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Why Do We Do That? podcast artwork
Science

Why Do We Do That?

by BBC Radio 4
Science
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About the show

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

Latest episodes

  • More... Play with Brenna Hassett

    April 11, 2025 · 15 min

    Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Play with Brenna Hassett. BBC Studios Audio Producer: Olivia Jani Additional Production: Emily Bird Series Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

  • 12. Why do we play?

    April 11, 2025 · 15 min

    Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do humans play? The Neanderthals are a species that was so close to us that we could reproduce with them, they had creativity, technology and they made art - handprints on cave walls and painted…

  • More... Bad Boys with Julia Stern

    April 9, 2025 · 17 min

    Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Bad Boys with Julia Stern. BBC Studios Audio Producer: Olivia Jani Additional Production: Emily Bird Series Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

  • 11. Why do we fall for the bad boy?

    April 9, 2025 · 15 min

    Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi looks at the evidence for what people want in a partner and how it changes as they get older. Psychologist Julia Stern from the University of Bremen shares the results of a study which recruited people…

  • More... Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr

    April 9, 2025 · 15 min

    Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr. BBC Studios Audio Producer: Olivia Jani Additional Production: Emily Bird Series Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

  • 10. Why do we dance?

    April 9, 2025 · 15 min

    Dance seems like such a natural thing, a good beat comes on and you can’t help it, you might find yourself bobbing, even the rhythmically impaired might find themselves tapping their fingers along to the music and it starts early - one…

  • More... Pubs with Robin Dunbar

    April 9, 2025 · 14 min

    Ella Al-Shamahi explores evolutionary mysteries in More Pubs with Robin Dunbar. BBC Studios Audio Producer: Olivia Jani Additional Production: Emily Bird Series Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

  • 9. Why do we go to the pub?

    April 9, 2025 · 15 min

    Humans have evolved to drink alcohol, or at least to be able to metabolise it. And we share this ability with our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees and gorillas, who are also able to convert alcohol into sugar. It gave our…