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Latest Episodes:

Why do we experience the unsettling "Uncanny Valley" effect? Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

In November 2023, a spooky makeup trend took TikTok by storm. Users posted images of themselves with full-coverage, pale foundation for a ghostly vibe, intense grey contouring, hidden eyebrows, and pencil-altered lips. The aim behind those creative efforts was actually to resemble humanoid creatures, and elicit a particular reaction known as “uncanny valley” from viewers.

And the trend garnered a lot of attention. As of November 13th, Forbes reported that the #uncannyvalley hashtag had amassed 821 million views. The funny thing is that the origins of the uncanny valley phenomenon actually have nothing to do with makeup at all.

What does it mean then? Where does the 'valley' part come from? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

How can you protect yourself from being mugged?

How to use less water?

How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What are the health benefits of walking up stairs? Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever heard ot the stairs test? Experts say it’s an excellent gauge of a person’s overall health. The idea is to run up as many flights of stairs as your body allows you to. If you can’t manage two flights at a brisk pace, you may need to consider lifestyle changes to improve your health. Meanwhile if you can climb eight or more, the chances are you’re in excellent health already.

But beyond being a good health indicator, taking the stairs is a fantastic way to stay in shape. It combines muscle strengthening and cardiorespiratory work. Whether it’s in public transport, at your workplace or even at home, I’m sure you can think of an opportunity to fit some stair-climbing into your daily routine.

What does climbing stairs do to the body then? Why is it sometimes so challenging? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

How can you protect yourself from being mugged?

How to use less water?

How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

How can you protect yourself from being mugged? Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Mugging is a form of robbery that involves violence or the threat of violence against a person in a public place. It’s also known as street robbery or personal robbery. However, would-be muggers have been foiled by a recent covert police operation in London which aimed at reducing street theft.

Brave officers posed as potential victims by wearing expensive luxury watches to tempt thieves and hanging around in dangerous places, then when anyone attempted to steal the watches they were arrested by hidden officers lying in wait. And it has been successful, the operation reduced annual watch robberies from 113 to 55 last year in three central London boroughs.

Who are the most likely victims and perpetrators of mugging? So how can you avoid being mugged or minimise the harm if you are attacked? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do women live longer than men?

Does money really make us happy?

Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What's the right way to burst a pimple? Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

If there are any teenagers out there listening in, chances are you have faced an acne breakout at some point in the recent past, or perhaps you're even going through that now. Rest assured, that was the case for many of us adults too when we were your age, and for some people, acne continues to be a nuisance into adulthood.

It’s tied to a number of factors including hormonal shifts, genetics, lifestyle, and diet. These blemishes basically result from an excess of sebum. Regular listeners will remember that sebum contributes to the skin's hydrolipidic film, protecting it from various threats and maintaining hydration.

Is squeezing pimples a good idea? What should I do once the pimple has been drained? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do women live longer than men?

Does money really make us happy?

Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities? Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

During the Covid-19 health crisis, our approach to work underwent significant changes, largely thanks to the surge in remote work. This shift allowed people to reassess their priorities and determine where they genuinely wanted to live. Dreary lockdown periods also led to heightened awareness of our anxieties and life choices.

So it’s no real surprise that many people chose to flee the cities they were living in before. For example, forecasts from PWC in early 2021 suggested that London’s population was set to decrease by 300,000 that year, marking the first annual decline since 1988.

What’s a meta city then? Could you say that meta cities are both a physical and virtual realm? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do women live longer than men?

Does money really make us happy?

Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why are the Scottish embracing Scandinavian winter activities? Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

The Scottish have a long history of cultural and political ties with Scandinavia, dating back to the Viking era. Many Scottish place names, words, and traditions have Nordic origins. For example, the word loch comes from the Old Norse word for lake, and the kilt is similar to the plaid worn by the Norsemen.

The Scottish also share a love of nature, adventure, and whisky with their Scandinavian cousins; they also have winters in common, long dark and cold but while winter is celebrated in Scandinavia it is rather endured in Scotland, but now that is changing.

What do the Scots think of winter? How are the Scottish adopting Scandinavian winter activities? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do women live longer than men?

Does money really make us happy?

Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why do women live longer than men? Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

In the period from 2018 to 2020, the life expectancy at birth for women in the UK was 82.9 years, while it was just 79 for men. That’s according to data from the Office of National Statistics. And that disparity is a common trend across various countries and even among certain other species of mammals, like great apes.

There certainly are, and they span both biological and behavioral factors. Dr. Perminder Sachdev is a professor of neuropsychiatry at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Talking to Time.com for an article published on the subject in 2019, he highlighted that men are more likely to take “life-threatening risks” which could lead to them dying, in a fight for example, or a car accident resulting from driving too fast.

What kind of differences are we talking about? What about the impact of female hormones? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Could moon breathing help you sleep better?

What is the Green Belt?

What are the benefits of slow sex?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Does money really make us happy? Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, people in wealthier countries are happier on average, but only up to a point. Even in so-called "emerging" countries like Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey, there was a correlation between rising wealth levels and the percentage of happy people.

Interestingly though, in well-off nations, people don't necessarily attribute their happiness directly to money. The same Pew Research Center study found that health, children’s education, safety from crime, owning a home and having a fulfilling job were all more important than financial security. Of course, those factors are all somewhat connected to the economy.

Where did that saying come from to start with? And is money still a key player? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Could moon breathing help you sleep better?

What is the Green Belt?

What are the benefits of slow sex?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Which foods mustn't you put in the microwave? Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

The microwave first emerged in the 1950s and has since become a common fixture in kitchens worldwide. 2018 data from Statista showed that 93% of UK household now own a microwave, with that figure also being over 90% in the United States according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Love it or hate it; you can’t deny that it’s hard to beat the microwave for convenience when it comes to quickly reheating food. It operates using the principle of electromagnetic wave radiation, by agitating the water molecules in our food to generate heat.

What kinds of foods are you talking about? What about meat and fish? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Could moon breathing help you sleep better?

What is the Green Belt?

What are the benefits of slow sex?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Could moon breathing help you sleep better? Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

In this day and age, it’s common to feel stressed every day, even right through to the evening. Have you ever struggled to lower your stress levels when it comes to bedtime, and taken a long while to fall asleep as a result?

The worry of not getting enough sleep then just gets you even more frustrated; it’s a vicious circle. If you’re falling victim to anxiety and fatigue for that reason, it’s time to stop binge-watching Netflix and try moon breathing instead!

What’s that? How can I get started with moon breathing then? How does it actually affect the body? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is relationship anarchy?

What does a full moon do to our bodies?

Could assisted dying become legal in the UK?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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