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. 7 HR. AGO

    Surviving Burning Man, Staring at Tattoos, Sending Extra Holiday Cards, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle going to Burning Man, staring at tattoos, sending extra holiday cards, 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: FBI Hostage Negotiation Tips A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Burning Man QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How long is it permissible to stare at someone's tattoo? The printer accidentally sent me a double order of custom holiday cards this year...should I send them out to people who aren't currently on my list knowing they won't be on my list again next year? VENT OR REPENT: Being late, Spitting gum CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the Reno drive, Thanks for the book mention THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Gary Nessner's “Crisis Intervention: Using Active listening Skills in Negotiation” Tim Steiner's tattoo at MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) William Hanson's new "Just Good Manners" book 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 246 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  2. NOV 4

    Handling Stray Hairs, Backing out of Dinner Parties, Tipping for Strangers, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about handling stray hairs, backing out of dinner parties, tipping for strangers, 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 if my curly hair gets stuck in someone’s beard during a hug? Can we back out of a dinner party after seeing the guest list is full of people we don’t like? Is it OK to tip for the person ahead of me at a coffee shop if they were rude to the staff? What do I do about a friend who is mad that I am bringing a plus one to their wedding even though the invitation allowed this? My husband and I do not drink alcohol…should we keep it on hand for guests while entertaining? THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Susan Stamberg's cranberry sauce recipe 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 245 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  3. OCT 28

    Sitting on Suitcases, Going on Ghost Tours, Being Disappointed by Mahi-Mahi, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle sitting on suitcases before a trip, going on ghost tours, being disappointed by mahi-mahi, 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: Sitting on suitcases A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Ghost tours QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What should I do about colleagues who haven't checked in on me after my knee surgery? What do you do about people who complain about the food when you've treated them to dinner? More "Said to My Face" submissions. VENT OR REPENT: Nincompoops at gas stations, Being oblivious at TSA CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a weightlifting group, A nice letter THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Social media trend: Photos of TSA security bins 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 244 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
  4. OCT 14

    Holiday Break: Squeezing Grapefruits, Paying for Damaged Pans, Photographing Great Danes, 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 eating grapefruits, paying for damaged pans, photographing Great Danes 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: Grapefruits A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Supermarkets QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: My friend cooked dinner in my home and damaged my pan...who's responsible for replacing it? In an office, is it OK to fix my hair at my desk? What do I do about people who take photos of my dog without permission? VENT OR REPENT: Absent Zoom audience members, Airplane bathrooms CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: The Pasadena DMV, Good houseguests THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Grapefruit on Wikipedia Recipe for grapefruit stuffed with dulce de leche "Christmas with the Kranks" ham scene Marsha Brady combing her hair 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 114 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
  5. OCT 7

    Savoring Soufflés, Responding to Condolence Notes, Keeping Cutlery at Buffets, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle savoring soufflés properly, responding to condolence notes, keeping cutlery at buffets, 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: Soufflés A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Responding to condolence notes QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do you do when someone double downs on incorrect information? How should you leave your cutlery at a buffet when leaving your table to get more food? VENT OR REPENT: Yelling in a parking lot, Slowly buying chocolates CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to family, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Previous episode on writing condolence notes Love Island Australia: Is the moon bigger than the earth? Valentino's in Nebraska 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 242 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  6. SEP 30

    Avoiding Dance Videos, Roaming Around in Robes, Enforcing Coaster Usage, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about avoiding dance videos, roaming around B&Bs in robes, enforcing coaster usage in one's home, 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 tune out and look at one’s phone when one's host insists on everyone watching their teenager's dance competition video on the big screen? Is it appropriate to walk in the common areas of a bed and breakfast in the provided robes? What do you do when you see an acquaintance you think you recognize? Is it rude to discretely slip a coaster under a guest's drink? Bonkers: Taking credit for building someone's home THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW "Count Your Blessings" from "White Christmas" "Were You Raised By Wolves?" coasters George Constanza lies about owning a house in the Hamptons on "Seinfeld" 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 241 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    27 min
  7. SEP 23

    Crossing the Equator, Going Apple Picking, Deciphering Bathroom Signs, and More

    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle crossing the equator, going apple picking, deciphering bathroom signs, 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: Crossing the Line Ceremony A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Apple Picking QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What can be done if you accidentally confuse a photo of someone with their mother? What should you do if someone gives the same gift as you but in a smaller size? VENT OR REPENT: Appropriate distances while driving, Vague bathroom signs CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to friends, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Royal Caribbean "Ovation of the Seas" Equator Crossing Ceremony Shell Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" Photos of the bathroom signs 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 240 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
4.7
out of 5
1,628 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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