Were You Raised By Wolves?

Nick Leighton

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.) read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Knocking on Doors, Handling Overbearing Mothers-In-Law, Cleaning Supermarket Floors, and Much More
5d ago
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 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 233 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summer Break: Wearing Hats, Behaving on Boats, Remembering Song Lyrics, and More
15-07-2024
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summer Break: Telling Cooks They're Terrible, Leaving Cash on Tables, Handling Wet Laundry, and More
08-07-2024
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Memorial Day Break: Sending Wedding Cards to Exes, Being Polite to Smart Speakers, Asking People for Favors, and More
27-05-2024
Memorial Day Break: Sending Wedding Cards to Exes, Being Polite to Smart Speakers, Asking People for Favors, 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 sending wedding cards to exes, being polite to Siri and Alexa, asking people for favors, 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: "Il Galateo" by Giovanni della Cassa A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Riding in cars QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Should I send a card to my ex who is getting remarried? Should you say "please" and "thank you" to Alexa and Siri? VENT OR REPENT: Asking for favors, Texting before a party CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to Canyon friends, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW "Il Galateo" by Giovanni della Cassa Yacht Rock 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 178 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discovering Letitia Baldrige, Handling Airport Pickups, Brushing Teeth at the Office, and More
15-04-2024
Discovering Letitia Baldrige, Handling Airport Pickups, Brushing Teeth at the Office, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle the biography of Letitia Baldrige, handling airport pickups, brushing teeth at the office, 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: Letitia Baldrige A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Airport Pickups QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to brush and floss your teeth in an office bathroom? My teacher just told the class incorrect information...how do I correct her? What do I do if friends are talking about me behind my back? What do you do if you're invited somewhere and you just don't want to go? VENT OR REPENT: Luggage in hotel elevators, Dog tote bags CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the book, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Letitia Baldrige's obituary in the New York Times 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 222 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spring Break: Passing Salt and Pepper, Asking for Pickles, Running Into Acquaintances, and More
08-04-2024
Spring Break: Passing Salt and Pepper, Asking for Pickles, Running Into Acquaintances, 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 passing salt and pepper, asking people if they're going to eat their pickles, running into acquaintances at bars, 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 salt and pepper A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Menu substitutions and secret menus QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How soon is too soon to ask someone if they're going to eat their pickle? What do I do about an acquaintance who is mad at me for not including them in a night out? VENT OR REPENT: A noisy neighbor update, Unsupportive comics CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: A musical voicemail, A middle school party THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Dining scene from Batman (1989) 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 176 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices