How We Made a Cartoon | S1E3 "The Sweet Taste of Liberty"

Our Ongoing Fundraiser + Show Notes

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This week, we’re talking about The Sweet Taste of Liberty which was written by the (then-soon-to-be) Oscar-Winning team of Chris Miller and Phil Lord. See below for full show notes.

At the end of the episode, we hear from a fan and how How I Met Your Mother helped them through a difficult time when their child went through health challenges. From this, series creator and podcast co-host Craig Thomas took some time to talk about his own son’s challenges, and he introduced the permanent fundraising campaign of this podcast, How You Make a Difference, raising money to support congenital heart research. We hope you can help kids like Elliot with a donation today. Here’s Craig, with a few words about our ongoing campaign:

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My son, Elliot, was born with a rare genetic deletion called “11q” or “Jacobsen Syndrome” (J.S.), and began his life with a risky open-heart surgery at just two weeks old.

In the 17 years since he was born, my family and I have been raising funds to support the groundbreaking research of Dr. Paul Grossfeld, who (with his lab team) studies the genetic basis of pediatric heart defects and cognitive disabilities in children.

And when I say, “my family,” I’m also talking about my How I Met Your Mother family. Back at the 20th Century Fox lot, the cast, crew, and friends would gather for annual fundraisers right on Stage 22 where we filmed the show. These were the brainchild of my wife, Rebecca Alson-Milkman, (who was also, B-T-Dubs, the inspiration for one Lily Aldrin). Dedicated to this work, Rebecca understood that the HIMYM community — so generous, so personally invested in Elliot’s journey — would welcome the opportunity to donate their time and resources to this imporant cause.

More recently, I’ve hosted HIMYM-themed fundraising concerts in New York City (and yes, there will be more!) with the help of wonderful series alums like HIMYM co-creator Carter Bays, our band, the Solids (of HIMYM theme-song “fame”), Josh Radnor, Ashley Williams, Will Forte, Matthew Caws, along with, most importantly, my incredible son locking it down on the drum kit behind us.

Now, as the hometown charitable cause of HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER, Josh and I, along with our producer, Alek Lev, are creating How You Made a Difference, which is your chance to support Dr. Grossfeld in his mission to help kids like Elliot.

For our Jacobnsen Syndrome community, Dr. Grossfeld is a beacon of light in the dark, offering life-saving advice, singular expertise and crucial guidance from afar to our local doctors, who often know nothing about 11q. Dr. G is the worldwide expert in Jacobsen Syndrome and his lab is the only one on Earth robustly studying the genetic basis of its many health and developmental implications.

Despite being so crucial to so many, Dr. G’s research is always looking for funding to stay afloat. With federal funding harder than ever to procure, Dr. G's lab would simply close without the support of kind-hearted folks like you! Every penny counts!

So, on behalf of so many families like our own, we thank you. 100% OF YOUR DONATION GOES DIRECTLY TO DR. G’S RESEARCH (Zero overhead!) Plus, we’d encourage you to ask if your employer has a matching program. You could double your donation!

- Craig

DONATE TODAY

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Show Notes:

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “The Sweet Taste of Liberty” and talk about how it marked a shift in tone for the show. The episode introduced Barney’s cartoonish side, the “legend—wait for it—dary” catchphrase, and a more outrageous style of storytelling. They discuss the influence of writers Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the origins of Barney’s character, and the episode’s mission to answer two big questions: Why is this wild man part of the friend group? And how do Robin and Lily become friends?

The conversation also explores how Ted became more reactive in this episode, the challenge of balancing sitcom energy with character growth, and how early episodes were still “auditioning” the show’s style. They end with heartfelt letters from listeners about how How I Met Your Mother impacted their lives—and Craig shares his personal story about making the show while navigating his own family’s medical crisis, adding emotional depth to the series and the podcast.

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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

Nutrafol
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Advertising inquiries:
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AND IN CASE IT HELPS:
00:00 Emotional Growth Through Television
07:14 The Creative Process Behind 'How I Met Your Mother'
14:00 Character Dynamics and Relationships
21:04 The Evolution of Storytelling in Sitcoms
30:54 The Creative Process Behind Iconic Moments
32:41 Balancing Character Arcs and Storytelling
35:49 The Role of Chaos and Creation in Relationships
39:03 Exploring Vulnerability and Masculinity
43:23 Fan Impact and Personal Stories
55:08 The Timelessness of Love and Resilience