The Why Factor Podcast
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
Episodes to download
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Millennials and business
Mon 3 Feb 2020
Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?
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Why do we text instead of talk?
Mon 27 Jan 2020
The popularity of texting is changing how we communicate and relate to each other
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Why do physical scars matter?
Mon 20 Jan 2020
What do the marks on our skin tell us about ourselves and our place in the world?
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Why does music affect the way we feel?
Mon 2 Dec 2019
An exploration of why and how music can exert a powerful effect on our emotions
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Why do we need to talk about men?
Mon 25 Nov 2019
Michael Blastland investigates talk of a crisis in masculinity.
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Why grandparents are important
Mon 18 Nov 2019
Why do grandparents care for their grandchildren and what effect does it have on them?
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Why do we cheat on our partners?
Mon 11 Nov 2019
Could the answer lie in our DNA, our upbringing or our lack of self control?
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Why are we conscious of so little?
Mon 28 Oct 2019
Why are humans conscious of so little of what goes on around us?
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Intuition: Why should we be cautious of it?
Mon 14 Oct 2019
Why do we get so attached to our intuitions? And can they mislead us?
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Intuition: Why should we trust it?
Mon 7 Oct 2019
What exactly is intuition? And why should we trust it?
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Why do we love camping?
Mon 30 Sep 2019
Why do people ditch the comforts of modern life to go and sleep under the stars?
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Why do some people reject society?
Mon 23 Sep 2019
Why do some people reject traditional forms of education, housing and even government?
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Why are we so gloomy about the world?
Mon 16 Sep 2019
Sandra Kanthal asks if human nature is wired to fixate on the downsides of life.
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Why do we (still) wear make-up?
Mon 26 Aug 2019
What’s the power of make-up? Why can't many of us leave the house without it?
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Why learn to be happy?
Mon 19 Aug 2019
Happiness is a fundamental human desire, yet we often struggle to achieve it.
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Why do funerals matter?
Mon 12 Aug 2019
Why funerals matter so profoundly to us, as individuals and societies
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Why does nature calm anxiety?
Mon 29 Jul 2019
We find out how the natural world affects our mental health
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Why do we care so much about games?
Mon 22 Jul 2019
Why do so many people care so much about their sports teams?
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Why do some people become hermits?
Mon 15 Jul 2019
What makes people choose a life of isolation and silence?
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Why aren’t more women in computer science?
Mon 24 Jun 2019
Computing history is filled with the accomplishments of women. But where are they now?
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Why do we care where we come from?
Mon 17 Jun 2019
The need to discover our past and what this tells us about ourselves