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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 | S1E19 "Mary the Paralegal"

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Manage episode 500297781 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.

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

  continue reading

50 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 500297781 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.

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

  continue reading

50 episodes

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