WHY IS THAT?
HISTORY
Have you ever wondered why bread is so much nicer in France? Why people in the UK drive on the left instead of the right? Why planes don’t fall out of the sky?
In “WHY IS THAT?” Sebastien Pollock gives you the answers to why things are the way they are and tells a few good stories along the way. Join us on our exploration of the world, through history, science and entertainement and where sometimes the plainest of objects hide the most exciting of tales.
“WHY IS THAT?” is an RJP Media production for WRNC and WRP.
These episodes also exist in video form on Youtube!
Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock with research by Regan Ebsworth ; guest starring Prof. Colin Jones CBE
In this episode we take a look at The Smile Revolution which occured in 18th century Paris, two years before the actual French Revolution. Why was smiling so taboo? And how did a portrait cause divide between Parisians and the royal elite? This month’s episode is a story of smiles!
Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock with research by Regan Ebsworth
In this episode of “WHY IS THAT?” we take a look at the events of “the Gin Craze”. Did you know that Britain had its own form of prohibition in the 18th century? One focused around a single beverage: gin. This is the story of one of the first major economic crises, of betrayal, of politics and of gin. The most British of drinks… Though it turns out, it might not be. How did gin tear British society apart in the 18th century? Let’s find out!
Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock with research by Regan Ebsworth
In this first episode of “WHY IS THAT?” we take a look at the events of Strasbourg’s 1518 dancing plague… Why are these people dancing in the streets? Never stopping, despite hunger and pain, sometimes even until death? An incredible historical event, too insane to be true… And yet, it actually happened!