Explain It to Me
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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.
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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.
This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images.
If you have a question for us, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here.
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Correction: This episode mentions Xarelto as a potential allergy medication. It is not.
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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?
If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a note here.
Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Brandon MacFarland and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Photo of 23andMe Ancestry + Traits Service DNA kit by Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
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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.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Image of Clinton Kelly and Stacy London by Donna Svennevik/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images.
If you have a question for us, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here.
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1With 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.
This episode was produced by Carla Javier and Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo credit: Momo Productions/Getty Images.
Call us with your questions about personal style: 1-800-618-8545. You can also send us a note at vox.com/askvox.
Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.
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Many worry that the clean energy transition will be derailed by the Trump administration. But there's reason to believe otherwise.
Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.
Call in your question at 1-800-618-8545.
This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch and engineered by Matthew Billy. Photo of wind turbines in a storm in western Iowa by Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.
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For decades, high schools and parents have prioritized college for all graduating seniors. Now, more students are asking if there's another way.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Colleen Barrett, engineered by Matthew Billy and Patrick Boyd and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.
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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.
If you have a question about a story that matters to your life, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Carla Javier. It was edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images.
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Drivers and passengers are right: Car headlights are brighter now. And the solutions aren't simple.
If you have a question for us, please give a call at 1-800-618-8545 or send a note at vox.com/askvox.
This episode was produced and sound designed by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by zhen li for Getty Images.
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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.
If you have a question for us, please call us at 1-800-618-8545 or send a note at vox.com/askvox.
This episode was produced and sound designed by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Actress Demi Moore at a press conference for the film "The Substance." Photo by ZOULERAH NORDDINE/AFP via Getty Images.
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There's a backlash against corporate DEI efforts, and it’s not just from the right. It's everywhere. What does that mean for employees?
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, mixed by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Photo credit: jeffbergen for Getty Images
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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.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Carla Javier, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, mixed by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Shutterstock image by fstop Images.
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Listener Tessa was at the airport and noticed that the REAL ID deadline had been extended — yet again — to May 2025. Why does it keep happening? Will REAL ID will ever become a thing? Team Explain It to Me goes on a reporting journey to bring her an answer nearly 20 years in the making.
If you have a question, please give us a call at 1-800-618-8545, or you can fill out this form.
This episode was produced by Carla Javier and Sofi LaLonde, edited by Jorge Just, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
READ MORE:
Real IDs, explained
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Starting this week, Explain It to Me is moving to Sundays. Check out our next episode here on March 2.
You can also find us in the Today, Explained feed as of Sunday, March 9.
If you have questions you'd like us to investigate, call our hotline: 1-800-618-8545.
The Explain It to Me newsletter is publishing Sundays now too! Sign up here: https://www.vox.com/pages/explain-it-to-me-newsletter-sign-up.
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We spend about a third of our lives either sleeping or trying to fall asleep. Why are we so bad at it? We ask behavioral sleep specialist Jade Wu.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Carla Javier, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
Have a question about relationships, the workplace, health or anything else that matters to you? Leave us a voicemail with your question at 1-800-618-8545.
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Listener Elisa has heard egg freezing touted as “an easy, perfect solution” for women who want to have it all, but she’s skeptical. Writer MeiMei Fox tells the disastrous story of freezing her own eggs, and Vox senior correspondent Anna North explains why freezing your eggs is not really a girlboss panacea.
Do you have a question about navigating family planning or reproductive health? Give us a call. We wanna make future episodes about the things that matter to you in your daily lives. Our number is 1-800-618-8545. You can also let us know via this form.
Read more:
The failed promise of egg freezing
How safe is donating your eggs?
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, Hady Mawajdeh and Carla Javier, edited by Amina Al-Sadi and Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Laura Bullard and Hady Mawajdeh, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.
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What’s going on with all those layoffs in the gaming industry? What does being “middle class” actually mean? What’s up with this weird thing that happens when I sleep? Life is full of questions: simple ones with complicated answers and complicated ones with simple answers hiding in plain sight. Explain It to Me is here to answer the ones that matter most to you. We’re your go-to hotline for all the questions you can’t quite answer on your own.
Call 1-800-618-8545 or send a voice memo to askvox@vox.com. And tell us: what are the questions that keep you up at night – literally?
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Hady Mawajdeh, producer
Andrea Kristinsdottir, engineer
Carla Javier, supervising producer
Miranda Kennedy, editor
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Should I give up flying for the environment’s sake? Is it ethical to stay on Twitter and Facebook if I don’t like the owners’ politics? If a DNA test shows that my dad isn't my biological dad, should I tell him? There are no bad questions. But there are some that are really hard to answer. Those are the ones Vox senior reporter Sigal Samuel likes to tackle. This week on Explain It to Me, she tells host Jonquilyn Hill how she goes about answering your ethical and philosophical questions in her column, Your Mileage May Vary.
This episode was made in partnership with Vox's Future Perfect team.
Have questions you can’t answer? Call Explain It to Me at 1-800-618-8545, or submit them here.
Read more:
Sigal’s column, Your Mileage May Vary
You can’t optimize your way to being a good person
The Future Perfect newsletter
Share your quandaries with Sigal here
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Caitlin PenzeyMoog, fact checker
Carla Javier, supervising producer
Jorge Just, editor
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After seeing someone make an illegal left turn, Mike joked to his daughter that they should do a citizen’s arrest. She had no idea what he was talking about, and now Mike wants to know: wait, are citizen’s arrests actually a real-life thing, or just something he saw on TV? And if they are real, how do they work? And what do they say about crime and policing in our country? This week on Explain It to Me, host Jonquilyn Hill talks to Stanford Law School professor David Sklansky to find out. He’s the author of the new book Criminal Justice in Divided America.
We want to know what’s on your mind! Call us at 1-800-618-8545 and leave us a voicemail with your name and your question — we may answer it in a future episode.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Patrick Boyd, engineer
Kim Eggleston, fact checker
Carla Javier, supervising producer
Jorge Just, editor
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When it gets cold outside, we get colds inside. We also get the flu. And RSV. And — lately — norovirus. We all know that washing our hands helps defend against illness. But with what? There’s too many kinds of soap, and not all of them will keep you healthy in every situation. Should you up the ante with antibacterial or does bar soap set the bar? This week on Explain It to Me, host Jonquilyn Hill breaks down the suds and bubbles with Vox senior reporter Keren Landman, MD.
Read more:
Wait, should I bother using antibacterial soap?
You’ve never heard of the Covid booster with the fewest side effects
Put down that cough medicine
We want to answer your questions in future episodes. Call us at 1-800-618-8545, fill out this form, or send us an email at askvox@vox.com. We love to hear from you.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Andrea Kristinsdottir, engineer
Caitlin PenzeyMoog, fact-checker
Carla Javier, supervising producer
Jorge Just, editor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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I signed up for SS one year ago and started receiving SS this January Who ever said they could get a hold of SS in 15 min before was lying. I did find out if you call at 8am it’s far less of a wait.
theres a serious lack of critical thinking 9n your part if youre having a guest tell you they had to quit their ǰob because car headlights were "emotionally disturbing him" DURING THE DAY and youre not even pushing back or questioning that insane assertion at all. unsubscribed.
If you're a gastropod, you're a slug, snail, mollusk. A gastrophile perhaps what was meant. :-)
stopped listening when the guy used the term "playing spoiler" on a general interest podcast without explaining what it means.
This episode is really educational.MassShooters
good
I'm truly not one of those nitpicky people who has the propensity to complain about everything, but the vocal fry of the guest made this conversation absolutely unbearable to listen to. I couldn't make it more than ten minutes before I gave up.
Please stop using the term "birthing person" until you cite me a case where a man gave birth.
One of the most disingenuous political podcasts out in leftist media
fuck the new York times
"I would never think of enlisting in the Army. I would rather live, not die." what an arrogant, ignorant, and snobbish think to say. I have served in the Army for almost 20 years and I too would rather live than die. That is not what differentiates those who choose to serve from those that do not. I listen to The Weeds podcasts to hear intelligent conversations about major issues but that was some sophomoric bullshit.
One of my favorite episodes so far
if black kids are not taking advance courses who's fault is that? not all kids black & white can take advance courses that being said education starts day one. if a kid is failing in school who needs to take charge? the parents.
I don't know any school.that doesn't teach slavery. or teaches whites are better than black people. disagree? show me. we have class privilege over white privilage. why doesn't one black leader come out, write exactly what CRT is, put it on paper & send out press releases? take questions & be open when people disagree with you? people fear change. people do not want to be blamed for someone else failures when they 1. they are having a hard time themselves 2. none of their relatives owned slaves or were slaves. 3. black people want us to listen to them but they refuse to listen to whites, it's ok to call whites names & reduce them to a label you. not vise versa
The most racist people I know voted for Obama. They had hope for change & didn't see a black man. They saw that guy they worked with who was a work friend. Then Fox news went into overdrive.
Fascinating conversation
read this title having not checked the news in two hours and it nearly gave me a heart attack. jeeze.
I'm really confused. how is the argument that we should put aside or differences to take down the powerful, wealthy elites not a class argument?
This podcast contained the best argument I've actually heard thus far to actually vote for Biden, rather than simply against Trump, as a leftist. If Biden is actually non-ideological (rather than ideologically neoliberal which idk), and is forced (and also able) to remove the filibuster, the left wing of the party will be in a position to bargain in congress with the dems for real change. there's a number of assumptions there, but none are too, too crazy. it's at least worth thinking about. certainly more than "we can push him left after he gets into office". the outcome looks the same, but this has an actual mechanism by which it could work. so thank you and good job. you've given me more to think about.
it would be great to get reference to some of the statics and Data discussed