Do you really know?

Latest Episodes:

What is the Santa shortage? Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

What is the Santa shortage?

The latest wave of Covid-19 is impacting 2021 Christmas celebrations in a big way. And that includes one of its most important traditions: that of Santa Claus. Santa is synonymous with the joy of Christmas, and we’re used to seeing him more or less everywhere around this time of year, from Christmas markets to supermarkets to TV adverts. But this time around, the labour shortage has stretched as far as the North Pole. That’s right, North America is faced with a Santa shortage!

What exactly does it have to do with Covid then? Is there a shortage in demand due to the pandemic? Are there any alternatives to get around the Santa shortage? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is Ugly Sweater Day?

What is apostasy?

What is Cheugy?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

What is Ugly Sweater Day? Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

What is Ugly Sweater Day?

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? 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 last episodes, you can click here:

What is apostasy?

What is Cheugy?

What is the Xbox?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

[2021 RETROSPECTIVE] What is a QR code? Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up 2021.

What is a QR code? Thanks for asking!

QR codes have likely never been used more than in the Covid age. They’ve become ubiquitous especially since the NHS started using them for its test and Trace app. These odd black-and-white grids may all look alike, but in fact every QR code is unique.

QR codes, or quick response codes to give them their full name, were first invented by Japanese engineer Masahiro Hara, working at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. They were used in factories to track vehicles while they were being assembled, and to scan components.

Of course QR codes really took off in the 21st century, and in particular with the rise of the smartphone.

What are QR codes used for? So how do QR codes actually work? Can we create a QR code? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What are the Paralympics?

What is sapiosexuality?

What is the Taliban offensive?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

What is apostasy? Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

What is apostasy?

Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate Christmas, with many non-believers also joining in on the festivities. But what happens when someone decides to give up or denounce their religion?

Well that’s known as apostasy and it comes from the ancient Greek word apostasia, meaning a defection or revolt. Of course it touches on the idea of freedom of thought.

But the term is most often used in a religious context, isn’t it? Is apostasy punishable by law? Isn’t freedom of religion a matter of individual choice? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is the Xbox?

What is the FIRE movement?

What is Tangping?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

[2021 RETROSPECTIVE] What is Stop Asian Hate? Dec 19, 2021

Show notes

What is Stop Asian Hate? Thanks for asking!

On March 16th, a series of shootings in Atlanta caused eight deaths. The murders took place at three different spas, and six of the deceased victims were Asian women.

The 21-year-old perpetrator claims to have been motivated by shame at his own sexual addiction, rather than specifically targeting the Asian community. But some believe the killings should be classed as hate crimes. The Stop Asian Hate hashtag has been trending on social media ever since.

On the day of the shootings, social media analytics platform Visitbrain recorded 4 million tweets using the hashtag. It was notably shared by the Black Lives Matter movement, who released an anti-white supremacy statement.

Is Stop Asian Hate a recent development? Do we have any statistics on the crimes being carried out? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Who is Ousmane Sonko?

What is Generation Covid?

What are HFCs?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

[2021 RETROSPECTIVE] What is the #QuitMyJob trend? Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

What is the #QuitMyJob trend? Thanks for asking!

This hashtag went viral on TikTok during the summer. On social media, thousands of web users used the hashtag QuitMyJob to hand in their resignation directly on the Internet. For starters, to give their notice in style. But more importantly, to call their employers out for unacceptable behaviour. American Shana Blackwell, is seen as having started the QuitMyJob trend. In autumn 2020, she made the following announcement over her Walmart store’s PA system.

Hold on, why would anyone want to do that? Can employees get in trouble for making allegations against their employers online? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is a Tiny House?

What is tokenism?

What is squirting?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

What is Cheugy? Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

What is Cheugy?

Some neologisms end up having an impressive online presence, spreading virally, but without many of us even being aware they exist. Cheugy is one such term!

It more or less means old-fashioned or passé, standing for anything which is no longer trendy. It’s a term which has highlighted an intergenerational culture war between the Millennials and Gen Z in 2021, the latter using it to mock their predecessors. The internet is of course a global village, but cheugy definitely has its roots in the USA.

How did the term first appear? So what kind of things actually are cheugy? What’s trendy is completely subjective, isn’t it?! In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is the Xbox?

What is the FIRE movement?

What is Tangping?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

[2021 RETROSPECTIVE] What is Pop-It? Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

What is Pop-It? Thanks for asking!

If 2017 was the year of the hand spinner in the toy world, 2021 is the year of the Pop-It! Even if the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the chances are you’ve seen one of these fidget toys in a picture or video on social media without realising. Manufacturers have had to ramp up production due to the recent surge in popularity.

The Pop-It is basically a silicone-based tray containing colourful half-sphere bubbles. You’d be forgiven for saying it looks pretty unremarkable at first. You can push the bubbles through one by one, which creates a satisfying popping sound. Once you’ve finished popping one side, you can simply flip it over and pop back the other way!

It sounds like a reusable version of bubble wrap! What’s the appeal of Pop-It then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What are sonic weapons?

What is the I.O.C.?

What is the global bike shortage?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

What is the Xbox? Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

What is the Xbox?

The end of 2021 marks 20 years since the launch of major video game console the Xbox. Back at the E3 trade event in 2001, Bill Gates unveiled Microsoft’s latest project: a big black box with a fluorescent X on top. It represented the company’s first foray into the gaming console market.

The “X” part of the name refers to Microsoft’s DirectX technology on which the console runs. It enables the software and hardware to work together, which basically means it helps apps to function.

How did the Xbox first come to prominence? What was that? How did Microsoft react to that setback? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is the FIRE movement?

What is Tangping?

What is West Side Story?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

[2021 RETROSPECTIVE] What is Signal? Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

What is Signal? Thanks for asking!

Maybe you’re among the millions of new users to have recently downloaded messaging app Signal. Just like Whatsapp or Messenger, Signal is a free-to-use messaging app which can be used on smartphone or desktop computers. Unlike its competitors though, Signal is independent and prides itself on being the most secure messaging app around.

The first version of the Signal app launched in 2015, created by American entrepreneur Moxie Marlinspike. But it was only at the start of 2021 that Signal really took off. And ironically, its new found success is largely down to competitor Whatsapp.

For years now many of us have been using Whatsapp to call friends across the globe, without racking up a massive phone bill. Its group functions allow friends, family and colleagues to share media.

So what does Signal have that Whatsapp doesn’t? In what way is it independent? Who does Signal belong to? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

What is compersion?

What is Inauguration Day?

What is Blue Monday?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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