Do you really know?

Are my smart devices spying on me?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What is productivity paranoia? Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! Covid-19 restrictions changed work practices radically; a large proportion of the workforce have worked remotely for nearly three years now.

That’s the case even in post-pandemic working structures, with many sectors favouring a hybrid model rather than a full-time return to the office. We now have a generation of workers who often have never met their colleagues in person. But still the fear persists among a lot of managers that their teams aren’t as productive working from home.

What do employees think? So what’s the problem then? What can be done to fix productivity paranoia? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Are my smart devices spying on me? Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Smart devices can be very handy, but increasingly people are worried about exactly how smart they are, what they know and what they are doing with our data especially after a rogue Roomba ended up sharing embarrassing photos of one young woman on the toilet.

Smart devices are electronic devices or gadgets that have the ability to interact, connect and share information with other smart devices. It is often associated with the term the ‘internet of things’. The Internet of things refers to a network of devices that gather data and share information with each other through the internet. This includes things like smartphones, fitness trackers, smart tvs, smart speakers and much more.

What are smart devices? What are the advantages of smart devices? How can I protect my data from misuse? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are warming stripes?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

[RERUN] What is Black Lives Matter? Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

January 16th is Martin Luther King Day. In the United States, this is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. King was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The fight against racial discrimination is still essential today. Listen to our rerun episode about the Black Lives Matter movement!

The Black Lives Matter movement originated in the U.S., following another tragedy. In 2012, black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by security agent George Zimmermann. When Zimmermann was acquitted the following year, three female activists created the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on Twitter as a show of outrage at the verdict. It caught on, and gradually developed into a much wider movement, especially after the deaths of two more African-American men: Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Do black people really die more than others in the United States? Isn’t that just an attempt to dismiss the Black Lives Matter struggle? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are warming stripes?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What is synthetic fuel? Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! For a number of years now, we’ve been hearing that the future of transport is electric, in particular due to the impact of fossil fuels on global warming.

But there are a number of drawbacks, including cost, battery life, battery recycling, charging time which mean some people are reluctant to get on board. There are also fears that the switch to electric vehicles won’t be quick enough to meet environmental objectives. Some experts believe that the fastest way to reduce CO2 emissions from transport is to use fuels synthesised from organic materials that are carbon-neutral and can power existing vehicles.

How are synthetic fuels made? Why are they a good alternative to fossil fuels? Will it be available to the general public? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?

Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?

Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What is a frozen conflict? Jan 15, 2023

Show notes

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! It’s nearly 11 months since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, and the war has reached somewhat of a stalemate. Many observers expected a swift Russian victory, no doubt including Vladimir Putin himself, but Ukrainian resistance proved fierce.

Over the summer, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive and succeeded in taking back large parts of Russian-occupied territory. As we head into 2023, there’s a distinct possibility of the war becoming a drawn-out affair, even turning into a frozen conflict. That’s a situation where fighting has ceased, but there’s no clear resolution in the form of a peace treaty or political agreement. Hostilities could resume at any moment and the climate is unstable.

Why could the Russia - Ukraine war become a frozen conflict? Why would that be in Russia’s interests? Are there frozen conflicts in other parts of the world too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?

Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

What are warming stripes? Jan 14, 2023

Show notes

If you’ve been to a climate demonstration in recent times, you may have noticed placards with a series of blue and red coloured stripes. Kind of like a barcode but in colour, with the shades varying from very light to very dark. You may have even seen them at political or sporting events, in the media, or on the cover of Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book.

This set of graphics are known as warming stripes, and they’re not as random as they might first seem. Indeed, the coloured stripes have become a go-to symbol for many climate activists, given that they feature no letters and no numbers, meaning anyone anywhere in the world can understand their meaning. Warming stripes were invented by Ed Hawkins in 2018. The British climatologist is a respected figure, having contributed to several IPCC reports as an author.

What is the meaning? Why are they used on social media? How can such a simple graphic get across the complexity of climate change? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?

Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky? Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Today is Friday 13th, a day often seen as unlucky in Western superstition. Indeed, the tradition has become so ingrained that there’s even an associated phobia. It’s called, wait for it, paraskevidekatriaphobia!

Now, it might seem Friday 13th doesn’t come around very often, but most years actually have two and sometimes even three, depending on the calendar. 2022 was an anomaly with it occurring just once. This year sees two Friday 13ths, the first today in January and the second to come in October. Interestingly, in Italy Friday 17th is actually seen as a more unlucky day, while in Spain and Greece it’s Tuesday 13th.

Where does the superstition come from? There are a lot of references to Friday 13th in popular culture, aren’t there? Is it the same in every culture? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is menstrual leave?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid? Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

One of the many symptoms of Covid 19 was a loss of the sense of smell It is estimated that about two-thirds of patients experience loss of smell during acute COVID-19 and around half of these will subsequently develop parosmia.

Now researchers have been investigating what might cause this loss of smell and how to treat it. Loss of smell is known as anosmia. Parosmia is not a loss of smell but a smell disorder where odours are distorted and often smell unpleasant. This can affect food, toiletries or environmental smells. It can last weeks, months or even years and can be very upsetting.

What is parosmia? Why does this happen? How can it be cured? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?

What is menstrual leave?

A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

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

[RERUN] What is the glass ceiling? Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

When talking about diversity and inclusion, the glass ceiling refers to an invisible barrier stopping those in minorities from obtaining upper-level workforce opportunities.

The metaphor is most often used when talking about women. They may find their careers stagnating, unable to progress beyond a middle-management role, through no fault of their own. When it comes to senior positions, they are overlooked in favour of men, despite often having equal or better credentials.

Where does the expression come from? Where is the glass ceiling most noticeable? How has the situation evolved since the term “glass ceiling” was invented? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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