Do you really know?

Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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Why is June Pride Month? Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

You’re probably familiar with the fact that June is Pride month, as it’s been the case for over 50 years now. And this week, we’re covering a range of topics that relate to Pride on Do You Really Know.

But how did the choice of June as Pride month come about originally? To understand this, you need to go back to the origins of the LGBTQI+ movement. In New York in 1970, the very first pride march was organised. It followed “Gay Power” marches, with that slogan giving way to “Pride”.

Where does the "Pride" part of the name come from? Why was this date chosen? How did we get from pride marches on June 28th to the whole of June being "Pride Month" then?

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?

Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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

Could sofa theory help you find your ideal partner? Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

Picture the scene: a woman is sitting in a bar, when a man comes up to try to talk to her. She finds him attractive, but acts disinterested and more or less ignores him, in order to not seem desperate. The man gives up and leaves the woman alone, but she then feels dissatisfied that he hasn’t persisted.

It might seem like a counterintuitive approach, but according to American psychotherapist Ellnor Greenberg, it’s all too common. Writing for Psychology Today in February 2023, she explained that her female clients often tell her the same kind of story in therapy sessions.

I don’t get it - what are the similarities between a sofa and a romantic partner? Does the sofa theory really work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?

Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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

Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath? Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, our mouths host no fewer than 700 species of microbes, including “germs like bacteria, fungus and more”. Some are helpful in producing vitamins, or aiding in digestion, for example, but others can cause problems like bad breath.

Because many of these microbes live on the tongue, recent years have seen increased use of oral hygiene devices specifically designed to clean the top of the tongue. One kind is a tongue scraper. Now in case you’ve never seen a tongue scraper before, it’s kind of like a toothbrush but with a U-shaped head.

What role does saliva play in oral hygiene? How regularly should I be cleaning my tongue then, if it all? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Can the weather really influence our mood?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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Do our brains really tell the whole story about us? Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

You know how sometimes you might indulge in a bit too much junk food, or maybe the kids aren’t acing their tests, or perhaps you’re navigating the single life? Hold up—before you start to worry, there’s a seemingly scientific explanation for all of it, and it points to one place: our brains.

Neuroscience has become the go-to for decoding life’s issues, spanning medicine, economics, politics, and education. But hold your horses—some experts are raising the red flag on “neuromania,” the tendency to oversimplify our behaviors down to just brain activity.

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Can you train your brain like a muscle?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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How can heatwaves impact our mental health? Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

We’re all aware of the physical risks associated with extreme heat, like dehydration and fainting for example. But a number of scientific studies have shown that heatwaves also have a major impact on people’s mental health.

It’s important to highlight that the difference can be experienced by anyone, not just those with existing psychiatric conditions. But one thing is for sure: the vast majority of us are more anxious when temperatures are high. And it makes sense that we get more irritable when you consider how our bodies work. Heat causes our heart rate, pulse, blood pressure and cortisol levels to all increase. Meanwhile, it deregulates so-called happy hormones serotonin and dopamine.

Who is most affected? What do researchers have to say about it? What about eco-anxiety? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

Date of first release : July 19th, 2022

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How often should you wash your jeans?

Should I walk 10000 steps a day?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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Is end-to-end encryption really secure? Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

In late April 2024, police chiefs from the UK’s National Crime Agency and 32 European countries issued a statement expressing their concerns about the use of end-to-end encryption by instant messaging services like WhatsApp.

The statement recognised that E2E encryption protects users’ personal data, but emphasised that it also prevents authorities from identifying suspicious or illegal activities. And, as we’ll get to in just a moment, encryption doesn’t always guarantee full privacy for users.

What does "end-to-end encryption" actually mean in concrete terms? Does that mean all my data is protected when I send a message then? What’s the best way to stay safe and secure then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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

Can the weather really influence our mood? Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

We’re only a few weeks from the official start of summer, but you wouldn’t guess it given the wet conditions that we’ve seen for most of spring 2024. According to BBC News, March, April and May 2024 have all been among the wettest on record for their respective months.

So don't put away your umbrella just yet! Beyond the obvious inconvenience of getting caught in a downpour, many people believe that bad weather directly affects their mood and health. And some people are more sensitive than others; these individuals are known as "weather-sensitive."

How do you distinguish between weather-sensitive people and the rest of the population? Are you saying that for most people the weather has no impact at all on their mood then? What’s the best way to deal with feeling down in bad weather then?

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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

Does olive oil really make you fat? Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, boasts a rich composition of essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D, E, and K, along with polyphenols. These antioxidants are celebrated for their role in decelerating cellular ageing. Fatty acids, a pivotal component of lipids, include some that our bodies cannot produce, underscoring the necessity of sourcing them from our diets.

Predominantly composed of omega-9, olive oil’s monounsaturated fatty acids are linked to a diminished risk of cardiovascular ailments. They are also known to lower LDL-cholesterol—the infamous ‘bad’ cholesterol—as well as the overall cholesterol levels in our bloodstream. Additionally, olive oil serves as a natural appetite suppressant, fostering a sense of fullness and aiding in the regulation of blood sugar levels.

Does all this mean that olive oil is calorie-free? How do I choose the right oil? And how do you store olive oil properly? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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