153 episodes
Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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4.6 • 49 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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Slurping Ice Cream Sodas, Shopping at Farmers Markets, Finding Silver Linings, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle slurping ice cream sodas, shopping at farmers markets, finding silver linings, 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: Ice cream sodas
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Farmers markets
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it weird to ask guests to make their beds with hospital corners? Is it OK to have a beard at a black tie event?
VENT OR REPENT: Finding silver linings, Picking the wrong dryer
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Fostering pets, A nice note
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Who invented the ice cream soda?
"Christmas with the Kranks" ham scene
How to fold a bed with hospital corners
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 150
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Giving People Shopping Lists, Receiving Mysterious Gifts, Ruining People's Weddings, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about giving people shopping lists, receiving gifts from mysterious senders, ruining people's weddings, 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:
How do I tell people I don't want to shop for them on my vacation in Milan?
What do I do about a gift from an unknown sender?
What do I do about someone who keeps following-up about the status of holiday and thank you cards?
How do I handle a friend who makes me split the bill for her dinner parties?
How do I prevent my relatives from ruining my wedding?
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Rinascente department store in Milan
Ikebana 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
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 149
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Behaving In Group Fitness Classes, Being Nosy About Engagement Rings, Littering in Rome, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle behaving properly in group fitness class, being nosy about people's engagement rings, littering in Rome, 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: Holding glasses at cocktail parties
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Group Fitness Classes
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I say to people who mistakenly think I'm an intern? Is it normal for houseguests who have their own guest bathroom to ask to use yours? Is it OK to ask how big someone's engagement ring is?
VENT OR REPENT: A vivid nightmare, Littering in Rome
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a listener, A nice DM
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Home Depot proposal
"The Proposal" movie trailer
"Miss Congeniality" movie trailer
Trash in Rome
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
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 148
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Leaving Items Behind, Using Postcards for Wedding Thank You Notes, Talking Loudly on Airplanes, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about houseguests leaving items behind, using postcards for wedding thank you notes, talking loudly on airplanes, 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:
Is it OK to do a house sweep for forgotten items before a houseguest departs?
Do I have to offer champagne to all the guests on my boat?
Did I choose the correct bathroom stall?
Is it OK to use postcards for my wedding thank you notes?
Vent: Talking loudly across the aisle on a morning flight
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Where's Waldo?
"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
The Pierre Hotel
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
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 147
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Eating Soup Dumplings, Navigating Airport Security, Waving While Driving, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle eating soup dumplings, navigating airport security, waving while driving, 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: Xiao Long Bao (小籠包) (Soup dumplings)
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Airport security
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Do you have to put your fork down between bites? Do you have to bring a gift to a going away party for someone you've never met? Is it impolite to not make conversation with your hair stylist?
VENT OR REPENT: Waving while driving, A strange phrase over tapas
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Lovely new neighbors, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Din Tai Feng on Wikipedia
Patatas Bravas on Wikipedia
"Lord of the Rings" Potatoes remix
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
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 146
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Summer Break: Attending Polo Matches, Inquiring About Missing Invitations, Receiving Outrageous Emails, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back next week with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite summer episodes from the archives in which they tackle attending polo matches, inquiring about missing invitations, receiving outrageous emails, 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: Polo
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Beach etiquette
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I do if I received a text save-the-date but no follow-up? When is it appropriate to Google someone? Can I refuse to allow someone I dislike onto my property?
VENT OR REPENT: Outrageous emails, Maddening phrases
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: A helpful Lyft driver, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Polo scene in "Pretty Woman"
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
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 92
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Customer Reviews
So much fun!
Fun and extremely instructive. Definitely my go to podcast. One of my faves.
So fun!
I absolutely love this podcast. In fact it’s my favourite one at the moment and I do listen to a lot of podcasts. Thank you for so much for providing so much entertainment while also educating me about various matters of etiquette!
The absolute best
I didn’t go looking for this podcast. I didn’t know I needed this podcast but I’m so, so happy to be here. Nick and Leah are gracious and engaging hosts, knowledgeable on the subject matter and also hilarious.
Well done folks.