The Why Factor
By BBC World Service
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Category: History
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Subscribers: 998
Reviews: 3
Episodes: 383
Dando
Jul 22, 2019
JT
Nov 22, 2018
An encyclopedia of human behavior, history and culture.
Casper V.
Sep 29, 2018
Not every episode, but some are just awesome
Description
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
Millennials and business
|
Feb 03, 2020 |
|
Why do we text instead of talk?
|
Jan 27, 2020 |
|
Why do physical scars matter?
|
Jan 20, 2020 |
|
Dystopias
|
Jan 13, 2020 |
|
Victim blaming
|
Jan 06, 2020 |
|
Parties
|
Dec 16, 2019 |
|
Resilience
|
Dec 09, 2019 |
|
Why does music affect the way we feel?
|
Dec 02, 2019 |
|
Why do we need to talk about men?
|
Nov 25, 2019 |
|
Why grandparents are important
|
Nov 18, 2019 |
|
Why do we cheat on our partners?
|
Nov 11, 2019 |
|
Why are we conscious?
|
Nov 04, 2019 |
|
Why are we conscious of so little?
|
Oct 28, 2019 |
|
Why are we shy?
|
Oct 21, 2019 |
|
Intuition: Why should we be cautious of it?
|
Oct 14, 2019 |
|
Intuition: Why should we trust it?
|
Oct 07, 2019 |
|
Why do we love camping?
|
Sep 30, 2019 |
|
Why do some people reject society?
|
Sep 23, 2019 |
|
Why are we so gloomy about the world?
|
Sep 16, 2019 |
|
Why do we (still) wear make-up?
|
Aug 26, 2019 |
|
Why learn to be happy?
|
Aug 19, 2019 |
|
Why do funerals matter?
|
Aug 12, 2019 |
|
Why do we blend?
|
Aug 05, 2019 |
|
Why does nature calm anxiety?
|
Jul 29, 2019 |
|
Why do we care so much about games?
|
Jul 22, 2019 |
|
Why do some people become hermits?
|
Jul 15, 2019 |
|
Why should we work together?
|
Jul 08, 2019 |
|
Schadenfreude
|
Jul 01, 2019 |
|
Why aren’t more women in computer science?
|
Jun 24, 2019 |
|
Why do we care where we come from?
|
Jun 17, 2019 |
|
Why do people risk death in pursuit of adventure?
|
Jun 10, 2019 |
|
Why is it so hard to get people to pay tax?
|
Jun 03, 2019 |
|
Confidence: How it can help us
|
May 27, 2019 |
|
Confidence: Why it misleads us
|
May 20, 2019 |
|
Why do we find it hard to cut our losses?
|
May 06, 2019 |
|
Emotional labour
|
Apr 29, 2019 |
|
Why is climate change so politicised?
|
Apr 22, 2019 |
|
Separating the art from the artist
|
Apr 15, 2019 |
|
Cinderella
|
Apr 08, 2019 |
|
Why do stories matter?
|
Apr 01, 2019 |
|
Mothers and daughters
|
Mar 25, 2019 |
|
Fathers and daughters
|
Mar 18, 2019 |
|
Fattism
|
Mar 11, 2019 |
|
Beauty pageants
|
Mar 04, 2019 |
|
Why is architecture so big on Instagram?
|
Feb 25, 2019 |
|
Meritocracy
|
Feb 18, 2019 |
|
Speed
|
Feb 11, 2019 |
|
Blame
|
Feb 04, 2019 |
|
Smart Speakers
|
Jan 28, 2019 |
|
Giving Presents
|
Jan 21, 2019 |
|
Fitness Apps
|
Jan 14, 2019 |
|
Extreme Sports
|
Jan 07, 2019 |
|
Zombies
|
Dec 31, 2018 |
|
Musical Instruments
|
Dec 24, 2018 |
|
Wine
|
Dec 17, 2018 |
|
Why do we Collude with Corruption?
|
Dec 10, 2018 |
|
Why Do Men Love Sheds?
|
Dec 03, 2018 |
|
Horses
|
Nov 26, 2018 |
|
Truth
|
Nov 19, 2018 |
|
Fact Checkers
|
Nov 12, 2018 |
|
Why scarcity can damage decision making
|
Nov 05, 2018 |
|
Plane, Train and Bird Spotting
|
Oct 29, 2018 |
|
Why Have Women Taken To Wellness?
|
Oct 22, 2018 |
|
Why do we keep open secrets?
|
Oct 15, 2018 |
|
Rhetoric
|
Oct 08, 2018 |
|
Compassion Fatigue
|
Oct 01, 2018 |
|
Why has feminism affected the mother-son bond?
|
Sep 24, 2018 |
|
Why the father-son relationship is important
|
Sep 17, 2018 |
|
Why do we forget the things we’ve learned?
|
Sep 10, 2018 |
|
Why do we feel heartbreak?
|
Sep 03, 2018 |
|
Antarctica
|
Aug 27, 2018 |
|
Why boredom is interesting
|
Aug 20, 2018 |
|
Being at Sea
|
Aug 13, 2018 |
|
Why Do We Love Boats?
|
Aug 06, 2018 |
|
Female friendships
|
Jul 30, 2018 |
|
Male friendships
|
Jul 24, 2018 |
|
School Reunions
|
Jul 16, 2018 |
|
Us and Them
|
Jul 09, 2018 |
|
Status
|
Jul 02, 2018 |
|
Fishing
|
Jun 25, 2018 |
|
Why Football is the World’s Game
|
Jun 18, 2018 |
|
Why Do We Love Landscapes?
|
Jun 11, 2018 |
|
Self-Help
|
Jun 04, 2018 |
|
Dogs
|
May 28, 2018 |
|
Immortality
|
May 21, 2018 |
|
Self-Marriage
|
May 14, 2018 |
|
Romance Fraud
|
May 07, 2018 |
|
Giving Away Data
|
Apr 30, 2018 |
|
Carrying Guns
|
Apr 23, 2018 |
|
Fantasies
|
Apr 16, 2018 |
|
Restaurants
|
Apr 09, 2018 |
|
Sibling Birth Order
|
Apr 02, 2018 |
|
Machines and Morals
|
Mar 26, 2018 |
|
Laziness
|
Mar 19, 2018 |
|
Why are some places still men only?
|
Mar 15, 2018 |
|
Dinosaurs
|
Mar 05, 2018 |
|
Bullies
|
Feb 26, 2018 |
|
Interviews
|
Feb 19, 2018 |
|
Pain
|
Feb 12, 2018 |
|
Hypnotism
|
Feb 05, 2018 |
|
Vegans
|
Jan 29, 2018 |
|
Dreaming
|
Jan 22, 2018 |
|
Noise
|
Jan 15, 2018 |
|
Why do People Hear Voices in Their Heads?
|
Jan 08, 2018 |
|
Sleepwalking
|
Jan 01, 2018 |
|
Alcohol Addiction
|
Dec 25, 2017 |
|
Witches
|
Dec 18, 2017 |
|
The Crowd
|
Dec 11, 2017 |
|
Initiations
|
Dec 04, 2017 |
|
What Can Chimps Teach us About Politics?
|
Nov 27, 2017 |
|
Men, Women and Language
|
Nov 20, 2017 |
|
Dubbing Movies
|
Nov 13, 2017 |
|
Dark Tourism
|
Nov 06, 2017 |
|
Imposter Syndrome
|
Oct 30, 2017 |
|
Serial Killers
|
Oct 23, 2017 |
|
Breath-holding
|
Oct 16, 2017 |
|
Staying Put
|
Oct 09, 2017 |
|
How to Live Small
|
Oct 02, 2017 |
|
Surrogacy
|
Sep 25, 2017 |
|
Romance
|
Sep 18, 2017 |
|
What Do You Do?
|
Sep 11, 2017 |
|
Complexity
|
Sep 04, 2017 |
|
Human Remains in Museums
|
Aug 28, 2017 |
|
News
|
Aug 21, 2017 |
|
Eavesdropping
|
Aug 14, 2017 |
|
Why Raise Other People's Children?
|
Aug 07, 2017 |
|
Sign Language
|
Jul 31, 2017 |
|
Why Do Some People Crave the Limelight?
|
Jul 24, 2017 |
|
Male Violence
|
Jul 24, 2017 |
|
Childlessness
|
Jul 10, 2017 |
|
The kiss
|
Jul 03, 2017 |
|
Polygamy
|
Jun 26, 2017 |
|
Returning Home
|
Jun 19, 2017 |
|
Exams
|
Jun 12, 2017 |
|
Self-Harm
|
Jun 05, 2017 |
|
Why Do We Talk To Ourselves?
|
May 29, 2017 |
|
Thankless Tasks
|
May 22, 2017 |
|
Are you a numbers person?
|
May 15, 2017 |
|
Goths
|
May 08, 2017 |
|
Habits
|
May 01, 2017 |
|
Short
|
Apr 24, 2017 |
|
Why Words Matter
|
Apr 17, 2017 |
|
Underground
|
Apr 10, 2017 |
|
Clapping
|
Apr 03, 2017 |
|
Why do Men Want Six Packs?
|
Mar 27, 2017 |
|
Yoga
|
Mar 24, 2017 |
|
Hands
|
Mar 10, 2017 |
|
Listening
|
Mar 03, 2017 |
|
Stammering
|
Feb 24, 2017 |
|
Smiling
|
Feb 17, 2017 |
|
Hypochondria
|
Feb 10, 2017 |
|
Torture
|
Feb 03, 2017 |
|
Cryonics
|
Jan 27, 2017 |
|
Regret
|
Jan 13, 2017 |
|
Carrying Guns
|
Jan 07, 2017 |
|
Vigilantes
|
Dec 30, 2016 |
|
Why Do We Make Lists?
|
Dec 29, 2016 |
|
Forgiveness
|
Dec 23, 2016 |
|
Why do we Get Road Rage?
|
Dec 16, 2016 |
|
Revenge
|
Dec 09, 2016 |
|
The Female Orgasm
|
Dec 05, 2016 |
|
Why Do Cities Make Us Rude?
|
Nov 25, 2016 |
|
The Family Tree
|
Nov 18, 2016 |
|
Hoarding
|
Nov 11, 2016 |
|
Unconscious Bias
|
Nov 04, 2016 |
|
Eye Witness Identification
|
Oct 28, 2016 |
|
Organ Donation
|
Oct 21, 2016 |
|
Farewell Letters
|
Oct 14, 2016 |
|
Grief
|
Oct 07, 2016 |
|
Assisted Death
|
Sep 30, 2016 |
|
Why do Crazes Take Off?
|
Sep 26, 2016 |
|
Comic Book Superheroes
|
Sep 23, 2016 |
|
Why do we find some voices irritating?
|
Sep 12, 2016 |
|
The Voice
|
Sep 02, 2016 |
|
Why not celebrate introvert personalities?
|
Aug 26, 2016 |
|
Why do pet videos go viral?
|
Aug 19, 2016 |
|
Fear of Animals
|
Aug 12, 2016 |
|
Fear vs Fact
|
Aug 05, 2016 |
|
Driving
|
Jul 29, 2016 |
|
Violence
|
Jul 22, 2016 |
|
Why Are We Getting Smarter
|
Jul 15, 2016 |
|
Newspapers
|
Jul 08, 2016 |
|
Attraction
|
Jun 27, 2016 |
|
Loneliness
|
Jun 17, 2016 |
|
Safe Space
|
Jun 13, 2016 |
|
Copying Art
|
Jun 10, 2016 |
|
Thin
|
May 27, 2016 |
|
Why Are We Afraid of Robots?
|
May 20, 2016 |
|
Time Perception
|
May 13, 2016 |
|
Statues: Why we put people on pedestals
|
May 06, 2016 |
|
Life, Liberty and the American Identity
|
Apr 30, 2016 |
|
How the Rest of the World Sees America
|
Apr 29, 2016 |
|
Dolly, Dylan or Daft Punk
|
Apr 23, 2016 |
|
How America Sees Itself
|
Apr 22, 2016 |
|
Radio Requests
|
Apr 15, 2016 |
|
Why I’m Not Just Blind
|
Apr 08, 2016 |
|
Identity
|
Apr 01, 2016 |
|
Fanfiction
|
Mar 29, 2016 |
|
Supernatural Powers
|
Mar 18, 2016 |
|
Magicians: Inside their Minds
|
Mar 11, 2016 |
|
Conspiracy Theory
|
Mar 04, 2016 |
|
Why We Search for the Origins of Life
|
Feb 26, 2016 |
|
Addiction: Why Do Some People Succumb to it?
|
Feb 19, 2016 |
|
Pleasure: Why We Like the Things We Like
|
Feb 12, 2016 |
|
Why is Water Exceptional?
|
Feb 05, 2016 |
|
Impersonators: Why do People Pretend to be Someone Else?
|
Jan 29, 2016 |
|
Age of Consent
|
Jan 22, 2016 |
|
Why Do we Want or Need Heroes?
|
Jan 15, 2016 |
|
Hypocrisy: Why do People Often say One Thing and do Another?
|
Jan 08, 2016 |
|
Hunting
|
Jan 01, 2016 |
|
Group Thinking
|
Dec 25, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Make Lists?
|
Dec 18, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Wear Skirts?
|
Dec 11, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Wear Ties?
|
Dec 04, 2015 |
|
Why do we wear Suits?
|
Nov 27, 2015 |
|
What Makes us Want to Wear T-Shirts?
|
Nov 20, 2015 |
|
Tutoring
|
Nov 13, 2015 |
|
Why Can’t Some People Eat Certain Foods?
|
Nov 06, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Love the Bicycle?
|
Oct 30, 2015 |
|
Why Does Everyone Wear Trainers?
|
Oct 23, 2015 |
|
Why Do we Support Sports Clubs?
|
Oct 16, 2015 |
|
Why Does Commuting Make us the Way we Are?
|
Oct 09, 2015 |
|
Graffiti: Why do we do it?
|
Oct 02, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Love Dolls?
|
Sep 25, 2015 |
|
Why Does the World Love Drinking Tea?
|
Sep 18, 2015 |
|
Why do Humans Need so Much Space?
|
Sep 11, 2015 |
|
Why do we have Human Rights?
|
Sep 04, 2015 |
|
World War One: Sacrifice
|
Aug 29, 2015 |
|
Why do people sacrifice their lives?
|
Aug 28, 2015 |
|
Talking about Death
|
Aug 21, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Need Diaries?
|
Aug 14, 2015 |
|
Why do we travel?
|
Aug 07, 2015 |
|
What is a Home?
|
Aug 03, 2015 |
|
Encryption
|
Jul 24, 2015 |
|
Why do Top Sportsmen and Women Choke?
|
Jul 17, 2015 |
|
Nationality
|
Jul 10, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Need Cash?
|
Jul 03, 2015 |
|
Why do People Take Risks?
|
Jun 26, 2015 |
|
How Chillies Became Hot
|
Jun 19, 2015 |
|
Why do we Draw?
|
Jun 12, 2015 |
|
The Evolution of Beards
|
Jun 10, 2015 |
|
Blue Jeans
|
May 29, 2015 |
|
The Y Chromosome
|
May 22, 2015 |
|
Television
|
May 15, 2015 |
|
Collecting
|
May 08, 2015 |
|
Jargon
|
May 01, 2015 |
|
Animals Are Us?
|
Apr 24, 2015 |
|
The Circus
|
Apr 17, 2015 |
|
Daydreaming
|
Apr 10, 2015 |
|
Suicide
|
Apr 03, 2015 |
|
The Refugee Journey
|
Mar 28, 2015 |
|
Death Penalty
|
Mar 21, 2015 |
|
Forgetting
|
Mar 14, 2015 |
|
Crime Fiction
|
Mar 07, 2015 |
|
Skyscrapers
|
Feb 28, 2015 |
|
Chasing Riches
|
Feb 21, 2015 |
|
Rejecting Riches
|
Feb 14, 2015 |
|
Why are watches enduring status symbols?
|
Feb 07, 2015 |
|
Sad Music
|
Jan 31, 2015 |
|
Why Do We Fly Flags?
|
Jan 24, 2015 |
|
Loyalty
|
Jan 17, 2015 |
|
Portrait Photography
|
Jan 10, 2015 |
|
The Moon
|
Jan 03, 2015 |
|
Honour
|
Dec 27, 2014 |
|
Perfume
|
Dec 20, 2014 |
|
Sharing
|
Dec 13, 2014 |
|
Nudity
|
Dec 06, 2014 |
|
Cookery
|
Nov 29, 2014 |
|
Letters
|
Nov 22, 2014 |
|
Poetry
|
Nov 15, 2014 |
|
Memorialisation
|
Nov 08, 2014 |
|
Memorialisation
|
Nov 06, 2014 |
|
Chess
|
Nov 01, 2014 |
|
Embarrassment
|
Oct 24, 2014 |
|
Karma
|
Oct 17, 2014 |
|
Brands
|
Oct 10, 2014 |
|
What is Charisma?
|
Oct 03, 2014 |
|
The Rivals
|
Sep 26, 2014 |
|
Risking Life For Strangers
|
Sep 19, 2014 |
|
Protest
|
Sep 12, 2014 |
|
The 100th Programme: The Life of Why
|
Sep 05, 2014 |
|
Gardens
|
Aug 29, 2014 |
|
Gossip
|
Aug 22, 2014 |
|
Ghosts
|
Aug 15, 2014 |
|
Chastity
|
Aug 08, 2014 |
|
The Pilgrimage
|
Aug 01, 2014 |
|
The Walk
|
Jul 25, 2014 |
|
The Moon
|
Jul 18, 2014 |
|
The Apology
|
Jul 11, 2014 |
|
Coincidence
|
Jul 04, 2014 |
|
World War One: Patriotism
|
Jun 27, 2014 |
|
Accents
|
Jun 20, 2014 |
|
Why Eye Contact is Important
|
Jun 13, 2014 |
|
The Fool
|
Jun 06, 2014 |
|
Diplomacy
|
May 30, 2014 |
|
Competition
|
May 23, 2014 |
|
Symmetry
|
May 16, 2014 |
|
Sticky Songs
|
May 09, 2014 |
|
The Kiss
|
May 02, 2014 |
|
Luck
|
Apr 25, 2014 |
|
Horoscopes
|
Apr 18, 2014 |
|
Racism
|
Apr 11, 2014 |
|
Boredom
|
Apr 04, 2014 |
|
Envy
|
Mar 28, 2014 |
|
Dance
|
Mar 21, 2014 |
|
Family Names
|
Mar 14, 2014 |
|
Given Names
|
Mar 07, 2014 |
|
Privacy
|
Feb 28, 2014 |
|
Coffee
|
Feb 21, 2014 |
|
Trees of Life
|
Feb 14, 2014 |
|
Adolescence
|
Feb 07, 2014 |
|
Touch
|
Jan 31, 2014 |
|
Homosexuality
|
Jan 24, 2014 |
|
Masks
|
Jan 17, 2014 |
|
Alcohol
|
Jan 10, 2014 |
|
Running
|
Jan 03, 2014 |
|
Nitrogen: Forgetting Fritz
|
Dec 27, 2013 |
|
Debt
|
Dec 20, 2013 |
|
Cross Dressing
|
Dec 13, 2013 |
|
Crying
|
Dec 06, 2013 |
|
The Heel
|
Nov 29, 2013 |
|
Solitude
|
Nov 22, 2013 |
|
Secrets
|
Nov 15, 2013 |
|
Optimism and Pessimism
|
Nov 08, 2013 |
|
The Lie
|
Nov 02, 2013 |
|
Speed
|
Oct 25, 2013 |
|
Bullying
|
Oct 18, 2013 |
|
Swearing
|
Oct 11, 2013 |
|
Burial
|
Oct 04, 2013 |
|
Nostalgia
|
Sep 27, 2013 |
|
Sad Music
|
Sep 20, 2013 |
|
Fasting
|
Sep 13, 2013 |
|
Memory
|
Sep 06, 2013 |
|
Female Body Hair
|
Aug 30, 2013 |
|
Monogamy
|
Aug 23, 2013 |
|
Celebrity
|
Aug 16, 2013 |
|
Mountains
|
Aug 09, 2013 |
|
Violent Entertainment
|
Aug 02, 2013 |
|
Ageing
|
Jul 26, 2013 |
|
Tattoos
|
Jul 19, 2013 |
|
Fire
|
Jul 12, 2013 |
|
The City
|
Jul 05, 2013 |
|
Bathing: Water, Health and Well-being
|
Jun 21, 2013 |
|
Bathing: Supernatural Waters
|
Jun 14, 2013 |
|
The Sea
|
Jun 07, 2013 |
|
Make-up
|
May 31, 2013 |
|
The Ball
|
May 24, 2013 |
|
The Lie
|
May 17, 2013 |
|
Disgust
|
May 10, 2013 |
|
Pets
|
May 03, 2013 |
|
Gold
|
Apr 26, 2013 |
|
Singing
|
Apr 19, 2013 |
|
The Kiss
|
Apr 12, 2013 |
|
Ageing
|
Apr 05, 2013 |
|
Retirement
|
Mar 30, 2013 |
|
Why do we get insomnia?
|
Mar 22, 2013 |
|
Sleep
|
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
Silence
|
Mar 08, 2013 |
|
PTSD
|
Mar 02, 2013 |
|
Cultural Memory
|
Feb 22, 2013 |
|
Why are Open Plan Offices the Norm?
|
Feb 15, 2013 |
|
Black
|
Feb 08, 2013 |
|
The Mob
|
Feb 02, 2013 |
|
Mirrors
|
Jan 26, 2013 |
|
The Boxers of Bukom
|
Jan 18, 2013 |
|
The Heel
|
Jan 11, 2013 |
|
Nitrogen: Forgetting Fritz
|
Jan 04, 2013 |
|
Manners
|
Dec 28, 2012 |
|
The Sackman (and other stories)
|
Dec 21, 2012 |
|
The Drum
|
Dec 14, 2012 |
|
Fear - Episode 2
|
Dec 07, 2012 |
|
Fear - Episode 1
|
Dec 01, 2012 |
|
The Tap
|
Nov 23, 2012 |
|
Blue
|
Nov 16, 2012 |
|
Coming of Age
|
Nov 09, 2012 |
|
The Handshake
|
Nov 02, 2012 |
|
The Shaved Head
|
Oct 26, 2012 |
|
Why do we laugh?
|
Oct 19, 2012 |
|
The Bullet
|
Oct 12, 2012 |
|
Why do we smoke?
|
Oct 05, 2012 |
|
Why do we Behave so Oddly Inside Elevators?
|
Sep 28, 2012 |
|
Why do we wear ties?
|
Sep 24, 2012 |
|
Why do we have tattoos?
|
Sep 14, 2012 |