Explain It to Me

Summer. Time for pools, BBQs, and the beach read. But why do we read "summer books"?

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images. 

Further Reading: Bad Witches by H.B. Akumiah and Constance Grady's newsletter from Vox. Further listening:  Limousine podcast.

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. 

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More and more of us are interacting with chatbots. Can we have real relationships with AI, and can AI teach humans to be better people?

This episode was a collaboration with Vox's Future Perfect team. It was produced by Denise Guerra, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Kim Slotterback, engineered by Patrick Boyd and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images. 

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. 

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Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar openly celebrate the American flag. But a lot of Black Americans feel differently. What does that tell us about identity today?

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image of Kendrick Lamar performing at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images. 

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.

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So many of us believe we understand what our pets are feeling. Are we fooling ourselves?

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Miranda Kennedy and Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered byPatrick Boyd and hosted by Noam Hassenfeld. Photo by Kylie Cooper for The Washington Post via Getty Images.

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.

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Unpacking the American rite of passage that so many children love — but that isn't right for everyone.

This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Sarah Schweppe, engineered by Matthew Billy and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Maskot/Getty Images. 

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. 

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A caller asks why it's so hard to make biking safe in LA. We bike around different US cities to get the answer.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Colleen Barrett, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of a cyclist in a bike lane intersection in Washington, DC by Kevin Carter/Getty Images. 

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.

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Press-on nails, new music from Katy Perry, and an uptick in Klarna purchases: signs of an economic downturn or no? 

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of Katy Perry performing in Sydney, Australia by Nina Franova/Getty Images.

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Help us plan for the future of Explain It to Me by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠. Thank you!

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For the first time in decades, American Christianity is not in decline. What are young people looking for–and finding–at church?

Further reading: The surprising chasm splitting Americans along religious lines by Christian Paz. Pew report: Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off. 

This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of a parishioner praying at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral by Scott Olson/Getty Images.

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a note ⁠here⁠.  Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Help us plan for the future of Explain It to Me by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠. Thank you!

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It feels like sneezing season lasts longer and takes more victims every year. An allergist and a public health specialist explain how to fight back.

This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images. 

If you have a question for us, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. 

Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. 

Correction: This episode mentions Xarelto as a potential allergy medication. It is not.

Help us plan for the future of Explain It to Me by filling out a brief survey: voxmedia.com/survey. Thank you!

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With the at-home DNA testing company 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to all the data millions of Americans handed over? And how should you approach the family you've found through sites like these?

If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a note here. 

Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Brandon MacFarland and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. 

Photo of 23andMe Ancestry + Traits Service DNA kit by Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images. 

Help us plan for the future of Explain It to Me by filling out a brief survey: voxmedia.com/survey. Thank you!

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