Why Do We Do That? podcast

Why Do We Do That?

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

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

More... Play with Brenna Hassett

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Play with Brenna Hassett. BBC Stud... more

11 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:52

11 Apr 2025


#35

12. Why do we play?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do humans play? The Neanderthals are a specie... more

11 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:42

11 Apr 2025


#34

More... Bad Boys with Julia Stern

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Bad Boys with Julia Stern. BBC Stu... more

09 Apr 2025

16 MINS

16:49

09 Apr 2025


#33

11. Why do we fall for the bad boy?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi looks at the evidence for what people want in a partne... more

09 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:44

09 Apr 2025


#32

More... Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr. BBC Stu... more

09 Apr 2025

15 MINS

15:24

09 Apr 2025


#31

10. Why do we dance?

Dance seems like such a natural thing, a good beat comes on and you can’t help it, you mig... more

09 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:36

09 Apr 2025


#30

More... Pubs with Robin Dunbar

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Pubs with Robin Dunbar. BBC Studio... more

09 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:02

09 Apr 2025


#29

9. Why do we go to the pub?

Humans have evolved to drink alcohol, or at least to be able to metabolise it. And we shar... more

09 Apr 2025

14 MINS

14:46

09 Apr 2025


#28

More... Nature with Gregory Bratman

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Nature with Gregory Bratman. BBC S... more

09 Apr 2025

16 MINS

16:27

09 Apr 2025


#27

8. Why does nature make me feel calmer?

Nature is charismatic, a good view can take our breath away and a walk in the woods can he... more

09 Apr 2025

15 MINS

15:13

09 Apr 2025


#26

More... Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf. BBC... more

14 Mar 2025

18 MINS

18:20

14 Mar 2025


#25

7. Why do we blush?

Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why we blush. Even Darwin was intrigued by blushi... more

14 Mar 2025

14 MINS

14:27

14 Mar 2025


#24

More... Lies with Roman Stengelin

Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Lies with Roman Stengelin. BBC Stu... more

07 Mar 2025

16 MINS

16:23

07 Mar 2025


#23

6. Why do we lie?

Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we lie? You might think that deception is a uniquely human cha... more

07 Mar 2025

14 MINS

14:52

07 Mar 2025


#22

More... Laughs with Sophie Scott

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

28 Feb 2025

16 MINS

16:53

28 Feb 2025


#21

5. Why do we laugh?

Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we laugh? Some people might not have a sense of humour, you mi... more

28 Feb 2025

14 MINS

14:42

28 Feb 2025