How We Made Your Mother

Audacy & Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas
  • 5.0 (83)
  • AFTER SHOWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.

  1. 2D AGO · BONUS

    How We Met the Office Ladies [with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey]

    Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas welcome Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey of Office Ladies for an “extra-extra-special” crossover episode that celebrates the shared DNA between The Office and How I Met Your Mother. The four trade stories about auditioning, early career struggles, and the naïve confidence it took to chase a dream to Los Angeles. Jenna and Angela recall the pressure of remaking the British Office and the moment they knew Diversity Day proved their show’s originality; Josh and Craig compare that to creating HIMYM in the shadow of Friends. They discuss manifesting success, the comfort of ensemble storytelling, nostalgia for network-era TV, and what it means to have made “comfort shows” that helped fans through hard times. The episode closes with a listener letter from Chile about how HIMYM quite literally changed one fan’s life—and a toast to everyone who’s ever found solace, laughter, and a sense of home in these two beloved worlds. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. AND MORE: Josh’s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 11m

  2. 5D AGO

    How that Wasn't Ted | S2E4 "Ted Mosby: Architect"

    In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit Season 2, Episode 4, “Ted Mosby: Architect,” which aired October 9, 2006. They reflect on the show’s use of music—like the Decemberists’ “Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”—and how songs became part of Ted’s emotional language. They discuss the episode’s mystery structure, Robin and Ted’s first fight, and the episode’s emotional ending, where Ted shares his architectural dream with Robin. The two dive deep into the craft of storytelling, the symbolism of architecture, and the “HIMYM” balance between comedy and emotional truth. They also talk about Field of Dreams, music supervision, and fan letters that show how the series became a source of comfort and inspiration for viewers. General Questions we Sort of Answer: How did Spokane get chosen for the skyscraper site? Was the Decemberists’ song chosen just because it had “architect” in the title, or for its lyrics? Where do Carter and Craig’s real lives end and the fictional HIMYM characters begin? You can check out Evryman retreats HERE. If you don’t know the amazing work of the great Al Hirschfeld, take a LOOK. Listen to Ezra Klein’s interview with Brian Eno on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY. And yes… you can check out Josh’s Tedscapes on Spotify. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh’s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 9m

  3. NOV 3

    How We Met Marshall's Calves | S2E3 "Brunch"

    Season two, episode three of How We Made Your Mother takes on “Brunch,” the HIMYM episode that juggles family chaos, secrets, and spicy breakfast rolls. Josh and Craig reminisce about casting Michael Gross—yes, the dad from Family Ties—as Ted’s father, and how surreal that was for Josh, who grew up watching him on TV in Columbus, Ohio. They unpack the episode’s Pulp Fiction-style structure, Ted’s awkward family brunch with his divorced parents, Robin, and Barney, and the hilarious side plots of Marshall and Lily’s lingering chemistry (and calves). The hosts also dive into themes of communication, generational love languages, and repeating family patterns, praising Steven Lloyd’s dark humor and Christine Rose’s comedic subtlety. Barney’s needy attempts to outshine Robin, Ted’s questionable shirt choices, and the debut of the “83%” statistic all get airtime, before a touching fan letter from Mexico reflects how HIMYM continues to offer hope and comfort to viewers around the world. Check out Friend of the Devil by Stephen Lloyd Read Oldster on Substack CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh’s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 8m

  4. OCT 27

    How Marshall Met the Apocalyptic Wasteland | S2E2 "The Scorpion and the Toad"

    Season two, episode two of How We Made Your Mother opens with a message from Brazil, and a story about growing up with HIMYM that sets the tone for a conversation about comfort, change, and creative courage. Josh and Craig discuss “The Scorpion and the Toad,” where Marshall tries to reenter the dating world with Barney as his wingman—only to be repeatedly sabotaged by him. They unpack the Aesop fable behind the title, Barney’s compulsive nature, and how this episode explores addiction, friendship, and moral boundaries beneath the comedy. The hosts share behind-the-scenes moments about Lily’s emotional return, Neil Patrick Harris’s magic tricks, and the infamous “smelly water” line, while praising Chris Harris’s clever wordplay and Alyson Hannigan’s acting. They touch on gender norms, Ted’s “lucky penny” bit, and Robin and Ted’s early relationship bliss before closing with Craig’s announcement of his debut novel That’s Not How It Happened and a heartfelt fan letter about how Lily’s bravery inspires creative risk-taking. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min

  5. OCT 20

    How We Spent the Summer | S2E1 "Where Were We?"

    Season two of How We Made Your Mother kicks off with a big announcement: the show has officially joined the Office Ladies Network, thanks to a friendship between Josh Radnor and Jenna Fischer. Josh and Craig reminisce about filming “Where Were We,” the How I Met Your Mother season two premiere, breaking down the challenge of picking up right after Ted and Robin’s rain-soaked kiss and Marshall’s heartbreak. They dig into the emotional realism of post-breakup depression, the iconic “When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead” line, and behind-the-scenes stories about George Clinton’s cameo, Robin’s gun joke, and Neil Patrick Harris’s precision physical comedy. The episode also covers the show’s evolution, season-two adjustments (including the brighter red couch), and fan questions about serialization, background actors, and hiatus memories, before closing with a touching letter from a 15-year-old fan in Germany about how HIMYM brings her hope. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod. Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 6m

  6. OCT 13

    Season 2 Trailer

    We're back! How We Made Your Mother returns for another season of rewatching the hit TV series How I Made Your Mother! Josh Radnor and series co-creator Craig Thomas will discuss all 22 episodes of Season 2, including classic episodes like “Ted Mosby: Architect,” “Swarley,” “Slap Bet,” and “Something Blue.” You like guests? We’ve got guests, including Joe Manganiello and that man who finally proved to the world that he had dramatic acting chops, through his iconic portrayal of Hammond Druthers, Mr. Bryan Cranston.  We love hearing from the fans, so please go to www.HowWeMadeYourMother.com and click on the CONTACT tab to send us a voice message or an email and tell us what How I Met Your Mother means to you. We play and read these messages on nearly every episode, and it’s absolutely one of our favorite parts of the show. And please take a look at How You Make a Difference, our ongoing campaign supporting pediatric congenital heart disease research. Donate and learn more by clicking the MAKE A DIFFERENCE tab at the top of our website. Remember to follow us on Instagram and TikTok @howwemadeyourmother CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK! Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. AND MORE: Josh’s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    4 min
  7. Presenting: The Craft of Being with Guest Alek Lev

    OCT 3 · BONUS

    Presenting: The Craft of Being with Guest Alek Lev

    Welcome again to another bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother! It’s our final bonus episode before we launch Season 2 towards the end of October.  In this upcoming season we’ve already got a bunch of special guests lined up and a VERY special announcement about our podcast which we’re just not quite allowed to announce right now. So stay tuned. This week we bring you an interview that Alek did on the new podcast The Craft of Being, hosted by Anna Schumacher.  The Craft of Being is a podcast via a series on conversations where we dig into what the heck even is CREATIVITY? Undefined, yet definitive. Each week we will talk to a different human about their experience of their own creativity, and how it shows up –both planned and unexpectedly– across art, work, life, and the pursuit of… well, everything. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the show @thecraftofbeing on Instagram, or email the show at thecraftofbeingpod@gmail.com. Music by Colin O’brien-Lux: https://bandcamp.com/cobrienlux To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  8. Presenting: Hyperfocus with Guest Craig Thomas

    SEP 30 · BONUS

    Presenting: Hyperfocus with Guest Craig Thomas

    Hello Major Fans of How We Made Your Mother, and welcome to another bonus episode. We are hard at work on Season Two (which will launch soon), and we want to use this space to share some appearances of the team on other great podcasts. This week, we bring you Craig Thomas’s appearance on Hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is a show that zeroes in on what fascinates us about ADHD, mental health, and learning. From hacking your dopamine to busting TikTok myths, it blends personal stories, sharp questions, and expert insight. The show is produced by Understood.org, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with learning and thinking differences thrive. You can check out Hyperfocus anywhere you get your podcasts.Listen here: lnk.to/hyperfocus Original Show Notes: Craig Thomas is best known for his work on TV. He co-created the sitcom How I Met Your Motherand has written for American Dad and more. He’s penned songs for Sesame Street and essays for The New Yorker. He’s less known for being a dad. For now, at least. He has a daughter, Celia, and a son, Elliot, who was born with Jacobsen syndrome, a genetic condition causing physical and developmental disabilities.  When Elliot was born, Craig’s career was taking off with How I Met Your Mother. “I was living an hour drama show at home and then driving to work and doing a sitcom,” Craig says. His upcoming novel, That’s Not How It Happened, is based in part on his family’s experience. If you heard our series on the resurgence of the R-word, you’ll recognize Craig’s voice. The conversation with him was so good that we’re sharing more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
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5
out of 5
83 Ratings

About

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.

Information

  • Creator
    Audacy & Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © How We Made Your Mother LLC. All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    How We Made Your Mother

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