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

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Recent Episodes
  • More... Play with Brenna Hassett
    Apr 11, 2025 – 14:52
  • 12. Why do we play?
    Apr 11, 2025 – 14:42
  • More... Bad Boys with Julia Stern
    Apr 9, 2025 – 16:49
  • 11. Why do we fall for the bad boy?
    Apr 9, 2025 – 14:44
  • More... Dancing with Bronwyn Tarr
    Apr 9, 2025 – 15:24
  • 10. Why do we dance?
    Apr 9, 2025 – 14:36
  • More... Pubs with Robin Dunbar
    Apr 9, 2025 – 14:02
  • 9. Why do we go to the pub?
    Apr 9, 2025 – 14:46
  • More... Nature with Gregory Bratman
    Apr 9, 2025 – 16:27
  • 8. Why does nature make me feel calmer?
    Apr 9, 2025 – 15:13
  • More... Blushing with Laith Al-Shawaf
    Mar 14, 2025 – 18:20
  • 7. Why do we blush?
    Mar 14, 2025 – 14:27
  • More... Lies with Roman Stengelin
    Mar 7, 2025 – 16:23
  • 6. Why do we lie?
    Mar 7, 2025 – 14:52
  • More... Laughs with Sophie Scott
    Feb 28, 2025 – 16:53
  • 5. Why do we laugh?
    Feb 28, 2025 – 14:42
  • More... Dogs with Greger Larson
    Feb 21, 2025 – 19:54
  • 4. Why do we love dogs?
    Feb 21, 2025 – 15:29
  • More... Grandmothers with Emily Emmott
    Feb 14, 2025 – 19:21
  • 3. Why do we have grandmas?
    Feb 14, 2025 – 14:51
  • More... Football fanatics with Martha Newson
    Feb 7, 2025 – 13:32
  • 2. Why do I get so upset when my team loses?
    Feb 7, 2025 – 14:48
  • More... Gossip with Nicole Hagen Hess
    Jan 31, 2025 – 15:31
  • 1. Why do we gossip?
    Jan 31, 2025 – 14:58
  • Welcome to Why Do We Do That? Series 2
    Jan 23, 2025 – 02:41
  • 10. Why do we doomscroll?
    Dec 2, 2022 – 14:21
  • 9. Why doesn't everyone clear up?
    Dec 2, 2022 – 14:33
  • 8. Why do we wear make-up?
    Dec 2, 2022 – 14:19
  • 7. Why do we sit down to poo?
    Dec 2, 2022 – 14:36
  • 6. Why can't we all be morning people?
    Dec 2, 2022 – 14:26
  • 5. Why do we shake hands?
    Oct 28, 2022 – 14:00
  • 4. Why do we procrastinate?
    Oct 28, 2022 – 14:00
  • 3. Why do we kiss?
    Oct 28, 2022 – 14:41
  • 2. Why do we do things that are bad for Us?
    Oct 28, 2022 – 14:34
  • 1. Why Is Heartbreak So Painful?
    Oct 28, 2022 – 14:37
  • Welcome to Why Do We Do That?
    Oct 25, 2022 – 01:19
Recent Reviews
  • Doctor Rene DO
    Fun way to be informed.
    Just ran across this podcast, and hope it continues. I’m almost done with the current episodes. I visited China a few years back. Thank goodness the public restrooms had at least one sit down commode — I would have fallen into the squatting ones! Really appreciated that episode.
  • LeftWingDestroyed
    Nothing should be unanimous
    I love the show, just don’t think anything should ever be unanimous.
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