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PODCAST

Do you really know?

You’ve heard about it, but do you really know it? In 3 minutes, we help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. After listening, you will really know for sure.

education

All Episodes

4:41

Is scratching a mole really dangerous?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/23

Moles can be flat, raised, discreet, or visible. They appear all over our skin and tend to increase in number over time. While these harmless little spots are generally not a cause for concern, they can sometimes be the source of skin cancer, so it’s important to keep an eye on them.A mole is a small, dark spot on the skin formed by a cluster of melanocytes. These are the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its colour and helps you tan when exposed to

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5:19

What is omotenashi, the Japanese art of hospitality?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/23

In some cultures, being well at home is all about making sure that others feel well when visiting, by welcoming them in the right way. In Japan, for example, hospitality is like an art form, and even has a name: omotenashi. You can’t really translate the concept into English; the meaning of the term goes a lot deeper than “hospitality”. It also has connotations of mindfulness. In Japanese culture, knowing how to welcome others and being totally focused on your guest go hand in hand. So you could

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5:15

What's the warm, fuzzy feeling we get when moved by...

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/23

Have you ever been deeply moved when experiencing or witnessing a moment of powerful human connection? It might be the unexpected urge to hug a stranger at a music concert, for example, or a touching moment at an important life event like a birth, wedding or funeral. Well without realising it you’ve been experiencing an inspirational feeling known as “kama muta”. It’s been described by the Guardian as “the powerful emotion you didn’t know you had”. Where does the name come from? If we all feel it,

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5:02

Is eating bread actually bad for you?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/22

Bread has been a staple of the human diet for over 10,000 years, when our ancestors made flatbread by baking a mixture of flour and water in the sun.To this day, the vast majority of us eat bread on a regular basis, and many of us eat it every day. But it’s been demonised to some extent in recent years, with many dieters saying it’s made up of “empty calories” and ditching it. What is the nutritional makeup of bread? Brown bread is supposed to be the healthiest, isn’t it? How often should I eat

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4:34

Why do we startle when we fall asleep?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/22

You're peacefully drifting off to sleep when suddenly you feel as if you're falling into a void and you startle awake. This rather unpleasant sensation is known as a ‘hypnic jerk’ and is a common occurrence. It is an involuntary muscle spasm, a bit like a hiccup, also known as ‘myoclonus’. Sometimes, this sensation is accompanied by the feeling or the dream that you are falling. These twitches are your body’s bedtime quirks, popping up in the twilight zone of sleep – that light stage between being

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4:46

What is the best way to soothe a crying baby?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/22

Getting babies to sleep is big business, and a major source of stress for parents. There are many theories and methods: rock them, sing, let them cry it out. But now science has come to the rescue and we can finally put this question to bed. Hopefully. According to a study published in September 2022 in Current Biology, “approximately 20%–30% of infants cry excessively and exhibit sleep difficulties for no apparent reason” which of course can be exhausting for most people but can become more

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4:18

Why are young people going back to flip phones?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/21

Flip phones or ‘dumb’ phones as they are sometimes called are making a comeback but you might be surprised to know that it's gen Z, in other words people born between 1997 and 2010 and not your grandparents who are buying them. Well unlike smartphones, the dumb phone can only make phone calls or send text messages and with only twelve buttons and no predictive text dumbphone users get straight to the point. People like them because of their vintage appeal, but above all it meets a need to

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4:35

Which cooking method is the healthiest?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/21

Cooking not only destroys bacteria and germs but also makes food more digestible, especially meat. It changes the taste, appearance, color, and most importantly, the nutritional quality of the food. While food can be roasted, blanched, grilled, browned, or boiled, some methods are healthier than others. What happens when we grill food? Is steaming really the healthiest way to cook? What about lesser-known methods like tagine or plancha? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to

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4:12

Is a white tongue unhealthy?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/21

A white coating on the tongue can occur when your health is compromised, like during a cold or fever. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol, and too much sugar, coffee, tea, or dairy can also contribute to this by disrupting the balance of your oral microbiota or affecting saliva production. In most cases, it’s an accumulation of bacteria and dead cells, a condition known as saburral tongue or white patches. This coating can often be removed by gently using a tongue scraper. However,

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4:23

How do you get better results with ChatGPT ?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/21

Artificial intelligence has become a cornerstone of modern life, and since ChatGPT's launch in November 2022, its popularity has skyrocketed. A 2024 YouGov survey revealed that 68% of 18-24-year-olds in the UK regularly use generative AI for tasks like research, saving time, and enhancing productivity and creativity. Many workplaces embrace AI, with nearly half of users saying their managers encourage its use. In today’s world, mastering AI is a significant career advantage. The key is crafting

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5:04

Could wanderlove give you more dating options?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/20

According to the most recent figures from the Association of British Travel Agents, the number of people going on holidays alone has soared over the last decade. In 2011, the proportion was just 6%, but in 2023 it had risen to 16%. The organisation’s media release said it showed people have a “strong appetite to go it alone”. And you could say the solo travel trend is part of the wider "self-love" movement, a personal development method named after the best-selling book of the same name written by

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5:46

Why do our tastes change with age?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/20

Have you ever avoided a type of food for a long time, assuming you hated it, only to try it out and then end up having something of a revelation? Think back to when you were a kid and there was a type of vegetable you simply wouldn’t go near, let alone eat. The chances are there’s at least one. It might have been broccoli, Brussels sprouts or spinach for example. Why does that happen then? What actually determines whether we like a food or don’t? Why does our perception of taste change over time

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5:19

Why are so many young people suffering from financial...

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/19

When we hear the term dysmorphia, most of us think about body image, the gap between what we see in the mirror and reality. We’ve talked about Snapchat dysmorphia and body dysmorphia on Do You Really Know in the past. But the concept actually goes beyond physical appearance. Just as our brains can distort how we see our reflection, they can also skew our perception of money. This phenomenon is called financial dysmorphia. What’s that? How are social media and money connected? How can we beat

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5:14

What's the best alarm to wake up to?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/19

Did you know that the alarm clock actually serves a greater purpose than simply rousing us from sleep? Whether it's the buzz of your smartphone, a breaking news update, or a soothing classical tune, your alarm sets the tone for the day ahead. And it can be quite the dilemma choosing between a jolting alarm which is guaranteed you wake you up or nature sounds that might end up lulling you back to sleep—or worse, not wake you up at all. Sydney Aten is an American neuroscientist who specialises in

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4:24

Why do we change our hairstyle when we’re depressed?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/19

Our hair says a lot about our personalities —it’s a core part of our identity. It reflects who we are and how we want the world to perceive us. As noted by British hair historian Caroline Cox in her book Good Hair Days, “A hairstyle is the ultimate form of self-expression. It tells the world who you are—or who you want to be.” This idea highlights the powerful role hair plays in shaping and communicating our individuality. Why do major life changes push us toward the salon? Is it purely

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5:16

Could you be micro-flirting without realising it?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/18

There are plenty of ways to get the attention of someone you're crushing on. It might come very naturally to some, but for others, flirting can be an intimidating proposition. Have you ever wondered if someone is flirting with you, because of their somewhat ambiguous approach? Well, they may have been micro-flirting, a technique that dating experts say is used by shy men in particular. And there are actually some pretty recognisable under-the-radar strategies that qualify as micro-flirting, which

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5:06

How can I beat my work addiction?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/18

Being a grafter or hustler is often portrayed in a positive light when it comes to the world of work. But there are a host of negative consequences that can arise when a person becomes a workaholic. The term was invented by American psychologist Wayne Oates back in 1971. Oates said workaholics had “an uncontrollable need to work incessantly”, and called it an addiction. It’s a real mental health condition, and like with other addictions, it manifests as the inability to stop doing something. So it

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5:33

What are the secrets of a successful LAT couple?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/18

The idea might seem inconceivable to some, but these days more and more people are choosing to be in LAT relationships. The LAT part of the term stands for Living Alone Together, which means that LAT couples are in a committed romantic relationship, but each person maintains their own private life and space. Back in 2011, a research team began a multi-method study looking into how prominent LAT couples were in the UK. They went on to publish their findings in a research briefing in 2013, showing

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4:34

What is the cocktail party effect?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/17

Imagine you're at a noisy party. People are everywhere: overlapping conversations, clinking glasses, a constant buzz of sound. And yet, in the middle of all that noise, you suddenly hear your name being called. Instantly, your attention shifts to that one voice. This ability to pick out a specific sound among many others shows how our ears, and especially our brains, can isolate meaningful information in a sea of noise. Scientists call this phenomenon the cocktail party effect. How was this

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5:18

What are the strangest reactions caused by an orgasm?

Do you really know? ·

2026/04/17

Having an orgasm triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including the tightening of muscles in the pelvic and genital regions, and the release of various hormones and neurotransmitters. It sets the heart racing, ramps up breathing, and sends blood rushing to the penis or clitoris, causing them to become erect. Of course reaching orgasm isn’t guaranteed. Before it happens, there's typically a sequence of desire, arousal, and plateau. An orgasm is marked by intense muscular contractions in

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3,689 results

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