Panto, short for pantomime, has become a staple of British Christmas celebrations but surprisingly its origins are neither British or Christmassy. It has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated in December and involved dressing up as the opposite gender, swapping roles, and having a lot of fun.

The word ‘pantomime’ comes from the Latin ‘pantomimus’, which means ‘actor who plays every role’. The Romans also had a tradition of performing plays called mummia, which were based on stories from Egypt.

How did panto come to Britain? What are some of the earliest examples of panto in Britain? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What were the Most Shocking Moments of the Turner Prize?

What's really in vegan meat substitutes?

Which are the dirtiest parts of our bodies?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First Broadcast: 14/12/2023

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Nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas, is sold in metal canisters and is one of the most commonly used drugs by teenagers and young people. However, heavy use can lead to a host of problems.

Prof Alastair Noyce, a consultant neurologist at Queen Mary University of London, told BBC News: "These are young people we are seeing - teenagers and people in their 20s. What's striking now is the severity. We've seen that increase over the last 12 months or so." Nitrous oxide is a gas that can be used for medical purposes, as an anaesthetic, and in the food industry.

Why do people use Nitrous oxide? What are the dangers? What is being done about this? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is a transference in psychiatry?

Does cold weather really make us sick?

How to save money on your heating bill this winter?

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Amber Minogue.

First broadcast: 21/3/2023

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On the evening of December 24th, as many households in the UK prepare for festive gatherings with traditional roast turkey and yule log, an intriguing Christmas tradition unfolds in Japan. In the land of the rising sun, people aren't bustling around their kitchens; instead, they're braving the winter cold to queue up for a unique holiday feast at KFC. 

Many Japanese then return home with a special Christmas bucket in red, white, and green colors, containing fried chicken, coleslaw salad, a Japanese strawberry shortcake to share, and sometimes even champagne. Yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken has become a Christmas essential for millions of Japanese families.

And when did this tradition start? Where does KFC come in then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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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: 20/12/2023

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Sometimes there’s a very thin line between friendship and love. You spend time with someone, you’ve got things in common, you make each other laugh.Things can easily get blurry. Imagine you’ve recently met someone and really hit it off; you’re at each other’s places all the time, maybe you’ve even kissed once or twice on a night out. Maybe it’s gone further than that.

A Define the Relationship conversation or DTR for short, is a useful, if sometimes awkward chat that many people have when in a blossoming relationship. Without having a DTR, it can be difficult to put a label on it. But one has emerged which might fit the bill. The notion of a “situationship” has become more and more widespread, with the hashtag having recorded over 350 million views on Tiktok for example.

What are the telltale signs? Why are more and more people winding up in situationships? How can I avoid a situationship? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Which foods are best for burning fat?

What is intuitive eating?

Are you a time optimist?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 8/8/22

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According to data from the BBC men still earn more than women for the same work. The difference in wages (for the medium worker) is 9.4%, the same as it was in 2017 when companies were first obliged to publish their figures. The gap remains larger in the public sector at 15.1% compared to 8% in the private sector but neither have changed significantly from previous years. 

“The gender pay gap is closing at a snail’s pace, At current rates of progress, it will take more than 20 years to close it. That’s just not good enough. Ministers must step up, or we will consign yet another generation of women to lower pay.” said The Trades Union Congress' general secretary, Paul Nowak. 

Why is this still a problem? What action can be taken? What should you do if you think you deserve a raise? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why has purple become the colour of feminism?

Why do some people say slum tourism a bad thing?

How should I organise my fridge?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First broadcast: 11/4/2023

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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!

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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.

First Broadcast: 23/12/2023

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Polish-American man Leo Gerstenzang is credited with inventing the humble cotton bud in the 1920s, an item which has since gone on to be used for many different purposes, having originally been thought up as a baby hygiene product.Yougov research from 2019 found that 62% of Brits use cotton buds to clean their ears, and 22% of us only use them for that purpose. That’s particularly true for men, given women are more likely to use them for touching up nail polish mistakes, or applying make up. 

But you may well have heard warnings that cotton buds can be bad for you. 2019 also saw the unlikely case of a man who developed a severe bacterial infection, which sprread to the lining of his brain, after the tip of a cotton bud got stuck inside his ear. He ended up having a seizure and had to be treated at University Hostpital Coventry, according to Livescience.com.

How can I clean my ears then? Are there any safe ways? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why do some men get ill after they orgasm?

Is nostalgia good or bad for us?

How can the unisex condom improve my sex life?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 21/2/2024

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Have you ever seen the Black Mirror episode called "Be right back"? It aired back in February 2013 and sees a character called Ash die in a car accident, leaving behind his pregnant wife Martha. During Ash's funeral, Martha’s friend Sarah tells her about a company which creates AI versions of dead people, by using personal data they had shared online. Initially reluctant, Martha eventually caves in and tries the service. As a result, she’s able to chat with an Android Ash as if he was alive.

Now, Black Mirror is well known for delving into possible future technological developments, which are sometimes purely the stuff of fantasy. But the scenario portrayed in that particular episode may become widespread in the near future.

Are we saying this may actually be possible then? Do businesses see a lot of potential in deadbots? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why is climbing stairs so good for you?

Am I in a situationship?

Which foods are best for burning fat?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

17/11/2023

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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.

First Broadcast: 24/12/2023

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Let's face it, we’re so accustomed to seeing those little pop-up windows when landing on a website that we barely pay any attention to them anymore. Cookies have become ubiquitous, and whether it’s out of convenience or sheer habit, we tend to accept them without much thought. But those innocuous-seeming cookies actually harbour a wealth of information about us.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office defines a cookie as "a small file of letters and numbers that is downloaded on to your computer when you visit a website.” It also says that “Cookies are used by many websites and can do a number of things, e.g. remembering your preferences, recording what you have put in your shopping basket, and counting the number of people looking at a website.”

What exactly are they for then? What happens if we opt to refuse cookies? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why is sugar bad for our memory?

Does the law of attraction really work?

How can I stay trendy buying only second hand clothes?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 29/2/2024

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