Do you really know?

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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