Happier in Hollywood

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...

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 r...

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 q...

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...

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 ab...

Liz and Sarah discuss that one of the biggest advantages of having a writing partner is being able to take turns bringing each other up when one is down. Right now, Sarah is feeling the chaos of their career, but Liz is calm and optimistic.  Next month? It will likely be the opposite! In Take A Hike, they talk about how their recent visit to KCON made them appreciate the joy of rehashing. The...

Liz and Sarah have added a useful new step to their pitch writing process — the talk-through step. If they’re working with someone they trust, they’ve discovered it’s super helpful to talk through what they’re thinking for a pitch before actually writing it. In Take A Hike, they reveal their new back-to-school plan to carve out every Monday morning for exercise. In The Mailroom, they answer a ques...

Liz and Sarah discuss how their recent disappointment over a project that went up in smoke has once again taught them not to invest too heavily emotionally (or practically) in something until business affairs is involved. Then, in a new segment, Making It Happen, Liz and Sarah talk to veteran casting director Candice Bernstein about how she set about conquering the world of verticals casting. This...

Liz and Sarah are using a new accountability method to power through the pages of their novel Bad Trip. Every day, they’re writing down their respective word counts in their planners, even if it’s zero, and then reporting the number to each other the following morning. And it’s working! In Take A Hike, they discuss the question — how much of your day do you actually enjoy? Then, in Hits & Bom...

Liz and Sarah are experimenting with AI to make their work flow more productive. Will their new Chat GPT Work-generated schedule help them keep their project priorities straight? Next they interview Lisa Joyner (married to Jon Cryer aka Ducky from Pretty In Pink)and Morgan Walsh (married to Matt Walsh of Veep and UCB fame) from the fascinating new podcast, Plus One with Lisa an...

Liz and Sarah are making it happen! They’ve been doing a deep dive into micro-dramas for several months, and now they’re at the beginning stages of Executive Producing their first one. They talk about how they’ve gone about educating themselves in this new (to them) form of entertainment and ask listeners when they’ve made something happen. Then, in Take A Hike, they discuss the value of having a...

Liz and Sarah are answering more listener questions! Do they still drink espresso martinis? What advice would they give their college senior selves? Could they have been writing partners if they met as adults? What random photos are on their phones thanks to their adventures in TV writing? They discuss all this and more!  Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happier...

We discuss the biggest obstacles to moving more this summer with Sarah Fain from the “Happier in Hollywood” podcast, and share practical strategies for getting regular exercise. This special episode is part of the Move 26 in ‘26 challenge to help all of us find more ways to move every day. Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happi...

Today Liz and Sarah are answering listener questions! If they weren’t TV writers, what career would they each choose? (Sarah would like to own a craft store, while Liz’s fantasy self is a birth doula.) What did they think of Caro Claire Burke’s novel Yesteryear? Why don’t they spend more time talking about the negative impact of AI? They discuss all this and so much more! Get in touch on Instagram...

During a recent trip to the Santa Barbara Bowl, Liz and Sarah felt the universe was sending signs that they’re on the right creative path. One of the signs? A long line for the men’s room. In Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to executive and leadership coach Laverne McKinnon about the physical reaction they had to a recent meeting misfire. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah and...

Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Bad Trip writing marathon in Santa Barbara. The highlight? Writing outside at Godmothers in Summerland. Then they interview Rina O’Malley, a writer who’s breaking into the industry, about how she managed to do the impossible — get representation! This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your next meeting: have a preliminary call. Finally, Sarah recommends the Stra...

Liz and Sarah had a Week of Yes! After months (years) of hearing “no” they’re finally starting to get some “yeses.” Yay! Next, Liz and Sarah each offer a Take A Hike suggestion. Sarah reveals why it’s a good idea to go down a rabbit hole that’s NOT “you,” and Liz discusses the value of “friendworking.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for commuters: car cupholder coasters. Finally, Liz recommen...

Liz and Sarah are suffering from Summeritis! They’re managing to stay productive — but it’s not easy. In Take A Hike, they talk about the value of going on a learning retreat. Sarah just did a fiber retreat in Nome, ND and it rocked her world! This week Sarah has a Hit for Violet’s former nanny, Dawn. And Liz gives herself a tech Bomb for not knowing how to operate her TV. This week’s Hollywood Ha...

As Liz and Sarah dive into the new draft of their novel, they’re experimenting with tense. They each wrote a scene in past tense, and now they’re going to write the same scenes in present tense. Which will they prefer? In The Craft (& Fain) they share a listener’s suggestion to assign every project its own theme song. Then they discuss their favorite parts of Mimsy May in Take Two. One takeaway? W...

Liz and Sarah are trying out a new pitch technique — instead of writing out their latest pitch word for word, they’re prepping it in bullet points to keep the flow more spontaneous. In The Mailroom, Sarah answers a question from a listener who’s wondering if she should have a baby on her own like Sarah did. The short answer? Do it! Then, in Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah talk about Designing Their Sum...

Liz and Sarah talk to trauma-informed financial wellness coach Katy Chen Mazzara about the connection between money blocks and creative blocks, why it’s never a good idea to negotiate with a “starving artist” mentality, and how making a budget might negatively impact your relationship to your finances. This week’s Hollywood Hack will relieve stress and help you have a better time: Get there early!...

Liz and Sarah talk about why it’s helpful to prepare small talk topics before a Zoom meeting. Knowing how to fill that awkward time before everyone arrives will reduce your anxiety and improve meeting flow! In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about reality TV lingo. Then, in Take Two, Liz and Sarah revisit the topic of projects they once thought were dead coming suddenly back to life....

Liz and Sarah talk about how they plan to incorporate what they’ve gleaned from Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, into the next draft of their novel Bad Trip. Inner censor be damned! In Take A Hike, they share whimsy ideas from listeners who are participating in Mimsy May. Then they talk about why Writers Room Pro is one of their favorite HIH WFH tools. Th...

Liz and Sarah are wrapping their heads around the fact that in New Hollywood previously declared dead projects may come back to life unexpectedly. That’s great — but it can make it hard to gain momentum on new things. In Take Two, Liz and Sarah share all the many things listeners Don’t Feel Bad About Anymore. Then they give a Hit to all the people who have been showing up to the Killer Bee Zoom Wo...

Every week on the podcast Liz and Sarah mention “how they balance a career and friendship.” They usually talk about the career part, but today they’re leaning into friendship. Find out what they’re doing just for fun and female bonding. In Take A Hike, the fun continues with the announcement of Mimsy May. Sarah and Liz are embracing whimsy in May, and they think you should too! Next, in The Craft...