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HTDE: Forks and Ice Masters

✇NPR
By:NPR
11 February 2026 at 03:00

This week: Mike and Ian talk with an Olympic Ice Master, help a listener who keeps meeting people with their same name, and get to the bottom of a mysterious survey glitch.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Schuyler Swenson. Technical direction from Lorna White.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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HTDE: Torches and Ski Jumps

✇NPR
By:NPR
4 February 2026 at 03:00
Mike and Ian are back, just in time for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina. Olympians and Starfleet Captains share how to carry the torch, fly through the air, and mentally prepare for the big games.


You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.


How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.
How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Schuyler Swenson and Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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We ask Peter about the guest who's most surprised him, plus other listener questions

✇NPR
By:NPR
15 December 2025 at 22:41
It's another Peter AMA (Ask Me Anything)! Wait Wait visual host Emma Choi puts your questions to the big man himself -- Peter Sagal. If he had to listen to one song for the rest of his life what would it be? What actor would Peter cast to play him in a Wait Wait movie? What does Peter listen to when he runs? We get answers to those and other questions, including one about Peter's role in the making of "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights"?!?!? 

This normally would be a bonus episode just for Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!+ listeners. With this being the season of giving, we're sharing this one with everyone! To hear part 2 of Peter's AMA, make sure you're signed up for Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!+. You also get regular episodes sponsor-free and support the work of NPR. For more details, go to plus.npr.org/waitwait. 

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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HTDE: One-Liners and Free Throws

✇NPR
By:NPR
10 December 2025 at 03:00
Ian and Mike help a listener lighten the mood with her clients, help another listener mess with an opponent’s free throw shot, and Peter Sagal shares his secret for falling asleep on an airplane.


You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.


How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Schuyler Swenson and Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: Carsickness And Traffic Jams

✇NPR
By:NPR
26 November 2025 at 03:00

Ian and Mike look to the skies to help a listener solve her problem with motion sickness. Plus, a survivor of the longest recorded traffic jam in history shares how she got through it.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Schuyler Swenson and Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: Broadway Musicals And Best In Show

✇NPR
By:NPR
12 November 2025 at 03:00

This week: A Broadway star tells us how he finished the New York Marathon and then performed in two shows back to back, a wife seeks advice on how best to shave her hairy companion, plus, are the lyrics to Bye Bye Birdie what we think they are?

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava and Schuyler Swenson. Technical direction from Lorna White.


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And if you’d like us to be your out of office emergency contact, use this copy:

“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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HTDE: Motivation, Secret Messages, and Stealing Your Thunder

✇NPR
By:NPR
29 October 2025 at 03:00

This week: Filmmaker Alice Wu shares a clever trick to help you finally finish that thing you’ve been working on, why teenagers are taking over the comments sections of old podcast episodes, and the origins of the phrase “steal your thunder”. Plus we continue in our quest to be your out of office emergency contact.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava and Schuyler Swenson. Technical direction from Lorna White.

******

(Once again) after listening:

“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: Earthquakes, Dentists, and How To Talk To Your Dog

✇NPR
By:NPR
15 October 2025 at 03:00

On today’s episode: a bold new way to help out when an earthquake hits, and Mike and Ian help out a listener with the help of a friendly dentist and a dog named Stella. Plus, our continuing commitment to be your Out of Office emergency contact turns into a surprise birthday celebration.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't…Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

 

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Schuyler Swenson. Technical direction from Lorna White.


******

(Once again) after listening:

“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: AI, War, and Exercise, with Arnold Schwarzenegger

✇NPR
By:NPR
1 October 2025 at 04:00
On today’s episode, how to get rid of Google’s AI summaries, and we help a listener who wants to exercise in her car during a long commute–with an assist from a very overqualified exerciser and a very overqualified driver. Plus we talk about a possible connection between pizza and war with The Washington Post’s Tim Carman.

You can check out Tim’s piece here and Juan's training routine here. And you can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.

******

(Once again) after listening:

“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: How To Make Lasagna Without An Oven, with Peter Sagal

✇NPR
By:NPR
17 September 2025 at 04:00
Today, Mike and Ian recruit the help of legendary Taste-Tester-Turned-Public-Radio-Host Peter Sagal to rate a new, unorthodox approach to making lasagna. Plus, a listener calls in claiming he’s physically incapable of burping, so the guys ask a medical professional to help him out.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org.

How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.

******

(Once again) after listening:

“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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HTDE: OOO Baby, with Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón

✇NPR
By:NPR
3 September 2025 at 04:00

We are so back! How To Do Everything returns for a packed second season. This episode, one listener asks Mike and Ian how to write the perfect “out of office” message. So, they confer with the highest language authority in the land, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón.

Comedians Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon join the show to answer your couple’s advice questions, some stranger than others. Plus, a fashion tip for your post-Labor Day needs.

You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org. 

How To Do Everything won’t live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.

How To Do Everything is available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! featuring show outtakes, extended guest interviews, and a chance to play an exclusive WW+ quiz game with Peter! Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org.

How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.

******

After listening:
“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at howto@npr.org. Please bear in mind that Mike and Ian don’t know anything about anything and their help may in fact make your urgent concern worse, but they did promise to answer any email they get from this out of office message.”

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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