The 21st century has seen true crime stories surge in popularity, dominating bookshelves and TV schedules. Documentaries like Making A Murderer and podcasts like Serial, which investigate real-life crimes, have become smash hits, attracting millions of viewers and downloads. Over in the US, a 2022 YouGov poll revealed that half of Americans enjoy true crime content, with one in three consuming it weekly.

True crime is a unique genre, and distinct from detective fiction or thrillers due to its non-fictional nature. To comprehend the modern fascination with true crime, you have to venture back in time. The roots of the cultural phenomenon trace back to the early days of penny dreadfuls, crime novels and sensationalised crime reporting in the 19th century.

How did it become popular? What is it about true crime that captivates so many people? 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.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

According to the World happiness report, of the 137 countries they include, the UK has fallen to 19th position. This follows a steady decline over the past few years although they are happier than Lithuania in 20th position and France in 21st position. As ever Finland has continued its winning streak and stays at number one just above New Zealand. 

The report combines both subjective well-being assessments and objective indicators. Respondents rate their own current lives on a scale from 0 to 10. They ask people to imagine a ladder with the best possible life for them being a 10 and the worst possible life being a 0.

What has caused the decrease in happiness? Is this the same all across the UK? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Which types of alcohol should we avoid mixing?

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

What is erectile dysfunction?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Christmas is seen as a season of joy, but it can also be a testing time for many people, whether it’s mentally, emotionally, physically or financially. And 2022 may be worse than most years in that respect.

Most of the population are feeling additional pressure due to the cost-of-living crisis, and Christmas tends to be an expensive time. Furthermore, upsetting news stories have been dominating headlines throughout the year, like the ongoing war in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, the global climate crisis and new waves of Covid 19.

What’s the best way to deal with difficult family situations? What strategies can I adopt? What should I do if it all just gets too much? 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.

In partnership with upday UK.

First broadcast: 22/12/2022

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

In the UK, Christmas is synonymous with festive meals, Yule logs, and the classic roast turkey. We adorn our homes with red, gold, and green decorations, and the Christmas tree takes center stage – a topic we've previously explored on this podcast. These traditions have become so ingrained in our lives that we rarely question their origins. Take, for instance, the tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts.

Is the act of gift-giving tied to Christianity? How did New Year's gifts evolve into Christmas gifts then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Where did the story of the Grinch come from?

Why do the Japanese eat KFC at Christmas?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

If you have ever been to London over Christmas then you could not have missed the lights on oxford street and of course the huge Christmas tree standing proud in Trafalgar Square. But it is a little-known fact that this tree is actually a gift from Norway.

The very first tree was offered to England back in 1947 and every year since a tree is given to the British people from Norway to thank them for their support during WWII. During the war, Norway was occupied by Germany. The country, which had been at peace for over 150 years, surrendered quickly. But if Hitler thought that getting Norway to collaborate would be easy he was wrong. The king of Norway Haakon VII, in a fraught journey that nearly cost him his life on numerous occasions, fled to London.

When did this tradition start? How did the UK support Norway? How does it get to London from Norway? 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 Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

First broadcast: 20/12/2022

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

Sniffling, sneezing, itchy eyes, asthma flare-ups, and even sleep disruptions. If you're wondering why you're dealing with all the telltale signs of hay fever smack in the middle of December, you might just be grappling with what's commonly known as the Christmas tree syndrome.

In a nutshell, it's a seasonal allergy triggered by the presence of mould in the needles and trunk of the tree. The cosy and humid indoor setting provides the perfect breeding ground for mould, which had already set up camp on the tree back when it was outside.

So, what does this mean in everyday terms? What other exposures are we talking about? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Where did the story of the Grinch come from?

Why do the Japanese eat KFC at Christmas?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

In the Western world, we celebrate Christmas on December 25th to honour the birth of Jesus, a tradition dating back to around the year 300 AD. But well before that, various cultures had been marking the end of the year as a symbol of life's renewal. Over time, Christmas has transcended its origins and found unique expressions in different corners of the globe, from Brazil and Ethiopia to Japan and Egypt.

Let’s take Nordic countries, for instance. Their holiday traditions, especially the culinary ones, can get quite bizarre. In Greenland, Christmas delicacies include Mattak – raw whale skin served with whale blubber.

Are there other traditions? What about the kids? Are there any less creepy traditions? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Where did the story of the Grinch come from?

Why do the Japanese eat KFC at Christmas?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

According to a study published in the Scientific Reports journal in 2017, the holiday season sees a peak in sex-related searches on Google and Twitter. The researchers behind the study also identified an increase in birth rates in late September, in other words nine months after Christmas of the previous year.

So the evidence is there: for many of us, sexual desire increases at Christmas time. The study was called “Human Sexual Cycles are Driven by Culture and Match Collective Moods”, suggesting there’s something about our mood during the holiday season. And it’s not just Christmas.

What’s the science behind all that then? Does it apply to other culture holidays? Christmas can also be a stressful period though, can’t it? 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.

In partnership with upday UK.

First broadcast: 21/12/2022

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

During the extended holiday feasts, it's common to let loose a little, perhaps mixing different kinds of alcohol. You might start out with a glass of champagne, then movie to wine or beer, and end the meal with a digestif. That’s despite the widespread belief that combining alcohol types can worsen the unpleasant aftermath of a hangover and all the symptoms that brings, like nausea, headaches, dehydration, vomiting, palpitations, and dizziness.

First of all, it’s important to note that ethanol, the molecule found in all alcoholic drinks, gets partly expelled through urine, sweat, and breath. The liver also filters a portion, converting ethanol into acetaldehyde, the culprit behind hangover symptoms. Unfortunately, the liver can only handle a limited amount.

So is it really more about how much alcohol you consume, then? What are these other substances? 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.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Mistletoe is a small evergreen parasitic plant that grows in clusters on trees. It has white berries and it has been used for centuries as a symbol of love, fertility, and peace. The Greeks used mistletoe as a cure for all sorts of ailments while the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted it could be used as a balm against epilepsy, ulcers and poisons.

The Druids came to view it as a sacred symbol of vivacity, and they gave it to humans and animals alike in the hope of restoring fertility. However, one of the most popular legends about mistletoe and probably the reason we associated this plant with kissing dates back to Norse mythology.

But how did it become associated with kissing? How did kissing under the mistletoe become popular? 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 Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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