The Why Factor

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Restaurants Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

Why do so many people decide to open a restaurant?

Mary-Ann Ochota speaks to the people who have been through the joys and stresses of serving fine food around the globe, those who are just embarking on the journey, and those who are exploring new and modern ways to serve food.

However, according to Restaurant Consultant Linda Lipsky, a majority of restaurants fail in their first year. So why do so many people still dream of opening a restaurant when the odds are stacked against them? Can the reality ever match the fantasy? And why are so many people willing to risk it all to chase their dream? Presenter Mary-Ann Ochota Producers: Priscilla Ng’ethe & Chloe Hadjimatheou

(Image: Restaurant Interior: Credit: Shutterstock)

Sibling Birth Order Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

Shivaani Kohok explores why so many people feel that the order in which we are born shapes our character and destiny. Whether you’re the eldest, the youngest or a middle child can make a difference to how we see ourselves and how we relate to others, according to psychologists. And some studies suggest that there economic and educational advantages to being the first or later born child – depending where in the world you live. Herself the eldest of three, Shivaani talks with other sisters of different ages to find out why they love or hate their place in their sibling hierarchy.

(Image: Siblings of different ages, Credit: Shutterstock)

Machines and Morals Mar 26, 2018

Show notes

Machines are merging into our lives in ever more intimate ways. They interact with our children and assist with medical decisions. Cars are learning to drive themselves, data on our likes and dislikes roam through the internet. Algorithms can determine who gets government assistance and help suggest our romantic partners. But machines learn from the instructions humans give them. So, how do we know that the technology we are creating is going to do the right thing? In this week’s Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal asks if now is the moment we need to think about machines and morals?

(Photo: Human and Robot hands, Credit: Shutterstock)

Laziness Mar 19, 2018

Show notes

Laziness, slothfulness, idleness and apathy are used as criticisms and insults against individuals, groups and sometimes whole countries. But why? The Greeks saw laziness as a virtue and something to be sought after whereas today we look down on being unproductive. Should we keep ourselves constantly busy or is laziness something we should feel less guilty about? Isn’t a little bit of downtime good for the soul? After all, do good things not come out of taking it easy?

(Photo: Legs extended on a hammock. Credit: Shutterstock)

Why are some places still men only? Mar 15, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at a men only club? Maybe you have even asked yourself why segregated groups still exist. According to sociologist Todd Migliaccio, society has historically been male dominated making men only clubs suited to the running of it. However, with the current drive towards gender equality and movements such as MeToo and Time’s Up, it begs the question; Why men only?

Presented by Afua Hirsch

Produced by Priscilla Ng’ethe

(Photo: David Staples at the United Grand Lodge in the Grand Temple Credit: Priscilla Ng'ethe)

Dinosaurs Mar 05, 2018

Show notes

They roamed our planet for millions of years before most of them were wiped out. So what’s our fascination with the dinosaur? And will our love affair with them endure?

Not only is this reptile beast loved by children across the world but it also fires our imagination and has become part of our popular culture, as well hooking us into science.

Mary–Ann Ochota talks to Professor Paul Barrett, Natural History Museum, London about the history of the dinosaur; Dr Laverne Antrobus on why kids love this creature so much; Dr Ben Garrod, a self-confessed dinosaur Geek; Randy Kohl who has collected over 10,000 Dinosaur toys in his 63 years as well as Serena Korda, an artist inspired by the dinosaur.

Presenter: Mary-Ann Ochota Producer: Smita Patel

(Photo: Two dinosaurs fighting each other Credit: Shutterstock)

Credit: “Apeing the Beast” music by Grumbling Fur (aka Alexander D Tucker and Daniel O’Sullivan)

Bullies Feb 26, 2018

Show notes

Why do bullies do what they do? Shivaani Kohok explores the reasons for bullying behaviour. She talks to two bullies who explain why they do what they do – in one case, a young woman realised how the online comments she had posted about others who had previously bullied her were in fact another form of bullying behaviour.

Shivaani talks to experts who provide insight into the different types of bullies including "victims" and "ringleaders". She investigates cyber-bullying, bullying in the family, as well as workplace behaviour where bullying bosses can turn on their highest performing managers.

(Image: Child being bullied, Credit: Shutterstock)

Interviews Feb 19, 2018

Show notes

Job interviews are stressful experiences and have mostly been proved by scientists to be ineffective at selecting the right candidates. So why has this means of selection survived so long and why is so much value placed on it? Catherine Carr explores the cultural and psychological bias that flaws them, how we might improve the experience both as interviewee and interviewer, and the extent to which technology might hold promise in making the process fairer.

(Image: Someone at an interview, Credit: Shutterstock)

Pain Feb 12, 2018

Show notes

Pain comes to us all at some point in our lives. Sometimes it’s a short, sharp shock. Other times, it seems to cling to us. A person’s pain is a unique experience and describing what hurts is not a simple task. In this edition of the Why Factor on the BBC World Service, Sandra Kanthal asks why we need to understand more about pain and learns more about new ways being developed to manage and measure pain.

(Photo: Pain level meter indicating maximum Credit: Shutterstock)

Hypnotism Feb 05, 2018

Show notes

Curing phobias, managing pain, entertainment: hypnotism has a number of tangible benefits. But it can also carry significant risks for the most suggestible people. So why would anyone allow a stranger to access their mind? Nicola Kelly speaks to performers, dentists and therapists who use hypnotism in their work and discovers how the brain functions when in a trance. Through hypnosis, she faces her own fear of rats, hears from a patient who had his front tooth extracted without anesthetic and witnesses colleagues convinced they are Donald Trump. But does the hypnotic trance really exist? Sceptics explain why they no longer believe it works and set out the hidden dangers. Presenter: Nicola Kelly Producer: Chloe Hadjimatheou

(Image and Credit: Ben Dali)

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