Apr 11, 2025 · 14 min
Science
Why Do We Do That?
BBC Radio 4
Why Do We Do That? An anthropologist's guide to the modern world.
There are lots of everyday things which, when you think about them, are pretty weird. Like kissing, doomscrolling and sitting down to go to the loo. Social media may tell you to blame the latest influencer who went viral. Your therapist might tell you to blame your parents. But palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi is here to tell you to blame your great, great, great, great, great, etc. grandparents. For some stuff at least. In this series, Ella is joined by some wonderful guests to dive into the cultural, historical and evolutionary story of everyday human habits and behaviour.
Photo: Sarah Cresswell / The Times / News Licensing
- 36 episodes
- Updated Apr 11, 2025
Episodes36
- Apr 11, 2025 · 14 min
12. Why do we play?
- Apr 9, 2025 · 16 min
More... Bad Boys with Julia Stern
- Apr 9, 2025 · 14 min
11. Why do we fall for the bad boy?
- Apr 9, 2025 · 15 min
More... Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr
- Apr 9, 2025 · 14 min
10. Why do we dance?
- Apr 9, 2025 · 14 min
More... Pubs with Robin Dunbar
- Apr 9, 2025 · 14 min
9. Why do we go to the pub?
- Apr 9, 2025 · 16 min
More... Nature with Gregory Bratman
- Apr 9, 2025 · 15 min
8. Why does nature make me feel calmer?
- Mar 14, 2025 · 18 min
More... Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf
Mar 14, 2025 · 14 min7. Why do we blush?
- Mar 7, 2025 · 16 min
More... Lies with Roman Stengelin
- Mar 7, 2025 · 14 min
6. Why do we lie?
- Feb 28, 2025 · 16 min
More... Laughs with Sophie Scott
- Feb 28, 2025 · 14 min
5. Why do we laugh?
- Feb 21, 2025 · 15 min
4. Why do we love dogs?
- Feb 21, 2025 · 19 min
More... Dogs with Greger Larson
- Feb 14, 2025 · 19 min
More... Grandmothers with Emily Emmott
- Feb 14, 2025 · 14 min
3. Why do we have grandmas?