How We Made Your Mother

Josh and Craig revisit “Spoiler Alert” (Season 3, Episode 8), breaking down the episode’s central idea: how one pointed-out flaw can permanently change the way you see someone. They discuss the ethics of telling friends uncomfortable truths, the surprisingly philosophical themes of love and acceptance, and how the episode’s two mysteries—Kathy’s endless talking and Marshall’s forgotten bar exam pa...

In this deeply personal bonus episode, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas pause their Season 3 rewatch to revisit the life-changing summer between Seasons 2 and 3 of How I Met Your Mother. Josh opens up about struggling with the pressures of sudden fame, his increasing reliance on alcohol, and how transformative ayahuasca journeys to Brazil and Colombia led him to stop drinking and return to the show fe...

Josh and Craig dive into Season 3’s “Dowisetrepla” with a conversation that ranges from real estate disasters to the magic of New York City. They discuss how the episode serves as a continuation of Marshall and Lily’s financial crisis from the previous week, exploring Lily’s hidden credit card debt, the couple’s impulsive apartment purchase, and why the storyline feels so grounded and emotionally...

In this bonus episode, Josh and Craig finally get the chance to sit down with John Cho, who played the delightfully manipulative Jefferson Coatsworth in “I’m Not That Guy.” What starts as a discussion of his HIMYM guest appearance turns into a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, acting, and career longevity. John shares why he loved playing a charming villain, reflects on the unique rhythm of...

Josh and Craig dive into Season 3, Episode 6, “I’m Not That Guy,” and find a surprisingly rich episode hiding beneath the jokes. They discuss Jonathan Groff’s first credited HIMYM script (the writer, not the actor), Marshall’s struggle between environmental idealism and financial security, Lily’s secret credit-card debt and how unusual it was to make her the one in the wrong, and Ted’s bizarre dis...

Josh and Craig are joined by writer and producer Gloria Calderón Kellett to discuss “How I Met Everyone Else,” one of the most mythology-rich episodes of the series. Gloria shares the origins of fan-favorite ideas like Blah Blah, the sandwich euphemism, the Hot/Crazy Scale, and the various “how we met” stories that flesh out the gang’s shared history. The conversation explores the episode’s use of...

Josh and Craig revisit Season 3’s “Little Boys,” written by Courtney Kang, and talk about Ted’s unusually confident single-guy era, Barney’s wildly manipulative plan to outplay Ted, and Robin’s hysterical fear of children while dating a dad from Lily’s kindergarten class. They spend a lot of time praising Cobie Smulders’ growing comedic confidence, point out hidden Ghostbusters references in the e...

This Instagram Live bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother features Josh Radnor answering fan questions with producer Alek Lev. Josh reflects on rediscovering the show while rewatching it with his wife Jordana, including how his relationship with fans has changed now that he sees the series more from their perspective. They also talk about specific behind-the-scenes details—like the blue French...

Josh and Craig are joined by Dave Hemmingson to revisit “Third Wheel,” the Season 3 fan-favorite where newly single Ted unexpectedly finds himself navigating the possibility of a threesome with returning guest stars Busy Philipps and Danica McKellar. Dave talks about joining the writers’ room during a pivotal moment for the series, helping launch the “free-range Ted” era after the Robin breakup, a...

Josh and Craig talk about “We’re Not From Here,” the second half of the Gael mini-arc, and how the episode feels a little more like a classic sitcom with three separate storylines: Robin trying to make a vacation romance work in real life, Ted and Barney pretending to be tourists to pick up women, and Marshall freaking out over Lily’s “death letter.” They laugh a lot about Jason Segel’s completely...

On another very special Bonus Episode of HWMYM , we’re bringing you a table read of Gimme Five , a second pilot that Craig and Carter (wrote not long after HIMYM ended). And once again, this pilot never got made (until now!). They co-wrote this pilot with legendary writer Peter Tolan, whose credits include The Larry Sanders Show, Rescue Me, Analyze This, Analyze That, and many more. Here's the log...

Josh and Craig kick off Season 3 of How We Made Your Mother by revisiting “Wait For It,” while also reflecting on the emotionally massive hiatus between Seasons 2 and 3 of How I Met Your Mother. Craig opens up about the birth of his son Elliot and the terrifying medical challenges their family faced, while Josh talks about traveling to Brazil and Colombia, working with ayahuasca, quitting drinking...

On this very special Bonus Episode of HWMYM , we’re bringing you a table read of New York Mythological , a pilot that Craig and Carter wrote and sold to CBS sometime around 2015. Unfortunately, this one never got made. But we’ve got the next best thing for you here. The log line for New York Mythological - A new arrival joins the team at a museum devoted to exploring supernatural and paranormal ph...

Josh and Craig joined Jenna and Angela on The Office Ladies podcast to talk about their favorite cold opens from How I Met Your Mother and The Office . And so, (as we smash to credits), here we go! 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...

This Instagram Live bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother features Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas answering fan questions and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from How I Met Your Mother. Early in the conversation they pause to remember James Van Der Beek, reflecting on his fearless, against-type performance in “Sandcastles in the Sand” and how generous and grounded he was when guest-starring on...

Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: https://link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD

This special How We Made Your Mother Instagram Live episode features producer Alek Lev in conversation with Craig Thomas, co-creator of How I Met Your Mother, centered on Craig’s novel That’s Not How It Happened . Over an intimate, wide-ranging 54-minute discussion, Craig unpacks the personal origins of the book—drawing from his experience parenting a son with a disability—while exploring language...

This February 4 Instagram Live episode of How We Made Your Mother brings together Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas, and producer Alek Lev for an expansive, warm, and frequently hilarious conversation that doubles as a love letter to the show, the podcast, and the community that’s grown around both. Broadcasting at a new midday time to reach international fans, the trio talk about why they started the pod...

Major Spoiler Warning! This episode contains major spoilers for the entire run of How I Met Your Mother, including the series finale and where the characters ultimately end up. If you haven’t finished the show yet and want to avoid spoilers, you may want to skip this one and come back later. The conversation also goes deeply into themes of grief, loss, and death, which some listeners may find emot...

Josh and Craig wrap up Season 2 by revisiting the emotional finale where Marshall and Lily get married and Ted and Robin realize they can’t build a future together despite loving each other. They talk about the episode’s clever mystery structure, the heartbreaking couch scene, the meaning behind the title “Something Blue,” and the hopeful reset that sends Ted and Barney back out as wingmen. The ep...

This Instagram Live episode of How We Made Your Mother features Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas, and producer Alek Lev in a relaxed, funny, and reflective conversation about revisiting the first two seasons of How I Met Your Mother nearly 20 years later. They talk about learning to be kinder to their younger selves, favorite memories from set (including cozy breakfast scenes, hair-and-makeup miracles, a...

Josh and Craig break down How I Met Your Mother Season 2, Episode 21, “Something Borrowed,” the chaotic first half of Marshall and Lily’s wedding finale. They revisit how the episode leans into the idea that every element of Lily’s carefully planned wedding begins to unravel—from Marshall accidentally shaving a reverse mohawk into his hair to Scooter showing up determined to stop the ceremony. The...

Josh recently sat down with Chelsea Handler for an episode of Chelsea’s podcast “Dear Chelsea" to talk about the highs and lows of playing one character for a decade, the delights of NYC, and his sober-curious lifestyle. Need some advice from Chelsea? Email ⁠DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com⁠ . CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSEL...

Josh and Craig continue their conversation with Neil Patrick Harris, reflecting on their working dynamic during How I Met Your Mother and how Barney and Ted’s very different roles on the show sometimes created a strange but productive tension between the actors. They talk candidly about early insecurities, the pressure of carrying different storytelling responsibilities—Josh often delivering the e...

Josh and Craig are joined by Neil Patrick Harris to revisit How I Met Your Mother Season 2’s “Showdown,” the episode where Barney appears on The Price Is Right believing that host Bob Barker might be his father. Neil reflects on the lasting cultural impact of Barney Stinson, the freedom the show’s unusual hybrid format gave actors to experiment with comedy, and the physical-comedy influences—from...