Explain It to Me

Vox

The hotline for all your unanswered questions.

  • 30 minutes 17 seconds
    No one will save us but ourselves

    When crises hit, neighbors turn to mutual aid.

    This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.

    Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP 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.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    15 February 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 30 seconds
    Living in a winter bummerland

    The days are shorter and colder, and can leave us feeling listless and drained of energy. When do the winter blues tip over into seasonal affective disorder, and how do we make the most of the season?

    This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Avishay Artsy, it was also edited by Avishay alongside Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Thomas Warnack/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.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    8 February 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 59 seconds
    Surviving online cringe

    The internet is forever. So how do we handle posts from our past selves?

    This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Sarah Schweppe, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image credit Hady Mawajdeh.  

    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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 February 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 30 seconds
    Battling brain rot

    Bland colors, AI summaries, and declining literacy rates have lots of us worried that we’re losing our intelligence to the modern world. Can we get it back?

    This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo By BSIP/UIG 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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    25 January 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 30 seconds
    Sexy TV is back

    Why we’re obsessed with Heated Rivalry and hooking up on the small screen.

    This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jenny Lawton and Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Brandon McFarland, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. 

    Heated Rivalry press photo by Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max. 

    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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    18 January 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes
    Why everyone is sick right now

    How this season’s flu got supercharged — and why viruses may make you healthier.

    This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.  Photo by Elisa Schu/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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    11 January 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 28 seconds
    Internet bad

    Once a place of serendipity and discovery, the internet now thrives on feeding us toxic rage bait designed to piss us off. Can we get the good internet back?

    This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Sarah Schweppe, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. 

    Photo by Fairfax Media 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

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    4 January 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 25 seconds
    Is your brain lying to you?

    Our brain constructs the world we hear, see, and feel — but tinnitus shows how that superpower can backfire.

    This episode is made in collaboration with Vox's Unexplainable. Hear their series on sound here.

    This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for the Hearing Health Foundation. 

    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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    21 December 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 40 seconds
    Let AI replace you

    If AI handles all our busy work and optimizes our resources, it may also give us the one thing there never seems to be enough of: time.

    This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Simona Granati - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images. 

    This story was supported by a grant from Arnold Ventures. Vox had full discretion over the content of this reporting.

    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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    14 December 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 23 seconds
    The rise of the introverts

    Turns out those personality tests you’re taking online are all wrong.

    This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.  Image credit Khosrork/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


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    7 December 2025, 3:48 pm
  • 29 minutes 37 seconds
    Talk turkey to me

    How this big, lean bird became the staple of the most American of meals.

    This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Adriene Hill and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of the National Thanksgiving turkey by Andrew Harnik/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

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    23 November 2025, 1:00 pm
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