Anniversary Bonus: Holding Teacups Properly, Escaping Boring People, Clapping for Plane Landings, and More

Nick: Hey there, it's Nick.

Leah: And it's Leah.

Nick: So this is our anniversary, Leah. This is our sixth anniversary.

Leah: I mean, it's insane, Nick.

Nick: Which is iron. The gift I should give you, the material that's associated with six years is iron. So there you go.

Leah: I mean, that sounds very Game of Thrones.

Nick: [laughs] So as Leah and I were thinking about, like, oh, what should we do for this, I came across a episode in the archives that never aired. And I'm not actually really sure why we recorded this. This was like a test episode. This was not actually a real episode, this was just sort of to, like, see how the music worked, I think. I don't think this was ever meant to be an episode.

Leah: I mean, this was—you said it was the third episode.

Nick: Well, in my files, it's marked as 'episode three,' but there was another episode that is actually episode three.

Leah: I mean, and when you listen to it, you are like, "Oh, this is episode three. This is fresh Leah and Nick."

Nick: Yeah. No, this is very early. And yeah, you could definitely tell our style has evolved.

Leah: I mean, so much.

Nick: But the basics are there. I mean, the template of the show exists. It's all—it's all there. All the pieces are there, but it's sort of like, you know how lasagna is better the next day?

Leah: I also love it when it's warm, when it just comes out.

Nick: No, but, you know, lasagna ...

Leah: It seeps in.

Nick: It needs a seep, and all the flavors need to kind of melt. Go with this, Leah, this metaphor.

Leah: I just got so hungry that I was like, "I could eat it now."

Nick: [laughs] But there are certain things that do need a little time to sort of marinate, soak up the juices, have the flavors meld, mellow. And I think our show has done that. And so this is just a fresh lasagna.

Leah: And I mean, Nick and I's relationship has deepened so much.

Nick: Oh, for sure. Yes. Also, the amuse bouche in this is actually an amuse bouche we did, like, two years later. And I think both of us had just forgotten that we had talked about it before.

Leah: And I—when I listened to it, I was like, "Oh, wow!" And then we thought it would be really fun to share with our audience, so you guys can remember ...

Nick: Yeah.

Leah: ... from whence we came.

Nick: Yes. And I love that this is something that has just never aired. Nobody's ever heard it before.

Leah: We did delete one question.

Nick: Oh, that's true. Yeah. There was one question that was just a little boob heavy, I would say Too much.

Leah: [laughs] It was a lot. I was like, "Wow!" I mean, that's like a 10-minute conversation.

Nick: [laughs] Well, the question was: how to ask somebody—if you like their bra. Like, if you saw a stranger, like, "Oh, I like your bra." Like, are you allowed to ask, like, "Oh, where'd you get your bra?"

Leah: [laughs] Yeah.

Nick: Nut just we—it just went on for too long.

Leah: I mean, it was like a saga.

Nick: And turns out, no, you just can't. I'll just bottom line it for you.

Leah: Although I was committed to finding a way to ask.

Nick: Yes. So—oh, we're teasing our audience with this question that they'll never hear later.

Leah: Well, it was just if somebody wants to write in and ask us again, we'd handle it in a different way.

Nick: That's true. Yeah. We would probably be more delicate about it. Yes. Yeah. So listeners, if you're curious how to ask somebody if you like their bra where they got it, you know, let us know. We'll put it back in the hopper.

Leah: [laughs]

Nick: So I think it's fun, though. I think it's great to see that we've grown so much. And I also like that our show really—it started out of the gate pretty complete. All the pieces were there.

Leah: It's very organized.

Nick: Yeah. So I really like that. Like, okay, we kind of came out of the gate with something, and then we've just polished it as time went on. So we hope you enjoy this episode three unairing, whatever this thing is.

Leah: The unveiling of an unheard ...

Nick: Never before heard. Yes.

Leah: Never before heard. Probably for a good reason.

Nick: Yeah. Yeah. Luckily, it's short.

Leah: It's short, so you guys don't have to put up with it for too long.

Nick: So enjoy!

Nick: Do you clap when an airplane lands? Do you hold a teacup like it's a handgun? Do you trap people in conversation at a party? Were you raised by wolves? Let's find out!

[Theme Song]

Here are things that can make it better

When we have to live together

We can all use a little help

So people don't ask themselves

Were you raised by wolves?

Nick: Hey, everybody. Welcome to the show. I'm Nick Leighton. And by my side today, Leah Bonnema.

Leah: Hello!

Nick: So let's get right to it with our amuse bouche.

Leah: Yes.

Nick: Leah, do you know the right way to hold a teacup?

Leah: Um, I know that you know that I don't.

Nick: I've seen your Instagram.

Leah: I saw a picture of it, and it has been a thorn. I didn't know it was wrong.

Nick: Oh, it's really wrong. So for those who do not follow Leah on Instagram, she has this photo where she is basically holding a teacup like it's a handgun.

Leah: How great that I know how to hold a handgun, though.

Nick: It's scary, actually, a little bit.

Leah: Who's gonna be your friend in the apocalypse?

Nick: Valid. Yes, that is valid. We will not be asking permission for anything during the apocalypse. So you basically are pulling the trigger on this teacup. And for those who cannot see us recording, Leah is trying to demonstrate with her hands what is happening with the teacup.

Leah: That is true. That is how I held it.

Nick: So the correct way to do this is to not treat a teacup like it's a handgun. You're not gonna pull the trigger with your thumb on the hammer. You want to pinch the cup on the side. Here's a teacup for—I'm showing Leah a teacup.

Leah: He's holding a teacup.

Nick: You pinch the side, and then with your index finger and thumb, you kind of go through the hole there.

Leah: I see what you're doing.

Nick: Yeah. The correct thing.

Leah: I think maybe we could post a picture with this episode online of the correct way to hold it.

Nick: Yeah, we'll do something.

Leah: And also the alternative way to hold it if you're more of a thumb person. [laughs]

Nick: Well, if you're a thumb person, it's wrong. So if you have your thumb on the top, this is incorrect.

Leah: Okay.

Nick: And just so we're all clear, no pinky out. Always keep your pinky in.

Leah: Okay.

Nick: I feel like you sound so defeated.

Leah: I just—I mean, I'm learning it.

Nick: [laughs] Thanks, Leah.

Leah: No problem.

Nick: And after the break, there's much more Raised by Wolves to come. Stay tuned!

Nick: And we're back. And now I want to talk about when you are at a cocktail party, and you are stuck with the world's most boring person and you want to get out of this conversation. What do you do?

Leah: You have to go to the bathroom.

Nick: That's it for you?

Leah: Yeah. I mean, I feel like that way it's not personal. Or you'd be like, "I have to do a quick walk around the room for a business." Is this a party?

Nick: [laughs] For a business.

Leah: You know, for business.

Nick: I have a business.

Leah: I have to just do a quick say thank you to everybody.

Nick: Yeah, I think a polite "Oh, would you excuse me?" is good. But sometimes there's no way to sort of interject that into the conversation if they're, like, really dominating the conversation.

Leah: That's when you have to pee. "Oh!" You know, you gotta do a face so it's believable. "Oh!"

Nick: Oh, very sudden.

Leah: Yeah. Like, "Oh, it's happening right now."

Nick: Okay. I feel like that works better for you than for most of the population.

Leah: [laughs] Really?

Nick: Yeah. I feel like I can't fake a sudden, urgent, non-negotiable bathroom run.

Leah: Really?

Nick: Yeah.

Leah: I think you could. You'd just be like—and then you just sort of have to, like, all of a sudden stiffen up, so it's like your whole body.

Nick: And you were twitching as you did that, too. Okay.

Leah: And you'd just be like, "Oh, my goodness!" And then people are like, "Oh, go! Go!" And then you just never walk back to that side of the room again.

Nick: Okay. That's an option. Something I do, which I think is very handy, especially if it's like a networking business event, is you ask them for their business card, because that kind of gives, like, a nice break in the conversation. And then you can transition from the business card to, "Oh, so nice to meet you, Hope to see you again."

Leah: Oh, that's good!

Nick: Right? So I like a nice business card. If they do not have a business card, then your plan is foiled, and then you are sort of giving the sense that you care more than you really did. But it's good if you think they have business cards.

Leah: You could say, "Oh, let me give you mine."

Nick: Uh-huh. Okay.

Leah: And then if that doesn't work, then you have to go back to my pee—my pee plan.

Nick: It always comes back to the pee plan.

Leah: [laughs]

Nick: Another thing I try and do is going to a secondary location. Should never do that for kidnappers.

Leah: I was like, I thought that was a no.

Nick: But when it comes to this, it's a yes. So you want to invite them to, like, "Oh, come with me to the bar."

Leah: But aren't you trying to get away from them?

Nick: Yeah, but when you go to a secondary location with them, it gives you more opportunity to pawn them off on somebody else.

Leah: Oh! Evil!

Nick: Right? So you want to—you want to have co-conspirators.

Leah: Okay.

Nick: Similarly, if you go to a party with a buddy, you want to, like, have your buddy help you out.

Leah: Right.

Nick: So you should always keep your eye on your buddy, too.

Leah: Right.

Nick: To see if they need help.

Leah: I think that's great. Okay.

Nick: [laughs] Another way to think about it is: What can you get out of this? Is leaving this boring person so horrible? Is this an opportunity for you to, like, practice material?

Leah: Oh, I don't practice material on people.

Nick: No?

Leah: No. But sometimes people have very interesting things that I think you just have to coax it out of them because they don't know how to talk about themselves.

Nick: No, I think some people are inherently boring.

Leah: I'd like to believe that somewhere inside of them ...

Nick: No. No, there are people that are just boring.

Leah: Or you can always drop a really inappropriate smidgen of conversation and see what happens.

Nick: Such as?

Leah: One time I was at a party, and I can't actually say this out loud because you'll never be my friend again.

Nick: [laughs]

Leah: But I said something. I actually didn't even mean it as inappropriate; I just thought it was interesting. Cleared the room, and then I was like, "I guess these weren't my people."

Nick: I feel like this is not safe for this podcast, whatever anecdote you're about to say.

Leah: [laughs] It was a medical thing that I was just wondering if it ever happened to anybody and nobody wanted to talk about it. [laughs]

Nick: Okay, so that's a good strategy. If the pee thing doesn't work, discuss inappropriate medical procedures.

Leah: Yeah. People go so fast.

Nick: Okay, good to know. I think also it's important to note that the boring thing works both ways, and that you could be the boring one and you could be the one trapping others.

Leah: That's so true.

Nick: So I think you have to be very sensitive to whether or not someone has to go to the bathroom urgently in front of you. And if that's just an excuse or not, or if that's a signal that you're being really boring.

Leah: Sometimes you're just incompatible talkers. You're not gonna be boring to other people, but with the two of—you're just—it's not gonna work.

Nick: So after the break, we're gonna take questions from the wilderness.

Leah: [gasps]

Nick: Stay tuned.

Nick: And we're back. And now is the time where we take some questions from you, our audience in the wilderness.

Leah: So exciting.

Nick: So the first is: Is it okay to clap when an airplane lands?

Leah: I really am split down the middle on this. I'm gonna leave it to you.

Nick: Wait, how are you split? No is the answer.

Leah: Because some people are just really enthusiastic people, and I want to support them in being happy.

Nick: But that's not what etiquette is.

Leah: But there's some—maybe they're making the pilot feel nice.

Nick: The pilot, chances are, cannot hear the passengers clapping.

Leah: Maybe they can.

Nick: Okay.

Leah: So you think it's a definite no?

Nick: It is a definite no. Like, I don't clap when my Uber arrives at my apartment.

Leah: Oh, I may do that. [laughs]

Nick: You may do that. I mean, I think this only even happens for vacation destinations. I've only had this happen on an airplane when I was landing in New Orleans. I've never had this happen landing in Frankfurt.

Leah: Right.

Nick: Like, this is not like a, "Oh, yay! We're at our business trip!" So I think it has to do with the destination.

Leah: I ended up having an emergency landing. And we were all clapping because we weren't dead. That's what that was.

Nick: I guess that is one of the few occasions when it's fine. Like, being glad you're not dead.

Leah: Yeah. I think if you're glad you're not dead, you're welcome to clap.

Nick: Okay. That's a fair exception. And the other exception, I guess, is if it's, like, an inaugural route, like this is the first flight from Sydney to New York.

Leah: Yep.

Nick: Or it's, like, the pilot's last flight ever before retiring.

Leah: Yes.

Nick: I don't know how we would know that as passengers unless he announced that.

Leah: And I wouldn't want it to be announced if it was their first. I'm gonna tell that if there's anybody that's out there, don't announce it. We don't want to know.

Nick: But that would fall in the same category as, oh, I'm glad we didn't die.

Leah: Yeah, that's true. Then we would clap.

Nick: So yeah, don't clap, I think is just the answer. Like, don't

Leah: Okay.

Nick: I mean. Yeah. No, there's no—please don't.

Leah: I feel like if you want to celebrate happiness, do you.

Nick: No.

Leah: [laughs]

Nick: So do you have a question for us out there? Oh yes, you do! And there's lots of ways you can get those questions to us. Visit our website, WereYouRaisedByWolves.com. Or you can email us ask [at] wereyouraisedbywolves [dot] com. Or you can leave us a voicemail or send a text message to ...

Leah: Which is the funnest, probably.

Nick: We think it's the most fun. So send that to (267) CALL-RBW. That's (267) CALL-RBW. And we're not in Philadelphia. That's just, like, the phone number we were able to get. So send in your questions. And there's more Raised by Wolves to come. Stay tuned.

Nick: So what have we learned today?

Leah: I feel like we've learned a lot about our relationship.

Nick: I think we have definitely learned a lot about each other, yeah. I don't know how helpful we've been to the audience, but I definitely know that you are happy to clap on an airplane.

Leah: I'm not gonna clap, but I feel fine letting other people clap if that's how they express their—a lot of people are anxious, and if that makes them feel better, okay.

Nick: Yeah. No, we gotta keep that inside.

Leah: [laughs]

Nick: Keep that inside. Well, thank you, Leah.

Leah: Thank you.

Nick: This was a treat.

Leah: I feel good.

Nick: [laughs] And thank you out there for listening. If I had your address, I'd send you a handwritten thank-you note on my hand engraved social stationery. Please subscribe and rate us on iTunes and follow us on all the social medias. Send us your questions through our website: WereYouRaisedByWolves.com. And now hopefully nobody will ask: Were you raised by wolves? See you next time!