Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod.

A lot of the episodes this year looked at processes we’re supposed to put our faith in – the things that are supposed to make our lives more sustainable or our impact on the planet a bit less terrible.

Stuff like supposed “green” solutions, chocolate that’s marketed as ethical, or the wellness industry promising to save your life.

And yes, we all know some of this is a scam, but I don’t think we really appreciate just how much of a scam it actually is.

So, to wrap up season three, instead of a brand-new episode, you get a recap of the most interesting episodes – the ones that made me frustrated, fascinated, and occasionally hopeful. Three years of consistently inconsistent podcasting later, here we are. You’re welcome.

The past few weeks have been… a lot. Popcorn, my horse, has been trying to die. University exams happened. Incrediballs 2.0 is launching soon. And yes, I might be a little burnt out. But, like a grown-up, I’ll push ahead and see how ignoring that goes.

In this episode, let’s go through:

• How much of a scam the things we’re supposed to trust really are
• The invention of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and why it matters for the planet (and our food)
• The environmental and human cost of cocoa farming and lawn culture
• Disinformation and the totally unregulated wellness industry
• How to even begin talking to the climate confused
• Some fun and surprising science (yes, really) from fire, to 5G and plane toilets

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you in 2026!

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

The world feels like a really bad parody movie right now – but it’s not funny. There’s a constant background hum of dread – climate change, biodiversity collapse, war – and it’s no wonder eco-anxiety has become a collective condition.

Because of all this, I’m replaying one of our most popular episodes: my conversation with psychologist Dr. Susie Burke about eco-anxiety.

It’s a surprisingly uplifting conversation about climate change – yes, really...

Dr. Susie has years of experience in climate psychology and shares practical ways to handle eco-anxiety and other intense emotions, whether you’re angry, tired, or just numb.

She reminds us that positive change is happening elsewhere and is within our reach. It's a breath of fresh air for anyone overwhelmed by constant climate news (and the news in general, frankly).

In this episode, we talk about:

• The perception gap: why more people care about climate change than you might think
• The mental health impact of climate change and why eco-anxiety is normal
• Strategies to cope with climate emotions, from small practical steps to collective action
• How shifting business and consumer behavior can drive more change than waiting for governments
• Why we are the first generation with a real shot at creating a sustainable world
• How to support children in understanding and feeling empowered about environmental issues

More About Dr. Susie Burke

Check out her website ⁠here ⁠

Subscribe to Emily Writes here

More about Hannah Ritchie

Author of Not the End of the World, check out her website and books ⁠here ⁠

More about The Conceivable Future

Written by Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli, their website is ⁠here ⁠

Tedx Talk: Changing the World: Why it Fails and What Works

By Winnifred Louis, ⁠watch it here

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

MSG causes headaches, chest tightness, tingling arms and weakness - or at least that’s what we’ve all been told. For decades, MSG was considered public enemy number one, banned from restaurants and demonised in the media. But why?

MSG is everywhere: in tomatoes, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, soy sauce, even breast milk. So how did it become a “toxic chemical killer” in the public imagination?

Today I’m breaking down the bizarre story of MSG, from its origins in Japan, to its rise across Asia and the West, through to the flawed science and racism that turned it into a food villain.

So, because why are we so afraid of MSG?

In this episode let's unpack:

• The discovery of MSG and the origin of umami
• How MSG spread across Asia and into Western diets
• Why “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” started from just one letter
• The flawed studies that fuelled the MSG scare
• The racial undertones behind the MSG panic
• Why MSG is actually safer than table salt
• How modern chefs and TikTok are reclaiming MSG as “umami dust”

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

There is a food trend that aims to give you glowing skin, supercharged memory, endless energy, and protection from every disease that you can probably think of. You’ll have seen the word for it stamped on cereal boxes and blended into smoothies, and it’s always talked about by wellness influencers.

What is that magic word? Well, it’s superfood, of course.

But are superfoods really all that super? Short answer: no. But the longer answer is that it affects so many people in negative ways, when there are some very simple other foods we could be eating.

So today, I’m debunking superfoods and sharing what you could be eating instead. Plus:

• The early history of superfoods
• Where the term superfood came from
• How wellness culture impacted the rise of the superfood term
• What a ‘health halo’ is
• Where the best nutrition comes from
• The foods that are actually a bit superfoody but are very common
• How the exotic factor plays into hyping superfoods
• The farmer exploitation aspect of superfoods
• What the real superfood/power is

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

Why do people still believe in horoscopes, even when we know they’re not true? (If this is you, I'm curious, not judging.)

For nearly a century, people have turned to horoscopes for all sorts of advice, and they’re actually more popular now than ever. But how is this still so widespread when it’s been clearly debunked time and again?

Turns out, there are a lot of reasons - and the story is more complicated (and fascinating) than you might think.

In this episode let's get into:

• The ancient history of the zodiac signs
• How astrology and zodiac systems differ across countries
• How science eventually outpaced astrology
• Why zodiac signs got out of alignment - and why no one seemed to care
• How astrology reinvented itself to stay relevant and believable
• The ways astrology sneaks into modern life that you might not even notice
• Why astrology is booming right now
• The psychology behind why we want astrology to work
• How the wording of horoscopes subtly manipulates us
• How horoscope writing has been tailored to target women
• Why you can’t convince astrology fans they’re wrong
• How celestial bodies really do affect us (just not in the way horoscopes claim)

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

I have the best news: we already have the solution to all of our problems.

This could save over 8 million lives a year, make us live longer with fewer sick days, save billions of dollars, and make us all a lot happier to be around... I feel like this should be front-page news?

The problem is, it’s boring. Because it’s cycling.

It turns out the issue of cycling is actually far, far more complicated than most of us realise. The health, economic and community implications are massive, but we still don’t have huge swaths of the community cycling in droves.

So why is this, and what can we do to change it?

Well, that’s what this episode is all about.

In this episode let's discuss:

• Why cars are such massive pollution contributors
• Examples of cities that have prioritised cycling and actually reaped the benefits
• How cycling impacts communities
• Cycling’s benefits on physical health
• Cycling’s benefits on mental health
• The surprisingly massive impacts of car parks
• Humans’ inability to assess danger - and why it affects cycling
• Why helmets actually add to the idea that cycling is dangerous
• The societal factors that influence cycling uptake
• The tiny annoyances that throw people off using bikes
• The main reason people don’t cycle

• And the solution to all of it

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

So, bottled water is kind of a scam. People think it’s healthier and safer, despite zero evidence to back that up. So… is it all just one giant marketing con? Well… kinda.

In this episode, I’m taking you through the wild history of bottled water to show exactly how we ended up here - and why it’s so, so, so ridiculous!

Quick note: I originally did the research and writing for this podcast in July 2024, so the stats I mention are current to that period.

In this episode I go through:

• The surprisingly long history of bottled water (it’s been around way longer than you think)
• What needed to happen to make bottled water a massive global hit
• The weird correlation between bottled water sales and countries that already have safe tap water
• A statistical breakdown of where people are actually buying bottled water
• The shocking differences in testing requirements between bottled and tap water
• How bottled water companies harm the countries they source from
• Why microplastics could be way worse for our bodies than we realise
• Why bottled water isn’t automatically safer than tap water
• The facts about fluoride and chlorine in tap water
• Why nitrates in water are a concern
• The jaw-dropping amount of water it takes just to make one bottle of water

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

Welcome to another This or That episode!

I break down the least impactful options from things you’ve been asking about.

This episode is actually a repost, because some of you have sent in these questions - clearly, we all have choices that keep us up at night. And often, what we expect isn’t actually the truth!

In this week’s selection we have tea vs. coffee, and which is worse for the environment, what the best and worst options are for the milk you use with your drink, and finally, what exactly are bioplastics? And, whether we should even be using them...

Let's talk about:

• The comparison of tea vs. coffee
• How much water it takes to make tea and coffee, respectively
• What the most sustainable version of milk is
• The worst milk option for the environment
• The various environmental issues caused by dairy farming
• The truth behind a big myth about soy farming in the Amazon
• The difference between bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

Welcome to a This or That episode!

I break down the least impactful options from things you’ve been asking about.

This episode is actually a repost, because some of you have sent in these questions - clearly, we all have choices that keep us up at night. And often, what we expect isn’t actually the truth!

This week’s selection has a pretty controversial topic, and one that maaay just surprise you.

See if you can guess the answers before I reveal them - and then let me know if you got them all!

In this episode let's cover:

• What uses more energy, turning off lights or energy efficient bulbs?
• What has less of an impact, paper or plastic bags?
• What resources and processes are made to make paper bags?
• What matters more, what you eat or where its from?
• What parts of your food intake you should reduce to help lessen your impact? (Don't worry, I'm not telling you to completely give up your favourites.)

Thanks for joining me on this episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

Welcome to the first episode under the brand-new banner, Because Why?! The show where my curiosity gets the better of me, and I drag you along for the ride. (You're welcome?)

We’re still talking about the environment, but now the scope is much wider: science, ethical business, politics (even when it makes my eye twitch), and the weird, wonderful, and occasionally infuriating claims floating around out there.

In this episode, I’m kicking things off with wellness trends, dodgy health claims, and overhyped “miracle” fixes people keep getting sold.

From seed oil scaremongering to the microplastic “hoover,” cold plunges, cortisol face, and the mysterious world of “structured water,” let's dissect the pseudoscience to establish what’s true, what’s nonsense, and why these ideas catch on in the first place.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• ​Seed oils - are they really as bad as people say? (No)
• ​The actual science behind seed oils
• ​What the microplastic hoover is - and whether it works (It probably doesn't)
• ​How therapeutic apheresis really stacks up
• ​Practical tips to reduce your microplastic exposure
• ​Why cold plunges might carry more risks than you think
• ​Can you really tell your stress hormone levels just by looking in the mirror? (No)
• ​What cortisol actually does in your body
• ​Why “hormone balancing” is mostly myth and marketing
• ​The three biggest reasons anecdotal evidence tricks us
• ​Can water really be “structured” or “vortexed” to be better for you? (No)
• ​The truth about hydrogen water and the science behind it

If you want to keep doing cold plunges, I’m happy for you! Just... be careful. And if you’ve got $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket, maybe think twice before signing up for a microplastic blood cleanse.

The boring truth is usually what works: sleep, balanced diet, exercise, social connections.

Thanks for joining me on this first episode of Because Why?!

Mā te wā - see you next week.

You can get involved with the podcast online in the meantime, of course.

Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/becausewhypod/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

Sources:

Seed oils: (word count prevents proper referencing.)

- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.029

- https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-8-36

- https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000510

- https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub3

- https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010236

- https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30307-8