How To Do Everything
NPR
Half advice show. Half survival guide. Half absurdity-fest. (Wait, how does this work again? We're not numbers people.) Each episode, we answer all your burning questions, from how to survive a public bathroom to how to get close to a panda. When we don't know the answer, which is roughly 92% of the time (again, not numbers people), we bring in overqualified experts to help out. So you'll eventually walk away knowing how to do <em>everything.</em> That's what happens when you're one & a half shows. From the team at <em>Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!</em>
- 23 minutes 3 secondsTorches and Ski Jumps
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 [email protected].
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
NPR Privacy Policy4 February 2026, 8:00 am - 19 minutes 33 secondsEggs and Bald Eagles
[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 [email protected].
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.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy17 December 2025, 8:00 am - 26 minutes 54 secondsOne-Liners and Free Throws
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 [email protected].
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 Policy10 December 2025, 8:00 am - 18 minutes 23 secondsVolcanoes and Roosters
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 [email protected].
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.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy3 December 2025, 8:00 am - 19 minutes 28 secondsCarsickness And Traffic Jams
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 [email protected].
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 Policy26 November 2025, 8:00 am - 16 minutes 51 secondsThe Gilligan RuleThis week from the archives: a fire captain puts out a fire with the help of an unexpected beverage, showrunner Vince Gilligan discloses when it’s appropriate to drop a spoiler, and what ever happened to the lost fourth Rice Krispie elf?
You can email your burning questions to [email protected].
The first-ever NPR Pod Club Awards are coming up, and YOU get to crown the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Vote for our show here!
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 Stephen Tobias. Technical direction from Lorna White.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy19 November 2025, 8:00 am - 18 minutes 13 secondsBroadway Musicals And Best In Show
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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 Policy12 November 2025, 8:00 am - 19 minutes 13 secondsTalent Shows & Phone Call EtiquetteThis week from the archives: how to stand out at a talent show, how to go to the bathroom during an important phone call, and an unlikely way to check the Wifi on a plane. Plus a “where is he now” 12 years later.
You can email your burning questions to [email protected].
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. This episode was produced by Blythe Haaga. Technical direction from Lorna White.
And if you’d like us to be your out of office emergency contact, here’s the copy:
“I am OOO from (INSERT DATES HERE). For any urgent concerns, please email Mike and Ian at [email protected]. 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 Policy5 November 2025, 8:00 am - 17 minutes 34 secondsMotivation, Secret Messages, and Stealing Your Thunder
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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 Policy29 October 2025, 7:00 am - 23 minutes 40 secondsSigns of Winter, Mystery Smells, and Blimps At Night
This week from the archives: Mike and Ian search for signs of winter, and Peter test-smells a mystery scent from a professional flavor chemist. Plus a Goodyear blimp pilot reveals more than you’d ever think to ask about blimps including where they go to sleep at night.
You can email your burning questions to [email protected].
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. This episode was produced by Gillian Donovan. Technical direction from Lorna White.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy22 October 2025, 7:00 am - 27 minutes 20 secondsEarthquakes, Dentists, and How To Talk To Your Dog
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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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