

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.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 24, 2020 • 30min
Ep. 176: Catching Up With Brook — How She’s Learning To Be Brave and Not Take It Personally
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 title and be bold. This week’s Hollywood Hack is life-changing for anyone who doesn’t yet have it: Venmo! Just do it!If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 17, 2020 • 33min
Ep. 175: Zoom Pitching And Busted Give A Damns
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 Sarah heard on rural Minnesota radio. Is your give a damn as busted as Liz and Sarah’s are? Finally, Sarah shares a Hollywood Hack that’s helped her pare down her belongings: Ask yourself — if you had to fit everything in an 8‘ x 4’ Uhaul, what you take? If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!Dressing For Zoom Meetings With Allyson Fanger:https://happierinhollywood.com/episode156/Cup of Jo’s “How to Vote in Every State:”https://cupofjo.com/2020/09/how-to-vote-in-every-state/#more-235405Fast Company’s “How to Find and Support Black Owned Businesses Wherever You Are:”https://www.fastcompany.com/90512942/how-to-find-and-support-black-owned-businesses-wherever-you-areMy Give A Damn Is Busted by Jo Dee Messina:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40fwZgSFPI 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 10, 2020 • 25min
Ep. 174: Career Lessons From The Bachelorette
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 week’s Hollywood Hack will help improve office morale: host a Zoom trivia night! If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!The Bachelorette:https://abc.com/shows/the-bacheloretteVaccine Finder:https://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/flu-finder-widget.htmlSocial Point Audience Engagement Platform (for Trivia Night):https://www.socialpoint.io/ 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 3, 2020 • 30min
Ep. 173: Sarah’s “Surge Capacity” Is Depleted — Is Yours?
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 three who’s looking to break into TV. And they hear from a listener who plays HIH for her ewes in New Zealand. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from friend of the pod, Michael Melcher: maintain a strong smile at the end of video calls.If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!“Your ‘Surge Capacity’ is Depleted — It’s Why You Feel Awful” by Tara Haelle:https://elemental.medium.com/your-surge-capacity-is-depleted-it-s-why-you-feel-awful-de285d542f4cFellowship Programs For Screenwriters:https://www.wgfoundation.org/fellowship-writing-programs-for-screenwriters-masterlistCareer Stewardship With Michael Melcher:https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/career-stewardship-with-michael-melcher?refid=stpr 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 27, 2020 • 22min
Ep. 172: They’re Paying For Your Confidence
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 pandemic from friend of the pod, Amanda Reed — “Remember, you don’t have to get good at this.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is for all the evil doughnut bringers out there: Sarah’s favorite gluten-free, vegan Chia Power Doughnuts. If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!I May Destroy Youhttps://www.hbo.com/i-may-destroy-youThe Baby-Sitters Clubhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt8690518/Amanda Noret Reedhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912073/Chia Power Doughnutshttp://somethingyummythiswaycomes.blogspot.com/2015/02/chia-power-doughnuts.htmlOh She Glows Cookbookhttps://ohsheglows.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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 20, 2020 • 22min
Ep. 171: Summer Listener Questions Episode — Part Two
Liz and Sarah answer more Listener Questions! Do they ever write just for fun? If they were Queens for a day, what small change would they implement to make the world a happier place? How do they handle gender bias in Hollywood? Has Liz set up her treadmill desk yet? And more!If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 13, 2020 • 26min
Ep. 170: Summer Listener Questions Episode — Part One
Liz and Sarah dive into Listener Questions. What is “good writing?” Do they have any “painfully blunt” advice about breaking into TV over the next couple of years? How was Sarah’s road trip to Minnesota — did she use the portable toilet she bought? And so many more...If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!Cameo Portable Toilet:https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Toilet-Designed-Recreational-Activities-5-3-41541/dp/B004SFKJIQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3043RHMA6S1L5&dchild=1&keywords=portable+toilet+camco+41545&qid=1597183023&sprefix=Portable+toilet+camco%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1Wolfwise Pop Up Privacy Shower Tent:https://www.amazon.com/WolfWise-Portable-Changing-Dressing-Backpack/dp/B01FXNRCWM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=22JY3SDBEJEHM&dchild=1&keywords=wolfwise+pop+up+privacy+toilet+tent&qid=1597183084&sprefix=Wolf+wise+%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-2 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 6, 2020 • 36min
Ep. 169: Set Safety, Mariachi, & The “Do We Want To Talk About It” Test
Liz and Sarah talk to director Dr. Rachel Raimist (Queen Sugar, Roswell New Mexico) about how she’s shooting safely during the time of Covid-19. What exactly are “color coded pod sets” anyway? In The Craft (And Fain), they reveal one of the key factors they use to determine their interest in a potential TV project. Does it pass the “Do We Want To Talk About It” test? This week’s Hollywood Hack is a great (affordable) way to celebrate a loved one while maintaining social distance: Hire a mariachi band!If you want to order a Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cup with lid, email happierinhollywood@gmail.com for more information. 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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!Dr. Rachel Raimisthttps://www.rachelmakesmovies.com/The White Paper:https://laist.com/2020/06/01/studios_guilds_release_guidelines_to_resume_production.phphttps://www.indiewire.com/2020/05/hollywood-safety-white-paper-film-tv-back-to-work-1202232613/Mariachi Divashttps://www.mariachidivas.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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 30, 2020 • 21min
Ep. 168: Are Your Goals And Your Time Aligned?
Liz and Sarah realize that they need to pay attention to whether their goals are in alignment with how they’re spending their time. It’s easy for all of us to get caught up in tasks and projects that don’t take us where we ultimately want to go. In Take A Hike, they discuss why “catastrophizing” is always a huge waste of time. Then they Amplify The Spinster Diaries, a new novel by TV writer Gina Fattore and their latest TV obsession — Vida, created by Tanya Saracho. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a life-changer for anyone desperately in need of a pandemic pedicure: foot peels.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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!What’s Running You podcast (Liz’s interview with Morgan Simpson):http://www.morgansimpson.com/whats-running-you-ep-3-liz-craft/The Spinster Diaries:https://bookshop.org/books/the-spinster-diaries/9781945551734Vida:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7725422/Dermora Foot Peel Mask:https://www.amazon.com/Pairs-Exfoliating-Foot-Peel-Mask/dp/B078WCTVV9/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=Foot+peel&dchild=1&keywords=Foot+peel&pd_rd_i=B078WCTVV9&pd_rd_r=625feb11-edb6-4942-a44b-63040c93c376&pd_rd_w=f1zz5&pd_rd_wg=mg6Ui&pf_rd_p=13bf9bc7-d68d-44c3-9d2e-647020f56802&pf_rd_r=KSPFHS5S323AJWG7CHJ1&psc=1&qid=1595963614&sr=1-1-791c2399-d602-4248-afbb-8a79de2d236f 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 23, 2020 • 24min
Ep. 167: Timeliness And Revisiting Ripcords
Good news! Liz and Sarah are selling their Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cups again. Just email happierinhollywood@gmail.com to order ($25 including shipping). In From The Treadmills Desks Of, they discuss why the timeliness of a project is more important than ever before. Then Liz and Sarah do a Take Two about pulling the ripcord. Turns out a lot of our listeners have done it — and are glad they did. This week’s Hits & Bombs is just Hits. Liz gives a Hit to the USA show DIrty John: The Betty Broderick Story, while Sarah gives her step-mother, Anna, the biggest Hit ever for being her pandemic savior. Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack: Do one small thing a week to make the world a better place.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, Side Hustle School, Do The Thing, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story:https://www.usanetwork.com/dirty-john 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.