Skip to content
The Handshake episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 2, 2012 · 17 MIN

The Handshake

from The Why Factor · host BBC World Service

This week, Mike Williams asks why do we shake hands? All over the world millions of us use this gesture to greet others but where does this everyday ritual come from, and what purpose does it serve? With the US presidential election just days away, Mike also looks at the role of the handshake in political life - why has it proved to be such a sensitive issue? (Image: US President Barack Obama (R) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L) shaking hands. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Nov 2, 2012

Embed this episode

Ready to play

The Handshake

0:00 17:53

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Why Factor?

This episode is 17 minutes long.

When was this The Why Factor episode published?

This episode was published on November 2, 2012.

Can I download this The Why Factor episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!