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The Why Factor

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

Episodes

Total: 383

Mothers and daughters

2019/3/25

Is there any truth to claim that the mother daughter relationship is more fraught than any other dyn

Fathers and daughters

2019/3/18

Fathers are often regarded as secondary parents in many cultures, perhaps even more so when they hav

Fattism

2019/3/11

We are told obesity is on the rise - globally. But if you think about it, how often do you see an ob

Beauty pageants

2019/3/4

Beauty pageants project an image of inspiring glitz and glamour. Often contestants enter these compe

Instagram’s one billion users love architecture. If you search for #architecture, you will get hundr

Meritocracy

2019/2/18

The concept that you can get ahead on your work and talents, also called meritocracy, is something w

Speed

2019/2/11

We live in a world where going fast – and faster – is an everyday fact of life. Where fast cars, fas

Blame

2019/2/4

When things go wrong, we crave something or someone to blame. It’s a strategy which puts people on t

Smart Speakers

2019/1/28

The number of smart speakers in US households has increased by 78% year-over-year, from 66 million i

Giving Presents

2019/1/21

A present connects, communicates and makes people generally happy. It can strengthen a relationship,

Fitness Apps

2019/1/14

In a world increasingly obsessed with health, the fitness technology market is booming. Whether you’

Extreme Sports

2019/1/7

Whether it’s climbing Everest, hiking through the Amazon jungle or cycling round the world, why are

Zombies

2018/12/31

We are asking why so many people are fascinated by Zombies. For many people the Zombie is a walking

Musical Instruments

2018/12/24

Why do some instruments get all the tunes and the respect, while others are left at the bottom of th

Wine

2018/12/17

Wine has been referred to as the nectar of the gods, and has been tempting connoisseurs for centurie

It’s a bite in Mexico, a sweetener in Britain, Tea money in Cambodia. Why do we collude with corrupt

Why Do Men Love Sheds?

2018/12/3

We all need a place to call our own. For a lot of men, that place is the garden shed. Going to the s

Horses

2018/11/26

The horse has been part of human society since earliest times – archaeologists have unearthed eviden

Truth

2018/11/19

Every day we’re bombarded with information and, with each new story or alternative fact, we have to

Fact Checkers

2018/11/12

Fake News - sometimes it’s obvious to spot, other times it requires more thoughtful investigation. T