How We Stabbed Lily | S1E8 "The Duel"

Explicit content warning

05/12/25 • 63 min

1 Listener

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “The Duel,” where Ted, Marshall, and Lily wrestle—literally and emotionally—with what it means to grow up without growing apart. From the iconic sword fight to Barney’s very first attempt at making a “thing” with the Lemon Law, the episode explores fear of change, nostalgia, and the dream of keeping your friends close as life pulls you in different directions. They also discuss how objects carry emotional meaning in HIMYM’s storytelling, the mystical character of New York City, and the very real inspiration behind Shockey the coffee maker.

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

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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:

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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)

I nstagram

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:

HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/YOURMOTHER10FM now to get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life.

Car Gurus: Buy or sell your next car today with Car Gurus at cargurus.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous Episode

General Questions | S1E7 "Matchmaker"

In this General Questions bonus episode, Josh, Craig, and Alek answer listener questions inspired by “Matchmaker” and the legendary cockamouse. They share memories of life on set—from forgotten script pages to candy carts—and reflect on the ecosystem of people who brought HIMYM to life behind the scenes. The conversation also explores the inspiration behind the matchmaking plot, how Robin’s job helped shrink New York into a small-town setting, and why characters like Ted become verbs among close friends. Plus, they tackle the fan-favorite topic of spoilers (or avoiding them), and reveal whether they ever had an emergency plan to end the series early.

Questions We Try to Answer:

What’s life like on a sitcom set day-to-day?
Did anyone ever try to hide script pages in props or pockets?
How did the crew, like the script supervisor, help actors stay on track?
What’s the story behind the candy cart and other Fox lot traditions?
How did you balance screen time and prep with phones creeping onto set?
Was the matchmaking plot based on anyone’s real-life experience?
Did this matchmaking service actually exist, and did anyone try it?
What made Robin’s job as a local reporter such a useful storytelling tool?
Why does Robin’s news fluff piece feel so personal and charming?
Why does turning New York into a small town make the show more relatable?
Where did the phrase “Tedding out” come from, and what does it mean to the characters?
Did the group using Ted’s name as a verb feel affectionate or mocking?
Was there ever an emergency plan to wrap the show early if it got canceled

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:[email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next Episode

General Questions | S1E8 "The Duel"

In this General Questions bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alec reflect on “The Duel” and answer fan questions about real-life apartments, the emotional weight of physical space, and how props like swords and Shockey came to represent bigger ideas in the show. They also dig into the origins of HIMYM’s many fictional websites, the legacy of Barney’s blog, and the writers assistants who used that material to launch their careers. The conversation blends nostalgia, comedy, and sincerity—covering everything from sentimental goodbyes to apartments, to what it’s like to stage a sitcom sword fight and why leaving a home can feel like losing a piece of yourself.

What happened to all the HIMYM websites like TedMosbyIsAJerk.com and Barney’s Blog?
Can you bring any of the old sites back?
Who actually owns those domains now?
Did writing Barney’s Blog help writers assistants get promoted?
What real-life places inspired the show’s apartments and bars?
Do you have a building from your life that will always feel like “yours”?
What was your first apartment like, and did you have objects like Shockey or the swords?
Did Craig and Carter have a shared object that symbolized their early years like the swords?
What are you doing with your apartment while you’re on tour?
Was the sword fight fully choreographed or improvised?
Were the swords always part of the set or added for this episode?
Why do we get so attached to physical spaces?
How do our props and surroundings help us feel at home?
Is there such a thing as a forever home, or is home something we carry with us?
How did the crew design a realistic but shootable New York apartment?
What was it like saying goodbye to the real stage where HIMYM was filmed?