Josh and Craig dive into Season 1, Episode 17, “Life Among the Gorillas,” where Marshall starts to lose himself in a toxic corporate job, raising big questions about identity, money, and what it means to be a man. They talk about peer pressure in your 20s, the real cost of selling out, and how the show handled financial stress in a way most sitcoms didn’t. They also touch on the long-distance struggles of Ted and Victoria, the genius of the episode’s cliffhanger, and share stories about early mentors who helped them believe in their creative paths. Plus, a surprise and sweet letter from production designer Steve Olson.

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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

Was Victoria going to be the mother if the show was canceled early? Find out!

In this General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive deeper into episode 16, “Cupcake,” prompted by listener questions. They discuss how rare and satisfying it was to see Victoria choose her career over love, a choice echoed in Robin’s character arc as well. The team explores the value of fan theories—whether or not the creators intended certain meanings—and the power of unconscious storytelling, comparing it to dream logic, color theory, and even Hemingway’s deflection of symbolism. They reflect on the permanence of small writing decisions, the difficulty of letting go of a character like Victoria, and the seduction of career compromises in your late 20s, as embodied by Marshall and Barney’s plotline. They also dig into how “Cupcake” encapsulates the series’ core themes: timing, ambition, love, and missed chances.

Questions from Fans:

What do you think your role is now that you can respond to years of fan theories?

Is there value in correcting or affirming fan fiction and rumors?

Was Victoria ever planned to be the Mother if the show was canceled after Season 1?

Was it hard to let Victoria go as a character?

How long did it take before you realized Marshall and Barney working together was fun?

Can you describe the moment when you know a story decision is the right one?

Is “Cupcake” the emotional core of the series?

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

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “Cupcake” (Season 1, Episode 16), reflecting on the pivotal crossroads for Ted and Victoria as she prepares to leave for Germany. They praise Ashley Williams’s performance and discuss the episode’s unique structure—showing the same day from both characters’ perspectives. The conversation dives into how HIMYM grapples with adult issues like money, long-distance relationships, and self-identity in your 20s, highlighting the show’s emotional honesty beneath its humor. They explore Barney’s manipulative but needy attempts to recruit Marshall to the “dark side,” Lily’s cake-sitting disaster, and the subtle foreshadowing of relationship trouble through visual metaphors like ill-fitting suits and wedding dresses. A recurring theme is the tension between “I” and “we” in young relationships, with insight from a clinical psychologist (and Josh’s wife) about emotional development and timing. They end with a heartfelt listener letter about how HIMYM led one fan to the love of his life—and the perfect yellow umbrella.

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

HelloFresh - Go to ⁠HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM⁠ now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life.

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In this General Questions episode, the team brings back Chris Harris (writer of the HIMYM episode “Game Night”) to answer fan questions and explore deeper elements of storytelling from the early seasons. They discuss how HIMYM balanced large, event-style episodes with character development, whether Chris was intentionally given “scope” episodes like “Subway Wars,” and how character traits (like Marshall’s love of games) were assigned in the show’s early, more flexible days.

They touch on the importance of continuity in a serialized sitcom, the organic nature of callbacks, and the evolving creative relationships between writers, actors, and the broader crew. They also reminisce about fan theories, including a popular one about who left Robin the welcome mat, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics that shaped HIMYM’s signature tone and complexity.

Questions From Fans:

Can you talk about putting together the scope versus the character?

How did you decide how many episodes you and Carter would write and how many you would give away?

Were you planning ahead for continuity details, like Barney mentioning the Peace Corps before his backstory was revealed?

What was the inspiration for Marshall’s love of making board games? Was that knowingly a character trait you were building?

In the writers’ room, how did continuity work? Was it a hive mind, or did someone “own” the show’s memory?

Who gave Robin the welcome mat—Ted or Barney? (posed via fan questions)

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

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig are joined by writer Chris Harris to reflect on the making of Season 1, Episode 15: “Game Night.” The trio breaks down the episode’s structure, the origin of Barney’s backstory, and how the writers constructed a compelling present-day story to balance the flashbacks. They talk about the decision to reveal Barney’s past as a heartbroken hippie and the challenges of maintaining both comedic pacing and emotional depth. Chris shares memories from the writers’ room, including how “Marshgammon” came to life, legal hurdles around parodying Monopoly, and Neil Patrick Harris’s incredible physical comedy (even while sick). They also discuss HIMYM’s early use of narrative flexibility—flashbacks, unreliable memory, evolving tone—which laid the groundwork for later storytelling innovations. A fan letter from the Faroe Islands brings the conversation full circle, reminding them how the show continues to offer comfort and connection to viewers around the world.

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 DIFFERENCEDonate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research

AND MORE:Josh’s “Museletters” on SubstackJosh’s Official WebsiteJosh on SpotifyCraig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother

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.

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In Part 2 of their conversation with Ashley Williams, the How We Made Your Mother team explores the legacy of the episode “Zip, Zip, Zip” while also reflecting on its tonal whiplash following the romantic “Drumroll, Please.” Ashley, Josh, and Craig discuss the writers’ room debate about couples’ bathroom practices, what it’s like to shift from lead storyline to comic side note, and how multi-cam shows use genre to balance intimacy and laughs. Ashley shares touching and hilarious stories about her relationship with her husband Neil—including Snickers-fueled declarations of love. The group also breaks down favorite “Zip, Zip, Zip” moments (like Robin and Barney’s first spark and the sad return of “What’s taking so long?” girl), and consider the challenges of protecting characters’ emotional dignity across episodes. The show ends with a love letter from a fan named Emily, who may have met her Ted at the Bowery Ballroom fundraiser.

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

In this heartfelt and often hilarious episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas welcome Ashley Williams—beloved for her role as Victoria—for an in-depth conversation that’s as much about How I Met Your Mother as it is about surviving (and thriving) in the world of multi-cam sitcoms. They reflect on the intimacy and cinematic tone of “Drumroll, Please,” the silliness of “Zip, Zip, Zip,” and the powerful creative safety net provided by director Pam Fryman. Ashley opens up about her early industry struggles, hard lips during on-screen kisses, and the healing experience of joining the HIMYM cast. The trio explore actor insecurities, audition stories, set dynamics, and why the show’s environment was unlike anything else on TV. Bonus: a surprise appearance by Ashley’s tap-dancing husband Neil, a conversation about kissing technique, and some deep theater-kid camaraderie.

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:

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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HWMYM is just taking one week off, but we are thrilled to be able to bring you an appearance that Josh made on an incredibly fun podcast called The Puzzler, where the host, A.J. Jacobs, tested his puzzle skills with a bunch of original word games. As you might know, Josh a big crossword fan, and it sounds like he had a great time. We thought you might enjoy it, too. What you’ll hear are three short episodes they recorded, one after the other. So take a listen, and be sure to subscribe to The Puzzler wherever you get your podcasts.

On Apple Podcasts

On Spotify

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In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit the deeply romantic Season 1 quasi-two-parter culminating in “Drumroll, Please,” where Ted meets Victoria at a wedding and chooses connection over logistics. They unpack how the structure mirrors “The Pineapple Incident,” praise the chemistry between Josh and Ashley Williams, and reflect on how the episode balances whimsical rom-com structure with emotional realism. They explore Ted’s romantic resilience, Robin’s surprise vulnerability, and the subtle heartbreak and sweetness of not kissing. The hosts also discuss rom-com mythmaking, garment metaphors, and HIMYM’s layered mysteries, while listener messages highlight the show’s global emotional impact—including as a way to learn English. A SPECIAL GUEST makes a surprise cameo with a cheeky question, and Craig reveals that Victoria’s “thank God” moment remains one of his favorite endings.

To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall

BY KIM ADDONIZIO

If you ever woke in your dress at 4am ever

closed your legs to someone you loved opened

them for someone you didn’t moved against

a pillow in the dark stood miserably on a beach

seaweed clinging to your ankles paid

good money for a bad haircut backed away

from a mirror that wanted to kill you bled

into the back seat for lack of a tampon

if you swam across a river under rain sang

using a dildo for a microphone stayed up

to watch the moon eat the sun entire

ripped out the stitches in your heart

because why not if you think nothing &

no one can / listen I love you joy is coming

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

Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

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

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!

Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with Car Gurus at ⁠cargurus.com 

Headspace: For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days at headspace.com/YOURMOTHER.

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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