Shows / Happier in Hollywood
Happier in Hollywood
Veteran TV writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain demystify Hollywood by making career and personal struggles universal. Friends since high school and writing partners for over 20 years, Liz and Sarah have survived and thrived in Tinseltown’s male-dominated entertainment industry, guided by blind optimism and a Midwestern work ethic. Along the way they've learned a lot about kicking ass, kissing ass, and office yoga. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
Happier in HollywoodEp. 380: Revisiting Upward Spirals & Skinny Versus Fat IP
Liz and Sarah recently met with a development executive who pointed out that no matter how chaotic Hollywood gets, the work we do is the same. They discuss how…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 379: Being Consequential & Sarah’s Wellness Journal
Liz and Sarah use several criteria when choosing which TV projects they want to pursue — a world they love, interesting characters, stories with legs. Now…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 378: Double Roar 24!
In honor of All Work August, Liz and Sarah started the month with an intense two days of work at Sarah’s house in Ojai. They realized all over again how…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 377: All Work August! (And Liz’s Hiking Gear)
Liz and Sarah had a delightful No Work July, but it’s time to put their noses to the grindstone — thus, it’s All Work August. They’re writing an outline…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 376: No Work July!
For years Liz and Sarah have fantasized about taking the month of July off work. This year they’re actually having No Work July, and it’s amazing! In Hits &…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 375: To Dream Crush Or Not To Dream Crush?
Liz and Sarah debate whether they should be cheerleaders or naysayers when offering advice and insight to people thinking about starting a career in Hollywood…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 374: To Adapt Or Not To Adapt?
Right now, Hollywood is all about intellection property. Liz and Sarah discuss what they look for in a book (or any other kind of material) when they’re…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 373: Conquering The Loneliness Epidemic With Kristen Meinzer & Jolenta Greenberg
Liz and Sarah talk to the fabulous podcast hosts, Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, about the new season of How To Be Fine, which dives into the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 372: The Joy Of A Consuming Phase
Liz and Sarah discuss the current phase of their work cycle — consuming. With an eye toward developing IP, they’re reading, listening, and watching everything…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 371: The Power Of Encouragement
Liz and Sarah discuss the incredible power of encouragement — especially right now. Times are tough in Hollywood (and many places), but hearing that you’re on…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 370: Spring Listener Questions Episode, Part Two!
Today Liz and Sarah answer more listener questions! Do they weigh in set design? Do writing teams really split a paycheck? Have they ever thought about…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 369: Sweet Relief & An Interview with Quiet On Set’s Christy Stratton
Liz and Sarah are celebrating! They can’t reveal details yet, but they sold a pitch that they’ve been working on since before the WGA strike. With Hollywood in…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 368: Spring 2024 Listener Questions Episode!
It’s the Spring 2024 Listener Questions Episode! Where do Liz and Sarah think the TV industry is headed? How do they feel about actors turned directors? If…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 367: All About Editing With Debra Neil-Fisher
Liz and Sarah talk to comedy feature editor extraordinaire turned director, Debra Neil-Fisher, about all things editing. What makes something funny? How does…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 366: Stress Languages & Liz’s Mounjaro-Driven Upward Spiral
Working in Hollywood is often stressful, now more than ever. Liz and Sarah discuss Chantal Donnelly’s stress framework — are you an Imploder, an Exploder, a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 365: The Power Of Partnership
Liz and Sarah are asked all the time about what it’s like to be part of a team. Today they discuss the power of partnership and why it’s even more crucial to…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 364: Be A Joiner & A Pitch Hack Round Up
Liz and Sarah talk about the benefits of joining a professional group. They get so much wisdom and support from other female showrunners who deal with the same…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 363: Liz Friedman on The Good Doctor (And Other Stuff)
Liz and Sarah talk to The Good Doctor’s Co-Showrunner, Liz Friedman, about how she approached the end of the beloved series. In Take A Hike, they discuss the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 362: The Futility Of Attachment (Or Freedom From Fretting)
Liz and Sarah talk about a Hollywood phenomenon that can be seen as positive or negative — everything changes all the time. Depending on their state of mind…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 361: Boundaries & (Orange) Theories
Liz and Sarah often talk about the importance of drawing boundaries. Today they pat themselves on the back for drawing a boundary at work — but can they…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 360: A Special Episode: How To Be On Set
In this special episode, Liz and Sarah talk about a TV writer/producer’s role on set. Why are you there? (To help execute the Showrunner’s vision.) What should…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 359: Big Boo To Bake Offs!
Liz and Sarah talk about bake offs — what are they, and why do TV writers hate them? So many reasons! In Take A Hike, they talk about the art of taking…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 358: Great Expectations & True Fun
Liz and Sarah are writing the second draft of their novel, and it’s getting so much better. But now that they feel the book has the potential to be great, the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 357: Sleeping In Seattle
Liz and Sarah are back from their trip to Seattle, where they were researching a new pilot project. They discuss the many benefits of immersing themselves in…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 356: Coping With “Priority Whiplash”
Liz and Sarah talk about how they’re coping with what they call “priority whiplash.” They have to be ready to jump off one work project and onto another when…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 355: Failing At Flow
Liz and Sarah have a ton of work to do, but they’re having trouble getting into “the flow.” How can they stop being distracted by ping ponging projects and…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 354: What We Learned From Listening
When it comes to pitching, Liz and Sarah are usually the ones who are talking rather than listening. Today they share what they learned when they listened to…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 353: Nothing Changed But Everything Changed
Liz and Sarah discuss how a great meeting with an executive made them realize how much their perception shapes their reality. Even though technically nothing…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 352: Our First “Roar 24” & Embrace Your Core
Liz and Sarah headed to The Emerald Iguana Inn for their first “Roar 24,” an intense, twenty-four hour work session. They finished a draft of their latest…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 351: Bad Work = Bad Notes & No Spend February
Liz and Sarah had an insight after a recent notes call about a pitch they’re working on— it’s a lot easier to give good notes on good material. If you’re…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 350: 2024 Winter Listener Questions Episode!
Liz and Sarah are celebrating the 350th episode of HIH with Winter Listener Questions. Why did Liz’s mom have Liz and Gretchen six years apart? What tips does…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 349: Novel Lessons!
Liz and Sarah discuss what they learned by reading the full first draft of their novel. Lesson One? Don’t waste time trying to make it perfect! Then friend of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 348: A New New Year!
All of Sarah and Liz’s New Year momentum has been sucked away by Influenza A and Covid-19. To regain their sense of purpose, they’ve decided that January 16…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 347: 2024 Goals And More Goals!
Now that it’s 2024, Liz and Sarah are outlining their goals for the year — as a team and as individuals. First on the list? Sell their novel! In Take A Hike…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 346: Getting Real About Reality TV
Liz loves reality TV, so today she’s in for a treat! Liz and Sarah talk to non-fiction showrunner Rebecca Graham Forde about all things reality TV. How is…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 345: Sarah’s Getting Happier With Gretchen Rubin
Fifteen years ago, Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project changed Sarah’s life—it helped her decide to have her amazing daughter, Violet. Now Sarah wants…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 344: Liz & Sarah’s 2023 Favorites!
As 2023 comes to an end, Liz and Sarah discuss their favorite everything from the year. From Liz’s favorite Real Housewives podcast (Drama Darling) to Sarah’s…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 343: Liz & Sarah’s 2024 Team Theme!
Liz and Sarah share their Team Theme for 2024 — Hear Us Roar 2024! They also reveal their personal words for the year. Sarah’s is “steps” and Liz’s is “book.”…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 342: Novel Plans & An Unsubscribe Spree
Christmas is coming, and Liz and Sarah are determined to finish a first draft of their novel. But they’ve made a slight adjustment to their plan — since so…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 341: Liz & Sarah’s 2023 Gift Guide!
The Holiday Season is upon us! Liz and Sarah share their favorite gifts for 2023, including Cal Pak’s water bottle sling, puzzle sorting trays, dry erase wall…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 340: Julia Child & How To Get A Rep With Manager Todd Schulkin
Liz and Sarah talk to one of their oldest friends, Todd Schulkin, who is a manger, producer, and Executive Director of The Julia Child Foundation for…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 339: Forging A Path Through Chaos
Liz and Sarah discuss their plan to forge a clear path amidst the post-WGA strike chaos. That includes committing to finishing a first draft of their novel…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 338: Creativity Begets Creativity
When Liz and Sarah sat down to discuss ideas for their next HIH retreat, they realized having one idea made it easier to have another and another. Creativity…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 337: The HIH Retreat Retro!
The Happier In Hollywood Retreat 2023 is in the books! It was a huge success, and now Sarah and Liz are discussing what was fantastic (the people, the place…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 336: All The Scary Things Rolled Into One Retreat
Liz and Sarah are prepping for the 2023 HIH Retreat. It’s all the scary things rolled into one — entertaining, public speaking, meeting new people. They’re…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 335: The Beauty Of Busy-Ness
Liz and Sarah are back to work on several development projects, and after such a long strike they are very much appreciating the beauty of being busy. In A Day…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 334: Getting Our Work Legs Back
The WGA strike is over! Liz and Sarah discuss how they’re getting their work legs back as they pick up projects where they left off five months ago. One…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 333: Celebrating The End Of The WGA Strike!
Liz and Sarah are ecstatic! The WGA strike is FINALLY coming to an end! They discuss how it feels to be on the other side of the battle, and what they’re…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 332: Time To Pause And Reconnect
Liz and Sarah are halfway through a draft of their novel. Yay! They explain why they’ve decided to take a moment to pause and reconnect with the characters…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 331: Turn A Chore Into A Pleasure & Set A New Goal
As the WGA strike continues to drag on, Liz and Sarah each offer a Take A Hike idea to boost mental, physical, and spiritual health. Sarah’s suggestion? Turn a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 330: Running The Show With Jeff Melvoin
Liz and Sarah talk to veteran showrunner Jeff Melvoin about his new book, Running The Show: Television From The Inside. What’s the biggest mistake first time…
Happier in HollywoodEp.329: A Johnny Cash Ranch Retreat & Getting Back On The Horse!
Liz and Sarah discuss how the benefits of spending time together (actually in the same room for a whole day) led them to their big announcement: They’re…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 328: Summer 2023 Listener Questions!
As Summer 2023 winds down, Sarah and Liz are answering listener questions. What do they think will happen when the strike is over? Does Sarah refuse to cuddle…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 327: Burn It Down With Mo Ryan
Liz and Sarah talk to journalist Maureen Ryan about her incredible new book — Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call For Change In Hollywood. What was the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 326: Fresh Perspective & “Franking”
Liz and Sarah discuss how 100 days of being on strike has a silver lining — it’s given them fresh perspective on a project that was feeling stale. In Take A…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 325: On Being Creative Entrepreneurs
Liz and Sarah talk about being Creative Entrepreneurs. How can they expand their vision of their career? What elements will strengthen their two person small…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 324: Build A Frog Pond
Even though it’s the last thing they feel like talking about, Liz and Sarah discuss the ongoing WGA strike and how it feels like it’s lasting forever. In Take…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 323: Strike News & Formatting Fun
Liz and Sarah discuss SAG-AFTRA going out on strike. Will actors on strike pressure the AMPTP to come back to the table? They sure hope so. Then they Amplify a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 322: Threads & The Perfect Tee
Liz and Sarah have joined the new social media platform, Threads, and they think you should too! Getting onboard early makes a difference — so don’t delay…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 321: That Summer Vacation Feeling
Liz and Sarah are both experiencing that summer vacation feeling — which means they DON’T feel like working. How can they harness the delight of summer but…