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PODCAST

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod.

Curious about, well… everything? Same. Welcome to Because Why?! Where science and nature, meets culture and business. If you care about people and planet, and want to know how the world really works - and how we can do better, you"re in the right place. Because Why?! Because really, everything comes back to science. Expect episodes on everything from climate change and sustainability, to ethical business and history, politics, nature, conspiracy theories, human behaviour and who knows what else

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All Episodes

00:18:20

So, what did you miss?

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/11/11

A lot of the episodes this year looked at processes we’re supposed to put our faith in – the things that are supposed to make our lives more sustainable or our impact on the planet a bit less terrible. Stuff like supposed “green” solutions, chocolate that’s marketed as ethical, or the wellness industry promising to save your life. And yes, we all know some of this is a scam, but I don’t think we really appreciate just how much of a scam it actually is. So, to wrap up season three, instead of a

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00:57:12

Are we doomed? A psychologist’s guide to climate anxiety

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/10/05

The world feels like a really bad parody movie right now – but it’s not funny. There’s a constant background hum of dread – climate change, biodiversity collapse, war – and it’s no wonder eco-anxiety has become a collective condition.Because of all this, I’m replaying one of our most popular episodes: my conversation with psychologist Dr. Susie Burke about eco-anxiety.It’s a surprisingly uplifting conversation about climate change – yes, really...Dr. Susie has years of experience in climate

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00:17:14

Did you fall for the myth? How misinformation &...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/09/29

MSG causes headaches, chest tightness, tingling arms and weakness - or at least that’s what we’ve all been told. For decades, MSG was considered public enemy number one, banned from restaurants and demonised in the media. But why? MSG is everywhere: in tomatoes, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, soy sauce, even breast milk. So how did it become a “toxic chemical killer” in the public imagination? Today I’m breaking down the bizarre story of MSG, from its origins in Japan, to its rise across Asia and the

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00:15:40

Is your favourite 'superfood' a scam?

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/09/21

There is a food trend that aims to give you glowing skin, supercharged memory, endless energy, and protection from every disease that you can probably think of. You’ll have seen the word for it stamped on cereal boxes and blended into smoothies, and it’s always talked about by wellness influencers.What is that magic word? Well, it’s superfood, of course.But are superfoods really all that super? Short answer: no. But the longer answer is that it affects so many people in negative ways, when there are

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00:15:16

It's not me, it's my star sign

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/09/14

Why do people still believe in horoscopes, even when we know they’re not true? (If this is you, I'm curious, not judging.)For nearly a century, people have turned to horoscopes for all sorts of advice, and they’re actually more popular now than ever. But how is this still so widespread when it’s been clearly debunked time and again?Turns out, there are a lot of reasons - and the story is more complicated (and fascinating) than you might think.In this episode let's get into:The ancient

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00:31:18

Cycling is the solution to all our problems

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/09/07

I have the best news: we already have the solution to all of our problems. This could save over 8 million lives a year, make us live longer with fewer sick days, save billions of dollars, and make us all a lot happier to be around... I feel like this should be front-page news? The problem is, it’s boring. Because it’s cycling.It turns out the issue of cycling is actually far, far more complicated than most of us realise. The health, economic and community implications are massive, but we still don’t

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00:24:11

Is Bottled Water Really Better for You?

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/08/31

So, bottled water is kind of a scam. People think it’s healthier and safer, despite zero evidence to back that up. So… is it all just one giant marketing con? Well… kinda. In this episode, I’m taking you through the wild history of bottled water to show exactly how we ended up here - and why it’s so, so, so ridiculous! Quick note: I originally did the research and writing for this podcast in July 2024, so the stats I mention are current to that period.In this episode I go through:The surprisingly

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00:12:59

You Asked: Coffee vs Tea, Milk Choices & The...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/08/24

Welcome to another This or That episode!I break down the least impactful options from things you’ve been asking about.This episode is actually a repost, because some of you have sent in these questions - clearly, we all have choices that keep us up at night. And often, what we expect isn’t actually the truth!In this week’s selection we have tea vs. coffee, and which is worse for the environment, what the best and worst options are for the milk you use with your drink, and finally, what exactly are

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00:08:40

You Asked: 3 Sustainability Questions - Lightbulbs,...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/08/18

Welcome to a This or That episode! I break down the least impactful options from things you’ve been asking about.This episode is actually a repost, because some of you have sent in these questions - clearly, we all have choices that keep us up at night. And often, what we expect isn’t actually the truth!This week’s selection has a pretty controversial topic, and one that maaay just surprise you.See if you can guess the answers before I reveal them - and then let me know if you got them all!In this

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00:31:30

The $20,000 Microplastic Hoax and Other 'Wellness' Scams

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/08/11

Welcome to the first episode under the brand-new banner, Because Why?! The show where my curiosity gets the better of me, and I drag you along for the ride. (You're welcome?)We’re still talking about the environment, but now the scope is much wider: science, ethical business, politics (even when it makes my eye twitch), and the weird, wonderful, and occasionally infuriating claims floating around out there.In this episode, I’m kicking things off with wellness trends, dodgy health claims, and

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00:32:00

Physics Myths Busted: 5G, Airplane Toilets, and Cats...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/08/04

A few weeks ago, we had the amazing physicist, science writer, and communicator Laurie Winkless on the podcast. She was so great, one episode wasn’t enough... so she’s back to do some mythbusting!In this episode we talk about:If glass is really a liquidA bunch of physics myths that have been debunkedWhat 5G actually is and whether 5G towers kill or control peopleHow microwaves work and if they are safeWhether you can use your mobile phone at petrol stationsIf you really need to turn off your phone

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00:29:13

Animals you hate that are actually awesome - with...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/07/27

Welcome back to Part 2 of a fascinating kōrero with science journalist and author Bethany Brookshire. This one gets a smidge more controversial...We talk about the animals we hate because they’re successful (looking at you, pigeons), the cultural weirdness of how we define pets vs pests, and how control - or our lack of it - shapes our relationship with the natural world. Plus, there's a story involving Burmese pythons and a pair of trousers (you’ve been warned) and yes, we talk about cats in

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00:37:09

Animals you hate that are actually awesome - with...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/07/21

You know when you see someone on social media and you just KNOW they'll be amazing to chat to? Well, that's Bethany Brookshire for you. Bethany is a science journalist, animal behaviorist and author who writes about the animals most people hate. Rats, cockroaches, spiders, pigeons... And how our feelings about them are mostly cultural, not scientific.We talked about where fear and disgust come from and how cute a mouse eating a fruit loop is. Also, how US science funding is collapsing and

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00:49:17

How to tell science stories that make people care,...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/07/14

Today's guest is Laurie Winkless. She's a physicist, a science writer and she's the only person I know who's actually made writing about friction interesting. You could say she's a science friction writer...She’s appeared everywhere from Forbes to Wired to BBC, and she has written two books. Oh and she won a scholarship to do some training at NASA. As you do.I am very excited to talk about her transition from scientist to science communication and why she thinks that's so

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00:39:57

Politics and Positivity with Dave Richards

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/07/07

I wanted to talk about politics and combating polarising opinions… but I didn’t want to get dark about it.So, to help, I’ve called in my friend and optimism security blanket, Dave Richards. He’s one of those people who has realistic but optimistic insight into the world. He’s lived all over the world, has a deep cultural understanding, and just makes me feel better about the state of things.So I thought I’d have him join me for a bit of a wide-ranging, mostly optimistic chat about the state of the

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00:11:07

The ocean makes half your oxygen - should we really...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/07/01

About half of the oxygen that you are breathing right now is made in the ocean. And last year, scientists found that some of it is made three kilometres down in total darkness by microbes that live on the seabed.We had no idea about any of this before then, and now, next month, the United Nations International Seabed Authority is deciding whether they will let industrial rigs strip minerals out of the seabed. But is that a good idea when it turns out we know so little about it?Surely there are

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00:30:04

Need a break from bad news? Positive stories you...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/06/29

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the last few episodes have been somewhat… bleak.There’s been a lot to discuss around climate change, governments, and corruption, but I realised if we kept focusing only on that, it was going to get all-consuming.So this week, I’m welcoming back Kate to help me share some good news stories instead!In this episode, we cover:What are drop bears?Some fun community topicsWhat happened at the UN Ocean ConferenceReasons why Kate was put off getting solar and myths about

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00:21:39

You're not immune to disinformation: 6 ways we all...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/06/26

You reckon you’re immune to propaganda and disinformation, right? A critical thinker who sees through the rubbish.I thought the same - until I realised I’m way more likely to believe something if it backs up what I already think.That’s not a personal flaw. It’s how we’re all wired. But we need to get better at spotting it, because it’s fuelling polarisation and making it harder to have real conversations with people we disagree with.And with AI making it even harder to tell what’s real, it’s only

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00:30:30

The No-Biodiversity Budget

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/06/22

Well, we are officially halfway through the election cycle. The coalition government has been in place for about 18 months now. David Seymour is our Deputy Prime Minister. So, how are things going?I did my first ever political roundup episode - I think it was episode three - and it ended up being one of our most popular ever.Interestingly, you lot seem to care about what's going on out there, which is nice. So I thought we’d do a check-in, because it's been a year, right?Just to set some

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00:14:04

Still arguing about climate change? Listen to this...

Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod. ·

2025/06/17

Are you tired of arguing about climate change with your uncle, or your co-worker, or that weird person online?Welcome to the club. Now, if you really want to keep banging your head on that wall, I'm not here to stop you, but I am here to try and give you some facts that might help - because even though you are almost certainly not going to convince those people, it is often worth trying to combat some of that misinformation.You are probably not going to convince the guy who thinks that all

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