Happier in Hollywood

As they near the end of production, Liz and Sarah talk about their bad case of senioritis: the writing is done, shooting is almost done, but there’s still work left to do! How do they stay focused? In Take a Hike, they reveal how they’re challenging themselves to use this time of transition as a fresh start. Then Liz and Sarah give themselves a zip lining Hit and a behind-the-scenes photos Bomb. F...

Liz and Sarah talk about hitting the wall — and then climbing on top of it to enjoy the view. They’ve accomplished a lot in the last few months! In Take a Hike, Sarah allows herself a moment to focus on her mental health with words of wisdom from her friend and real estate agent, Victoria Massengale: “You’re allowed to have normal human emotions.” In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share their p...

It's time for the Summer Listener Questions episode! Who does the music on a show? How did the current reboot of Fantasy Island come about? How does money work in a writing partnership? And most importantly, has Sarah made her Dole Whips yet? Liz and Sarah answer these and more burning questions!  Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Get in touch on Twitter: @sarah...

Liz and Sarah chat with Dawn Steinberg, EVP of Worldwide Talent and Casting at Sony Pictures Television, about her career, the advice she has for actors, and most importantly, her pet peeves. Then, in preparation for another trip to Puerto Rico, Liz and Sarah review the lessons they've learned about living on location and what they plan to do differently. For starters? Sarah is going to have a kit...

Liz and Sarah talk about how they’re trying to stay zen during endless Zoom meetings as they move into the post production phase of Fantasy Island. In theIr new segment A Day In The Life, they share exactly what a day of showrunning looks like — for Sarah the day started at 5:30am! Then In Take Hike, Liz and Sarah discuss how making little adjustments can have a big impact. One example? When Sarah...

As Liz and Sarah start to hand over cuts of Fantasy Island to the studio and network, they have to accept they don’t have control over how other people react. And that’s okay! In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives a Hit to Bravo for bringing Heather Dubrow back to the Real Housewives of Orange County. She also gives herself a Bomb for not succeeding with her post Puerto Rico clean slate. In The Mailroom, Liz...

Liz and Sarah discuss a great compliment they received from one of the Fantasy Island writers— they’re insulators as opposed to conductors when it comes to keeping show stress from infiltrating the Writers Room. Then, in their new Amplify segment, they share a fantastic new podcast from Liz's sister-in-law, Olivia Fierro: Olivia’s Book Club. Plus, now that they're back from Puerto Rico, they settl...

Do you remember the first time you watched The Wizard of Oz? Those famous red ruby slippers are some of the most iconic objects in Hollywood history that still bring back nostalgic memories every time they’re seen. They became a rare collector’s item worth millions. In the summer of 2005, a pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the small town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In No Place Like...

Liz and Sarah have completed Phase One of Fantasy Island — all of their story areas for the season have been approved! There’s still LOTS of work to do, but they take a moment to savor this accomplishment. Next up? Finishing all the scripts and getting into post! In Take A Hike, they talk to friend of the pod, Dr. Melina Jampolis, about her fantastic new book, Spice Up, Live Long: A Guide to Using...

Liz and Sarah discuss why, in a group setting, it’s important to be a person who pushes the boulder up the hill. And if you can’t push the boulder up the hill, then at least don’t be the one pushing it down the hill! Then, in Take A Hike, they talk about how one of the Fantasy Island writers has inspired them to try to be “at ease in muddy water.” In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share some of...

Liz and Sarah discuss how, when working in a highly collaborative environment, everyone can be right at the same time, which can sometimes make things feel oh so wrong. Then, in The Mailroom, they answer two listener questions. How much thought is put into the way scenes look on television? And how can four women starting a business together successfully make group decisions? In The Craft (& Fain)...

Liz and Sarah share a listener’s suggestion about how to frame potentially difficult work conversations so that they stay light-hearted and productive — let everyone know at the outset that there will be plenty of “cussing and discussing.” In Hits & Bombs, they give a big hit to the Fantasy Island hair and makeup team, who gave up their lunch hour to make Liz and Sarah look good for a behind-the-s...

Liz and Sarah are in the thick of production on Fantasy Island, and they discuss how sometimes it's not a fun job, and they don't enjoy it. But that’s ok! In Take A Hike, they talk about why it’s important that only one of them melts down at a time. Then, in Hits and Bombs, they give a hit to their amazing Fantasy Island cast and crew for coping so well with Covid restrictions in the tropical heat...

As work on Fantasy Island continues to become more and more intense, Liz and Sarah discuss their gratitude for the gift of other people’s productivity. Without it, they’d never sleep! In their new segment, A Day In The Life, they take listeners through a typical day while running a show. It starts with Sarah waking up at 5:00 AM to finish writing an introduction to a network Show & Tell, and it en...

Liz and Sarah pride themselves on making decisions quickly — it’s a big part of being a showrunner. But sometimes it’s better NOT to make a decision until more information is available. How do they know when to be or not to be indecisive? In From The Outer Office, Liz and Sarah talk to Fantasy Island writers assistant, Kira Bennett, about her experience in the room and what it’s like to go from Zo...

Liz and Sarah discuss how being in a great location can impact the experience of work. Can't go to a tropical island? Try sitting in front of a window. Then in The Mailroom, they answer a question from a listener who's been this close to staffing for the last four years, but just can't get his break. In Take Two, they revisit the concept of awfulizing after they recently spent an entire dinner spe...

Liz and Sarah are in Puerto Rico to shoot Fantasy Island! And all of their good intentions to sleep, exercise, and eat right have gone by the wayside. Right now, they're just doing their best to keep their heads above water. In Take a Hike, they talk about the importance of taking the time to laugh -- even when there is no time. Then they face off with an L v. S-- staying in a hotel vs. an apartme...

When will Fantasy Island air? What's so great about Ojai? If Liz and Sarah could change careers, what would they pick? And most importantly, what pants did Liz buy for Puerto Rico? Liz and Sarah answer these and more burning questions! 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...

Liz and Sarah discuss their recent realization that eight months ago, Fantasy Island wasn’t even on their project list— and now it’s their whole lives! If there’s one thing all of us have learned this past year it’s that we just never know what’s around the corner. Then Liz shares why “embracing the hate” has made her a better Showrunner. In Hits and Bombs, Liz gives a hit to the new book Just Wor...

Prompted by a recent unpleasant email (and Taylor Swift), Liz and Sarah discuss the fact that “haters gonna hate.” Anytime they put themselves out there — creatively or on the podcast — they’re inviting criticism. And that’s OK! In Take A Hike, they talk about why “using your team” leads to greater mental and physical health. Then they debut a brand new segment — A Day In The Life — in which they...

Liz and Sarah often talk about one of their favorite mottos — volunteers not recruits. Today they remind themselves that as pre-production of their reboot of Fantasy Island gets more and more intense, they want to BE volunteers themselves. Enthusiasm makes the job... dare they say... FUN! In The Craft (& Fain), they talk about how to uncover “the note behind the note” in order to get more out of y...

Liz and Sarah are celebrating the two hundredth episode of Happier In Hollywood! As they look back, they share some of the segments that have resonated most with listeners. Some favorites include “light a fire,” “volunteers not recruits,” and “choose a personal symbol.” Another stand out? “Remember the Mah Jongg card.” They also revisit their first ever Hollywood Hack — say “fuck” in a meeting.  H...

As Liz and Sarah write the pilot for their reboot of Fantasy Island, they’re also feeling the pressure of getting a show off the ground after a straight-to-series pick up. Their best coping mechanism? Focus on the task at hand at any given moment. In Mailroom, they answer a listener question about the many behind-the-scenes details of making a show. This week in Hits & Bombs, Liz and Sarah give tw...

Liz and Sarah discuss the art of doing extra at work. It’s not about putting in more hours willy-nilly — you’ve got to pick your moments to make an impact. In Amplify, they talk to their former assistant turned full-time TV writer, Brook Sitgraves Turner, about Pep Packs, the charity she started for people in Los Angeles County who are recovering from Covid. Then in Take Two, Liz and Sarah share h...

Liz and Sarah discuss why they compare the creative process to baking a layer cake. A script isn’t going to be rich and textured with just one layer. The goodness builds as all the different elements come together over time. And the same is true for work relationships. Give them time to develop layers. Then in The Mailroom, they answer a question from their Facebook Group about what to do when a c...