How We Made Your Mother

• How We Made a Cartoon | S1E3 "The Sweet Taste of Liberty"

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

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• General Questions | S1E2 "Purple Giraffe"

  In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek respond to listener questions all about “Purple Giraffe.” They cover everything from how Josh and Cobie developed their early on-screen chemistry to the symbolism of the rooftop and the origin of the show’s callbacks. The team also weighs in on the fan-created “purple vs. yellow” theory, share behind-the-scenes wardrobe details, and talk about how real-life relationships and experiences made their way into the show’s characters. They reflect on what it felt like filming the second episode after the pilot, how the roof became such a central location, and the challenge of balancing screen time in a packed episode. It’s a mix of thoughtful answers, personal stories, and a few very specific snack preferences. Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode: How did Josh and Cobie build their chemistry so quickly on screen? How did you keep track of callbacks throughout the series? What’s your favorite kind of dip? What were you actually drinking at the bar? Was the mood different filming episode 2 compared to the pilot? What inspired the rooftop setting, and do you have personal connections to it? How did you approach casting smaller roles like Carlos? What’s the story behind John Bernthal’s early appearance on the show? How did wardrobe choices affect your performance, especially for Ted? Why did Marshall and Lily’s relationship start out so strong and established? What’s the purple vs. yellow theory, and did you plan it? 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 Advertising inquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  38:14
• How I Met the Roof | S1E2 "Purple Giraffe"

  In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit How I Met Your Mother’s second episode, “Purple Giraffe.” They talk about the pressure of following up the pilot, the decision to structure the story around three parties, and how the show continued to play with time and storytelling. They also reflect on Ted’s optimism, his flaws, and what this episode reveals about his character. The episode includes behind-the-scenes stories about writing, editing, and production, including how the purple giraffe came to be and why the rooftop scene was so important. Josh shares what it was like navigating early fame, and his wife Jordana offers thoughtful insight into Ted’s emotional growth. 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: Surfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/yourmother and use code YOURMOTHER for 4 extra months of Surfshark. Advertising inquiries: [email protected] AND IN CASE IT HELPS: 03:08 Creating Episode Two: Purple Giraffe 06:13 The Challenges of Writing a Second Episode 09:03 The Great Gatsby Influence 17:57 The Essence of Ted Mosby 20:49 Balancing Humor and Heart 35:16 The Art of Cinematic Storytelling 40:39 Ted's Journey: The Tug of War Between Control and Destiny 49:00 The Evolution of Ted: From Childish Dreams to Adult Realities 59:00 Audience Engagement and Community Connection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:10:43
• General Questions | S1E1 "Pilot"

  In this bonus episode, Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas, and producer Alek Lev answer your General Questions—rapid-fire style! From the origin of the “major problem / general question” salute, to behind-the-scenes memories from the pilot, and how Ted’s infamous blue French horn heist was conceived, this episode dives into your burning curiosities. They also reflect on what older Ted would say to younger Ted, how Bob Saget became the voice of future Ted, and the surprising story of how Carl the Bartender ended up on the show. Questions Answered in This Episode: What line from the pilot became Josh’s personal mantra and the name of his corporation? What’s the origin of the “general question / major problem” salute joke? What advice would older Ted give to younger Ted in the pilot? Why did you cast Bob Saget as the voice of future Ted? When did the cast start to realize the group chemistry was special? Did you film all the future kids’ scenes at once? Do you remember watching the pilot for the first time? How much did test audience reactions and executive notes influence the show? What did the actors know about what was coming for their characters? What inspired the blue French horn? Did anyone keep the blue French horn? (Hint: Yes, and it’s in Josh’s house.) What’s the real story behind casting Carl the Bartender? What were your biggest writing influences for the pilot? What movies helped inspire Ted as a character? Will the podcast be filmed? (Yes—check YouTube!) What was the biggest challenge in transitioning Robin into the full group after the pilot? Why would Robin, who lives in Brooklyn, be hanging out on the Upper West Side so much? 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 Advertising inquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  42:45
• Howwww We Met Ted | (S1E1) "Pilot"

  This week, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas kick off the official rewatch of the PILOT episode of How I Met Your Mother! They reflect on the origin of the series, the narrative complexity of the show’s storytelling, and the way the pilot sets up the entire series—from Ted’s romantic optimism to Barney’s legendary schemes. They also revisit memories from filming, discuss the impact of the show’s themes on fans, and answer the big question: If they could rename the first episode, what would it be? 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: BetterHelp: How We Made Your Mother is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/yourmother Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/yourmother Advertising inquiries: [email protected] AND IN CASE IT HELPS: 03:10 Antidote to Loneliness 08:59 Character Dynamics and Relationships 15:03 The Hero's Journey of Ted Mosby 21:00 The Art of Storytelling in the Pilot 27:02 The Cinematic Quality of the Pilot 39:31 Editing and Narrative Structure 43:57 Character Development and Themes 49:22 Fan Reactions and Expectations 01:01:44 The Impact of the Show on Fans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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