Happier in Hollywood

The Onward Project
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Oct 30, 2025 • 28min

Ep. 442: Sucking It Up

After a recent rude encounter related to one of their projects, Liz and Sarah talk about how sometimes you just have to suck it up. (Being able to see your own facial expression on Zoom helps!) In honor of Halloween, they share their personal horror stories and discuss why it’s good to laugh at yourself. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), they explore what you want your sample script to show about your skills as a TV writer. This week’s Hollywood Hack is affordable and comfortable — H & M Wide-Leg Joggers. Finally, Liz recommends the documentary series The Last Wright: Building the Final Home Design of America’s Greatest Architect on HBO Max.  Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!   LINKS: H & M Wide-Leg Joggers: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/search-results.html?q=women%27s%20wide-leg%20joggers   The Last Wright trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsHoavzs8YSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 23, 2025 • 28min

Ep. 441: More Notes & Celebrating Steps Along The Way

Recently Liz and Sarah discussed how the rubber was meeting the road on their Netflix pilot. They were sure they were done with the notes process and were now awaiting some kind of yay or nay on the project. But they were wrong! They’re getting more notes, a reminder that predicting the future in Hollywood is impossible. In Take A Hike, Sarah talks about how making a meal from her garden made her realize it’s important to celebrate steps along the way. Next they answer a Mailroom Question from a listener who does NOT enjoy being inundated by Substack newsletters. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your pictures — use the Clean Up feature in Apple photos. Finally, Sarah recommends An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra 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: GreenStalk Garden: https://greenstalkgarden.com/   Orange Theory Fitness: https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us   An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler: https://amzn.to/42Rh8OOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 16, 2025 • 31min

Ep. 440: Pitch Decks & Meeting IRL

Discover the art of crafting engaging pitch decks, with tips on visuals and structure from the hosts. They emphasize the importance of in-person meetings for building rapport and easing collaboration. Listeners share heartwarming moments of joy, and the hosts celebrate their small delights as well. For those working from the floor, a clever Hollywood Hack introduces a foldable coffee table. The episode closes with a heartfelt tribute to Diane Keaton and a recommendation for her classic film, Baby Boom.
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Oct 9, 2025 • 31min

Ep 439: Pitch Prep & Define Your Eras

Get ready to master your TV pitch with insider tips on handling Q&A sessions! Discover how defining your personal eras, inspired by Taylor Swift’s latest album, can shape your next phase. The hosts share invaluable takeaways from Anne Lamott’s classic, Bird by Bird, emphasizing the art of incremental progress in writing. Plus, learn practical Hollywood hacks like using a steering wheel desk and the benefits of a signature travel outfit. Don't miss Sarah’s rave about Richard Osman’s latest mystery novel!
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Oct 2, 2025 • 27min

Ep. 438: Convergence & The Control Your Algorithm Challenge

Liz and Sarah have been pingponging around on various projects for months. Now several of their projects are converging, and it’s controlled chaos! In Take A Hike, they issue the Control Your Algorithm October Challenge. Stop doomscrolling and get more good in your feed! Next, Liz and Sarah introduce their brand new segment — Disproportionate Joy. Sarah’s getting joy from Violet’s new swim meet times and Liz is giddy about certain members of her Survivor Fantasy League. This week’s Hollywood Hack will save you money AND is good for the environment: Shop your favorite brand’s secondhand section. Finally, Liz recommends Lena Dunham’s Substack newsletter, Good Thing Going.  Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Legend Planner: https://amzn.to/3KN9q1K   Clare V Le Resale: https://leresaleclarev.com   Patagonia Worn Wear:  https://wornwear.patagonia.com   Apiece Apart Archive: https://archive.apieceapart.com/   Lululemon: https://likenew.lululemon.com/   Eileen Fisher Renew:  https://www.eileenfisherrenew.com/   The North Face Renewed: https://www.thenorthfacerenewed.com   Levi’s Secondhand: https://www.secondhand.levi.com/   Lena Dunham’s Good Thing Going newsletter: https://goodthinggoing.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips   Photo by Lance Grandahl on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sep 25, 2025 • 31min

Ep. 437: The Curse Of Hearing Good Things & Pivoting

Liz and Sarah are hearing a trickle of good things about their pilot script, which means… absolutely nothing. They discuss how to regulate their nervous systems and keep expectations low while the waiting continues. Then, in Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to their favorite career coach, Laverne McKinnon, about how to know when it’s time to pivot in your career. One helpful tip? Recognize the difference between instinct and intuition. This week’s Hollywood Hack is for anyone getting professional photos taken: Bring the photographer examples of poses you like. Finally, Sarah recommends the books of British TV writer, Anthony Horowitz, including Magpie Murders and The Word is Murder. Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at  https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com.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: Laverne McKinnon: https://www.lavernemckinnon.com/   Allie Coyle Photography: http://alliecoylephotography.com/category/allie-coyle-photography/   Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz: https://amzn.to/4pvZauN   The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz:  https://amzn.to/4gximEk   Photo by Aserusainhuu on Unsplash  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sep 18, 2025 • 27min

Ep. 436: Do Or Die Time

Liz and Sarah face a pivotal moment as they await feedback on their Netflix pilot, a true do-or-die situation. Sarah shares the Finch app, a fun way to gamify self-care while bonding with her daughter. They dive into the art of giving and receiving notes, stressing the importance of kindness and reflection. Sarah also reveals how the GreenStalk Vertical Planter revolutionized her gardening efforts. Finally, they rave about Jeff Hiller’s memoir, praising its wit and audiobook charm.
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Sep 11, 2025 • 28min

Ep. 435: TV Pitches & An Epic Mahjong Journey

Unravel the complexities of writing a TV pitch and why it can be a lengthy ordeal. Discover how one listener's Mahjong journey inspired community building and a bigger life at 62. The hosts vent their frustrations with pesky home printers, a relatable WFH struggle. Light up your space with the beautiful scent of a Malin & Goetz leather candle, perfect for non-floral fans. For a dose of joy, check out the father-child cooking videos from the Cooking for Levi Threads account that uplift spirits!
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Sep 4, 2025 • 29min

Ep. 434: AI Images & Living Vicariously

Liz and Sarah talk about how a recent survey from the WGA prompted them to try using AI to make images for their latest pitch deck. In Take A Hike, they recommend “living vicariously.” They are absolutely living vicariously through Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, and they are loving it! Next, Sarah and Liz give a Hit to the new NYT game, Pips, and a Bomb to the same game for being hard to figure out the first time. The solution? Sarah teaches Liz how to play live on the podcast! Liz wishes she’d had this week’s Hollywood Hack earlier in the summer: a self-tanning mitt. Finally, Liz recommends the fascinating new podcast Unicorn Girl. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! 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, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Note: Go to the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group for Liz and Sarah’s extensive Teens/Tweens Gift Guide. Thanks to listeners for such great ideas! Link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/903150719832696/permalink/3081705578643855/ LINKS: Mr. Seifert and Miss Barker get engaged: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfIYDqSvnb0   Self-Tanning Mitt:  https://amzn.to/4lTVDmW   Sally Hansen Body Makeup: https://amzn.to/47onrfN   Unicorn Girl podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unicorn-girl/id1813180252?i=1000721964497See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Aug 28, 2025 • 28min

Ep. 433: Batching & Birthday Celebrations

This discussion dives into the art of batching tasks to boost productivity and creativity, especially for content creators. One host shares how planning a birthday celebration, featuring fondue, has sparked joy. They also explore strategies for setting manageable writing goals and the value of accountability in the creative process. A fun digital tool for gifting is introduced, and listeners get tips on improving their puzzling skills with a recommended game app. Don't miss the heartfelt book suggestion that reflects on personal growth.

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