Ep 439: Pitch Prep & Define Your Eras

Ep 439: Pitch Prep & Define Your Eras

Author: The Onward Project October 9, 2025 Duration: 33:20
Liz and Sarah delve into one of the key aspects of prepping for a TV pitch— the questions and answers that follow your presentation. Pro tip? Be ready to drill down on tone. In Take A Hike, inspired by Taylor Swift’s new album, they talk about why it can be helpful to define your eras. What do you want your next era to be? Next, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share their favorite takeaways from their slow read of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. This week they have two Hollywood Hacks — try using a steering wheel desk and always wear the same outfit to travel. Finally, Sarah recommends Richard Osman’s new Thursday Murder Club book, The Impossible Fortune. 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, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!   LINKS:   The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift: https://amzn.to/4o4E2dC Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: https://amzn.to/46L14k8   EcoNour steering wheel desk: https://amzn.to/3KCGUjD   The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman:  https://amzn.to/4pYQdua 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. 426: Waiting For The Parade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
Liz and Sarah discuss what their career has in common with the annual Ojai Fourth of July Parade. Then, in a Day In The Life segment, they share how they spent their Hive 25. There were many activities, including handing…
Ep. 425: Novel July & Upside Of The Downslide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:50
Liz and Sarah share their plan to spend all of July finishing a solid draft of their novel. It’s time to get it done! In Take A Hike, they talk about the upside of the downslide of Hollywood. When everything changes, new…
Ep. 424: Crying At Work & Transition Rituals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:05
Liz and Sarah discuss whether or not it’s okay to cry at work. Does Gen Z feel crying is more acceptable? And what does it have to do with sexism? In their new segment, Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to Career Co…
Ep. 423: No Right Way & Revisiting Whimsy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
Liz and Sarah discuss how writing the third draft of their pilot has made them realize there’s no right way to do something creative. There are MANY right ways. In Take Two, they revisit “whimsy” and share listener sugge…
Ep. 422: The Downside Of Deadlines & Grow Something [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Ep. 421: Priority Lists & Slow Starts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Liz and Sarah talk about why it’s useful to make a list of priorities. They made a project priority list during their recent Hive ‘25, and it’s helped them make important decisions. In Take A Hike, they discuss embracing…
Ep. 420: Spring 2025 Listener Questions Episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
Liz and Sarah answer listener questions! If they could write a crossover of any two shows, what would they be? Have they ever hated their job or thought about quitting? How much time does Sarah spend homeschooling? And w…
Listen Again: Liz & Sarah’s Most “Hollywood” Hollywood Moments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah revisit some of their most “Hollywood” Hollywood moments, from getting yelled at by famous actors to spotting A-list stars in line at the pharmacy. They’ve driven around town to loo…
Ep. 419: When Stars Align & Immersion Events [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:11
Liz and Sarah talk to best-selling author and friend of the pod, Melissa de la Cruz, about the state of publishing, her new novel When Stars Align, and her passion for fashion. In Take A Hike, inspired by her recent trip…
Ep. 418: Liz’s Face Blindness Challenge & Career Lessons With Laverne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:55
Liz and Sarah talk about one of Liz’s biggest work hurdles — mild face blindness. It can be quite awkward when she doesn’t recognize someone they just had a meeting with! Then they introduce an exciting new segment — Car…