Happier in Hollywood
Happier in Hollywood
The Onward Project
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.
Ep. 361: Boundaries & (Orange) Theories
Liz and Sarah often talk about the importance of drawing boundaries. Today they pat themselves on the back for drawing a boundary at work — but can they maintain it in the future? In Take A Hike, inspired by Liz finally trying an Orange Theory Fitness class, they discuss the benefits of doing something you’ve been putting off. Then Liz and Sarah answer a Mailroom Question about how they stay (at least somewhat) upbeat on the podcast when they’re going through tough stuff. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you read more — the Kindle Paperwhite. Finally, Sarah has an old school recommendation: Smithsonian Magazine. 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Orange Theory Fitness: Group Fitness Classes & Heart –Rate-Based Interval Trainingorangetheory.com Kindle Paperwhite: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) – Now with a larger display, adjustable warm light, increased battery life, and faster page turns – Agave Greenamazon.com Smithsonian Magazine: Explore History, Science, Arts & Culturesmithsonianmag.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 11
27 min
Ep. 360: A Special Episode: How To Be On Set
In this special episode, Liz and Sarah talk about a TV writer/producer’s role on set. Why are you there? (To help execute the Showrunner’s vision.) What should you do to prepare? (Go to lots of meetings!) What should you do during shooting? (Communicate with the director.) They also have several set Hollywood Hacks — wear layers, bring rain pants, avoid Craft Services, get a brightly colored bag, and wear Hokas! Finally, Liz recommends (again) a book by veteran Showrunner Jeff Melvoin, Running The Show: Television From The Inside.  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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Jeff Melvoin: Jeff Melvoinjeffmelvoin.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 4
32 min
Ep. 359: Big Boo To Bake Offs!
Liz and Sarah talk about bake offs — what are they, and why do TV writers hate them? So many reasons! In Take A Hike, they talk about the art of taking compliment. Just say “thank you.” Then they give a Hit to IATSE and the Teamsters, who are in the middle of contract negotiations with the AMPTP. And Sarah gives a Bomb to electric car infrastructure. We need more chargers! This week’s Hollywood Hack will make your brows beautiful: Elf Brow Mascara. Finally, Sarah recommends the decluttering episode of the podcast Ologies, and Liz recommends Kara Swisher’s new book — Burn Book: A Tech Love Story 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Dabble:  Dabble | Craft your Storydabblewriter.com Jill Whelan: Jill Whelan | Actress, Writer, Producerimdb.com Elf Brow Mascara: e.l.f. Clear Lash & Brow Mascara 2-Pack, Conditioning Clear Brow & Lash Gel For Grooming, Defining & Separating, Long-Lasting, Vegan & Cruelty-Freeamazon.com Ologies podcast: Oikology (DECLUTTERING) Encore with Jamie & Filip Hord + Joe FerrariOlogies with Alie Ward · March 12, 2024 Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher: Burn Booksimonandschuster.com Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 28
25 min
Ep. 358: Great Expectations & True Fun
Liz and Sarah are writing the second draft of their novel, and it’s getting so much better. But now that they feel the book has the potential to be great, the pressure is on! They just have to remember that writing is rewriting. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about True Fun as defined by Catherine Price’s book The Power of Fun. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve the look of any room — add some unexpected red! Finally, Liz recommends Masters of the Air on Apple TV.  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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: True Fun: The Power of Fun Hubcatherineprice.com Unexpected Red: Designers say ‘unexpected red’ really works. Here’s how to use it.washingtonpost.com Masters of the Air trailer: Masters of the Air — Official Trailer | Apple TV+youtube.com Photo by Jean-Philippe Delberghe on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 21
29 min
Ep. 357: Sleeping In Seattle
Liz and Sarah are back from their trip to Seattle, where they were researching a new pilot project. They discuss the many benefits of immersing themselves in research, including having ideas they never would have had at home in their offices. Plus, they both slept GREAT. In Take A Hike, they reflect on No Spend February. Sarah’s main takeaway? She needs to “store it at the store.” In Hits & Bombs, Liz and Sarah give Seattle listeners a big Hit for showing up to the HIH meet up at The Polar Bar, and they give themselves a Bomb for not having started their newsletter yet. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you get organized: the Maple App. Finally, Sarah recommends Catherine Price’s substack, “How To Feel Alive.” 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Julia Whelan: That Voice You’re Hearing? It Might Be Hers. (Published 2022)nytimes.com Seattle’s Underground Tour: UNDERGROUND TOURundergroundtour.com The Polar Bar: The Polar Bar Seattlearcticclubhotel.com The Maple App: Maple App | Helping you keep it togethergrowmaple.com Catherine Price: Bookscatherineprice.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 14
29 min
Ep. 356: Coping With “Priority Whiplash”
Liz and Sarah talk about how they’re coping with what they call “priority whiplash.” They have to be ready to jump off one work project and onto another when opportunity arises. Next, they interview author Chelsey Goodan about her new book, Underestimated: The Wisdom And Power Of Teenage Girls. What’s the best way to give a compliment? What is the Feelings Wheel? And how should we reframe worry to keep it from becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy? This week’s Hollywood Hack is for everyone whose eyeglass bother them during Zoom meetings: Nerdwax. Finally, Liz recommends the bestselling historical novels of Kristin Hannah.  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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Underestimated: The Wisdom And Power Of Teenage Girls by Chelsey Goodan: Chelsey Goodanchelseygoodan.com Nerdwax: Nerdwax - Original Glasses Wax - Stop Slipping Glassesnerdwax.com Kristin Hannah: Authorkristinhannah.com Photo by Charlotte Harrison on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 7
29 min
Ep. 355: Failing At Flow
Liz and Sarah have a ton of work to do, but they’re having trouble getting into “the flow.” How can they stop being distracted by ping ponging projects and focus on one thing at a time? In Take A Hike, Liz shares her happiness dilemma. She loves being social but she always dreads whatever plan she’s made once she’s made it. Then Sarah talks about why she created a “cloffice,” and how it has transformed her work life. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help with flow: use a 2 cup thermal coffee pot. Finally, Sarah recommends the memoir Unraveling, by Peggy Orenstein. 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Lafeeca Thermal Coffee Carafe: Lafeeca Thermal Coffee Carafe Tea Pot Stainless Steel, Double Wall Vacuum Insulated | Cool Touch Handle | Hot & Cold Retention | Non-Slip Silicone Base | BPA Free Blackamazon.com Unraveling but Peggy Orenstein: Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweateramazon.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 29
31 min
Ep. 354: What We Learned From Listening
When it comes to pitching, Liz and Sarah are usually the ones who are talking rather than listening. Today they share what they learned when they listened to another writer’s pitch. In The Happiness Project Revisited segment, Sarah shares what she’s doing for the February theme of energy — including going to bed by 10:30PM, the Prolon fast, and Pilates. Next, in They will Craft (& Fain) Liz and Sarah talk about Dabble Writer, which they’ve started using to write their novel. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help those who are participating in No Spend February: Don’t memorize your credit card number. Finally, Liz recommends Griselda on Netflix. 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Prolon: Try ProLon® Offerprolonlife.com Dabble Writer: Dabble | Craft your Storydabblewriter.com Griselda trailer: Griselda | Official Trailer | Netflixyoutube.com Cocaine Godmother trailer: Cocaine Godmother Trailer (2018) Catherine Zeta-Jones Movieyoutube.com Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 22
28 min
Ep. 353: Nothing Changed But Everything Changed
Liz and Sarah discuss how a great meeting with an executive made them realize how much their perception shapes their reality. Even though technically nothing has changed in terms of Hollywood “getting back to normal,” it suddenly feels like it has. And that’s a good thing! In Take A Hike, Sarah describes the benefits of Kirtan Kriya meditation. Then Liz and Sarah answer a Mailroom question about how ethical writers were (or weren’t) during the strike. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you focus: turn off notifications on your devices! Finally, Sarah recommends a docudrama on Netflix — The Social Dilemma.  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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Kirtan Kriya Meditation: kundalini.yoga The Social Dilemma: A Netflix Original documentarythesocialdilemma.com Photo by Saffu on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 15
29 min
Ep. 352: Our First “Roar 24” & Embrace Your Core
Liz and Sarah headed to The Emerald Iguana Inn for their first “Roar 24,” an intense, twenty-four hour work session. They finished a draft of their latest pitch and made (some) headway on their novel. In Take A Hike, they discuss why it’s fun to “embrace your core.” Are you Cottagecore like Sarah? Or maybe Valleymomcore like Liz? Define your own core! In Hits & Bombs, Liz and Sarah give a Hit to the 2024 Grammys and Bomb to themselves for deciding to change all of their characters’ names before an evening of discussing their novel. This week’s Hollywood Hack added a touch of whimsy to Sarah’s new office: a shiny light switch cover. Finally, Liz recommends the reality competition show The Trust: A Game of Greed on Netflix.  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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: The Emerald Iguana Inn: Book Hotel Lodge in Ojai, CAemeraldiguana.com Cottagecore: Cottagecoreen.wikipedia.org Shiny Light Switch Cover: Shiny Golden Rhinestones Wall Plate Cover Double Toggle Toggle Light Switch Cover Rhinestones Decorative Outlet Covers Wall Plate 2 Gang Decorativeamazon.com The Trust: A Game of Greed trailer: The Trust: A Game of Greed | Official Trailer | Netflixyoutube.com Photo by Süheyl Burak on Unsplash To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 8
29 min
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