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. 202: Haters Gonna Hate
Prompted by a recent unpleasant email (and Taylor Swift), Liz and Sarah discuss the fact that “haters gonna hate.” Anytime they put themselves out there —…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 201: Be A Volunteer (And Sarah Is Moving!)
Liz and Sarah often talk about one of their favorite mottos — volunteers not recruits. Today they remind themselves that as pre-production of their reboot of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 200: Celebrating Our 200th Episode!
Liz and Sarah are celebrating the two hundredth episode of Happier In Hollywood! As they look back, they share some of the segments that have resonated most…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 199: Liz & Sarah On Feeling Pressure From All Sides
As Liz and Sarah write the pilot for their reboot of Fantasy Island, they’re also feeling the pressure of getting a show off the ground after a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 198: The Art Of Doing Extra
Liz and Sarah discuss the art of doing extra at work. It’s not about putting in more hours willy-nilly — you’ve got to pick your moments to make an impact. In…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 197: Our Layer Cake Philosophy
Liz and Sarah discuss why they compare the creative process to baking a layer cake. A script isn’t going to be rich and textured with just one layer. The…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 196: The Importance Of Being Okay With Other People’s Good Ideas
Now that Fantasy Island is ramping up, Liz and Sarah have been having LOTS of meetings. One revelation that’s come out of all these Zoom sessions? When there’s…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 195: Be A Yes Person
Liz and Sarah talk about the benefits of being “yes people” at work. One advantage? When you almost always say “yes,” your “no” means more. In Take A Hike…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 194: It’s A Fun Job, And We Enjoy It!
As Liz and Sarah dive headfirst into the stress of running a show, they discuss how their motto “it’s a fun job, and we enjoy it” helps them stay sane. In Take…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 193: First Day of School Syndrome in the Zoom Room
Liz and Sarah have First Day of School Syndrome AND Zoom fatigue! They discuss the First Day of School challenges of adjusting to their Fantasy Island Zoom…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 192: The Demystification Of Staffing (& Meet Kimberly!)
Liz and Sarah have just staffed their new show, the remake of the iconic series, Fantasy Island! They talk through the staffing process — from reading scripts…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 191: Make Your Own Relationships At Work
As Liz and Sarah dive into their new project — a reboot of the iconic Fantasy Island — they discuss why it’s crucial to make your own relationships at work…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 190: 2021: A Year Of Fantasy Island And Juicy Fruit
Happy New Year! On the eve of 2021, Liz and Sarah reveal exciting news. They’re doing a reboot of the iconic 70’s show, Fantasy Island! They discuss the long…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 189: A Christmas Eve Hollywood Hack Episode!
In honor of Christmas Eve, Liz and Sarah give listeners the gift of an ALL Hollywood Hacks episode. Liz shares her favorite new solution to problem of a bad…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 188: The First Annual HIH Holiday Gift Guide For Work
Liz and Sarah tackle the problem of gifting in the workplace. Do you gift up or down or both? They think gifting down should involve cash or gift cards, and…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 187: JaNeika & JaSheika James’ Wonder Twins Power Activate Hollywood!
Liz and Sarah talk to powerhouse writing duo JaNeika and JaSheika James about their new book, Living Double: How Identical Twins Unlocked The Door To Success…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 186: How Good Projects Go Bad
Liz and Sarah can finally reveal their latest project — an adaptation of the gripping upcoming novel, The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix. In The…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 185: A Thanksgiving Gratitude Assignment
Liz and Sarah discuss why it’s important to remember that nobody cares how much work you’ve put into something — the end result is all that matters. In…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 184: How To Quit A Job Without Burning Bridges
Quitting a job is hard, but it can be done without burning bridges. Liz and Sarah talk to Executive Coach and host of the podcast Career Stewardship, Michael…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 183: Autumn Listener Question Episode!
Why doesn’t Liz cook? What has Sarah learned from parenting a Rebel child? How does a writer obtain IP for development? It’s the Autumn Listener Questions…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 182: Groups Need A Group Agenda
Liz and Sarah discuss why it’s so important to set a group agenda before a meeting. One piece of advice if you want your group to make a good impression?…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 181: It’s Time To Reinstitute One Thing
Liz and Sarah share suggestions from their Facebook group about dressing up for Zoom Halloween. Their favorite idea? Be a floating head! Then they discuss a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 180: Learning To Embrace Downtime!
Liz and Sarah discuss why they should resist the urge to create unnecessary work for themselves when they have downtime. In Mailroom, they answer a question…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 179: The Strategy Of Decision Making With Annie Duke
Liz and Sarah discuss how to rekindle their creative fire after stepping away from a project for over four months. Then they talk to former professional poker…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 178: Ask Your Lawyer And Taking Out Your Own Trash
How does Sarah’s new ritual of taking her trash to the local dump relate to being a writer in Hollywood? Liz and Sarah reveal that they’ve recently realized…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 177: Stepping Into Your Power At Work With Executive Coach Marie Garvey
First, Liz and Sarah share Zoom pitching advice from listeners and friend of the pod, Laurie Zaks. Then they talk to Executive Coach Marie Garvey about how…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 176: Catching Up With Brook — How She’s Learning To Be Brave and Not Take It Personally
Liz and Sarah discuss the upcoming Happier In Hollywood newsletter. They had planned to start one pre-pandemic, and now they finally feel ready to move…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 175: Zoom Pitching And Busted Give A Damns
Liz and Sarah discuss their upcoming Zoom pitch. How can they keep their audience engaged when they’re not in the same room? Pro tip: Use more visuals. In…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 174: Career Lessons From The Bachelorette
Liz and Sarah analyze how lessons from ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette can improve their approach to potential new projects. Their biggest takeaway?…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 173: Sarah’s “Surge Capacity” Is Depleted — Is Yours?
Liz and Sarah ask listeners what kind of merch they’d like for the holiday season. Then they discuss a recent article about how we’ve all depleted our “surge…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 172: They’re Paying For Your Confidence
Liz and Sarah discuss why understanding that executives are paying for their confidence helps them bring pitches and scripts across the finish line. And, yes…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 171: Summer Listener Questions Episode — Part Two
Liz and Sarah answer more Listener Questions! Do they ever write just for fun? If they were Queens for a day, what small change would they implement to make…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 170: Summer Listener Questions Episode — Part One
Liz and Sarah dive into Listener Questions. What is “good writing?” Do they have any “painfully blunt” advice about breaking into TV over the next couple of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 169: Set Safety, Mariachi, & The “Do We Want To Talk About It” Test
Liz and Sarah talk to director Dr. Rachel Raimist (Queen Sugar, Roswell New Mexico) about how she’s shooting safely during the time of Covid-19. What exactly…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 168: Are Your Goals And Your Time Aligned?
Liz and Sarah realize that they need to pay attention to whether their goals are in alignment with how they’re spending their time. It’s easy for all of us to…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 167: Timeliness And Revisiting Ripcords
Good news! Liz and Sarah are selling their Happier In Hollywood rainbow Silipint travel cups again. Just email happierinhollywood@gmail.com to order ($25…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 166: Remember The Mah Jongg Card
Liz and Sarah try to envision work and the workplace post Covid-19. On the plus side, they expect less traffic and to save on dry cleaning. The downside? It…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 165: Improve Your Mental Flexibility And A Discussion About “How to Broach Race When You’re Not the Most Powerful Person in the Writers Room”
Liz and Sarah discuss how we can all improve their our mental flexibility during this global pandemic. One tip? Tweak your routine. In their new Amplify…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 164: Pulling The Ripcord And The Beauty Of An Unexpected Interlude
Liz and Sarah discuss challenging works situations. When do you stick it out, and when do you pull the ripcord and escape? In Take A Hike, they explore the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 163: How To Pick Projects With Manager Dianne Fraser
Liz and Sarah discuss their decision to believe in a positive post-Covid future in their work — and how they’re also trying to apply that belief in real life…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 162: Making Space For Creativity
Liz and Sarah strategize about how they can make space to be creative in this pivotal historical moment. Then they introduce a new segment — Amplify — in which…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 161: Tackling The Lack Of Diversity In Hollywood
Liz and Sarah talk to Jeanette Volturno of Catchlight Films and Julie Harris Walker of Catch A Break Podcast about how they’re working to make Hollywood more…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 160: Take Control Of Your Career
Note: This episode was recorded before the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer led to nation-wide protests. We stand with the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 159: Dolores Huerta On Activism, Feminism, And Resilience
Sarah gives a shout out to all the truck drivers who made her grueling RV drive to Kansas City and back better and safer. Then Liz and Sarah talk to iconic…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 158: Managing The Personal To Manage The Professional
Liz and Sarah discuss the need to get their personal situations in order so that they can more effectively focus on work during this global pandemic. Sarah’s…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 157: Meet Our New Manager And Combating Zoom Fatigue
Liz and Sarah talk to their new manager, Dianne Fraser, about exactly what a manager does, how managers are different from agents, and how aspiring writers can…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 156: Dressing For Zoom Meetings With Emmy-Nominated Costume Designer Allyson Fanger
Liz and Sarah have their minds blown by Emmy-nominated Costume Designer, Allyson Fanger, who says dressing for Zoom meetings isn’t just about what you wear…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 155: More Lightning Listener Questions!
Liz and Sarah are answering your questions — and they’re answering them fast! What’s their favorite part of writing for television? When an actor gets an…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 154: What Makes A Good Idea Good?
Sarah shares her Covid-19 mantra: Does this matter? Liz’s is “closer, stronger, lighter.“ Then Liz and Sarah discuss how living through this extraordinary time…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 153: Boosting Immunity And Tackling “Snack Bursts” With Dr. Melina
Liz and Sarah reveal big news — they have representation. But they decided not to get an agent. Instead, they signed with badass manager, Dianne Fraser of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 152: A Visit From Violet and Finding Money In Your Own Backyard
Violet visits Happier In Hollywood to talk about being “safer at home” from a kid’s point of view. Then Liz and Sarah talk to author and host of Side Hustle…
Happier in HollywoodEp, 151: How Covid-19 Has Shut Down Hollywood And Everywhere Else
Covid-19 has changed our lives in big ways — and small. Sarah and Liz share some small, unexpected changes in their routines since they’ve been “safer at…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 150: Maximizing Work Hikes And Building Community
Note: This episode was recorded before life changed dramatically due to the Covid-19 virus. Following up on their discussion about whether to get an agent…
Happier in HollywoodBonus Episode: Parenting And Staying Positive During The Covid-19 Crisis
In the last two weeks, our world has turned upside down. Social distancing, remote learning, and WFH are now the new reality. Liz and Sarah talk to parenting…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 149: Say Something Right Away: A Seize The Day Episode
Note: This episode was recorded before life changed dramatically due to the Covid-19 virus. Liz and Sarah follow up on their discussion about Schrodinger’s Cat…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 148: Should We All Be Time Blocking? Probably.
With so many irons in the fire, Liz and Sarah decide to try time blocking. Will task batching and day theming keep them on track? (We shall see...) Then, in…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 147: Wrestling With Schrodinger’s Cat
Liz and Sarah discuss the paradox of Shrodinger’s Cat — a thought experiment in which a theoretical cat is both alive and dead at the same time — and how it…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 146 Something From Nothing — It’s An Actual Thing
Liz and Sarah discuss their realization that so much can come from something... even if nothing comes from it. An example? In preparing for a recent meeting…
Happier in HollywoodIntroducing The Baron of Botox
Over two decades, Dr. Fredric Brandt went from a small dermatology practice in Miami to being Madonna's personal skincare consultant and the go-to for public…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 145: The (TV Business) Times They Are A-Changin’
It’s a small world! Liz and Sarah share an email from Kate Silver, the writer of the Spirit Magazine article “Turning Pink” that they mention in their American…