Season two of How We Made Your Mother kicks off with a big announcement: the show has officially joined the Office Ladies Network, thanks to a friendship between Josh Radnor and Jenna Fischer.

Josh and Craig reminisce about filming “Where Were We,” the How I Met Your Mother season two premiere, breaking down the challenge of picking up right after Ted and Robin’s rain-soaked kiss and Marshall’s heartbreak. They dig into the emotional realism of post-breakup depression, the iconic “When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead” line, and behind-the-scenes stories about George Clinton’s cameo, Robin’s gun joke, and Neil Patrick Harris’s precision physical comedy.

The episode also covers the show’s evolution, season-two adjustments (including the brighter red couch), and fan questions about serialization, background actors, and hiatus memories, before closing with a touching letter from a 15-year-old fan in Germany about how HIMYM brings her hope.

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We're back! How We Made Your Mother returns for another season of rewatching the hit TV series How I Made Your Mother! Josh Radnor and series co-creator Craig Thomas will discuss all 22 episodes of Season 2, including classic episodes like “Ted Mosby: Architect,” “Swarley,” “Slap Bet,” and “Something Blue.” You like guests? We’ve got guests, including Joe Manganiello and that man who finally proved to the world that he had dramatic acting chops, through his iconic portrayal of Hammond Druthers, Mr. Bryan Cranston. 

We love hearing from the fans, so please go to www.HowWeMadeYourMother.com and click on the CONTACT tab to send us a voice message or an email and tell us what How I Met Your Mother means to you. We play and read these messages on nearly every episode, and it’s absolutely one of our favorite parts of the show.

And please take a look at How You Make a Difference, our ongoing campaign supporting pediatric congenital heart disease research. Donate and learn more by clicking the MAKE A DIFFERENCE tab at the top of our website.

Remember to follow us on instagram and TikTok @howwemadeyourmother

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

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READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK! Subscribe HERE.

CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED.

SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE to learn more and donate today.

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Josh’s Official WebsiteJosh on SpotifyCraig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)

Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack

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Welcome again to another bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother!

It’s our final bonus episode before we launch Season 2 towards the end of October.  In this upcoming season we’ve already got a bunch of special guests lined up and a VERY special announcement about our podcast which we’re just not quite allowed to announce right now. So stay tuned.

This week we bring you an interview that Alek did on the new podcast The Craft of Being, hosted by Anna Schumacher. 

The Craft of Being is a podcast via a series on conversations where we dig into what the heck even is CREATIVITY? Undefined, yet definitive. Each week we will talk to a different human about their experience of their own creativity, and how it shows up –both planned and unexpectedly– across art, work, life, and the pursuit of… well, everything.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the show @thecraftofbeing on Instagram, or email the show at [email protected].

Music by Colin O’brien-Lux: https://bandcamp.com/cobrienlux

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Hello Major Fans of How We Made Your Mother, and welcome to another bonus episode. We are hard at work on Season Two (which will launch soon), and we want to use this space to share some appearances of the team on other great podcasts.

This week, we bring you Craig Thomas’s appearance on Hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is a show that zeroes in on what fascinates us about ADHD, mental health, and learning. From hacking your dopamine to busting TikTok myths, it blends personal stories, sharp questions, and expert insight. The show is produced by Understood.org, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with learning and thinking differences thrive.

You can check out Hyperfocus anywhere you get your podcasts.Listen here: lnk.to/hyperfocus

Original Show Notes: Craig Thomas is best known for his work on TV. He co-created the sitcom How I Met Your Motherand has written for American Dad and more. He’s penned songs for Sesame Street and essays for The New Yorker. He’s less known for being a dad. For now, at least. He has a daughter, Celia, and a son, Elliot, who was born with Jacobsen syndrome, a genetic condition causing physical and developmental disabilities. 

When Elliot was born, Craig’s career was taking off with How I Met Your Mother. “I was living an hour drama show at home and then driving to work and doing a sitcom,” Craig says. His upcoming novel, That’s Not How It Happened, is based in part on his family’s experience. If you heard our series on the resurgence of the R-word, you’ll recognize Craig’s voice. The conversation with him was so good that we’re sharing more!

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Hello Major Fans of How We Made Your Mother and welcome to another bonus episode!

We are hard at work on Season Two (which will launch soon), and we want to use this space to share some appearances of the team on other great podcasts. This week, we bring you Josh Radnor’s appearance on Life in Seven Songs.

What songs tell your life story? On Life in Seven Songs, we ask this question of some of the world’s most fascinating people. Through seven songs, guests reveal the milestones—and the music—that have shaped their lives.

This week, we Willkommen actor and musician Josh Radnor! Josh is best known for playing Ted Mosby on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother for nearly a decade. But that success came at an unexpected cost: an identity crisis that left him feeling trapped in a character he didn’t create. In this episode, Josh talks about his formative role as the MC in his high school’s production of Cabaret, his first “almost kiss” (soundtracked by Aretha Franklin), how psychedelics helped him stay centered amidst the whirlwind of fame, and the chance encounter that launched his second career as a musician in his 40s. Here are his songs.

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Josh and Craig close out season one revisiting “Come On,” celebrating the show’s early confidence, playful narrator tricks, and willingness to dip into magical realism—culminating in Ted’s euphoric rain dance to keep Robin from camping with Sandy Rivers as Marshall and Lily’s relationship hits a seismic crisis over her San Francisco art fellowship. They talk about cramming emotion into 22 minutes, the power of the Block Party needle‑drop “This Modern Love,” and why grand gestures (roses!) often fail while messy, heartfelt acts can work.

There are shoutouts to Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, script supervisor Janet Kagan, and the crew; a candid story about CBS urging them to be “less serialized” after season-one ratings wobbles (which they ignored and doubled down on in season two); Jordana’s tender reflection on watching Josh-as-Ted; and a fan‑letter medley about how HIMYM taught English, offered comfort, and now truly “belongs to the fans.” They tease a cool opportunity making season two “bigger and better,” thank listeners for riding along, and promise they won’t be gone long.

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.

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)

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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

PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM
Raycon: Go to buyraycon.com/YOURMOTHER to get 15% off Raycon's best-selling Everyday Earbuds!

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Welcome back to your How We Made Your Mother feed. Today, we are presenting an appearance by our own Craig Thomas on a podcast called Arts Educators Save the World, where successful artist sit in conversation with their mentors to talk about the importance of art, arts education, and mentorship. I produced this podcast with my lifelong friend, Erica. Last week we brought your our episode with Josh Randor and his teacher from NYU. This week, we’ve got Craig and Rob Greenberg, an experienced writer and show runner who helped Craig and Carter in the early years of HIMYM, and beyond.

If you enjoy these episodes, please check out Arts Educators Save World, where guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Annaleigh Ashford, Cecily Strong, Bradley Whitford, Jonathan Groff, Billy Eichner, and many, many others. Enjoy!

You can find more Arts Educators Save the World episodes HERE on Apple Podcasts.

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

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

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Josh and Craig break down S1E21 “Milk,” debating the title (they pitch better ones like “Mistakes” and “Fight or Flight”) and zeroing in on Lily’s panic about growing up: she secretly takes Marshall’s Fiero toward a San Francisco art opportunity, calls Ted from the roadside, and he chooses loyalty—ditching a matchmaker-arranged “perfect” date—to help his best friend, a Ted–Lily dynamic the guys really love. Meanwhile, Marshall sinks deeper into Barney’s corporate prank culture, and the matchmaker thread rekindles Ted’s feelings for Robin, capped by her late‑night rescue (and infamous bad highlights) that nudges Ted toward “I don’t want perfect; I want Robin.” They shout out Wendy the Waitress’s naming, crew cameos—including Carter & Craig as paramedics—and even the show’s long-game goat tease, plus production nuggets about staging the Fiero drive on a neighboring stage. The episode’s heartbeat is Lily’s “you only know it’s a mistake by making it” ethos, echoed by moving listener letters from Melbourne and Taiwan that tie the show’s themes to real life.

GET YOUR MERCH!

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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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Vessi: Meet your new favorite daily sneaker—Vessi is waterproof, ultra-comfy, and fits every part of your routine. Visit https://vessi.com/yourmother and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout!

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

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Today, we are presenting an appearance by our own Josh Radnor on a podcast called Arts Educators Save the World, where successful artists sit in conversation with their mentors to talk about the importance of art, arts education, and mentorship. Alek produced this podcast with his lifelong friend, Erica, and this is a fantastic episode with Josh and one of his teachers from NYU, Deborah Lapidus. 

And next week, we’ve got another episode of Arts Educators Save the World, this time with one Craig Thomas, in conversation with Rob Greenberg, who worked with Craig and Carter on How I Met Your Mother as — to quote Craig — the adult in the room. 

If you enjoy these episodes, please check out Arts Educators Save the World, where guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Annaleigh Ashford, Cecily Strong, Bradley Whitford, Jonathan Groff, Billy Eichner, and many, many others. Enjoy!

You can find more Arts Educators Save the World episodes HERE on Apple Podcasts.

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 SpotifyCraig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)

Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “Best Prom Ever,” which features Alek’s memorable (well, to him) cameo as Todd. They reflect on the episode’s big themes—Lily’s growing doubts, the anxiety of adult commitment, and the bittersweet grief that comes with making life choices. The conversation also includes a heartfelt listener message from Jesse, a longtime trans fan of the show, which prompts a thoughtful, honest discussion about how comedy evolves, the importance of inclusive language, and owning past mistakes. The team also unpacks behind-the-scenes stories from filming the prom sequence, shares how Scooter (David Burtka) was introduced, and celebrates the first appearance of the show’s unofficial house band, The 88.

Read Craig’s piece “Hollywood and the R-Word” here in the Boston Globe.

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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother

PrettyLitter: Save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy at prettylitter.com/HWMYM

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.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices