Ep. 594: Try Becoming a Fan, Plus Tips for Dealing with Travel Bores

Becoming a fan—of sports or anything—can improve your happiness. We share listener tips for dealing with people who share every boring detail of their latest trip.

Episode highlights:

•
Try This at Home: Become a fan— Research shows that fandom reduces loneliness and gives your life more structure, connection, and ritual [04:37]

•
Happiness Hack: Cross off the common denominator—When you're anxious about a decision, ask yourself: does this worry apply to every option? [14:45]

•
Listener strategies for dealing with travel bores: How to redirect the conversation and ask targeted questions that make travel stories actually interesting. [17:41]

•
Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth's demerit: return timing regret; Gretchen's gold star: a perfect souvenir find. [25:03]

Mentioned in this Episode:

• "Why Watching Sports Makes People Happy" — Time Magazine (time.com/article/2026/06/11/why-watching-sport…)

•
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer by Warren St. John (Amazon (amzn.to/4eSkO87), Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/15926/9780609807132))

•
There's Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson (Amazon (amzn.to/4vEG7RH), Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/15926/9781250406149))

•
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Amazon (amzn.to/4eXbY9d), Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/15926/9780545224918))

• Summer Bingo card + Design Your Summer tool — Happier App (thehappierapp.com)

Connect with Us:

• Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

• Website: gretchenrubin.com

• Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

• Take the free Four Tendencies quiz (gretchenrubin.com/four-tendencies)

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Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

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