BBC Radio Podcasts from Why Do We Do That?

Why Do We Do That?

More... Play with Brenna Hassett

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Play with Brenna Hassett.

12. Why do we play?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do humans play?

More... Bad Boys with Julia Stern

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Bad Boys with Julia Stern.

11. Why do we fall for the bad boy?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we like bad boys?

More... Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr.

10. Why do we dance?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks, why do we dance?

More... Pubs with Robin Dunbar

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Pubs with Robin Dunbar.

9. Why do we go to the pub?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we go to the pub?

More... Nature with Gregory Bratman

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Nature with Gregory Bratman.

8. Why does nature make me feel calmer?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why being in nature makes us feel calmer?

More... Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf.

7. Why do we blush?

Join paleoanthropologist Ella Al Shamahi to find out why we blush.

More... Lies with Roman Stengelin

BONUS: Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Lies with Roman Stengelin.

6. Why do we lie?

Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we lie?

More... Laughs with Sophie Scott

BONUS: Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Laughs with Sophie Scott.

5. Why do we laugh?

Ella Al-Shamahi investigates why we laugh?

More... Dogs with Greger Larson

BONUS: Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Dogs with Greger Larson.

4. Why do we love dogs?

Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we love dogs?

More... Grandmothers with Emily Emmott

BONUS: Ella explores evolutionary mysteries in More... Grandmothers with Emily Emmott.

3. Why do we have grandmas?

Join anthropologist Ella Al Shamahi to find out why grandmothers are so important.

More... Football fanatics with Martha Newson

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries with Martha Newson.

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.

More... Gossip with Nicole Hagen Hess

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Gossip with Nicole Hagen Hess.

1. Why do we gossip?

Join anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi as she delves into the origins of gossip.

Welcome to Why Do We Do That? Series 2

Ella Al-Shamahi investigates the origins of everyday human habits and behaviour.

10. Why do we doomscroll?

Endlessly scrolling negative news? Why are we drawn magnetically to the dark side?

9. Why doesn't everyone clear up?

That messy person, who doesn’t pull their weight around the house - why people, why?

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?

7. Why do we sit down to poo?

Ella gets personal to explore which is best for our business - sitting down or squatting?

6. Why can't we all be morning people?

Ella Al-Shamahi explores how our Neanderthal DNA may influence our sleeping habits.

5. Why do we shake hands?

Are we shaking hands to sniff each other?

4. Why do we procrastinate?

Can we blame procrastination on our evolution?

3. Why do we kiss?

The kiss - an exchange of 18 million bacteria or a romantic evolutionary hand-me-down?

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.

1. Why Is Heartbreak So Painful?

Is the pain of a broken heart much more than a romantic trope?

Welcome to Why Do We Do That?

Introducing Why Do We Do That? An anthropologist's guide to the modern world.