Do you really know?

Latest Episodes:

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Mistletoe is a small evergreen parasitic plant that grows in clusters on trees. It has white berries and it has been used for centuries as a symbol of love, fertility, and peace. The Greeks used mistletoe as a cure for all sorts of ailments while the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted it could be used as a balm against epilepsy, ulcers and poisons.

The Druids came to view it as a sacred symbol of vivacity, and they gave it to humans and animals alike in the hope of restoring fertility. However, one of the most popular legends about mistletoe and probably the reason we associated this plant with kissing dates back to Norse mythology.

But how did it become associated with kissing? How did kissing under the mistletoe become popular? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

At which time of day do we burn the most calories?

Why does the cold make us need to pee?

How can I meditate without meditating?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Where did the story of the Grinch come from? Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

During the festive season, what beats snuggling up under a blanket with a classic Christmas movie? If you're a '90s kid, you'll likely recall a certain massive hit from the year 2000. That's right, we're talking about The Grinch, starring Jim Carrey.

It sees Carrey play a recluse with a sour attitude who decides to spoil Christmas for the folks in Whoville, a small town nestled in a snowflake. And in English-speaking countries, the Grinch is a familiar character; someone might well be dubbed a "Grinch" if they show a miserly attitude towards Christmas.

Who's the genius behind the Grinch? How did Seuss come up with the Grinch character? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

At which time of day do we burn the most calories?

Why does the cold make us need to pee?

How can I meditate without meditating?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why do the Japanese eat KFC at Christmas? Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

On the evening of December 24th, as many households in the UK prepare for festive gatherings with traditional roast turkey and yule log, an intriguing Christmas tradition unfolds in Japan. In the land of the rising sun, people aren't bustling around their kitchens; instead, they're braving the winter cold to queue up for a unique holiday feast at KFC.

Many Japanese then return home with a special Christmas bucket in red, white, and green colors, containing fried chicken, coleslaw salad, a Japanese strawberry shortcake to share, and sometimes even champagne. Yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken has become a Christmas essential for millions of Japanese families.

And when did this tradition start? Where does KFC come in then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

At which time of day do we burn the most calories?

Why does the cold make us need to pee?

How can I meditate without meditating?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why do we associate red and green with Christmas? Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, gift-giving and of course decorating. For the most part people tend to stick to ‘Christmassy colours’ especially red and green but these ‘traditional’ Christmas colours have a long history and symbolism.

Arielle Eckstut, author of The Secret Language of Color found that holly, with its green leaves and red berries has long played a role in winter solstice celebrations that predate Christmas. People revered holly plants for being evergreen and surviving the winter and used them as symbols of protection and prosperity in their midwinter celebrations.

“It’s like a lot of things that have to do with culture and colour, where it’s some combination of a natural phenomenon mixed with other cultural forces,” she says.

What cultural events have made red and green Christmassy? Do red and green have any religious significance? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

At which time of day do we burn the most calories?

Why does the cold make us need to pee?

How can I meditate without meditating?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Christmas is coming, discover new episodes! Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Christmas is coming and at Do You Really Know, we just can't wait! Now everybody knows that means pressies under the tree, precious family moments and a hearty Christmas dinner. It all calls for a lot of preparation, but the joy of the season makes it worth it, doesn't it! Still, the holiday season can cause some people to get the blues, so let's not forget them. This week, the team are discussing some of the main Christmas traditions and trends out there; and giving you advice on how to get the most out of this special time of year!

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

At which time of day do we burn the most calories? Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

To stay in shape, it's crucial that you watch what you eat and steer clear of snacks. What's less commonly known, though, is that there are specific times when the body burns more calories.

Researchers at Harvard University were astonished when they stumbled upon this revelation. In a 2018 study published in Current Biology, they found that, "The number of calories people burn at rest varies depending on the time of day." Even at rest, "People burn 10% more calories in the late afternoon and early evening compared to the early morning."

Impressive! How did they figure that out? That sounds like a challenging regimen!

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

What is the influence of the God complex in the workplace?

Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK?

Why are some kinds of fruit not considered vegan?

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 the cold make us need to pee? Dec 17, 2023

Show notes

We've all experienced it: the sudden urge to pee when it's cold is a common thing. This connection was supposedly discovered by Austrian physician Alfred Adler back in 1918. His experiment involved injecting cold water into a bladder to see how the body reacts. You might think it caused the kidneys to contract, but that's not the case...

What did Adler discover then? Are there other factors explaining the link between the bladder and cold? What can you do if you struggle to hold it in?

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

What is the influence of the God complex in the workplace?

Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK?

Why are some kinds of fruit not considered vegan?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why do we cry? Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

Humans are the only creatures on Earth that shed tears. Whether it's tears of joy, laughter, anger, pain, sadness, or fatigue, the emotions that bring about crying are diverse. You might be familiar with these emotional triggers, but have you ever wondered about the physiological explanations behind them?

Let's start by categorising tears into three types. There are "basal" tears that maintain a continuous lubrication of the cornea, "reflex" tears that emerge when you're chopping onions, have dust in your eye, or encounter too much light, and then there are the emotional tears – and they’re the ones we're delving into today.

What happens in our eyes when we're sad? What about tears of joy then? But why does witnessing someone else cry make us want to do the same?

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

What is the influence of the God complex in the workplace?

Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK?

Why are some kinds of fruit not considered vegan?

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 the influence of the God complex in the workplace? Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

We've all had that moment of slipping on our headphones heading to school or work and feeling like an unstoppable force. But while most of us leave that unwavering confidence at the front door, for some, it's a whole different story. Their analyses are top-notch, decisions flawless, and social networks unbeatable. This phenomenon has a name – it's called the "god complex."

Where does this god complex come from then? What's behind the causes of the god complex? How can one break free from the god complex?

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

What were the Most Shocking Moments of the Turner Prize?

What's really in vegan meat substitutes?

Which are the dirtiest parts of our bodies?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK? Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Panto, short for pantomime, has become a staple of British Christmas celebrations but surprisingly its origins are neither British or Christmassy. It has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated in December and involved dressing up as the opposite gender, swapping roles, and having a lot of fun.

The word ‘pantomime’ comes from the Latin ‘pantomimus’, which means ‘actor who plays every role’. The Romans also had a tradition of performing plays called mummia, which were based on stories from Egypt.

How did panto come to Britain? What are some of the earliest examples of panto in Britain? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What were the Most Shocking Moments of the Turner Prize?

What's really in vegan meat substitutes?

Which are the dirtiest parts of our bodies?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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