The Why Factor

In the second and final part exploring intuition Nastaran Tavakoli-Far speaks to cricket players who used data to win championships and hears about business leaders who trumpet their successes and forget the times their intuition led to failure. She talks to psychologists and Nobel Prize winners about why we get so attached to our intuitions and forget the times it was wrong, and why we should probably use a mix of both intuition and rational analysis when making decisions. Alex Wakely – former Northamptonshire County Cricket Captain David Ripley – Northamptonshire County Cricket Coach Thomas Gilovich – Professor of Psychology, Cornell University Daniel Kahneman – Winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, Psychology Professor at Princeton University, author of ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ Eric Bonabeau – Chief Scientific Officer, Telepathy Labs Prof Gary Klein – Cognitive Psychologist and President of Shadowbox LLC Right Honourable Lord David Willetts – Resolution Foundation and former UK Minster for Universities and Science Presenter and producer: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far Editor: Richard Knight (Photo: Toddler looking at a birthday cake on a table. Credit: Stock Photo. Getty Images)

In part one of two episodes exploring intuition, Nastaran Tavakoli-Far speaks to a detective who had an intuition that someone was a serial killer, as well as hearing stories about firefighters who saved themselves from death after listening to their intuition. She also speaks to psychologists, neuroscientists and a Nobel Prize winning economist to find out more about how intuition is formed and how it works, and also hears about intuition’s role in the world of politics. Detective David Swindle – Head of Crime Solutions Prof Gary Klein – Cognitive Psychologist and President of Shadowbox LLC Prof Daniel Kahneman – winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in in Economic Sciences, Psychology Professor at Princeton University, author of ‘Thinking fast and slow’ Prof Antonio Damasio – professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of Southern California and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute Dr Michelle Wright – Investigative Psychology Researcher and Chartered Psychologist Right Honourable Lord David Willetts – Resolution Foundation and former UK Minster for Universities and Science Presenter and Producer: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far Editor: Richard Knight (Image: Firefighter and Fire. Credit: Stock Photo. Getty Images )

From instant messaging, to online shopping and even smart fridges, we live in a connected age where all of life’s essentials can be obtained at the click of a button. So why do so many people ditch the trappings of modern life and head off into the countryside with a tent? In this week’s episode of the Why Factor adventure journalist Phoebe Smith sets out on a journey to discover what makes camping so special. Along the way she discovers a camper in Kenya who spends his weekends alone immersed in nature, a family in Greenland who turned their backs on the rat race to live in a tepee and she even convinces her dad to join her for a night’s wild camping on an island in the River Thames in England. She discovers that leaving our phones and tablets behind to spend a few peaceful nights under the stars might not just be a good way to unwind but research shows it can improve our sleep patterns and well-being. So the question is why aren’t we all doing it? Reporter: Phoebe Smith Producers: Nicola Dowling, Oliver Newlan and Ben Robinson Editor: Carl Johnston (Photo: Camping at Mount Kenya. Credit: Martin Ngugi / Getty Images)

All over the world there are people rejecting the society they live in and choosing radically different pathways. Some are abandoning the idea of a ‘family house’ in favour of a nomadic, solitary life in a camper van. They live frugally as they travel around the country, or even the world, in their tiny homes. Others go in a different direction, seeking a life which fulfils them and aligns with their values. They may end up in an ‘intentional community’, where both income and property are shared. Some choose to withdraw their children from formal education and instead allow them to follow their own interests, learning what they think they need to, when they need to. Others go even further. They want to run their own country, or micro-nation, so they can live under laws and legislation they believe in. On the Why Factor this week, Shabnam Grewal meets people who reject the society they live in, and choose instead to carve out their own way. Presented and produced by Shabnam Grewal Editor: Richard Knight (Image: Woman looks out the back of her camping van. Credit: Stock Photo/Getty Images)

Statistics from around the world show huge improvements to our way of life, but many of us think the world is in decline. There are good reasons for this; climate change is often cited as the big one. But many of us aren’t aware of the huge strides we’ve made over the decades in reducing poverty, improving healthcare and tackling hunger. In fact, according to surveys of people in richer countries at least, the majority of people think the world is getting worse; but why? In this edition of the Why Factor, Sandra Kanthal asks if human nature is wired to fixate on the downsides of life. Professor Martin Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology centre at the University of Pennsylvania Dr Hannah Ritchie, Head of Research at Our World in Data Ola Rosling , Director and Co-founder of the Gapminder Foundation Chris Martenson, Co-founder and CEO of Peak Prosperity Professor Jeremy Adleman, Director of The Global History Lab at Princeton University Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University Presenter: Sandra Kanthal Producer: Xavier Zapata (Image: Woman on a train looking out of the window. Credit: Marjan Apostolovic/Getty Images)