Explain It to Me
Vox
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Mar 29, 2026 • 30min
Your accent… explained
Valerie Fridlin, sociolinguist and author who traces historical and regional roots of American accents. Nicole Holliday, sociophonetician at UC Berkeley who studies how speech sounds signal identity. They discuss where American accents began, how regional varieties like Southern and Midwestern formed, how social factors shape sound, why accents converge or resurface, and personal stories about changing or keeping one’s speech.
28 snips
Mar 22, 2026 • 31min
The book of Mormon influence
McKay Coppins, Atlantic staff writer and Mormon, provides historical context on Mormonism in America. Bridget Reed, New York Magazine features writer, maps Mormon influence in pop culture and influencer commerce. They talk about Mormon women’s social media prominence, the Bachelorette controversy, historical assimilation, streaming’s role in niche religious media, and how religion appears in mainstream TV.
Mar 15, 2026 • 30min
Sugar crash
Maya Feller, a Brooklyn registered dietitian offering practical sugar-cutting tips; Dr. Kimber Stanhope, a UC Davis metabolism researcher explaining sugar biochemistry; David Singerman, a historian on sugar’s role in empire and industry. They trace sugar’s history and political power. They unpack types of sugars and how the body handles fructose. They share realistic strategies for managing cravings and reworking taste.
32 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 30min
Your clutter is holding you back
Mary Dozier, a clinical psychologist who treats hoarding and clutter issues, and Emily Stewart, a reporter on consumer culture, dig into why we keep things. They explore historical shopping trends, the brain’s resistance to discarding, sentimental attachments, practical decluttering tactics, and when keeping items is helpful or harmful.
25 snips
Mar 1, 2026 • 30min
You, me, and ADHD
Molly Schmerling, a therapist who discovered her own late-diagnosed ADHD, shares lived experience. Dr. Julia Schechter, a clinical psychologist studying girls and women with ADHD, explains diagnostic challenges. Dr. Laura Knauss, a psychology professor, covers causes, rising diagnoses, treatments beyond stimulants, and social media misinformation. They discuss how ADHD shows up across life and why women are often missed.
9 snips
Feb 22, 2026 • 30min
Make credit cards work for you
Sarah Rathner, credit card expert at NerdWallet, breaks down rewards and simple strategies. Sean Venata, financial historian and author, traces how cards and interest rates evolved. Angel Sevilla shares a first-person story of racking up and repairing major credit card debt to qualify for a home. They talk rewards basics, debt recovery steps, history of high rates, and practical card-use tactics.
41 snips
Feb 15, 2026 • 30min
No one will save us but ourselves
Tayshia Maddox, historian and author, traces mutual aid’s roots in Black and immigrant communities. Thalia Beatty, nonprofit reporter, defines mutual aid versus charity and recent organizing trends. Shannon Gibney, Minneapolis organizer, recounts pandemic-era neighborhood teams. Nicole Yukinen, Maui organizer, describes street outreach, evacuations, and rapid disaster logistics. They discuss neighborhood hubs, volunteer networks, and why people step up.
6 snips
Feb 8, 2026 • 31min
Living in a winter bummerland
Kelly Rowan, a professor of psychological science researching seasonal affective disorder, unpacks the winter blues. She explains the continuum from mild winter low mood to clinical seasonal depression. She covers how shorter days shift circadian clocks, who is most vulnerable and why symptoms peak in midwinter. She outlines evidence-based treatments like light therapy, CBT, and meds, plus practical routines to cope.
16 snips
Feb 1, 2026 • 30min
Surviving online cringe
Amelia Knott, a psychotherapist focused on online wellbeing, talks self-compassion for archived digital identities. Alexandra Samuel, tech journalist, covers social media curation and practical cleanup steps. E.J. Dixon, writer who once published candid personal essays, reflects on internet-era cringe and how her voice changed. They discuss deleting, archiving, apology, and how old posts shape self‑esteem.
57 snips
Jan 25, 2026 • 31min
Battling brain rot
Andrew Budson, neurologist who studies memory and neuroplasticity, and Stuart Jeffries, writer on the history of stupidity, discuss whether modern life is causing 'brain rot'. They explore technology's role in cognitive outsourcing, historical anxieties about declining intellect, how memory and neuroplasticity work, and practical habits—like socializing, deliberate practice, and humility—to keep minds sharp.
