Explain It to Me
Should I buy a house? Why do I say “like” so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement?
Explain It to Me is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Send us your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you. Host Jonquilyn Hill will take you on a journey to find the answers, whether it's to the halls of Congress or the local bar. You’ll get the answers you were looking for, and sometimes ones you didn't expect — and always with a dose of humor. New episodes every Sunday. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
1
Hacking our health
We track our steps and our sleep, guzzle supplements and protein shakes, and even inject hormones – all in the name of wellness.
27 min
2
What wellness costs us
Americans are investing billions in their health and wellness. What good do all these green powders and costly club memberships actually do?
26 min
3
America’s high-speed rail fail
26 min
4
Is tipping fair?
From raising the tipped minimum wage to "no tax on tips," we look at the challenges of remaking tipped work.
27 min
5
The summer I turned into a bookworm
Summer. Time for pools, BBQs, and the beach read. But why do we read "summer books"?
27 min
6
Chat BFF
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?
27 min
7
Our complicated relationship with the flag
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?
27 min
8
Can we ever know our dogs?
So many of us believe we understand what our pets are feeling. Are we fooling ourselves?
27 min
9
Sleepaway camp's nostalgia economy
Unpacking the American rite of passage that so many children love — but that isn't right for everyone.
27 min
10
Let's fight over bike lanes
A caller asks why it's so hard to make biking safe in LA. We bike around different US cities to get the answer.
27 min
11
The recession indicator game
Press-on nails, new music from Katy Perry, and an uptick in Klarna purchases: signs of an economic downturn or no?
27 min
12
How Gen Z found religion
For the first time in decades, American Christianity is not in decline. What are young people looking for–and finding–at church?
27 min
13
Why are my allergies getting worse?
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.
25 min
14
The drama and trauma of 23andMe
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?
27 min
15
Why is personal style so hard?
Fashion has made a big swing from a strict set of rules to the idea that we should all just wear what we want. But personal style is still dictated by outside forces. And a lot of people don't even know where to start.
26 min
16
Retire? In this economy?!
With 401(k)s taking a hit and the fate of Social Security uncertain, we get some advice for how to talk to the elders in your life about work and retirement.
26 min
17
Is climate progress doomed?
Many worry that the clean energy transition will be derailed by the Trump administration. But there's reason to believe otherwise.
25 min
18
What if college isn't for everyone?
For decades, high schools and parents have prioritized college for all graduating seniors. Now, more students are asking if there's another way.
26 min
19
Is a house still a good investment?
Given the economy and interest rates, homebuying doesn't seem like it’s necessarily the way to go anymore. So consider this not your parents’ real estate advice.
27 min
20
Explain It to Me can be ad-free!
1 min
21
Blinded by the headlights
Drivers and passengers are right: Car headlights are brighter now. And the solutions aren't simple.
27 min
22
Gen Sex
Gen X women are freeing themselves from the hangups of the '90s, and having the best sex of their lives. Media portrayals of middle-aged women are starting to catch up too.
26 min
23
Did diversity ever work...at work?
27 min
24
Why does dating suck for guys?
The rules of romance have changed, and many young men feel they can't keep up. We get some tips from a Texas men's relationship coach.
26 min
25
Ok for real, what is a REAL ID?
And do I need it?
30 min