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The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
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27 JAN 2020 · We can now curate who we talk to in a way that wasn’t thinkable when a bulky landline phone sat in a corner of a house and rang with anonymous urgency. The screens on our devices allow us to communicate in any number of quick, cheap but silent ways.These modern technologies are very useful, which is why they are so ubiquitous, but are they taking something from us that is deeply human? In this edition of the Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal asks why we choose to text instead of talk, and if this incredibly popular form of communication is changing the way we interact and relate with each other.
Contributors:
Gary Turk - Spoken Word Artist/Poet
Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Technology, MIT and Author, Reclaiming Conversation: How To Talk In The Digital Age
Sophie Scott, Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London
Mary Jane Copps, Owner, The Phone Lady
Chetan Deshpande, Digital Sales and Profit Consultant
25 NOV 2019 · Many men believe their gender is under siege from a welter of criticism about male attitudes and behaviours. Not everyone accepts the idea of a masculinity crisis, but this programme looks at the concept of the “man box” – a set of attitudes and assumptions which many males struggle to deal with. Artist Grayson Perry joins the discussion.
Presenter: Michael Blastland
Producer: Anna Meisel
Editor: Andy Smith
(Photo: James Mace, Barber. Credit: Ian Burt)
16 SEP 2019 · Statistics from around the world show huge improvements to our way of life, but many of us think the world is in decline. There are good reasons for this; climate change is often cited as the big one. But many of us aren’t aware of the huge strides we’ve made over the decades in reducing poverty, improving healthcare and tackling hunger. In fact, according to surveys of people in richer countries at least, the majority of people think the world is getting worse; but why? In this edition of the Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal asks if human nature is wired to fixate on the downsides of life.
Professor Martin Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology centre at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr Hannah Ritchie, Head of Research at Our World in Data
Ola Rosling , Director and Co-founder of the Gapminder Foundation
Chris Martenson, Co-founder and CEO of Peak Prosperity
Professor Jeremy Adleman, Director of The Global History Lab at Princeton University
Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University
Presenter: Sandra Kanthal
Producer: Xavier Zapata
Editor: Richard Knight
Image: Woman on a train looking out of the window
Credit: Marjan Apostolovic/Getty Images
26 AUG 2019 · In the 1970s, second wave feminists declared war on makeup - arguing it oppressed women, distracted them from gaining equality, and forced them to attain a beauty ideal not expected of men. And yet young women today wear more makeup than ever. Women have made gains in employment, education, sexual liberation, so why is it we can’t leave the house without makeup? In this Why Factor we explore the power and allure of makeup and why it works.
Presented and Produced by Gemma Newby
Editor: Richard Knight
(Photo: Young woman vlogging about beauty products. Credit: Getty Images)
1 APR 2019 · Telling stories: it’s how we connect to one and other. Stories teach us empathy and allow us to feel what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. They evolve to show us what our society considers acceptable - and what will not be forgiven.
In this week’s Why Factor Sandra Kanthal explores why stories matter.
Guests:
David JP Philips – Communications Expert
John Yorke - Author: Into The Woods
Mirta Galesic - Professor in Human Social Dynamics, Santa Fe Institute
Jamie Tehrani, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Durham University
Elizabeth Kperrun - Founder; Zenafri Limited
Samantha Armstrong - Senior Publisher, Oxford University Press
Sandra Newman – Author: The Heavens and How Not To Write a Novel
Music Track: Make America Great Again – performed by Dave Fenley
Photo: Woman holding an open book bursting with light
Credit: Getty Images
18 FEB 2019 · The concept that you can get ahead on your work and talents, also called meritocracy, is something we mostly agree is good. We also equate it with a fairer society, one where the social order is not determined by birth but one which gives us some sort of agency over our futures.
However the term itself was coined as a warning. So why do we believe in it so strongly? The sociologist Michael Young first used the term to describe a dystopia where believing in meritocracy would legitimise inequality. We speak to his son, the journalist Toby Young, about his father’s and his own views about shortcomings of meritocratic societies. We hear from schoolgirls in inner-city London who question meritocracy, but are determined to get ahead in the world regardless.
Entire cultures and societies are formed around the concept of meritocracy. Psychology Professor Shannon McCoy tells us about the American Dream and how buying into it can alter people’s well-being, and Prof Ye Liu tells us about the civil servant exams of ancient China and the country’s current relationship with meritocracy.
Finally the author Anand Giridharadas cautions us about buying into this concept and gives us the view from both India and Silicon Valley, and consultant Joelle Emerson talks about how she tries to help tech companies in California hire more diverse workers.
Presenter: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far
Producer: Ivana Davidovic
Editor: Richard Knight
4 FEB 2019 · When things go wrong, we crave something or someone to blame. It’s a strategy which puts people on the defensive, and can create a toxic culture. People remember when they have been blamed for something, and will be quicker to deflect blame themselves. It’s a primitive emotion which can be found in almost every society. In this edition of the Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal asks: why do we play the blame game?
Image: Pointing Fingers
Credit: Getty Images
14 JAN 2019 · In a world increasingly obsessed with health, the fitness technology market is booming. Whether you’re a serious athlete or just enjoy a casual run or cycle around your local park on a Sunday morning, it seems more and more of us are using fitness devices and activity trackers to record our efforts.
But what is the motivation for measuring every aspect of a workout? Can it inspire us to go further, faster or longer? Sharing our performances online allows us to compete virtually with pretty much anyone across the globe – but does it risk turning every training session into a race?
Presenter Lowri Morgan talks to the CEO of one of the most popular activity trackers Strava which has more than 36 million members. James Quarles says the main reasons why people use these apps and devices are motivation, competition and simply recording your efforts.
But in South Africa in the township of Soweto, the local cycling club is using the data from activity trackers to try to persuade sponsors and professional cycling teams to take on their best riders. They say the statistics help back up their claims about the potential of a rider.
While for many these devices and apps are a great help in motivating us to exercise, for some they can increase the risk of exercise addiction. Sport psychologist Dr Josie Perry says athletes can do many more miles training than is necessary simply because they are chasing an online challenge.
Lowri meets cyclist Ben Dowman from the UK who says in the past he became somewhat obsessed with trying to top the leader board on his activity tracker – even monitoring the weather to know when the wind direction would be most favourable to beat his rivals’ times.
As more of us record every step, pedal stroke and heartbeat, these apps and devices are changing the face of exercise as we compare, share and compete online.
Presenter: Lowri Morgan
Producer: Paul Grant
Editor: Gail Champion
(Photo: Female cyclist points to a smart watch on her wrist showing heart rate./Photo credit: ipopba\Getty )
19 NOV 2018 · Every day we’re bombarded with information and, with each new story or alternative fact, we have to decide what we believe to be true.
But some of the mental short cuts we take to sift through this material allow us to be deceived: past experiences, political beliefs and laziness can all cloud our judgment. In this episode of The Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal explores why truth can be elusive. We’ll meet a woman who discovered her husband had been lying to her for 15 years, and fought through her pain to find the truth. We talk with one psychologist who argues that critical thinking skills can be weaponised to encourage a person to believe in conspiracy theories; and to someone who, through extensive research, is convinced the earth is flat. People shape their identities around their notion of truth. This may go some way to explain why it is easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled.
Producer: Chris Browning
Picture: Goldfish Shark
Credit: Getty Images
22 OCT 2018 · Women are increasingly seeking out ways to look after their minds, bodies and emotions. Nutrition and lifestyle changes - from meditating to drinking green smoothies full of so-called super foods - all come under the term wellness.
There are wellness celebrities and online communities, observers even refer to a wellness industry.
Nastaran Tavakoli-Far asks what is driving women away from the medical establishment in an effort to improve their health.
Photo: Yoga Exercise At Wetland In Huangshan
Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
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