

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

Jan 25, 2018 • 21min
Ep. 37: Sorry, Not Sorry!
Liz and Sarah discuss the common phenomenon of over-apologizing. When SHOULD you say you're sorry? Then they debate the pros and cons of overbuying versus underbuying -- and share what compelled Sarah to buy a puppy stroller. This week's Hollywood Hack makes investing simple and easy -- the Robinhood app! Finally, Liz shares her Game of Thrones celebrity sighting: Peter Dinklage! 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.

Jan 18, 2018 • 21min
Ep. 36: Liz's 6th Sense Says Expand
Liz and Sarah choose their "team word" for 2018: Expand! Liz's 6th sense tells her that this will be their best year yet. Sarah vents about the unexpected sugar bombs in her food as she embarks on her year of no sugar. She also talks about how Diane Sanfilippo's "21 Day Sugar Detox" program is helping her stay on track. This week's Hollywood Hack is good for the environment -- aluminum straws! Finally, Mary shares her RHOBH celebrity sighting: Mohamed Hadid. (And her almost celebrity sighting of Justin Bieber.) 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.

Jan 11, 2018 • 25min
Ep. 35: You Asked -- We Answer! A Q&A Episode with Liz and Sarah
This episode is all about you! Liz and Sarah answer all of your pressing questions. How does Liz live with two first and last names? Where do sets go when no one's using them? How does Sarah manage her healthy lifestyle without obsessing? And more! Plus, their Assistant Mary offers advice on how to make friends in Los Angeles. (Insider Tip: start with finding an acquaintance.) Then this week's Hollywood Hack comes from listener Matt: Portrait Mode, the metaphor. 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.

Jan 4, 2018 • 31min
Ep. 34: Peeking Behind the Podcast Curtain
Podcast Power! Liz and Sarah go behind the podcast curtain and talk to Panoply's Director of Nonfiction Programming and By the Book co-host Kristen Meinzer about what it takes to grow a successful podcast. Pro Tip: treat it like a college thesis. They also introduce their new assistant, Mary Mehrkens! What makes her Happier in Hollywood? Supporting her peers instead of stabbing them in the back. This week's Hollywood Hack: personalized stationery. Finally, Liz has a VEEP celebrity sighting. 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.

Dec 28, 2017 • 34min
Ep. 33: Make People Love You (and the World Will be Yours)
Assistant extravaganza! We talk to our former assistant, Elysse Applebaum, about her super intense Writer's Group— there’s an admissions process. We also sit down with our very first assistant, Tony Dodds (now a successful sitcom writer) to talk about what it takes to be not just a good assistant, but a GREAT one. Tony also provides this week's Hollywood Hack: using the PDF Reader to prepare a pitch. Finally, a celebrity sighting: Mandy Moore! 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.

Dec 21, 2017 • 33min
Ep. 32: "No Asshole Policy" With Executive Producer And Lupus Warrior Maurissa Tancharoen
No assholes! Liz and Sarah talk to ABC's Agents of Shield Executive Producer, Maurissa Tancharoen, about her "no asshole policy" -- and about being a high-powered, ass-kicking writer/producer, boss, and mom all while living with Lupus. One way she copes — embracing the Spoon Theory. Then Liz has a Hit this week — reading books to Jack’s class at school — and Sarah has an exercise-related Bomb. Finally, this week's Hollywood Hack will up your parenting game: create a kid bag for the car. 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.

Dec 14, 2017 • 23min
Ep. 31: 2018 -- Our Year of Living Sugar-Freely and Weighing Daily
This episode is all about change! Liz and Sarah discuss big changes in their professional lives and how they’re managing to stay (more or less) calm despite the chaos. They also reveal the changes they plan to make in 2018. Yes, it’s New Year’s Resolution time! Then, this week’s Hollywood Hack will up your selfie game: the Lumee. Finally, Sarah dishes on her bowling alley celebrity sighting. 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.

Dec 7, 2017 • 29min
Ep. 30: "Pain Is The Great Equalizer" With Former L.A. Gang Members Richard Cabral and Jose Arellano
Sarah and Liz talk to former L.A. gang members Richard Cabral and Jose Arellano about their new podcast "Without Your Permission." Richard (who's now an Emmy-nominated actor) and Jose share how they survived traumatic childhoods, gang life, and years in prison, and then came out the other side through faith, hard work, and the help of the organization Homeboy Industries. Also, Liz responds to a listener who wants to know why she uses bad language on "Happier In Hollywood," but NOT on "Happier With Gretchen Rubin." Plus, this week's Hollywood Hack, which comes from Sarah's Swedish high school boyfriend: the neti pot. Finally, Liz and Sarah reveal their latest Celebrity Sighting (which has a 90210 zip code). 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.

Nov 30, 2017 • 30min
Ep. 29: From Adderall To Athleisure: Finding Balance With Author Melissa De La Cruz
They say "writing is rewriting," and this week Liz and Sarah talk about The Bad Draft. They've finally managed to finish a draft of their pilot script, but will it ever be... good? How do they move forward and dig in to make it not just good but great? Then they talk to Young Adult author extraordinaire Melissa De La Cruz (The Descendants series, Alex & Eliza, Pride And Prejudice And Mistletoe)about her experience with the popular prescription drug Adderall. Taking it helped her be insanely productive -- but at what price? Liz and Sarah also share this week's Hollywood Hack: rain pants! Finally, Liz shares the MANY celebrity sightings she had at the Hollywood Film Awards -- including Angelina Jolie, Harrison Ford, and Sean "Puffy" Combs. 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.

Nov 23, 2017 • 29min
Ep. 28: The Holiday Episode -- To Business Gift Or Not To Business Gift?
It's officially the holidays! Liz and Sarah discuss how they cope with working over the holidays when they'd rather be drinking cocoa and making cookies. Pro tip -- compartmentalizing, setting boundaries, and reframing help them NOT turn into Grinches. Then Sarah and Liz debate the merits of giving business gifts. Will they get their lawyer wine this year? They also explain the very Hollywood concept of a "crew gift." Plus a Hollywood Holiday Hack: hire a company to put up Christmas lights! And Sarah and Liz reveal their past Holiday Celebrity Sightings -- Debra Winger and Matthew McConaughey (who told Sarah she has a great smile). 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.


