257 episodes
Were You Raised By Wolves? Were You Raised By Wolves
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 1.6K 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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Knocking on Doors, Handling Overbearing Mothers-In-Law, Cleaning Supermarket Floors, and Much More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about knocking on doors, handling overbearing mothers-in-law, cleaning supermarket floors, 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:
After knocking on a door, what is the appropriate amount of time to wait before knocking again?
How do I handle my overbearing mother-in-law who wants to visit us every single weekend?
How do I let my local bagel place know that their order accuracy is terrible?
What should we do with the money people are sending us in their sympathy cards?
Are you crazy? If we should return our shopping carts, should we also clean the store floors, too?
Bonkers: Uninvited wedding guests
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Previous episode discussing returning shopping carts
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CREDITS
Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema
Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton
Theme Music: Rob Paravonian
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TRANSCRIPT
Episode 233
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Summer Break: Wearing Hats, Behaving on Boats, Remembering Song Lyrics, 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 wearing hats, behaving on boats, remembering song lyrics, 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: Hats
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Boats
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK to wear flip-flops in public? I forgot to close out my open tab at a bar...what should I do? Is it OK to loudly broadcast someone's private garage keypad code?
VENT OR REPENT: Toto's "Africa", Penciling things in
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thank you for the pecans, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Company: "The Ladies Who Lunch"
Hats in the Catholic church
Ascot Horse Race from "My Fair Lady"
GQ Magazine: "Here's Exactly Where You Can and Can't Wear Flip-Flops"
Voir Dire
LandShark Bar & Grill in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Toto's "Africa"
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 106
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Summer Break: Telling Cooks They're Terrible, Leaving Cash on Tables, Handling Wet Laundry, 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 answer listener questions about telling cooks they're terrible, leaving cash on tables in restaurants, handling strangers' wet laundry, 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 do you tell a friend they’re a terrible cook and they shouldn't bother?
At a restaurant, is it OK to leave cash on the table and then leave?
What do I do about my family who jumps on FaceTime with other relatives whenever they're over at my house?
Is it OK to offer to meet someone “halfway” when I live outside of the city?
Should you put wet laundry that isn't yours in a dryer?
Aftermath: An awkward Zoom date turns into a marriage
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
"Aedh Wishes for the Clothes of Heaven" by W.B. Yeats
L'Effervescence Restaurant in Tokyo
Geocaching
Previous episode that included question about taking things out of the dryer
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 105
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Sequencing Cream and Jam on Scones, Glancing at Smartwatches, Scowling at Strangers, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle putting cream and jam on scones in the correct order, glancing at smartwatches, scowling at 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
EPISODE CONTENTS
AMUSE-BOUCHE: Putting cream and jam on scones
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Picnics
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to look at a smart watch notification? What do you do in a restaurant when a stranger comments on the amount of food you've ordered?
VENT OR REPENT: Clarifying the past, A rude sales call
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a friend, A nice review
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Queen Elizabeth II and scones
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 232
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Saying "You're Welcome" Unprompted, Cleaning up After Squirrels, Asking Wedding Guests to Bring Ice, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about saying "you're welcome" unprompted, cleaning up after squirrels, asking wedding guests to bring ice, 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 do I get my parents to tip servers more than 10%?
Is it rude to say "you're welcome" to a person who didn't say "thank you" first?
What do I write in a thank you note to a comic I hired who bombed and offended people?
Should I clean up the mess a squirrel made on a neighbor's balcony?
Etiquette Crime Report: Asking wedding guests to bring appetizers, ice, and liquor
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Mad Men scene: "That's what the money is for!"
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 231
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Stealing Parking Spaces, Closing Bathroom Doors, Arriving Late to Classes, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle stealing parking spaces from coworkers, closing bathroom doors, arriving late to classes, 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: Napkin placement when setting the table
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Networking events
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I do about a new colleague who has taken my parking space? Should bathroom doors be left open or closed?
VENT OR REPENT: Showing up to fitness classes late, Hot glassware
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a cousin, Thanks to the NYC Trivia League
THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW
Business card scene in "American Psycho"
Previous episode discussing name tag placement
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 230
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Play it Forward
I love Nick and Leah’s insight and advice! I find myself quoting them in conversations and getting others talking. I’m playing it forward since many of these people listen to the show now!
Love This Podcast and the Hosts!
I hope the people who were raised by wolves, or just choose to behave as such, are listening! Leah and Nick are fabulous. ❤️❤️
My opinion
I really liked this show but had to stop listening. Nick’s advice, knowledge on etiquette rules, and suggestions are so great and on-point.
However, I started to tune Leah out—sometimes her advice was way out there, too complex, passive aggressive, or just not polite at all. A letter writer would pose a question and Nick would answer succinctly, but then Leah weighs in with a convoluted response and suggestion.
I think Nick is better suited for a show on manners and etiquette, and Leah is best suited for a relationship advice podcast.
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