Ep. 452: Buying In & Chickening Out

Ep. 452: Buying In & Chickening Out

Author: The Onward Project January 8, 2026 Duration: 32:38
Liz and Sarah discuss what they learned about New Hollywood in 2025 and how those lessons are impacting their approach to 2026. The key? Buy in! In Take Two, Liz grills Sarah about her Year of No Buying. How did it go? Is she still an overbuyer? In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives a Hit to Sarah for introducing her to the wonders of Legend Planner, and Sarah gives a Hit to Violet for her skill at gift-giving. This week’s Hollywood Hack will improve your shower experience — Kitsch shampoo and conditioner bags. Finally, Sarah has an exciting recommendation related to her plan to roast a chicken every week in 2026 — her new Substack newsletter Chickening Out.   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. It will 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: Legend Planner: https://amzn.to/4ssHNww   Kitsch Bar Shampoo & Conditioner: https://amzn.to/4pqAB1c   Kitsch Bar Soap Saver Bags: https://amzn.to/4sqJNW5   Chickening Out Substack:  https://happierinhollywood.substack.com   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. 436: Do Or Die Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:25
Liz and Sarah are waiting for a reaction to the latest draft of their Netflix pilot, and this is when the rubber hits the road. Either something good will happen… or the project will be dead. Wish them luck! In Take A Hi…
Ep. 435: TV Pitches & An Epic Mahjong Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:54
Liz and Sarah discuss the process of writing a new TV pitch and explain why it takes so damn long to get one done. In Take A Hike, they share listener Brandy’s HIH inspired Mahjong journey which exemplifies choosing the…
Ep. 434: AI Images & Living Vicariously [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:41
Liz and Sarah talk about how a recent survey from the WGA prompted them to try using AI to make images for their latest pitch deck. In Take A Hike, they recommend “living vicariously.” They are absolutely living vicariou…
Ep. 433: Batching & Birthday Celebrations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
Inspired by recent conversations with other Content Creators, Liz and Sarah talk about their determination to start “batching,” especially when it comes to all of their non-TV work. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals why plan…
Ep. 431: Navigating New Hollywood With Tepper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Liz and Sarah talk to social media star Kristen Tepper about navigating Hollywood from the point of view of a writer who’s kicking ass and making a name for herself while working toward her first big break as a screenwri…
Ep. 430: Feeling Invigorated & Oh Sh*t Moments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Ep. 429: When Our Job Interferes With Our Career [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
Liz and Sarah talk about how lately their job has been interfering with their career. So many Zooms! They realize that the new Hollywood definitely has its own learning curve. In Take A Hike, they discuss how watching Br…
Ep. 428: Summer 2025 Listener Questions Episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
Liz and Sarah are answering Listener Questions! How common are writing teams? If they weren’t writers, what other Hollywood job would they like to try? How do they deal with burnout? Has Liz been to Sarah’s house in Minn…
Ep. 427: Don’t Delete & More Crying At Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:39
Liz and Sarah talk about why it’s important never to delete anything substantial. They never know when they’re going to want to put something back into a document. It happens! In Take A Hike, Sarah shares why being at he…