Podcast Summary: Welcome to How We Made Your Mother Season 2!

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Host: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode Air Date: February 11, 2026
Featured Guests: Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas, Ashley Williams, Cobie Smulders, Joe Manganiello, Bryan Cranston, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey
Duration of Content: ~00:00–05:18

Episode Overview

In this special crossover episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson spotlights the rewatch podcast How We Made Your Mother, hosted by Josh Radnor (Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother) and co-creator Craig Thomas. The episode serves both as a behind-the-scenes intro to the second season of the rewatch podcast and a heartfelt invitation for fans to revisit the beloved series with insight from its cast, creators, and community. Highlights include the impact of the show, fan engagement, notable guest appearances, and the show's ongoing legacy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (00:00–01:17)

• Purpose: Jesse expresses excitement about introducing the How We Made Your Mother podcast to his audience, praising Josh Radnor’s intelligence and ability to provide fresh perspectives on the series (How I Met Your Mother).
  • “Josh is so smart, so intelligent, has such great takes on life. But we also got to chat about his time on How I Met Your Mother... and how much of it still resonates with its millions of viewers.” — Jesse, 00:15
• Connection: Jesse recalls his recent conversation with Josh and encourages listeners to subscribe to their revisitation of the beloved sitcom.

2. Announcement and Show Origins (01:17–01:55)

• Host Introduction: Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas introduce themselves and their roles.
• Show Premise: The duo highlights the intention behind How We Made Your Mother—to do a deep, episode-by-episode rewatch of How I Met Your Mother and explore its cultural impact.
  • “Somehow it has been 20 years since the show premiered... 10 years since it went off the air and we thought that made this a perfect time to look back, see what the hell we did and why the show still seems to resonate with fans around the world today.” — Craig Thomas, 01:39

3. Collaboration with the Office Ladies Network (01:55–02:21)

• Announcement: Josh Radnor announces the podcast is now part of the Office Ladies Network, with support from Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.
  • “We are thrilled to announce that we have now joined the Office Ladies Network and are just beyond excited to be working with Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.” — Josh, 01:55
• Community Focus: Jenna and Angela commend the How We Made Your Mother community for their enthusiasm and engagement.
  • “Something we love about How We Made Your Mother is the amazing community of this show. The fans and people that write in, we think you guys are awesome.” — Jenna Fischer, 02:06

4. Philosophical and Behind-the-Scenes Reflections (02:21–02:42)

• Podcast Style: Angela Kinsey highlights the entertaining and meaningful philosophical detours Josh and Craig often take.
  • “My favorite is when Josh suddenly starts quoting Einstein or some ancient philosopher. And then he and Craig basically break down the meaning of love or the power of friendship or forgiveness or you name it.” — Angela Kinsey, 02:21

5. Memorable Season One Stories (02:42–03:59)

• Relationship Dynamics: Josh recalls iconic moments from season one, especially Ted’s romantic confession to Robin.
  • “But the moment he says, ‘I think I'm in love with you,’ I almost was like, what?” — Josh Radnor, 02:59
• Kissing Scenes: Ashley Williams humorously describes setting boundaries during on-screen kisses, and Josh lovingly teases her technique.
  • “Every time Josh and I had to kiss on the show, I was very careful to have, like, boundaries... the only way I can describe it possibly is, like, hard lips. One time, Josh was like, ‘you kind of, like, are, like, pushing me away with your mouth every time.’” — Ashley Williams, 03:07
  • “I think that's all I was saying. It was like, you’re kissing me weird.” — Josh Radnor, 03:37
• Relatability of the Show: Cobie Smulders reflects on audience diversity and generational connection to the series.
  • “There are people who are our age who are like, ‘I remember being in my 20s watching this show,’ and you’re like, ‘yeah, same, same’ … And then I’ll meet somebody who’s like, 15, and I’m like, ‘you were not alive.’” — Cobie Smulders, 03:43

6. What to Expect in Season Two (03:59–04:35)

• New Guests and Surprises: Teases interviews with Joe Manganiello and Bryan Cranston, emphasizing ongoing secrets and surprises.
  • “People make me do that line to them a lot, btw, which is also another a breathe.” — Joe Manganiello, 04:08
  • “Did you know it was going to be a hit? No one ever knows. But what you do know and what I knew about How I Met Your Mother is that it was good.” — Bryan Cranston, 04:19

7. Community Engagement and Charity (04:35–05:13)

• Global Fanbase: Josh and Craig feature audio shoutouts from fans across the world, highlighting the show’s international reach and emotional significance.
  • Shoutouts from: Naples (FL), UK, Brazil, Colombia, Netherlands, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Texas, Oregon, Bulgaria, India, Chile, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others.
• Fan Appreciation: Listeners express gratitude for the podcast.
  • “Thank you for doing this podcast. I love it. It has meant so much to me.” — Multiple fans, 05:04–05:08
• Philanthropy: Ongoing campaign supporting congenital heart disease research for children.

8. Closing Invitation (05:13–05:18)

• Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to follow and tune in to the podcast on all platforms and revisit season one before joining for season two.
  • “Follow and listen to How We Made Your Mother wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear all episodes of season one now and join Josh and Craig as they dive into season two.” — Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 05:13

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Reflecting on Time:

  • “Somehow it has been 20 years since the show premiered... 10 years since it went off the air.” — Craig Thomas, 01:39

• On Fan Connections:

  • “There are people who are our age who are like, ‘I remember being in my 20s watching this show...’ And then I’ll meet somebody who’s like, 15, and I’m like, ‘you were not alive.’” — Cobie Smulders, 03:43

• On the Mystery of Success:

  • “Did you know it was going to be a hit? No one ever knows. But what you do know... is that it was good.” — Bryan Cranston, 04:19

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00–01:17: Jesse introduces the crossover and praises Josh Radnor
• 01:17–01:55: Josh and Craig introduce the rewatch podcast, reflect on the show’s legacy
• 01:55–02:21: Partnership with Office Ladies Network; fan community praised
• 02:21–02:42: Angela describes the philosophical tangents of the podcast
• 02:42–03:59: Season one stories, on-screen romance, humor from Ashley Williams/Josh, Cobie on generational fandom
• 03:59–04:35: Teasing season two guests: Joe Manganiello, Bryan Cranston
• 04:35–05:13: Audio messages from international fans, charity spotlight
• 05:13–05:18: Call to action to subscribe and tune in

Tone and Language

Warm, candid, humorous, occasionally philosophical—true to the spirit of both Dinner’s on Me and How We Made Your Mother. The conversation gracefully intertwines nostalgia with new insights, inviting both longtime fans and newcomers to join the journey.

Summary

This episode is a warm, inviting bridge into the world of How We Made Your Mother, offering listeners a taste of reflective storytelling, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and a celebration of enduring fandom. With appearances by cast, creators, and even global fans, it’s an engaging invitation to (re)discover what makes How I Met Your Mother so timeless—and why these conversations matter as much as ever.