The Why? Curve

Hosted by Phil Dobbie

Business News Society Culture

Website RSS feed Instagram YouTube

Episodes

232

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

About the show

Each week Phil Dobbie and Roger Hearing get to grips with one issue that impacts our lives. It could be economic, social, technological or geopolitical. Whatever the subject, they'll talk to the experts who can give help explain what's really going on. And Phil and Roger back it up with their own research and opinions. It's half an hour to get across one of the key issues of the time, and they promise, it'll never be boring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 7, 202642 min

Midterms Shock

A blue deluge - the Democrats broke past even their highest expectations in the midterm elections. But what difference will it make? President Trump is still in the White House, and he can veto any new laws and direct foreign policy over the next two years. And how does it affect the prospects for the presidential race in 2028? Phil and Roger get analysis from Dr Andrew Proctor of UCL's Institute For The Americas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 31, 202642 min

Small Change Budget

The first UK budget under Andy Burnham was, by most accounts, pretty underwhelming. So is all the big stuff being kicked into next year in the hope of better times? Or are the problems of huge and expensive government debt, and a weighty benefits bill, plus stagnant household incomes, simply unmanageable for a Labour administration? Phil and Roger ask Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, now Provost of The Queen’s College, Oxford, and senior adviser at Frontier Economics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 22, 202644 min

Unfriending America

Is it time for the UK, Europe, Canada and others to stop trying to keep up with the latest irrational policy change from the White House? If the US is an unreliable ally, is it time to make other arrangements? Or is Washington still too dominant economically, technologically and militarily to walk away from? Phil and Roger ask Paul Whiteley, Professor of Government at the university of Essex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 15, 202642 min

Social Media Fading

Is social media on the way out? Are interactions with AI replacing the connections with friends and followers through Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok? New data suggests passive use of platforms - being shown ‘For You’ recommendations - is changing the way we engage, and the social part of social media is fading away. Could this be a good thing, if the bullying and angry intimidation also fades? Or is there a risk we will just end up talking to machines that tell us what we want to hear? Richard Rogers, Professor of New Media and Digital Culture at the University of Amsterdam, tells Phil and Roger how the landscape is changing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 8, 202643 min

Zionism

The Greens have caused outrage by voting that Zionism is racism. Three years after the October 7 attacks in Israel, opinion is sharply polarised, and antisemitism is on the rise, while there seems to be no relief for Palestinians in Gaza or in the West Bank. So what IS Zionism? Has its meaning changed since it began in the late nineteenth century? Does it still make sense to have a state defined by one people? Or is that the only way Jews can feel safe in a hostile world? Dr Matthew Bolton, of the School of Law, Queen Mary University of London tells Phil and Roger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 1, 202637 min

Burnham Still Bouncing?

Andy Burnham can deliver speeches, and TikToks - but can he deliver on his promises? Will people outside Labour's conference still find hope, after what looks likely to be a hard budget at the end of October? The prime minister is facing huge challenges, and Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, walks Roger and Phil through the prospects of Andy Burnham succeeding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 24, 202641 min

More War, No Oil

The conflict in the Gulf is now extending to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia is being attacked by the Houthi rebels from Yemen, and risks losing its other main oil shipping route. Meanwhile President Trump seems undecided whether to escalate his fight with Iran, or make concessions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. And global oil prices surge again. After almost nine months, is there any off-ramp for any of those involved? Phil and Roger ask Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 17, 202642 min

Deep In the Red

Government debt around the world is at unprecedented levels - and so is the cost of borrowing, which means there's less to spend on hospitals, school and defence. So why is the debt so big, and the cost so high? And is it up to central banks to try to rebalance the system? Muhammad Ali Nasir, Professor Economics at Leeds University, tells Phil and Roger where the crisis came from, and what could help Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 9, 202641 min

What’s In A Name?

Lake America - Donald Trump has decided to rename Lake Ontario, and the Gulf of Mexico, and even the state of New Mexico. It seems a ridiculous distraction from more pressing problems, but can the US president just change the names of places as he pleases? Who decides? And why does it matter what we call mountains, lakes and cities? Phil and Roger talk names with Rhys Jones, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Aberystwyth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 2, 202638 min

A Right Mess?

As Reform UK hold their party conference, their polling numbers are dropping and the party leadership is beset by financial scandals and leadership arguments. Meanwhile Restore Britain is snapping at their heels, and the Conservatives seem to be back from the dead. So what is the future of the right in the UK? And what do they have to offer, beyond being tough on migration? Roger and Phil get the picture from Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.