Were You Raised By Wolves?

Nick Leighton
Were You Raised By Wolves?

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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.” --- 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.)

  1. 3D AGO · BONUS

    Summer Break: Showing Up Empty-Handed, Riding French Elevators, Having Nice Weekends, 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 showing up at dinner parties empty-handed, riding elevators in France, being unapologetic about having nice weekends, 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: What to say in a French elevator A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: What to bring to a dinner party QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How to respond when someone says, "must be nice"? In a walk-up building, can you buzz people in or do you have to personally greet them at the building's front door? VENT OR REPENT: A not-important email, TV Spoilers CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Supporting others, Bagging groceries at the supermarket THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠French elevator etiquette on YouTube⁠ ⁠Belle says "Bonjour" in "Beauty and the Beast"⁠ ⁠Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World"⁠ ⁠"Out of this World" Episode 1⁠ ⁠MC Escher's Relativity⁠ 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 72 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  2. JUN 30

    Abandoning Dinner Guests, Running Into Former Students, Singing Happy Birthday, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about abandoning dinner guests, running into former students, singing happy birthday, 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 would you react if a friend invites you to stay for dinner, but then has you eat in the kitchen while she goes to the dining room to eat with her family separately? Should I tell my friend that I won’t be attending a Zoom exercise class anymore because of an awkward email exchange with the instructor? I’m a middle school teacher…what should I do when I run into former students in public? How do we decline food from our overly generous neighbor? What do you do when someone is singing "Happy Birthday" to you? THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠#SwedenGate 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 271 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
  3. JUN 23

    Responding to Invitations, Enjoying Tennis, Dipping French Fries, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle responding to invitations formally, watching and playing tennis, dipping french fries, 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: Formally responding to invitations A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Tennis QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What's the most polite way to cut cookies to share in an office? Should I be bothered that my boyfriend's friend doesn't also bring me a beverage? VENT OR REPENT: Eating french fries at a party, Returning phone calls CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the cookies, Book event at the Strand THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Nebraska Brand Committee William Hanson's new book: "Just Good Manners" 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 270 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min
  4. JUN 16

    Brushing Teeth in Airports, Taking Dessert from Buffets, Handling Unwanted Vacation Guests, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about brushing your teeth in airport bathrooms, taking desserts from buffets, handling unwanted vacation guests, 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 brush your teeth in an airport bathroom? When dessert is offered on a buffet, is it incorrect to take it along with the rest of the meal? What should I do about a friend who likes to save seats for a performance and then leave the venue? What to do about a friend who invited their daughter on our vacation without asking? What should I do when I'm trying to walk by someone, but we both keep trying to go the same way? THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Konpira Fune Fune 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 269 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
  5. JUN 9

    Flipping Over Cutlery, Making Friends in Kindergarten, Choosing Cup Holders, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle flipping over cutlery, making friends in kindergarten, choosing cup holders at sporting events, 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: Reversing cutlery on the table A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Making friends in kindergarten QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How should we handle a dinner invitation after a breakup? When attending a sporting event, which cup holder is yours? VENT OR REPENT: Upselling makeup, Wearing too much perfume CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the hospitality, Thanks for hosting in Los Angeles THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW "Terminator 2" opening scene Designer Imposters Fragrance commercial from 1988 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 268 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  6. JUN 2

    Mowing Lawns Without Asking, Coordinating Invitation Responses, Dressing for Theme Weddings, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about mowing laws without asking, coordinating invitation responses, dressing for theme 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: What do we do about our neighbor who mowed half of our lawn without our permission? Should couples coordinate their responses to invitations? How do I get my colleague to stop knocking on the door before entering our shared office? What to do about dinner party guests who were more than 15 minutes late? Are your outfits supposed to match the theme of a wedding? THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠⁠No Mow May 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 267 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
  7. MAY 26 · BONUS

    Memorial Day Break: Crashing White House Weddings, Stealing Flowers From Neighbors, Charging Phones In Public, 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 tackle crashing White House weddings, stealing flowers from neighbors, charging phones in public, 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: Judith Martin and the Nixon Administration A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Repetition QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK for my neighbor to take flowers from my yard without my permission? Is it rude for a woman to keep eating after her partner has finished? VENT OR REPENT: Blocking traffic, Charging phones CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: A custom t-shirt, A nice email THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠Judith Martin: In defense of ‘women’s pages’⁠ ⁠A fan's FSR t-shirt⁠ 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 194 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
  8. MAY 19

    Playing Duck Duck Goose, Sending Out-of-Office Emails, Taking Free Food Samples, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle playing Duck Duck Goose in Minnesota, sending out-of-office emails, taking free food samples, 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: Duck Duck Grey Duck A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Out of Office Emails QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How many and what type of items are you allowed to purchase at the pharmacy counter? What's the proper way to take a free food sample at a store? Reviewing a key detail from a previous question about sending anonymous birthday cards VENT OR REPENT: Changing the focus, Stealing cabs CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to everyone who came to see our live show in Los Angeles THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠Previous episode about anonymous birthday card Nick and Leah on the "Tamron Hall Show" 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 266 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min
4.7
out of 5
1,679 Ratings

About

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.” --- 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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