How We Made Your Mother

• General Questions | S1E19 "Mary the Paralegal"

  In this General Questions episode following Mary the Paralegal, Josh, Craig, and Alek explore fan-submitted questions ranging from the origins of catchphrases like “Lawyered” and the logic behind character names, to deeper themes like miscommunication and the emotional cost of avoiding vulnerability. They reflect on moments from the show that became iconic (telepathic conversations, Barney’s antics, mustache-on-TV gags), and share behind-the-scenes details like how Buzz Aldrin inspired Lily’s last name. They also dive into how assumptions, pretending, and silence shaped the story of Mary the Paralegal, and how telepathy became a comedic counterpoint to all the unspoken truths. Questions Alek asks in this episode: Who came up with “Lawyered”? Was Marshall based on your friend Noah? How did you decide on the characters’ last names? What was the original idea behind “Aldrin”? What was the inspiration for the “telepathic conversation” bit? Was the “MadTV” VHS tape on purpose? How much damage do we do when we make assumptions instead of asking the hard questions? And why is pretending always easier than being vulnerable? 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

  --------  

  25:28

  --------

  25:28
• How There Was Something About Mary | S1E19 "Mary the Paralegal" with Pam Fryman

  This episode features the long-awaited guest appearance of director Pam Fryman, who helmed nearly every episode of How I Met Your Mother. Josh and Craig share stories of how Pam shaped the show’s tone, protected its emotional core, and created a supportive, joyful set culture that lasted nine seasons. They also look back at the episode “Mary the Paralegal,” reliving Sandy Rivers’ debut, Ted’s misguided date, and the first-ever “lawyered” and telepathy jokes. The group reflects on the challenges of shooting without a live audience, the benefits of breaking sitcom norms, and one outdated line they wouldn’t include today. The show opens and closes with moving fan letters that highlight just how deeply HIMYM continues to connect. 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: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:22:10

  --------

  1:22:10
• General Questions | S1E18 "Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM"

  In this General Questions episode following Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M., the hosts dive into the fan reactions and deeper themes behind Ted and Robin’s decisions, exploring moral ambiguity, emotional neediness, and the push-pull dynamics of late-night choices. They reflect on the enduring relevance of these situations—romantic longing, blurred boundaries, and personal regrets—and how the show’s framing device allows for layered interpretation of behavior that’s questionable but deeply human. Production details come up too, including why they didn’t shoot a costly Ashley Williams cutaway and what wedding episodes really cost. They also reflect on the end of season one, revealing how uncertain and scrappy things still felt, even after renewal. Fan Questions We Attempt to Come Close to Answering: How were the questions this week for “Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.”? Is Robin to blame, and was it written that way or left open to interpretation? Was there pushback about showing Ted in such a morally gray light? Do you feel the show’s narrator softens the blow of Ted’s behavior? What was the inspiration behind Victoria? How much did that wedding episode really cost? Were you excited or nervous approaching the end of season one? Is Buttercup a real bakery in New York? 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

  --------  

  25:18

  --------

  25:18
• How Nothing Good Happened

  Josh and Craig dive into the season one favorite “Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.” and talk about ghost stories, juice excuses, and bad decisions made in the middle of the night. They break down why this episode feels more like a play than a sitcom, how Ted gets pulled in every direction (and lies to everyone), and why the moral center of the show still holds up. They celebrate Alexis Denisof’s perfect intro as Sandy Rivers, shout out the music choices, and read two moving fan letters about how the show helped people through hard times. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:04:04

  --------

  1:04:04
• How We Were Steak Sauce | S1E17 "Life Among the Gorillas"

  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. 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

  --------  

  58:06

  --------

  58:06

More TV & Film podcasts

Trending TV & Film podcasts

About How We Made Your Mother