Do you really know?

How can I cut my summer holiday spending?

According to comparison website Finder.com, UK residents plan to spend an average of over £2100 on holidays abroad in the year 2023. Spending abroad has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, having plummeted in 2020 and 2021, when travel restrictions were in place. Still, while many of us are making up for lost time when it comes to holidays, there’s also the small matter of a cost of living crisis to deal with. Thankfully there are some ways in which you can satisfy your holiday needs without breaking the bank. How can I avoid paying top dollar for travel and accomodation ?What about food and cultural activities ? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠⁠⁠Why do people get angry when they drive?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Is palm oil really bad for your health?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠How to make the most out of a rental property?⁠⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 13/7/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can I improve my sporting performance through mental preparation?

It's back to school! Do You Really Know is dedicating a special week to sport. Because moving and doing regular physical activity is important for our physical and mental health! Listen again to our episodes about sport! With many types of personal goals, actually doing the task is only part of the battle. Being mentally prepared is also hugely important and can sometimes be overlooked. Sports and exercise are no exception. Consistently training and staying on top of your progress is crucial inimproving at a sport and as an athlete. But just training non-stop physically isn’t actually enough. Your head also needs to be in the game, so that you can show resilience when things get more challenging.  What can you do to become mentally prepared? How can athletes deal with stress? ⁠⁠In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !⁠⁠ To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Why should I avoid showering after a workout?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How often should you wash your bedsheets?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can I keep my exercise eco-friendly?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 2/10/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we choose the right sunscreen product?

Whether you’re going on a beach holiday, city break or camping trip, the chances are you’ll be soaking up the sun’s rays. Sunshine activates vitamin D production in the body, which has numerous benefits like protecting us from disease and improving mental health. But on the other hand, being exposed for too long can accelerate skin ageing. Excessive UV can even lead to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 100,000 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone in 2022. How should I compare all the different products? Do sunscreens only protect us from UVBs? How often should we be topping up on sunscreen? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠How long do I have to wait to swim after eating?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What are the world's least safe travel destinations?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why do we get travel sick?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. Date of first release : 29/6/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could tourism quotas help preserve endangered local environments?

It’s worth bearing in mind that overtourism has become a real nuisance. As tourists, it’s not exactly fun being in a highly overcrowded area, but it’s even worse for the natural environment. Could tourism quotas be one way of addressing the problems? In mid-June 2022, the island of Corsica brought in quotas for three iconic sites: the Bavella needles, the Restonica valley and the Lavezzi islands. 180,000 tourists visit these sites each year, a figure which is expected to rise to 200,000 by 2026. Tourists will now need to make advance reservations online in order to visit them, with parking spots also limited. The Lavezzi islands will have a particularly strict tourism quota of 2,000 outside visitors per day. Are there similar examples elsewhere in the world? Will tourism quotas start spreading everywhere now? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠⁠Why are some deadly diseases re-emerging?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What's the ideal temperature to stay healthy at home?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is sea snot?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast : 7/7/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does Mercury in retrograde mean?

As you may well know, astrology involves looking at the position of planets and stars when we were born, and using that to interpret their influence on our lives. Mercury happens to be one of the planets which is supposed to have the most influence and that’s particularly true when it’s in retrograde, which happens several times a year. Planets in our solar system orbit around the sun. If you think about it, those that are closest to the Sun have to travel the distance to complete a full orbit. Of all the planets, Mercury is closest to the Sun, and it actually completes a full rotation in just 88 days, compared to the 365 days it takes planet Earth. What does that mean in concrete terms? Why are astrologers interested in this phenomenon? Is Mercury being in retrograde always negative then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠What is future faking?⁠ ⁠Why are we so fascinated by true crime?⁠ ⁠Why is the UK not as happy as it used to be?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 29/03/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did Feta cheese end up causing an international legal battle?

Feta cheese is undoubtedly a star ingredient when it comes to summer salads. It goes without saying it plays a starring role in the Greek salad, but it can also add a savoury taste to other recipes like the watermelon salad for example. Feta is one of Kate Middleton’s favourites. But this summer feta isn’t only getting attention by featuring in salad recipes. It’s also made headlines in European political news, due to what was lightheartedly labelled the “feta battle” between Greece and Denmark. What are the characteristics of feta? So what’s the feta battle all about? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠Can deep sleep help stop dementia?⁠ ⁠What is conscious quitting?⁠ ⁠Why is Israel going through a major political crisis?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast. A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 9/4/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why should I eat more fermented foods?

Each year, International Beer Day is celebrated on the first Friday of August. As you may know, beer is produced using only four ingredients: water, hops, malt and yeast, through a process called fermentation. Of course beer is harmful in excessive quantities, but don’t let that give you any misconceptions about fermented foods. Generally speaking, they play an important role in boosting gut health. There are many other alcohol-free alternatives too, if you’re looking for a fermented beverage. These include kombucha, a fermented tea which contains B vitamins and vitamin C, and kefir, which is a kind of fermented milk. How do fermented foods interact with our bodies? How does fermentation actually work? How can I get started producing homemade fermented foods? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠Should you sleep with socks on?⁠ ⁠How can I get the most out of daytime napping?⁠ ⁠How quick is premature ejaculation?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 05/08/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is trauma dumping, the toxic equivalent of oversharing?

What is trauma dumping, the toxic equivalent of oversharing? It’s common for good friends to tell each other about pretty much everything going on in their lives. Within healthy friendships, it’s a way of bonding and supporting one another, especially when one of the friends is struggling. But sometimes this goes drastically overboard, and someone shares something really personal and traumatic without prior warning or getting permission. That kind of unsolicited oversharing has been labelled trauma dumping. Bear in mind trauma dumping is not a clinical term. It caught on online, after a woman, apparently a therapist, posted a video on Tiktok deriding one of her patients. She used the caption “When a client wants to trauma dump first session”. Wait a minute, aren’t therapists supposed to be there to listen to your problems? What are the negative consequences of trauma dumping? What’s the best way to deal with trauma dumping? ⁠In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !⁠ To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠How did Feta cheese end up causing an international legal battle?⁠ ⁠Why is Y2K style coming back into fashion?⁠ ⁠Do I have generalised anxiety disorder?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 4/8/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does Paris syndrome affect some visitors to the French capital?

Some visitors can be so shocked by the reality of Paris compared to their expectations that they can experience psychiatric breakdowns or symptoms such as hallucinations, depersonalization, anxiety, dizziness and nausea. This is known as the Paris Syndrome. Romance, sophistication, croissants and sipping fine wine with the Eiffel Tower in the background spring to mind when thinking of a visit to Paris. With such a romanticized notion of the French capital, it’s no surprise that this remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with 33 million expected in 2022, according to Le Monde. But it seems that the reality of Paris is more than what some visitors’ stomachs can handle. Why do some visitors have such unrealistic expectations of Paris? How do you actually explain the physical symptoms? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! Date of first release : August 24th, 2022 To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠What are the biggest misconceptions on beating heatwaves?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What are the health benefits of using sex toys?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Which foods should I avoid after their expiry date?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 20/8/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should I walk 10000 steps a day?

Most of us are familiar with the idea that you need to take 10 thousand steps per day to stay healthy but getting to this magic number is not that easy. The 10,000-step target first became popular in Japan in the 1960s. A clockmaker capitalising on people's new interest in fitness following the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games made a pedometer with a name that, when written in Japanese characters, resembled a walking man and coincidentally translated as “10,000-steps metre.” A study of over 78,000 people in the UK between 2013 and 2015 using wearable trackers was published in the journals JAMA Internal Medicine and JAMA Neurology. Where did we get the number 10 thousand from? Does that mean that we do not need to take 10 steps? So how many steps should I be aiming for per day? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠Can you eat eggs everyday?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is Lucky Girl syndrome, this new method that is all the rage on Tik Tok?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Which type of wine is best for your health?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First broadcast: 19/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does voluntourism do more harm than good?

Voluntourism is the practice of volunteering one’s labour to a charitable cause in a developing country, in return for a soul-cleansing, perspective-changing, CV-bolstering experience. Perhaps a bit cynical? But with good reason.  Whilst it could be a mutually beneficial redistribution of wealth from the developed world to the developing, voluntourism harbours a dark and exploitative underworld. In 2021, NPR.org reported that the industry was worth an estimated $3 billion per year, according to University of Strathclyde lecturer Konstantinos Tomazos. What is voluntourism? Can it really be that bad? Is voluntourism at all beneficial? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠⁠What are the best ways to keep warm outdoors?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠How can I avoid always feeling hungry?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠How did female body hair become taboo?⁠⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 21/2/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the signs you might have sleep apnea?

According to a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease in 2015, 10% of all people are affected by obstructive sleep apnea. That figure rises for some population groups, like men, over-50s and overweight people.  It’s actually a mechanical disorder, rather than an illness. When we go to sleep, our muscles relax; that's totally normal. But when it comes to people affected by apnea, the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses, blocking the airway. How long do these breathing pauses last? And how serious is the condition? How is sleep apnea usually detected? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠What are the biggest misconceptions on beating heatwaves?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What are the health benefits of using sex toys?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Which foods should I avoid after their expiry date?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 21.06.2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do I have white spots on my nails?

To understand where white spots come from, we must first explain how nail growth works. If you’ve ever had white spots on your nails before, you may have been dismissively told that it's down to a lack of calcium or zinc. Basically, some mineral-deficiency. But this popular belief doesn’t really have any basis in fact. According to Healthline, nails grow an average of 3 millimeters per month. Their composition is made up of keratin, a protein, and just 0.03% calcium. So white spots are certainly not just a calcium problem!  What is the color of a healthy nail? What other colours can my nails turn? ⁠⁠In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !⁠⁠ To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠How is the #Periodsomnia campaign helping to close the period sleep gap?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is the windscreen phenomenon?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can I limit the effects of sugar on my health?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 3/9/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can carbon farming help us reach net zero by 2050?

Reaching carbon net zero by 2050 is one of the main objectives in the struggle against global warming. It’s also part of the Green New Deal the EU agreed upon in 2019. Since the start of 2022, many figures in agriculture have been pushing for a carbon farming policy which would see farmers rewarded for their efforts in sequestering carbon. It’s about using agricultural fields to store CO2 in the ground. Plants first absorb it from the air through a process called photosynthesis. Then their roots and other parts decompose, being converted into soil carbon by microbes. Soil is in fact the second largest form of carbon sink on Earth, after the oceans and ahead of forests. The aim is to sequester carbon more quickly. That leads to a greater organic content in the ground, allowing for better water retention and a reduction in the use of fertilizers. How does carbon farming work?Why is agriculture in particular concerned by the net zero target? What is expected at a European level? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠Could Mastodon replace Twitter?⁠ ⁠Why do crowd crushes happen?⁠ ⁠Is Britain the new place to get your wine?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 1/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can I beat a hangover?

If you drink alcohol, the chances are at some point you’ve had to deal with a nasty hangover, due to drinking too much. The associated headache, nausea, fatigue and other symptoms can make it a real challenge to get through the day after a night out.  There’s actually a scientific term for the unpleasant symptoms that come with a hangover; it’s veisalgia. According to Ted.com, between 3 and 23% of people actually don’t get hangovers at all. You can count yourself extremely lucky if you’re one of those people, although being prone to hangovers may be a blessing in disguise.   Why does the consumption of alcohol lead to such symptoms? Is drinking water effective at reducing hangover symptoms? What should I eat when hungover? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can heatwaves impact our mental health?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 18/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the future hold for the Amazon rainforest?

It’s been two years since we last discussed the Amazon on Do You Really Know, and even in that time, the outlook for the world’s largest tropical rainforest has worsened significantly. A report called “Amazonia against the Clock” was released in September, warning that the rainforest could reach a point of no return as soon as 2025. A study published in Nature Climate Change journal in March 2022 explained that three quarters of the Amazon has lost some of its resilience since the turn of the century. That means it’s recovering more slowly from events like droughts and fires affecting it. This is largely down to less water evaporating from leaves within the forest, which in turn means less rain. The more deforestation there is, the more the problem is exacerbated; it’s a vicious circle. What are the possible consequences? Has the destruction of the Amazon worsened in recent years? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠Why do we celebrate Halloween?⁠ ⁠Why do we change clocks twice per year?⁠ ⁠What is ghosting?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 11/2/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is mom shaming?

Just like with body shaming or slut shaming, mom shaming is another example of how women are often subjected to disproportionate criticism, and made to feel guilty about their choices, in this case specifically about parenting methods. The term refers to how mothers are criticised or even humiliated, for the way they bring up their children and fulfil their role as a mother. Such comments often come from within the family, but it can also be friends, colleagues or total strangers. It might be because of parental choices that don’t match their own, or that don’t match traditional societal norms. Who would be so judgemental as to make comments like that? What are the consequences of mom shaming? What about dad shaming; is that a thing too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠How can I beat a hangover?⁠ ⁠Why is Qatar paying England fans to promote the word cup?⁠ ⁠What is bushcraft, the eco-friendly outdoor hobby?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 20/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know about home design maximalism?

In past episodes of Do You Really Know, we’ve talked about a number of Scandinavian lifestyle trends, like death cleaning and hygge for example. Both of those are inspired by similar sentiments; to do with feeling good in surroundings that aren’t overflowing with useless items. And yet, in recent months, we’ve been hearing more and more about a home decor trend that’s the complete opposite. Maximalism is making a comeback! The signs have been there at furniture shows, such as the 2022 Milan Furniture Fair where Dimore Studio displayed a maximalist interior that got a lot of attention. Of course, influencers have been sharing pictures and videos of their interiors on social media too. Where does this desire for maximalism come from? How can I bring maximalism into my home then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠What is the best way to soothe a crying baby?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is the Suez Canal?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Who are the main victims of natural disasters?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 13/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Karpman drama triangle?

American psychiatrist Stephen B. Karpman coined this social model of human interaction in 1968. It describes the roles that we take on in unbalanced social relations. Relations which lead us to take one of three roles within Karpman’s triangle. These are three roles in Karpman's triangle. These are the victim, the persecutor and the saviour. And the role we take on unconsciously leads someone else to take on one of the others. Let’s take the role of the victim. If I consider myself as a victim, I’m going to tend to blame my hardships on a persecutor, who I consider responsible for my misfortune or pain. What are the roles in the Karpman triangle then? What’s the point of this whole theory? How does one escape from this infuriating triangle then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠What can we expect from Lula’s presidency in Brazil?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How did Guy Fawkes become more than just a bonfire effigy⁠⁠? ⁠⁠What is sapiosexuality?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 7/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you get rid of cellulite?

Cellulite is a regular source of insecurity among women. That’s been especially true since women’s magazines came along, pretty much labelling it public enemy number one. In our collective minds, it’s become inextricably linked to being overweight or having gone through pregnancy. In reality, cellulite is the result of a number of factors, and hormonal changes in particular. The first thing to know is that there are actually three types of cellulite: aqueous cellulite which is flexible and slightly visible; adipose cellulite, which is soft and limited to a certain part of the body, and fibrous cellulite, which is hard and painful to the touch, sometimes coming with a purplish-blue colour. What do those three types have in common? Can cellulite have negative health consequences? So what techniques are out there for getting rid of cellulite? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠What is the best way to soothe a crying baby?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is the Suez Canal?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Who are the main victims of natural disasters?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance. First broadcast : 14/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is physical contact important for our health?

When it comes to expressions about skin, the English language is not lacking. For example, we can be thick or thin skinned, or have someone under our skin. To show indifference, we say “it’s no skin off” our noses, and when we get excited we “jump out of” our skin.  The sheer number of different idioms reflects the deep links the skin has with our brains. Sometimes these links are visible and give away our feelings, when we blush, go pale or get goosebumps. The same can be said for stress too, in the case of some skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. How does the skin send information to the brain? What impact does touch have on our brains? How does touch affect health then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Why was Kanye West’s Twitter account suspended?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can you save money on your food bill?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why is 'permacrisis' the new dictionary word of the year?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First boradcast : 12/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do crowd crushes happen?

On 29th October 2022, 20,000 people were celebrating Halloween in the Itaewon neighbourhood of Seoul in South Korea. One particularly narrow street became very overcrowded, and a huge crush ensued, leading to the deaths of 153 people, with many more injured. A month later, we still don’t know exactly what caused the crush.  One of the theories out there is that a rumour spread in the crowd, leading them to believe that a celebrity was in a nearby bar. But a lot of blame has been apportioned to the authorities for poor planning and a slow response to events. A lot of people think that crowd crushes are down to a stampede of people running in panic and crushing others on the floor. Why do things get dangerous in such situations? Are crowd crushes rare or do they happen often? How can I protect myself and others if I end up in an overcrowded area?  In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Is Britain the new place to get your wine?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why is there such a taboo over the prostate?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can I take part in Giving Tuesday?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 30/11/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can you save money on your food bill?

The cost of living crisis has seen food prices increase by as much as 65% according to the Office for National Statistics meaning that the average British household spends an extra £600 pounds a year on food. But considering that there is also about 4.5 million tonnes of food waste annually the possibility of reducing wasted food as well as bills has never been more needed. Reducing your bill at the checkout comes down largely to planning. Getting organised about how, when and where you buy your food as well as how you store and cook it is essential. For starters buying in bulk can really reduce costs. How can I reduce the amount I spend on food? How can I reduce my food waste? How can technology help? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠How much do surrogate mothers get paid?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is the Barnum effect?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How to spot, prevent and treat heatstroke ?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First broadcast: 08/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can I do to relieve heartburn?

Christmas festivities are coming and often go hand in hand with overindulgence, in the form of large servings of roast dinner, yummy pudding and alcohol consumption. That can result in heartburn, a condition which despite the terrifying sounding name, is usually relatively harmless.  It’s a burning sensation felt in the chest, behind the breastbone, which explains where the name comes from. But it’s actually down to stomach acid travelling back up the oesophagus, which is the tube that carries food down from your throat. Let’s discuss a few tips for preventing heartburn, or relieving the symptoms if you do get some during the holiday season. Are some people more vulnerable than others? Are there particular foods to avoid? What can I do to calm the symptoms? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠How can I protect my mental health during the holiday season?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why does Christmas boost our libido?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Is Santa Claus red because of Coca Cola?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 25/2/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can I prepare my home for a blackout?

National Grid has warned of potential blackouts in the UK this winter, due to gas shortages. If it does happen, it would be the first time the country has seen controlled blackouts since the 1970s. The government has its Electricity Supply Emergency Code in place in case we end up in such a situation. The government plan sees rolling blackouts, with areas split into 18 different load blocks, each assigned a letter from A to U. At level one, each load block has three three-hour blackout periods per week, at level two, six and at level three, nine, meaning up to 27 hours per week without power. Should I stock up on candles? What about food storage? What can I do to stay entertained? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?⁠⁠ ⁠Are electric toothbrushes really more effective?⁠ ⁠How can I save money when using electrical appliances?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First broadcast : 17/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can standing on one leg save your life?

Surprising as it may seem, balance is more important than you might think. In September of 2022 the British Journal of Sports Medicine published the results of a ten year study which involved more than 1,700 middle-aged participants. They concluded that not being able to balance was associated with an almost twofold increase in risk of death.  Volunteers were asked to stand on one leg with their arms by their sides and keep their eyes looking straight ahead. They discovered that an inability to hold the position for 10 seconds was associated with an 84% heightened risk of death from any cause. Participants were allowed to try 3 times. Balance is quite difficult to explain. It involves several different systems in your body: muscles, nerves, eyesight, the inner ear and even the sensory system that lets you recognise where your body is in space. What is balance? How did they test participants for balance? Why does losing your balance matter? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠How does eldest daughter syndrome affect some women?⁠ ⁠What is a kakistocracy, in the world of work ?⁠ ⁠What does vaping do to the body?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First broadcast: 13/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should I eat before going to bed?

No doubt you’ve realised that some types of food have a boosting effect, like eggs, oats and avocado for example. That’s because they contain tyrosine, an amino acid which is a precursor to dopamine, making them an ideal breakfast option. At the other end of the scale, some foods are better suited for preparing our bodies to go to sleep, by bringing on certain chemical reactions. In terms of what not to do, it’s most important not to eat anything too rich, not to eat meals that are too large, and not to eat too close to bedtime. You should aim to end dinner at least two hours before going to bed. That’s to limit any potential nighttime discomfort from indigestion or heartburn. On top of that, our body temperature needs to drop when we go to sleep, but digestion does the exact opposite. So what are the better options available to us then? Why is the role of amino acids so important? What about simply skipping dinner; does that work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: ⁠⁠⁠Do "light" food products really help you lose weight?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Are budget food brands really worth the savings they offer?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠How can I best preserve food in my freezer ?⁠⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 7/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does the 3-30-300 rule affect my mental health?

In our increasingly urbanised world, it’s important to make time for reconnecting with nature. The latest study to grab our attention in this area was conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and published in December 2022. It looked into the so-called 3-30-300 rule, which was theorised by Spanish forest researcher Cecil Konijnendijk in 2021.  It's made up of three criteria, which each give our mental health a boost: we should have three trees in view from our home, live in a neighbourhood with 30% tree canopy cover and live within 300 metres of a park. Researchers interviewed over 3,000 residents in Barcelona and found that less than 5% of them were lucky enough to live in an area which met all three of the 3-30-300 rule’s criteria. Indeed, 22.4% of respondents had none of the elements. Interesting, so what did we learn from the latest study? What is it about green spaces that makes us calmer? What are the best ways to apply the 3-30-300 rule? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠How can I return unwanted gifts?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Could the deep work technique help me concentrate better at work?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What can I do to relieve heartburn?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 28/12/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why has astrology come back into fashion?

Have you noticed more of your friends talking about their star signs of late? Maybe they try to guess the sign of people they meet, or come out with unexpected references to “Mercury in retrograde” or “Saturn return” over dinner. Maybe you’re into it yourself; and you have an app which sends you horoscope notifications all day long. It wasn’t so long ago that most people would just read horoscopes in the paper for a laugh, but these days astrology seems to be all the rage. Dedicated webpages are getting more and more traffic, and there are even astrology based dating apps, like Ilios and Stars Align. Analysing human behaviour according to star and planet positions has existed for millenia across different civilisations, like the Mayas for example. Are we saying astrology has never been this popular before? What’s caused the resurgence then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠What are the biggest misconceptions on beating heatwaves?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What are the health benefits of using sex toys?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Which foods should I avoid after their expiry date?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 31/12/22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is menstrual leave?

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! Despite the fact that we’re in 2023, there’s still a certain squeamishness when it comes to discussions about menstruation, including in the workplace. But that might be about to change in Europe, due to a measure that was recently approved by the lower house of Spain’s parliament... In mid-December 2022, Spanish MPs voted to adopt a new bill creating menstrual leave for women suffering from period pain. That’s right, 3-5 days off work per month paid by the state. And while it’s a first in Europe, such a measure has already existed for decades in other parts of the world. Why do women need time off work during their periods? Which other countries in the world have a menstrual leave policy? Why is menstrual leave a controversial measure? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is the internet of senses?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is goblin mode?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 11/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices