Do you really know?

Latest Episodes:

Do we really need to eat more during winter? Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Whether it's a reflex, a craving, or a belief in its necessity, people often find themselves snacking more in winter, or opting for heartier meals than usual. And it's been backed up by scientific studies. For example, a 2006 Massachusetts study found that we eat an average of 86 more calories per day in winter.

And While it's true that colder temperatures make us burn more calories, the difference is actually quite minimal. When it's chilly outside, our metabolism works harder to keep our body at around 37°C, resulting in slightly higher energy expenditure. This process is known as thermoregulation but in reality, our warm clothing and indoor heating already play a significant role!

Are you saying we shouldn't really compensate by eating more? So, what kinds of foods should we focus on?In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

How often should I shower?

Could Britain ever rejoin the EU?

What 5 foods can improve brain performance?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why does our nose run when I'm sick? Jan 07, 2024

Show notes

Are you feeling the chills, a scratchy throat, and a non-stop runny nose? Winter brings the cold bug everywhere – in public transport, at work, and even at home. Coughs and sneezes all around!

Getting a stuffy nose is another annoying symptom that can keep us tossing and turning at night. But surprisingly, it's a crucial mechanism for keeping us healthy. To combat the situation, our body produces mucus.

When you say Mucus, do you mean snot? So, what should we do when our nose is running?In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

How often should I shower?

Could Britain ever rejoin the EU?

What 5 foods can improve brain performance?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What is social loafing, the latest harmful workplace trend? Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

The landscape of work has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, and in particular since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. From the surge in remote work to the emergence of "lazy girl jobs" and generative AI, a profound revolution is unfolding.

Yet, some aspects of the work environment seem resistant to change. Remember that person who contributed little to nothing in a group project at school, yet somehow managed to get the best grade? Frustrating as hell and puzzling for everyone else right? Well, that kind of behaviour is also sometimes seen in work colleagues, and it's recently been labelled as "Social Loafing."

How can I recognize Social Loafing in the workplace then? Is it just a matter of laziness, then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Could Britain ever rejoin the EU?

What 5 foods can improve brain performance?

What is pandemic skip?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

How often should I shower? Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Whether it's for the sake of comfort or maintaining good hygiene, many of us opt for taking a shower on a daily basis. Studies have shown it's the most popular shower frequency. Some swear by the virtues of a refreshing morning shower while others like theirs in the evening when winding down and getting ready for bed.

But in actual fact, our bodies are pretty adept at self-cleaning. For instance, dead skin cells shed completely naturally! If you're someone who showers more than once a day, you may be stripping away too much sebum, which is a crucial component of the skin's protective barrier.

Daily showers also stop us smelling bad, right? Is there a downside to washing too often? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Could Britain ever rejoin the EU?

What 5 foods can improve brain performance?

What is pandemic skip?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Could Britain ever rejoin the EU? Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

The Brexit deal, signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in December 2020, has had a profound impact on the UK's economy, society, and politics. But what if Britain changed its mind and wanted to go back to the EU?

According to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, any European country that respects the EU's values and is committed to promoting them can apply to become a member of the EU. This means that, in theory, Britain could rejoin the EU at any time, as long as it meets the criteria and follows the procedure set out by the EU.

Is it possible then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK?

How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions?

Why does the year begin on January 1st?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What is pandemic skip? Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still palpable, with repercussions stretching across various facets like the economy, education, and health. These sectors took a severe hit due to the virus and the ensuing lockdowns.

On a more personal level, our mental well-being has faced significant challenges. According to the World Health Organistion, the world saw a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide during the first year of the pandemic. Amidst this continued unease, a new sentiment has emerged, and it’s been labelled "pandemic skip".

What does it mean? Who’s most affected by this phenomenon? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK?

How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions?

Why does the year begin on January 1st?

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 best hangover foods? Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

If you wake up feeling rough after a night of heavy drinking, it's likely your liver couldn't handle all that alcohol, and your body couldn't flush it out completely. That's when you get stuck with classic hangover symptoms, like nausea, a pounding headache and perhaps even a bout of diarrhoea. Apart from chugging water to rehydrate, figuring out what to eat to get back on your feet can be a bit tricky.

When you're in this situation, there's often a hankering for fast food. A 2016 study from the University of Chicago's Department of Medicine suggested this craving is linked to sleep deprivation, which causes the brain to release endocannabinoids, compensating for the energy drop. That leads to a yearning for comfort food, often on the greasier or sweeter side. Interestingly, the sweeter the alcohol you consume, the more likely it is that your appetite will be revved up the next day.

Why does that happen? So what should else we eat then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK?

How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions?

Why does the year begin on January 1st?

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 pros and cons of homeownership in the UK? Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

Currently there are many people that just feel they cannot get onto the property ladder, but is buying your own home really the best way to invest your money? Well, there are many benefits to owning your home, such as the stability and peace of mind that it can bring you. You can’t be evicted by a landlord, you can decorate and furnish it as you want, and you can enjoy the social and psychological benefits of having a place to call your own.

Another benefit is you can save money. When interest rates are low, and if you have a big deposit, owning your home can be cheaper than renting. You can also control your monthly payments with a fixed mortgage. And of course you can make money. In a rising property market, you can benefit from the increase in property values. You can also use your home as an asset to borrow money, or rent it out if you live elsewhere for a while.

What are the cons then? And what are the advantages of renting? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is body neutrality?

What are the most popular and unusual baby names in the UK?

How can I return unwanted gifts?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why does the year begin on January 1st? Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

As we embrace resolutions and light up the skies with fireworks, it's time to mark the arrival of the New Year! All of us on the Do You Really Know team, hoping you soaked in the holiday vibes and send you our warm wishes for a splendid 2024. Today, planet Earth has set off on another full orbit around the sun, a journey which will span 365 days until we hit the reset button again next year. And that's why we now refer to January 1st as New Year's Day. But bear in mind, that wasn't always the case.

We can trace back our calendar roots to the Romans and their initial 355-day calendar. That’s right: 355, and not the 365 we're used to these days. That lunar-based system was credited to Numa Pompilius, the legendary second King of Rome, who succeeded Romulus. And it saw the New Year kick off in March, a nod to Mars, the Roman god of war.

When did January 1st appear then? What about elsewhere in the world? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is body neutrality?

What are the most popular and unusual baby names in the UK?

How can I return unwanted gifts?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Which Wikipedia pages were most visited in 2023? Dec 31, 2023

Show notes

It's been over two decades since Wikipedia flipped the script on how we gather information. Every year, millions of us turn to it to feed our curiosity or settle friendly debates. Now there might be doubts over how reliable it is, but Wikipedia can count on the over 250,000 volunteers who keep it a top-notch source by regularly updating its pages.

In 2023, the English-language version of Wikipedia racked up a whopping 84 billion page views. But of course, some pages stood out more than others.

Are you saying there’s a ranking? What about number one then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is body neutrality?

What are the most popular and unusual baby names in the UK?

How can I return unwanted gifts?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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