246 episodes
Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 13 Ratings
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Editors’ Notes: “I want to give everybody the tools to solve their own etiquette problems,” says Nick Leighton, cohost and producer of Were You Raised by Wolves?, a weekly podcast in which he and cohost Leah Bonnema look into the many sticky social situations we all face. “With each of the questions that we get, from the bonkers to the ordinary, I always try to take a step back and ask, ‘What are the bigger principles here?’ I'm always looking for topics that help us make a larger point.” In each episode, Leighton, a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, and Bonnema, a comic/writer, share practical advice on how to navigate a wide range of situations, from the serious to the whimsical—whether they tackle interrupting excessive talkers, establishing healthy boundaries with coworkers, or the proper way to eat Cheetos.
When they developed the show in 2019, Leighton and Bonnema had one goal in mind: to have empathy for other people. Their informal conversations tackle a mix of personal topics, viewer questions, and the occasional historical fact with warmth and positivity and humor. Leighton views this approach as an antidote to a lot of the negativity he sees in the online world, while Bonnema thinks the show’s premise is a natural fit for her situational style of comedy. “A lot of my comedy is about events where I’m like, ‘What just happened here?’ or where I embarrass myself,” she says. “And, ironically, all of these fall under the guise of etiquette, where you either feel aggrieved or you feel like you committed some sort of social crime. I just loved the topic.”
Leighton and Bonnema credit the show’s ongoing success to their work ethic. They haven’t missed a single week since they launched the show, which recently hit a new milestone: 100 episodes. But what they value the most, above all else, is how they've built a community of listeners from all backgrounds. “We have conservative grandmothers in Tallahassee to nonbinary chefs in Seattle and everybody in between,” he says. “Because who among us has not experienced an etiquette crime? This is universal.”
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Etiquette, manners, and beyond! Join Emmy® Award-winning journalist Nick Leighton and acclaimed comedian Leah Bonnema ("Late Show with Stephen Colbert"), the perfect odd couple, as they try to make the world a nicer, more polite place and offer up practical advice to help you smoothly glide through any situation. Please listen and follow! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
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Removing Shoes on Airplanes, Exiting Weddings Early, Welcoming Guests In, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about removing shoes on airplanes, exiting weddings early, welcoming guests in, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS:
What are your thoughts on removing one's shoes on an airplane?
How do you handle a friend who wants a friendship more than you do and also always suggests meeting up closer to where they live?
Should a bride and groom leave their wedding reception before the last song?
How do you feel about the phrase "Welcome In"?
What do you do about a friend who's always a downer at parties?
PSA: You're on camera when you sit front row at an opera or musical.
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Sound Baths
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 225
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Enjoying Petit Fours, Visiting New York City, Tracking Down Perishable Gifts, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle enjoying petit fours, visiting New York City, tracking down perishable gifts, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
EPISODE CONTENTS
AMUSE-BOUCHE: Mignardises and Petit Fours
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: New York City Etiquette
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How do I respond to unsolicited encouragement from a stranger after a fitness class? How should I handle a perishable gift that's been delayed in the mail?
VENT OR REPENT: Rude taxi drivers, Stealing laundry carts
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Using luggage racks, Thanks for joining us at our recent live show
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Parts of a French meal
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
Support our show through Patreon
Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts
Call, text, or email us your questions
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Visit our official website
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Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 224
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Stealing Hotel Rooms, Escaping Dinner Parties, Grabbing Costco Canapés, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about stealing hotel rooms, escaping dinner parties, grabbing Costco canapés, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS:
What do we do if another couple we're traveling with does something rude at the very start of our vacation?
When gifting someone a photo or print, should you include the frame?
What's the polite way to escape a dinner party that's gone on for too long?
Does the rule about not wearing white to a wedding also apply to all the pre-wedding festivities?
Etiquette Crime Report: Stealing samples at Costco
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Trailer for "White Lotus" Season 1
British Knights shoes on Wikipedia
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
Support our show through Patreon
Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts
Call, text, or email us your questions
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Visit our official website
Sign up for our newsletter
Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW
Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 223
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Discovering Letitia Baldrige, Handling Airport Pickups, Brushing Teeth at the Office, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle the biography of Letitia Baldrige, handling airport pickups, brushing teeth at the office, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
EPISODE CONTENTS
AMUSE-BOUCHE: Letitia Baldrige
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Airport Pickups
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to brush and floss your teeth in an office bathroom? My teacher just told the class incorrect information...how do I correct her? What do I do if friends are talking about me behind my back? What do you do if you're invited somewhere and you just don't want to go?
VENT OR REPENT: Luggage in hotel elevators, Dog tote bags
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the book, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Letitia Baldrige's obituary in the New York Times
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
Support our show through Patreon
Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts
Call, text, or email us your questions
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Visit our official website
Sign up for our newsletter
Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW
Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 222
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Cordially Invited: Sara Jane Ho
This episode is sponsored by Acorn.TV - Sign up for a 30-day free trial with promo code ACORN30 at Acorn.TV
Nick and Leah have cordially invited Sara Jane Ho, host of "Mind Your Manners" on Netflix, to chat about her new book, how long to leave a strangers' laundry in a dryer, swapping place cards, and much more.
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
MORE SARA JANE HO:
Official Website
Her new book: "Mind Your Manners"
"Mind Your Manners" on Netflix
Her skincare line: Antevorta Labs
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
Support our show through Patreon
Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts
Call, text, or email us your questions
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Visit our official website
Sign up for our newsletter
Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW
Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Click Here
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Spring Break: Passing Salt and Pepper, Asking for Pickles, Running Into Acquaintances, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back soon with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they tackle passing salt and pepper, asking people if they're going to eat their pickles, running into acquaintances at bars, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com
EPISODE CONTENTS
AMUSE-BOUCHE: Passing salt and pepper
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Menu substitutions and secret menus
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How soon is too soon to ask someone if they're going to eat their pickle? What do I do about an acquaintance who is mad at me for not including them in a night out?
VENT OR REPENT: A noisy neighbor update, Unsupportive comics
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: A musical voicemail, A middle school party
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Dining scene from Batman (1989)
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
Support our show through Patreon
Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts
Call, text, or email us your questions
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Visit our official website
Sign up for our newsletter
Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW
Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 176
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Customer Reviews
What a fabulous podcast! Always makes me smile
Once a week is just not enough! I’m back at the beginning listening to the whole lot again! Nick and Leah are such fun and have a wonderful dynamic together - it’s such a treat to have found this podcast.
Susie, from Sydney
I adore this podcast
The hosts have such a great dynamic, I love learning about etiquette, and quite frankly it’s perfect for unwinding to after a stressful day. The show also has a great format as far as each segment offering something different but still tying together to the show’s theme. And, if you message them, they will message you back! 😻
A wedding invite is not a subpoena - truth!
These are excellent life lessons all delivered with warmth and humour. The hosts really deep dive into listener questions.
Depending on your relationship with etiquette you will either find yourself feeling vindicated, thinking well that’s just common sense or have an ‘ohhhh I never thought of it like that moment’. Or perhaps a combination of all three.
Do yourself a favour, make the decision that’s going to cause the least amount of regret and just listen. You might just learn something new!