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

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36 episodes
Updated Apr 11, 2025

Episodes36

Newest first

Feb 7, 2025 · 13 min
More... Football fanatics with Martha Newson
Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries with Martha Newson.
Feb 7, 2025 · 14 min
2. Why do I get so upset when my team loses?
Join anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi to find out why we get so upset when our team loses.
Jan 31, 2025 · 15 min
More... Gossip with Nicole Hagen Hess
Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Gossip with Nicole Hagen Hess.
Jan 31, 2025 · 14 min
1. Why do we gossip?
Join anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi as she delves into the origins of gossip.
Jan 23, 2025 · 2 min
Welcome to Why Do We Do That? Series 2
Ella Al-Shamahi investigates the origins of everyday human habits and behaviour.
Dec 2, 2022 · 14 min
10. Why do we doomscroll?
Endlessly scrolling negative news? Why are we drawn magnetically to the dark side?
Dec 2, 2022 · 14 min
9. Why doesn't everyone clear up?
That messy person, who doesn’t pull their weight around the house - why people, why?
Dec 2, 2022 · 14 min
8. Why do we wear make-up?
Are make-up trends purely a fad, or is there some deeper purpose to our love of lipstick?
Dec 2, 2022 · 14 min
7. Why do we sit down to poo?
Ella gets personal to explore which is best for our business - sitting down or squatting?
Dec 2, 2022 · 14 min
6. Why can't we all be morning people?
Ella Al-Shamahi explores how our Neanderthal DNA may influence our sleeping habits.
Oct 28, 2022 · 14 min
5. Why do we shake hands?
Are we shaking hands to sniff each other?
Oct 28, 2022 · 14 min
4. Why do we procrastinate?
Can we blame procrastination on our evolution?
Oct 28, 2022 · 14 min
3. Why do we kiss?
The kiss - an exchange of 18 million bacteria or a romantic evolutionary hand-me-down?
Oct 28, 2022 · 14 min
2. Why do we do things that are bad for Us?
Ella investigates a possible reason behind the common drive to put our lives at risk.
Oct 28, 2022 · 14 min
1. Why Is Heartbreak So Painful?
Is the pain of a broken heart much more than a romantic trope?
Oct 25, 2022 · 1 min
Welcome to Why Do We Do That?
Introducing Why Do We Do That? An anthropologist's guide to the modern world.