Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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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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Loitering Around Toasters, Being Embarrassed by Employees, Picking Strangers' Teeth, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about loitering around toasters, being embarrassed by employees, picking strangers' teeth, 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 is the etiquette regarding using a communal toaster at a breakfast buffet?
What do I do about my employee who embarrassed me in front of a visitor?
On an airplane, should the person at the aisle get up immediately or stay seated until their row is next to leave?
Who's responsible for removing K-Cups from a coffee machine?
Bonkers: A stranger picking your teeth
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
K-Cups on Wikipedia
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 219
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Identifying Salt and Pepper Shakers, Using AI for Thank You Notes, Walking Up Escalators, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle identifying salt and pepper shakers by their holes, using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to write thank you notes, walking up escalators, 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: Salt and Pepper Shakers
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Etiquette
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to walk up escalators? How much should you tip the maître d' at a restaurant?
VENT OR REPENT: Forgetting someone at pilates, Hogging a hot tub
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a listener, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey"
Toys hanging from the ceiling at the 21 Club in New York
New York Times article from 1979: "Restaurant Tipping: The Captain, the Waiter, The Sommelier..."
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 218
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Taking Flowers From Funerals, Giving Guests Plastic Cutlery, Asking About People's Weight, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about taking flowers from funerals, giving guests plastic cutlery, asking about people's weight, 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 can we politely let a waiter know we aren't interested in hearing them perform the specials?
Is it acceptable for someone who brought flowers to a Celebration of Life event to take the flowers back with them after the service?
Do I have to RSVP to a wedding invitation that was sent to me at my father's address?
What do I do about friends who only offer disposable plastic cutlery in their home?
Bonkers: Weighing exactly 117 pounds
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Peugeot pepper mills
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 217
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Eating Soft Boiled Eggs, Getting A Professional Massage, Being Judgy at Airports, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle eating soft boiled eggs, getting a professional massage, being judgy at airports, 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: Soft boiled eggs
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Getting a professional massage
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How do you respond to "I appreciate you"? What do I do about a 1960s-themed birthday party that my husband doesn't want to dress up for?
VENT OR REPENT: Being judgy at the airport, A loud woman at the theatre
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to our listeners, Thanks to the mahjong club
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Pocillovy (collecting egg cups)
"Volcano" at St. Anne's Warehouse (YouTube)
Intro to mahjong (YouTube)
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 216
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President's Day Break: Commandeering Televisions, RSVPing to Facebook Events, Returning Shopping Carts, 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 episodes from the archives in which they answer listener questions about commandeering televisions, RSVPing to Facebook events, returning shopping carts, 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 should I do about guests who were rude and disrespectful to me in my home?
How do I handle a neighbor who drops by unannounced and invites herself to events?
Is it rude to change your Facebook Event RSVP the day of the event?
Should I send a thank you note to my host after being their house guest?
What's the correct procedure for needing to spit something out and you only have a cloth napkin?
Vent: Returning shopping carts
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
The Shopping Cart Theory (YouTube)
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Support our show through Patreon
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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 97
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Dressing Your Personality at Weddings, Helping People Who Trip, Giving Money to Cashiers, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about "dressing your personality" at weddings, helping people who trip, giving money to cashiers, 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 does "Dress Your Personality" mean as a dress code on a wedding invitation?
What should you do if you see a stranger trip and fall in public?
When paying at a counter with cash, should you place your money on the counter or put it into the cashier's hand?
How do you respond when someone says "I work, but I don't have to"?
Bonkers: Abandoning your colleagues at a restaurant
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Chateau Marmont and Neptune's Net on Wikipedia
Bumpits commercial on YouTube
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 215
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Customer Reviews
Required listening
The world would be such a better place if everyone listened to this podcast. So smart, funny, informative, and polite! Etiquette is sexy.
Informative and Funny
Nick and Leah are like the Johnny Weir and Tara Lapinsky of manners, you need them in your life!
Episode 211
Best Episode Yet. I have enjoyed every episode for years. I even have the podcast t-shirt. Episode 211 is Leah’s best episode. Several lol moments.