How We Made Your Mother

In this General Questions bonus episode, Josh, Craig, and Alek field fan-submitted questions all about Season 1, Episode 4: “Return of the Shirt.” They dig into nostalgia, memory, and what it means to go back to a past relationship—or a past version of yourself. The conversation also covers the symbolism of “the shirt,” how wardrobe choices are made, and the deeper meaning of memory in both life and storytelling. They explore how music shapes emotional memory, revisit HIMYM’s digital side quests (RIP, Barney’s Blog), and wrestle with one line that hasn’t aged well. Plus, sock monkeys, Bell and Sebastian, and why it might be time to resurrect some very 2005-era websites. Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode: As you’re rewatching, is it strange to watch yourself interact with everyone before you actually knew them well? How much input did you both have on clothing choices throughout the rest of the show? How many days does the costume department have between getting the script and needing wardrobe ready to go? Do you think nostalgia makes us see past relationships in a better light than they actually were? What are your thoughts on how memory shapes what we remember about our lives and relationships? Is what we’re watching the actual story Ted tells his kids, or are we seeing a more unfiltered version? How did you choose the music for the show, and what are your musical influences? Why were all the websites from the show taken down, and will they ever come back? How do you feel now about the “beat up by a girl” joke at the end of the episode? 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: hwmym@wearebv.com AND IN CASE IT HELPS: 02:00 Engaging with Fan Questions 03:35 Exploring Actor Relationships 05:30 Costume Design Insights 07:58 Production Flow and Challenges 15:22 The Nostalgia Trap: Yearning for the Past 18:06 Memory and Storytelling: The Unreliable Narrator 21:57 The Role of Music in Memory and Life 28:01 The Digital Footprint: Lost Websites and Fan Engagement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig are joined by longtime HIMYM writer and producer Kourtney Kang to break down Season 1, Episode 4: “Return of the Shirt.” Together, they explore the emotional roots of the story—from the awkwardness of rekindling old relationships to the anxiety of breaking up with someone (twice, on their birthday, at a surprise party). They also highlight how this episode marks a turning point for Robin as a comedic character and showcases one of the earliest examples of the show’s signature blend of heart and absurdity. Plus, the real story behind the sock monkey, the birth of the “ineffable” joke, and why Belle and Sebastian helped define the HIMYM vibe. 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 Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/yourmother Advertising inquiries: hwmym@wearebv.com AND IN CASE IT HELPS: 02:18 Writer's Journey and Personal Growth 06:06 The Complexity of Relationships 10:48 The Role of the Shirt in the Episode 18:29 The Dynamics of Ted and Robin 27:13 The Writer's Room Experience 35:14 The Art of Comedy and Writing 40:45 The Journey of a TV Writer 44:00 The Magic of Sock Monkeys and Montages 49:23 Memorable Moments from the Shoot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive deep into how How I Met Your Mother actually got made. They walk through the production week—from table reads to rewrites, from blocking to shooting—and share behind-the-scenes memories from the early days of the show. They also revisit the creation of the show’s opening credits, the music choices that almost happened, and the story behind Barney’s first big catchphrase. A true behind-the-scenes look at how television comes together—complete with New York Street, Liberty Bell licking, and Barney zipped in a suitcase. Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode: How far into filming did you create the opening sequence and bar photos? Was the opening montage made just for this episode? Is the basement in this episode the same as Stella’s house later in the series? Did the studio or network have to approve the title sequence? What was a typical production week like for Josh and Craig? How did scripts get delivered to the cast? Did actors ever feel responsible for jokes being cut after table reads? What sets were permanent and which ones changed? What was it like filming on New York Street? Where did the idea of picking up girls at the airport come from? Is Barney actually successful at picking up women in the early episodes? How many takes did it take to film the police room scene with Neil? Were there a lot of bloopers in season one? Was Ted too bummed out in this episode? Why do they keep hanging out with Barney? Who came up with “legend—wait for it—dary”? Did Chris Miller and Phil Lord invent some of Barney’s signature language? How many HIMYM fans have actually tried to lick the Liberty Bell? Why was there drink service on a flight from NYC to Philly? 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: hwmym@wearebv.com AND IN CASE IT HELPS: 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Episode 01:41 Behind the Scenes of Episode Production 06:45 The Table Read Experience 10:10 Script Revisions and Feedback Process 17:00 Shooting Schedule and Production Insights 21:32 The Writer's Room: Crafting Ideas and Characters 22:01 Barney's Character: The Comedic Genius 26:00 Memorable Scenes: Bloopers and Behind-the-Scenes Fun 30:08 The Evolution of Humor: Legendary Moments 34:21 Friendship Dynamics: Ted and Barney's Relationship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: hwmym@wearebv.com 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

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: hwmym@wearebv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices