Ep. 422: The Downside Of Deadlines & Grow Something

Ep. 422: The Downside Of Deadlines & Grow Something

Author: The Onward Project June 12, 2025 Duration: 29:46
Liz and Sarah discuss the downside of being deadline driven. They love a deadline, but sometimes creative projects need more room to breathe than a deadline allows. In Take A Hike, Sarah suggests growing something. She’s taken up gardening, and it’s making her happier, healthier, and more productive! Then Liz gives herself a Hit for being a connector, and Sarah gives a Bomb to the Ojai trash system. This week’s Hollywood Hack will add more fun to your life: get the whimsical version of something you need (like paper clips). Finally, Liz recommends the book  Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America by Bridget Read. 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: Happier In Hollywood on Substack: https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search   Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott:  https://amzn.to/3FJwgWc   On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft: https://amzn.to/441n1sC   Navigating the Future of Entertainment Summit: https://members.thearnoldacademy.com/navigating-the-future-of-creative-work-live-summit   Drama Darling podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drama-darling-a-real-housewives-comedy-podcast/id1684156555?i=1000710903737   Grosse Pointe Garden Society trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwJ8P6GZvkU   Midori paper clips: https://amzn.to/4jE4vMr   More cute paper clips: https://amzn.to/3FEtZvn   Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America: https://amzn.to/4mTKrIJ   Photo by Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over two decades, television writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain have navigated the unique pressures of Hollywood as a team, and their Happier in Hollywood podcast pulls back the curtain on that journey. This isn't just industry gossip; it's a candid conversation between two friends who have built a career and a life inside a famously tough town. Each episode feels like grabbing a table at the commissary with them, where they translate their personal and professional hurdles into relatable lessons. You’ll hear how a blend of stubborn optimism and pragmatic Midwestern grit helped them thrive in a male-dominated field, offering tangible advice that goes far beyond writing a script. Their discussions tackle everything from navigating office politics and difficult conversations to the small, daily practices that maintain sanity. This Happier in Hollywood podcast, from The Onward Project, transforms specific Hollywood struggles into universal themes about resilience, partnership, and finding your footing in any high-stakes career. It’s about the unglamorous work behind the glamour-the ass-kicking, the occasional ass-kissing, and yes, even the office yoga-that actually makes a sustainable life possible. Tune in for a surprisingly grounded perspective from two veterans who have learned to carve out happiness on their own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happier in Hollywood
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 407: Video Anxiety & Going Down The Road [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:57
Liz and Sarah have video anxiety! They’ve started making at least two videos a week for their new Substack venture, and it’s a learning curve! What do they wear? How much lighting do they need? And will they survive with…
Ep. 406: Stop The Stewing! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
We’ve all tortured ourselves by stewing over something we said or did — or didn’t say or didn’t do. It’s time to stop the stewing! Liz and Sarah’s advice? If you think you’ve offended someone, reach out. In Take A Hike,…
Ep. 405: A Workspace Of One’s Own [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
Sarah talks about how much her work life has improved since she got an office space in downtown Ojai — and how it’s made her realize that Liz needs to make her office into her own space too. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares…
Ep. 404: Listener Questions Winter 2025! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:46
Liz and Sarah are answering all of your questions! What advice do they have for someone new to Hollywood given the state of the industry? Do they receive residuals from TV shows they’ve worked on? What is their opinion a…
Ep. 403: An Era Of Completion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:16
Liz and Sarah have entered an era of completion. They’ve had so many open projects, but now some are wrapping up — or at least moving to the next phase. It feels good! In Take A Hike, Sarah shares her list of things to d…
Ep. 402: We Declare Ourselves Content Creators And So Should You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
Liz and Sarah have decided that it’s time to embrace the identity of “content creator” — in the evolving world of Hollywood, it’s part of stepping into the future. In Take Two, they revisit the topic of allowing for “dis…
Ep. 401: Crisis Fatigue & Sarah’s No Buy List [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
Along with everyone else in Los Angeles, Liz and Sarah are feeling so much love for their city. But they’re also suffering from crisis fatigue. Every time they think life in L.A. is getting back to “normal,” something el…
Ep. 400: Celebrating 400 Episodes & Team Theme 2025! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:39
It’s Episode 400 of Happier In Hollywood! Liz and Sarah are so grateful to all the listeners who are part of their dynamic podcast community! In honor of this milestone (and the state of Hollywood) Liz and Sarah are decl…
Ep. 399: The Joy Of Being In Charge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:20
Liz and Sarah are thrilled to announce that Happier In Hollywood has moved to Lemonada Media! It’s 2025, and Liz and Sarah are VERY excited about their huge new undertaking — they’re going to have a Substack newsletter!…
Ep. 398: Haunted (In A Good Way) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:05
“Is this just a dirge?” Liz and Sarah discuss how a question from mega-producer and friend of the pod David Hoberman about a show they were working on has stayed with them for years. Sometimes a single comment can put a…