Why? The Podcast

You may not know the names of songwriters Charity Daw and Josh Edmonson, but you definitely know their music. Their music has over a billion streams and they've worked with artists like the Beach Boys' Mike Love, Ringo Starr and Dove Cameron. Wait... Dove Cameron? Yup, they wrote songs for the uber popular Disney movie The Descendants . Need we say anything else? Plus, Heidi's mom e...

For most of us, taking a shower and washing with soap is just another thing to do every day. However, Iron Lion Soap is trying to change that- with an array of soaps designed to make washing something to enjoy and savor. We talked with Avi Rubin from Iron Lion Soap about the company's humble beginnings to their unique approach to creating some truly wonderful soaps. For more information and t...

This year would have been David Bowie's 75th birthday. Famed rock writer Martin Popoff has put together a wonderful present for us all- Bowie @ 75 is his new book, a look at the many phases of Bowie's multifaceted career. David Bowie @ 75 is available wherever you get your books on September 6th. For more information on Martin, to listen to his podcast, or to get copies of his many other...

Cyrus Pynn learned how to swallow swords the hard way- he just did it. And that was just the beginning of our fascinating conversation. We learned all about the hard knocks of sword swallowing and why neither Luke or Heidi should ever be allowed to try this dangerous trick. You can see Cyrus in action across the country. For more information, you can check out his website , or follow him on Facebo...

David "The Bullet" Smith might've been born into the human cannonball game, but that doesn't mean it was an easy transition to getting inside the cannon. David holds 6 Guinness world records and appeared on America's Got Talent, showcasing his amazing skills. For more information, or to book David for an appearance, you can check out his website , or you can follow him on...

Roadies are the lifeblood of any music tour; the folks who are charged with making sure the lights are hung, the instruments are tuned and the stage is set for our favorite artists to perform. Tana Douglas has spent a lifetime in music, cutting her teeth with her fellow Australians like AC/DC and INXS.  Tana's memoir,  Loud , is available wherever you get books. You can also get it on her web...

Clearly, it's hot enough in most of the world right now, that taking off your clothes sounds like a brief respite from the oppressive heat. And, if you're naked, why not have some fun? The White Thorn Lodge, located near Pittsburgh has been hosting the Super Bowl of Naked Volleyball the week after Memorial Day. We get all the info on why volleyball, how you join in the fun and the joys o...

We've all seen those cards in the seatback in front of us on the airplane- the one with the graphics showing us what to do in case of an emergency... well, someone has to design them. We talked with Brock Fisher from Air Safety Art International, who design those cards for a number of airlines as well as clients with private jets. For more information on Brock and his company, check out their...

This week we thought we'd share with you an episode from our other podcast. "Rock n Roll Grad School," (available wherever you get your podcasts) is the same sort of conversations we have on Why?, but with a focus on music. In this recent episode, we talked with music great John Doe. He has a new solo record out, AND he's touring this summer with his band X. (They're playi...

What's more American than pinball? So, while we celebrate the 4th of July, you can also enjoy this interview with Zach Sharpe from Stern Pinball. Stern is famous for their themed and licensed games, including bands like Rush, AC/DC and, of course, Kiss. We talk about the history of the game, the history of the company and a few tips to increase your score. For more information, check out the...

If you think you don't like museums, you just haven't been to the Rubber Chicken Museum. We talked with Shana, the founder and high priestess of the Rubber Chicken Museum, located inside the Archie McPhee store located in Seattle, Washington. For more information, you can c heck out the store's website , or follow their store mascot on Twitter , or see store updates on Facebook .

As we cross the episode 200 threshold, we need to acknowledge those who have been so important to our success in making this show. So, this week, we're talking with Luke's mom, Lynn Poling and her hobby of ballroom dancing.

As we cross the episode 200 threshold, we need to acknowledge those who have been so important to our success in making this show. So, this week, we're talking with Heidi's mom, Marily Sampson and her career as a professional opera singer.

Who wouldn't want to get dressed up and carry a bed, complete with occupant, through the town of Knaresborough, England? We talked with Kevin Lloyd, who has been involved with the race for decades. Will we be suiting up and taking on the great hill next year? For more information, you can check out their website, or you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter .

This week we talked with Robert Bartko, who impersonates George Michael in the stage show George Michael Reborn. We talked about invoking the spirit of the great singer, his interaction with former members of Wham and how many Choose Life t-shirts he owns. For more information and to find out where Robert is playing, check out his website . You can also follow him on Facebook .

If you though frog jumping contests were only the things of Mark Twain stories, think again. In Calaveras County, California, they've been seeing who's frog can jump the furthest since 1928. We talked with Jon Kitchell, a bridesmaid, never a bride, in the frog jumping world. Jon promised to name a frog after the show for this year's contest, so maybe he'll fare better? For more...

This week we don't got Flea and Anthony... we got something much better- we're talking about the Red Hot Chili Pipers, the world's most popular rock music playing bagpipe group. Is there more than one? Good question. We talked with Douglas Gillespie, the manager of the group, about how there's just something about the sound of the pipes that brings people together. For more inf...

They say if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And that's what Make Love Not Porn is doing... kinda. Fed up with unrealistic porn and the expectations it's putting on people, Make Love Not Porn is dedicated to showing sex in all it's funny, messy, awkward glory. Folks are encouraged to upload their own sex videos, showing the real sex they're having and what it's...

Sherri Steenson was still in high school when she joined the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in 1971. And the group was nowhere near as famous as they would become. But in her season with the team, Sherri had a lifetime of experiences, from cheering at a Super Bowl to doing some advertising to meeting new friends she'd have never met otherwise.  Sherri shared with us some of her memories of that s...

If you've ever been to a drive-in movie theater, you know the joy of seeing a movie outside, surrounded by people. And, what was once a vanishing part of Americana is seeing a bit of a renaissance. We talked with Virgil Cardamone, the film booker at the Mahoning Drive-In Movie Theater, located in Lehighton, PA. If hearing Virgil talk about film and the drive-in doesn't make you want to g...

Imagine how much good can be done when you help out your neighbor and learn more about them? That was the idea Adina Lichtman had when she started Knock Knock Give a Sock. What started as a way to give socks to those experiencing homelessness has turned into a bigger mission- one to connect neighbors and realize how connected we all really are. For more information, check out Knock Knock's we...

Is life on tour with a rock band all it's cracked up to be? This week's guest, Joel Miller knows. He spent time on the road with Stone Temple Pilots, Guns n Roses and the Cranberries and wrote about it all in his book, "Memoir of a Roadie: Axl said I made a great cup of tea... Scott Weiland liked the Carpenters and Ozzy drinks Rose." It's a fun look behind the curtain. It&...

This week we're going behind the scenes and talking with someone incredibly important in the making of pornography, but woefully under appreciated. We talk with a porn editor. Matt has a popular twitter account where he talks about his career and the various ups and downs. For more information, you can follow Matt on Twitter .

Maybe you remember being stymied by the Rubik's cube at some point in the 80's. Well, the cube is as popular as ever, and to make you feel even worse about your solving skills, it's gotten competitive. This week we talked with Kit and Lauren Clement from the World Cube Association.  They have their share of championships and medals, and give us a great look into the sport that is po...

When you think of bathhouses, you likely think of FDR, settling into a nice hot spring filled tub, easing his weary bones. Believe it or not, those bathhouses in Hot Springs, Arkansas still exist and you can visit them to soak away your troubles. We talked with Mandi from the Buckstaff Bathhouse to get all the details on what a visit entails and why they still have something called a 'needle...