Main content

Podcast

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

Updated: weekly
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    Memorialisation

    Sat 8 Nov 2014

    How we remember the dead, and why does it matter?

  • Memorialisation

    Thu 6 Nov 2014

    How do we remember the dead and why does it matter?

  • Chess

    Sat 1 Nov 2014

    How has the 1500-year-old game mirrored politics and changes in society?

  • Embarrassment

    Fri 24 Oct 2014

    What is embarrassment, why do we feel it and is it a good thing? Mike Williams finds out

  • Karma

    Fri 17 Oct 2014

    Is Karma fatalism or guidance on how to improve your life?

  • Brands

    Fri 10 Oct 2014

    Why do we place so much trust in brands? And who benefits from them?

  • What is Charisma?

    Fri 3 Oct 2014

    Why is it so hard to pin down what we mean by charisma?

  • The Rivals

    Fri 26 Sep 2014

    History’s greatest rivals, and the creative and destructive sides of rivalry

  • Risking Life For Strangers

    Fri 19 Sep 2014

    Would you risk your life for a stranger?

  • Protest

    Fri 12 Sep 2014

    What brings people out into the streets to take direct action against the powerful?

  • The 100th Programme: The Life of Why

    Fri 5 Sep 2014

    Celebrating the 100th edition of The Why Factor

  • Gardens

    Fri 29 Aug 2014

    Why do people have gardens and do gardening?

  • Gossip

    Fri 22 Aug 2014

    Why do we like to gossip – and is it good for us?

  • Ghosts

    Fri 15 Aug 2014

    Why do so many people claim to see ghosts?

  • Chastity

    Sat 9 Aug 2014

    Associated with morality, modesty, politics and religion why is chastity so complicated?

  • The Pilgrimage

    Fri 1 Aug 2014

    Why do we go on pilgrimages?

  • The Walk

    Fri 25 Jul 2014

    Why do we go on long walks? Mike Williams finds out

  • The Moon

    Fri 18 Jul 2014

    Why has the moon fascinated humans from every culture and for all time?

  • The Apology

    Fri 11 Jul 2014

    Why do we say sorry – and what do we really mean by it?

  • Coincidence

    Fri 4 Jul 2014

    What is coincidence and why do we attach meaning to it?

  • World War One: Patriotism

    Fri 27 Jun 2014

    The power of patriotism from WW1 to today and truths and myths of the modern nation state

  • Accents

    Fri 20 Jun 2014

    What do our accents say about us? Why do they matter?

  • Why Eye Contact is Important

    Fri 13 Jun 2014

    Why is making eye contact so important?

  • The Fool

    Fri 6 Jun 2014

    Mike Williams asks why the fool or jester has been an important figure in many cultures

  • Diplomacy

    Fri 30 May 2014

    How to get ahead in diplomacy, from negotiations to polite language and secret code words

  • Competition

    Fri 23 May 2014

    Why are we competitive? Is it a natural instinct?

  • Symmetry

    Fri 16 May 2014

    Why does symmetry exist and why do we see such beauty in it?

  • Sticky Songs

    Fri 9 May 2014

    What makes snippets of popular songs go round and round in our heads?

  • The Kiss

    Fri 2 May 2014

    Why do humans kiss?

  • Luck

    Fri 25 Apr 2014

    Does luck exist and does believing in luck help or hinder us in life?

  2. 1
  3. …
  4. 8
  5. 9
  6. 10
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. …
  10. 13

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

This podcast belongs to