Were You Raised By Wolves?

By: Nick Leighton
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • Editors’ Notes: “I want to give everybody the tools to solve their own etiquette problems,” says Nick Leighton, cohost and producer of Were You Raised by Wolves?, a weekly podcast in which he and cohost Leah Bonnema look into the many sticky social situations we all face. “With each of the questions that we get, from the bonkers to the ordinary, I always try to take a step back and ask, ‘What are the bigger principles here?’ I'm always looking for topics that help us make a larger point.” In each episode, Leighton, a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, and Bonnema, a comic/writer, share practical advice on how to navigate a wide range of situations, from the serious to the whimsical—whether they tackle interrupting excessive talkers, establishing healthy boundaries with coworkers, or the proper way to eat Cheetos. When they developed the show in 2019, Leighton and Bonnema had one goal in mind: to have empathy for other people. Their informal conversations tackle a mix of personal topics, viewer questions, and the occasional historical fact with warmth and positivity and humor. Leighton views this approach as an antidote to a lot of the negativity he sees in the online world, while Bonnema thinks the show’s premise is a natural fit for her situational style of comedy. “A lot of my comedy is about events where I’m like, ‘What just happened here?’ or where I embarrass myself,” she says. “And, ironically, all of these fall under the guise of etiquette, where you either feel aggrieved or you feel like you committed some sort of social crime. I just loved the topic.” Leighton and Bonnema credit the show’s ongoing success to their work ethic. They haven’t missed a single week since they launched the show, which recently hit a new milestone: 100 episodes. But what they value the most, above all else, is how they've built a community of listeners from all backgrounds. “We have conservative grandmothers in Tallahassee to nonbinary chefs in Seattle and everybody in between,” he says. “Because who among us has not experienced an etiquette crime? This is universal.” --- Etiquette, manners, and beyond! Join Emmy® Award-winning journalist Nick Leighton and acclaimed comedian Leah Bonnema ("Late Show with Stephen Colbert"), the perfect odd couple, as they try to make the world a nicer, more polite place and offer up practical advice to help you smoothly glide through any situation. Please listen and follow! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.)
    © 2019-2024 Were You Raised By Wolves?
    Show more Show less
Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Show more Show less
Episodes
  • Complaining in Restaurants, Backing Out of Weddings, Taking People's Airline Seats, and More

    Complaining in Restaurants, Backing Out of Weddings, Taking People's Airline Seats, and More
    Feb 24 2025
    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle complaining in restaurants, backing out of weddings, taking people's airline seats, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Gifting knives A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Complaining in restaurants QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Getting out of a wedding, Choosing the right soap for guests VENT OR REPENT: An obnoxious airplane passenger, Giving a rude face at a rest stop CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for buying Leah's book, A nice review THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Bar versus liquid soap effectiveness YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO... Support our show through Patreon Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts Call, text, or email us your questions Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Visit our official website Sign up for our newsletter Buy some fabulous official merchandise CREDITS Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton Theme Music: Rob Paravonian ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW Click here for details TRANSCRIPT Episode 256 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • Holiday Break: Dining Late in Spain, Taking Care of Pets, Using Toilet Bowl Brushes, and More

    Holiday Break: Dining Late in Spain, Taking Care of Pets, Using Toilet Bowl Brushes, and More
    Feb 17 2025
    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back next week with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they tackle dining late in Spain, taking care of pets, using toilet bowl brushes, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Dinner Time in Spain A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Pet Sitting QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Why are toilet bowl brushes so common in European bathrooms? Is it rude to cancel someone's event when you're not the host? VENT OR REPENT: Demanding payment when ordering, Making friends in Taipei CORDIALS OF KINDNESS: Thanks for the waffle cones, Thanks to our monthly supporters THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW NPR: Spain Has Been In The 'Wrong' Time Zone For 7 Decades YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO... Support our show through Patreon Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts Call, text, or email us your questions Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Visit our official website Sign up for our newsletter Buy some fabulous official merchandise CREDITS Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton Theme Music: Rob Paravonian ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW Click here for details TRANSCRIPT Episode 196 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • Bringing Ice to Parties, Ignoring Dungeon Masters’ Quests, Texting at the Movies, and More

    Bringing Ice to Parties, Ignoring Dungeon Masters’ Quests, Texting at the Movies, and More
    Feb 10 2025
    Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about bringing ice to parties unprompted, ignoring Dungeon Masters' quests, texting at the movies, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a hand-written thank you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK to bring ice to a party without asking the hosts first? How do I respond to an acquaintance's texts accusing me of ghosting her? When playing Dungeons & Dragons, is it rude to ignore the Dungeon Master's requests? When using a piece of found trash on the ground to remove dog poop from your shoe, are you now responsible for the trash? Etiquette Crime Report: Rude behavior at the movie theatre THINGS MENTIONED DURING THE SHOW Pet ownership statistics in New York YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO... Support our show through Patreon Subscribe and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts Call, text, or email us your questions Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Visit our official website Sign up for our newsletter Buy some fabulous official merchandise CREDITS Hosts: Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema Producer & Editor: Nick Leighton Theme Music: Rob Paravonian ADVERTISE ON OUR SHOW Click here for details TRANSCRIPT Episode 255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    31 mins

What listeners say about Were You Raised By Wolves?

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for BD

I am hooked!!!!!!

Nick! Leah!!! I can't remember how or why I stumbled upon your podcast but I am soooo grateful I did! Nick, you are so eloquent with your etiquette faux pas correction suggestions and Leah, you are a master of your craft and bring the humor to every question! I find myself talking to you two as if I were in the podcast with you. Just today, I ALMOST committed a etiquette crime but I stopped it (it was the episode where a person hold the door open for you and you are obligated to give them their space in front of you in a line)! But I thought of you two and I gracefully gave this gentleman the spot in front of me (I'm sure the etiquette butterfly effect you talked about will be in action!). I am binge listening to each episode and I have no idea what date the episodes come out, but does it matter?! No because - in my best Nick voice - etiquette rules transcend time and space! And I love your amuse buches. I feel like I'm constantly learning some little tidbit of etiquette knowledge to squirrel away and use later. From one person who is always trying to do the right etiquette thing to another, you two are Godsends. One suggestion, have you ever thought of adding a guest host every now and again? Not that you two dont offer enough, but I think it would be great to get another's perspective. Be it a celebrity or an everyday person like myself (hint hint, wink wink). Regardless, if you don't change a thing, you have a fan, a binge listener, and an etiquette rule follower in me!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Official Amazon Review

Truly the BEST podcast

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

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sarah O Rackley

Wonderful

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

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!