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The Why Factor

Series that searches for the extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions.

Radio 4,35 episodes

Episodes

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Series 4
Polygamy
Why do some people practice polygamy?
20 Jul 2017,12 mins
Series 4
Goths
Why would anyone be a goth? What is the appeal of this dark and spooky subculture?
08 May 2017,12 mins
Series 4
Hypochondria
Why do people suffer from hypochondria, and why do they attract so little sympathy?
10 Feb 2017,12 mins
Series 4
The Kiss
Charlotte McDonald explores if kissing is the universal trait that people believe it to be
12 Apr 2013,12 mins
Series 4
Childlessness
Why do some people choose childlessness?
06 Apr 2013,12 mins
Series 3
Groupthink
What makes the will of the crowd more persuasive than the wisdom of one?
11 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Age of Consent
Why does the age of consent vary across the world?
12 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Fear of Robots
Mike Williams asks if we have reason to fear the rise of the robots.
13 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Drawing
Why do so many people love drawing? And what do those drawings reveal?
14 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Cycling
Mike Williams asks why so many people have become obsessed with two-wheel travel.
15 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Time Perception
Why do some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours?
18 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Conspiracy Theories
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? Mike Williams investigates.
19 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Magicians
Why do some people become magicians?
20 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
Addiction
Why do some people suffer addiction?
21 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 3
The Circus
Why does the circus endure? Mike Williams explores its lasting appeal.
22 Jul 2016,12 mins
Series 2
Long Distance Sports Fans
Mike Williams explores why some sports fans support teams based thousands of miles away
13 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Trainers
How did the sneaker become acceptable from the boardroom to the basketball court?
12 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Gardens
Why do we garden?
11 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Diaries
Mike Williams asks why so many people feel the need to record the story of their day.
10 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Graffiti
Why do so many people want to make their mark with graffiti?
09 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Commuting
Why do we travel long distances to work, and what harm does the journey do to us?
06 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
T-shirts
They can be promotional, sometimes provocative. Mike Williams explores the T-shirt.
05 Nov 2015,1 min
Series 2
Sad Music
Why do we seem to enjoy sad music?
04 Nov 2015,1 min
Series 2
Dolls
Why do so many children love to play with dolls?
03 Nov 2015,12 mins
Series 2
Nostalgia
Why do so many people yearn for the past?
02 Nov 2015,12 mins
Why do so many men wear a tie?
Why do men wear strips of silk around their necks? Mike Williams on the tie.
04 Sep 2015,15 mins
Why is our hair such an important part of who we are?
Why is hair so integral to personal identity? People without hair tell us.
03 Sep 2015,12 mins
Why do so many societies mark the end of childhood?
Why do societies around the world mark the point when a child should become an adult?
02 Sep 2015,12 mins
Why would anyone devote their life to collecting cuckoo clocks?
Why would anyone collect cuckoo clocks or violins?
01 Sep 2015,12 mins
Series 1
The Moon
Mike Williams explores why people are so fascinated by the moon.
24 Aug 2015,12 mins

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The Why Factor

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