Happier in Hollywood

Liz and Sarah start with a poetic update— a reading of Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese.” Then in From The Treadmill Desks Of, they discuss the “cacophony of choice” they’re dealing with now that their overall at ABC Studios is over. It’s exciting that they’re free to do ANYTHING— but also overwhelming. As they analyze how to navigate their opportunities, they decide to stretch but also stay in their wheelhouse. One this is for sure— they’ll be Riding The Dragon, which they discuss in The Mailroom segment. This week’s Hollywood Hack: Take No For An Answer (something they wish they’d done sooner on a recent endeavor). Finally, Liz and Sarah bid Mary farewell as she offers a final Celebrity Sighting — Damon Wayans Jr. at the HaHa Comedy  Club.Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese:” http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlLivingston Taylor: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.htmlStage Performance by Livingston Taylor:https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Performance-Livingston-Taylor/dp/1461068843/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UET3Q49X6AIP&keywords=stage+performance+livingston+taylor&qid=1559685914&s=gateway&sprefix=Stage+Performan%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1HaHa Comedy Club: http://hahacafecomedyclub.com/You can follow Mary Mehrkens: Instagram — @marymerkdog and Twitter — @MehrkdogIf you want to watch the PBS pledge show Liz recorded with her sister Gretchen, click here to check your local listings for show times. Many stations start airing it on June 1st. 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, and Do The Thing. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends to Do the Thing.Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fix has been cancelled! It’s not unexpected, but it still sucks. Liz and Sarah share what Season 2 would have been and how they’re moving on! Then they discuss all things negotiation with Michael Donaldson, renowned entertainment attorney and author of Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Negotiating Agreements That Work. Michael’s advice is crucial for everyone— but is particularly useful to Hollywood writers who have recently fired their agents. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal a career-building Hollywood Hack: keep a Meeting Master List!The Fix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942774/Michael C. Donaldson: http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/attorneys/Michael C. Donaldson’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/copyrightguideNegotiating for Dummies: https://www.amazon.com/Negotiating-Dummies-Donaldson/dp/0470045221Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Reaching Solutions That Work: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331758.Fearless_NegotiatingIf you want to watch the PBS pledge show Liz recorded with her sister Gretchen, click here to check your local listings for show times. Many stations start airing it on June 1st.  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.

Liz and Sarah discuss being calm versus acting calm — and how they were recently “Shawn Ryan Calm” during a tough conversation. Then in Take A Hike, Sarah shares why “not knowing if it’s going to snow in March” helped her stop anticipating the worst. Next, Liz and Sarah fess up to a Happier in Hollywood Retreat bomb, and Sarah gives a hit to her aunt for stepping up in a crisis. Sarah’s HOT Hollywood Hack has changed her life: a Sunlighten sauna! Finally, they reveal a listener’s British Celebrity Sighting: Jeremy Irons!Shawn Ryan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752841/The Shield: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Sunlighten Sauna: https://www.sunlighten.com/Jeremy Irons: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1Photo by Bekir Dönmez 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah reveal their 2019 Development Motto: Ride The Dragon (just like Daenerys, but with less crazy)! With the ever changing waves in their career, they recite a poem from Safire Rose called She Let Go. Then in this week’s Mailroom segment, Liz and Sarah answer a listener question about writing thank you notes to showrunners. This week’s selfie Hollywood Hack is perfect for events: a selfie remote. Finally, Liz shares her Sugar Ray Celebrity Sighting: Mark McGrath!Women in Film: https://womeninfilm.org/Safire Rose: https://safire-rose.com/Selfie Remote: https://www.target.com/p/retrak-bluetooth-selfie-remote/-/A-52808250Mark McGrath: http://www.markmcgrath.com/Katsu-ya: http://www.katsu-yagroup.com/encino/  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.

You asked, Liz and Sarah answer! What’s the best book on writing? Do extras wear their own clothes? How does collaboration work? Why does Liz consider the Housewives a feminist franchise? Liz and Sarah answer these questions and more in this very special listener questions episode! The Fix: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EoVvpfVUqvA Brook Sitgraves Turner: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8223801/?ref_=nv_sr_1 On Writing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10569.On_Writing Story: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Substance-Structure-Principles-Screenwriting/dp/0060391685/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Story&qid=1557262881&s=gateway&sr=8-4Save The Cat: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49464.Save_the_Cat Robert McKee: https://mckeestory.com/Roxane Gay: http://www.roxanegay.com/ Bitch Sesh: https://www.earwolf.com/show/bitch-sesh/Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Damier Ebene: https://us.louisvuitton.comDirty John: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7945720/Photo by Dan Gold 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hill is not as high as you think it is! Liz and Sarah discuss how they're conquering both literal and metaphorical "hills," including The Fix Season 2 pitch, Fryman Canyon, and the prospect of writing a fiction podcast. Their advice? It's okay to take a break — just get right back to climbing! Then in Take Two, Liz and Sarah revisit office roles. This week's Hollywood Hack is an easy-to-use graphic design app: Canva. Finally, Liz reveals her New York City Celebrity Sighting: George Stephanopoulos!Strength Code: https://www.thestrengthcode.com/The Fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoVvpfVUqvACava: https://www.canva.com/George Stephanopoulos: https://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeekGood Morning America: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/Anderson Cooper: https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360Happier Hour Live Events: https://gretchenrubin.com/about/live-events/Photo by Tory Morrison 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk to Safe For Work podcast hosts Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano about all things work — from dealing with assholes and vipers in the office to making a career change in your 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s. Then Liz and Sarah give a 2019 New Year’s Resolutions update! So far so good! Sarah’s been focusing on progress over perfection, and Liz is on her way to hitting her weight loss goal. Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack elevates any event: personalized cocktail napkins! Safe For Work: https://wondery.com/shows/safe-for-work/Rico Gagliano’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/ricogagliano?lang=enLiz Dolan’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/SSLizSatellite Sisters: https://satellitesisters.com/tag/liz-dolan/Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/Photo by David Clode 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Happier in Hollywood writers’ retreat in Ojai — How To Get (And Keep) A Job As A TV Writer — and why it’s essential to live in an atmosphere of growth. Then they answer not 1, but 2 listener questions: one from a writers’ assistant who’s trying to be good at his current job while still pushing to make it to the next level, and a second question about podcasting! In Hits and Bombs, Liz and Sarah hand out hits to Mary, Brook, and The Fix writers’ assistant Laura for their amazing work at the writers’ retreat, and then give themselves a big, drunken bomb. Finally, this week’s grammar-perfecting Hollywood Hack was recommended by numerous HIH writers’ retreat participants: Grammarly! Links:The Fix: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PYX2elOGTKoHustle and Grace Podcast: http://www.hilarysutton.com/podcastBrook Sitgraves Turner: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8223801/?ref_=nv_sr_1Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.comTell it to Sweeney Stand-up Show: https://www.flapperscomedy.com/shows/tell-it-to-sweeney/54697/ 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.

It’s the 100th episode of Happier in Hollywood! In television land, this would be the holy grail! To celebrate, special guest Gretchen Rubin declutters Liz and Sarah’s office on the Disney lot. Then in Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah (& Gretchen) read (the very few) negative reviews for The Fix and discuss how they deal with public opinion. Finally, this week’s foot-friendly Hollywood Hack is perfect for work: keep a pair of flip flops in your bag to minimize time in blister-inducing heels. Links:The Fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoVvpfVUqvAGretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/Gretchen Rubin Resources: https://gretchenrubin.com/resourcesOuter Order, Inner Calm: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/outer-order-inner-calm/about-the-bookThe Shield: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/Best Exotic Baby Names: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Exotic-Baby-Names-Historical/dp/0965733823Rothys: https://rothys.com/womens/best-sellers?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand+RL+181128+l_TE1+e16aPhoto by Jason Leung 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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah talk to Hollywood career coach Carole Kirschner about having a game plan. Her advice? Have it on the stage and on the page! Then in Take Two, they revisit being rewritten — it’s not just a TV writer thing! Lawyers and other professionals experience it, too. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from The Fix writers’ assistant, Laura Snow: widen the net to further your career when you’re feeling stuck in an overcrowded field. Finally, Sarah reveals her horse stables Celebrity Sighting: Lisa Vanderpump! Links:The Fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkJhX-ccM5kCarole Kirschner: https://www.carolekirschner.com/Hollywood Game Plan: https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Game-Plan-Digital-Entertainment/dp/1615930868CBS Diversity Writers Mentoring Program: https://www.cbscorporation.com/diversity_institute/writers-mentoring-program/WGA Showrunner Training Program: https://www.wga.org/members/programs/showrunner-trainingJoss Whedon: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923736/Angel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162065/?ref_=nm_knf_t4Lisa Vanderpump: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0888838/?ref_=nv_sr_1 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.