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 areThe 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 cultureDisinformation and the totally unregulated wellness industryHow to even begin talking to the climate confusedSome fun and surprising science (yes, really) from fire, to 5G and plane toiletsThanks 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.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠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/@briannemwest⁠⁠Linkedin: ⁠⁠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 umamiHow MSG spread across Asia and into Western dietsWhy “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” started from just one letterThe flawed studies that fuelled the MSG scareThe racial undertones behind the MSG panicWhy MSG is actually safer than table saltHow 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.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠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/@briannemwest⁠⁠Linkedin: ⁠⁠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 signsHow astrology and zodiac systems differ across countriesHow science eventually outpaced astrologyWhy zodiac signs got out of alignment - and why no one seemed to careHow astrology reinvented itself to stay relevant and believableThe ways astrology sneaks into modern life that you might not even noticeWhy astrology is booming right nowThe psychology behind why we want astrology to workHow the wording of horoscopes subtly manipulates usHow horoscope writing has been tailored to target womenWhy you can’t convince astrology fans they’re wrongHow 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.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠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/@briannemwest⁠⁠Linkedin: ⁠⁠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 hitThe weird correlation between bottled water sales and countries that already have safe tap waterA statistical breakdown of where people are actually buying bottled waterThe shocking differences in testing requirements between bottled and tap waterHow bottled water companies harm the countries they source fromWhy microplastics could be way worse for our bodies than we realiseWhy bottled water isn’t automatically safer than tap waterThe facts about fluoride and chlorine in tap waterWhy nitrates in water are a concernThe jaw-dropping amount of water it takes just to make one bottle of waterThanks 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.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠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/@briannemwest⁠⁠Linkedin: ⁠⁠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.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠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/@briannemwest⁠⁠Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/⁠⁠For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: ⁠⁠https://incrediballs.com/⁠

A few weeks ago, we had the amazing physicist, science writer, and communicator Laurie Winkless on the podcast. She was so great, one episode wasn’t enough... so she’s back to do some mythbusting!In this episode we talk about:If glass is really a liquidA bunch of physics myths that have been debunkedWhat 5G actually is and whether 5G towers kill or control peopleHow microwaves work and if they are safeWhether you can use your mobile phone at petrol stationsIf you really need to turn off your phone on a planeWhether a plane toilet could suck your innards out (yes, really)If you are safe in a car during a lightning stormWhat would happen if you dropped a coin from a building... would it slice through someone?And even what happens if you stick toast to a catQuotes from the episode:“People want simple answers, and the reality is that few things are simple.”“The less you know, the more arrogant you are about the little bit you know.”More about LaurieFind her via her ⁠website ⁠or on social media.You can get involved with the podcast online too of course.Find our full podcast via the website here: ⁠https://www.nowthatwhatsicall.com⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen⁠You 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/⁠

You know when you see someone on social media and you just KNOW they'll be amazing to chat to? Well, that's Bethany Brookshire for you. Bethany is a science journalist, animal behaviorist and author who writes about the animals most people hate. Rats, cockroaches, spiders, pigeons... And how our feelings about them are mostly cultural, not scientific.We talked about where fear and disgust come from and how cute a mouse eating a fruit loop is. Also, how US science funding is collapsing and how bad that's going to be long term, why postgrad burnout is real, and how she wrote a brilliant book.Part two gets a little more controversial, as we talk cats in Aotearoa. What we cover:Bethany’s journey from academic to science journalist.Fear and disgust; how we learn what animals to hate.Rats, lab mice, cockroaches, snakes, spiders… and Fruit Loops.The collapse of US science funding and what that means long term.Quotes from Bethany:“I always tell people my life is an entire story of failing upwards. Or at least failing sideways.”“There is a feeling of disgust and fear around animals like spiders and snakes that we think is evolutionary. It’s not.”“Startlement can become joy, or it can become fear. It depends who’s around you when it happens.”“I have the self-confidence of a mediocre white man.”“Giving a mouse a Froot Loop is like watching a human try to eat a car tyre.”You can find more about Bethany at https://bethanybrookshire.com/.

I wanted to talk about politics and combating polarising opinions… but I didn’t want to get dark about it.So, to help, I’ve called in my friend and optimism security blanket, Dave Richards. He’s one of those people who has realistic but optimistic insight into the world. He’s lived all over the world, has a deep cultural understanding, and just makes me feel better about the state of things.So I thought I’d have him join me for a bit of a wide-ranging, mostly optimistic chat about the state of the world.In this episode we talk about: The importance of maintaining optimism amid global and local challengesWhy politics often seems theatrical, but politicians may genuinely care about making changeThe fact that environmental progress over decades shows improvement, even if it’s hard to see in the short termThe significance of media literacy, critical thinking, and recognising manufactured divides and misinformationThe potential of podcasts and open dialogue to foster understanding across political and ideological linesWhy we should meet people where they are, find common ground, and avoid polarisationThe myth of political and societal "us vs them" dividesThe importance of science-based policies and genuine conversations, even with those holding opposing viewsHow media, algorithms, and social platforms influence polarisation and radicalisationIf you want to check out Dave’s incredible photography head along to his Instagram. Giveaway! This week, I'm giving away copies of Talking Across the Divide, by Justin Lee. It’s a brilliant read on how to actually talk to people you disagree with - something we all probably need a bit more of. Join me over on Instagram to enter.Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the last few episodes have been somewhat… bleak.There’s been a lot to discuss around climate change, governments, and corruption, but I realised if we kept focusing only on that, it was going to get all-consuming.So this week, I’m welcoming back Kate to help me share some good news stories instead!In this episode, we cover:What are drop bears?Some fun community topicsWhat happened at the UN Ocean ConferenceReasons why Kate was put off getting solar and myths about solarHow knowledge and access to information about the environment have changedComparing emissions per person in China and India vs. Australia and AotearoaBreaking down environmental stereotypes about other countriesWhen I talked about “marine saviour pirates,” I was thinking of Captain Paul Watson - he founded Sea Shepherd and now runs the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.Giveaway! This week, I'm giving away copies of Rewilding the Sea by Charles Clover - a fascinating look at how rewilding our oceans can restore ecosystems, protect marine life, and even help tackle climate change. Join me over on Instagram to enter.Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

Well, we are officially halfway through the election cycle. The coalition government has been in place for about 18 months now. David Seymour is our Deputy Prime Minister. So, how are things going?I did my first ever political roundup episode - I think it was episode three - and it ended up being one of our most popular ever.Interestingly, you lot seem to care about what's going on out there, which is nice. So I thought we’d do a check-in, because it's been a year, right?Just to set some guardrails: I'm very much talking about environmental and social issues. I'm not really diving into the economy (though it might get a mention), or the cost of living, or anything else like that. All big problems, all important topics - but I'm absolutely not educated enough to speak on them.Much like the first time I did this, I'm going to try to be unbiased. I will probably fail, because I’m human, I’m violently sarcastic, and I’m obviously quite left-leaning.Everything in here is factual. It’s been fact-checked. But as my mother would say: I might have a tone. Please forgive me.In the episode let's talk about:Budget 2025 - the "no BS budget"What was cut in this budget?What were some budget additions that impact the environment?Some of the new legislation we should know aboutThe Fast Track Approvals Act and what it meansThe shifting of the government's climate policyThe agricultural legislation and how it impacts the environmentOther changes including waste management, bottled water, and live animal exportingThe impact of these changes on NZ's reputation and credibilityThe nonsense political narrativeSome of the good things the government has doneThe University of Canterbury submission's on Gene Technology Regulation: https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/0e1aa118-5e68-4b43-b395-2a4487d90aa4/contenthttps://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/fb5002ba-2e21-4a45-be4e-56d6259b4571/contenthttps://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/05dd6485-82e0-4f54-844b-8860e8548b68/contentFind our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

We are officially out of time to prevent hitting 1.5 degrees. Yep - earlier last week, the World Meteorological Organisation said that we are going to hit 1.5 degrees of global heating by 2027, which is just two years away.So I thought we’d have an episode about what that really means - because what actually changes at 1.5 degrees? And what happens if we go beyond that?In this episode:Why scientists identified 1.5 degrees as a milestoneWhat a 1.5 degree increase will actually causeWhere we are today with global heatingThe damage to the oceans and natural world from global warmingWhy a 1.5 degree change is now baked inWhat terrifying things happen at 2 degreesThe places that could become uninhabitable in the next few decadesThe huge impact on cities and the losses we can expect over the next 80 yearsThe big impacts on crops, people, and health at 2 degreesThe economic impact we can expect from climate change over the next few decadesWhat happens at 2.7 degrees, which is expected by 2100Why I don’t think this will be our futureThe single most powerful thing you can do to prevent this dark futureEpisode Sources:World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – Global Annual-to-Decadal Climate Update 2024https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/global-temperatures-set-reach-new-records-next-five-yearsNASA Earth Observatory – “Earth Is Storing More Heat” (summary of Cheng et al. 2023 Earth-energy-imbalance work)https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152431/earth-is-storing-more-heatvon Schuckmann, K. et al. 2023 – “Heat stored in the Earth system: where does the energy go?” Earth System Science Datahttps://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1675-2023Cheng, L. et al. 2023 – “Record-setting ocean heat content and Earth system imbalance in 2023.” Advances in Atmospheric Scienceshttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-2385-2Dessler, A. E. 2021 – “Water-vapour feedback.” Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Scienceshttps://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-082420-064024Copernicus Emergency Management Service – Rapid Mapping EMERG0325, Emilia-Romagna Floods (2023)https://rapidmapping.emergency.copernicus.eu/EMSR632Bureau of Meteorology (Australia) – State of the Climate 2022https://www.csiro.au/state-of-the-climateNIWA – Climate-change projections and extreme-rainfall trends for New Zealand (2024 update)https://niwa.co.nz/climate/research-projects/climate-change/extreme-weatherNOAA Coral Reef Watch – Global Coral Bleaching Event Status Update, April 2024https://coralreefwatch.noaa.govGatti, L. V. et al. 2021 – “Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change.” Nature 595:388–393https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03629-6Trathan, P. N. et al. 2023 – “Climate-driven population decline of emperor penguins.” Communications Earth & Environment 4:148https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00772-3Met Office (UK) – “One billion people face deadly heat stress at 2 °C warming.” Press release, Oct 2021https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2021/cop26-heat-stressIPCC – Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C (2018), Chapter 3https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/IPCC – Sixth Assessment Report Synthesis (2023)https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/synthesis-report/University of New South Wales – West Antarctic ice-sheet collapse threshold study (2022)https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/west-antarctic-ice-sheet-may-have-passed-point-no-returnProject Drawdown – “The Powerful Role of Household Actions in Solving Climate Change” (2023)https://drawdown.org/insights/the-powerful-role-of-household-actions-in-solving-climate-changeFAO – “Climate change could push 183 million more people into hunger by 2050.” News release, Sept 2021https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/climate-change-could-push-183-million-more-people-to-hunger/enWorld Food Programme – “What if the world warms 3 °C? Hunger and the climate crisis.” 2022Find the rest of the sources on our website and Substack!

June 8th was World Oceans Day, and if you listen to this podcast, you know this is a day I am very much here for - because I am obsessed with the ocean… for good reason.But rather than going on about it myself, for this episode I thought we could celebrate World Oceans Day with the help of another ocean obsessive: Melissa Cristina Márquez.Melissa is a marine science education expert based in Australia, and is known as "the most enthusiastic shark scientist" people ever meet. Her work has been featured in Science, NPR, Vogue, Allure, InStyle, GQ, Seeker, Popular Science, and showcased on Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Acciona, and Good Morning America.As well as being a scientist and educator, Melissa is also an author of children’s books including the Wild Survival series (Scholastic) and Mother of Sharks (Madre de los Tiburones), with her latest, Sea of Constellations (Océano de Constelaciones).In this episode, she shares:Her background and how she got to be on the Discovery ChannelWhy we need diversity in scienceThe integration of Indigenous science into Western science - and how it worksHow to tackle constant misinformationHer favourite thing about sharksHow to stay hopeful during a bleak time in the ocean worldThe importance of ocean education and being a steward of natureThe importance of interacting with nature from a young ageKey Quotes“If we're going to coexist with nature again - how we used to - we need to be a part of nature again, instead of apart from it.”“Science, in order to be effective and actually benefit people, needs to serve the people it's trying to benefit.”Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

Without this one thing, every single thing you know and love would disappear. Soil would fail, forests would starve, antibiotics would, well, vanish, and your morning coffee, bread, beer, and even chocolate would be gone. The thing I’m talking about is everywhere. It’s probably in your lunch. It’s almost certainly in your lungs. It’s in your sourdough starter, your compost heap. Got a clue yet? Most people don’t actually know what these things are. I’m talking about fungi. Fungi are not plants, not animals, not bacteria — they’re something else entirely. And they’re really, really old.They’re older than dinosaurs, older than sharks — they might even be older than plants, depending on how you define a plant.Today, I’m diving into something I’m actually violently allergic to: fungus. I’m covering everything from what fungi actually are (because it turns out most of us have no idea) to why they might be the most important thing on Earth… ish.In this episode I share: What prokaryotes and eukaryotes areWhat fungi actually areThe different types of fungiHow fungi moved from ocean to land and began a symbiotic relationship with plantsHow fungi can decompose almost anything — including radiationZombie fungus (and whether we should worry)How fungi reproduceWhy they’re incredibly usefulSome of the annoying and dangerous things they doHow we might use fungi to help fix the planet.Key quotes:"Fungi are more closely related to us than to plants.""Turns out plants talk way more than you think they do."Sources: Billion-year-old fungal fossils (Nature 2019): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1217-0Armillaria “humongous fungus” 9 km² individual: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/Prototaxites 8 m Silurian-Devonian giant: https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-giant-fossils-may-be-world-s-oldest-known-terrestrial-fungi90 % of plants with mycorrhizae (Nature Scitable): https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/an-ecological-and-evolutionary-perspective-on-mycorrhizal-24286790/Mycorrhizal carbon sink 3–7 Gt CO₂ yr⁻¹ (Science 2022): https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abf3457Penicillin discovery background (Nobel Prize): https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1945/fleming/facts/Statins from Penicillium citrinum (review): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958453/Cyclosporine discovery story: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7568434/Psilocybin phase-II depression trial (JAMA Psychiatry 2021): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2787297Plastic-eating fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora (2011 study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22269855/ CDC overview of Candida auris drug resistance: https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/Chytrid fungus amphibian decline paper (Science 2006): https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1125069Mycoremediation and mycofiltration review (Biodegradation 2018): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10532-018-0914-8Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/