Do you really know?

What is broken heart syndrome?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is captology? May 12, 2021

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What is captology? Thanks for asking!

Getting internet users’ attention and influencing their online behaviour is a massive priority for Big Tech companies in this day and age. Behind their practices is captology, a term invented in 1996 by American researcher BJ Fogg. It might make you think of the word “capture” at first, but it actually comes from the initials of “Computers As Persuasive Technologies”. The idea was to study the link between digital tool design and the resulting impact on individuals’ behaviour.

Captology has often been cited as a source of inspiration for Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. To such an extent that its definition has evolved to describe all kinds of techniques used by internet giants to grab users’ attention, and make them addicted.

Coronavirus lockdowns haven’t helped and the stats are there to back it up. A global study by analytics company App Annie found the average daily time spent using a smartphone in 2020 was 4 hours and 10 minutes.

That’s crazy! So what are the secrets behind captology then? Is captology dangerous then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are cookies?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is broken heart syndrome? May 10, 2021

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What is broken heart syndrome? Thanks for asking!

The idea of a broken heart may make you think of a cartoon, an emoji or a bad break-up from your past. But broken heart syndrome is a real physical condition, which is also known as Tako-tsubo.

Is the name Japanese because that’s where the first case was recorded? Is it like the heart having a burnout basically?! How can we recognise the symptoms?

Can broken heart syndrome affect anyone? How can we avoid becoming a victim of Takotsubo in the current situation? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is the Escazu Agreement?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What are cookies? May 08, 2021

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What are cookies? Thanks for asking!

Most of us probably associate them with annoying pop-ups, but HTTP cookies actually do a lot of good for our web browsing experience too. Cookies are small pieces of data which are stored on our computers as soon as we visit a website. There are many kinds, and they are usually totally inoffensive, but some can end up being rather intrusive, causing privacy concerns and leaving a bittersweet aftertaste!

Tell me more about where cookies come from... In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is the Escazu Agreement?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? May 06, 2021

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What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? Thanks for asking!

It’s just over 35 years since the worst nuclear disaster in history. On April 26th 1986, reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. Following the accident, an exclusion zone of around 1,000m2 was established by the Soviet army.

It covers the areas most affected by radioactive contamination, including the city Prypiat situated 2 miles away. Built in the 1970s to house workers from the nuclear plant, it was seen as a model Soviet metropolis, but became a ghost town when its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated.

Does the exclusion zone still exist today? So can humans go inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone nowadays? What about temporary visits? Will people be able to live in Chernobyl again one day? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is stalkerware?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the Escazu Agreement? May 05, 2021

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What is the Escazu Agreement? Thanks for asking!

Ratified on April 22nd 2021, the Escazu Agreement is a historic treaty set to affect one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. It’s Latin America’s first ever environmental treaty, and the first in the world specifically designed to protect defenders of the environment. It was first signed by 24 countries, then ratified by 12 national governments so far, with the notable exceptions of Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

Where does the name come from? What’s so historic about the Escazu Agreement then? What is expected with the arrival of the Escazu agreement? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is stalkerware?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the insider-outsider theory? May 03, 2021

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What is the insider-outsider theory? Thanks for asking!

The insider-outsider theory is a New Keynesian economic model which developed in the 1980s, explaining certain disparities in the job market. Insiders are those who already have a job in a company, most of the time a permanent contract and having undergone expensive training. Meanwhile, outsiders are those with unstable jobs or unemployed. The theory considers whether, in a period of wide unemployment, companies would be better off replacing their insiders with outsiders, who would be likely to accept a lower salary. On the other hand, the resources needed to replace insiders can quickly add up. Think of severance packages, hiring processes and training for example. These labour turnover costs often end up being more expensive than the money saved by paying a lower salary.So it’s not really in a company’s best interests to fire its insiders.

Does that mean the insiders are in a position of strength then? Is there any hope for the outsiders then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is chemsex?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is stalkerware? May 01, 2021

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What is stalkerware? Thanks for asking!

We’ve probably all jokingly referred to social media stalking when looking at an ex’s profile or checking out what a future colleague looks like. But online stalking can reach serious levels, particularly through the use of monitoring stalkerware. These apps are installed on smartphones, making use of functions like key logging, automated screenshots and GPS monitoring, while the owner is blissfully unaware that their privacy is being violated.

Who even does that - the CIA?! How common is stalkerware use then? What should I do if I suspect someone of installing stalkerware on my device? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is chemsex?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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Who is Alexei Navalny? Apr 29, 2021

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Who is Alexei Navalny? Thanks for asking!

In late March 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny began a hunger strike in his prison cell. A few weeks later he was transferred to a prison hospital, with his allies declaring he was “close to dying”.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Moscow, St Petersburg and over 40 other cities. Police arrested over 1700 people. At the same time, UN human rights experts called for Navalny to be evacuated from the country. They said his life was in “serious danger” due to harsh prison conditions and inadequate medical care.

What can you tell me about Navalny’s background? What’s happened to Navalny since the Novichok poisoning? Will international pressure have any impact? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is Helium-3?

What were the Troubles ?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is chemsex? Apr 28, 2021

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What is chemsex? Thanks for asking!

Chemsex is the practice of taking synthetic drugs or psychoactive products to spice up sexual activity. Participants are predominantly gay men, who claim these illegal drugs remove inhibitions, while also boosting performance and pleasure. Chemsex often involves unprotected and anonymous sex between multiple partners. Parties can last for several consecutive days!

Wow, that’s the first I’ve heard of this - is it a new trend? What kind of drugs are we talking about exactly? Are the drugs really that dangerous, if you know the people you’re with? How can someone beat a chemsex addiction? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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