212 episodes
Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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4.8 • 1.5K 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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Keeping Hot Sauce for Guests, Decanting White Wines, Hanging Coats on Airplanes, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about keeping hot sauce for guests, decanting white wines, hanging coats 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:
Do I have to keep hot sauces on hand for guests that I will not personally use?
If I see a colleague at a coffee shop, should I wait to walk back to the office with them?
Can you put Riesling in a wine decanter?
What should I do if a restaurant gave me someone else's doggie bag?
What should I do about airline passengers' coats?
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Pierre Hermé in Paris
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 199
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Buttering Bread Properly, Going on First Dates, Ringing Bells for Service, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle buttering bread properly, going on first dates, ringing bells for service, 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: Bread and Butter
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: First Dates
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How do I let friends and family back home know I'll be vacationing nearby but won't be making a specific trip home? Should you ring a bell for service if there's a sign directing you to?
VENT OR REPENT: Pumping water at the dog park, Eating at the theatre in London
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a fan, Thanks for breakfast
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
"Cabaret" in London
William Hanson's website, Instagram, and podcast
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...
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Visit our official website
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 198
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Replacing Lost Gloves, Arriving at Parties Too Early, Commandeering Other People’s Dates, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about replacing lost gloves, arriving at parties too early, commandeering other people's dates, 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 I do about my future mother-in-law who wants to crash my fiancé's bachelor party?
Who is responsible for replacing lost gloves?
What do I do about a relative who always arrives at parties too early?
Is it OK to charge friends for expensive whisky?
Bonkers: Waitress date takeover
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Hibiki Whisky
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
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Buy some fabulous official merchandise
CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 197
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HOLIDAY BREAK: Celebrating Bidet Day, Living in Dorm Rooms, Withholding Pony Rides, 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 using bidets properly, living with others in dorm rooms, withholding pony rides from 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
EPISODE CONTENTS
AMUSE-BOUCHE: Bidets
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Dorm Rooms
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Are you obligated to talk to fellow passengers on an airplane? Should I let my guests know there won't be pony rides at my child's birthday party?
VENT OR REPENT: Matthew McConaughey t-shirts, Riding Amtrak
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to great Lyft drivers, Thanks for brunch
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Dinner scene from "When Harry Met Sally..."
Matthew McConaughey in "Dazed and Confused"
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
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Click here for details
TRANSCRIPT
Episode 156
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Dining Late in Spain, Taking Care of Pets, Using Toilet Bowl Brushes, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle dining late in Spain, taking care of pets, using toilet bowl brushes, 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: Dinner Time in Spain
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Pet Sitting
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Why are toilet bowl brushes so common in European bathrooms? Is it rude to cancel someone's event when you're not the host?
VENT OR REPENT: Demanding payment when ordering, Making friends in Taipei
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the waffle cones, Thanks to our monthly supporters
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
NPR: Spain Has Been In The 'Wrong' Time Zone For 7 Decades
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 196
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Throwing Surprise Parties, Using Revolving Doors, Responding to Rude Texts, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about throwing surprise parties, using revolving doors, responding to rude texts, 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 rude to throw a surprise party for someone in their own home?
What's the etiquette for entering oversized revolving doors?
As an introvert, how do I decline an invitation to hang out with someone?
How do we respond to a text message about not being able to attend our party?
Bonkers: You're the babysitter
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Sarah Sze's artwork at Laguardia Airport (CBS Sunday Morning)
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 195
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Awesome!
These two are so straightforward and TRUE!
Love listening for a 'pick me up'. I would love to be at a party with the hosts.
Good ear company
Short of a handwritten thank you note, I’ll write this review. I’ve enjoyed many an episode while going for a walk, doing chores, or riding the subway. Plus it makes for a great soother on sick days. Keep the banter, history/culture lessons and advice coming!
A Most Winsome Podcast
The world would be a much kinder place if we all listened to this winsome podcast and followed the advice of Nick and Leah. After the last few years I’d forgotten some of these etiquette rules and love having this refresher. These two are thoughtful, clever, FUN and just a joy to listen to on a Monday morning.