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. 144: What’s Your Personal “Canary In A Coal Mine?”
Liz and Sarah talk about how to “hijack the meeting,” advice that comes from their friend and fellow TV writer, Moira Kirland. Then in Take A Hike, they each…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 143: Liz & Sarah Remind Themselves: It’s Not Personal!
Liz and Sarah reveal that ABC passed on their PLASTICS pilot. They’re super bummed but bouncing back and moving on. One thing that’s helping them cope? Hiking…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 142: The Wonder Of Re-Networking (And Of Champagne)
Liz and Sarah talk about why it’s important to “re-network” with people you’ve worked with in the past. Then in Take Two, they share the questions that are…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 141: A Very Personal Episode: Sarah’s Mom Story & Liz’s Voice Challenge
Many listeners have asked Sarah to tell the story of how she became an only parent to her daughter, Violet. This is the day she tells that story! Then…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 140: Liz & Sarah Celebrate A Career Milestone!
Liz and Sarah are celebrating their twentieth anniversary as writing partners! They reflect on the last two decades and discuss what they should do to mark…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 139: What’s Your QUESTION For 2020?
After what feels both like forever and no time at all, Liz and Sarah are approaching the finish line for both their pilot scripts. Now comes the hard part —…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 138: Here’s To A Happy, Healthy, Motto-vated 2020!
After a “Season of Failure” update, Liz and Sarah decide on their new team theme for 2020! This year, they’re going to Hike Into The Future! Then Sarah shares…
- Happier in Hollywood
Ep. 137: Remove Yourself From The Spin (Out) Zone
It’s almost pilot pickup season, and Hollywood has entered the Spin (Out) Zone. Liz and Sarah discuss the techniques they use to stay calm while others are…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 136: Down With Exclamation Points!
Down With Exclamation Points! Are Liz and Sarah riding a dragon or a camel? They update listeners on their 2019 exam development motto — Ride The Dragon. Then…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 135: Pain Points & The Psychology of Documents
Liz and Sarah talk to actor and friend Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse, Altered Carbon, Animal Kingdom) about the audition pain point that almost made her leave the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 134: Nichelle Tramble Spellman is NOT Failing On All Fronts (But Liz Is)
TILiz and Sarah talk to their good friend Nichelle Tramble Spellman, creator and showrunner of the fantastic new Apple TV+ show TRUTH BE TOLD, starring Octavia…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 133: The Care And Feeding Of Writers: A Thanksgiving Episode
Liz and Sarah offer tips to executives and producers who are giving notes to writers during the development process. Do be direct! Don’t be an asshole! In a…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 132: A Lightning Listener Question Episode
Liz and Sarah answer questions from the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group — and they answer them fast! Do they ever feel like their kids deplete their…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 131: The Importance Of Mahjong
With development season at peak intensity, Liz and Sarah are putting their noses to the grindstone. What does that mean? They’re often giving up their precious…
Happier in HollywoodBonus Episode: Liz and Sarah’s “American Beauties” Pitch
Liz and Sarah pitch “American Beauties,” a pilot script they sold (twice) to Fox. After the pitch, they critique their own work— and reveal what they would…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 130: How To Focus During Armageddon
Liz and Sarah give an update on their efforts to reject anxiety during development season. Then they strategize about how to stay focussed on work when it…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 129: Anxiety, We Reject You!
Liz and Sarah wish listeners a Happy Halloween and share a tip from The Whole 30’s Melissa Hartwig Urban about how to resist the temptation to eat candy. In…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 128: Conquering The Fear of New Things & The Warner Brothers Pitch Document
Liz and Sarah announce their upcoming Bonus Episode! They’re going to pitch American Beauties, a pilot script they sold (twice) to Fox. Then they discuss…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 127: Why “Enough Is Enough”
Liz and Sarah explain that even a “put” pilot isn’t a sure thing. Then they discuss why “enough is enough.” It’s tempting to over-write and over-speak, but…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 126: Embracing Your Weird With Felicia Day
Liz and Sarah talk with actor, web series creator, and New York Times best-selling author, Felicia Day, about her new book Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 125: Starting A Work Marathon, Ending A Heath Lull
Liz and Sarah share an email from a listener who gives a counterargument to their advice to “arrive early.” Then they announce their new development projects!…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 124: Financial Insecurity, The Real Housewives, & Being An Only Parent: A Listener Questions Episode!
It’s a Listener Questions episode! Liz and Sarah open the mailbag and answer your questions. How does Liz feel about working at Sarah’s house? If they could be…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 123: How To Be A Happy Camper At Work With Audrey Monke
Liz and Sarah give an update on a listener suggestion that they coordinate their meeting outfits. They did it! And it was surprisingly easy. Their new vow? Try…
Happier in HollywoodIntroducing Bachelor Happy Hour with Rachel & Ali
“Bachelor Happy Hour with Rachel & Ali” takes fans behind the scenes with all things Bachelor Nation-related in the first ever, official Bachelor podcast…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 122: Everything Takes Forever
Inspired by an overheard conversation (and a thousand notes calls), Liz and Sarah ask listeners to weigh in on what makes a character “likable.” Then they…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 121: How To Conquer A “Health Lull” — We Asked, You Answered!
After an update on the great how-to-pronounce “gif” (is it a hard “g” or a soft “g”) debate of 2019, Liz and Sarah discuss the back-to-school productivity…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 120: Sheri Salata’s Beautiful No— A Happier Labor Day Episode
The Onward Project is celebrating Labor Day with #HappierLaborDay! Liz and Sarah invite Sheri Salata (author of The Beautiful No, co-host of the podcast The…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 119: How To Get More Instagram Followers With Marketing Expert Jessica Berberian
Liz and Sarah have an update on their new office space in Sarah’s house. It’s done! And they love it! In From The Treadmill Desks Of, they reveal that Liz…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 118: Writing Blind: An Interview with TV Writers Jess Burkle and Ryan Knighton
Liz and Sarah share the details of their first Happier In Hollywood Q&A Cocktail Party. It was a huge success! Then they interview TV writers Jess Burkle and…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 117: Creating A Room Of Our Own
Now that Liz and Sarah don’t have an official office, they’re creating “a room of their own” at Sarah’s house. While Sarah insists on following the feng shui…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 116: The Compartmentalizing Struggle Is Real
Liz and Sarah discuss a listener suggestion that they coordinate their meeting outfits. Are they up for the task? Then they talk about the difficulty of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 115: Talking Work Wives With Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg of By The Book
Inspired by listener demand, Liz and Sarah announce their August 8th Happier In Hollywood Q & A Cocktail Party. (For more information email…
Happier in HollywoodEp.114: Don’t Take the Meeting!
Liz and Sarah discuss why they’ve recently decided NOT to take every meeting. Sometimes they need to go deep instead of going wide. Then Sarah’s recent bout of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 113: On Being A Staff Writer
Liz and Sarah break down the experience of being a Staff Writer on a TV show with their former assistant turned TV writer, Brook Sitgraves Turner. Brook’s…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 112: Shop Your Closet (And Other Strategies to Spend Less)
Liz and Sarah discuss the importance of saving money in Hollywood’s perennially unstable gig economy. Hint: avoid mindless spending. And shop your closet! Then…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 111: Shawn Ryan on Picking Projects and Keeping Calm
Liz and Sarah talk to their mentor, the brilliant television writer/producer, Shawn Ryan (The Shield, S.W.A.T.), about how he picks projects. Spoiler alert: he…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 110: The Perils and Promise of Free Work
Liz and Sarah discuss the issue of doing free work in Hollywood. It’s necessary, but how much is too much? And how can they do free work without resenting it?…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 109: The Brilliance of Resilience
Everyone gets knocked down once in awhile— the question is, what do you do AFTER you get knocked down? If you’re resilient, you get back up! Liz and Sarah…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 108: A Cacophony of Choice (And Goodbye To Mary)
Liz and Sarah start with a poetic update— a reading of Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese.” Then in From The Treadmill Desks Of, they discuss the “cacophony of choice”…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 107: Wish/Want/Walk Negotiation With Entertainment Attorney Michael Donaldson
The Fix has been cancelled! It’s not unexpected, but it still sucks. Liz and Sarah share what Season 2 would have been and how they’re moving on! Then they…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 106: A Revelation: Being Calm Vs. Acting Calm
Liz and Sarah discuss being calm versus acting calm — and how they were recently “Shawn Ryan Calm” during a tough conversation. Then in Take A Hike, Sarah…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 105: Time To Ride The Dragon
Liz and Sarah reveal their 2019 Development Motto: Ride The Dragon (just like Daenerys, but with less crazy)! With the ever changing waves in their career…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 104: Good Writing Is Good Writing: A Listener Questions Episode!
You asked, Liz and Sarah answer! What’s the best book on writing? Do extras wear their own clothes? How does collaboration work? Why does Liz consider the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 103: The Hill Is Not As High As You Think It Is
The hill is not as high as you think it is! Liz and Sarah discuss how they're conquering both literal and metaphorical "hills," including The Fix Season 2…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 102: The Viper And The Asshole: Liz Dolan And Rico Gagliano Weigh In
Liz and Sarah talk to Safe For Work podcast hosts Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano about all things work — from dealing with assholes and vipers in the office to…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 101: Working In An Atmosphere Of Growth
Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Happier in Hollywood writers’ retreat in Ojai — How To Get (And Keep) A Job As A TV Writer — and why it’s essential to live…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 100: 100th Episode Special: Gretchen Declutters The Office!
It’s the 100th episode of Happier in Hollywood! In television land, this would be the holy grail! To celebrate, special guest Gretchen Rubin declutters Liz and…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 99: Eat It With Grace
Liz and Sarah talk to Hollywood career coach Carole Kirschner about having a game plan. Her advice? Have it on the stage and on the page! Then in Take Two…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 98: What’s Your Role In The Workplace?
It happened! The Fix is on the air! Liz and Sarah discuss how they shook off the nerves of premiere night and enjoyed the moment. Then they discuss the various…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 97: Stay On Your Path
Liz and Sarah share why it’s important to stay on your path — and how they’re staying on their path during an unpredictable time. Then they answer a Mailroom…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 96: Work From Home? Here Are The Essentials
Liz and Sarah talk to business owner and writer Crystal Ellefsen about working from home. Then they answer a Mailroom question about “beauty work” in…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 95: Be All In: Ola Shokunbi Talks About Making The Leap From Lawyer To TV Writer
Liz and Sarah talk to Ola Shokunbi about his journey from representing pharmaceutical companies as a lawyer in D.C. to being a staff writer for The Fix. His…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 94: Good Work Doesn’t Happen After Dinner
Liz and Sarah discuss good (and bad) time management skills— for showrunners, and anyone else in a leadership position. A couple tips: give feedback instead of…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 93: Be Yourself But Better: Prepping For Press
Liz and Sarah discuss the importance of doing press for their new show The Fix, and their recent Television Critics Association experience. Their advice? Be…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 92: Ask Yourself: Does This Move The Needle?
Liz and Sarah discuss how they pick their battles when they're running a TV show. Their two most important questions: Is this inevitable? Does this move the…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 91: Irons In The Fire
Liz and Sarah discuss the pros and cons of having irons in the fire. Their advice? Have three to five GOOD irons in the fire at a time. Then they check in with…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 90: Have A “Why”
Sparked by a listener question, Liz and Sarah discuss the difference between writing for TV versus movies. One reason they chose to work in television: writers…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 89: Go Where The Fires Are With The Fix’s Michael Katleman
Liz and Sarah interview The Fix’s Executive Producer/Director Michael Katleman! He explains what it’s like to be an Executive Producer/Director for TV and why…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 88: To Do List, Or Not To Do List
Liz and Sarah are DONE with the first season of The Fix! They discuss how they’re managing their anxiety before the big premiere on March 18th. Some coping…
Happier in HollywoodEp. 87: From The Mailroom: A Listener Questions Episode
Liz and Sarah answer all your questions about the entertainment industry in this very special Mailroom episode! What are some qualities of a script they can’t…