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Content provided by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
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General Questions | S1E16 "Cupcake"

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Manage episode 496192096 series 3644504
Content provided by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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

  continue reading

45 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 496192096 series 3644504
Content provided by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Kavan Braun, Josh Radnor, and Craig Thomas or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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

  continue reading

45 episodes

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