Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
***SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN THE ALIVE WITH STEVE BURNS FAMILY***
What does happiness mean and why do negative emotions matter more than we think?
In this thoughtful conversation, Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project and host of the Happier podcast, joins Steven Burns to explore what it really means to live a meaningful life. Rather than chasing constant positivity, Gretchen makes the case for embracing the full emotional spectrum - sadness, envy, regret, and melancholy - as essential tools for insight, growth, and wisdom.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re not happy all the time, this episode is for you.
Chapters
---------------
00:01 opening
00:11 come on in
00:27 are you happy?
02:25 how important are negative emotions
02:50 Gretchen Rubin's bio
03:53 Gretchen stops by the window
04:30 how Gretchen became a happiness expert
07:46 Steve discusses what would make him happy
10:11 the "arrival fallacy"
16:49 what is happiness
19:38 accepting negative emotions
27:53 sadness, the enemy of happiness?
31:15 Life In Five Senses
34:05 sadness gets a bad rap
37:44 is social media making us lonely?
40:40 the happiness project
41:10 farewell to Gretchen
41:18 recap - what we learned
42:54 final reflections
44:52 you look great
45:25 credits
***If you liked this episode, check out:
"Can We Live Without Play - with Cas Holman" youtu.be/zRkISR-9s54
"Critical Thinking w Adam Savage" youtu.be/a1c8zQDQc64
"Why Talking About Money is So Awkward - with Reema Khrais" youtu.be/wEgSe1j3Wg4
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Exclusive Deals for our listeners –
BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/stevealive.
Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code ALIVE at checkout.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to zocdoc.com/alive to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
————————————————
Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode 15| Gretchen Rubin
Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns
TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns
————————————————
There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back.
Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream gone? What’s the future of truth?
Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together.
Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive.
Keywords: Steve Burns, Gretchen Rubin, happiness, sadness, grit, mental health, negative emotions, satisfaction, self improvement
#steveburns
#adulting
#podcast
#gretchenrubin
#happiness
***SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN THE ALIVE WITH STEVE BURNS FAMILY***
What does happiness mean and why do negative emotions matter more than we think?
In this thoughtful conversation, Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project and host of the Happier podcast, joins Steven Burns to explore what it really means to live a meaningful life. Rather than chasing constant positivity, Gretchen makes the case for embracing the full emotional spectrum - sadness, envy, regret, and melancholy - as essential tools for insight, growth, and wisdom.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re not happy all the time, this episode is for you.
Chapters
---------------
00:01 opening
00:11 come on in
00:27 are you happy?
02:25 how important are negative emotions
02:50 Gretchen Rubin's bio
03:53 Gretchen stops by the window
04:30 how Gretchen became a happiness expert
07:46 Steve discusses what would make him happy
10:11 the "arrival fallacy"
16:49 what is happiness
19:38 accepting negative emotions
27:53 sadness, the enemy of happiness?
31:15 Life In Five Senses
34:05 sadness gets a bad rap
37:44 is social media making us lonely?
40:40 the happiness project
41:10 farewell to Gretchen
41:18 recap - what we learned
42:54 final reflections
44:52 you look great
45:25 credits
***If you liked this episode, check out:
"Can We Live Without Play - with Cas Holman" youtu.be/zRkISR-9s54
"Critical Thinking w Adam Savage" youtu.be/a1c8zQDQc64
"Why Talking About Money is So Awkward - with Reema Khrais" youtu.be/wEgSe1j3Wg4
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Exclusive Deals for our listeners –
BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/stevealive.
Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code ALIVE at checkout.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to zocdoc.com/alive to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
————————————————
Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode 15| Gretchen Rubin
Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns
TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns
————————————————
There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back.
Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream gone? What’s the future of truth?
Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together.
Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive.
Keywords: Steve Burns, Gretchen Rubin, happiness, sadness, grit, mental health, negative emotions, satisfaction, self improvement
#steveburns
#adulting
#podcast
#gretchenrubin
#happiness
