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

Identifying Salt and Pepper Shakers, Using AI for Thank You Notes, Walking Up Escalators, and More
Mar 11 2024
Identifying Salt and Pepper Shakers, Using AI for Thank You Notes, Walking Up Escalators, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle identifying salt and pepper shakers by their holes, using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to write thank you notes, walking up escalators, 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: Salt and Pepper Shakers A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Etiquette QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to walk up escalators? How much should you tip the maître d' at a restaurant? VENT OR REPENT: Forgetting someone at pilates, Hogging a hot tub CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a listener, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" Toys hanging from the ceiling at the 21 Club in New York New York Times article from 1979: "Restaurant Tipping: The Captain, the Waiter, The Sommelier..." 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 218 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Taking Flowers From Funerals, Giving Guests Plastic Cutlery, Asking About People's Weight, and More
Mar 4 2024
Taking Flowers From Funerals, Giving Guests Plastic Cutlery, Asking About People's Weight, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about taking flowers from funerals, giving guests plastic cutlery, asking about people's weight, 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 can we politely let a waiter know we aren't interested in hearing them perform the specials? Is it acceptable for someone who brought flowers to a Celebration of Life event to take the flowers back with them after the service? Do I have to RSVP to a wedding invitation that was sent to me at my father's address? What do I do about friends who only offer disposable plastic cutlery in their home? Bonkers: Weighing exactly 117 pounds THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Peugeot pepper mills 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 217 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eating Soft Boiled Eggs, Getting A Professional Massage, Being Judgy at Airports, and More
Feb 26 2024
Eating Soft Boiled Eggs, Getting A Professional Massage, Being Judgy at Airports, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle eating soft boiled eggs, getting a professional massage, being judgy at airports, 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: Soft boiled eggs A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Getting a professional massage QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How do you respond to "I appreciate you"? What do I do about a 1960s-themed birthday party that my husband doesn't want to dress up for? VENT OR REPENT: Being judgy at the airport, A loud woman at the theatre CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to our listeners, Thanks to the mahjong club THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Pocillovy (collecting egg cups) "Volcano" at St. Anne's Warehouse (YouTube) Intro to mahjong (YouTube) 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 216 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
President's Day Break: Commandeering Televisions, RSVPing to Facebook Events, Returning Shopping Carts, and More
Feb 19 2024
President's Day Break: Commandeering Televisions, RSVPing to Facebook Events, Returning Shopping Carts, 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 answer listener questions about commandeering televisions, RSVPing to Facebook events, returning shopping carts, 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 about guests who were rude and disrespectful to me in my home? How do I handle a neighbor who drops by unannounced and invites herself to events? Is it rude to change your Facebook Event RSVP the day of the event? Should I send a thank you note to my host after being their house guest? What's the correct procedure for needing to spit something out and you only have a cloth napkin? Vent: Returning shopping carts THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW The Shopping Cart Theory (YouTube) 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 97 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dressing Your Personality at Weddings, Helping People Who Trip, Giving Money to Cashiers, and More
Feb 12 2024
Dressing Your Personality at Weddings, Helping People Who Trip, Giving Money to Cashiers, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about "dressing your personality" at weddings, helping people who trip, giving money to cashiers, 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 does "Dress Your Personality" mean as a dress code on a wedding invitation? What should you do if you see a stranger trip and fall in public? When paying at a counter with cash, should you place your money on the counter or put it into the cashier's hand? How do you respond when someone says "I work, but I don't have to"? Bonkers: Abandoning your colleagues at a restaurant THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Chateau Marmont and Neptune's Net on Wikipedia Bumpits commercial on YouTube 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 215 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Using Squeegees in Showers, Stopping Judgy Comments, Asking Strangers for Wedding Cash, and More
Jan 29 2024
Using Squeegees in Showers, Stopping Judgy Comments, Asking Strangers for Wedding Cash, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about using squeegees in guest showers, stopping judgy comments about travel plans, asking strangers for wedding cash, 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: If a host provides a squeegee in their shower, is a guest obliged to use it? What can I do to stop negative, judgy comments about my travel plans? Do newlyweds have a year after their wedding to send thank you notes for gifts? What's the best way to handle organizing plans in a large group text thread? I skipped morning breakfast with my boyfriend's family when visiting for the weekend...was this rude? Bonkers: Asking strangers for money to pay for their dream wedding THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Squeegee on Wikipedia 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 213 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Objecting to Marriages, Watching Strangers' Luggage, Asking for More Chairs, and More
Jan 15 2024
Objecting to Marriages, Watching Strangers' Luggage, Asking for More Chairs, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about objecting to marriages, watching strangers' luggage, asking for more chairs, 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 should I handle my sister-in law who doesn't think I should be married to her brother? How should we respond to strangers asking us to watch their belongings? How do you send invitations or thank you notes when you don't know the recipient's address? Is there a polite way to suggest to my brother that he should have enough dining chairs for everyone? Bonkers: An undisclosed dress code for a wedding rehearsal dinner THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Trailer for "Freaky Friday" movie Zafu and Zazen on Wikipedia 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 211 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Holiday Break: Following Dress Codes, Copying Roommates' Décor, Clearing Plates, and More
Jan 1 2024
Holiday Break: Following Dress Codes, Copying Roommates' Décor, Clearing Plates, 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 following dress codes on invitations, copying roommates' décor, clearing plates in restaurants, 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: Dress codes A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Unsolicited advice QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I do about a roommate who is copying my décor? What do you do if someone accidentally drinks out of your wine or water glass? VENT OR REPENT: Speakerphones in the bathroom, Clearing plates in restaurants CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the New Year's cheer, Thanks for the flowers THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Dwight Yoakam on Wikipedia Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison on Wikipedia "Single White Female" trailer Otohime episode 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 122 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Holiday Break: Grabbing Fresher Milk, Escaping Unwanted Reunions, Returning Bad Sangria, and More
Dec 25 2023
Holiday Break: Grabbing Fresher Milk, Escaping Unwanted Reunions, Returning Bad Sangria, 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 grabbing fresher milk in supermarkets, escaping unwanted reunions, returning bad sangria, 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: In a supermarket, it OK to take the fresher milk from the back of the shelf? Is it now common place for people to ask for RSVPs before the invitation is sent? How do I get a host to take the hint that I'm not interested in attending their reunion event? What do I do about bad sangria purchased for me in a bar? Collective nouns for rude people THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW List of collective nouns for rude people 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 187 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Watching Kalle Anka, Receiving Compliments, Bringing Empty Containers to Restaurants, and More
Dec 11 2023
Watching Kalle Anka, Receiving Compliments, Bringing Empty Containers to Restaurants, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle watching Kalle Anka in Sweden, receiving compliments, bringing your own empty food containers to restaurants, 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: Kalle Anka A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Receiving compliments QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK to bring your own empty food container to a restaurant for leftovers? Bonkers: Abandoned by hosts at cocktail hour VENT OR REPENT: Confused by airplane seat assignments, Being asked your weight CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a fan, Thanks for attending our live show THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW "From All of Us to All of You" on Wikipedia "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" official trailer Marshalls 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 208 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
HOLIDAY BREAK: Obeying Little Signs, Coordinating Pot Lucks, Buying Concert Tickets, and More
Nov 13 2023
HOLIDAY BREAK: Obeying Little Signs, Coordinating Pot Lucks, Buying Concert Tickets, 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 obeying little signs, coordinating pot luck dinners, buying concert tickets, 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: The origins of "Etiquette" A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Hosting Thanksgiving dinner QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Should I tell someone their new boyfriend reminds me of Christian Bale in "American Psycho"? If you're bringing dessert to a pot luck, are you also responsible for bringing the dessert plates? Do I need to give up my better concert tickets in order for my daughter to be able to sit with a friend? VENT OR REPENT: Bad customer service, Ordering sandwiches CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Nice neighbors, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Cindy Post Senning's story about Louis XIV Business card scene from "American Pyscho" The Wiggles Mummenchanz 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 112 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eating Raw Oysters, Behaving at Concerts, Tipping With Lottery Tickets, and More
Nov 6 2023
Eating Raw Oysters, Behaving at Concerts, Tipping With Lottery Tickets, and More
Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle eating raw oysters, behaving at concerts, tipping with lottery tickets, 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: Raw oysters A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Concerts QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it rude to leave winning lottery tickets in addition to a tip at a restaurant? Etiquette Crime Report: Are you pregnant? VENT OR REPENT: Finding seats at a concert, Filming while running CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for being a listener, Thanks for the NLAD wishes THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Oyster fork inside spoon Maura Graber's Etiquipedia Ariana Grande starts song again because fan wasn't ready to record "Pure Imagination" from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" EtiquetteCrime.com 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 204 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices