Tell Me Why

Tell me why we're still writing about chess, 1,200 years later

More than 100,000 books have been written about chess, but the rules haven't changed in centuries.From the earliest chess manuscripts in the 9th century to modern tournament analysis, we explore how one game continues to generate new ideas, new strategies, and an almost unimaginable number of possibilities.

July 20, 2026

Tell me why: The story behind the smallest pocket on your jeans

Ever wondered what that tiny pocket on your jeans is actually for? It's not coins, matches, or flash drives. The answer takes us back to 1873, when Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented work pants with a small pocket designed for one very specific item: the pocket watch.

July 12, 2026

Tell Me Why: Self-tickling fails

In this episode of Tell Me Why, we answer a curious question: how can a friend tickle you breathless, but your own hands do nothing?

June 29, 2026

Tell Me Why: We have a budget

Every month, households decide what matters most when money runs short; food first, then bills, then everything else. Governments do the same thing, just at a much larger scale.

June 13, 2026

Tell me why you prefer sitting against a wall

There's a psychological theory that explains all of it and once you hear it, you'll start noticing it everywhere.

June 7, 2026

Tell Me Why Left-Handers Are So Rare

Why has the number of left-handed people stayed almost exactly the same for thousands of years?

June 1, 2026

Tell Me Why: We celebrate Eid al-Adha

Today in Pakistan alone, over six million animals are sacrificed across three days, with 1.8 billion dollars changing hands and one-third of all meat distributed directly to those who cannot afford it.

May 28, 2026

Tell me why trucks have these bars

May 17, 2026

Tell me why - Easter Eggs

April 5, 2026