142 episodes
Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 1.2K 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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Drinking Tea with Milk, Wearing Bright Colors At Funerals, Parking In Someone Else's Spot, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle drinking tea with milk, wearing bright nail polish to funerals, parking in someone else's reserved spot, 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: Drinking tea with milk
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Dressing rooms
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I do about a friend who wants us to pay for her birthday party and get her a gift? What do I do about someone who thinks we never sent them a thank you note for their wedding present? Is it OK to wear bright nail polish to a funeral?
VENT OR REPENT: Finding a car in your spot, Drag racing in New York
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Dog communities, A thoughtful gift
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Evelyn Waugh and "Milk in First"
Tatami
Lladro Figurines
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 140
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Taking House Tours, Backing Out of Dinners, Attending Surprise Weddings, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about taking tours of peoples homes, backing out of dinners you don't want to go to, attending surprise 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:
Do you have to take a tour of someone's home if invited?
What's the appropriate reaction when someone accidentally spits on your face?
Is there a polite way to back out of a dinner after you've already agreed to go?
How do I let a couple know that my name was misspelled at their long-ago wedding?
What's the protocol for returning Tupperware after two weeks?
Any etiquette tips when attending a surprise wedding?
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
CBS Sunday Morning: "Surprise! You're attending a wedding!"
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 139
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Enjoying Escargot, Traveling with Co-workers, Sharing Hot Tubs, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle eating escargot, traveling with co-workers, sharing hot tubs, 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: Escargot
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Traveling with co-workers
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Are there rules about getting into a hot tub that's already occupied? How do you handle friends who leave you hanging with their RSVP until the last minute? Who has the right-of-way with a cart at a grocery store?
VENT OR REPENT: Disruptive audience members, A loud cell phone call
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a trucker, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Escargot scene from "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 138
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Singing Along During Musicals, Flipping Over Wine Bottles, Using Dirty Bathrooms, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about singing along during musicals, flipping wine bottles over in buckets, using dirty bathrooms, 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:
When is it appropriate to sing along with a musical performance?
What do I do about my mother who would prefer numerous short phone conversations rather than a deeper once-a-week catch-up?
Is customized stationery OK to use for all occasions?
Is it OK to flip a wine or champagne bottle upside down in an ice bucket?
What do I do about my in-laws' dirty bathroom?
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
New York Times: "Hold the Phone, It’s Patti LuPone"
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 137
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Passing People in Theaters, Removing Shoes in Homes, Using Coasters Properly, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle passing people in theater aisles, removing shoes in people's homes, using coasters properly, 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 people in theaters
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Taking off shoes in people's homes
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do you do if there aren't enough coasters? What do I do about a new friend who's contacting me too much? What do I say to people who say "I'm confused" when they're not?
VENT OR REPENT: Being friendly in small towns, Things that don't go together
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: A free meal, A thoughtful gift
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Gravitron on Wikipedia
Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction"
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 136
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Eating Chocolate Truffles, Breaking Up With Gym Partners, Giving Up Airplane Window Seats, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about eating chocolate truffles, breaking up with gym partners, giving up airplane window seats, 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's the proper way to eat a chocolate truffle?
Do I have to invite someone to my birthday party if I was invited to theirs?
How can I break up with my long-term gym partner?
At a college canteen, do I have to stay until everyone's finished their meal?
On an airplane, what do I do about someone who wants my window seat?
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Bavarian Chocolate Haus in North Conway, New Hampshire
Reber Mozart-Kugeln chocolates
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 135
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
My new favorite podcast!
Love the hosts entertaining yet informative take on etiquette questions submitted by listeners. When so much of the world seems to relish people behaving badly, we can at least make the choice to make it a nicer place to be by being polite!
My Favorite Podcast!!!
I came upon this podcast as I was looking for some entertaining podcasts while my husband and I were on a long road trip. We both absolutely love listening to the advice and the hosts. This podcast informs and entertains at the same time. Often there are some laughs out loud!!! I wish I could meet and have lunch with Nick and Leah as they are just endearing! They really try to make the world a better place by simply promoting good manners. You need to listen to this podcast to understand how we can all make kindness and consideration an easy priority. I highly recommend this podcast to everyone!!
So upbeat and fun
This is the show I listen to when I need reminding the humans can be civilized, polite, kind, upbeat and delightful. Nick and Leah have wonderful, doable solutions to the confounding things we confront in our relationships with others. I always feel better about others when I listen. A dose of humor and a big swig of “let’s be grown ups” in every episode.