Crying is a universal human experience. We can shed tears of joy, laughter, and sorrow - some of us even weep cutting onions. But what exactly are tears, and why do some of us cry more than others? 

Emma Kennedy talks to Ad Vingerhoets, author of Why Only Humans Weep and Emeritus Professor of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Tilburg University, and Tom Lutz, Professor and Chair of Creative Writing at UC Riverside and author of Crying, to find out. 

Buy Ad’s book Why Only Humans Weep through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund WHY? By earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. 

Check out Tom’s website. 

WHY? is presented by Emma Kennedy. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production and theme music by Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Artwork by James Parrett. Additional music is from Artlist.io. WHY? is a Podmasters Production. 

Instagram | X | Threads | Bluesky 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices