Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Were You Raised By Wolves?

Society EN ↓ 359 episodes

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 pr...

Author

Nick Leighton & Leah Bonnema

Episodes

Inviting Thirteen Guests, Attending Pool Parties, Hogging Laundry Machines, and More 21.07.2025 39:20

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle inviting thirteen guests to dinner, attending pool parties, hogging laundry machines in apartment buildings, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Thirteen d...

Second Helpings: Demanding Birthday Cake, Putting Time Limits on Meals, Getting Nosy at the Pharmacy, and More 14.07.2025 27:54

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back next week with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they answer listener questions about demanding birthday cake, putting time limits on meals, getting nosy at the pharmacy, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you...

Second Helpings: Showing Up Empty-Handed, Riding French Elevators, Having Nice Weekends, and More 07.07.2025 36:02

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back soon with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they tackle showing up at dinner parties empty-handed, riding elevators in France, being unapologetic about having nice weekends, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send y...

Abandoning Dinner Guests, Running Into Former Students, Singing Happy Birthday, and More 30.06.2025 31:11

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about abandoning dinner guests, running into former students, singing happy birthday, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: How would you rea...

Responding to Invitations, Enjoying Tennis, Dipping French Fries, and More 23.06.2025 47:19

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle responding to invitations formally, watching and playing tennis, dipping french fries, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Formally responding to invitations...

Brushing Teeth in Airports, Taking Dessert from Buffets, Handling Unwanted Vacation Guests, and More 16.06.2025 32:04

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about brushing your teeth in airport bathrooms, taking desserts from buffets, handling unwanted vacation guests, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠⁠ QUESTIONS FROM THE WILD...

Flipping Over Cutlery, Making Friends in Kindergarten, Choosing Cup Holders, and More 09.06.2025 41:14

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle flipping over cutlery, making friends in kindergarten, choosing cup holders at sporting events, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Reversing cutlery on the ta...

Mowing Lawns Without Asking, Coordinating Invitation Responses, Dressing for Theme Weddings, and More 02.06.2025 39:47

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about mowing laws without asking, coordinating invitation responses, dressing for theme weddings, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠ QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do w...

Second Helpings: Crashing White House Weddings, Stealing Flowers From Neighbors, Charging Phones In Public, and More 26.05.2025 44:29

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 crashing White House weddings, stealing flowers from neighbors, charging phones in public, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank...

Playing Duck Duck Goose, Sending Out-of-Office Emails, Taking Free Food Samples, and More 19.05.2025 43:04

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle playing Duck Duck Goose in Minnesota, sending out-of-office emails, taking free food samples, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠⁠ EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Duck Duck Grey Duck A QUESTION...

Pulling Out Chairs, Sharing Photos with AI, Making Unreasonable Demands, and More 12.05.2025 32:43

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about pulling out chairs for others, sharing photos with AI, making unreasonable demands, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠ QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What do you do when...

Seating Dinner Party Guests, Getting Spray Tans, Using Fake Addresses, and More 05.05.2025 37:32

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle seating dinner party guests, getting spray tans, using fake return addresses, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ⁠ ask.wyrbw.com ⁠ EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Dinner party seating A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Ge...

Scheduling Times With "Ish," Chewing Food on Calls, Socializing at Galas, and More 28.04.2025 26:21

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about scheduling appointments with "ish," chewing food while on the telephone, socializing at galas, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What does "i...

Handling Hot Potatoes, Claiming Seats at Buffets, Talking During Musicals, and More 21.04.2025 44:59

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle handling hot potatoes, claiming seats at buffets, talking during musicals, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Baked Potatoes A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Host gifts that...

Second Helpings: Objecting to Marriages, Watching Strangers' Luggage, Asking for More Chairs, and More 14.04.2025 27:30

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back next week with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they answer listener questions about objecting to marriages, watching strangers' luggage, asking for more chairs, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwr...

Second Helpings: Sending Signals With Cutlery, Partying in Art Galleries, Flushing Without Permission, and More 07.04.2025 38:50

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! This week, Nick and Leah are enjoying a well-deserved break, but they'll be back soon with an all-new episode. In the meantime, here's one of their favorite episodes from the archives in which they tackle sending signals in restaurants with cutlery, going to art gallery openings, flushing dog poop down toilets, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handw...

Waving Back by Mistake, Handling Bad Haircuts, Separating Groceries on Belts, and More 31.03.2025 27:24

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about waiving back to someone by mistake, handling bad haircuts, separating your groceries on supermarket checkout belts, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WIL...

Vacationing at All-Inclusive Resorts, Demanding Cash at Weddings, Using Other People's Waterpiks, and More 24.03.2025 46:14

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle vacationing at all-inclusive resorts, demanding cash donations at weddings, using other people's Waterpiks, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Broadway's Legacy Robe...

Bailing on Bad Accommodations, Attending Virtual Housewarmings, Moving Meetings "Up," and More 17.03.2025 27:04

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about bailing on bad accommodations, attending virtual housewarming parties, moving meetings "up," and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: What is the pr...

Naming Dogs in France, Going to Open Houses, Reading Books in Bathrooms, and More 10.03.2025 33:02

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle naming dogs in France, going to real estate open houses, reading books in bathrooms, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Dog names in France A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: ...

Accepting Unwanted Packages, Eating Duplicate Salads, Celebrating Letter Openers, and More 03.03.2025 27:05

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah answer listener questions about accepting unwanted packages, eating duplicate salads, celebrating letter openers, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: At what point can I stop...

Complaining in Restaurants, Backing Out of Weddings, Taking People's Airline Seats, and More 24.02.2025 47:52

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 handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Gifting knives A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE: Compla...

Second Helpings: Dining Late in Spain, Taking Care of Pets, Using Toilet Bowl Brushes, and More 17.02.2025 40:10

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 handwritten thank-you note if we could...

Bringing Ice to Parties, Ignoring Dungeon Masters’ Quests, Texting at the Movies, and More 10.02.2025 27:15

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 handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com QUESTIONS FROM THE WILDERNESS: Is it OK to br...

Making Introductions, Attending Super Bowl Parties, Avoiding Bad Salad Dressings, and More 03.02.2025 46:36

Etiquette, manners, and beyond! In this episode, Nick and Leah tackle making introductions property, attending Super Bowl parties, avoiding bad salad dressings, and much more. Please follow us! (We'd send you a handwritten thank-you note if we could.) Have a question for us? Call or text (267) CALL-RBW or visit ask.wyrbw.com EPISODE CONTENTS AMUSE-BOUCHE: Making introductions A QUESTION OF ETIQU...