Ep. 470: Prepping Small Talk & Lazarus Projects

Ep. 470: Prepping Small Talk & Lazarus Projects

Author: The Onward Project May 14, 2026 Duration: 34:42
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

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 439: Pitch Prep & Define Your Eras [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Ep. 438: Convergence & The Control Your Algorithm Challenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:22
Liz and Sarah have been pingponging around on various projects for months. Now several of their projects are converging, and it’s controlled chaos! In Take A Hike, they issue the Control Your Algorithm October Challenge.…
Ep. 437: The Curse Of Hearing Good Things & Pivoting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:50
Liz and Sarah are hearing a trickle of good things about their pilot script, which means… absolutely nothing. They discuss how to regulate their nervous systems and keep expectations low while the waiting continues. Then…
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…