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How We Made Your Mother

How We Made Your Mother

By: Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas
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About this listen

 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.Copyright How We Made Your Mother LLC 2025 All Rights Reserved Art
Episodes
  • General Questions | S1E12 "The Wedding"

    General Questions | S1E12 "The Wedding"
    Jun 19 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • How Dare You Mess with Claudia | S1E12 "The Wedding"

    How Dare You Mess with Claudia | S1E12 "The Wedding"
    Jun 16 2025
    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • General Questions | S1E11 "The Limo"

    General Questions | S1E11 "The Limo"
    Jun 12 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
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