Do you really know?

Latest Episodes:

How can I prepare my home for a blackout? Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

National Grid has warned of potential blackouts in the UK this winter, due to gas shortages. If it does happen, it would be the first time the country has seen controlled blackouts since the 1970s. The government has its Electricity Supply Emergency Code in place in case we end up in such a situation.

The government plan sees rolling blackouts, with areas split into 18 different load blocks, each assigned a letter from A to U. At level one, each load block has three three-hour blackout periods per week, at level two, six and at level three, nine, meaning up to 27 hours per week without power. The National Grid warning suggested this could happen in January and February 2023. Let’s be clear; as of yet it’s not a foregone conclusion that we’ll get to that stage; but it pays to be prepared. Let’s go over some top tips to make sure you’re ready.

Should I stock up on candles? What about food storage? What can I do to stay entertained? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?

How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?

Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?

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 Christmas decorations make me feel happier? Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

Now if you’re anything like us, you get your Christmas tree, baubles and tinsel out before November has even ended! And as it turns out, psychologists say there could be mental health benefits to having Christmas decorations up in the house. So there’s no shame in wanting to get festive as early as possible.

Improving your mood to start with. This is often linked to feelings of nostalgia. We think back to our childhood, when things were simpler. In our stressful adult lives, we have few opportunities to really feel irresponsible. Reliving the magic of Christmas by putting up colourful decorations is one way to take the pressure off, as it’s a time of innocence and joy. Bear in mind, this might not apply to people who have negative memories of the holiday season from the past. In that case, you might not feel like getting in the Christmas spirit at all.

What kind of benefits are we talking about? What do Christmas decorations do to our brains? Do Christmas decorations affect our social lives? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

How to save money on your heating bill this winter?

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?

What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?

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

How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science? Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

Here we are, it’s one week until Christmas Day, meaning it’s your last chance to buy gifts for loved ones. There’s always a certain amount of pressure on givers to get their choice right, which can lead to stress.

Gifts at Christmas are pretty much expected, so you have to do a little better than with a spontaneous gift at any other time of the year. Fear not, science is here to help you hit the nail on the head! In 2016, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University in the US looked at all existing studies on gift-giving and receiving to create a review. Their findings were published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science journal.

What makes a gift “good” then? Should I avoid surprise gifts then? What about experience-driven gifts? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

How to save money on your heating bill this winter?

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?

What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?

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 is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime? Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

On the night of 24th November 2022, a locked down building caught fire in Urumqi in the majority-Uyghur Xinjiang region of China. Firefighters were held back by the sealed entrance to the building, in place due to the latest strict Covid-19 lockdown measures. 10 people ended up dying in the fire.

The following day, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across China. Grievances against the Zero Covid policy had turned into grievances against Xi Jinping’s authoritarian regime. CNN has called it an “unprecedented uprising”. This kind of protest movement hadn't been seen since Tiananmen Square, where a student revolt was brutally put down on the night of 3rd June 1989. Tanks were deployed, killing over 2000 protesters .

Are we saying this kind of protest movement has never happened before? What form are the latest protests taking? Could this really cause the Chinese regime to wobble? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

How to save money on your heating bill this winter?

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?

What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?

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

How to save money on your heating bill this winter? Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

As the cold weather closes in, it's time to put on the heating but there are plenty of ways to efficiently heat your home and save money. 46 percent of people believe it is better to leave the heating on low at all times however, according to experts from the Energy saving Trust it is better to only put the heating on when you need it.

The reason is that your home is constantly losing heat and if you have the heating on all day you are making greater losses, heat the house when you need it and you will only lose a minimal amount of heat. First, get to the heart of the issue - the boiler. If you have an older boiler, particularly over ten years, it is probably less efficient and may cost more. Make sure you get it serviced, and if needed consider changing it.

Is it better to leave the heating on low all day or only heat when I need it? How can I reduce heat loss? How else can I keep heat from escaping? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?

What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?

Can standing on one leg save your life?

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 Ugly Sweater Day? Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

It could be a Christmas tree, a skier in a bobble hat, a team of reindeer, a snowman or Mr Santa Claus himself. OK no need to guess, we’re talking about motifs that you could find on an ugly Christmas sweater. It’s truly become a popular gift option and wardrobe staple of the holiday season in recent years.

The concept originated with commercial impetus in the 1950s in the United States, before gaining further exposure in TV series. It thus entered pop culture as a way to celebrate self-conscious kitsch. From then on, the ugly sweater became a fashion phenomenon and evolved into a global industry. Brands, department stores and distribution chains, couldn’t help but fall for it, turning the knitted ugliness into a serious and highly lucrative business!

But how did the Christmas sweater get so popular? Let me guess, there’s a dedicated hashtag isn’t there? But how did we go from Christmas sweater to ugly Christmas sweater? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?

What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?

Can standing on one leg save your life?

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

Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US? Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Prior to February 2022, the scenario of a women’s basketball star being traded for an arms dealer might have seemed inconceivable. But that’s exactly what happened last week, when Russia and the United States exchanged prisoners at Abu Dhabi airport.

Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner was arrested a week prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beginning, for allegedly possessing cannabis oil in her luggage upon arrival in Russia. She ended up being sentenced to nine years in prison, but her nightmare was finally brought to an end through the prisoner exchange. The cost for the United States was releasing the world’s biggest living arms dealer, Viktor Anatolievitch Bout, also known as the Merchant of Death. He had been imprisoned for 11 years in the United States.

What is Bout’s background? Who did Viktor Bout sell arms to? Why was he imprisoned in the United States? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Can standing on one leg save your life?

Why is physical contact important for our health?

What's the ideal temperature to stay healthy at home?

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 friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter? Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Last weekend brought snowfall across much of the United Kingdom, offering a clear sign that winter is here. Now with temperatures this low, the instinct for many of us may be to cuddle up in bed under a blanket. But the subject of today’s episode is all about getting outdoors whatever the weather.

Friluftsliv is a Norwegian term that more or less translates as “open-air living”. You could call it the outdoor equivalent of Denmark’s hygge, which is all about finding comfort indoors. Indeed, Norway has strong outdoor traditions all year round, even when days are short during the winter. Friluftsliv is so ingrained in Norwegian culture that universities offer bachelor’s degree courses in it, and it’s protected by law through the Outdoors Recreation Act.

Where does it come from? What about us city dwellers? How can we embrace friluftsliv in our local area? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Can standing on one leg save your life?

Why is physical contact important for our health?

What's the ideal temperature to stay healthy at home?

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 standing on one leg save your life? Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Surprising as it may seem, balance is more important than you might think. In September of 2022 the British Journal of Sports Medicine published the results of a ten year study which involved more than 1,700 middle-aged participants. They concluded that not being able to balance was associated with an almost twofold increase in risk of death.

Volunteers were asked to stand on one leg with their arms by their sides and keep their eyes looking straight ahead. They discovered that an inability to hold the position for 10 seconds was associated with an 84% heightened risk of death from any cause. Participants were allowed to try 3 times. Balance is quite difficult to explain. It involves several different systems in your body: muscles, nerves, eyesight, the inner ear and even the sensory system that lets you recognise where your body is in space.

What is balance? How did they test participants for balance? Why does losing your balance matter? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Why is physical contact important for our health?

What's the ideal temperature to stay healthy at home?

Why are Nobel Prizes so important?

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 Tiananmen Square Massacre? Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

32 years ago today, Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing, saw unprecedented student protests. As night fell on June 3rd 1989, the Chinese military entered the square with a number of tanks and opened fire on the unarmed crowd.

The number of deaths is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000, in what became known internationally as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Thus ended seven weeks worth of pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests. One particular image is shared every time the month of June comes around. It’s that of a lone man blocking the path of the Chinese army tanks. It really highlights the imbalance of force between the military and the peaceful student protesters.

How did we get to such a drastic situation? Are you saying the massacre put a stop to a series of social movements? Why is this period of Chinese history so poorly known? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Why is physical contact important for our health?

What's the ideal temperature to stay healthy at home?

Why are Nobel Prizes so important?

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