The Why Factor Podcast
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
Episodes to download
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Group Thinking
Christmas Day 2015
Why do we succumb to 'Groupthink' and how do we overcome the urge to be part of a crowd
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Why Do We Make Lists?
Fri 18 Dec 2015
From shopping lists to to-do lists – why do we make lists and what do they say about us?
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Why Do We Wear Skirts?
Fri 11 Dec 2015
Author Jung Chang explains how the skirt was dangerous during the cultural revolution
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Why Do We Wear Ties?
Fri 4 Dec 2015
Why does the tie symbolise a desire to belong and conform as well as individuality?
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Why do we wear Suits?
Fri 27 Nov 2015
The suit, it’s survived for the three centuries. But what’s its appeal?
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What Makes us Want to Wear T-Shirts?
Fri 20 Nov 2015
Mike Williams asks why these simple garments are so appealing
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Tutoring
Fri 13 Nov 2015
Why is private tutoring becoming so commonplace? And what impact does it have?
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Why Can’t Some People Eat Certain Foods?
Fri 6 Nov 2015
Why are food allergies increasing in the rich world?
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Why Does Everyone Wear Trainers?
Fri 23 Oct 2015
How did the trainer become an acceptable item of clothing?
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Why Do we Support Sports Clubs?
Fri 16 Oct 2015
Why do sports fans follow club teams, even when they may live thousands of miles away?
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Why Does Commuting Make us the Way we Are?
Fri 9 Oct 2015
Why does commuting make us the people we are and how?
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Graffiti: Why do we do it?
Fri 2 Oct 2015
Graffiti is both an ancient and modern activity, but why do we do it?
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Why Do We Love Dolls?
Fri 25 Sep 2015
Despite all the new entertainments on offer, dolls endure. Why?
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Why Does the World Love Drinking Tea?
Fri 18 Sep 2015
Why tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water.
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Why do Humans Need so Much Space?
Fri 11 Sep 2015
Why do we have such a complicated relationship with the space we live in?
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World War One: Sacrifice
Sat 29 Aug 2015
An exploration of the meaning of sacrifice to mark the centenary of World War One
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Why do people sacrifice their lives?
Fri 28 Aug 2015
Why do people give their lives for a nation? For a cause?
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Talking about Death
Fri 21 Aug 2015
It’s something that will come to all of us. So why is it so hard to talk about death?
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Why Do We Need Diaries?
Fri 14 Aug 2015
They hold our secrets, and preserve our memories, but why do we need diaries?
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Why do we travel?
Fri 7 Aug 2015
Mike Williams asks why do we leave the comfort of our homes to go travel?
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Why do Top Sportsmen and Women Choke?
Fri 17 Jul 2015
Why do we lose the ability to do routine tasks under pressure?
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Why Do We Need Cash?
Fri 3 Jul 2015
We have all used cash but what exactly is it and do we still need it?
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Why do People Take Risks?
Fri 26 Jun 2015
Why do some people expose themselves to risks and why are we so bad at assessing them?
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How Chillies Became Hot
Fri 19 Jun 2015
The origins and history of chillies and why we eat a food that burns
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Why do we Draw?
Fri 12 Jun 2015
What makes us draw, how do we get good at it and what do we reveal through our drawings?
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Why do we look the way we do?
Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?
