Episodes

  • Crickets and Clowns

    Crickets and Clowns
    Mar 18 2026
    This week: How to tell the temperature outside without a thermometer. Plus, how clowns trademark their unique looks.

    Featuring Marlene Zuk and Julie Proctor.

    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.

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    17 mins
  • The Breakfast Rule

    The Breakfast Rule
    Mar 4 2026
    This week: How the Wait, Wait team decides what jokes are too inappropriate for the airwaves. Plus Mike and Ian help a caller with a personal grammar problem.

    Featuring author Keith Houston.

    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.

    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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

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    23 mins
  • Curling Stones and Halfpipe Lines

    Curling Stones and Halfpipe Lines
    Feb 18 2026

    More behind the scenes at the Milan Cortina Olympics with unsung heroes of the Winter Games. Mike and Ian talk with a curling legend, find out where those big stones come from and meet a guy snowboarders couldn't land without.

    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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    19 mins
  • Forks and Ice Masters

    Forks and Ice Masters
    Feb 11 2026

    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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    18 mins
  • Torches and Ski Jumps

    Torches and Ski Jumps
    Feb 4 2026
    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 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.

    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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

    NPR Privacy Policy
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    23 mins
  • Eggs and Bald Eagles

    Eggs and Bald Eagles
    Dec 17 2025

    [Headphones recommended for this episode] Closing out the season with another episode from the archives: Mike and Ian learn how to clean the greatest ceiling in the world and help a listener decide if they should go to the gym or stay in bed.

    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. Production from Nadia Wilson. Technical direction from Lorna White.


    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    20 mins
  • One-Liners and Free Throws

    One-Liners and Free Throws
    Dec 10 2025
    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 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.

    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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

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    27 mins
  • Volcanoes and Roosters

    Volcanoes and Roosters
    Dec 3 2025

    This week from the archives: how to make s’mores with a volcano. Plus a barn animal sanctuary worker wants to know how to live harmoniously with roosters.


    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. Technical direction from Lorna White.


    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins