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Podcast

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

Updated: weekly
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    The Evolution of Beards

    Fri 5 Jun 2015

    How did beards evolve and what is their purpose?

  • Blue Jeans

    Fri 29 May 2015

    Why do blue jeans have such global appeal?

  • The Y Chromosome

    Fri 22 May 2015

    How the Y chromosome transforms a female embryo to a male one

  • Television

    Fri 15 May 2015

    Why does television have such a powerful influence on our lives?

  • Collecting

    Fri 8 May 2015

    What does collecting of inanimate objects bring to our lives?

  • Jargon

    Fri 1 May 2015

    Why do we use jargon?

  • Animals Are Us?

    Fri 24 Apr 2015

    Why do people try and project human qualities onto animals?

  • The Circus

    Fri 17 Apr 2015

    How did modern circuses develop? And why do they appeal to adults and children worldwide?

  • Daydreaming

    Fri 10 Apr 2015

    Does everyone鈥檚 mind wander? And why do we do it?

  • Suicide

    Fri 3 Apr 2015

    Every year, across the world, around a million people take their own lives. But why?

  • The Refugee Journey

    Sat 28 Mar 2015

    At the mercy of people smugglers, how do refugees make their often perilous journeys?

  • Death Penalty

    Sat 21 Mar 2015

    Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals

  • Forgetting

    Sat 14 Mar 2015

    Why do we lose our memories, and why are there are some things we can not forget?

  • Crime Fiction

    Sat 7 Mar 2015

    Why do we love stories about criminals and the people who bring them to justice?

  • Skyscrapers

    Sat 28 Feb 2015

    Mike Williams asks why we build tall buildings

  • Chasing Riches

    Sat 21 Feb 2015

    Why do the rich want to get richer? What drives the wealthy to want more?

  • Rejecting Riches

    Sat 14 Feb 2015

    Why do some people give the vast majority of their money away?

  • Why are watches enduring status symbols?

    Sat 7 Feb 2015

    Watches have been an indicator of status since their invention. Mike Williams asks why

  • Sad Music

    Sat 31 Jan 2015

    Sad music has become more popular according to a recent study. Why do people listen to it?

  • Why Do We Fly Flags?

    Sat 24 Jan 2015

    From identity symbols to signalling tools, why human societies are fascinated by flags

  • Loyalty

    Sat 17 Jan 2015

    Mike Williams asks why are we loyal, and who are we really loyal to?

  • Portrait Photography

    Sat 10 Jan 2015

    Why do we want to capture human faces?

  • The Moon

    Sat 3 Jan 2015

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

  • Honour

    Sat 27 Dec 2014

    People have fought for it and died for it. Why is this notion so powerful?

  • Perfume

    Sat 20 Dec 2014

    Why do we use perfume and what does it say about us?

  • Sharing

    Sat 13 Dec 2014

    Why do we share? And, what happens inside our brains when we do?

  • Nudity

    Sat 6 Dec 2014

    Why does the naked human form provoke such strong reactions?

  • Cookery

    Sat 29 Nov 2014

    Why do we cook food rather than just eat it raw?

  • Letters

    Sat 22 Nov 2014

    The disappearing art of the hand-written letter and three stories of love

  • Poetry

    Sat 15 Nov 2014

    Why do we read, or write poetry, as opposed to prose?

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