Were You Raised By Wolves? Podcast By Nick Leighton cover art

Were You Raised By Wolves?

Were You Raised By Wolves?

By: Nick Leighton
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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.)© 2019-2024 Were You Raised By Wolves? Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Inviting Thirteen Guests, Attending Pool Parties, Hogging Laundry Machines, and More

    Inviting Thirteen Guests, Attending Pool Parties, Hogging Laundry Machines, and More
    Jul 21 2025
    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle inviting thirteen guests to dinner, attending pool parties, hogging laundry machines in apartment buildings, 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: Thirteen dinner guests A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Pool parties QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to use both of my apartment building's laundry machines at the same time? When a house guest, what is the proper etiquette for when to wake up and join one's hosts in the morning? VENT OR REPENT: Releasing doves, Couches at "The Clock" CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the dog rescue, Thanks for the cookies THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Kaspar at the Savoy Hotel "The Clock" by Christian Marclay 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 272 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Summer Break: Demanding Birthday Cake, Putting Time Limits on Meals, Getting Nosy at the Pharmacy, and More

    Summer Break: Demanding Birthday Cake, Putting Time Limits on Meals, Getting Nosy at the Pharmacy, and More
    Jul 14 2025
    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 answer listener questions about demanding birthday cake, putting time limits on meals, getting nosy at the pharmacy, 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 ask for birthday cake before the guest of honor blows out the candles? Is it OK to be salty for not receiving any thank you for helping at my friend's wedding? What is the time limit for someone to finish their meal? How do I get people to not send an RSVP to my BBQ invitation? Bonkers: Nosy at the pharmacy THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠New York Times: "On Language: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too"⁠ 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 191 THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: SAILY Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans! Use code WYRBW at checkout. Download Saily app or go to https://saily.com/wyrbw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Summer Break: Showing Up Empty-Handed, Riding French Elevators, Having Nice Weekends, and More

    Summer Break: Showing Up Empty-Handed, Riding French Elevators, Having Nice Weekends, and More
    Jul 7 2025
    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 showing up at dinner parties empty-handed, riding elevators in France, being unapologetic about having nice weekends, 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: What to say in a French elevator A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: What to bring to a dinner party QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How to respond when someone says, "must be nice"? In a walk-up building, can you buzz people in or do you have to personally greet them at the building's front door? VENT OR REPENT: A not-important email, TV Spoilers CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Supporting others, Bagging groceries at the supermarket THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW ⁠French elevator etiquette on YouTube⁠ ⁠Belle says "Bonjour" in "Beauty and the Beast"⁠ ⁠Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World"⁠ ⁠"Out of this World" Episode 1⁠ ⁠MC Escher's Relativity⁠ 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 72 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
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Nick! Leah!!! I can't remember how or why I stumbled upon your podcast but I am soooo grateful I did! Nick, you are so eloquent with your etiquette faux pas correction suggestions and Leah, you are a master of your craft and bring the humor to every question! I find myself talking to you two as if I were in the podcast with you. Just today, I ALMOST committed a etiquette crime but I stopped it (it was the episode where a person hold the door open for you and you are obligated to give them their space in front of you in a line)! But I thought of you two and I gracefully gave this gentleman the spot in front of me (I'm sure the etiquette butterfly effect you talked about will be in action!). I am binge listening to each episode and I have no idea what date the episodes come out, but does it matter?! No because - in my best Nick voice - etiquette rules transcend time and space! And I love your amuse buches. I feel like I'm constantly learning some little tidbit of etiquette knowledge to squirrel away and use later. From one person who is always trying to do the right etiquette thing to another, you two are Godsends. One suggestion, have you ever thought of adding a guest host every now and again? Not that you two dont offer enough, but I think it would be great to get another's perspective. Be it a celebrity or an everyday person like myself (hint hint, wink wink). Regardless, if you don't change a thing, you have a fan, a binge listener, and an etiquette rule follower in me!

I am hooked!!!!!!

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Everything about this show works: The hosts, the topics, the snappy conversation. Truly the best thing about Monday is getting a new episode of this fabulous podcast!

Truly the BEST podcast

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I was first introduced to the podcast by one of my teachers and I found it on audible that night and listened to the episode that was the newest at the time and I WAS HOOKED. The podcast caught my attention and protected it with its life. Amazing. The podcast also has great hosts who are amazing at entertaining me and making me laugh no matter the situation. Thank you, Nick and Leah, for this wonderful podcast.

Wonderful

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