Explained
(2018)Streaming Episode Guide
Season 3
Fairy Tales
Episode 14 - 10-15-2021
24m
Fairy tales have survived thousands of years for a reason. Explore their far-flung history and how the stories speak to fundamental human concerns.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Country Music
Episode 13 - 10-08-2021
25m
Dirt roads. Pickup trucks. Hip-hop? As the borders around country music shift, who decides what defines the popular genre, and who gets to be a star?
6.6/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Time
Episode 12 - 10-01-2021
22m
Time flies… sometimes. Its passage can seem to speed up and slow down. Why do we experience time the way we do, and how do we take back some control?
7.8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Dance Crazes
Episode 11 - 9-24-2021
23m
From the waltz to voguing, dance crazes have connected people throughout history. But when a dance catches on, who gets the credit — and compensation?
6.3/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Plastic Surgery
Episode 10 - 9-17-2021
21m
The Instagram face. A shapely posterior. Cosmetic surgery can make the latest beauty trends a reality. Explore its origins and effects, inside and out.
6.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Hurricanes
Episode 9 - 9-10-2021
23m
As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive.
6.9/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Apologies
Episode 8 - 9-03-2021
21m
Apologizing is tough, and in this era of public mea culpas, forgiveness isn't guaranteed. What makes for a good apology, and why does it hold such power?
6.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Your Skin
Episode 7 - 8-27-2021
22m
Don’t panic, but our skin plays host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, mites and other microscopic guests. Go beyond skin-deep with our largest organ.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Chess
Episode 6 - 8-20-2021
23m
For centuries, chess has captured hearts and minds — and pawns — and it's more popular than ever. What makes this ever-changing board game so special?
7.8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The End of Oil
Episode 5 - 8-13-2021
24m
Oil led to huge advancements - and vast inequities. As the planet warms, why is it so hard to turn away from fossil fuels, and can it be done in time?
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Dogs
Episode 4 - 8-06-2021
20m
Who's a good dog? They all are! From puppy-dog eyes to feats of heroism, see how canines evolved into humankind's best friends and sources of pure love.
7.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Flags
Episode 3 - 7-30-2021
25m
A flag can unite, divide and terrorize. Explore how a piece of cloth transformed into a powerful symbol of both love and hate, freedom and oppression.
6.8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Royalty
Episode 2 - 7-23-2021
25m
How do monarchies survive when they no longer wield power? By presenting a royal fairy tale that may not reflect the reality of the past — or present.
6.8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Sugar
Episode 1 - 7-16-2021
24m
Once crucial for survival, sugar now poses a health risk. Is there a way to satisfy our primeval craving for sweetness in a healthy, balanced way?
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Season 2
Diamonds
Episode 10 - 11-28-2019
A diamond is forever. But why is that? Dig into how these mined pieces of carbon became both a status symbol and a sparkly sign of everlasting love.
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Beauty
Episode 9 - 11-21-2019
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what exactly makes things such as art and architecture aesthetically pleasing, and why do we like looking?
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Future of Meat
Episode 8 - 11-14-2019
The planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented -- and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer?
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Next Pandemic
Episode 7 - 11-07-2019
If you're not worried about a looming global pandemic, you probably should be. Are we prepared for an outbreak? Bill Gates and other experts weigh in.
8.5/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Pirates
Episode 6 - 10-31-2019
In pop culture, pirates are often depicted as booty-looting rogues, but their history is far more complicated. See how they became enemies of humanity.
7.1/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Coding
Episode 5 - 10-24-2019
Computer code now controls how we live. But how did these programming languages evolve? And how can they be used to build a new and better world?
7.5/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Athleisure
Episode 4 - 10-17-2019
It began with bloomers. Then came spandex. Now we sport leggings and other activewear everywhere. How did comfy, casual clothing go mainstream?
7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Animal Intelligence
Episode 3 - 10-10-2019
What goes on inside an animal's mind? Figuring out how they think and feel might just be the key to understanding our own place in the world.
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Billionaires
Episode 2 - 10-03-2019
There are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights.
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Cults
Episode 1 - 9-26-2019
How do cults lure people in and exert control? Learn a cult’s telltale signs, and how loneliness and life online makes indoctrination easier than ever.
7.6/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Season 1
Music
Episode 20 - 9-19-2018
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The World's Water Crisis
Episode 19 - 9-12-2018
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?
8.3/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Why Women Are Paid Less
Episode 18 - 9-05-2018
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
7.3/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Political Correctness
Episode 17 - 8-29-2018
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Female Orgasm
Episode 16 - 8-22-2018
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
7.5/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Can We Live Forever ?
Episode 15 - 8-15-2018
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
7.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Astrology
Episode 14 - 8-08-2018
Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology.
6.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Tattoo
Episode 13 - 8-01-2018
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Weed
Episode 12 - 7-25-2018
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
7.5/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Cricket
Episode 11 - 7-18-2018
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
!
Episode 10 - 7-11-2018
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Extraterrestrial Life
Episode 9 - 7-04-2018
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
eSports
Episode 8 - 6-27-2018
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
7.1/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Stock Market
Episode 7 - 6-20-2018
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Why Diets Fail
Episode 6 - 6-13-2018
Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Cryptocurrency
Episode 5 - 6-06-2018
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
K-Pop
Episode 4 - 5-30-2018
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
6.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Monogamy
Episode 3 - 5-23-2018
18m
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
7.2/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Designer DNA
Episode 2 - 5-23-2018
17m
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
7.7/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Racial Wealth Gap
Episode 1 - 5-23-2018
16m
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
7.4/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Top 5 Highest Rated Episodes 8.5/10
8.3/10 8/10 8/10 8/10
The Next Pandemic
Episode 7 - 11-07-2019
If you're not worried about a looming global pandemic, you probably should be. Are we prepared for an outbreak? Bill Gates and other experts weigh in.
8.5/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The World's Water Crisis
Episode 19 - 9-12-2018
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?
8.3/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Billionaires
Episode 2 - 10-03-2019
There are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights.
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
Animal Intelligence
Episode 3 - 10-10-2019
What goes on inside an animal's mind? Figuring out how they think and feel might just be the key to understanding our own place in the world.
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
The Future of Meat
Episode 8 - 11-14-2019
The planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented -- and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer?
8/10Where to watch
Haven't Seen
