In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “The Sweet Taste of Liberty” and talk about how it marked a shift in tone for the show. The episode introduced Barney’s cartoonish side, the “legend—wait for it—dary” catchphrase, and a more outrageous style of storytelling. They discuss the influence of writers Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the origins of Barney’s character, and the episode’s mission to answer two big questions: Why is this wild man part of the friend group? And how do Robin and Lily become friends?

The conversation also explores how Ted became more reactive in this episode, the challenge of balancing sitcom energy with character growth, and how early episodes were still “auditioning” the show’s style. They end with heartfelt letters from listeners about how How I Met Your Mother impacted their lives—and Craig shares his personal story about making the show while navigating his own family’s medical crisis, adding emotional depth to the series and the podcast.

Make sure to listen through to the end, when Craig Thomas will announce the permanent fundraising campaign of this podcast, How You Make a Difference, raising money for congenital heart disease.

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 SPONSOR:

Nutrafol: Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol at nutrafol.com and use the code YOURMOTHER.

Advertising inquiries:

[email protected]

AND IN CASE IT HELPS:

00:00 Emotional Growth Through Television

07:14 The Creative Process Behind 'How I Met Your Mother'

14:00 Character Dynamics and Relationships

21:04 The Evolution of Storytelling in Sitcoms

30:54 The Creative Process Behind Iconic Moments

32:41 Balancing Character Arcs and Storytelling

35:49 The Role of Chaos and Creation in Relationships

39:03 Exploring Vulnerability and Masculinity

43:23 Fan Impact and Personal Stories

55:08 The Timelessness of Love and Resilience

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