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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

5:21

Where does the old cat lady stereotype come from?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/22

Single women in your late 20s or early 30s, has anyone ever suggested that you absolutely must find a partner or you’ll end up being a “cat lady”? What an annoying, not to mention ignorant, stereotype, right? It might be tempting to explain all that to the person saying it, but do they really deserve your attention? Let’s talk about where the cat lady character actually comes from. Isn’t there a ‘crazy cat lady’ on The Simpsons? Why is it a cat rather than any other animal like a lizard for

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4:45

Why are more and more children suffering from virtual...

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/21

The World Health Organisation says that children between the ages of two and five should get no more than one hour of sedentary screen time per day, while children under two shouldn’t get any at all. But the general consensus is that many parents don’t enforce those guidelines, and many toddlers end up overexposed to digital devices as a result. Increasingly, early childhood professionals are reporting concerning and unusual behaviour in children who have been excessively exposed to screens

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5:31

How can I prepare my home for a blackout?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/21

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

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4:22

What is a pyramid scheme?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/21

You’ve probably seen ads online promising easy money—“Make up to £300 a day using just your phone! Join me and change your life” It sounds tempting but here's the catch, most of the time, these claims are a scam designed to pull you into a pyramid scheme, afterall if making money online were that easy, we’d all be doing it. Pyramid schemes often masquerade as legitimate Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) businesses. While MLMs are legal in the UK and the USA if they focus on actual product sales, pyramid

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5:00

Can we really multitask effectively?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/20

It's pretty common these days to have to tackle several things at once, like responding to an email while on a work call. Our constant pursuit of productivity leads us to mix various activities simultaneously, whether it's at work, home, or even at school for kids. This blending of at least two tasks at the same time is commonly known as multitasking. When you focus on something that you’re doing or creating, the frontal lobes of both halves of your brain communicate. But trying to pull off two

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5:13

Is swallowing chewing gum dangerous?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/20

According to Retaildata.co.uk, us Brits are the second biggest consumers of gum in the world. On average, Brits use between 120 and 130 sticks each every year! Now despite that, many people don’t really know what chewing gum is actually made up of. We know that the minty freshness helps with bad breath and that maybe there’s some connection to oral hygiene, but that’s about it. Oh and of course we’ve heard that terrible things can happen if you swallow chewing gum. You could get appendicitis, the

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4:45

Why are we having children later and later?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/20

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of births in the UK continues to fall. Experts are even talking about a “baby bust”, the opposite of the “baby boom”, to describe these statistics, which have reached the lowest level since records began in 1938. One explanation for this could be that people are having children later than previous generations, leaving them with a reduced fertility window. In 2020, the Office for National Statistics notes that the average age at which women

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4:19

Where does our phobia of clowns come from?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/19

Clowns are supposed to make you laugh, but often can make you shudder. What is supposed to be a figure of fun is for many the stuff of nightmares. Coulrophobia —the irrational fear of clowns that’s surprisingly common. This has been reinforced by popular culture, and many horror film-makers know that a scary clown is the perfect recipe for thrills, resulting in them becoming an icon of terror.A study published in Frontiers in Psychology in February 2023 surveyed 900 individuals, revealing that 53%

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4:46

Why does the Catholic Church have a Moon Bishop?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/19

The Diocese of Orlando, the capital city of the state of Florida, covers a large part of the state. It represents more than 400,000 Catholic residents, and believe it or not, the Moon too! According to the Code of Canon Law drafted in 1917, any newly discovered territory falls under the jurisdiction of the bishop from where the discovery expedition originated. What is the Code of Canon Law ? Who was the first Bishop of the Moon then? Is there currently an active Bishop of the Moon? In under 3

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5:12

Is oversleeping bad for you?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/19

You’re no doubt familiar with what it feels like to be extremely tired after a long sleep. It’s a little like a hangover really: sluggishness, irritability, perhaps a slight headache too. And there’s actually a term for these sensations: sleep drunkenness. According to the Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. But optimal sleep duration is unique for each of us. It can vary due to factors like genetics, age and lifestyle habits. Does oversleeping have

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5:21

Could sofa theory help you find your ideal partner?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/18

Picture the scene: a woman is sitting in a bar, when a man comes up to try to talk to her. She finds him attractive, but acts disinterested and more or less ignores him, in order to not seem desperate. The man gives up and leaves the woman alone, but she then feels dissatisfied that he hasn’t persisted. It might seem like a counterintuitive approach, but according to American psychotherapist Ellnor Greenberg, it’s all too common. Writing for Psychology Today in February 2023, she explained that her

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5:01

What is confirmation bias and how does it affect our...

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/18

Have you ever found yourself in a debate with someone and realised as it goes on, that the person you’re talking to simply isn’t going to change their mind. That might be the case even if they’re expressing a controversial point of view, or saying something that goes against scientific evidence. It’s often because they’re so convinced their perspective is right that they can’t see any nuances in the discussion. Even when you present a solid argument that challenges their views, they only focus on

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5:04

What is mirror work?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/18

What is mirror work ? It’s not easy to learn to love yourself and have good self-esteem. But here’s the good news: it is possible to work at it. That’s the main premise behind positive psychology and personal development at least. One particular new thought method from the United States has gained a significant following; it’s known as mirror work. Who invented mirror work then ? And what does the method consist of? But how can saying things to a mirror improve my self-confidence ? ⁠ In under 3

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4:19

What are some tips for reducing the glycemic index of...

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/17

Starchy foods should actually be part of every meal. They come in three groups: cereal-based foods like bread, rice and pasta; pulses and legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas; and of course, potatoes. However, some members of this food group have a notoriously high glycemic index. What is a glycemic index? So does this mean we should avoid starchy foods? Is cooling the only way to lower the GI of starchy foods?In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes,

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5:26

What are the health benefits of using sex toys?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/17

We've long known that masturbation can help relieve stress and even alleviate menstrual pain in women, thanks to the release of hormones like endorphins acting as a natural painkiller. It’s also well established that sexual activity is beneficial for the cardiovascular system, as it increases our heart rate and may even contribute to lower blood pressure. But as it turns out, using sex toys can also have some surprisingly positive effects on our health. And of course toys like butt plugs, dildos

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5:06

Which clothes help us sleep best?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/17

Slipping into sleepwear is an essential part of most people’s nighttime routine. We often do it when we’re winding down from a busy day, and it means it’s time to relax and get ready for sleep. Whether you sleep in pyjamas, a nightgown, a t-shirt, or nothing at all, the goal is to avoid being too hot or too cold. You need to feel comfortable in loose-fitting clothes that don't constrict your body. That’s because sleepwear that is too tight can restrict blood circulation and cause numbness or

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4:55

What are parasocial relationships, the one-sided...

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/16

This kind of one-way relationship is generally between a fan and a public figure or fictional character. It’s about the feeling of familiarity or even friendship we feel for a celeb without ever actually having had any direct interaction with them. Most of the time of course, said celeb doesn’t even know we exist. After all, depending on their stature, they may have millions of fans, but there’s only one of them! It’s a very modern-day phenomenon, isn’t it? Are parasocial relationships

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5:13

Could SMART goals help you reduce stress?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/16

All personal development coaches emphasise the importance of setting goals, even ones that may seem out of reach at first. Doing so not only boosts motivation but also enables gradual achievement. Nowadays a lot of people find this kind of approach almost second nature, but others struggle with it. A fear of failure, workplace anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence can make ambition seem unattainable. What does the S.M.A.R.T. acronym stand for then? But is goal-setting actually an effective

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5:47

Could intentional lazy parenting foster your child's...

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/16

You have to navigate an almost endless list of uncertainties when raising a child, and it’s hard to figure out the best approach to parenting. At one end of the spectrum, you’ve got so-called helicopter parents, who micromanage every aspect of their children’s lives, and at the other end parents who are so hands-off that some label them as lazy. Maybe sometimes they are lazy. But in other cases, letting kids learn from their mistakes is an intentional choice rather than pure laziness. You might

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6:00

Which of Asimov's predictions have come true?

Do you really know? ·

2025/10/15

Speculative science fiction really is a genre of its own. Some people love it, others find it pointless, but you can’t deny the mental gymnastics involved in imagining the future of our societies, especially when some of those predictions turn out to be right. In that field, there are a few writers who stand out above the rest: George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and, perhaps most famously, Isaac Asimov. Who exactly was Isaac Asimov? Did he predict a future full of robots then? What about space?To

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3,282 results

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