According to the British Coffee Association, we drink around 98 million cups of coffee per day in the UK. That’s around one and a half cups for every single person in the country! It’s said that drinking coffee in the evening or even late afternoon has a negative impact on sleep quality, but a lot of people do so anyway.

Coffee contains various molecules, such as antioxidants and caffeine, which has a psychostimulant effect and is therefore behind the links to disrupting sleep. Our bodies don’t all metabolise caffeine in the same way though; that varies from person to person.

Are some of us more sensitive to it than others? What quantity should we aim for? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠⁠Is taking milk with coffee good for you?⁠⁠

⁠⁠What is the coffee cup test in job interviews?⁠⁠

⁠⁠What happens in the brain when we lie?⁠⁠

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 7/10/2023

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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

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“I can’t wait for us to get married;” “Let’s travel the world together;” “We’re going to have two kids and buy that apartment across the street” When you’re in a romantic relationship, it can be genuinely heartwarming to hear your partner paint a vibrant picture of days ahead. But what about if it happens much earlier than you expected - say on your second or third date? Usually at that stage, you're still figuring each other out, so beware - it could be a sign of what’s known as future faking. 

Of course, there’s no one single pace for all relationships to abide by, but generally speaking couples don’t make life plans or even say “I love you” within the first couple weeks of dating. So it’s only really a red flag when talk of those kinds of plans pop up too early. In some cases, you could be dealing with a narcissist who’s using false promises to win you over in the moment, creating an illusion of intimacy when in reality they’re not thinking about the future at all. Hence the name: future faking.

Is it similar to love bombing? How can I deal with a future faking partner? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠How can I protect my mental health during the holiday season?⁠

⁠Why is the UK not as happy as it used to be?⁠

⁠Why do we give each other gifts at Christmas?⁠

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 27/12/2023

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We've all been there, haven't we? That moment when a holiday comes to a close and the reality of everyday life sets in. The post-holiday blues, that feeling of melancholy after returning from a relaxing escape, can cast a shadow on our moods.

According to a 2017 articles from Mirror.co.uk, 57% of Brits are affected. Many of you may be experiencing these blues right now, so today we’re exploring just how to beat the slump. Post-holiday blues might be an unwelcome visitor, but they don't have to overstay their welcome.

What actually causes post-holiday blues? What can I do to get through this transition more easily? What are the tips? 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: 2/9/2023

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Shortsightedness or myopia affects long distance vision, preventing people from seeing objects over a few yards away. You may remember we covered the subject on Do You Really Know? a while back and that it has been labelled an epidemic due to ever increasing prevalence worldwide.

It’s estimated that a third of all people suffer from myopia, and the World Health Organisation has suggested that half of all human beings in the world will be shortsighted by 2050, with excessive screen use and a lack of time spent outdoors largely to blame. If you simply can't stand contacts or glasses, laser surgery is another option. It's been in fashion since the turn of the century and according to Optegra, over 15,000 Brits choose to go down that route each year.

Can all shortsighted people get laser eye surgery? How does the laser work? Does it work every time? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

⁠What is Sisu?⁠

⁠What does Mercury in retrograde mean?⁠

⁠Does the Mediterranean diet lower risks of dementia?⁠

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 2/4/2023

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A recent scientific brief from the World Health Organisation, explained that anxiety and depression had increased by 25% worldwide over the first year of the Covid 19 pandemic. The massive rise was mostly down to social isolation and multiple stress factors like fear of infection and financial worries. 

It’s important to know that we can actually control our mood to some extent. It’s possible to boost our so-called happy hormones in natural ways, by opting for specific foods, activities and behaviours.

So how can we stimulate the production of these hormones and neurotransmitters? Why do they say that oxytocin is the love hormone? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠At which time of day do we burn the most calories?⁠

⁠Why does the cold make us need to pee?⁠

⁠How can I meditate without meditating?⁠

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 10/6/2023

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Gary Chapman is the author of The Five Love Languages, a book first published in 1992 that outlines how people express and experience love. He argues that romantic miscommunications come about due to people expressing love to one another using different “languages”, and therefore struggle to understand one another.

But, if you understand your own love language, you can ask for what you need and be in tune to the needs of your partner. According to Chapman, the different ways people can communicate their love is through; acts of service, gift-giving, physical touch, quality time, and words of affirmation.

What are the 5 languages? Is there any science behind love languages? How does knowing the love languages help relationships? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠Is there really such a thing as love at first sight?⁠

⁠Which foods can hurt your libido?⁠

⁠How do I know if I sleepwalk?⁠

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First broadcast: 14/02/2023

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We’re surrounded by screens all day, right up until we go to bed. Our lives are intertwined with technology, from the smartphone alarms that wake us to the late-night emails we check. An Ifop study from April 2021 revealed a startling figure: 69% of those scrolling in bed battle with sleep disorders. And while we might think that a quick video or message thread could usher us into dreamland, the reality is, these habits impact both how quickly we fall asleep and the quality of our rest.

You might have heard about the notorious blue light emitted by screens. It’s like an unwanted alarm for our bodies, tricking our brains into thinking it’s still daytime and halting the production of melatonin, our natural sleep-inducing hormone. But it’s not just about the light; a UK study by the University of Oxford from 2016 found that smartphone addiction is linked to poor sleep, regardless of how long we’re glued to the screens.

In what ways do screens interfere with our sleep? Are there other consequences of dozing off to digital content? What’s the secret to a good night’s sleep in the screen-saturated world?

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠How can social media exposure lead to vicarious trauma?⁠

⁠What is binge eating disorder?⁠

⁠How can I beat a hangover?⁠

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First Broadcast: 25/6/2024

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It’s happened to most of us at least once. A condom breaks, it turns out the girl forgot to take her pill, or you got carried away and had sex even though you didn’t have any condoms. These things happen, but the aftermath can be anxiety-inducing for a number of reasons. 

A World Health Organisation report from May 2024 said that sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis in particular are on the rise. For example, the number of new syphilis cases among adults aged 15 to 49 increased from 7.1 million in 2020 to 8 million in 2022. The report suggested that a lack of screening was largely to blame.

What are the other main types of STIs then? What about the risk of unwanted pregnancy? What’s the best way to protect myself? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠What is auto-brewery syndrome?⁠

⁠What are five foods that make us happy?⁠

⁠What is the Queer movement?⁠

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 22/6/2024

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“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”. If you’re obsessed with having a tidy work environment, you may want to consider that that quote comes from none other than Albert Einstein, one of the most renowned geniuses in human history.

Given that Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and even Steve Jobs were also known for working in messy environments, you might be asking yourself whether it’s time to start letting your own desk get a little more cluttered.

Have there been any studies on whether a messy or tidy desk is best? Why are some people messier than others to start with? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

⁠Could the deep work technique help me concentrate better at work?⁠

⁠What is coffee badging in the workplace?⁠

⁠What is the placebo effect and how does it work?⁠

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 13/9/2024

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices