Happier in Hollywood

Now that Fantasy Island is ramping up, Liz and Sarah have been having LOTS of meetings. One revelation that’s come out of all these Zoom sessions? When there’s a potentially tricky issue or point of discussion, tackle it head on! You’re going to have to talk about whatever it is eventually, so take the opportunity to show you’re not scared of any challenge. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they discus...

Liz and Sarah talk about the benefits of being “yes people” at work. One advantage? When you almost always say “yes,” your “no” means more. In Take A Hike, they discuss their recent epiphany that sometimes it’s a good idea to add another cook in the kitchen. Then Liz and Sarah give a joint Hit to Fantasy Island writers’ assistant, Kira Bennett, who delivers consistently great notes. And they give...

As Liz and Sarah dive headfirst into the stress of running a show, they discuss how their motto “it’s a fun job, and we enjoy it” helps them stay sane. In Take A Hike, they talk about why we should all “light a fire” metaphorically and, in Sarah’s case, literally. Then they Amplify the novel The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and the work of graphic novelist, Raina Telgemeier. Finally, this week’s...

Liz and Sarah have First Day of School Syndrome AND Zoom fatigue! They discuss the First Day of School challenges of adjusting to their Fantasy Island Zoom writers room— from new faces to new group dynamics to spending hours staring at a screen— and remind themselves that in a few weeks it will all feel totally normal. Then they share how they’re embracing an atmosphere of growth in a 2021 that st...

Liz and Sarah have just staffed their new show, the remake of the iconic series, Fantasy Island! They talk through the staffing process — from reading scripts to writer meetings to creating group chemistry. Their main message: If you don’t get the job, it’s not personal. In From The Outer Office, Liz and Sarah introduce their new assistant, Kimberly Chiang, who talks about what it’s like to work w...

As Liz and Sarah dive into their new project — a reboot of the iconic Fantasy Island — they discuss why it’s crucial to make your own relationships at work. Yes, it takes time and energy to get to know everyone, but relationships are often the key to success. In Take A Hike, they talk about the importance of committing to taking certain days off — and then following through. Pro tip? Relaxation le...

Happy New Year! On the eve of 2021, Liz and Sarah reveal exciting news. They’re doing a reboot of the iconic 70’s show, Fantasy Island! They discuss the long, winding road to their straight-to-series pick up. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah share their Team Theme for 2021: Juicy Fruit! Then, in The Craft (& Fain) they talk about the (seemingly obvious) need for plot In spec scripts. This week’s Holl...

In honor of Christmas Eve, Liz and Sarah give listeners the gift of an ALL Hollywood Hacks episode. Liz shares her favorite new solution to problem of a bad Zoom background — use a card table to create a desk wherever you want one. Sarah suggests buying a bird feeder to force yourself to experience peaceful moments throughout the day. Some of their favorite Hollywood Hacks from listeners? Put Zoom...

Liz and Sarah tackle the problem of gifting in the workplace. Do you gift up or down or both? They think gifting down should involve cash or gift cards, and that gifting up isn’t necessary. But for all those who DO want to give their boss a holiday treat, Sarah and Liz suggest some affordable ideas. Their favorite? Personalized mugs or hats. In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about m...

Liz and Sarah talk to powerhouse writing duo JaNeika and JaSheika James about their new book, Living Double: How Identical Twins Unlocked The Door To Success In Hollywood. They share what it was like to write for the mega hit show, Empire and explained why it’s important for aspiring writers to “declare themselves.” In Amplify, Liz spotlights K-Pod, a podcast about Korean American in arts and cult...

Liz and Sarah can finally reveal their latest project — an adaptation of the gripping upcoming novel, The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix. In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about how and why projects with great auspicious and potential sometimes turn out badly. One pitfall? Too many cooks. Then in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah discuss why it’s important to talk about...

Liz and Sarah discuss why it’s important to remember that nobody cares how much work you’ve put into something — the end result is all that matters. In Amplify, they shine a light on Black artists feared on the website Society6 and talk about the documentary On The Trail: Inside the 2020 Primaries, which features a diverse group of women covering the news. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah celebrate T...

Quitting a job is hard, but it can be done without burning bridges. Liz and Sarah talk to Executive Coach and host of the podcast Career Stewardship, Michael Melcher, about how to quit. One tip? Imagine how the conversation will go in advance to help keep yourself calm and professional. In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives a Hit to everyone who’s decided to start decorating for the holidays early. And Sarah...

Why doesn’t Liz cook? What has Sarah learned from parenting a Rebel child? How does a writer obtain IP for development? It’s the Autumn Listener Questions episode! Liz and Sarah cover everything from how to fuel creativity during a pandemic to what beverage they would each bring to a desert island (Diet Coke).  We’ve entered the holiday season! If you’d like to buy a Happier In Hollywood rainbow S...

Liz and Sarah discuss why it’s so important to set a group agenda before a meeting. One piece of advice if you want your group to make a good impression? Assign one person to steer the conversation back on track if necessary. In The Craft (& Fain), they reveal one of their favorite tools for writing a good pitch (or any sales document): Tell them what you’re going to say. Say it. And then tell the...

Liz and Sarah share suggestions from their Facebook group about dressing up for Zoom Halloween. Their favorite idea? Be a floating head! Then they discuss a key negotiating insight they learned from Michael Melcher’s podcast, Career Stewardship — many of us accept an inferior deal because we have a dire need for closure. In Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah talk about how “reinstituting one thing” can he...

Liz and Sarah discuss why they should resist the urge to create unnecessary work for themselves when they have downtime. In Mailroom, they answer a question about the behind-the-scenes of producing Happier In Hollywood. Big ups to their Executive Producer, Chuck Reed — the audio montage he cut together of their verbal bobbles shows just how needed he is! In Take Two, Liz and Sarah revisit the subj...

Liz and Sarah discuss how to rekindle their creative fire after stepping away from a project for over four months. Then they talk to former professional poker player and decision making expert, Annie Duke, about how to make better choices. Their favorite take away? Stop resulting! This week’s Hollywood Hack makes it easy to share expenses with friends: Splitwise! A listener wrote it to tell us it...

How does Sarah’s new ritual of taking her trash to the local dump relate to being a writer in Hollywood? Liz and Sarah reveal that they’ve recently realized they need to “take out their own trash” when it comes to having difficult work conversations — rather than letting their representatives have the conversations for them. In their new Ask Your Lawyer segment, Liz and Sarah talk to entertainment...

First, Liz and Sarah share Zoom pitching advice from listeners and friend of the pod, Laurie Zaks. Then they talk to Executive Coach Marie Garvey about how everyone — but particularly women — can empower themselves in the workplace. The good news? A big part of it is shutting out the noise and being yourself. In Hits & Bombs, Sarah gives herself a Bomb for getting hooked on the reality show Marrie...

Liz and Sarah discuss the upcoming Happier In Hollywood newsletter. They had planned to start one pre-pandemic, and now they finally feel ready to move forward. In From The Outer Office, Liz and Sarah talk to their former assistant, Brook Sitgraves Turner, about her new job as a Staff Writer on the drama Long Slow Exhale created by Pam Veasey. Brook’s advice for new writers on staff? Forget your t...

Liz and Sarah discuss their upcoming Zoom pitch. How can they keep their audience engaged when they’re not in the same room? Pro tip: Use more visuals. In their new Amplify segment, they share two great resources — Cup of Jo’s “How to Vote in Every State” and Fast Company’s “How to Find and Support Black Owned Businesses Wherever You Are.” This week’s Take A Hike is inspired by a country song Sara...

Liz and Sarah analyze how lessons from ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette can improve their approach to potential new projects. Their biggest takeaway? Learn to invest without investing. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares how looking around her lake house with new eyes has improved her mental health. Then Liz has a day of medical procedure Hits, and Sarah gives herself a bullet journal Bomb. This w...

Liz and Sarah ask listeners what kind of merch they’d like for the holiday season. Then they discuss a recent article about how we’ve all depleted our “surge capacity” during the pandemic. How can we recharge? Then they follow up on Mailroom questions. Listeners wrote in with advice for a young woman struggling with whether or not to talk to her boss about her depression. They also advise a mom of...

Liz and Sarah discuss why understanding that executives are paying for their confidence helps them bring pitches and scripts across the finish line. And, yes, you CAN fake it ‘til you make it. Then they Amplify two very different TV shows — I May Destroy You on HBO Max and The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix. In Take A Hike, they share helpful advice about to avoid self-flagellation during the pandem...