The Why Factor

The Why Factor

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions


Episodes

Title Duration Published Consumed
Millennials and business 00:23:07 2020-02-03 17:09
Why do we text instead of talk? 00:24:17 2020-01-27 14:56
Why do physical scars matter? 00:23:51 2020-01-20 14:56
Dystopias 00:23:28 2020-01-13 14:55
Victim blaming 00:24:08 2020-01-06 14:56
Parties 00:23:58 2019-12-16 14:56
Resilience 00:23:50 2019-12-09 14:56
Why does music affect the way we feel? 00:22:58 2019-12-02 14:56
Why do we need to talk about men? 00:24:04 2019-11-25 14:56
Why grandparents are important 00:24:05 2019-11-18 14:56
Why do we cheat on our partners? 00:24:01 2019-11-11 15:10
Why are we conscious? 00:23:38 2019-11-04 14:56
Why are we conscious of so little? 00:24:26 2019-10-28 14:56
Why are we shy? 00:23:41 2019-10-21 14:56
Intuition: Why should we be cautious of it? 00:23:54 2019-10-14 14:58
Intuition: Why should we trust it? 00:24:06 2019-10-07 14:56
Why do we love camping? 00:24:18 2019-09-30 14:56
Why do some people reject society? 00:24:20 2019-09-23 14:56
Why are we so gloomy about the world? 00:23:07 2019-09-16 10:30
Why do we (still) wear make-up? 00:23:26 2019-08-26 14:57
Why learn to be happy? 00:23:58 2019-08-19 14:57
Why do funerals matter? 00:24:26 2019-08-12 14:57
Why do we blend? 00:24:08 2019-08-05 14:57
Why does nature calm anxiety? 00:22:58 2019-07-29 14:56
Why do we care so much about games? 00:23:13 2019-07-22 14:58
Why do some people become hermits? 00:24:14 2019-07-15 14:56
Why should we work together? 00:23:12 2019-07-08 15:00
Schadenfreude 00:23:18 2019-07-01 14:56
Why aren’t more women in computer science? 00:24:42 2019-06-24 14:58
Why do we care where we come from? 00:24:39 2019-06-17 15:00
Why do people risk death in pursuit of adventure? 00:23:10 2019-06-10 14:57
Why is it so hard to get people to pay tax? 00:23:14 2019-06-03 14:58
Confidence: How it can help us 00:24:06 2019-05-27 15:00
Confidence: Why it misleads us 00:23:12 2019-05-20 15:00
Why do we find it hard to cut our losses? 00:24:09 2019-05-06 15:00
Emotional labour 00:23:32 2019-04-29 14:50
Why is climate change so politicised? 00:23:03 2019-04-22 15:00
Separating the art from the artist 00:22:58 2019-04-15 15:00
Cinderella 00:23:09 2019-04-08 15:00
Why do stories matter? 00:23:11 2019-04-01 15:00
Mothers and daughters 00:23:18 2019-03-25 10:30
Fathers and daughters 00:22:58 2019-03-18 15:00
Fattism 00:23:59 2019-03-11 15:00
Beauty pageants 00:24:26 2019-03-04 10:30
Why is architecture so big on Instagram? 00:24:20 2019-02-25 10:30
Meritocracy 00:23:36 2019-02-18 10:36
Speed 00:24:27 2019-02-11 10:15
Blame 00:24:31 2019-02-04 15:00
Smart Speakers 00:23:06 2019-01-28 10:30
Giving Presents 00:22:59 2019-01-21 10:30
Fitness Apps 00:24:11 2019-01-14 16:32
Extreme Sports 00:24:13 2019-01-07 15:00
Zombies 00:23:37 2018-12-31 11:00
Musical Instruments 00:22:58 2018-12-24 10:30
Wine 00:22:58 2018-12-17 10:30
Why do we Collude with Corruption? 00:23:08 2018-12-10 10:30
Why Do Men Love Sheds? 00:23:05 2018-12-03 10:30
Horses 00:23:05 2018-11-26 10:30
Truth 00:23:16 2018-11-19 11:00
Fact Checkers 00:23:14 2018-11-12 11:00
Why scarcity can damage decision making 00:23:07 2018-11-05 11:00
Plane, Train and Bird Spotting 00:23:04 2018-10-29 11:10
Why Have Women Taken To Wellness? 00:23:12 2018-10-22 15:00
Why do we keep open secrets? 00:23:08 2018-10-15 15:00
Rhetoric 00:23:10 2018-10-08 15:00
Compassion Fatigue 00:23:02 2018-10-01 14:54
Why has feminism affected the mother-son bond? 00:23:13 2018-09-24 15:00
Why the father-son relationship is important 00:23:10 2018-09-17 15:00
Why do we forget the things we’ve learned? 00:23:11 2018-09-10 15:00
Why do we feel heartbreak? 00:23:21 2018-09-03 15:00
Antarctica 00:23:04 2018-08-27 15:00
Why boredom is interesting 00:23:08 2018-08-20 15:00
Being at Sea 00:23:05 2018-08-13 15:00
Why Do We Love Boats? 00:23:05 2018-08-06 15:00
Female friendships 00:23:10 2018-07-30 15:00
Male friendships 00:23:22 2018-07-24 18:48
School Reunions 00:23:04 2018-07-16 15:00
Us and Them 00:23:07 2018-07-09 15:00
Status 00:23:36 2018-07-02 15:00
Fishing 00:22:59 2018-06-25 15:00
Why Football is the World’s Game 00:23:07 2018-06-18 15:00
Why Do We Love Landscapes? 00:23:06 2018-06-11 15:00
Self-Help 00:23:20 2018-06-04 15:00
Dogs 00:23:17 2018-05-28 15:00
Immortality 00:23:31 2018-05-21 15:00
Self-Marriage 00:23:29 2018-05-14 15:00
Romance Fraud 00:23:06 2018-05-07 15:00
Giving Away Data 00:23:10 2018-04-30 15:00
Carrying Guns 00:23:07 2018-04-23 15:00
Fantasies 00:23:29 2018-04-16 15:00
Restaurants 00:23:44 2018-04-09 15:00
Sibling Birth Order 00:23:32 2018-04-02 15:00
Machines and Morals 00:23:20 2018-03-26 15:00
Laziness 00:23:17 2018-03-19 15:00
Why are some places still men only? 00:18:04 2018-03-15 11:08
Dinosaurs 00:25:01 2018-03-05 15:05
Bullies 00:23:22 2018-02-26 15:00
Interviews 00:23:12 2018-02-19 15:00
Pain 00:23:45 2018-02-12 15:00
Hypnotism 00:23:38 2018-02-05 15:00
Vegans 00:23:16 2018-01-29 15:00
Dreaming 00:23:38 2018-01-22 15:00
Noise 00:23:26 2018-01-15 14:45
Why do People Hear Voices in Their Heads? 00:24:30 2018-01-08 15:00
Sleepwalking 00:23:47 2018-01-01 15:00
Alcohol Addiction 00:18:25 2017-12-25 15:00
Witches 00:23:35 2017-12-18 15:00
The Crowd 00:23:09 2017-12-11 15:00
Initiations 00:24:43 2017-12-04 15:00
What Can Chimps Teach us About Politics? 00:23:06 2017-11-27 14:32
Men, Women and Language 00:23:25 2017-11-20 15:05
Dubbing Movies 00:23:06 2017-11-13 15:00
Dark Tourism 00:23:25 2017-11-06 15:00
Imposter Syndrome 00:23:41 2017-10-30 15:00
Serial Killers 00:23:17 2017-10-23 15:30
Breath-holding 00:23:16 2017-10-16 15:00
Staying Put 00:23:22 2017-10-09 15:00
How to Live Small 00:23:28 2017-10-02 15:00
Surrogacy 00:24:22 2017-09-25 15:00
Romance 00:23:31 2017-09-18 15:00
What Do You Do? 00:23:05 2017-09-11 15:00
Complexity 00:23:25 2017-09-04 15:00
Human Remains in Museums 00:23:14 2017-08-28 15:00
News 00:24:25 2017-08-21 15:00
Eavesdropping 00:23:15 2017-08-14 15:00
Why Raise Other People's Children? 00:23:27 2017-08-07 15:00
Sign Language 00:23:36 2017-07-31 15:00
Why Do Some People Crave the Limelight? 00:23:02 2017-07-24 18:43
Male Violence 00:23:38 2017-07-24 07:32
Childlessness 00:23:03 2017-07-10 05:00
The kiss 00:23:06 2017-07-03 14:32
Polygamy 00:23:32 2017-06-26 15:00
Returning Home 00:23:21 2017-06-19 15:00
Exams 00:23:36 2017-06-12 15:00
Self-Harm 00:23:34 2017-06-05 15:00
Why Do We Talk To Ourselves? 00:23:29 2017-05-29 07:37
Thankless Tasks 00:24:20 2017-05-22 14:45
Are you a numbers person? 00:23:37 2017-05-15 14:45
Goths 00:23:18 2017-05-08 14:45
Habits 00:23:09 2017-05-01 14:32
Short 00:23:38 2017-04-24 14:32
Why Words Matter 00:23:27 2017-04-17 15:00
Underground 00:23:07 2017-04-10 14:45
Clapping 00:23:11 2017-04-03 15:00
Why do Men Want Six Packs? 00:23:23 2017-03-27 15:00
Yoga 00:17:39 2017-03-24 20:50
Hands 00:17:52 2017-03-10 20:50
Listening 00:17:30 2017-03-03 20:55
Stammering 00:17:32 2017-02-24 20:50
Smiling 00:17:36 2017-02-17 21:50
Hypochondria 00:17:36 2017-02-10 20:50
Torture 00:17:49 2017-02-03 20:50
Cryonics 00:17:46 2017-01-27 20:50
Regret 00:17:45 2017-01-13 20:50
Carrying Guns 00:17:32 2017-01-07 13:49
Vigilantes 00:17:45 2016-12-30 20:50
Why Do We Make Lists? 00:17:12 2016-12-29 09:49
Forgiveness 00:17:50 2016-12-23 20:50
Why do we Get Road Rage? 00:17:39 2016-12-16 20:50
Revenge 00:17:46 2016-12-09 20:50
The Female Orgasm 00:17:27 2016-12-05 08:32
Why Do Cities Make Us Rude? 00:17:46 2016-11-25 21:45
The Family Tree 00:17:51 2016-11-18 20:50
Hoarding 00:17:45 2016-11-11 20:50
Unconscious Bias 00:17:45 2016-11-04 20:50
Eye Witness Identification 00:17:45 2016-10-28 23:45
Organ Donation 00:17:47 2016-10-21 23:45
Farewell Letters 00:17:48 2016-10-14 23:50
Grief 00:17:48 2016-10-07 23:50
Assisted Death 00:17:46 2016-09-30 23:50
Why do Crazes Take Off? 00:17:48 2016-09-26 11:47
Comic Book Superheroes 00:17:55 2016-09-24 00:00
Why do we find some voices irritating? 00:17:54 2016-09-12 05:00
The Voice 00:17:53 2016-09-03 00:00
Why not celebrate introvert personalities? 00:17:52 2016-08-27 00:00
Why do pet videos go viral? 00:17:48 2016-08-20 00:00
Fear of Animals 00:17:48 2016-08-13 00:00
Fear vs Fact 00:17:52 2016-08-06 00:00
Driving 00:17:50 2016-07-30 00:00
Violence 00:17:34 2016-07-23 00:00
Why Are We Getting Smarter 00:17:52 2016-07-16 00:00
Newspapers 00:17:53 2016-07-09 00:00
Attraction 00:17:52 2016-06-27 12:58
Loneliness 00:17:53 2016-06-18 00:00
Safe Space 00:17:51 2016-06-13 12:22
Copying Art 00:17:52 2016-06-10 23:30
Thin 00:17:52 2016-05-27 23:35
Why Are We Afraid of Robots? 00:17:57 2016-05-20 23:00
Time Perception 00:17:51 2016-05-14 00:00
Statues: Why we put people on pedestals 00:17:55 2016-05-06 23:00
Life, Liberty and the American Identity 00:49:46 2016-04-30 19:30
How the Rest of the World Sees America 00:17:47 2016-04-29 22:45
Dolly, Dylan or Daft Punk 00:49:54 2016-04-23 20:30
How America Sees Itself 00:17:46 2016-04-22 23:00
Radio Requests 00:17:56 2016-04-15 23:00
Why I’m Not Just Blind 00:18:02 2016-04-08 23:00
Identity 00:17:51 2016-04-01 23:00
Fanfiction 00:18:00 2016-03-29 11:13
Supernatural Powers 00:17:59 2016-03-18 21:45
Magicians: Inside their Minds 00:17:56 2016-03-11 21:45
Conspiracy Theory 00:17:59 2016-03-04 21:45
Why We Search for the Origins of Life 00:17:50 2016-02-26 21:45
Addiction: Why Do Some People Succumb to it? 00:18:01 2016-02-19 21:45
Pleasure: Why We Like the Things We Like 00:17:54 2016-02-12 22:00
Why is Water Exceptional? 00:17:49 2016-02-05 21:45
Impersonators: Why do People Pretend to be Someone Else? 00:17:59 2016-01-29 21:45
Age of Consent 00:17:52 2016-01-22 21:45
Why Do we Want or Need Heroes? 00:17:50 2016-01-15 22:00
Hypocrisy: Why do People Often say One Thing and do Another? 00:17:51 2016-01-08 21:45
Hunting 00:17:57 2016-01-01 21:45
Group Thinking 00:17:50 2015-12-25 21:45
Why Do We Make Lists? 00:18:00 2015-12-18 22:50
Why Do We Wear Skirts? 00:18:01 2015-12-11 19:45
Why Do We Wear Ties? 00:18:00 2015-12-04 21:45
Why do we wear Suits? 00:17:58 2015-11-27 21:45
What Makes us Want to Wear T-Shirts? 00:17:55 2015-11-20 21:45
Tutoring 00:17:48 2015-11-13 21:32
Why Can’t Some People Eat Certain Foods? 00:18:00 2015-11-06 21:45
Why Do We Love the Bicycle? 00:18:00 2015-10-30 21:45
Why Does Everyone Wear Trainers? 00:18:02 2015-10-23 19:45
Why Do we Support Sports Clubs? 00:18:00 2015-10-16 19:45
Why Does Commuting Make us the Way we Are? 00:17:59 2015-10-09 19:45
Graffiti: Why do we do it? 00:17:51 2015-10-02 19:45
Why Do We Love Dolls? 00:17:52 2015-09-25 19:45
Why Does the World Love Drinking Tea? 00:17:50 2015-09-18 19:45
Why do Humans Need so Much Space? 00:17:50 2015-09-11 19:45
Why do we have Human Rights? 00:17:53 2015-09-04 19:45
World War One: Sacrifice 00:49:50 2015-08-29 23:05
Why do people sacrifice their lives? 00:17:58 2015-08-28 19:50
Talking about Death 00:17:53 2015-08-21 19:31
Why Do We Need Diaries? 00:17:53 2015-08-14 19:45
Why do we travel? 00:17:58 2015-08-07 19:45
What is a Home? 00:17:54 2015-08-03 11:54
Encryption 00:17:53 2015-07-24 19:45
Why do Top Sportsmen and Women Choke? 00:18:02 2015-07-17 19:45
Nationality 00:17:51 2015-07-10 19:45
Why Do We Need Cash? 00:17:53 2015-07-03 19:45
Why do People Take Risks? 00:17:53 2015-06-26 20:00
How Chillies Became Hot 00:17:55 2015-06-19 19:45
Why do we Draw? 00:18:00 2015-06-12 19:45
The Evolution of Beards 00:17:50 2015-06-10 12:34
Blue Jeans 00:17:53 2015-05-29 19:45
The Y Chromosome 00:18:01 2015-05-22 19:45
Television 00:18:00 2015-05-15 19:45
Collecting 00:18:00 2015-05-08 19:45
Jargon 00:18:00 2015-05-01 19:45
Animals Are Us? 00:18:01 2015-04-24 19:45
The Circus 00:17:59 2015-04-17 19:45
Daydreaming 00:18:00 2015-04-10 19:45
Suicide 00:18:02 2015-04-03 19:45
The Refugee Journey 00:18:00 2015-03-28 15:45
Death Penalty 00:17:59 2015-03-21 15:45
Forgetting 00:17:58 2015-03-14 15:45
Crime Fiction 00:17:59 2015-03-07 15:45
Skyscrapers 00:17:59 2015-02-28 15:45
Chasing Riches 00:18:00 2015-02-21 15:45
Rejecting Riches 00:18:00 2015-02-14 16:00
Why are watches enduring status symbols? 00:17:42 2015-02-07 15:45
Sad Music 00:17:57 2015-01-31 15:45
Why Do We Fly Flags? 00:18:00 2015-01-24 15:45
Loyalty 00:18:00 2015-01-17 15:45
Portrait Photography 00:18:00 2015-01-10 15:45
The Moon 00:17:59 2015-01-03 15:45
Honour 00:17:58 2014-12-27 15:45
Perfume 00:17:59 2014-12-20 15:45
Sharing 00:18:01 2014-12-13 15:45
Nudity 00:18:00 2014-12-06 15:45
Cookery 00:17:59 2014-11-29 15:45
Letters 00:17:59 2014-11-22 15:45
Poetry 00:18:12 2014-11-15 15:45
Memorialisation 00:18:01 2014-11-08 15:45
Memorialisation 00:49:59 2014-11-06 10:20
Chess 00:17:59 2014-11-01 15:45
Embarrassment 00:17:58 2014-10-24 19:45
Karma 00:18:00 2014-10-17 19:45
Brands 00:17:59 2014-10-10 19:45
What is Charisma? 00:17:59 2014-10-03 19:45
The Rivals 00:18:00 2014-09-26 19:45
Risking Life For Strangers 00:18:00 2014-09-19 19:45
Protest 00:17:58 2014-09-12 19:45
The 100th Programme: The Life of Why 00:17:59 2014-09-05 19:45
Gardens 00:18:00 2014-08-29 19:45
Gossip 00:18:00 2014-08-22 19:45
Ghosts 00:17:52 2014-08-15 19:45
Chastity 00:17:55 2014-08-08 19:45
The Pilgrimage 00:17:56 2014-08-01 19:45
The Walk 00:17:57 2014-07-25 19:45
The Moon 00:17:56 2014-07-18 19:30
The Apology 00:17:57 2014-07-11 19:30
Coincidence 00:17:57 2014-07-04 19:45
World War One: Patriotism 00:49:47 2014-06-27 19:06
Accents 00:17:57 2014-06-20 19:45
Why Eye Contact is Important 00:17:57 2014-06-13 19:45
The Fool 00:17:57 2014-06-06 19:45
Diplomacy 00:17:56 2014-05-30 19:45
Competition 00:17:57 2014-05-23 19:45
Symmetry 00:17:57 2014-05-16 19:45
Sticky Songs 00:17:56 2014-05-09 19:45
The Kiss 00:17:56 2014-05-02 19:45
Luck 00:17:58 2014-04-25 19:45
Horoscopes 00:17:56 2014-04-18 19:45
Racism 00:17:57 2014-04-11 19:45
Boredom 00:17:57 2014-04-04 19:45
Envy 00:17:57 2014-03-28 21:50
Dance 00:17:56 2014-03-21 21:50
Family Names 00:17:56 2014-03-14 21:50
Given Names 00:17:56 2014-03-07 21:50
Privacy 00:17:56 2014-02-28 21:50
Coffee 00:17:57 2014-02-21 21:50
Trees of Life 00:17:57 2014-02-14 21:50
Adolescence 00:17:57 2014-02-07 21:50
Touch 00:17:57 2014-01-31 21:50
Homosexuality 00:17:57 2014-01-24 21:50
Masks 00:17:57 2014-01-17 21:50
Alcohol 00:17:57 2014-01-10 21:50
Running 00:17:59 2014-01-03 21:50
Nitrogen: Forgetting Fritz 00:17:55 2013-12-27 21:50
Debt 00:17:58 2013-12-20 21:50
Cross Dressing 00:17:56 2013-12-13 21:50
Crying 00:17:56 2013-12-06 21:50
The Heel 00:17:56 2013-11-29 21:50
Solitude 00:17:55 2013-11-22 21:50
Secrets 00:17:56 2013-11-15 21:50
Optimism and Pessimism 00:17:55 2013-11-08 21:50
The Lie 00:17:57 2013-11-02 12:30
Speed 00:17:56 2013-10-25 19:50
Bullying 00:17:57 2013-10-18 19:50
Swearing 00:17:56 2013-10-11 19:50
Burial 00:17:57 2013-10-04 19:50
Nostalgia 00:17:56 2013-09-27 19:50
Sad Music 00:17:55 2013-09-20 19:50
Fasting 00:17:58 2013-09-13 19:50
Memory 00:17:56 2013-09-06 19:50
Female Body Hair 00:17:56 2013-08-30 19:50
Monogamy 00:17:56 2013-08-23 19:50
Celebrity 00:17:56 2013-08-16 19:50
Mountains 00:17:55 2013-08-09 19:50
Violent Entertainment 00:17:57 2013-08-02 19:50
Ageing 00:17:56 2013-07-26 19:50
Tattoos 00:17:55 2013-07-19 19:50
Fire 00:17:57 2013-07-12 19:50
The City 00:17:55 2013-07-05 19:50
Bathing: Water, Health and Well-being 00:17:55 2013-06-21 19:50
Bathing: Supernatural Waters 00:17:56 2013-06-14 19:50
The Sea 00:17:57 2013-06-07 19:50
Make-up 00:17:56 2013-05-31 19:50
The Ball 00:17:57 2013-05-24 19:50
The Lie 00:17:56 2013-05-17 19:50
Disgust 00:17:55 2013-05-10 19:50
Pets 00:17:56 2013-05-03 19:50
Gold 00:17:56 2013-04-26 19:30
Singing 00:17:56 2013-04-19 19:50
The Kiss 00:17:53 2013-04-12 19:50
Ageing 00:17:57 2013-04-05 19:50
Retirement 00:17:53 2013-03-30 05:50
Why do we get insomnia? 00:17:56 2013-03-22 20:50
Sleep 00:17:55 2013-03-15 20:50
Silence 00:17:56 2013-03-08 20:50
PTSD 00:17:57 2013-03-02 05:50
Cultural Memory 00:17:54 2013-02-22 20:50
Why are Open Plan Offices the Norm? 00:18:00 2013-02-15 20:50
Black 00:17:56 2013-02-08 20:50
The Mob 00:17:55 2013-02-02 14:59
Mirrors 00:17:56 2013-01-26 06:00
The Boxers of Bukom 00:17:57 2013-01-18 20:50
The Heel 00:17:56 2013-01-11 20:50
Nitrogen: Forgetting Fritz 00:17:58 2013-01-04 20:50
Manners 00:17:54 2012-12-28 20:50
The Sackman (and other stories) 00:17:55 2012-12-21 20:50
The Drum 00:17:58 2012-12-14 20:50
Fear - Episode 2 00:17:56 2012-12-07 20:50
Fear - Episode 1 00:17:55 2012-12-01 06:00
The Tap 00:17:55 2012-11-23 19:50
Blue 00:17:54 2012-11-16 19:50
Coming of Age 00:17:59 2012-11-09 19:50
The Handshake 00:17:53 2012-11-02 19:50
The Shaved Head 00:17:55 2012-10-26 19:50
Why do we laugh? 00:17:55 2012-10-19 19:50
The Bullet 00:17:53 2012-10-12 19:50
Why do we smoke? 00:17:52 2012-10-05 19:50
Why do we Behave so Oddly Inside Elevators? 00:17:55 2012-09-28 19:50
Why do we wear ties? 00:17:55 2012-09-24 10:55
Why do we have tattoos? 00:17:52 2012-09-14 19:50