It feels like a nice gesture — until it shows up everywhere.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why tipping became such a big part of American life, how it spread from a fringe custom to an expectation, and who quietly benefits from keeping it that way.
Along the way, we’ll share a few surprising facts that make this everyday annoyance a lot more interesting.

It’s a quick click — until you’re staring at a wall of legal text no human could reasonably read.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why terms and conditions ballooned into digital novels, how lawsuits, regulation, and tech risk quietly drove the word count up, and why companies insist longer is safer.
Along the way, a few surprising stats and legal quirks make this boring scroll feel a lot more intentional.

The prices feel absurd — almost like a prank played on the rest of us.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why modern art commands staggering sums, how ideas replaced materials as the source of value, and how status, scarcity, and signaling quietly drive the market.
Along the way, a few ironic twists make those eye-watering auction results feel less ridiculous — and more revealing.

It feels like simple small talk — until it makes you feel weirdly slimy.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why networking is so uncomfortable, how it shifted from Benjamin Franklin’s warm, mutual-aid Junto into today’s transactional ladder-climbing, and why our brains react like something morally “off” is happening.
Along the way, we’ll share a few surprising psychology and history twists that make the cringe feel a lot less personal.

It feels strange — until you realize how many of us press play anyway.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why serial killer movies became so popular, where that fascination started, and what psychological itch they quietly scratch.
Along the way, a few unsettling facts and behind-the-scenes stories make this dark genre far more revealing than it first appears.

It’s a tiny annoyance — until it follows you everywhere.

In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why chargers and plugs are so different, how early electricity rivalries and national safety choices locked in incompatibility, and who benefited along the way.
Along the way, a few surprising tech twists make this everyday frustration feel oddly inevitable.

Middle names often feel like pointless paperwork — until you look closer. In this episode, we trace how middle names evolved from ancient Roman identifiers into modern tools for identity, family legacy, and personal distinction. Along the way, surprising history and cultural twists reveal why that “extra” name still quietly matters in a crowded world.