This week?s episode is a big, warm, lore-heavy love letter to one of How I Met Your Mother?s most meaningful episodes. Josh and Craig talk about why ?First Time in New York? works so well: filling in backstories, sneaking past network standards with euphemisms, and still making real present-day moves like Robin finally saying ?I love you.? They dig into the Dirty Dancing sequence (yes, it cost a lot), Lucy Hale?s early guest spot, Barney?s secretly heartbreaking virginity story, Marshall and Lily?s lobby-vs-top-of-the-building debate, and Ted?s eternal romance with the Empire State Building. Along the way, they get reflective about how we edit our own memories, why stories matter, and how HIMYM has become a comfort show for people all over the world?ending with emotional listener letters, New York recommendations, and a reminder that people will, in fact, dance. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit Season 2, Episode 11, ?How Lily Stole Christmas,? the show?s first real Christmas episode?and one of its most emotionally honest. They talk about the fallout from Marshall and Lily?s breakup, especially Ted?s complicated position as best friend to both of them, and how the episode hinges on a single censored insult (the infamous ?Grinch?) caught on an answering machine?an extremely 2006 plot device. The conversation digs into what a best friend actually owes you after a breakup, why Ted?s anger at Lily is about more than just defending Marshall, and how that confrontation ends up being about friendship, hurt feelings, and chosen family. Along the way they shout out Barney?s sickness subplot, Christmas movie influences like A Christmas Story and Love Actually, and reflect on why this episode still hits hard for fans who return to it every holiday season as a comfort watch. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at ?https://officeladies.com/ ?or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod? Follow on ?TikTok? AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig welcome the brilliant Wayne Brady to revisit ?Single Stamina,? the Season 2 episode that introduced Barney?s gay, Black brother James. Together they unpack how Wayne came to the show, what it felt like to embody this new character, and how the episode balanced outrageous comedy with genuine heart. They discuss James as both brother and father figure to Barney, the themes of aging, vulnerability, and growth that define the show, and how the episode?s subtle pro?gay-marriage message felt quietly radical in 2006. Wayne shares memories of working with Neil Patrick Harris, his nerves walking onto set, and how he approaches comedy and fear as a performer. Josh and Craig reflect on the episode?s legacy, its GLAAD Media Award nomination, and how it captured HIMYM?s mix of humor, heart, and social progressiveness. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate New Years, we are flashing back to our Season 1 rewatch of ?The Limo.? Josh and Craig recall the episode?s ambition to be a ?simple shoot? that turned out to be one of the most technically challenging due to the cramped limo set, and share behind-the-scenes stories like Jason Segel?s triumphant foggy entrance, the difficulty of getting camera shots in the limo, and the running joke of ?the circuits are jammed.? They marvel at the Emmy-winning cinematography, the comic perfection of Bon Jovi?s ?You Give Love a Bad Name,? and how the episode balances magical realism with emotional honesty. Josh highlights the cinematic final shot and the episode?s theme?that life?s unexpected detours are all part of the journey. They praise guest stars like Kathleen Perkins (Mary Beth) and JP Manoux (Not Moby), reflect on their own formative pop culture experiences, and read fan letters, including one from a Canadian listener whose wedding was filled with HIMYM references. Jordana, Josh?s wife and a clinical psychologist, closes with an insightful commentary on the spiritual lesson embedded in Ted?s narration: not everything has a happy ending, but it?s all important. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit one of the most iconic episodes of How I Met Your Mother: Season 2, Episode 9, ?Slap Bet,? with special guest Cobie Smulders. The conversation dives deep into the origin and impact of Robin Sparkles, from the wild writers? room pitch to the massive, risky production of the full ?Let?s Go to the Mall? music video?shot on an extra day, with choreography, wigs, dancers, and a full pop song that went on to live far beyond the episode itself. Cobie shares candid memories of recording the song (green apples, whiskey, nerves, and all), learning the choreography, and how revealing this secret pop-star past fundamentally unlocked a lighter, sillier, more intimate side of Robin Scherbatsky. Josh and Craig reflect on how the episode introduced not just Robin Sparkles, but also the slap bet, the slap bet commissioner, and a storytelling confidence that helped define the series? future. The episode also features deeply moving listener letters, including one read by Cobie, underscoring how HIMYM has become a source of comfort, philosophy, nostalgia, and emotional connection for fans?proving that even the funniest episodes are ultimately about vulnerability, love, and letting yourself be truly known. Watch the full VIDEO of ?Let?s Go to the Mall? CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Josh and Craig revisit Season 2, Episode 8: ?Atlantic City,? written by Maria Ferrari, who started as a writer?s assistant before becoming a staff writer. They discuss the unusual challenge of writing a road-trip episode that takes the whole gang out of their usual sets and how that led to one of the longest rewrite nights of the early seasons. The conversation covers how the story?s emotional center?Lily trying to escape judgment by eloping with Marshall only to realize she can?t run from family?finally clicked during late-night rewrites, and how the episode became a metaphor about facing what you?re avoiding. Josh recalls on-set memories, like Ted?s Twizzler moment and Robin?s bikini-shirt gag, while Craig explains the origins of Barney?s fake Chinese gambling game (?Deal or No Deal,? a jab at the rival show). They also talk about guest star Kate Micucci, who sends in a warm voice memo about her brief role, and close with reflections on Cheers, improv, extras? pay, the pressure of 22-episode seasons, and the meaning of the final song ?Sink to the Bottom with You? by Fountains of Wayne?an anthem for commitment, even when it means sinking together. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh recently sat down with his friend Jesse Tyler Ferguson for an episode of Jesse's podcast "Dinner's On Me." Both Josh and Jesse were on hit sitcoms during a very particular moment in TV's metamorphosis, and they've both had on-going, evolving relationships with the characters they played on those shows. Here's a preview of their conversation... To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig are joined by writer Greg Malins, who co-ran Friends before joining How I Met Your Mother for Season 2. They revisit the episode ?Swarley? (aired December 8 2006), talking about how Greg helped shape the show?s tone, the accidental (or maybe subconscious) Friends dig in the coffee-shop cold open, and how the ?Swarley? name was coined by Rob Greenberg. Greg reveals a never-before-revealed admission about a joke he? borrowed from Friends for this episode. The group discusses Marshall and Lily?s reunion scene, Robin Sparkles? early origins, the importance of showing Barney lose for once, and how the cast?s joy made the ?Swarley? storyline unforgettable. They end by answering a listener question from @SwarleyMemes about why the show?s humor still resonates today?deciding it?s because HIMYM?s jokes, like ?Swarley? itself, come from love and timeless wordplay. Watch the original Friends clip HERE (around 2 minutes and 45 seconds in). CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season two, episode six of How We Made Your Mother features a special guest: the legendary Bryan Cranston, who joins Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas to revisit his first appearance as Hammond Druthers in ?Aldrin Justice.? Cranston reflects on taking the role right after Malcolm in the Middle ended, how he almost didn?t get Breaking Bad if Fox had ordered another Malcolm season, and how one X-Files episode led Vince Gilligan to cast him as Walter White. The three dive into acting lessons, career timing, and luck?plus Cranston?s thoughts on confidence, craft, and why good writing is the only thing worth chasing. They talk about the hidden humanity behind Druthers? egotism, the joy of unhinged characters, and Jane Seymour?s hilarious turn as the original ?cougar.? Josh and Craig share behind-the-scenes stories about the episode?s writing, Lily?s ?karma police? subplot, and early uses of the word ?cougar,? while reflecting on jokes that don?t hold up and the importance of owning creative missteps. The conversation closes with thoughtful discussions about teaching, artistry, and the strange, lucky chain of moments that connect How I Met Your Mother to Breaking Bad. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we are flashing back to our Season 1 rewatch of ?Belly Full of Turkey.? Josh and Craig reflect on Lily?s hilarious but heartfelt journey into Marshall?s giant Minnesota family, while Ted, Robin, and Barney navigate their own offbeat holiday at a food shelter (and later, a strip club). They discuss Alyson Hannigan?s standout performance, the visual comedy of a Brooklyn girl in a land of giants, and the deeper emotional themes of family, identity, and partnership. With behind-the-scenes stories, a moving listener letter from Australia, and insights from Jordana about in-laws and marriage, this episode blends big laughs with big feelings?just like the show always did. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season two, episode five of How We Made Your Mother dives into ?World?s Greatest Couple,? where Lily moves in with Barney, and Marshall finds unexpected companionship with Brad?played by guest star Joe Manganiello, who joins Josh and Craig for the episode. The hosts break down how this fan-favorite storyline came together: Lily?s disastrous apartment, the debut of Barney?s Fortress of Barnitude, and the surprisingly sweet ?odd couple? chemistry between Lily and Barney. They also reveal behind-the-scenes details about Joe?s casting, his Carnegie Mellon roots, and how his vulnerable, hilarious energy made Brad a standout character. Josh and Craig discuss the episode?s mystery structure, the craftsmanship behind the Murphy bed gag, and Barney?s hidden loneliness beneath all the bravado. Joe shares stories about his early days in Hollywood, his ?bros at brunch? fame, and what could?ve been if Brad had become a series regular. The episode closes with heartfelt listener letters from Emma in Canada and Brenda in New Jersey, reflecting on breakups, creative growth, and how HIMYM helps fans rediscover hope and strength through changing chapters of life. Check out cartoonist and comedian Asher Perlman on INSTAGRAM. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas welcome Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey of Office Ladies for an ?extra-extra-special? crossover episode that celebrates the shared DNA between The Office and How I Met Your Mother. The four trade stories about auditioning, early career struggles, and the naïve confidence it took to chase a dream to Los Angeles. Jenna and Angela recall the pressure of remaking the British Office and the moment they knew Diversity Day proved their show?s originality; Josh and Craig compare that to creating HIMYM in the shadow of Friends. They discuss manifesting success, the comfort of ensemble storytelling, nostalgia for network-era TV, and what it means to have made ?comfort shows? that helped fans through hard times. The episode closes with a listener letter from Chile about how HIMYM quite literally changed one fan?s life?and a toast to everyone who?s ever found solace, laughter, and a sense of home in these two beloved worlds. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit Season 2, Episode 4, ?Ted Mosby: Architect,? which aired October 9, 2006. They reflect on the show?s use of music?like the Decemberists? ?Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect??and how songs became part of Ted?s emotional language. They discuss the episode?s mystery structure, Robin and Ted?s first fight, and the episode?s emotional ending, where Ted shares his architectural dream with Robin. The two dive deep into the craft of storytelling, the symbolism of architecture, and the ?HIMYM? balance between comedy and emotional truth. They also talk about Field of Dreams, music supervision, and fan letters that show how the series became a source of comfort and inspiration for viewers. General Questions we Sort of Answer: How did Spokane get chosen for the skyscraper site? Was the Decemberists? song chosen just because it had ?architect? in the title, or for its lyrics? Where do Carter and Craig?s real lives end and the fictional HIMYM characters begin? You can check out Evryman retreats HERE. If you don?t know the amazing work of the great Al Hirschfeld, take a LOOK. Listen to Ezra Klein?s interview with Brian Eno on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY. And yes? you can check out Josh?s Tedscapes on Spotify. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season two, episode three of How We Made Your Mother takes on ?Brunch,? the HIMYM episode that juggles family chaos, secrets, and spicy breakfast rolls. Josh and Craig reminisce about casting Michael Gross?yes, the dad from Family Ties?as Ted?s father, and how surreal that was for Josh, who grew up watching him on TV in Columbus, Ohio. They unpack the episode?s Pulp Fiction-style structure, Ted?s awkward family brunch with his divorced parents, Robin, and Barney, and the hilarious side plots of Marshall and Lily?s lingering chemistry (and calves). The hosts also dive into themes of communication, generational love languages, and repeating family patterns, praising Steven Lloyd?s dark humor and Christine Rose?s comedic subtlety. Barney?s needy attempts to outshine Robin, Ted?s questionable shirt choices, and the debut of the ?83%? statistic all get airtime, before a touching fan letter from Mexico reflects how HIMYM continues to offer hope and comfort to viewers around the world. Check out Friend of the Devil by Stephen Lloyd Read Oldster on Substack CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season two, episode two of How We Made Your Mother opens with a message from Brazil, and a story about growing up with HIMYM that sets the tone for a conversation about comfort, change, and creative courage. Josh and Craig discuss ?The Scorpion and the Toad,? where Marshall tries to reenter the dating world with Barney as his wingman?only to be repeatedly sabotaged by him. They unpack the Aesop fable behind the title, Barney?s compulsive nature, and how this episode explores addiction, friendship, and moral boundaries beneath the comedy. The hosts share behind-the-scenes moments about Lily?s emotional return, Neil Patrick Harris?s magic tricks, and the infamous ?smelly water? line, while praising Chris Harris?s clever wordplay and Alyson Hannigan?s acting. They touch on gender norms, Ted?s ?lucky penny? bit, and Robin and Ted?s early relationship bliss before closing with Craig?s announcement of his debut novel That?s Not How It Happened and a heartfelt fan letter about how Lily?s bravery inspires creative risk-taking. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season two of How We Made Your Mother kicks off with a big announcement: the show has officially joined the Office Ladies Network, thanks to a friendship between Josh Radnor and Jenna Fischer. Josh and Craig reminisce about filming ?Where Were We,? the How I Met Your Mother season two premiere, breaking down the challenge of picking up right after Ted and Robin?s rain-soaked kiss and Marshall?s heartbreak. They dig into the emotional realism of post-breakup depression, the iconic ?When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead? line, and behind-the-scenes stories about George Clinton?s cameo, Robin?s gun joke, and Neil Patrick Harris?s precision physical comedy. The episode also covers the show?s evolution, season-two adjustments (including the brighter red couch), and fan questions about serialization, background actors, and hiatus memories, before closing with a touching letter from a 15-year-old fan in Germany about how HIMYM brings her hope. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod. Follow on TikTok AND MORE: Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back! How We Made Your Mother returns for another season of rewatching the hit TV series How I Made Your Mother! Josh Radnor and series co-creator Craig Thomas will discuss all 22 episodes of Season 2, including classic episodes like ?Ted Mosby: Architect,? ?Swarley,? ?Slap Bet,? and ?Something Blue.? You like guests? We?ve got guests, including Joe Manganiello and that man who finally proved to the world that he had dramatic acting chops, through his iconic portrayal of Hammond Druthers, Mr. Bryan Cranston.  We love hearing from the fans, so please go to www.HowWeMadeYourMother.com and click on the CONTACT tab to send us a voice message or an email and tell us what How I Met Your Mother means to you. We play and read these messages on nearly every episode, and it?s absolutely one of our favorite parts of the show. And please take a look at How You Make a Difference, our ongoing campaign supporting pediatric congenital heart disease research. Donate and learn more by clicking the MAKE A DIFFERENCE tab at the top of our website. Remember to follow us on Instagram and TikTok @howwemadeyourmother CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH?S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK! Subscribe HERE. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT?S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today. AND MORE: Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome again to another bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother! It?s our final bonus episode before we launch Season 2 towards the end of October.  In this upcoming season we?ve already got a bunch of special guests lined up and a VERY special announcement about our podcast which we?re just not quite allowed to announce right now. So stay tuned. This week we bring you an interview that Alek did on the new podcast The Craft of Being, hosted by Anna Schumacher.  The Craft of Being is a podcast via a series on conversations where we dig into what the heck even is CREATIVITY? Undefined, yet definitive. Each week we will talk to a different human about their experience of their own creativity, and how it shows up ?both planned and unexpectedly? across art, work, life, and the pursuit of? well, everything. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the show @thecraftofbeing on Instagram, or email the show at [email protected]. Music by Colin O?brien-Lux: https://bandcamp.com/cobrienlux To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello Major Fans of How We Made Your Mother, and welcome to another bonus episode. We are hard at work on Season Two (which will launch soon), and we want to use this space to share some appearances of the team on other great podcasts. This week, we bring you Craig Thomas?s appearance on Hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is a show that zeroes in on what fascinates us about ADHD, mental health, and learning. From hacking your dopamine to busting TikTok myths, it blends personal stories, sharp questions, and expert insight. The show is produced by Understood.org, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with learning and thinking differences thrive. You can check out Hyperfocus anywhere you get your podcasts.Listen here: lnk.to/hyperfocus Original Show Notes: Craig Thomas is best known for his work on TV. He co-created the sitcom How I Met Your Motherand has written for American Dad and more. He?s penned songs for Sesame Street and essays for The New Yorker. He?s less known for being a dad. For now, at least. He has a daughter, Celia, and a son, Elliot, who was born with Jacobsen syndrome, a genetic condition causing physical and developmental disabilities.  When Elliot was born, Craig?s career was taking off with How I Met Your Mother. ?I was living an hour drama show at home and then driving to work and doing a sitcom,? Craig says. His upcoming novel, That?s Not How It Happened, is based in part on his family?s experience. If you heard our series on the resurgence of the R-word, you?ll recognize Craig?s voice. The conversation with him was so good that we?re sharing more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello Major Fans of How We Made Your Mother and welcome to another bonus episode! We are hard at work on Season Two (which will launch soon), and we want to use this space to share some appearances of the team on other great podcasts. This week, we bring you Josh Radnor?s appearance on Life in Seven Songs. What songs tell your life story? On Life in Seven Songs, we ask this question of some of the world?s most fascinating people. Through seven songs, guests reveal the milestones?and the music?that have shaped their lives. This week, we Willkommen actor and musician Josh Radnor! Josh is best known for playing Ted Mosby on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother for nearly a decade. But that success came at an unexpected cost: an identity crisis that left him feeling trapped in a character he didn?t create. In this episode, Josh talks about his formative role as the MC in his high school?s production of Cabaret, his first ?almost kiss? (soundtracked by Aretha Franklin), how psychedelics helped him stay centered amidst the whirlwind of fame, and the chance encounter that launched his second career as a musician in his 40s. Here are his songs. Rocky Mountain High ? John Denver Respect ? Aretha Franklin Willkommen ? Cabaret (Joel Grey, original cast recording)  ?Cabaret? All I Want ? Joni Mitchell Delicate ? Damien Rice  Tara ? Dechen Shak-Dagsay Cmon ? Fred Again/Brian Eno To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig close out season one revisiting ?Come On,? celebrating the show?s early confidence, playful narrator tricks, and willingness to dip into magical realism?culminating in Ted?s euphoric rain dance to keep Robin from camping with Sandy Rivers as Marshall and Lily?s relationship hits a seismic crisis over her San Francisco art fellowship. They talk about cramming emotion into 22 minutes, the power of the Block Party needle?drop ?This Modern Love,? and why grand gestures (roses!) often fail while messy, heartfelt acts can work. There are shoutouts to Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, script supervisor Janet Kagan, and the crew; a candid story about CBS urging them to be ?less serialized? after season-one ratings wobbles (which they ignored and doubled down on in season two); Jordana?s tender reflection on watching Josh-as-Ted; and a fan?letter medley about how HIMYM taught English, offered comfort, and now truly ?belongs to the fans.? They tease a cool opportunity making season two ?bigger and better,? thank listeners for riding along, and promise they won?t be gone long. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYMRaycon: Go to buyraycon.com/YOURMOTHER to get 15% off Raycon's best-selling Everyday Earbuds! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to your How We Made Your Mother feed. Today, we are presenting an appearance by our own Craig Thomas on a podcast called Arts Educators Save the World, where successful artist sit in conversation with their mentors to talk about the importance of art, arts education, and mentorship. I produced this podcast with my lifelong friend, Erica. Last week we brought your our episode with Josh Randor and his teacher from NYU. This week, we?ve got Craig and Rob Greenberg, an experienced writer and show runner who helped Craig and Carter in the early years of HIMYM, and beyond. If you enjoy these episodes, please check out Arts Educators Save World, where guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Annaleigh Ashford, Cecily Strong, Bradley Whitford, Jonathan Groff, Billy Eichner, and many, many others. Enjoy! You can find more Arts Educators Save the World episodes HERE on Apple Podcasts. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease researchAND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig break down S1E21 ?Milk,? debating the title (they pitch better ones like ?Mistakes? and ?Fight or Flight?) and zeroing in on Lily?s panic about growing up: she secretly takes Marshall?s Fiero toward a San Francisco art opportunity, calls Ted from the roadside, and he chooses loyalty?ditching a matchmaker-arranged ?perfect? date?to help his best friend, a Ted?Lily dynamic the guys really love. Meanwhile, Marshall sinks deeper into Barney?s corporate prank culture, and the matchmaker thread rekindles Ted?s feelings for Robin, capped by her late?night rescue (and infamous bad highlights) that nudges Ted toward ?I don?t want perfect; I want Robin.? They shout out Wendy the Waitress?s naming, crew cameos?including Carter & Craig as paramedics?and even the show?s long-game goat tease, plus production nuggets about staging the Fiero drive on a neighboring stage. The episode?s heartbeat is Lily?s ?you only know it?s a mistake by making it? ethos, echoed by moving listener letters from Melbourne and Taiwan that tie the show?s themes to real life. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Vessi: Meet your new favorite daily sneaker?Vessi is waterproof, ultra-comfy, and fits every part of your routine. Visit https://vessi.com/yourmother and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we are presenting an appearance by our own Josh Radnor on a podcast called Arts Educators Save the World, where successful artists sit in conversation with their mentors to talk about the importance of art, arts education, and mentorship. Alek produced this podcast with his lifelong friend, Erica, and this is a fantastic episode with Josh and one of his teachers from NYU, Deborah Lapidus.  And next week, we?ve got another episode of Arts Educators Save the World, this time with one Craig Thomas, in conversation with Rob Greenberg, who worked with Craig and Carter on How I Met Your Mother as ? to quote Craig ? the adult in the room.  If you enjoy these episodes, please check out Arts Educators Save the World, where guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Annaleigh Ashford, Cecily Strong, Bradley Whitford, Jonathan Groff, Billy Eichner, and many, many others. Enjoy! You can find more Arts Educators Save the World episodes HERE on Apple Podcasts. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease researchAND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on SpotifyCraig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit ?Best Prom Ever,? which features Alek?s memorable (well, to him) cameo as Todd. They reflect on the episode?s big themes?Lily?s growing doubts, the anxiety of adult commitment, and the bittersweet grief that comes with making life choices. The conversation also includes a heartfelt listener message from Jesse, a longtime trans fan of the show, which prompts a thoughtful, honest discussion about how comedy evolves, the importance of inclusive language, and owning past mistakes. The team also unpacks behind-the-scenes stories from filming the prom sequence, shares how Scooter (David Burtka) was introduced, and celebrates the first appearance of the show?s unofficial house band, The 88. Read Craig?s piece ?Hollywood and the R-Word? here in the Boston Globe. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM MeUndies: Support the show by going to meundies.com/yourmother and using my code YOURMOTHER to get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this General Questions episode following Mary the Paralegal, Josh, Craig, and Alek explore fan-submitted questions ranging from the origins of catchphrases like ?Lawyered? and the logic behind character names, to deeper themes like miscommunication and the emotional cost of avoiding vulnerability. They reflect on moments from the show that became iconic (telepathic conversations, Barney?s antics, mustache-on-TV gags), and share behind-the-scenes details like how Buzz Aldrin inspired Lily?s last name. They also dive into how assumptions, pretending, and silence shaped the story of Mary the Paralegal, and how telepathy became a comedic counterpoint to all the unspoken truths. Questions Alek asks in this episode: Who came up with ?Lawyered?? Was Marshall based on your friend Noah? How did you decide on the characters? last names? What was the original idea behind ?Aldrin?? What was the inspiration for the ?telepathic conversation? bit? Was the ?MadTV? VHS tape on purpose? How much damage do we do when we make assumptions instead of asking the hard questions? And why is pretending always easier than being vulnerable? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode features the long-awaited guest appearance of director Pam Fryman, who helmed nearly every episode of How I Met Your Mother. Josh and Craig share stories of how Pam shaped the show?s tone, protected its emotional core, and created a supportive, joyful set culture that lasted nine seasons. They also look back at the episode ?Mary the Paralegal,? reliving Sandy Rivers? debut, Ted?s misguided date, and the first-ever ?lawyered? and telepathy jokes. The group reflects on the challenges of shooting without a live audience, the benefits of breaking sitcom norms, and one outdated line they wouldn?t include today. The show opens and closes with moving fan letters that highlight just how deeply HIMYM continues to connect. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother Vessi: Meet your new favorite daily sneaker?Vessi is waterproof, ultra-comfy, and fits every part of your routine. Visit https://vessi.com/yourmother and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this General Questions episode following Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M., the hosts dive into the fan reactions and deeper themes behind Ted and Robin?s decisions, exploring moral ambiguity, emotional neediness, and the push-pull dynamics of late-night choices. They reflect on the enduring relevance of these situations?romantic longing, blurred boundaries, and personal regrets?and how the show?s framing device allows for layered interpretation of behavior that?s questionable but deeply human. Production details come up too, including why they didn?t shoot a costly Ashley Williams cutaway and what wedding episodes really cost. They also reflect on the end of season one, revealing how uncertain and scrappy things still felt, even after renewal. Fan Questions We Attempt to Come Close to Answering: How were the questions this week for ?Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.?? Is Robin to blame, and was it written that way or left open to interpretation? Was there pushback about showing Ted in such a morally gray light? Do you feel the show?s narrator softens the blow of Ted?s behavior? What was the inspiration behind Victoria? How much did that wedding episode really cost? Were you excited or nervous approaching the end of season one? Is Buttercup a real bakery in New York? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig dive into the season one favorite ?Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.? and talk about ghost stories, juice excuses, and bad decisions made in the middle of the night. They break down why this episode feels more like a play than a sitcom, how Ted gets pulled in every direction (and lies to everyone), and why the moral center of the show still holds up. They celebrate Alexis Denisof?s perfect intro as Sandy Rivers, shout out the music choices, and read two moving fan letters about how the show helped people through hard times. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM Raycon: Go to buyraycon.com/YOURMOTHER to get 15% off Raycon's best-selling Everyday Earbuds! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig dive into Season 1, Episode 17, ?Life Among the Gorillas,? where Marshall starts to lose himself in a toxic corporate job, raising big questions about identity, money, and what it means to be a man. They talk about peer pressure in your 20s, the real cost of selling out, and how the show handled financial stress in a way most sitcoms didn?t. They also touch on the long-distance struggles of Ted and Victoria, the genius of the episode?s cliffhanger, and share stories about early mentors who helped them believe in their creative paths. Plus, a surprise and sweet letter from production designer Steve Olson. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was Victoria going to be the mother if the show was canceled early? Find out! In this General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive deeper into episode 16, ?Cupcake,? prompted by listener questions. They discuss how rare and satisfying it was to see Victoria choose her career over love, a choice echoed in Robin?s character arc as well. The team explores the value of fan theories?whether or not the creators intended certain meanings?and the power of unconscious storytelling, comparing it to dream logic, color theory, and even Hemingway?s deflection of symbolism. They reflect on the permanence of small writing decisions, the difficulty of letting go of a character like Victoria, and the seduction of career compromises in your late 20s, as embodied by Marshall and Barney?s plotline. They also dig into how ?Cupcake? encapsulates the series? core themes: timing, ambition, love, and missed chances. Questions from Fans: What do you think your role is now that you can respond to years of fan theories? Is there value in correcting or affirming fan fiction and rumors? Was Victoria ever planned to be the Mother if the show was canceled after Season 1? Was it hard to let Victoria go as a character? How long did it take before you realized Marshall and Barney working together was fun? Can you describe the moment when you know a story decision is the right one? Is ?Cupcake? the emotional core of the series? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit ?Cupcake? (Season 1, Episode 16), reflecting on the pivotal crossroads for Ted and Victoria as she prepares to leave for Germany. They praise Ashley Williams?s performance and discuss the episode?s unique structure?showing the same day from both characters? perspectives. The conversation dives into how HIMYM grapples with adult issues like money, long-distance relationships, and self-identity in your 20s, highlighting the show?s emotional honesty beneath its humor. They explore Barney?s manipulative but needy attempts to recruit Marshall to the ?dark side,? Lily?s cake-sitting disaster, and the subtle foreshadowing of relationship trouble through visual metaphors like ill-fitting suits and wedding dresses. A recurring theme is the tension between ?I? and ?we? in young relationships, with insight from a clinical psychologist (and Josh?s wife) about emotional development and timing. They end with a heartfelt listener letter about how HIMYM led one fan to the love of his life?and the perfect yellow umbrella. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mint Mobile - If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother HelloFresh - Go to ?HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM? now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this General Questions episode, the team brings back Chris Harris (writer of the HIMYM episode ?Game Night?) to answer fan questions and explore deeper elements of storytelling from the early seasons. They discuss how HIMYM balanced large, event-style episodes with character development, whether Chris was intentionally given ?scope? episodes like ?Subway Wars,? and how character traits (like Marshall?s love of games) were assigned in the show?s early, more flexible days. They touch on the importance of continuity in a serialized sitcom, the organic nature of callbacks, and the evolving creative relationships between writers, actors, and the broader crew. They also reminisce about fan theories, including a popular one about who left Robin the welcome mat, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics that shaped HIMYM?s signature tone and complexity. Questions From Fans: Can you talk about putting together the scope versus the character? How did you decide how many episodes you and Carter would write and how many you would give away? Were you planning ahead for continuity details, like Barney mentioning the Peace Corps before his backstory was revealed? What was the inspiration for Marshall?s love of making board games? Was that knowingly a character trait you were building? In the writers? room, how did continuity work? Was it a hive mind, or did someone ?own? the show?s memory? Who gave Robin the welcome mat?Ted or Barney? (posed via fan questions) GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig are joined by writer Chris Harris to reflect on the making of Season 1, Episode 15: ?Game Night.? The trio breaks down the episode?s structure, the origin of Barney?s backstory, and how the writers constructed a compelling present-day story to balance the flashbacks. They talk about the decision to reveal Barney?s past as a heartbroken hippie and the challenges of maintaining both comedic pacing and emotional depth. Chris shares memories from the writers? room, including how ?Marshgammon? came to life, legal hurdles around parodying Monopoly, and Neil Patrick Harris?s incredible physical comedy (even while sick). They also discuss HIMYM?s early use of narrative flexibility?flashbacks, unreliable memory, evolving tone?which laid the groundwork for later storytelling innovations. A fan letter from the Faroe Islands brings the conversation full circle, reminding them how the show continues to offer comfort and connection to viewers around the world. GET YOUR MERCH!We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCEDonate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE:Josh?s ?Museletters? on SubstackJosh?s Official WebsiteJosh on SpotifyCraig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing)Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother MeUndies: Support the show by going to meundies.com/yourmother and using my code YOURMOTHER to get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part 2 of their conversation with Ashley Williams, the How We Made Your Mother team explores the legacy of the episode ?Zip, Zip, Zip? while also reflecting on its tonal whiplash following the romantic ?Drumroll, Please.? Ashley, Josh, and Craig discuss the writers? room debate about couples? bathroom practices, what it?s like to shift from lead storyline to comic side note, and how multi-cam shows use genre to balance intimacy and laughs. Ashley shares touching and hilarious stories about her relationship with her husband Neil?including Snickers-fueled declarations of love. The group also breaks down favorite ?Zip, Zip, Zip? moments (like Robin and Barney?s first spark and the sad return of ?What?s taking so long?? girl), and consider the challenges of protecting characters? emotional dignity across episodes. The show ends with a love letter from a fan named Emily, who may have met her Ted at the Bowery Ballroom fundraiser. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt and often hilarious episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas welcome Ashley Williams?beloved for her role as Victoria?for an in-depth conversation that?s as much about How I Met Your Mother as it is about surviving (and thriving) in the world of multi-cam sitcoms. They reflect on the intimacy and cinematic tone of ?Drumroll, Please,? the silliness of ?Zip, Zip, Zip,? and the powerful creative safety net provided by director Pam Fryman. Ashley opens up about her early industry struggles, hard lips during on-screen kisses, and the healing experience of joining the HIMYM cast. The trio explore actor insecurities, audition stories, set dynamics, and why the show?s environment was unlike anything else on TV. Bonus: a surprise appearance by Ashley?s tap-dancing husband Neil, a conversation about kissing technique, and some deep theater-kid camaraderie. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM Raycon: Go to buyraycon.com/YOURMOTHER to get 15% off Raycon's best-selling Everyday Earbuds! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HWMYM is just taking one week off, but we are thrilled to be able to bring you an appearance that Josh made on an incredibly fun podcast called The Puzzler, where the host, A.J. Jacobs, tested his puzzle skills with a bunch of original word games. As you might know, Josh a big crossword fan, and it sounds like he had a great time. We thought you might enjoy it, too. What you?ll hear are three short episodes they recorded, one after the other. So take a listen, and be sure to subscribe to The Puzzler wherever you get your podcasts. On Apple Podcasts On Spotify To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit the deeply romantic Season 1 quasi-two-parter culminating in ?Drumroll, Please,? where Ted meets Victoria at a wedding and chooses connection over logistics. They unpack how the structure mirrors ?The Pineapple Incident,? praise the chemistry between Josh and Ashley Williams, and reflect on how the episode balances whimsical rom-com structure with emotional realism. They explore Ted?s romantic resilience, Robin?s surprise vulnerability, and the subtle heartbreak and sweetness of not kissing. The hosts also discuss rom-com mythmaking, garment metaphors, and HIMYM?s layered mysteries, while listener messages highlight the show?s global emotional impact?including as a way to learn English. A SPECIAL GUEST makes a surprise cameo with a cheeky question, and Craig reveals that Victoria?s ?thank God? moment remains one of his favorite endings. To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall BY KIM ADDONIZIO If you ever woke in your dress at 4am ever closed your legs to someone you loved opened them for someone you didn?t moved against a pillow in the dark stood miserably on a beach seaweed clinging to your ankles paid good money for a bad haircut backed away from a mirror that wanted to kill you bled into the back seat for lack of a tampon if you swam across a river under rain sang using a dildo for a microphone stayed up to watch the moon eat the sun entire ripped out the stitches in your heart because why not if you think nothing & no one can / listen I love you joy is coming GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on SpotifyCraig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM Vessi: Meet your new favorite daily sneaker?Vessi is waterproof, ultra-comfy, and fits every part of your routine. Visit https://vessi.com/yourmother and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout! Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with Car Gurus at ?cargurus.com  Headspace: For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days at headspace.com/YOURMOTHER. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus ?General Questions? episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek reflect on the Season 1 episode ?The Wedding,? especially the lasting impact of Ashley Williams as Victoria, even with just seconds of screen time. They explore why her character resonated so deeply, whether she was ever considered to be the mother if the show had ended early, and how the timing of her reveal was crafted to feel mythic and cinematic. They talk about writing under the pressure of a midseason pickup, the significance of Victoria?s entrance, and the show?s deeper themes of trust, surrender, and the idea that life unfolds with unseen magic. The episode also touches on fan interest in ?Who?s the mother?? and how the show was structured around anticipation, not instant gratification. Questions asked during the episode: Did Craig and Carter always plan to bring Victoria back, or was it due to audience love? How did the writers gauge audience reaction in a pre-social media world? Were you ready for Victoria to be the mother if the show was canceled after 13 episodes? Did Josh do a chemistry read with Ashley Williams? What if the real love story is trusting the right person will find you, even if that means standing alone at a wedding? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit ?The Wedding,? Season 1, Episode 12 of How I Met Your Mother, focusing on how Ted?s belief in love and planning clashes with reality, nearly derailing someone else?s wedding. They explore themes of memory, self-sabotage, and how the show captures both heartbreak and hope. The conversation covers Ted?s romantic logic, the reveal that he didn?t actually check ?plus one,? and how this episode sets up the next with the introduction of Victoria. They also highlight Sue Fetterman?s editing, the odd sudden closeness of Stuart and Claudia, and how weddings stir up emotions and expectations. The episode ends with a listener letter about watching HIMYM during labor and a thoughtful question about what parts of love should be easy and what kinds of difficulty are normal. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother HelloFresh: Go to ?HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM? now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life MeUndies: Slide into game changing comfort with MeUndies. Support the show by going to MeUndies.com/YOURMOTHER and using my code YOURMOTHER to get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus ?General Questions? episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek reflect on gender dynamics in How I Met Your Mother, prompted by a listener who studied ?The Limo? episode in an English class on 2000s sitcoms. They explore the show?s gender role reversals, Barney?s objectification of women (and how it was meant to be satirical), and the tension between authorial intent and fan interpretation. They also dive into the legacy and construction of Barney?s iconic Get Psyched mix (including whether a prop list or fan reconstructions are accurate), share their own personal ?get psyched? songs and albums (with love for The Joshua Tree and Born in the USA), and talk about how Ted?s idealized New Year?s Eve reflects his need for control?and the broader theme of learning to dance with the universe. Along the way, they reminisce about Wesleyan, Ricky Gervais, Springsteen, and Sam Malone, wrapping with shout-outs to eagle-eyed HIMYM fans and an impromptu Airbnb ad. Fan Questions Asked: What class were you studying ?The Limo? in, and why that episode? Did you and Carter write the full Get Psyched mix, or was it the props team? What songs are on your personal Get Psyched mix? Was ?The Limo? episode satirizing New Year?s Eve pressure, or about Ted?s need for control? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease researchAND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig reflect on How I Met Your Mother?s Season 1 episode ?The Limo,? a fan-favorite New Year?s Eve story that they and many fans?including Andrea from Mexico?consider emblematic of the show?s emotional core. They recall the episode?s ambition to be a ?simple shoot? that turned out to be one of the most technically challenging due to the cramped limo set, and share behind-the-scenes stories like Jason Segel?s triumphant foggy entrance, the difficulty of getting camera shots in the limo, and the running joke of ?the circuits are jammed.? They marvel at the Emmy-winning cinematography, the comic perfection of Bon Jovi?s ?You Give Love a Bad Name,? and how the episode balances magical realism with emotional honesty. Josh highlights the cinematic final shot and the episode?s theme?that life?s unexpected detours are all part of the journey. They praise guest stars like Kathleen Perkins (Mary Beth) and JP Manoux (Not Moby), reflect on their own formative pop culture experiences, and read fan letters, including one from a Canadian listener whose wedding was filled with HIMYM references. Jordana, Josh?s wife and a clinical psychologist, closes with an insightful commentary on the spiritual lesson embedded in Ted?s narration: not everything has a happy ending, but it?s all important. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. J OSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus ?General Questions? episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas, and Alek Lev dive into fan-submitted questions about ?The Pineapple Incident,? covering everything from the origin of the pineapple (a mysterious ?alien fruit?) to the challenges of shooting nonlinear narratives. They reminisce about the kind, collaborative atmosphere on set, the influences behind HIMYM?s story structure (like Rashomon and Memento), and how props like the yellow umbrella and blue French horn have become iconic fan symbols. The episode also includes some vacation banter, and a heartfelt discussion about gratitude, presence, and the legacy of the show. Questions We Attempt to Answer: Why a pineapple? Has the pineapple changed your lives forever? Were you inspired by any fictional work or did it come from any real life event? Can you walk us through the order of the shooting? How do you plan shooting so many scenes that need to come together to form a timeline that makes sense? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on SpotifyCraig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Craig are joined by series co-creator Carter Bays to revisit ?The Pineapple Incident,? one of How I Met Your Mother?s most beloved early episodes. They share how the idea?originally called ?Drunken Fiasco??was one of the first ever pitched for the show, long before the writers? room formed. The trio reflect on the power of mystery in storytelling, how the episode helped define the show?s voice, and why they ultimately prefer the pineapple to remain unexplained. Carter does reveal, however, the real-life inspiration for the ?vomit-free since ?93? line. With detours into fan tattoos, early network notes, and the joy of letting go creatively, the episode ends with a moving letter from a listener in Australia whose connection to the show helped her navigate grief and believe in love. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at ?cargurus.com  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig return to episode 9, ?Belly Full of Turkey,? to answer listener questions, share new behind-the-scenes stories, and read exclusive commentary from writer Chris Miller. They dive into the magic of set construction, the evolution of Marshall?s Minnesota roots, last-minute casting shake-ups (including how Bill Fagerbakke became Marshall?s dad), and the contributions of the beloved stand-ins. Josh also shares heartfelt stories from his recent music tour, including fans flying in from across the world. It?s a fast-moving, funny, and emotional look at the people who helped shape one of the show?s most memorable episodes. How many sets were in this episode, and how were they managed? What inspired Marshall?s love of Minnesota and the Vikings? Did Jason Segel enjoy the Minnesota scenes? What was it like working with Bill Fagerbakke as Marshall?s dad? Was another actor originally cast in that role? Who were the stand-ins, and what did they contribute to the show? Have any of you ever been arrested for public urination? What was in the Thanks-tini? Was the seven-layer salad based on a real recipe? How did you cast such tall actors for Marshall?s family? What?s the story behind the acoustic ?Mr. Roboto? cover that didn?t make it in? Can you talk about the music selection and supervision process on HIMYM? GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode, Josh and Craig revisit ?Belly Full of Turkey? and reflect on Lily?s hilarious but heartfelt journey into Marshall?s giant Minnesota family, while Ted, Robin, and Barney navigate their own offbeat holiday at a food shelter (and later, a strip club). They discuss Allison Hannigan?s standout performance, the visual comedy of a Brooklyn girl in a land of giants, and the deeper emotional themes of family, identity, and partnership. With behind-the-scenes stories, a moving listener letter from Australia, and insights from Jordana about in-laws and marriage, this episode blends big laughs with big feelings?just like the show always did. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official WebsiteJosh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig sit down with Cobie Smulders to talk all things Robin Scherbatsky?from her early auditions and the moment Robin became Canadian to how the character evolved over nine seasons. Cobie shares what it?s like to play one of TV?s most iconic roles and how the writers wove her real-life quirks into Robin?s journey. The trio laughs through stories of whispered pre-scene obscenities, Jason Segel?s hammer pants, and the behind-the-scenes friendships that made the show feel more like a band than a sitcom. We also announce the launch of the official How We Made Your Mother merch, starting with college-style and logo designs available on T-shirts and hoodies. Ten percent of profits support their congenital heart disease research fundraiser. Visit www.howwemadeyourmother.com/store or howyougetyourmerch.com. We are also thrilled to announce Craig?s debut novel, That?s Not How It Happened, coming November 4. The audiobook features Josh and Cobie as co-narrators. Inspired by Craig?s experience raising a child with a rare genetic syndrome, the story is a heartfelt, funny look at family, storytelling, and inclusion. Pre-order info and donation links are available at howwemadeyourmother.com. GET YOUR MERCH! We?ve got HWMYM merch, which is now just a FEW CLICKS AWAY. CRAIG?S BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Head over to CRAIG?S WEBSITE to pre-order your copy of That?s Not How It Happened today. JOSH IS STILL ON TOUR! Tickets are available HERE for the final shows of the EULOGY TOUR. And if you?re a business with big orders to fulfill, Amplifier is there to help growing consumer brands and influencers create a unique experience for their customers during the fulfillment process. Visit AMPLIFIER to learn more, and name-drop How We Made Your Mother for special pricing for your emerging brand's program. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack Thanks to our sponsors: Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM Vessi: Meet your new favorite daily sneaker?Vessi is waterproof, ultra-comfy, and fits every part of your routine. Visit https://vessi.com/yourmother and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this General Questions bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alec reflect on ?The Duel? and answer fan questions about real-life apartments, the emotional weight of physical space, and how props like swords and Shockey came to represent bigger ideas in the show. They also dig into the origins of HIMYM?s many fictional websites, the legacy of Barney?s blog, and the writers assistants who used that material to launch their careers. The conversation blends nostalgia, comedy, and sincerity?covering everything from sentimental goodbyes to apartments, to what it?s like to stage a sitcom sword fight and why leaving a home can feel like losing a piece of yourself. What happened to all the HIMYM websites like TedMosbyIsAJerk.com and Barney?s Blog? Can you bring any of the old sites back? Who actually owns those domains now? Did writing Barney?s Blog help writers assistants get promoted? What real-life places inspired the show?s apartments and bars? Do you have a building from your life that will always feel like ?yours?? What was your first apartment like, and did you have objects like Shockey or the swords? Did Craig and Carter have a shared object that symbolized their early years like the swords? What are you doing with your apartment while you?re on tour? Was the sword fight fully choreographed or improvised? Were the swords always part of the set or added for this episode? Why do we get so attached to physical spaces? How do our props and surroundings help us feel at home? Is there such a thing as a forever home, or is home something we carry with us? How did the crew design a realistic but shootable New York apartment? What was it like saying goodbye to the real stage where HIMYM was filmed? CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit ?The Duel,? where Ted, Marshall, and Lily wrestle?literally and emotionally?with what it means to grow up without growing apart. From the iconic sword fight to Barney?s very first attempt at making a ?thing? with the Lemon Law, the episode explores fear of change, nostalgia, and the dream of keeping your friends close as life pulls you in different directions. They also discuss how objects carry emotional meaning in HIMYM?s storytelling, the mystical character of New York City, and the very real inspiration behind Shockey the coffee maker. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life. Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with Car Gurus at cargurus.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this General Questions bonus episode, Josh, Craig, and Alek answer listener questions inspired by ?Matchmaker? and the legendary cockamouse. They share memories of life on set?from forgotten script pages to candy carts?and reflect on the ecosystem of people who brought HIMYM to life behind the scenes. The conversation also explores the inspiration behind the matchmaking plot, how Robin?s job helped shrink New York into a small-town setting, and why characters like Ted become verbs among close friends. Plus, they tackle the fan-favorite topic of spoilers (or avoiding them), and reveal whether they ever had an emergency plan to end the series early. Questions We Try to Answer: What?s life like on a sitcom set day-to-day? Did anyone ever try to hide script pages in props or pockets? How did the crew, like the script supervisor, help actors stay on track? What?s the story behind the candy cart and other Fox lot traditions? How did you balance screen time and prep with phones creeping onto set? Was the matchmaking plot based on anyone?s real-life experience? Did this matchmaking service actually exist, and did anyone try it? What made Robin?s job as a local reporter such a useful storytelling tool? Why does Robin?s news fluff piece feel so personal and charming? Why does turning New York into a small town make the show more relatable? Where did the phrase ?Tedding out? come from, and what does it mean to the characters? Did the group using Ted?s name as a verb feel affectionate or mocking? Was there ever an emergency plan to wrap the show early if it got canceled CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig) Instagram HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research AND MORE: Josh?s ?Museletters? on Substack Josh?s Official Website Josh on Spotify Craig?s Official Website (with links to his published writing) Alek?s ?Dead Fathers Society? on Substack Advertising inquiries:[email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices