Do you really know?

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

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

In partnership with upday UK.

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What is menstrual leave? Jan 11, 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! Despite the fact that we’re in 2023, there’s still a certain squeamishness when it comes to discussions about menstruation, including in the workplace.

But that might be about to change in Europe, due to a measure that was recently approved by the lower house of Spain’s parliament... In mid-December 2022, Spanish MPs voted to adopt a new bill creating menstrual leave for women suffering from period pain. That’s right, 3-5 days off work per month paid by the state. And while it’s a first in Europe, such a measure has already existed for decades in other parts of the world.

Why do women need time off work during their periods? Which other countries in the world have a menstrual leave policy? Why is menstrual leave a controversial measure? 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

Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep? Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

A comfy mattress, be it firm or soft, and a good pillow are all essential for a good night’s sleep but increasingly people are also buying weighted blankets to help them relax. A weighted blanket is exactly what it sounds like, a blanket that is heavier than your usual duvet.

They are normally filled with either plastic pellets or glass beads and their extra weight is designed to provide a light pressure that has a therapeutic effect, like being held, which for some, leads to a sense of calm, reduced anxiety and better sleep. Sensory integration theory suggests that deep pressure can have a calming effect on the nervous system which can help with a host of anxiety issues, troubled sleep, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and can even help calm people with an autism spectrum disorder.

What is a weighted blanket and how does it work? What are the benefits of a weighted blanket? Are there any concerns about weighted blankets? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What should I eat before going to bed?

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

In partnership with upday UK.

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[RERUN] What is a Tiny House? Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

You may have spotted one in a park, at the edge of the woods, or in a parking lot in the middle of the countryside. Tiny houses on wheels or up on a trailer have been springing up like mushrooms for a number of years. The tiny-house trend is a social and architectural movement that demonstrates a desire to return to simplicity by downsizing living spaces.

The tiny-house revolution started in the United States in the 1970s. The idea gained momentum thanks to English-born architect Sarah Susanka, the originator of the “Not So Big” residential architecture philosophy. Further exponential growth of their popularity can be linked to a number of events, including hurricane Katrina that swept over the United States and prompted the need for fast mass housing construction.

Where does this idea come from? But what are the perks of going tiny? How do you move into a Tiny House? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What should I eat before going to bed?

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 internet of senses? Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

All week long we're looking at the 10 words that will be on everyone's lips in 2023. If, like us, you're a fan of Netflix series Black Mirror, you’ll remember that several episodes are set in a near future where technology allows humans to have fully immersive experiences. Where the sensations felt in the virtual world are identical to those in the real world.

Of course Black Mirror is sci-fi, but we may not be that far away from something similar being possible in the real world. Tech giants like Ericsson, Apple and Tesla are taking a keen interest in sensory technologies and filing for patent after patent in the area. According to Ericsson, new technologies will allow us to create an “internet of senses” by 2025. The Swedish telecoms company introduced the term “internet of senses” for the first time in 2019.

Are we talking about the five senses? Are there other internet of senses precursor projects? Won’t it be dangerous not being able to distinguish between the virtual and real worlds? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I save money when using electrical appliances?

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 goblin mode? Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

All week long we're looking at the 10 words that will be on everyone's lips in 2023. Every year, linguists at Oxford University choose a Word of the Year and in 2022, they allowed the public to vote on the winner for the first time.

The 340,000 English speakers who voted were given three choices: metaverse, the #IStandWith hashtag and, drumroll please, the eventual runaway winner…Goblin Mode. The term secured an impressive 93% of votes. It might seem anecdotal and light-hearted, but you’re going to hear it a lot more often in 2023 as it’s definitely an expression that speaks to the times. Basically, it means shamelessly living as one wants, or ‘slobbing out’ if you like.

What’s the official definition? Is it a brand new expression? So is going goblin mode a good thing then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I save money when using electrical appliances?

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

[RERUN] What is the Russian Oil Embargo? Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

A European Union embargo against maritime shipments of crude oil from Russia went into effect on the 5th of December 2022, along with a price cap agreed to by the Group of Seven leading industrialized economies and Australia. Listen to our rerun episode about the Russian Oil Embargo.

The EU unanimously took this decisive measure on the night of 30th May 2022, a little over 3 months since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Between now and the end of the year, the Union’s 27 member states will cut imports of Russian oil by 90%. Russia is one of the three biggest oil producers in the world, after Saudi Arabia and the United States. The embargo concerns not only crude oil, but also refined fuels like diesel. The agreement marks the sixth package of sanctions against Russia to come from Brussels, following previous measures.

Why take such a measure? Mais quid du tiers du pétrole restant ? What else is in the sanctions package? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I save money when using electrical appliances?

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 should I eat before going to bed? Jan 07, 2023

Show notes

No doubt you’ve realised that some types of food have a boosting effect, like eggs, oats and avocado for example. That’s because they contain tyrosine, an amino acid which is a precursor to dopamine, making them an ideal breakfast option. At the other end of the scale, some foods are better suited for preparing our bodies to go to sleep, by bringing on certain chemical reactions.

In terms of what not to do, it’s most important not to eat anything too rich, not to eat meals that are too large, and not to eat too close to bedtime. You should aim to e nd dinner at least two hours before going to bed. That’s to limit any potential nighttime discomfort from indigestion or heartburn. On top of that, our body temperature needs to drop when we go to sleep, but digestion does the exact opposite.

So what are the better options available to us then? Why is the role of amino acids so important? What about simply skipping dinner; does that work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I save money when using electrical appliances?

How can I save money when using electrical appliances?

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 far-right terrorism increased so much? Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

In early December 2022, German authorities carried out a sting operation on the neo-Nazi Reichsburger group that was plotting to overthrow the country’s government through a coup. It was one of Germany’s biggest ever counterterror operations, seeing 3000 police officers make 300 raids across 11 regions of the country, and led to a total of 25 arrests.

The so-called Citizens of the Reich are just one example of a dangerous threat that is becoming more and more widespread in the West: that of violent far-right terrorism. 2019 saw the Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand, which killed 51 people, and a school shooting targeting the majority Latino community of El Paso, Texas. The following year, Germany saw the Hanau shisha bar shootings, and the murder of migrant-friendly MP Walter Lubcke.

What are the aims of right-wing extremists? How has right-wing terrorism changed in recent years? Who tends to radicalise? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What can be done about snoring?

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with Upday UK

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How can I save money when using electrical appliances? Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

You might be surprised to learn that how we use our electric devices can make real changes to our energy consumption and our bills. So here are some simple tips to help you change your habits and save on your energy bills.

Let’s start with leaving appliances on standby. Many appliances use energy even when they are on standby. Chargers still draw power even if the device is not connected, media players, Phones with displays that show when not in active use, like cordless phones and smart home appliances like refrigerators, washer and dryers that have always-on displays and many more. This energy consumption is often referred to as standby but also other names like phantom load, shadow loads, idle current or even vampire power.

What's the easiest way to save money on electricity? What if I need to leave things on standby? How can I save money by changing the way I use appliances? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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