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PODCAST

Explain It Like I’m 5

Big questions. Simple answers. With jokes. Ever wondered why we sleep, what electricity actually is, how airplanes fly, or why Pluto got fired as a planet?Welcome to Explain It Like I’m 5—the podcast that tackles life’s biggest, weirdest, most wonderfully human questions… and makes them make sense. Hosted by Alex, each episode breaks down a complex topic—from science, history, politics, and technology to philosophy, emotions, and everyday “wait… what?” moments—into an easy, entertaining, and

education

All Episodes

9:25

How Do Computers Think? (And Do They Gossip About Us?)

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/29

How do computers “think”—and do they secretly gossip about us when we’re not looking?In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the hidden world of binary code, transistors, and logic gates, showing how machines turn 1s and 0s into everything from cat videos to space missions. We’ll explore the difference between processing and understanding, the rise of AI, and why your devices might “talk” about you through your data (not your bad Google searches). Plus: fun computer facts, from

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9:13

Why Do We Laugh? (And Can Tickling Actually Be a...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/27

Why do we laugh? And what’s really going on when someone tickles us into hysterics? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores the science and psychology of laughter: from ancient theories (superiority, relief, incongruity) to modern research showing laughter as a powerful social glue. You’ll learn why humans and even rats laugh, why we can’t tickle ourselves, and how laughter boosts immunity, relieves stress, and even burns calories. Plus: quirky laughter facts, the health perks of

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6:52

Why Is the Sky Blue? (And Who Decided Sunsets Should...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/22

Why is the sky blue? And why do sunsets look like nature’s daily art show? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the physics of light and the atmosphere.From Rayleigh scattering (the reason blue dominates the sky) to why violet doesn’t win, and how sunsets filter into fiery reds and oranges, you’ll get the simple science behind one of Earth’s most beautiful mysteries. Plus, fun sky facts—from Mars’ butterscotch skies to white clouds and black lunar skies—and a look at why humans

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9:55

How Did Money Start? (Did People Really Trade Goats...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/20

How did money begin? And did people really swap goats for shoes? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex traces the quirky, creative, and sometimes downright strange history of money.From barter systems and cacao beans to cowrie shells, giant stone discs, gold coins, and paper bills, we’ll explore how humans went from trading goats to trusting paper, digital numbers, and even cryptocurrencies. Along the way, you’ll hear fun facts (like why “salary” comes from salt and how Sweden is close to

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9:09

Why Do We Get Sick? (And Is a Cold Just My Body Being...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/15

Why do we get sick? And is a cold really just our body being overdramatic? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex dives into the sneezes, sniffles, and science of sickness.From bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to the immune system’s dramatic defense strategies (fever, mucus, sneezing at 100 mph), we’ll explore why being sick often feels worse than the germ itself. Learn why some people get sicker than others, why colds are so stubborn, and how vaccines train your body like a

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9:22

How Do Airplanes Fly? (And Why Don’t They Flap Like...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/13

How do airplanes—giant metal tubes weighing hundreds of tons—somehow stay in the sky? And why don’t they just flap their wings like birds? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the physics of flight in plain English. From the four forces of flying (lift, weight, thrust, drag) to how wings create lift through Bernoulli’s principle and Newton’s third law, we break down what keeps a Boeing 747 soaring when your fridge would crash instantly. We’ll also explore why planes don’t flap,

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10:34

Why Do We Get Old? (And Can I Pause It Like a Video?)

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/08

Why do we wrinkle, slow down, and creak with age, and is there any way to hit “pause”?In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of aging in the simplest terms possible: from the Hayflick limit and telomeres (your DNA’s shoelace caps), to oxidative stress, cellular “garbage,” and a tired immune system. We’ll explore why evolution doesn’t bother keeping us young forever, the wild science of anti-aging research—from telomerase and senolytics to CRISPR—and why lifestyle

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10:43

How Did Language Start? (Did Someone Just Make Up the...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/06

How did language begin, and did someone actually invent the first word? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks one of humanity’s biggest mysteries: the origin of language. From early grunts and gestures to full-blown grammar, we explore how humans evolved from pointing and miming to building vocabularies, writing systems, and even emojis. You'll learn about theories like the Bow-Wow and Yo-He-Ho models, how language helped us survive and cooperate, why grammar makes human

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10:39

Why Do We Cry? (And Why Does My Nose Join In?)

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/10/01

Why do humans shed emotional tears, and why does our nose run when we cry? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of crying: the three types of tears (basal, reflex, and emotional), why humans are the only species that cry from feelings, and how crying acts as an emotional release valve for your brain and body.Learn how tears flush out stress, trigger endorphins, and serve as a biological SOS signal that brings people closer. We also explore why crying is contagious,

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10:46

What Is DNA (Am I Just a Walking Recipe?)

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/29

What exactly is DNA, and is it really just an instruction manual for building you? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the science behind DNA—from the famous double helix to the role of genes, chromosomes, and those four magical letters: A, T, C, and G. Discover how your DNA works like a giant recipe book, what makes mutations both dangerous and amazing, and how much of your identity is shaped by genes vs. your environment. We’ll also explore epigenetics (aka: sticky notes on your

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10:48

Why Do People Lie? (And Can My Dog Tell?)

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/24

Why do humans lie, even when we know it's wrong—and can our dogs actually tell? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the psychology and science of lying: why people tell white lies, fibs, and full-on whoppers; what goes on in your brain when you deceive someone; and how lying starts in childhood. Plus, we dig into the big question every dog owner secretly asks, can dogs detect dishonesty?From body language cues and brain chemistry to ancient trickster myths and adorable canine

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8:25

How Does Music Work? (And Why Does It Make Me Want to...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/22

Why does music move us, literally and emotionally? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of music: how simple vibrations become pitch, rhythm, and harmony; why your brain releases dopamine when you hear your favorite song; and how rhythm syncs with your body and makes you want to dance. From tribal drums to frisson chills, we explore how music connects us, shapes memory, and fires up more of your brain than almost anything else. You’ll learn how sound waves trigger

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8:01

Why Do We Have Rules? (And Who Decided “No Running...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/17

Rules can feel annoying. But have you ever stopped to ask: Why do we even have rules? And seriously, who came up with “no running with scissors”?In this laugh-and-learn episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks the origin of rules, why humans need them, and how they’ve shaped everything from classrooms and kitchens to governments and playgrounds. Spoiler: rules aren't just power plays by adults—they're how society holds itself together without turning into total chaos. You’ll learn: Why

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9:57

What Is Electricity—And Is It Just Angry Lightning in...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/15

We plug in our phones, flip on the lights, microwave pizza rolls… but what actually is electricity? And is the stuff in your walls just tamed lightning? In this high-voltage episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex takes on one of the most used—and least understood—forces in your daily life: electricity. From electrons to outlets, from lightning bolts to laptop chargers, this episode breaks it all down in simple, funny, totally understandable language. You’ll learn: What electricity really is

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10:36

Why Do We Sleep? (And Why Do I Feel Tired After...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/10

We spend about a third of our lives asleep—but have you ever wondered why? Or why a quick nap sometimes makes you feel more tired than before?In this eye-opening episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex breaks down the mysterious science of sleep, answering two questions we all think about: 👉 Why do we sleep? 👉 Why do naps sometimes leave us groggy and confused? Get ready for a fun, easy-to-understand journey through the stages of sleep, your brain’s secret overnight cleaning service, and the

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10:51

What Is the Internet Made Of? (And Can I Visit It...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/08

Is the internet just floating in the sky? Is it made of magic—or cat videos?In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, we’re asking a question you’ve definitely thought about: What is the internet actually made of? And the bonus question: Can you visit it without a password? Join host Alex as we explore the surprisingly physical world behind the digital one. Spoiler: the internet isn’t a cloud—it’s cables, servers, routers, and a whole lot of blinking lights. In this fun, beginner-friendly

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10:05

How Does Gravity Work? (And Is It Just Earth Giving...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/03

What is gravity, really? Is it just the Earth lovingly hugging us... or something much weirder? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex breaks down the mystery of gravity—one of the most familiar and yet least understood forces in the universe. From falling apples and bouncing astronauts to black holes and bending space-time, we’ll answer the big question: How does gravity work? Using easy-to-understand metaphors and real science, we explore: Why everything with mass has gravity—yes,

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7:05

What’s Inside the Earth? (And Could You Actually Dig...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/09/01

Ever wonder what’s really beneath your feet—or if you could dig a tunnel straight through the planet to pop out in China? In this fun and fiery episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex digs into one of the most iconic science questions of all time: What’s inside the Earth? And while we’re at it… could you actually dig a hole to China? Spoiler: probably not, unless you enjoy lava soup, extreme pressure, and molten metal. In classic ELI5 fashion, we break down the Earth’s internal structure using

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7:41

Do Aliens Really Exist? (Or Are We Just Bad at First...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/08/28

Are we alone in the universe? Or is it possible that intelligent alien life is out there—and we’re just missing the message?In this mind-expanding episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex dives deep into one of humanity’s biggest cosmic questions: Do aliens really exist? And if so, why haven’t they contacted us? From the staggering size of the universe to the famous Drake Equation, the puzzling Fermi Paradox, and theories like the Zoo Hypothesis, this episode explores the science, logic, and

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9:02

What Happens When You Die? (A Lighthearted Look at a...

Explain It Like I’m 5 ·

2025/08/25

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, we tackle one of the biggest, weirdest, and most universal questions ever: What happens when you die? Host Alex breaks it down in a way that’s clear, comforting, and (surprisingly) kind of funny. From what science knows about the body shutting down, to what religions and spiritual traditions say happens next, to how philosophers and regular humans deal with the mystery—this episode explores death from all angles, minus the doom and gloom. We talk: What

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