Sunday Independent (Ireland)

PODDCCASAT­SST—S LISTEN AT YOUR LEISURE

- EMILY HOURICAN

Happier with Gretchen Rubin gretchenru­bin.com Gretchen Rubin started her career in law before switching to writing — specifical­ly writing about the art and science of happiness. Her conviction is that it is possible to improve our ability to be happy and her various bestsellin­g books, Better Than Before, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, prove that she is able to convince others of this fundamenta­l point.

Each week, she discusses the forming of good habits with her sister Elizabeth Craft in a podcast that mixes materials in a lively and interestin­g way. For example, a 15-word telegram from General Eisenhower is used to put forth the case for brevity, while the art of declutteri­ng becomes an example of how to pare back unnecessar­y consumptio­n. There are tips on job interviews, parenting and being on time, with one-off guests including Moby and Rob Lowe. reducedsha­kespeare.com This is for fans of Horrible Histories and Book-A-Minute classics, and of course The Bard. Started in 1981 as a basic pass-the-hat type performanc­e, The Reduced Shakespear­e Company have gradated to well-loved stage shows on Broadway and the West End, along with TV specials and a host of radio shows. The first three shows, including The Complete Works of William Shakespear­e (Abridged), were London’s longestrun­ning comedies.

The podcasts unite actors, directors and comedians such as Scott Bakula, JK Simmons, Anne Heche and Eric Stonestree­t, to talk theatre and all things Shakespear­e, tackling topics such as parody, the challenges of directing Richard III, and political correctnes­s. Pretty much all of human life, or at least the theatrical side of it.

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The Reduced Shakespear­e Company
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