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PODCAST

What"s Up Docs?

In this BBC Radio 4 podcast, Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.Although they are identical twins, Chris and Xand are very different and they never stop thinking and arguing about science and health. They want to lead healthy, happy lives and as doctors, they want this for everyone. Yet they tussle over how best to get there.When it comes to looking after our own health, it can be confusing. Medicine and science produce amazing new treatments

health & fitness nature

All Episodes

18:47

Doctors’ Notes: Kidneys

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/19

Urine for a treat in this week’s Doctors’ Notes, as Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their fascinating conversation with Dr Kate Bramham, Consultant Nephrologist at King’s College Hospital and Reader at King's College London.In this bonus episode, the Docs delve into the issue of chronic kidney disease and why some communities are disproportionately affected by it. They also explore the effectiveness of kidney transplants and hear how kidney function differs between men and women.If you’d

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28:55

How to look after your kidneys

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/19

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken tackle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.Chris and Xand have always found the kidneys somewhat mysterious and elusive, going all the way back to medical school. Now they want to understand what makes this pair of organs so complex, and why they are so much more than simple filters. How do the kidneys work? What can happen when they go wrong? And how can we keep them

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17:50

Doctors’ Notes: Nails

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/12

Chris and Xand continue their discussion with Dr Yusur Al-Nuaimi, Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Clinical Lead for the British Hair and Nail Society. They dive deeper into the science of nails and the vital clues they can provide about a plethora of serious health conditions. Plus, Yusur tells Chris and Xand about what first piqued her interest in dermatology, and the research she has carried out in this field.If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any

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28:59

What do your nails say about your health?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/12

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken tackle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.This week, Chris and Xand are exploring the topic of nail health. As well as being useful tools on our hands and feet, nails can also be important signs of many diseases and disorders. But what exactly is a nail made of? How did nails evolve? And what should we be doing to keep them strong and healthy?They speak to Dr Yusur

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17:57

Doctors' Notes: Laughter

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/05

Chris and Xand continue their conversation with Professor Sophie Scott CBE, a leading expert in the neuroscience of laughter from University College London. They explore what sets real laughter apart from fake, how children pick up the habit of laughing, and whether faking a laugh can make you feel better. Plus, they ask Sophie how she first became interested in laughter research.If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at

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28:38

Will laughter help you live longer?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/08/05

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken cut through the confusion around health and wellbeing. In this episode, the Doctors turn their attention to laughter. You’ve probably heard the phrase 'laughter is the best medicine', but have you ever wondered if there’s actually any science behind that? Can a good belly laugh really help with stress, pain, or even your immune system? How does it help to improve our relationships? And why do we

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15:42

Doctors' Notes: Saying 'No'

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/29

In this episode, Chris and Xand continue to explore the power of saying 'no', this time focussing on defiance in parenting in childhood. They’re joined by behavioural scientist and physician Dr Sunita Sah from Cornell Univeristy.If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van TullekenGuest: Dr Sunita Sah Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producers: Rami Tzabar and Jo Rowntree Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant

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28:59

Should you say 'no' more often?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/29

Why is it so hard to say no? Whether it’s at work, with family, or in everyday social situations, many of us find ourselves saying yes when we really want to say no, then paying the price later in stress, burnout, or resentment. In this programme, the doctors explore the psychology behind our reluctance to turn things down, and how we can become more comfortable protecting our boundaries. They’re joined by behavioural scientist and physician Dr Sunita Sah from Cornell University , whose research

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27:06

Doctors' Notes: Caffeine

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/22

Chris and Xand take an extra caffeine shot as they continue their conversation with Professor Andy Smith, an Occupational and Health Psychologist at Cardiff University. Can caffeine really boost sports performance and if so, by how much? Why is caffeine so dangerous when mixed with alcohol? And what were the 'caffeine wars'?If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.Presenters: Drs Chris

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28:29

Can caffeine boost your performance?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/22

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken untangle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.This week, Chris thinks he has seen a hack to optimise his caffeine intake, but will it stack up? To find out if there is any evidence behind Chris’ theory, the Docs have a stimulating conversation with Andy Smith, Professor of Occupational and Health Psychology at Cardiff University, who has been studying the effects of caffeine

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17:07

Doctors' Notes: Tanning

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/15

Chris and Xand continue their conversation about tanning with Dr Rachel Abbott, Consultant Dermatologist at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. They discuss the role of skin tone in tanning and also why it is that some people burn more than others. They also discuss the cultural perception of tanning and what it means for our health and habits.If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000

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29:11

Is it ever safe to tan?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/15

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken clear up the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.In this episode, the Doctors turn their attention to tanning. As sun-lovers themselves, Chris and Xand know there’s a lot of confusion surrounding how to tan safely - if that’s even possible.In today’s episode they’re weighing up the pros and cons of being in direct sunshine. Can you ever tan safely? What happens when we burn

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22:36

Doctors' Notes: Core Strength

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/08

Chris and Xand return with a bonus episode, continuing their discussion with physiotherapist James Moore about which exercises to do for our core, how often to do them, and why core strength is crucial for the rest of our bodies.If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van TullekenGuest: James Moore Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami

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29:06

How To Build Your Core Strength

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/08

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore core issues around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.In today’s episode, the Doctors explore core strength. When most people think of a “strong core”, they picture sculpted six-pack abs - but there’s much more beneath the surface. Chris and Xand will unpack the real meaning of core strength - what it is, why it matters, and how it's different from simply having visible abs. They speak

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23:15

Doctors’ Notes: Hair Loss

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/01

Hair we go again! Chris and Xand are back with a bonus episode, as they continue their conversation with Dr Christos Tziotzios, Consultant Dermatologist and Senior Lecturer at Kings College London. They learn about a particular type of hair loss which predominantly affects women, investigate the hair growth cycle, and discuss the psychological impact of losing your hair. Plus, what connects the Black Death hundreds of years ago with modern-day hair loss?If you’d like to share your thoughts on this

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28:31

Why does our hair fall out?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/07/01

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken untangle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.In today’s episode, the Doctors explore hair loss. Chris and Xand, who've both battled the receding tide of hair loss (and the accompanying existential dread), are getting to the follicle of the matter.They'll be digging into what causes it, how different types of hair loss affect men and women, and asking if there’s anything we

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28:38

Will smiling make you happier?

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/06/24

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore every aspect of our health and wellbeing. In this special episode, recorded before a live audience at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales, Chris and Xand discuss the anatomy of the smile, its evolutionary origins and some of the health claims about smiling. Is smiling uniquely human? Can the simple act of moving our muscles to form a smile make you feel happier? And is smiling the same across

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55:30

Doctors’ Notes: Smiling Special at Hay Festival

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/06/24

In this ‘uncut’ special episode, recorded before an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, Chris and Xand discuss the anatomy of the smile, explore its evolutionary origins and examine some of the health claims about the power of the smile.Can a smile really give your brain the same reward as two thousand bars of chocolate? Will putting a pencil in your mouth make you feel happy? And how do you fake the perfect smile when realising you’ve failed to win a BAFTA for the eighth time?! Expect some

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29:06

How to Avoid Boredom

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/06/17

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore every aspect of our health and wellbeing. In this episode, they want to find out whether we can conquer boredom. Why do we experience boredom? Do we experience it less than we used to? And how can we motivate ourselves to complete tasks we find boring? They speak to Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg, experimental social psychologist at the University of Essex, to find out.Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand

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24:32

Doctors' Notes: Boredom

What"s Up Docs? ·

2025/06/17

Chris and Xand continue their conversation about boredom with Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg. They discuss what happens in our brains when we feel bored, whether some people are more prone to boredom than others, and why boredom isn’t always a bad thing.Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van TullekenGuest: Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Grace Revill Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon

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