Awesome Etiquette
Hosts Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning answer audience questions about modern etiquette with advice based on consideration, respect, and honesty. Like their great-great-grandmother, Emily Post, Lizzie and Dan look for the reasons behinds the traditional rules to guide their search for the correct behavior in all kinds of contemporary situations. Test your social acumen and join the discussion about civility and decency in today's complex world.
451
Episode #111: Handshake Anxiety
Germophobes may be anxious about shaking hands, especially during the cold and flu season. Is there ever a polite way to deny a handshake?
46 min
452
Episode #110: Standing Up For Your Baby Name
You’ve been open about your quest to find the perfect baby name. A friend hears your tentative choice and sends you another list of names to consider. Is she being helpful, or is something else at play?
44 min
453
Episode #109: Mother/Son Political Polarization
A mother and son with opposing political views can work it out by agreeing not to discuss them. But what happens when the mother violates that agreement by posting her strident opinions on her son’s Facebook wall?
56 min
454
Episode #108: Dealing with Unwanted Advances
Let’s say you’re repeatedly hit on at a club or bar. You’re not interested, but you’re also not one to humiliate the prospective suitor. Your friends want you to be more aggressive. What’s the best way to say no?
57 min
455
Episode #107: Cat/Car Quandary
We need listener input on this one. A woman generously loans one of her parking spots to a neighbor, who then complains about the woman’s cat sitting on a car the neighbor is trying to sell. What to do?
48 min
456
Episode #106: Accidental Overexposure
An exhausted, multi-tasking mom greets her nice, new neighbors at the door…underdressed, let’s say. Should she apologize, or just let it go?
45 min
457
Episode #105: Birthday Neglect, Family Tension
Your brother and his wife have a wonderful gift-giving tradition to celebrate your twin daughters’ birthday. But this year they forgot and didn’t even send a card. Should you respond in kind when their kids’ birthdays roll around?
49 min
458
Episode #104: Divorce Drama at the Annual Campout
Handling divorce drama at your annual campout, resolution on the “too much perfume at the office” issue, and more.
47 min
459
Episode #103: Not Enough Cooks in the Kitchen
You’re used to dining out with friends, but then they invite you over for a home-cooked meal. You learn pretty early into the appetizers that they aren’t the most skilled in the kitchen. In fact, it’s pretty bad. Do you say anything to them?
51 min
460
Episode #102: Etiquette in Action!
Ever been floored by someone’s perfume/cologne/scent? What about at work, where you can’t get away? Dan and Lizzie go deep with a demonstration of their 5-step etiquette process when they help out a young woman in the above situation.
45 min
461
Episode #101: Consideration, Respect, and Honesty
Want to know how Lizzie and Dan come up with the answers to the variety of questions on the show? On this episode, they break down their process of applying consideration, respect, and honesty to situations in the world so you can do it yourself.
49 min
462
Episode #100: Episode 100!
On the centennial episode, Lizzie and Dan give the definitive answers to some classic etiquette topics – thank you notes, wedding gifts, dining settings and utensils, and dealing with other people’s bad etiquette.
56 min
463
Episode #99: More Like the Friendship Episode T...
Friendship! Lizzie and Dan talk all about it with questions like this: Friends are telling lies about another friend…so what’s an appropriate response?
56 min
464
Episode #98: Thank You Very Little
Someone has asked you to do them a big, last-minute favor to get them out of a major bind. You do your best, but instead of an enthusiastic thanks, you get criticism of the work you did. What do you say back?
53 min
465
Episode #97: I’ve Got the Next Round
You’ve got a friend who loves to be a part of the crowd. But you’ve noticed that whenever it’s their turn to buy the next round, they’ve suddenly had enough for the night, or have to go somewhere. Should you call them on it, or butt out?
42 min
466
Episode #96: The Clean Plate Club’s Only Member
You’re at a restaurant, and you’re the first person to finish your meal. Everyone else is still enjoying theirs and chatting. Should the server come and get your plate immediately, or wait for the rest of your party to finish?
48 min
467
Episode #95: Let’s Never Do This Again Sometime
You’re out with an acquaintance you don’t see very often. You suddenly hear yourself say “That was fun … we should do it again soon.” But you know you don’t mean it. Are you just following accepted social custom, or are you being rude and disingenuous?
44 min
468
Episode #94: Rent Asunder
The paint is still fresh on the walls, and some unpacked boxes are still sitting in the corner, but you are already getting the dreaded question: ‘Nice place … how much are you paying?
51 min
469
Episode #93: You Are What You Eat
Eating with dietary restrictions can be tricky when you aren’t cooking for yourself. On the show this week, Lizzie and Dan tackle a range of questions about food choices.
45 min
470
Episode #92: Forever Hold Your Peace. Please.
Everyone has an opinion about your wedding. And you’ve tried being nice. So how do you get people to keep their ideas to themselves and let you enjoy your engagement?
45 min
471
Episode #91: Politically Impolite
A listener feels like they are being respectful when talking politics with a friend who supports the other side. But they feel that that respect isn’t being reciprocated. Can they keep having conversations, or will they blow up before November?
45 min
472
Episode #90: An Affair to Remember (and Boycott)
A listener’s brother is recently divorced due to his wife’s infidelity with a local restaurateur. She wants to boycott the man’s establishments when going out with friends, but also keep her brother’s secret. How can she stay true to family but not betray them to her friends?
41 min
473
Episode #89: It’s Not a Character Flaw, It’s a ...
A listener has recently moved to a bigger city, and is wondering how to deal with the people they see on the street who look like they might be experiencing homelessness.
44 min
474
Episode #88: A Prom-Posed Problem
A shy girl just prom-posed to a boy she likes. And he said yes! But then he finds out the prom is on the same night as his mother’s 50th birthday. What’s a boy to do?
36 min
475
Episode #87: When ‘Nice to Meet You’ Isn’t So Nice
A listener is an attorney whose job requires meeting people during very difficult times in their lives. Dan and Lizzie help with language on how to greet new clients in a way that doesn’t imply: You’re getting divorced. Will you be using cash or credit?
44 min