Some of the best things in life are often taken for granted, why is that?
Have you ever wondered why bread is so much nicer in France? Why people in the UK drive on the left side of the road and not on the right? Why planes don't fall out of the sky?
In "Why is that?" Sebastien Pollock gives you the answers to why things from day to day life are the way they are. Join us in our exploration of the world, where sometimes the plainest of objects hide the most exciting of stories.
"WHY IS THAT?" is an RJP Media production for WRNC, an independently run and volunteer-driven English-speaking local radio station based in Caen.
Find out more about WRNC and the rest of the radio's programming on https://www.wrnc.eu
wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on: https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
* Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
* Researched and prepared by Juliette Portala
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
8 Aug 2026
Why can't I bite my own finger off? — IN A NUTSHELL
Turns out, biting fingers off may be a lot harder than you think... A fact which rather ruins the ending to The Lord of the Rings.
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on: https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
* Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
* Researched and prepared by Juliette Portala
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
8 Aug 2026
Why are crickets kept as pets? — IN A NUTSHELL
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on: https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
* Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
* Researched and prepared by Juliette Portala
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
2 Dec 2025
Why is there gold in our bodies? — IN A NUTSHELL
Did you know that the human body actually contains a little bit of gold? It's true! But, why is that?
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on:
https://www.wrnc.eu
You can find this podcast in video form on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
* Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
* Researched and prepared by Juliette Portala
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
2 Dec 2025
Why was Napoleon's heart not buried with him? — IN A NUTSHELL
Did you know that Napoleon's heart isn't actually buried inside of his body? It's true! It actually lives inside a separate container... So, why is that?
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on: https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
* Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
* Researched and prepared by Juliette Portala
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
3 Oct 2025
Smiling used to be offensive — WHY IS THAT? (w/ Professor Colin Jones CBE)
In this episode we take a look at The Smile Revolution which occured in 18th century Paris, two years before the actual French Revolution. Why was smiling so taboo? And how did a portrait cause divide between Parisians and the royal elite? This month's episode is a story of smiles!
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
• Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
• Researched and prepared by Regan Ebsworth
• Special thanks to Prof. Colin Jones CBE for his help in making this episode a reality
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Aug 2025
Britain once had its own prohibition — WHY IS THAT?
In this episode of "WHY IS THAT?" we take a look at the events of "the Gin Craze". Did you know that Britain had its own form of prohibition in the 18th century? One focused around a single beverage: gin. This is the story of one of the first major economic crises, of betrayal, of politics and of gin. The most British of drinks... Though it turns out, it might not be. How did gin tear British society apart in the 18th century? Let's find out!
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
• Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
• Researched and prepared by Regan Ebsworth
As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
24 Jul 2025
A terrible plague made them dance — WHY IS THAT?
In this first episode of "WHY IS THAT?" we take a look at the events of Strasbourg's 1518 dancing plague... Why are these people dancing in the streets? Never stopping, despite hunger and pain, sometimes even until death? An incredible historical event, too insane to be true... And yet, it actually happened!
This series is created for and broadcast on World Radio Normandy Caen, a volunteer-driven local radio station based in Normandy.
You can find out more about WRNC and listen to our live output or other podcasts on https://www.wrnc.eu (https://www.wrnc.eu)
You can find this podcast in video form on our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat (https://www.youtube.com/@WRNC-WhyIsThat)
Please consider following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.instagram.com/wrnc.radio)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio (https://www.facebook.com/wrnc.radio)
This podcast was:
• Written, produced and presented by Sebastien Pollock
• Researched and prepared by Regan Ebsworth
• With special thanks to Dr John Waller
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As a small and independent team, we strive to provide you with factual and accurate content. If you spot any factual errors, we would be happy to hear from you and will do our best to amend them.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wrncwhyisthat.substack.com (https://wrncwhyisthat.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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