How We Made Your Mother

• General Questions | S1E8 "The Duel"

  In this General Questions bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alec reflect on “The Duel” and answer fan questions about real-life apartments, the emotional weight of physical space, and how props like swords and Shockey came to represent bigger ideas in the show. They also dig into the origins of HIMYM’s many fictional websites, the legacy of Barney’s blog, and the writers assistants who used that material to launch their careers. The conversation blends nostalgia, comedy, and sincerity—covering everything from sentimental goodbyes to apartments, to what it’s like to stage a sitcom sword fight and why leaving a home can feel like losing a piece of yourself. What happened to all the HIMYM websites like TedMosbyIsAJerk.com and Barney’s Blog? Can you bring any of the old sites back? Who actually owns those domains now? Did writing Barney’s Blog help writers assistants get promoted? What real-life places inspired the show’s apartments and bars? Do you have a building from your life that will always feel like “yours”? What was your first apartment like, and did you have objects like Shockey or the swords? Did Craig and Carter have a shared object that symbolized their early years like the swords? What are you doing with your apartment while you’re on tour? Was the sword fight fully choreographed or improvised? Were the swords always part of the set or added for this episode? Why do we get so attached to physical spaces? How do our props and surroundings help us feel at home? Is there such a thing as a forever home, or is home something we carry with us? How did the crew design a realistic but shootable New York apartment? What was it like saying goodbye to the real stage where HIMYM was filmed? 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

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• How We Stabbed Lily | S1E8 "The Duel"

  In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “The Duel,” where Ted, Marshall, and Lily wrestle—literally and emotionally—with what it means to grow up without growing apart. From the iconic sword fight to Barney’s very first attempt at making a “thing” with the Lemon Law, the episode explores fear of change, nostalgia, and the dream of keeping your friends close as life pulls you in different directions. They also discuss how objects carry emotional meaning in HIMYM’s storytelling, the mystical character of New York City, and the very real inspiration behind Shockey the coffee maker. 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: HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life. Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with Car Gurus at cargurus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• General Questions | S1E7 "Matchmaker"

  In this General Questions bonus episode, Josh, Craig, and Alek answer listener questions inspired by “Matchmaker” and the legendary cockamouse. They share memories of life on set—from forgotten script pages to candy carts—and reflect on the ecosystem of people who brought HIMYM to life behind the scenes. The conversation also explores the inspiration behind the matchmaking plot, how Robin’s job helped shrink New York into a small-town setting, and why characters like Ted become verbs among close friends. Plus, they tackle the fan-favorite topic of spoilers (or avoiding them), and reveal whether they ever had an emergency plan to end the series early. Questions We Try to Answer: What’s life like on a sitcom set day-to-day? Did anyone ever try to hide script pages in props or pockets? How did the crew, like the script supervisor, help actors stay on track? What’s the story behind the candy cart and other Fox lot traditions? How did you balance screen time and prep with phones creeping onto set? Was the matchmaking plot based on anyone’s real-life experience? Did this matchmaking service actually exist, and did anyone try it? What made Robin’s job as a local reporter such a useful storytelling tool? Why does Robin’s news fluff piece feel so personal and charming? Why does turning New York into a small town make the show more relatable? Where did the phrase “Tedding out” come from, and what does it mean to the characters? Did the group using Ted’s name as a verb feel affectionate or mocking? Was there ever an emergency plan to wrap the show early if it got canceled 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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• How We Met Our Match | S1E7 "Matchmaker"

  In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit HIMYM Season 1, Episode 7: “Matchmaker.” They break down the hilarious and heartfelt collision of fate and data as Ted tries a professional dating service and meets Camryn Manheim’s character, Ellen, the no-nonsense matchmaker who delivers one of the most memorable guest turns in early HIMYM. They discuss how her storyline puts Ted’s romantic optimism to the test, while Marshall and Lily face off with the mysterious cockamouse in a B-story that has since become a fan favorite. From the real-life origin of the cockamouse to the timeless theme of belief vs. logic, this episode balances absurdity with emotional truth—and gives a nostalgic look at dating before apps took over Check out THIS AMERICAN LIFE episode 766: “Math or Magic.” And JOIN THE FAN FACEBOOK GROUP! 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! Betterhelp: How We Made Your Mother is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/yourmother Advertising inquiries:[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• General Questions | S1E6 "The Slutty Pumpkin"

  In this bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive into the Season 1 fan-favorite episode “The Slutty Pumpkin.” They revisit how the show used Ted’s bizarre romantic traditions to explore themes of hope, faith, and emotional resilience. The conversation also highlights Robin’s struggle with intimacy, the early signs of attachment theory at work in the writing, and the growing chemistry between the cast. They reflect on iconic bits like Marshmallow and Lilypad, Ted’s loud love for a cappella, and the origins of one of the series’ best music moments featuring Nada Surf. Plus: behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Jason Segel’s eyeliner, Neil Patrick Harris’s fire tricks, and a moment of self-examination around the episode’s more dated jokes. General Questions o’ The Week Was Marshall’s dance outlined in the script or mostly improvised? How much improv or ad-libbing happened on How I Met Your Mother? Did being a writer help you stay focused on acting without wanting to rewrite lines? Did Josh invent the “grabbing the heart” move or was it scripted? Who kept Barney’s Mylar silver club shirt? How do you feel now about the scene where Marshall and Lily jump out the window—does it break reality? Was that moment the beginning of using Future Ted as an unreliable narrator? Was Lily’s feeling about “having to grow up” based on real-life experience? When did you realize you’d crossed the line from youth into adulthood? What’s on your personal “Okay Awesome” list—things you’re supposed to like but secretly hate? 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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