Happier in Hollywood

Liz and Sarah answer all your questions about the entertainment industry in this very special Mailroom episode! What are some qualities of a script they can’t put down? How do they handle all the no’s that come before a yes? What does it mean to break a story? Liz and Sarah dive into all this and more! Links: The Happiness Project Experience: https://courses.gretchenrubin.com/happiness/?ref=8 The...

Liz and Sarah talk to the queen of Costume Design: The Fix’s Allyson Fanger! Allyson shares which actor was the most fun to dress, how to build a character through wardrobe, and tips on how to up your own style game. Then Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Ojai getaway and how a change of scene can help you make a difficult decision. This week’s comfy Hollywood Hack is a must: get a lounge outfit....

Liz and Sarah announce The Fix’s Premiere date! Tune in Monday, March 18th at 10pm! Then Liz and Sarah discuss their New Year’s resolutions for 2019. Liz vows to achieve her goal weight while Sarah wants to focus on progress not perfection. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Bob Fisher, co-writer of the hit comedies, Overboard and Wedding Crashers: they don’t remember late, they remember bad. F...

What’s Liz and Sarah’s team theme for 2019? EXPLODE! They reflect on the ways in which they expanded in 2018 and discuss how they’ll explode in 2019, including their goals of hosting a TV writing retreat, getting a Season 2 pickup for The Fix, and producing a fiction podcast. Then they answer a listener question about how to help launch a teenaged aspiring writer. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes...

Sparked by a gift from The Fix actor, Merrin Dungey, Liz has finally discovered her personal symbol: a lightning bolt! Liz and Sarah discuss what personal symbols are and how they inspire people to live up to their full potential. Then they answer a listener question about why Hollywood assistant salaries are so low. This week’s Hollywood Hack is fun and festive: have a work holiday party for your...

What’s one secret to success? Put yourself out there! Liz and Sarah share how they recently put themselves out there — by speaking at a Women in Film Panel — and they’re glad they did! Then they answer a listener question about parenting an aspiring TV writer. Their advice? Back the “F” off... in the kindest way possible. In Hits and Bombs, Sarah shares her no-makeup bomb, and Liz gives a hit to T...

The Holidays are right around the corner! Liz and Sarah discuss holiday business gifts. From tassel key chains, to Sugarfina, to empowering socks, they’ve got suggestions for any budget. (But the big question is... what are they going to get for Marcia Clark!?) Then they talk about turning a negative into a positive after experiencing terrible traffic that eventually led to an impromptu writing pa...

What do you do when you're facing verbal abuse in the workplace? Liz and Sarah answer this listener question and call their friend Nichelle Tramble who experienced this early in her career. Her advice? She walked on out and never looked back. The good news? Nichelle is now a hugely successful TV writer. Then Liz and Sarah talk about the sense of relief they’re feeling now that Season One of The Fi...

Is it possible to break in to Hollywood after age 40? Liz and Sarah say it’s possible... but not easy. Note: Having undeniably great material is the important thing— at any age. Then they talk about why their happy Gratitude Month (November) followed their October Hell Month, and how being grateful can help everyone feel happier and more positive. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah’s...

Want to make a better impression when you network? Liz and Sarah explore how to improve your conversation skills. Hint: be more interested to be more interesting. Then in L vs. S, they debate remodeling. Should Sarah renovate her house or move? Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal this week's Hollywood Hack courtesy of one of our listeners: crappy dinner party! Links: 3 Tips to have Better Conversations:...

In this week's "The Mailroom" segment, Liz and Sarah share tips on how to stand out as a Writers' PA. (Hint: It's more than just getting lunch orders correct!) Then they interview their professional crush, director Liz Friedlander, and discuss everything from being a female director in Hollywood to playing the "V card" when negotiating pay. Finally, Liz and Sarah share a stress-relieving Hollywood...

Liz and Sarah are in the midst of Hell Month. They discuss how they’re getting through the time-management nightmare of writing, shooting, AND editing all at the same time on their show, The Fix. Then this week's Hollywood Hack is: always have a man in the room when you're interviewing candidates for a job. You’ll love the reason why. Finally, Liz reveals her husband's celebrity sighting at Craig'...

Prompted by a listener question about living paycheck to paycheck in Hollywood, Liz and Sarah introduce a new listener questions segment called "The Mailroom." Then they discuss growing up in La La Land with Autumn Chiklis, actor and author of the new bestselling novel Smothered. Her advice to Liz and Sarah to keep their kids grounded? Be there! Finally, this week's Hollywood Hack: to remember som...

Liz and Sarah discuss the notion that you never know what's around the corner, so you might as well embrace the unknown and enjoy the small victories along the way. Then in Hits and Bombs, Sarah shares her play date fail, and Liz joins a mahjong group! This week's Hollywood Hack: targeted therapy. Finally, Sarah reveals her Celebrity Sighting from the farmer's market: Jason Schwartzman. Links:The...

Liz and Sarah have crushes -- professional crushes! Who are they, and why do they try to emulate them? Then Sarah shares why being less concerned about punctuality helps decrease stress, especially as a parent. Finally, this week's Hollywood Hack: keep a full makeup bag at work! Links:Marti Noxon: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0637497/Angel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162065/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_20J...

Liz and Sarah discuss the art and science of staffing their writers' room on The Fix. What are they looking for? How many pages of a sample script do they usually read? What makes a writer stand out? Then they talk to their assistant Mary about her very "woo-woo" trip to the Integratron sound bath in Joshua Tree. Finally, this week's tech-savvy transaction Hollywood Hack: Venmo!  Kimonos:https://s...

Sparked by Roxane Gay's Nemesis Twitter, Liz and Sarah discuss nemeses and how they can serve as motivation. Then they talk about Sarah's recent "obligation vacation" and the many obligations we could all use a vacation from—  order a meal service for a week so you don't have to cook, take a break from cleaning your house, or ignore the mail for a few days. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal this week'...

Why do we ignore red flags? Prompted by Liz's recent read of the book Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou, she and Sarah discuss how and why people dismiss red flags in their professional and personal lives. Then they interview TV/comic book writer Ben Blacker about his podcast The Writers Panel and his upcoming comic book Hex Wives. Finally, Liz reveals a par...

Liz and Sarah's dream guest doesn't disappoint! They talk to ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey about everything from the benefits of compartmentalizing, diversity in Hollywood, the famous Roseanne decision, to television development and why her notes are so good. Then Liz and Sarah share this week's fitness Hollywood Hack: get your coworkers to do a plank with you every hour. Finally, Li...

We want you to have a Happier Labor Day! This Labor Day, the Onward Project podcasts are all about improving your work life. (So be sure to listen to Episode 184 of Happier with Gretchen Rubin and Episode 611 of Side Hustle School!) Here on Happier In Hollywood we asked our listeners a question— does your job define you, and should it? And, wow, did you answer! We got tons of revealing responses—...

It's all about the "bullet train!" Liz and Sarah discuss the notion of quiddity (the inherent essence of someone or something) and how "bullet train" is the quiddity of The Fix. Then they share their hectic schedule on the first day of shooting -- and it's not all writing --  a 7am call time, a notes call, and a check-in with the lead actors all before 10:30am! This week's Hollywood Hack is sweepi...

Liz and Sarah share the lessons they learned writing The Fix episode 102. It's a tale of perseverance and a little bit of panic. Then they discuss a listener question about the pros and cons of getting a dog. (Spoiler alert: Liz is getting a dog. Well, thinking about it.) This week's Hollywood Hack: the on-demand massage app, Soothe! Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal a vicarious celebrity sighting fro...

You have questions -- Liz and Sarah have answers! What advice does Sarah have for choice moms? Why does Liz feel so strongly about writers' assistant notes?  How do you approach a supervisor when a job you want becomes available? How do the roles of directors and producers differ? They answer all these and more in this special listener questions episode! Links: Happier With Gretchen Rubin: https:/...

Liz and Sarah discuss Fun, Fun Fridays — what they are and why they’re bringing The Fix team together. Then Liz and Sarah reveal their enneagram results and talk to world-renowned executive coach Michael Melcher about how personality type influences leadership style. This week’s fashionable Hollywood Hack: get a signature belt. Finally, Liz’s celebrity sighting this week is Rachel Lindsay from The...

Liz and Sarah are stressed out! During this insanely busy time for their ABC show, The Fix, they discuss their go-to tools for managing stress -- and whether or not they're working. Then they talk to their favorite mogul David Hoberman, founder and co-owner of Mandeville Films and Television, about being a producer, the #MeToo movement, and how to resolve conflict on the job. Finally, Liz and Sara...