Society & Culture

But Why? Real talk on messy minds, and messier systems

by Dr. Kristin & Dr. Laura

Claiming needs an RSS feed. Contact us.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Recently ranked · United States

Last recorded placements from this show’s chart history. These are not current rankings.

Not on the United States charts we track today.

If you like But Why? Real talk on messy minds, and…, try…

Alice in Hollywood: Down the Rabbit Hole

Latest episodes

But Why Is the Manosphere So Predictable? | Insecurity, Power & the Psychology of Backlash

March 31, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

This week, Kristin is joined by sociologist Dr. Randall Blazak to unpack the Into the Manosphere documentary and why, for anyone who studies power, it’s not shocking at all. Because what looks like “self-help for men”… starts to look very…
But Why Does Christmas Feel So Bittersweet? | Part 3: Boundaries & Actually Enjoying the Holidays

December 21, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

We’ve talked nostalgia. We’ve talked stress. Now we’re getting real about how to survive the season with your sanity intact. In Part 3 of our Christmas series, Kristin and Laura tackle the big one: why this season feels so exhausting, and…
But Why Does Christmas Feel So Bittersweet? | Part 2: Why the Holidays Burn Us Out

December 12, 2025 · 55 min

In Part 2 of our holiday series, Kristin and Laura peel back the glitter to talk about the real stress under the tinsel...from sensory overload and grief to the gendered emotional labour that keeps the “magic” going. We unpack: Why the…
But Why Does Christmas Feel So Bittersweet? | Part 1: Nostalgia, Identity & Holiday Expectations

December 9, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

In Part 1 of our holiday series, we deck the halls...and then unpack why it never quite feels the way it used to. Kristin and Laura get reflective (and slightly existential) about the bittersweet nature of Christmas nostalgia: Why does…
But Why is Politics so Messy? | Part 3: Psychology and the Politics of Resistance

November 27, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min

In Part 3 of our But Why is Politics so Messy? series, we close with the big one: What can we actually do? After breaking down how people get pulled into harmful political narratives, Kristin and Laura flip the lens to explore how we…

Show 7 more episodesShow fewer episodes

But Why is Politics so Messy? | Part 2: The Myth of the Rational Voter (with Keegan Tatum)

November 18, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min

In Part 2 of our Messy Politics series, Kristin and Laura are joined by political psychology creator Keegan Tatum to unpack why logic rarely drives political decision-making...and why it’s actually our emotions that vote first. We explore…
But Why is Politics so Messy? | Part 1: The Psychology of Political Paralysis

November 11, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

Part 1 of our new series: But Why is Politics so Messy? In a world on fire, why do so many people double down, look away…or stay stuck? In this episode, Kristin and Laura explore the psychology of political identity and why some people…
But Why Do We Create Monsters? | Part 3: Fear, Projection & the Psychology of Horror

October 28, 2025 · 55 min

Part 3 of our Halloween series: Monsters as Mirrors If monsters reflect our fears, what does it say that we keep making them? In this final episode of our Halloween trilogy, Kristin and Laura dig deep into the psychology of monstering…
But Why Do We Create Monsters? | Part 2: Witches, Werewolves & the Cultural Fear Machine

October 21, 2025 · 60 min

️ Part 2 of our Halloween series: Monsters as Mirrors ️ If today’s monsters reflect modern fears…what were we afraid of 500 years ago? In this time-travelling episode, Kristin and Laura head back to the past to ask: where did our monsters…
But Why Do We Create Monsters? | Part 1: Fear, Power & Projection in the Modern Age

October 14, 2025 · 51 min

This is Part 1 of our special Halloween series: Monsters as Mirrors What if our monsters say more about us than them? In this episode, Kristin and Laura explore how monsters are a social mirror...a way for powerful systems to project…
But Why Are Women Falling Down the Rabbit Hole? | Part 3: Shame, Identity & The Exit From the Alt-Right Pipeline

September 30, 2025 · 57 min

In the final episode of our alt-right pipeline series, we explore what happens after the soft aesthetics and curated control stop working. Kristin and Laura dig into the messy, often shame-filled reality of trying to leave a system that…
But Why Are Women Falling Down the Rabbit Hole? | Part 2: Wellness, Language & the Alt-Right Pipeline for Women

September 23, 2025 · 60 min

In Part 2 of our series on the alt-right pipeline for women, we explore how wellness aesthetics and therapeutic language become tools of discipline, not liberation. Kristin and Laura dissect the soft side of authoritarianism - how…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

Welcome to But Why? — real talk on messy minds and messier systems. Hosted by two psychologists, Kristin and Laura, we dive deep into the psychology of human experience: from mental health and identity to power, culture, and the systems that shape our lives. Expect thoughtful conversations, critical questions, and honest reflections on how people—and the world—really work. No self-help platitudes. No easy answers. Just meaningful, accessible dialogue for curious minds. Topics we explore: • Psychology and mental health • Identity, feminism, and culture • Neurodivergence and lived experience • Systemic power and social change New episodes every week. Subscribe to join the conversation. #PsychologyPodcast #MentalHealth #CultureAndIdentity #RealTalkPodcast