American writer, producer, voice actor, and media creator who created and hosts The Why Files. The series uses narrated storytelling and comedy to examine mysteries, UAP reports, conspiracy claims, ancient civilizations, paranormal accounts, and fringe science before discussing evidence and proposed explanations.
Andrew "AJ" Gentile is an American writer, producer, voice actor, entrepreneur, and host. Gentile states that he began his media career in stand-up comedy in New York before working in radio at Island 94.3 and WBAB on Long Island, on MTV and VH1 programming for SiriusXM, and at Playboy Radio in Los Angeles. He launched The Why Files in 2020 and serves as its principal host and writer. Episodes cover mysteries, myths, legends, UAP and alien reports, ancient civilizations, paranormal claims, unusual history, and fringe science, using scripted narration and exchanges with the animated character Hecklefish. Gentile has described the program's structure as presenting a story in its commonly told form before examining which elements can or cannot be supported. In a 2025 Reddit AMA, he said the production team includes research and editing staff, while he studies the assembled material and writes each episode. He also stated that he researches UAP subjects intensively when preparing a relevant episode rather than following the topic daily. Gentile explicitly describes himself as an entertainer rather than a journalist and says the show's purpose is to make the stories engaging and encourage viewers to continue their own research.