It's the squishy thing in our head that makes us do brilliant (and stupid) things. Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are joined by neuroscientist Dr Hannah Critchlow to talk about your brain on drugs, the noise your thoughts make and whether free will is an illusion. Sophie wonders how we can hack the brain to make it work better, Ned gets a brain scan, Heidi investigates how dark chocolate might improve memory, and Steve Ali ponders how the brain copes with traumatic memories.  Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon. Clips: 
How to Have a Better brain (20/10/2017)
God on my Mind (31/03/2010)

44. The Brain

"Now I’m a grown up… do I have to get married? Do I have to scrimp and save?? Do I have to host a dinner party??? GrownUpLand poses the most frustrating questions. Luckily, Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are here to guide you through the bewildering pursuit of adulthood.
 
Through stupid challenges, useful facts and personal stories of rich victory and miserable failure, your guides will ensure you don’t feel alone in your hopeless endeavour to be a legit grown up. Plus, every week a special guest candidly shares their experiences, from failed dates and drunken mistakes to moments of clarity and pet hates. And the very handsome Steve Ali, a refugee from Syria now a writer and silversmith in the UK, helps to put a listener’s dilemma into perspective.
 
Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4.
 
Produced by Al Riddell."

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Comedy

As GrownUpLand ends its run on the BBC, time to reflect on the final two series with Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan, Ned Sedgwick, Steve Ali and Deborah Frances-White. We revisit Queen Sophie's message to serial daters, Ned's problematic sitcom adaptation, Heidi's fact-finding meltdown and one of Steve Ali's most poignant perspectives. Plus, Deborah Frances-White introduces her favourite picks from the 'new era' of the podcast, including chats with Sara Pascoe and Travis Alabanza. Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon.

78. Are we grown ups yet?

GrownUpLand's time on the BBC is at an end, feeling nostalgic? Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are joined by former host Mae Martin to talk about the good old days. Sophie warns of the negatives of revelling in too much nostalgia, Ned shows us his best bits, Heidi tells us why the Swiss tried to outlaw nostalgia and Steve Ali pops by to offer up his final perspective. Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon.

77. Do I have to miss the good old days? Ft. Mae Martin

Plenty of food for thought in this episode. Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are joined by perma-hungry comedian Ed Gamble to discuss yeast-based spreads, drinking in parks and how lockdown has changed their cooking habits. Sophie dissects the brunch phenomenon, Heidi thinks cooking is a waste of time, Ned's been unlocking the secrets of vegan kebabs and Steve Ali pops by to tell us about his instant noodle habit. Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon.

76. Do I have to learn how to cook? Ft. Ed Gamble

Managing money is hard in the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are joined by comedian Maisie Adam and money guru Iona Bain to discuss everyday money worries and how best to navigate a looming recession. Sophie feels short changed by billionaires, Heidi worries about the financial future and Ned's been digging in the dirt for shiny bottle-tops. Steve Ali pops in (virtually) to give us his perspective on losing your livelihood due to something beyond your control. Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon.

75. Do I have to be good with money? Ft. Maisie Adam & Iona Bain

The official GrownUpLand advice for lockdown is: Keep calm > don't lose hope > listen to podcasts. Sophie Duker, Heidi Regan and Ned Sedgwick are joined by comedian and writer Isy Suttie to catch up on their lockdown experiences. Sophie wrecks the myth that the virus is 'the great equaliser', Heidi brings us some much needed good news, Ned has been curating curious creativity and Dr Kat McClenaghan checks in to describe life on the forefront of the virus fight. Steve Ali pops in (virtually) to give us his perspective on the last few weeks. Co-created by Deborah Frances-White for The Spontaneity Shop and BBC Radio 4. Produced by Al Riddell. Music by Mark Hodge and Omahrose, produced by Nick Sheldon.

44. The Brain

Download our free app to listen on your phone