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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.

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#488
Thursday · 31 min
Ep. 488: No Wallowing Policy & Start In Neutral
Liz and Sarah have discovered that, for them, productivity is the best medicine. After a major disappointment they thought about taking the day off and wallowing in bed. Instead, they had an incredibly productive work day and felt SO MUCH better. From now on, they’re going to implement a No Wallow Policy. In Take A Hike, Liz shares Jack’s advice to “start in neutral.” Then they answer a Mailroom question about their writing nemeses — both as a team and as individuals. Liz shares this week’s makeup Hollywood Hack: the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick. Finally, Sarah recommends the book Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. LINKS: You Can See Everything documentary trailer: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGJSRFWALTI⁠ Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick: ⁠https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/dior-forever-skin-perfect-stick?ID=5222087&swatchColor=0.5N+Neutral⁠ Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: ⁠https://link.amazon/B0iSQj47G⁠ Get in touch on Instagram: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Get in touch on Threads: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://happierinhollywood.com⁠ Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at ⁠https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com⁠ and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at ⁠https://happierinhollywood.substack.com⁠. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#487
September 10 · 33 min
Ep. 487: Killin’ It Killer Bee Style
Liz and Sarah check in on their 2026 Team Theme “Be the Bee,” and decide to update it to “Be the Killer Bee.” In Take A Hike, Liz shares a strategy for putting yourself in the right mindset for the day. Then they answer a Mailroom question about how they battle internal doubt about whether an idea “has already been done.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is for all the bread bakers: the Mercer Culinary Bread Knife. Finally, Liz recommends the drama Drops of God on Apple TV. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: Dry Erase Dots: https://amzn.to/4iLrto0 Lian Dolan: https://www.liandolan.com/ Liz Dolan: https://satellitesisters.com/about-lian-liz-and-julie-dolan/ Mercer Culinary Bread Knife: https://amzn.to/4h9vwJG Drops of God Season 1 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XxSeLUwRDM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#486
September 3 · 29 min
Ep. 486: What Will We Do Without Dolly?
In honor of the incredible life and legacy of Dolly Parton, Liz and Sarah are doing an all-Dolly episode! In From The Treadmill Desks Of, they reveal how they wish they’d had Dolly’s backbone when they caved on a business decision that is having ramifications today. In Take A Hike, they discuss how Dolly lived her values. Then they introduce a new segment, Cup Of Ambition, in which they’ll talk about how to maintain healthy ambition — just like Dolly did. This week’s Hollywood Hack is a summer grown up glitter make up trend that Dolly would approve of — L’Oreal Le Shadow Stick. Finally, they recommend the classic 1980 Dolly Parton movie 9 to 5 and a tribute to Dolly as a writer from Tressie McMillan Cottom. LINKS: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/ Happier In Hollywood Episode 242: https://happierinhollywood.com/ep-242-what-would-dolly-do-2022/ The Values Bridge: https://www.becomingyou.com/values-bridge 1977 Dolly Parton interview with Barbara Walters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-poIrpApkw L’Oreal Le Shadow Stick: https://amzn.to/3UnA06z 9 to 5 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qni6HOyPNBA “Loving Dolly Was Easy, Understanding Her Was Hard,” by Tressie McMillan Cottom: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/opinion/dolly-parton-appalachia-legacy.html Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#485
August 27 · 34 min
Ep. 485: Chaos Vibes & The Joy Of Rehashing
Liz and Sarah discuss that one of the biggest advantages of having a writing partner is being able to take turns bringing each other up when one is down. Right now, Sarah is feeling the chaos of their career, but Liz is calm and optimistic. Next month? It will likely be the opposite! In Take A Hike, they talk about how their recent visit to KCON made them appreciate the joy of rehashing. Then, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah explore how getting granular with their characters’ wardrobe is bringing clarity to their latest pilot. This week’s Hollywood Hack is giving Sarah joy in the kitchen: the Cuisinart Custom Convection Bread Maker. Finally, Liz recommends the current season of Married At First Sight on Peacock. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: KCON USA: https://kconusa.com/ Cuisinart Custom Convection Bread Maker: https://www.cuisinart.com/custom-convection-bread-maker/CBK-210NAS.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaignname%7D&utm_term=&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A21470027214%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=8527973&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=CBK-210NAS&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21480652252&gbraid=0AAAAADFjouLkCDUQb6gHEBcKQXUClZOVC&gclid=CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7-bFC97gBSwmlijUmvWbDLJ94YpMcod6nLuELFkSyjqPyZUmikkKbhoCJA4QAvD_BwE Married At First Sight Season 20 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxO1zuoQtyA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#484
August 20 · 30 min
Ep. 484: The Talk-Through Step & Monday Morning Steps
Liz and Sarah have added a useful new step to their pitch writing process — the talk-through step. If they’re working with someone they trust, they’ve discovered it’s super helpful to talk through what they’re thinking for a pitch before actually writing it. In Take A Hike, they reveal their new back-to-school plan to carve out every Monday morning for exercise. In The Mailroom, they answer a question from a listener who wants to know whether Liz and Sarah invested in various products they were curious about. This week’s Hollywood Hack makes sitting outside more pleasant: the Mosiller Electric Fly Swatter. Finally, Sarah recommends The Parian Heist by Jo Piazza. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Miss Mary of Sweden Bra: https://amzn.to/4x32hh2 Mosiller Electric Fly Swatter: https://amzn.to/4zbSqqR The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza: https://amzn.to/3UoxvRk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#483
August 13 · 29 min
Ep. 483: A Tough Hollywood Lesson & Making It Happen (Casting Edition)
Liz and Sarah discuss how their recent disappointment over a project that went up in smoke has once again taught them not to invest too heavily emotionally (or practically) in something until business affairs is involved. Then, in a new segment, Making It Happen, Liz and Sarah talk to veteran casting director Candice Bernstein about how she set about conquering the world of verticals casting. This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for anyone whose seatbelt drives them nuts: Leather Fixing Clips. Finally, Liz recommends the memoir Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane by Lindy West. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Hoffman Bernstein casting: https://www.hoffmanbernsteincasting.com/ Leather Fixing Clips: https://amzn.to/4q5PKXw Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane by Lindy West: https://amzn.to/45ipWhu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#482
August 6 · 29 min
Ep. 482: Word Count Accountability (& Chuck Dances!)
Liz and Sarah are using a new accountability method to power through the pages of their novel Bad Trip. Every day, they’re writing down their respective word counts in their planners, even if it’s zero, and then reporting the number to each other the following morning. And it’s working! In Take A Hike, they discuss the question — how much of your day do you actually enjoy? Then, in Hits & Bombs, Sarah gives Liz a hit for helping Sarah and Violet during a tough time, and Liz gives Chuck a Hit for going to a very-out-of-his-comfort-zone dance class. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from a listener— try “location scouting” in your own neighborhood. Finally, Sarah recommends the TV show Ride or Die on Prime Video. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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: “This Is Your Home on GLP-1’s” by Elyse Moody: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/this-is-your-home-on-glp1s Alec Cohen dance classes: https://www.werk.dance/gaychoreographer Ride or Die trailer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_m61kBW0E&ra=m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#481
July 30 · 34 min
Ep. 481: AI Work Flow & Plus One With Lisa And Morgan
Liz and Sarah are experimenting with AI to make their work flow more productive. Will their new Chat GPT Work-generated schedule help them keep their project priorities straight? Next they interview Lisa Joyner (married to Jon Cryer aka Ducky from Pretty In Pink)and Morgan Walsh (married to Matt Walsh of Veep and UCB fame) from the fascinating new podcast, Plus One with Lisa and Morgan. How do they deal with having a partner who’s (usually) the one in the spotlight? Is it hard to maintain their own sense of self? This week’s Hollywood Hack is practical and pink — the Anker Zolo power bank. Finally, Liz recommends Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America, the new book from Andrew McCarthy (aka Blane from Pretty In Pink.) 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: Plus One with Lisa and Morgan: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plus-one-with-lisa-and-morgan/id1896944012?i=1000777680587 Pretty In Pink trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRLQUGq8eE8 Veep trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Mo61W9e-8 Two and a Half Men trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIP2xlGnOEs Anker Zolo power bank in pink: https://amzn.to/4pIgkpq Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America by Andrew McCarthy: https://amzn.to/4fys6y3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#480
July 23 · 31 min
Ep. 480: Making It Happen & The Wonder Of A Repertoire
Liz and Sarah are making it happen! They’ve been doing a deep dive into micro-dramas for several months, and now they’re at the beginning stages of Executive Producing their first one. They talk about how they’ve gone about educating themselves in this new (to them) form of entertainment and ask listeners when they’ve made something happen. Then, in Take A Hike, they discuss the value of having a repertoire of everything from meals to small talk topics. They also share a recent Day In The Life — from dealing with a water outage to writing at the cafe at Godmothers to breaking a new pilot at Bob Dylan concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for anyone who loves audio — the AirPods Pouch from Bandolier. Finally Sarah recommends Beyond Paradise on BritBox. Get in touch on Instagram: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Get in touch on Threads: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://happierinhollywood.com⁠ Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at ⁠https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com⁠ and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at ⁠https://happierinhollywood.substack.com⁠. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Godmothers: https://godmothers.com/ Santa Barbara Bowl: https://sbbowl.com/ Airpods Pouch from Bandolier: https://www.bandolierstyle.com/collections/airpod-series Beyond Paradise trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgrI_iPsS2o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#479
July 16 · 31 min
Ep. 479: Summer 2026 Listener Questions Episode: Part Two!
Liz and Sarah are answering more listener questions! Do they still drink espresso martinis? What advice would they give their college senior selves? Could they have been writing partners if they met as adults? What random photos are on their phones thanks to their adventures in TV writing? They discuss all this and more! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll 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. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#47801
July 12 · 37 min
Move Happier: Tips for Regular Exercise, How Walking Helps You Think, Plus Can Your Garden Be an Accountability Partner? (Bonus)
We discuss the biggest obstacles to moving more this summer with Sarah Fain from the “Happier in Hollywood” podcast, and share practical strategies for getting regular exercise. This special episode is part of the Move 26 in ‘26 challenge to help all of us find more ways to move every day. Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at ⁠https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com⁠. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at ⁠https://happierinhollywood.substack.com⁠. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: Join the Move 26 in '26 challenge here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#478
July 9 · 31 min
Ep. 478: Summer 2026 Listener Questions: Part One!
Today Liz and Sarah are answering listener questions! If they weren’t TV writers, what career would they each choose? (Sarah would like to own a craft store, while Liz’s fantasy self is a birth doula.) What did they think of Caro Claire Burke’s novel Yesteryear? Why don’t they spend more time talking about the negative impact of AI? They discuss all this and so much more! Get in touch on Instagram: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Get in touch on Threads: ⁠@Sfain⁠ & ⁠@LizCraft⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://happierinhollywood.com⁠ Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at ⁠https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com⁠ and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at ⁠https://happierinhollywood.substack.com⁠. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke: ⁠https://amzn.to/440S348⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#477
July 2 · 33 min
Ep. 477: The Universe Speaks & Career Lessons With Laverne
During a recent trip to the Santa Barbara Bowl, Liz and Sarah felt the universe was sending signs that they’re on the right creative path. One of the signs? A long line for the men’s room. In Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to executive and leadership coach Laverne McKinnon about the physical reaction they had to a recent meeting misfire. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah and Liz’s recent stay at The Milo in Santa Barbara — fix the small thing. Finally, Liz recommends the reality competition show Outlast: The Jungle on Netflix. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: Santa Barbara Bowl: https://sbbowl.com/ Laverne’s bespoke meditation: https://moonshotmentor.substack.com/p/b9334076-d9ad-47bf-996b-35b929a7d352 Laverne McKinnon: https://www.lavernemckinnon.com/ Laverne’s Substack — Moonshot Mentor: https://substack.com/@moonshotmentor The Milo: https://www.themilo.com/ Outlast: The Jungle trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnvBoDKSNKg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#476
June 25 · 36 min
Ep. 476: How To Get A Rep!
Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Bad Trip writing marathon in Santa Barbara. The highlight? Writing outside at Godmothers in Summerland. Then they interview Rina O’Malley, a writer who’s breaking into the industry, about how she managed to do the impossible — get representation! This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your next meeting: have a preliminary call. Finally, Sarah recommends the Stray Kids Survival Show. LINKS: Rina O’Malley: https://blcklst.com/profile/Rina-OMalley Rina’s recs: 1. Darcy Fowler’s TV & Film Writing Workshops https://www.tvwritersrefuge.com/ Darcy is very good at helping writers find the actual story beneath the story they think they’re writing, and is also a truly amazing human. Generous, brilliant, and intuitive. 2. Script Anatomy https://scriptanatomy.com/ I’m a big fan of their instructors (all working writers) and their curriculum. I especially love the draft intensive classes, which are a great structured way to get a draft written fast. 3. Jen Grisanti https://www.jengrisanti.com/ Jen's annual workshop is magical. She brings in incredible guests, showrunners you can pitch and get feedback from. She also has free interviews online where you can learn a lot about story. 4. Lee Jessup https://leejessup.com/ One of the best people to learn from about the industry -- where you fit in it, your brand, your strategy, and how to think about your career like an actual career. You can work with Lee directly, but she also has a great YouTube channel where she breaks down the state of the industry and interviews reps: https://www.youtube.com/@leejessup5299 5. Roadmap Writers https://www.roadmapwriters.com/ A great place to learn about both craft and career, and connect with other writers. Tons of events, webinars, and classes. The team really cares about helping emerging writers. Bonus: Events where you can learn and network Storytelling360 https://storytelling360.com/ In-person panels and networking events in LA, NYC, and London. Austin Film Festival Writers Conference https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference-aff/conference/ Definitely worth going if you can. Thousands of screenwriters packed into downtown Austin for panels, roundtables, tacos, drinks, and mild chaos. Basically spring break for screenwriters. Stray Kids Survival Show: https://strayksubs.com/videos/survival-show/ Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#475
June 18 · 30 min
Ep. 475: Week Of Yes, Rabbit Holes, & Friendworking
Liz and Sarah had a Week of Yes! After months (years) of hearing “no” they’re finally starting to get some “yeses.” Yay! Next, Liz and Sarah each offer a Take A Hike suggestion. Sarah reveals why it’s a good idea to go down a rabbit hole that’s NOT “you,” and Liz discusses the value of “friendworking.” This week’s Hollywood Hack is great for commuters: car cupholder coasters. Finally, Liz recommends two TV shows on Amazon Prime that are perfect for summer — Off Campus and Every Year After. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Car Cupholder Coasters: https://nomeschoolhouse.com/products/nome-schoolhouse-car-coasters-4-pack Off Campus trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAozjf2frxw Every Year After trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5SpqQ8dNa8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#474
June 11 · 33 min
Ep. 474: Summeritis & Barn To Yarn
Liz and Sarah are suffering from Summeritis! They’re managing to stay productive — but it’s not easy. In Take A Hike, they talk about the value of going on a learning retreat. Sarah just did a fiber retreat in Nome, ND and it rocked her world! This week Sarah has a Hit for Violet’s former nanny, Dawn. And Liz gives herself a tech Bomb for not knowing how to operate her TV. This week’s Hollywood Hack is liberating and a power move— ditch your handbag! Finally, Sarah recommends Christina Applegate’s memoir, You with the Sad Eyes. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Nome Schoolhouse: https://nomeschoolhouse.com Bandolier Mila Crossbody Phone Case: https://amzn.to/4dYdsAI Bandolier Expanded Pouch: https://www.bandolierstyle.com/products/pebble-leather-expanded-zip-pouch-black-rose-gold?variant=43207593361444&utm_source=AMZN_US_ShopDirect\ Cozy Earth Sheets: https://amzn.to/4ecRvwK You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate: https://amzn.to/4uYZjte Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#473
June 4 · 34 min
Ep. 473: Project Theme Songs & A Wrap On Whimsy
As Liz and Sarah dive into the new draft of their novel, they’re experimenting with tense. They each wrote a scene in past tense, and now they’re going to write the same scenes in present tense. Which will they prefer? In The Craft (& Fain) they share a listener’s suggestion to assign every project its own theme song. Then they discuss their favorite parts of Mimsy May in Take Two. One takeaway? Whimsy should not be effortful. This week’s Hollywood Hack is on trend — a Mahjong mat with game instructions as part of its design. Finally, Liz recommends the show Firefly Lane on Netflix. 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! LINKS: Taylor Swift’s “The Man” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqAJLh9wuZ0 Annie Lennox: https://www.annielennox.com/ Mahjong Mats: https://amzn.to/4tQY4Li https://amzn.to/4f2HyEe https://amzn.to/4urdZ3Q Firefly Lane trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdHwNt4GXfM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#472
May 28 · 34 min
Ep. 472: Baby Talk & Summer Schemes
Liz and Sarah are trying out a new pitch technique — instead of writing out their latest pitch word for word, they’re prepping it in bullet points to keep the flow more spontaneous. In The Mailroom, Sarah answers a question from a listener who’s wondering if she should have a baby on her own like Sarah did. The short answer? Do it! Then, in Take A Hike, Liz and Sarah talk about Designing Their Summer. Sarah is going to “move into her house” and Liz is planning a summer of “off-white delight.” Together, they’re going to write their novel! This week’s Hollywood Hack was inspired by a recent mixer Liz attended — put your last name on your name tag at networking events. Finally, Sarah recommends the Apple Playlist Gen X Threads by Elizabeth Maxwell. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Feed Your Fertility by Emily Bartlett & Laura Erlich https://amzn.to/3RMgShb Knock Yourself Up by Louise Sloan: https://amzn.to/4fJ9xJa Going Solo by Genevieve Roberts: https://amzn.to/4nNKZ3I Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman’s Guide by Mikki Morrissette: https://amzn.to/49puSUb Uniqlo Straight Jeans — Off White: https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E482279-000/00?colorDisplayCode=01&sizeDisplayCode=028&pldDisplayCode=031 Gen X Threads Apple Playlist by Elizabeth Maxwell: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/gen-x-threads/pl.u-r2yB16XCP37j6l Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#471
May 21 · 36 min
Ep. 471: Financial Wellness In New Hollywood (Yes, It’s Possible!)
Liz and Sarah talk to trauma-informed financial wellness coach Katy Chen Mazzara about the connection between money blocks and creative blocks, why it’s never a good idea to negotiate with a “starving artist” mentality, and how making a budget might negatively impact your relationship to your finances. This week’s Hollywood Hack will relieve stress and help you have a better time: Get there early! Finally, Liz recommends the third season of The Comeback on HBO Max. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll 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. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Katy Chen Mazzara: https://www.katychenmazzara.com/ Mindful Money Mastery guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/mindfulmoneymastery Katy’s Instagram, LinkedIn, & Substack: https://www.instagram.com/katychenmazzara/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-chen-mazzara/ https://substack.com/@katychenmazzara The Comeback Season Three Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1rVpVCNBgE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#470
May 14 · 35 min
Ep. 470: Prepping Small Talk & Lazarus Projects
Liz and Sarah talk about why it’s helpful to prepare small talk topics before a Zoom meeting. Knowing how to fill that awkward time before everyone arrives will reduce your anxiety and improve meeting flow! In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about reality TV lingo. Then, in Take Two, Liz and Sarah revisit the topic of projects they once thought were dead coming suddenly back to life. This week’s Hollywood Hack can make life easier — try the weird tech thing that intimidates you. Finally, Sarah recommends some of her favorite Verticals on DramaBox, including All the Little Ways I Love You, Chained by Affection, and Like Roses, In Summer’s Tender Kiss. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah’s Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They’ll come right to your inbox! 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, ’S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Kayla’s song suggestions: Icona Pop's I LOVE IT Bruno Mars' UPTOWN FUNK Lorde's GREEN LIGHT DramaBox: https://www.dramaboxdb.com/ Han— Back to Life music video: https://youtu.be/F0UIsSnotlA?si=qcvGjRv2ggsXkAUc KC and the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia0zeuZMJbo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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