We haven’t always suppressed our sweat or our natural body odour, but in many cultures now it’s expected we’ll all try to smell our best.

You might be seeing more ads for ‘natural’ deodorants that promise to keep you fresh without any harmful ingredients.

Norman and Tegan talk through those ingredients, and whether they carry any risks.

This episode first aired on March 19, 2025. 

References:

• The specific biochemistry of human axilla odour formation viewed in an evolutionary context
• Use of Aluminium in Antiperspirants - Australian Department of Health
• Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer - National Cancer Institute
• Antiperspirants - National Kidney Foundation
• How Advertisers Convinced Americans They Smelled Bad - Smithsonian Magazine

Do you find yourself complaining that you've got a small bladder, as you run to the toilet for the third time in an hour?

There are many reasons a person might pee more than others, including some scary medical conditions. 

But as Norman and Tegan explain, in most cases your bladder is just deconditioned and you need to get your urinary tract into shape. 

This episode first aired on April 15, 2025. 

References:

• Bladder control: Lifestyle strategies ease problems
• A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of a product containing pumpkin seed extract and soy germ extract to improve overactive bladder-related voiding dysfunction and quality of life
• Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder
• Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients

There have been many discussions this year about sunscreen, its effectiveness and its ingredients.

While there are some unknowns, what we’re sure of is sunscreen’s ability to protect us from the sun’s ageing and cancer-causing rays.

Norman and Tegan slip, slop, slap some questions about sunscreen: SPF scandal, endocrine disruptors and vitamin D concerns.

References:

• How does sunscreen work? - Cancer Council 
• Sunscreen: a brief walk through history
• We tested the SPF claims of 20 sunscreens. 16 failed - CHOICE
• TGA statement on CHOICE SPF sunscreen findings 
• Safety Review of Seven Active Sunscreen Ingredients – July 2025 
• Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial
• Mineral vs chemical sunscreens 
• Can your sunscreen expire? 

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• Is there such thing as TOO much sun protection?
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• Can you get away with skipping your daily shower?

Creatine is getting a lot of hype lately, at least according to our listeners.

It’s being pushed for everything from menopause to dementia for its supposed energy-boosting, brain-boosting benefits.

Norman and Tegan explore what is really going on with creatine outside of its muscle-building potential.

References:

• Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 
• Metabolic Basis of Creatine in Health and Disease: A Bioinformatics-Assisted Review - Nutrients 
• Creatine in Health and Disease 
• Creatine supplementation for older adults: Focus on sarcopenia, osteoporosis, frailty and Cachexia
• Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation
• Creatine monohydrate pilot in Alzheimer's: Feasibility, brain creatine, and cognition 
• The Effects of 8-Week Creatine Hydrochloride and Creatine Ethyl Ester Supplementation on Cognition, Clinical Outcomes, and Brain Creatine Levels in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women (CONCRET-MENOPA): A Randomized Controlled Trial 
• It Is Not Just About Storing Energy: The Multifaceted Role of Creatine Metabolism on Cancer Biology and Immunology
• Creatine Supplementation for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Scientific Rationale for a Clinical Trial 
• International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine 

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• Is it safe to dose yourself with pre-workout?
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• Is that glass of red wine over Christmas dinner good for you?

Whether or not we remember our dreams, we all have them. But the answer to why we dream is complicated.

There's a lot going on in our brains during sleep, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase when most dreams go down.

Norman and Tegan talk through the purpose of dreams, how time warps as we snooze and whether there are any downsides to these nightly hallucinations.

References:

• Dreams: Why They Happen & What They Mean – Sleep Foundation 
• Time for actions in lucid dreams: effects of task modality, length, and complexity 
• High Dream Recall Frequency is Associated with Increased Creativity and Default Mode Network Connectivity
• fMRI Evidence for Default Mode Network Deactivation Associated with Rapid Eye Movements in Sleep 
• The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic review
• Nightmares affect the experience of sleep quality but not sleep architecture: an ambulatory polysomnographic study 
• Gender differences in dreaming: Are they stable over time?
• Isotretinoin use and reports of sustained dreaming | British Journal of Dermatology | Oxford Academic
• Dreaming under antidepressants: A systematic review on evidence in depressive patients and healthy volunteers
• Nightmare and Abnormal Dreams: Rare Side Effects of Metformin?

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• What's the deal with night terrors?
• How risky is sharing a toothbrush?
• Should you go organic if you're worried about pesticides?

When you’ve got a busy schedule, it’s important to just exercise when you can. But if you have the luxury of choice, is there an optimal one?

You might’ve even heard that exercising at certain times of day can lead to harm.

Norman and Tegan run through the evidence around heart attacks, workouts and what happens when you’re a morning or a night person.

References:

• Association of the time of day of peak physical activity with cardiovascular mortality: Findings from the UK Biobank Study
• Setting your clock: associations between timing of objective physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in the general population 
• Best Time of Day for Strength and Endurance Training to Improve Health and Performance? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis 
• Gold, silver or bronze: circadian variation strongly affects performance in Olympic athletes
• Diurnal variation in tennis service
• The effects of exercise session timing on weight loss and components of energy balance: midwest exercise trial 2 

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• Chronotypes: early birds vs night owls
• Does magnesium work against muscle cramps?
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Humans are slightly alkaline – your blood should be a pH between 7.35 to 7.45. Anything outside that range can be life-threatening.

So why are you being told to follow an alkaline diet? Proponents of the diet claim it can tackle everything from osteoporosis to cancer.

Norman and Tegan do a litmus test on the alkaline-acid balance and whether it’s a driver of chronic disease.

References:

• Physiology, Acid Base Balance
• The effect of acid ash and alkaline ash foodstuffs on the acid-base equilibrium of man
• Urine pH is an indicator of dietary acid–base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population study
• Why is there so much on the internet about the alkaline diet and cancer? – MD Anderson 
• Low-grade metabolic acidosis as a driver of chronic disease: a 21st century public health crisis
• Diet-Induced Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis and Clinical Outcomes: A Review

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You’re settling into the couch after a long day, ready to relax with your favourite show … next thing you know, you’re asleep.

What is it about the TV that puts people to sleep, and what can you do to avoid dozing off?

Norman and Tegan explore comfort watching, binge-watching and blue light exposure.

References:

• Exploring the Bob Ross effect: A psychophysiological investigation
• Binge Viewing, Sleep, and the Role of Pre-Sleep Arousal | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
• The inner clock—Blue light sets the human rhythm 
• Morning and Evening Blue-Enriched Light Exposure Alters Metabolic Function in Normal Weight Adults
• Mitigating the Effects of Blue Light - Sleep Foundation 

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• What is the perfect nap duration?
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If you've seen a physiotherapist, you might’ve undergone needling with the promise it will reduce your pain.

Did you receive dry needling or acupuncture? How can you tell the difference between the two?

Norman and Tegan poke through the evidence to find out how effective these techniques can be.

References:

• Similarities between Ashi acupoints and myofascial trigger points: Exploring the relationship between body surface treatment points 
• Dry Needling versus Acupuncture: The Ongoing Debate
• Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future 
• Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain—An Umbrella Review 
• Methodological challenges in design and conduct of randomised controlled trials in acupuncture 
• Needling Point Location Used in Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
• Comparison of dry needling and trigger point manual therapy in patients with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis
• Acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of sham-controlled randomized clinical trials
• Magic tricks are helping scientists understand the placebo effect and pain - ABC News

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You might’ve seen headlines about high levels of lead being found in common protein supplements.

With these products becoming more popular, the news has some eager gym-goers concerned about what they’re consuming.

Norman and Tegan discuss how these results compare to our historical exposure – from Ancient Rome to Australia in the 1960s.

References:

• Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
• Bioaccumulation of lead (Pb) and its effects on human: A review 
• Lead in Food and Foodwares - FDA 
• Low Level Lead Exposure: History and Discovery 
• Lead Toxicity: an Australian Perspective 
• Some US protein powders contain high levels of lead. Can I tell if mine is safe? - the Conversation

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