Episode 242: https://happierinhollywood.com/ep-242-what-would-dolly-do-2022/ The Values Bridge: https://www.becomingyou.com/values-bridge 1977 Dolly Parton interview with Barbara Walters:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-poIrpApkw L’Oreal Le Shadow Stick:  https://amzn.to/3UnA06z 9 to 5 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qni6HOyPNBA “Loving Dolly Was Easy, Understanding Her Was Hard,” by Tressie McMillan Cottom:  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/opinion/dolly-parton-appalachia-legacy.html 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Veteran TV writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain demystify Hollywood by making career and personal struggles universal. Friends since high school and writing partners for over 20 years, Liz and Sarah have survived and thrived in Tinseltown’s male-dominated entertainment industry, guided by blind optimism and a Midwestern work ethic. Along the way they've learned a lot about kicking ass, kissing ass, and office yoga. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

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