Ep. 430: Feeling Invigorated & Oh Sh*t Moments

Ep. 430: Feeling Invigorated & Oh Sh*t Moments

Author: The Onward Project August 7, 2025 Duration: 26:16
Liz and Sarah discuss feeling invigorated by the new slate of projects they’re working on. Right now they’re basking in a creative bubble — the hard part comes later. In The Craft (& Fain), they share wisdom from one of their favorite producers, Michael Goldstein — to make  a TV pitch land with executives, the Pilot and Season One should each have two or three “oh shit” moments. Next, Liz and Sarah announce The First Five, a new Substack offering in which they critique the First Five pages of scripts from annual subscribers. This week’s Hollywood Hack is inspired by Sarah’s journey into gardening — the Vigoro 3-tier stackable planter. Then Sarah shares a recent Celebrity Sighting. She and Violet saw Megan and Yoonchae from the group Katseye in the audience at the Blackpink concert. Finally, Liz recommends the book Wild West Village by Lola Kirke. 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! LINKS: Michael Goldstein: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0326285/   The First Five: https://open.substack.com/pub/happierinhollywoodpod/p/introducing-the-first-five?r=23d20&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false   Vigoro Stackable Planter: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-6-in-W-x-17-in-H-3-Tier-Stackable-Black-Indoor-Outdoor-Plastic-Decorative-Pot-MT5100953/331433433   “Gnarly” video by Katseye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2-yomhYAj4   Wild West Village by Lola Kirke: https://amzn.to/3ULA8K2 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. 397: Lizness School With Liz Dolan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Liz and Sarah sit down with friend of the pod, Satellite Sister Liz Dolan, to talk about her new podcast Lizness School, which chronicles her fascinating year as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers In…
Ep. 396: Fear Of Failure To Be Compelling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
Inspired by the CIA (yes, really), Liz and Sarah talk about the notion of a “failure to be compelling.” From now on, they’re going to put every pitch through the Compelling Machine. In Take A Hike, they suggest organizin…
Bonus Book Club Episode: We Solve Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:20
In a Happier In Hollywood Bonus Book Club Episode, Liz and Sarah dive into their discussion of Richard Osman’s new book, We Solve Murders. Does it qualify as a “cozy mystery?” Which character did HIH listeners like the m…
Ep. 395: Pilot Notes & Hunting For Disproportionate Joy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:15
Liz and Sarah got notes on their latest pilot script — and they were knocked on their asses! But they’ve regrouped and are moving forward with a new structure. In Take A Hike, they talk about their new habit of hunting f…
Ep. 394: Authenticity & The Joy Of Mad Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Happy Thanksgiving! Liz and Sarah reflect on the power of authenticity — and how women are often trained out of being authentic in the workplace. In Take A Hike, they discuss a recent revelation that having a bit of Mad…
Ep. 393: Plan Post-Notes Recovery Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
Liz and Sarah will soon receive notes on their latest pilot script, and they know they’ll need to plan some recovery time before they dive into the rewrite. It’s their job to take criticism, but they need time to process…
Ep. 392: Hollywood Holiday Shut Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
It’s November, which means the annual Hollywood Holiday Shut Down has begun. Liz and Sarah have a pitch ready to sell, but they’ll likely wait until 2025 to take it out to networks. In Hits & Bombs, Sarah gives a Hit to…
Bonus Episode: HIH 2024 Gift Guide! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:07
In this Bonus Episode, Liz and Sarah share their 2024 Gift Guide! They recommend everything from a cute tape measure to personalized pencils to a Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit Game. Need a gift for a dog lover? Choose the…
Ep. 391: Hollywood Present & Future With Carole Kirschner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
Liz and Sarah sit down with friend of the pod and Entertainment Career Coach, Carole Kirschner, to discuss the state of Hollywood and what the future might hold. Carole’s advice to struggling writers? Keep working on you…
Ep. 390: Fall 2024 Burning Listener Questions: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:08
Liz and Sarah announce their HIH Book Club selection — We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. Then they dive into more listener questions! How do Liz and Sarah maintain their close friendship? What are Sarah’s favorite skinc…