Why do we have countries at all? Couldn’t Earth just be one big global clubhouse? 🌍

You’ll learn:

What a “nation-state” really is

Why countries exist (organization, identity, protection, resources)

How borders were born

Whether one world government could actually work

And some wild geography trivia—like the unclaimed land between Egypt and Sudan and why Canada is basically 90% lakes

So grab your map (or your fries) and join Alex for a fun, curious dive into the invisible lines that shape our world.

How do computers “think”—and do they secretly gossip about us when we’re not looking?

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the hidden world of binary code, transistors, and logic gates, showing how machines turn 1s and 0s into everything from cat videos to space missions. We’ll explore the difference between processing and understanding, the rise of AI, and why your devices might “talk” about you through your data (not your bad Google searches).

Plus: fun computer facts, from the first literal “bug” to why your toaster has more power than NASA once did.

New episodes every Monday and Wednesday!

Why do we laugh? And what’s really going on when someone tickles us into hysterics? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores the science and psychology of laughter: from ancient theories (superiority, relief, incongruity) to modern research showing laughter as a powerful social glue.

You’ll learn why humans and even rats laugh, why we can’t tickle ourselves, and how laughter boosts immunity, relieves stress, and even burns calories. Plus: quirky laughter facts, the health perks of giggles, and whether tickling counts as a secret “superpower.” New episodes every Monday and Wednesday!

Why is the sky blue? And why do sunsets look like nature’s daily art show? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the physics of light and the atmosphere.

From Rayleigh scattering (the reason blue dominates the sky) to why violet doesn’t win, and how sunsets filter into fiery reds and oranges, you’ll get the simple science behind one of Earth’s most beautiful mysteries.

Plus, fun sky facts—from Mars’ butterscotch skies to white clouds and black lunar skies—and a look at why humans evolved to find sunsets breathtaking.

New episodes every Monday and Wednesday!

How did money begin? And did people really swap goats for shoes? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex traces the quirky, creative, and sometimes downright strange history of money.

From barter systems and cacao beans to cowrie shells, giant stone discs, gold coins, and paper bills, we’ll explore how humans went from trading goats to trusting paper, digital numbers, and even cryptocurrencies.

Along the way, you’ll hear fun facts (like why “salary” comes from salt and how Sweden is close to ditching cash entirely) and discover why money isn’t just stuff—it’s trust.

New episodes every Monday and Wednesday!

Why do we get sick? And is a cold really just our body being overdramatic? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex dives into the sneezes, sniffles, and science of sickness.

From bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to the immune system’s dramatic defense strategies (fever, mucus, sneezing at 100 mph), we’ll explore why being sick often feels worse than the germ itself. Learn why some people get sicker than others, why colds are so stubborn, and how vaccines train your body like a superhero squad.

Plus, quirky facts (yes, chicken soup actually helps) and the evolutionary reason sickness exists at all.

New episodes every Monday and Wednesday!

How do airplanes—giant metal tubes weighing hundreds of tons—somehow stay in the sky? And why don’t they just flap their wings like birds?

Why do we wrinkle, slow down, and creak with age, and is there any way to hit “pause”?

In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of aging in the simplest terms possible: from the Hayflick limit and telomeres (your DNA’s shoelace caps), to oxidative stress, cellular “garbage,” and a tired immune system. We’ll explore why evolution doesn’t bother keeping us young forever, the wild science of anti-aging research—from telomerase and senolytics to CRISPR—and why lifestyle still beats miracle creams. Plus, discover the weird quirks of aging (like why grandpas have big ears and lobsters basically don’t age at all) and why growing older isn’t just decline—it’s also growth, wisdom, and a surprising boost in happiness.

How did language begin, and did someone actually invent the first word? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks one of humanity’s biggest mysteries: the origin of language.

From early grunts and gestures to full-blown grammar, we explore how humans evolved from pointing and miming to building vocabularies, writing systems, and even emojis.

You'll learn about theories like the Bow-Wow and Yo-He-Ho models, how language helped us survive and cooperate, why grammar makes human communication unique, and how babies mirror our evolutionary past by babbling their way into speech.

We also look at how emojis fit into the language puzzle, and why no one person invented the first word, it was a group effort, thousands of years in the making.

🎙️ New episodes every Monday and Wednesday.

Why do humans shed emotional tears, and why does our nose run when we cry? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of crying: the three types of tears (basal, reflex, and emotional), why humans are the only species that cry from feelings, and how crying acts as an emotional release valve for your brain and body.

Learn how tears flush out stress, trigger endorphins, and serve as a biological SOS signal that brings people closer. We also explore why crying is contagious, how culture shapes when we cry, and why some people cry more than others. Plus: crying from laughter, onions, babies with no tears, and, yes, why your nose always insists on joining the drama.

🎙️ New episodes every Monday and Wednesday.