Health & Fitness
Sliced Bread
BBC Radio 4
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist Sean Farrington examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt? Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today? Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He learns about the tremendous success of a brand before hearing how it faltered, with help from expert commentators and people who were directly involved. How do they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently? The self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, is alongside him, analysing the missteps that changed a brand’s fortunes and reaching her own, often instructive, conclusions. From big tech to high street retail and, of course, food, Toast tackles the business ideas that, one way or another, ended up cooked. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in July, 2026. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds. Episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays wherever you get your BBC podcasts. But you can listen to the latest episodes, seven days earlier than anywhere else, first on BBC Sounds.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4.
Abrir en HintoEpisodios para aprender inglés219
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Sports Pain: Taping
27 feb 201923 min<p>We’ve all seen athletes sporting brightly coloured stripes on the backs of their legs – but is kinesiology tape all it’s cracked up to be? Presenter Greg Foot is joined by Olympic medallist heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, along with consultant rheumatologist Dr Benjamin Ellis and Manchester United FC’s head of physical therapies Prof Michael Callaghan, to ask whether these products can, as some claim, help athletes train for longer and finish stronger?</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Sports Pain: Gels and Sprays
27 feb 201934 min<p>Do topical pain products really relieve aching muscles? Presenter Greg Foot is joined by Olympic medallist heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, along with consultant rheumatologist Dr Benjamin Ellis and Manchester United FC’s head of physical therapies Prof Michael Callaghan, to test the cooling gels and warming sprays that promise to reach deep into painful joints.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Marijke Peters Editor: Rami Tzabar Sound Editing: Giles Aspen</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Health Drinks: Turmeric
20 feb 201920 min<p>Can turmeric lattes prevent memory loss? Greg Foot is joined by Blur’s Alex James and experts to put claims about this ancient Indian spice to the test.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Marijke Peters Studio Manager: Sue Maillot Editor: Rami Tzabar</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Health Drinks: Kombucha
20 feb 201927 min<p>Does kombucha boost your immune system? Greg Foot is joined by Blur’s Alex James and experts to put this fermented wonder drink to the test.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Marijke Peters</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Winter Bugs: Vitamin C and Zinc
13 feb 201925 min<p>Vitamin C is one of the most popular products used to combat the common cold. But does it work? Greg Foot reviews the evidence for both vitamin C and zinc to see if they are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.</p><p>He’s joined again by podcaster, rapper and actor Scroobius Pip and virologist Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London. The team will be giving you their Top Tips, backed by real scientific evidence, for beating the winter bugs.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Michelle Martin Researcher: Amelia West Studio Managers: Emma Harth, John Boland Editors: Deborah Cohen, Rami Tzabar</p><p>The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production.</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Winter Bugs: Hand Sanitisers
13 feb 201932 min<p>With offices and schools set to a soundtrack of sniffles, science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on mission to find 'The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread' to beat the winter bugs.</p><p>Joining him for this double episode is rapper, podcaster and actor Scroobius Pip, a man for whom protecting his voice is a professional priority. Under the microscope today are those handy hand sanitisers that promise to stop bacteria and viruses in their tracks.</p><p>Virologist Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London and microbiologist Lindsay Hall from the Quadram Institute in Norwich are both on hand to help separate the facts from the fads, to decide if these products really are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Michelle Martin Researcher: Amelia West Studio Managers: Emma Harth, John Boland Editors: Deborah Cohen, Rami Tzabar</p><p>The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production.</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Skincare: Activated Charcoal
6 feb 201920 min<p>Will activated charcoal, which these days can be found in everything from face creams to smoothies, really purify your pores? Science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on a mission to bust marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and challenging products’ bold claims with scientific evidence. </p><p>In the second episode, Greg is joined by actress and beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth and Cambridge Professor of Chemistry, Melinda Duer to explore the science behind activated charcoal - could it act as a 'magnet' to draw out dirt and pollution from your pores as some products claim?</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Graihagh Jackson Studio Manager: John Boland Editor: Rami Tzabar</p><p>The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Skincare: Collagen
6 feb 201925 min<p>Can collagen face cream reduce wrinkles and make your skin more youthful? Science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on a mission to bust marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and challenging products’ bold claims with scientific evidence. </p><p>In the first episode, Greg is joined by actress and beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth and Cambridge Professor of Chemistry, Melinda Duer to explore the science behind collagen face creams – can they really ‘boost’ and ‘support’ collagen production as some products claim?</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Graihagh Jackson Studio Manager: John Boland Editor: Rami Tzabar</p><p>The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production</p>
Sliced Bread - Series 1: Trailer
5 feb 20192 min<p>From kombucha to collagen, activated charcoal to sports tape, Greg Foot is on a mission to bust the marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and to challenge a product’s bold claims with scientific evidence.</p><p>Joined by leading experts and friends from the world of podcasting and social media, Greg investigates the latest crazes to hit the high street to work out if these wonder products really are the best thing since sliced bread. (all subject to updates)</p>
