Why do we actually get hungry—and is that loud stomach growl just our belly yelling at us for snacks? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of hunger in simple, funny, and totally relatable terms. We explore what hunger really is, how your brain, stomach, and hormones team up to tell you it’s time to eat, and why you sometimes crave chocolate, fries, or cookies instead of something healthy.

You’ll learn about the roles of ghrelin (the hunger hormone), leptin (the fullness hormone), insulin, and neuropeptide Y, and how your hypothalamus acts like mission control for your appetite. We explain the difference between hunger vs. appetite, why your stomach makes that rumbling noise called borborygmus, and what’s really going on when you feel “hangry” and snap at people before lunch.

We also dive into evolution, cravings, and comfort food, how culture and religion shape when and how we eat, what happens if we ignore hunger for too long, and a bunch of weird and fun facts—like why bakeries smell so irresistible and how astronauts still get hungry in space. By the end, you’ll see hunger not just as an annoying feeling, but as an incredible body communication system keeping you alive (and yes, still wanting fries).

The oceans are always moving—rising, falling, swirling, and crashing—but what’s really making all that happen? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores how tides, currents, and waves work together to keep Earth’s waters in constant motion.

You’ll learn how the moon’s gravity creates tides, how the Earth’s spin and temperature differences drive ocean currents, and how waves carry energy across the surface. We’ll also uncover some incredible ocean facts, from underwater “rivers” and global conveyor belts to why the Pacific could swallow all the continents twice.

By the end, you’ll see the ocean not as a still blue blanket, but as a living, breathing system—one that shapes climate, weather, and life itself.

Why do people argue so fiercely over religion, politics, or even pizza toppings? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down why humans fight over beliefs—and why we sometimes take them so personally.

You’ll learn what beliefs actually are, how they shape our identity, and why our brains treat challenges to beliefs like physical threats. We’ll explore how evolution, fear, and belonging drive belief conflicts, from ancient religious wars to modern internet arguments. Plus, we’ll ask whether simple games—or a good sense of humor—could help us get along better.

By the end, you’ll see that belief clashes aren’t just about being right—they’re about being human.

Math is everywhere—from counting change to launching rockets—but what is it really? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores one of humanity’s biggest brain-bending mysteries: what math actually is, where it came from, and why it seems to rule everything around us.

You’ll learn how math evolved from tally marks and goat-counting to calculus and algorithms, why it predicts the universe so perfectly, and whether numbers were invented or discovered. Along the way, we’ll uncover fascinating math facts, from zero’s scandalous history to Fibonacci spirals in pinecones, and why cicadas use prime numbers to stay alive.

By the end, you’ll see math not as a school subject, but as the language the universe uses to talk to itself.

Blood is strange. It’s inside us all the time, yet the moment we see it on the outside, we panic. It’s dramatic, a little scary, and completely essential to staying alive. In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex dives into why we have blood, what it does, and why it freaks us out so much.

You’ll learn how blood actually works—what’s in it, how it moves oxygen and nutrients around your body, and how it fights infections and heals cuts. We’ll also explore why blood is red, what blood types mean, and how much of it you really have. Along the way, we’ll uncover some wild facts about blue-blooded creatures, vampires, and why mosquitoes prefer certain people over others.

By the end, you’ll see that blood isn’t creepy—it’s incredible. It’s your body’s delivery truck, defense squad, and clean-up crew all in one.

olcanoes are Earth’s ultimate drama queens—beautiful, terrifying, and totally unstoppable. But how do they actually work? And yes… are they basically the planet’s angry pimples?

In this fiery episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex dives deep (but not too deep!) into the molten world of volcanoes—how they form, why they erupt, and how they’ve shaped our planet. You’ll learn:

What’s really happening beneath Earth’s crust 

Why volcanoes form along tectonic plate boundaries and hotspots

The difference between slow, oozy lava and explosive eruptions

How volcanoes can both destroy and create life

Plus, wild facts about volcanic lightning, underwater eruptions, and Mars’s massive Olympus Mons

It’s part geology lesson, part nature documentary, and part “ew, gross” metaphor that actually makes perfect sense.

Why does Earth have winter, summer, and everything in between—and does it just like spinning fancy while it orbits the sun? 

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks the science (and silliness) behind seasons: why they exist, what causes them, and how they’ve shaped life, culture, and even our holidays. You’ll learn:

Why Earth’s tilt, not its distance from the sun, creates seasons

How daylight hours change—and why the equator basically doesn’t care

What happens if Earth stopped tilting (spoiler: bad news for crops and penguins)

The wild ways other planets do seasons—like seven-year winters on Saturn 

And yes, how Earth “spins fancy” with its slow, cosmic wobble

From ancient farmers and Stonehenge to modern memes about Mercury retrograde, this episode connects the tilt of our planet to everything from ice cream seasons to pumpkin spice.

Fire is terrifying—and yet, it’s the reason we’re here. From lightning strikes and volcanoes to campfires and stovetops, how did humans first discover fire? And who was the first brave (or foolish) soul to actually touch it?

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex dives into the wild story of how fire began, how early humans learned to control it, and how it completely reshaped our species. You’ll learn:

What fire really is (hint: it’s not a thing, it’s a chemical event!)

How ancient humans kept and made fire 

Why fire gave us warmth, safety, and cooked food—and maybe even bigger brains

The myths and legends about “stealing fire” from the gods

Fun facts about plasma flames, fire tornadoes, and eternal fires that never go out

It’s history, science, and a dash of mythology—all in one spark-filled episode.

Pain: everyone hates it, but none of us can live without it. From paper cuts to heartbreak, why does our body insist on sending us those “ouch” signals—and could we ever just switch them off like Wi-Fi?

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks the weird science of pain: how it works, why it exists, and what would happen if we didn’t feel it at all. You’ll learn:

How pain acts like your body’s smoke alarm 

Why pain actually keeps you alive (and what happens to people who can’t feel it)

The difference between acute, chronic, and emotional pain

How painkillers, anesthetics, and endorphins really work

Why your brain sometimes fakes pain—or makes it worse

It’s science, psychology, and a little bit of empathy—all explained so simply you could share it with your five-year-old, your grandma, or your “I don’t feel pain” friend.

Plants have a secret superpower: they eat sunlight. Meanwhile, we humans can barely make toast without burning it. In this bright and leafy episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex breaks down the magic of photosynthesis—how plants turn light into lunch—and why we can’t do the same no matter how much sunbathing we try.

You’ll learn:

What photosynthesis actually is (and the simple equation behind it)

How chlorophyll and chloroplasts act like solar-powered chefs

Why humans can’t photosynthesize (spoiler: you’d only make one potato chip’s worth of energy a day!)

How plants literally changed the planet by creating oxygen

And some wild plant trivia—from sea slugs that steal sunlight to NASA’s space gardens 

It’s science, sunshine, and silliness all rolled into one glowing episode.