Happy To Be Here
by Greta Johnsen
Latest episode
Making it weird with Adam Grant
Making it weird with Adam Grant
About this podcast
Happy To Be Here is a new interview podcast for the recovering perfectionist and the perpetually curious, full of conversations that make you feel right at home and allow you to learn a little bit about almost anything.
Host Greta Johnsen (formerly of Nerdette) invites you to meet journalists, chefs, authors, and all kinds of excellent humans who will delight and inspire you. Packed with recommendations for stuff to eat, read, watch, and enjoy, this show is great for helping you make sure you actually take it easy this weekend, wherever you might happen to be.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 688 episodes
- Making it weird with Adam Grant · 59 min · Episode 39Host Greta Johnsen talks with Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and the author of several books about…
- GRETAGRAM book club: Deesha Philyaw on 'The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman' · 32 min · Episode 38The November GRETAGRAM book club selection is Deesha Philyaw's first novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.It's about First Lady Scharisse Freemann, whose husband is…
- GRETAGRAM book club: 'Exit Party,' discussed! · 34 min · Episode 37The October GRETAGRAM book club selection is Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party, a novel about entanglement, reinvention, and life after collapse. Host Greta Johnsen discusses…
- The 87 Club: The Case for Quitting with Lindsay Crouse · 28 min · Episode 36Host Greta Johnsen talks with journalist and documentary producer Lindsay Holmes. Her new book is called The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out. It’s an…
- The 87% Club: JUST SAY NO. · 24 min · Episode 35Host Greta Johnsen talks with Anna Holmes, a writer and editor who founded the feminist website Jezebel. She’s also a former advice columnist for the New York Times series “Work…
- Cold-call your friwnds! MAKE IT WEIRD. · 23 min · Episode 34At first glance, the question about whether you’d ever call a friend out of the blue is pretty low-stakes. But as it turns out, this is a topic that’s extremely divisive. Host…
- GRETAGRAM Book Club: Emily St. John Mandel on 'Exit Party' · 45 min · Episode 33This month's GRETAGRAM book club selection is Exit Party, the new novel from Station Eleven author Emily St. John Mandel. Like her other novels, this is a story that spans genre…
- GRETAGRAM Book Club: 'Pool House,' discussed! · 32 min · Episode 32The September GRETAGRAM book club selection is Mary H.K. Choi’s Pool House, an exquisitely claustrophobic novel about a TV family and the mess that lies just under the…
- GRETAGRAM Book Club: Mary H.K. Choi on 'Pool House' · 27 min · Episode 31This month's GRETAGRAM book club selection is Mary H.K. Choi's Pool House, a novel about mothers and daughters, about seeing and being seen, and about desiring and being desired…
- The 87% Club: Being Less Useful with Priyanka Mattoo · 28 min · Episode 30The 87% Club is a series of episodes that explore the case for giving less energy to things that don't matter, so we have more time to spend on things that do. This week, host…
- The 87% Club: Nachos for Breakfast with Sweta Vikram · 25 min · Episode 29This week, host Greta Johnsen talks with Ayurvedic doctor, coach, and podcast host Sweta Vikram, who "helps high achievers move through burnout, grief, and overwhelm."Today’s…
- The 87% Club: Effort, Efficiency, and Ease · 35 min · Episode 28As part of a monthlong series about doing less, host Greta Johnsen talks to a theater director and an author about attention, achievement, effort, and ease. First, Greta speaks…
- The 87% Club: Taking fun seriously with Veronica Roth · 29 min · Episode 27Host Greta Johnsen starts a month-long miniseries for the 87% club with an interview with author Veronica Roth. She’s written more than a dozen books, most notably the Divergent…
- GRETAGRAM book club: 'Canon,' discussed! · 32 min · Episode 26The July GRETAGRAM book club selection is Paige Lewis' Canon, a nonbinary hero's journey that has all the elements of an epic: Good Guys vs. Bad Guys, a fickle god, and, of…
- Burden or Delight: A billionaire wedding, ranch-mania, and a really long movie · 31 min · Episode 25Host Greta Johnsen talks with City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran and Margaret Willison, the newest member of the Culture Study newsletter and podcast team.They play the…
- The end is nigh, and that could be a really good thing! · 33 min · Episode 24Host Greta Johnsen talks with Sarah Wilson about her new book, I Eat the Stars: How to Live Fully and Beautifully in a Collapsing World. As the title suggests, Sarah's book…
- Remembering an extremely literate Jack Russell Terrier · 22 min · Episode 23Today’s episode is about public television, classic literature, and an extremely charismatic Jack Russell Terrier.Yes, we are talking about Wishbone, the iconic children’s PBS…
- GRETAGRAM book club: Paige Lewis on 'Canon' · 34 min · Episode 22Host Greta Johnsen talks to author and poet Paige Lewis. Their novel Canon is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for July. Canon is difficult to describe -- it pays homage to many…
- GRETAGRAM book club: 'Dear Monica Lewinsky,' discussed! · 39 min · Episode 21The June GRETAGRAM book club selection is Julia Langbeing’s Dear Monica Lewinsky, a novel that explores sainthood, desire, the legacy of Monica Lewinsky, and the history of horny…
- GRETAGRAM book club: Julia Langbein on 'Dear Monica Lewinsky' · 22 min · Episode 20It’s the first Friday of the month, which means it’s time for a new book to read! This month’s selection is Julia Langbein’s phenomenal novel Dear Monica Lewinsky, and Julia is…
- GRETAGRAM book club: 'Whidbey,' discussed! · 25 min · Episode 19It’s the last Friday of May, which means it’s time to discuss T Kira Madden’s novel Whidbey!Host Greta Johnsen talks to self-professed T Kira stan Kristen Arnett, the author of…
- 9 books to read this summer · 32 min · Episode 18Host Greta Johnsen talks to two of her favorite readers -- MJ Franklin, an editor at the New York Times Book Review and host of The Book Review Book Club podcast, and Traci…
- Swoony songs for summer · 10 min · Episode 17WXPN morning host and assistant music director Kristen Kurtis offers host Greta Johnsen three songs to enjoy this summer, and they are all BOPS: Zinadeplhia, “River”Parlor…
- Swedish Death Cleaning 101 · 22 min · Episode 16Host Greta Johnsen talks with profesisonal organizer Kelly Brask about how Swedish death cleaning can help you live better by getting rid of the things that no longer fit int…
- GRETAGRAM book club: T Kira Madden on 'Whidbey' · 31 min · Episode 15Host Greta Johnsen talks with T Kira Madden, whose novel Whidbey is the GRETAGRAM Book Club selection for May. (TW: Child sexual abuse.)Whidbey is told from the points of view of…
- Chocolate for breakfast with Roxana Jullapat · 26 min · Episode 14Host Greta Johnsen talks with Roxana Jullapat, head baker and co-owner at the Los Angeles restaurant Friends & Family. Her new cookbook is Morning Baker: Recipes and Rituals for…
- The 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' TV show is very good, and Rufi Thorpe agrees · 24 min · Episode 13Host Greta Johnsen talks to author Rufi Thrope, whose novel Margo’s Got Money Troubles was just adapted into a series on Apple TV+.The show’s cast is stacked -- it stars Elle…
- Reproductive freedom with Kate Schatz · 25 min · Episode 12Greta’s guest today will be familiar to longtime Nerdette listeners -- her name is Kate Schatz, and she’s an activist and author. She co-wrote Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity…
- What's the difference between cupcakes and muffins? · 17 min · Episode 11An unimportant investigation into the difference between cupcakes and muffins with Bon Appetit test kitchen editor Shilpa Uscocovic.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta…
- GRETAGRAM book club: 'Kin,' discussed! · 39 min · Episode 10For this deep-dive discussion of Tayari Jones’ novel Kin, host Greta Johnsen talks with Traci Thomas, who hosts The Stacks podcast. They talk about the exquisite pleasure of…
- MSCL TV Club: Duh squared (Episode 19) · 1 h 9 min · Episode 6Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss the finale of My So-Called Life -- “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” -- with Pop Culture Happy Hour host Linda Holmes and Ronald Young…
- MSCL TV Club: Best weekend ever (Episodes 17 and 18) · 41 min · Episode 9In today’s MSCL rewatch episode, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 17 and 18 -- “Betrayal” and “Weekend” -- with Soraya Roberts, a culture…
- MSCL TV Club: Angel Science (Episodes 15 and 16) · 51 min · Episode 8Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 15 and 16 -- “So-Called Angels” and “Resolutions” -- with Jenn White, the host of the NPR show 1A.They talk…
- GRETAGRAM book club: Tayari Jones on 'Kin' · 30 min · Episode 4Host Greta Johnsen talks to Tayari Jones. Her novel Kin is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for March. It’s about two girls grow up in the 50’s in Alabama. They each lost their…
- MSCL TV Club: Nothing dies harder than potential (Episodes 13 and 14) · 53 min · Episode 5Host Greta Johnsen and co-gost Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 13 and 14 -- “Pressure” and “On the Wagon” -- with culture writer and podcaster Margaret H…
- MSCL TV Club: IS IT A HANG OR A DATE? (Episodes 11 and 12) · 59 min · Episode 5Host Greta Johnsen and co-host Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 11 and 12 --”Picture Perfect” and “Self Esteem” -- with Christina Tucker!!!! She’s a podcaster…
- MSCL TV Club: Oregano! (Episodes 9 and 10) · 54 min · Episode 5Greta and Kristen discuss My So-Called Life episodes 9 and 10 --”Halloween” and “Other Peoples’ Mothers” -- with Patrick Hinds!He co-hosted his own MSCL deep-dive podcawst, My…
- GRETAGRAM book club: Nina McConigley on 'How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder' · 19 min · Episode 5The GRETAGRAM book club is officially in podcast form! Host Greta Johnsen talks to Nina McConigley, the author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder. Her novel is the GRETAGRAM…
- MSCL TV Club: Looking for crumbs (Episodes 7 and 8) · 60 min · Episode 4On this week’s podcast, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 7 and 8 --”Why Jordan Can’t Read” and “Strangers in the House” -- with Joanna…
- MSCL TV Club: Adjectives! WOO! (Episodes 5 and 6) · 56 min · Episode 1Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzerdiscuss My So-Called Life episodes 5 and 6 --”The Zit” and “The Substitute” -- with Anna Sale!They talk about the messiness of teenage desire and…
- MSCL TV Club: A girl named Pop Tart (Episodes 3 and 4) · 52 min · Episode 3The My So-Called Life rewatch continues! Greta Johnsen and Kristin Meinzer discuss episodes 3 and 4 with Jason Concepcion. They talk about the devastating quaintness of a school…
- MSCL TV Club: High school is a battlefield!!!! (Episodess 1 and 2) · 58 min · Episode 2The My So-Called Life rewatch begins! Greta Johnsen and Kristin Meinzer discuss episodes 1 and 2 with Ronald Young, Jr. They talk about the nostalgic power of the series, how the…
- TV Club: Let’s watch My So-Called Life! · 52 min · Episode 1In a very special miniseries, Greta joins forces with podcast host Kristen Meinzer to unpack every single episode of the 1994 ABC teen drama My So-Called Life. In this episode…
- The 87% Club · 27 min · Episode 4Consider this episode a friendly nudge to stop giving everything 100% all the time. It's the 87% Club, and you're invited! Greta talks to two dear friends about perfectionism…
- New year, new TBR: What to read in 2026!!! · 25 min · Episode 3Book Riot’s Liberty Hardy and NPR’s Andrew Limbong share some of the books they’re most excited to read this year. (Here's the full list of books, along with about 20…
- No burden, all delight: Good news from 2025 · 26 min · Episode 2This week, City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran and pop culture writer Margaret H. Willison share their favorite news stories of the year. From real-life magicians to ficiton…
- Bake Until Done · 32 min · Episode 1This week, professional pastry chef Faith Fedash stops by host Greta Johnsen's kitchen to make pumpkin pie cookies. (Find the full recipe for the cookies here!)SHOW…
- Introducing Happy To Be Here! · 1 min · Episode 1Welcome to Happy To Be Here, the show for the perpetually curious! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Goodbye for now! · 35 minAs y’all probably know, we’re calling this the “goodbye for now” episode of Nerdette because it’s our last episode while we’re employees at WBEZ. So, we thought it was the…
- Nerdette Book Club: More with Amor Towles, LIVE! · 20 minMay’s Book Club selection is the fabulous short story collection ‘Table for Two’ by Amor Towles. It was amazing to get to talk to Amor in front of a LIVE audience in Chicago a…
