I'll Tell You Why
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I'll Tell You Why
Hosted by Jenni Fink, an author and senior editor at Newsweek, I'll Tell You Why, is a podcast where we uncover the truth - and sometimes rumors - about how some of the biggest trends, traditions and the completely random got started.
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Why Do We Have Macaroni and Cheese? Thank an American President
Macaroni and cheese is an American staple and without the American revolution we may have never gotten this culinary staple.
Why Do We Have K9 Corps? How Americans Donated Dogs to the Military
The military's K9 Corps needed recruits to get started and it began with people giving up their pets.
Why Do We Eat Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner?
Eating three meals a day isn't rooted in health or human needs. It's rooted in the industrial revolution, a moral conundrum and the British Navy.
Why Do We Have Summer Off From School?
Kids didn't always have summer vacation and we have some of America's most iconic families to thank for why schools are out for summer.
Why Is Coffee Called a "Cup of Joe?" A Military Legend Explained
There are 3 main stories as to why coffee is called a "cup of Joe" and one involves a very annoyed boss.
Was A1 Steak Sauce Created During the Civil War?
A1 Steak Sauce was created for a king, but the bottle says it was made smack dab in the middle of the Civil War. This is the story of a royal recipe a...
How Did a Pet Baboon Fight in World War I? The Story of Corporal Jackie
When Albert Marr enlisted in the military, he asked to bring his pet baboon with him. This is the story of a great war, fierce bravery and an unlikely...
Why Do We Tip in the U.S.? The Dark Origin Story
Tipping is more common in the U.S. than in Europe which is weird since Europeans actually gave Americans the idea. This is the story of aristocracy, s...
Who Invented the Drive Thru? And It's Not McDonald's
McDonald's may reign supreme for fast food, but the franchise was actually really late to the drive thru game. This is the story of efficiency, milita...
How Did "Jersey Shore" Get Started? It Was Almost a Guido Competition Show
"Jersey Shore" is celebrating its 15th anniversary and the show did something few others have been able to. But, it almost was a show about people com...
Who Invented Malls? The Man Who Created Them Actually Hated Them
Shopping malls are iconic and have been a staple of American life for decades. But, Victor Gruen, the father of the mall, hated them. This is the stor...
How Did Jeans Become an Iconic American Fashion Staple?
Jeans weren't invented to be a fashion statement, they were created for survival. This is the story of California gold, a woman tired of mending her h...
Why "In God We Trust" Replaced a Way Cooler Slogan on US Money
Before we had "In God We Trust," American money featured a way cooler 3 word slogan. One that, honestly, we should bring back. This is the story of re...
Why Do We Have Baby Showers?
Baby showers may seem like a modern thing, but celebrations of babies actually goes back centuries. This is the story of superstitions, purification a...
Why Do We Have the Easter Bunny? The Story of Oschter Haws
A giant rabbit being used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus may seem kind of crazy, but it's not as big of a leap as you may think. Thi sis the s...
How Heartbreak Created Cartier's Iconic Love Bracelet
Cartier's iconic love bracelet was really revolutionary for its time and people love it so much, they're willing to lock it onto their wrist. But, the...
Why Do We Have Pet Dogs? The Story of the First Domesticated Dog
It's possible dogs first started hanging out with humans when they smelled their food at a campfire, but it would be centuries before we brought them...
Who Invented Champagne? And How a Woman Changed the Industry Forever
Champagne is a staple of drinking culture, but at one point in time, French people avoided it and even tried to prevent the bubbles from happening. Th...
How Reality TV Became the Massive Industry It Is Today
Andy Cohen is the face of reality television. But, did you know he almost killed off one of Bravo's biggest franchises? And reality TV actually got it...
Why Do We Have Happy Hour? How World War I and Prohibition Started the Trend
Happy Hour goes all the way back to 1914 and is actually illegal in one U.S. state. This is the story of entertaining soldiers, pregames and the gover...
Why Do We Say "Hello"? We Almost Ended Up Saying "Ahoy"
We say "hello" all day, every day, but if one very influential man had his way, we'd all be saying "ahoy" instead. This is the story of a groundbreaki...
How Did Blush Become a Makeup Staple?
Blush is a staple of makeup routines, but throughout history it's served bigger purposes than just changing a person's looks. This is the story of hea...
Why Did a Bear Join the Polish Army? The Story of Wojtek in World War II
In World War II, a bear officially joined the Polish Army and joined in the capture of a pivotal battle. This is the story of loyalty, the power of an...
Why Do We Celebrate Valentine's Day? The Very, Very Dark Origin
Valentine's Day is all about love, but it wasn't always that way. With a very, very dark origin, this is a story of retribution, beheadings and a very...
Why Do We Have the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
While college football games started halftime shows with marching bands, the first professional football half time show started out with dogs. This is...
Why Do We Celebrate Groundhog's Day?
Groundhog's Day is a staple of the American winter, but it's a tradition that started 5,000 miles away and didn't start with a groundhog.
Why Do We Say Bless You When Someone Sneezes? Evil Spirits, Signs From God and an Epidemic
Saying "bless you" after someone sneezes is almost a reflex. And most people think it's because of how deadly illnesses spread. But, this is actually...
Why Do We Have Presidential Inaugurations? How They Went From Low-Key to Huge Parties
Donald Trump is being inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20. But, inaugurations weren't always in January and they were...
How the Hermes Birkin Bag Became the Ultimate Symbol of Luxury
The Hermes Birkin bag costs over $15,000 dollars and is one of the hardest bags to buy. But, it wasn’t always popular and the creation of it is thanks...
Why Does Times Square Drop a Ball on New Year's Eve? How a Party Started the Iconic Tradition
Times Square's ball drop on New Year's Eve is absolutely iconic. But, dropping a large ball at a certain time didn't start off as a New Year's Eve tra...
Why Do We Play Dreidel? The Complicated Origin of Hanukkah’s Favorite Game
Playing dreidel is a staple of Hanukkah, but one origin story has a major plot hole in it. And it’s possible the game wasn’t even invented by the Macc...
Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time? Please Stop Blaming Farmers
I know we all think farmers are to blame for why we have Daylight Saving Time but they actually HATE it. And one of America's Founding Fathers who get...
Why Do We Have the Lottery? How One Man Almost Ended It
Americans love the lottery, but one man's greed almost ended it forever. This is the story of building empires, corruption and government's being unab...
Why Do We Send Christmas Cards? How a Popular Man Changed Tradition
Christmas cards are a staple of the holiday season, but believe it or not, Hallmark didn’t invent the tradition. It all started with a man in England...
How Did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Get Started
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an iconic American tradition. But, why did Macy’s decide to start the annual tradition? And how did the balloons...
Why Do We Drive on the Right Side of the Road? How Napoleon Changed History
Have you ever wondered why we drive on the right side of the road when other parts of the world drive on the left? Well, I have. This is a story of ch...
Who Started the Red Bottom Shoe? A King Louis Story
Everyone knows how Christian Louboutin came up with his iconic red bottom heels. But, before there were Louboutins there were two fashion icons who we...
How Did the "I Voted" Stickers Get Started? Election Day Special
Let's travel back to the 19th century and a very different -- and public -- form of voting for a story of election parties, an unmotivated society and...
Why do we carve Pumpkins? The Legend of Stingy Jack
Let's travel over 3000 miles across the Atlantic ocean to Ireland for an old Celtic legend about the devil, a candle and a heavenly rejection. The sto...