Were You Raised By Wolves? – Details, episodes & analysis

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Were You Raised By Wolves?

Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Society & Culture

Education

Comedy

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 350

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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https://www.nickleighton.com/
700 shares
https://www.wereyouraisedbywolves.com/
359 shares
https://www.wereyouraisedbywolves.com/p/ask/
350 shares

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64
78 shares
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mandalorian
35 shares
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dakota
35 shares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBLS_OM6Puk
18 shares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY
18 shares
https://www.youtube.com/wereyouraisedbywolves
17 shares

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Score global : 63%

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Using Napkins in Italy, Changing Passwords on Friends, Handing Strangers Your Phone, and More

Episode 278

lundi 8 septembre 2025 • Duration 41:52

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle using paper napkins in Italy, changing streaming service passwords on friends, hanging strangers your phone, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Paper napkins in Italy
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Being an AirBNB host
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Do I need to let an old acquaintance know that I've changed my streaming service password and their free access has ended? What's the polite way to get people to stop giving me books to read?
VENT OR REPENT: Strangers giving you their phones, Taking too long to make coffee
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a neighbor, Thanks for doing your homework

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

⁠Pasticceria Romolo in Salerno, Italy⁠

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leah Bonnema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Producer & Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob Paravonian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for details⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TRANSCRIPT

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 278

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anniversary Bonus: Holding Teacups Properly, Escaping Boring People, Clapping for Plane Landings, and More

lundi 1 septembre 2025 • Duration 13:30

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! It's our six year anniversary and we found a never-before-heard episode deep in the archives just for you. In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle the right way to hold teacups, escaping boring people at parties, clapping when airplanes land, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Holding teacups properly
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: How to escape boring people at parties
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK to clap when an airplane lands?

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leah Bonnema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Producer & Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob Paravonian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for details⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TRANSCRIPT

Click Here

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Abandoning Dinner Guests, Running Into Former Students, Singing Happy Birthday, and More

Episode 271

lundi 30 juin 2025 • Duration 31:11

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about abandoning dinner guests, running into former students, singing happy birthday, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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 would you react if a friend invites you to stay for dinner, but then has you eat in the kitchen while she goes to the dining room to eat with her family separately?
Should I tell my friend that I won’t be attending a Zoom exercise class anymore because of an awkward email exchange with the instructor?
I’m a middle school teacher…what should I do when I run into former students in public?
How do we decline food from our overly generous neighbor?
What do you do when someone is singing "Happy Birthday" to you?

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

⁠#SwedenGate

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leah Bonnema⁠⁠⁠⁠

Producer & Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Nick Leighton⁠⁠⁠⁠

Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob Paravonian⁠⁠⁠⁠

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for details⁠⁠⁠⁠

TRANSCRIPT

⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 271

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Using the Correct Fork, Passing on Invitations, Traveling With Dogs, and More

Episode 202

lundi 23 octobre 2023 • Duration 40:53

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle using the correct fork, passing on invitations, traveling with dogs, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Using the correct fork
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Scams
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do I do about a friend who didn't recognize me in a restaurant? Is it rude to "pass" on an invitation and include a reason?
VENT OR REPENT: Spilling coffee on an airplane, Oversharing at breakfast
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for finding a phone, A nice email

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

The Cut
Biscuitville
William Hanson's website, Instagram, and podcast
EtiquetteCrime.com

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

Click here for details

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 202

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Breaking Apart Bananas in Supermarkets, Sending Wedding Invitations Via Text, Bailing on Dinners in Paris, and More

Episode 201

lundi 16 octobre 2023 • Duration 22:34

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about breaking apart bananas in supermarkets, sending wedding invitations via text, bailing on dinners in Paris, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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 telling someone "I hope you have the day you deserve" rude?
Are you allowed to break apart bananas at the supermarket and only buy the number that you want?
Is it OK to just leave a package on a neighbor's doorstep if you aren't in the mood to chat?
What should I do about a wedding invitation text I ignored because I thought it was spam?
Bonkers: Insisting and then bailing on dinner in Paris

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

Erin Jackson on buying bananas (Instagram, X, Facebook, Official Website)

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

Click here for details

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 201

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Second Helpings: Eating Croissants, Pretending Not to Notice, Missing Plumbers, and More

lundi 9 octobre 2023 • Duration 43:15

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 croissants, pretending not to notice, missing plumbers, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Croissants
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Pretending not to notice
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: When eating ice cream cake, do you have to wait for everyone to be served before you can start eating? How do I tell a former coworker I don't want to see them socially? Should I bring a gift to my new neighbors?
VENT OR REPENT: An unflattering photo, A no-show plumber
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to chauffeurs, Thanks for the pecans

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 102

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Very Special 200th Episode Extravaganza

Episode 200

lundi 2 octobre 2023 • Duration 01:00:47

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this very special 200th episode extravaganza, Nick and Leah revisit their favorite moments from the past hundred episodes and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Ice Cream Sodas
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Boats
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How soon is too soon to ask someone if they're going to eat their pickle? There have been two LaCroix sodas sitting in the work fridge for more than a year…can I take them? What is the correct utensil for eating macaroni and cheese?
VENT OR REPENT: Ventriloquists, Using Doors, Blocking the airplane boarding process, Garnishes
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Special thanks

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

Click here for details

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 200

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keeping Hot Sauce for Guests, Decanting White Wines, Hanging Coats on Airplanes, and More

Episode 199

lundi 25 septembre 2023 • Duration 29:44

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about keeping hot sauce for guests, decanting white wines, hanging coats on airplanes, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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:

Do I have to keep hot sauces on hand for guests that I will not personally use?
If I see a colleague at a coffee shop, should I wait to walk back to the office with them?
Can you put Riesling in a wine decanter?
What should I do if a restaurant gave me someone else's doggie bag?
What should I do about airline passengers' coats?

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

Pierre Hermé in Paris

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

Click here for details

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 199

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Buttering Bread Properly, Going on First Dates, Ringing Bells for Service, and More

Episode 198

lundi 18 septembre 2023 • Duration 41:34

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle buttering bread properly, going on first dates, ringing bells for service, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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: Bread and Butter
A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: First Dates
QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How do I let friends and family back home know I'll be vacationing nearby but won't be making a specific trip home? Should you ring a bell for service if there's a sign directing you to?
VENT OR REPENT: Pumping water at the dog park, Eating at the theatre in London
CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks to a fan, Thanks for breakfast

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW

"Cabaret" in London
William Hanson's website, Instagram, and podcast

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...

CREDITS

Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton

Theme Music: Rob Paravonian

ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW

Click here for details

TRANSCRIPT

Episode 198

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replacing Lost Gloves, Arriving at Parties Too Early, Commandeering Other People’s Dates, and More

Episode 197

lundi 11 septembre 2023 • Duration 30:43

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about replacing lost gloves, arriving at parties too early, commandeering other people's dates, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten 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 do I do about my future mother-in-law who wants to crash my fiancé's bachelor party?
Who is responsible for replacing lost gloves?
What do I do about a relative who always arrives at parties too early?
Is it OK to charge friends for expensive whisky?
Bonkers: Waitress date takeover

THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW