If you’ve got 6 minutes to learn English, listen to 6 Minute English! Improve your listening skills with extracts from BBC radio programmes on many different subjects. We help you to understand, and we also teach you key vocabulary.
If you want something easier, try Real Easy Englishto hear real conversations in easy English to help you improve your spoken English.
The power of poetry
Episode 260604 / 04 Jun 2026
Do you ever read or write poetry?
Living with debt
Episode 260528 / 28 May 2026
Are you good at saving money?
Making cities feel quieter
Episode 260521 / 21 May 2026
How loud is it where you live?
How reading shapes your brain
Episode 260514 / 14 May 2026
Can learning to read alter the way your brain works?
Searching for life on another planet
Episode 260507 / 07 May 2026
Does life on another planet exist?
Should we eat ultra-processed food?
Episode 260430 / 30 Apr 2026
Ultra-processed food can be tasty, but what is it doing to our health?
Why are we all so stressed?
Episode 260423 / 23 Apr 2026
How well do you cope with stress?
Love the foods you hate
Episode 260416 / 16 Apr 2026
Can you learn to love the foods you hate?
The future of food
Episode 260409 / 09 Apr 2026
Do you know where your food comes from?
Are saunas good for you?
Episode 260402 / 02 Apr 2026
Have you ever tried a sauna?
Weight loss drugs
Episode 260326 / 26 Mar 2026
How do weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro help people lose weight?
How do we adapt to the cold?
Episode 260319 / 19 Mar 2026
Would you prefer to be too hot or too cold?
Should we pay more for chocolate?
Episode 260312 / 12 Mar 2026
Is chocolate becoming more expensive?
Why are some animals black and white?
Episode 260305 / 05 Mar 2026
The answer is not as black and white as you might think!
The power of pepper
Episode 260226 / 26 Feb 2026
How many varieties of pepper do you know?
Dreaming of being a chef
Episode 260219 / 19 Feb 2026
Do you enjoy cooking?
Artistic swimming
Episode 260212 / 12 Feb 2026
Do you think you could do gymnastics... underwater?
Rethinking dyslexia
Episode 260205 / 05 Feb 2026
Is dyslexia actually a kind of superpower?
Why are billionaires building bunkers?
Episode 260129 / 29 Jan 2026
Is the end of the world closer than we thought?
Scared of speaking English?
Episode 260122 / 22 Jan 2026
Beth and Pippa talk about why we often find speaking a new language scary.
What English phrases really mean
Episode 260115 / 15 Jan 2026
Why don't British people say what they mean, or mean what they say?
Is social media dead?
Episode 260108 / 08 Jan 2026
How has AI affected social media?
Is it OK to disagree?
Episode 260101 / 01 Jan 2026
Are we becoming a divided society?
Was Christmas better in the past?
Episode 251225 / 25 Dec 2025
Beth and Neil talk about a strange emotion we can feel at Christmas called nostalgia
Finding and eating wild food
Episode 251218 / 18 Dec 2025
Would you know how to spot a Death Cap mushroom?
How are horses helping to heal humans?
Episode 251211 / 11 Dec 2025
Could your next therapist be a horse?
What’s your favourite flavour of crisp?
Episode 251204 / 04 Dec 2025
Have you ever tried a crisp sandwich?
How are influencers affecting politics?
Episode 251127 / 27 Nov 2025
Do you follow politics on social media?
Do you have good dining etiquette?
Episode 251120 / 20 Nov 2025
What's the worst thing someone can do while eating?
How important is play?
Episode 251113 / 13 Nov 2025
Would you ever consider playing in a bomb site?
Do you like garlic?
Episode 251106 / 06 Nov 2025
Have you ever had garlic breath?
Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
Episode 251030 / 30 Oct 2025
Do you usually have a big breakfast, or do you skip it?
Did a civilisation exist on Earth before humans?
Episode 251023 / 23 Oct 2025
Have you ever heard of the Silurian hypothesis?
Are we too fixated on protein?
Episode 251016 / 16 Oct 2025
Is our enthusiasm for protein taking our attention away from other important food groups, like fibre?
What makes a good citizen?
Episode 251009 / 09 Oct 2025
Is a good citizen someone who votes and follows the law? Or is there something more to it?
Have you ever seen a whale?
Episode 251002 / 02 Oct 2025
How have humans treated whales throughout history?
The criminal trade in ancient objects
Episode 250925 / 25 Sep 2025
How are criminals making money from stolen artefacts?
Would you like a robot companion?
Episode 250918 / 18 Sep 2025
How would you feel if you shared your home with a robot?
What causes hearing loss?
Episode 250911 / 11 Sep 2025
As we get older, our hearing naturally gets worse. But what are the causes of this decline?
The joys of writing lists
Episode 250904 / 04 Sep 2025
Shopping lists, to-do lists, check lists – when was the last time you made, or followed, a list?
What's it like to be a twin?
Episode 250828 / 28 Aug 2025
What question would you most like to ask a twin?
What's your favourite snack?
Episode 250821 / 21 Aug 2025
Do you prefer healthy, homemade snacks... or modern, packaged goodies?
Grown-ups buying kids’ toys
Episode 250814 / 14 Aug 2025
Did you know that some adults play with children's toys too?
Are you flourishing?
Episode 250807 / 07 Aug 2025
What can we do to help ourselves flourish?
What is the manosphere?
Episode 250731 / 31 Jul 2025
Have you ever come across a so-called masculinity influencer on social media?
What is degrowth?
Episode 250724 / 24 Jul 2025
Should we shrink the economy to save the planet?
How can we help wild bees?
Episode 250717 / 17 Jul 2025
Did you know that many species of wild bees are endangered in the UK? What can we do to help?
Do you need to declutter your home?
Episode 250710 / 10 Jul 2025
Is your home neat and tidy? Or is it full of stuff you no longer need? You might need to declutter!
How do you say sorry?
Episode 250703 / 03 Jul 2025
Different cultures apologise in different ways. How do people say sorry where you are from?
Are plant-based substitutes healthier than meat?
Episode 250626 / 26 Jun 2025
Processed meat has been shown to be bad for our health, but are plant-based meat substitutes any healthier?
How do babies communicate?
Episode 250619 / 19 Jun 2025
What does it mean when newborn babies wave their arms and legs about?
Can climate change affect our mental health?
Episode 250612 / 12 Jun 2025
Is your mental health being affected by climate change?
How important is politeness?
Episode 250605 / 05 Jun 2025
How would you greet somebody you didn't know?
What's your favourite kind of noodle?
Episode 250529 / 29 May 2025
How much do you know about noodles?
Foods that go crunch
Episode 250522 / 22 May 2025
Would you ever eat an insect?
Which cooking oil is the best?
Episode 250515 / 15 May 2025
Are some cooking oils better for your health than others?
Should animals be kept in zoos?
Episode 250508 / 08 May 2025
Are zoos an important scientific resource, or an unnecessary abuse of animal rights?
Can cows prevent wildfires?
Episode 250501 / 01 May 2025
How are cows helping to prevent wildfires in Spain?
How climate change affects animal migration
Episode 250424 / 24 Apr 2025
How is climate change affecting animal migration?
Can AI solve crime?
Episode 250417 / 17 Apr 2025
Could artificial intelligence be used to solve a murder?
Learning multiple languages
Episode 250410 / 10 Apr 2025
Is learning languages good for you?
Are we getting more allergic to things?
Episode 250403 / 03 Apr 2025
Do you know anyone who has 50+ allergies?
Can we boost the immune system?
Episode 250327 / 27 Mar 2025
Can ginger shots, turmeric and cold water swimming boost your immune system?
Healthy meals on a budget
Episode 250320 / 20 Mar 2025
Is eating healthily always expensive?
Should we eat less rice?
Episode 250313 / 13 Mar 2025
Is it possible to grow rice in a more eco-friendly way?
The country that measures happiness
Episode 250306 / 06 Mar 2025
Is happiness the key to success?
A vaccine for cancer
Episode 250227 / 27 Feb 2025
Could a vaccine for cancer soon be a reality?
Young women on social media
Episode 250220 / 20 Feb 2025
How do women in different countries experience the online world?
Rage bait: How online anger makes money
Episode 250213 / 13 Feb 2025
How do people make money from rage bait?
Why smells make us feel at home
Episode 250206 / 06 Feb 2025
How can smells make you feel at home?
Becoming a musician
Episode 250130 / 30 Jan 2025
Hear about life as a professional musician
How the world learned to love fast food
Episode 250123 / 23 Jan 2025
How did fast food spread around the world?
Which country has the best schools?
Episode 250116 / 16 Jan 2025
How do you compare education systems?
Eating 50-year-old stew
Episode 250109 / 09 Jan 2025
Would you eat a stew that's been in a pot for 50 years?
Are you drinking enough water?
Episode 250102 / 02 Jan 2025
How much water do you drink every day? Is it enough?
Embarrassed to go to the doctor?
Episode 241226 / 26 Dec 2024
Have you ever been embarrassed to go to the doctor?
Call centres: Are you talking to AI?
Episode 241219 / 19 Dec 2024
Have you ever phoned up a company and had your call held in a queue? Could AI make this less painful?
Making 'mum friends'
Episode 241212 / 12 Dec 2024
Is making new ‘mum friends’ the positive experience it’s often described as?
Can you trust ancestry DNA kits?
Episode 241205 / 05 Dec 2024
Are DNA ancestry tests a reliable way to trace your ancestry?
How babies learn to talk
Episode 241128 / 28 Nov 2024
What do babies need to learn to do to be able to talk?
The secrets to a healthy old age
Episode 241121 / 21 Nov 2024
How can we stay healthy in old age?
The bond between sisters
Episode 241114 / 14 Nov 2024
Are the stereotypes about older and younger sisters true?
Having acne
Episode 241107 / 07 Nov 2024
What is acne and how can it affect someone's confidence?
Why you need a good night's sleep
Episode 241031 / 31 Oct 2024
Why is it so important to get a good night's sleep?
Divorce: Why does it happen?
Episode 241024 / 24 Oct 2024
How is divorce talked about in different countries?
Tech that refuses to die
Episode 241017 / 17 Oct 2024
Technology is always changing! Or is it...?
Did Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake?
Episode 241010 / 10 Oct 2024
Did Taylor Swift move the Earth?
What decides our taste?
Episode 241003 / 03 Oct 2024
What makes us like the flavours we like?
Learning a new food culture
Episode 240926 / 26 Sep 2024
Would you find it different to adapt to a new food culture?
Saving water in the driest place on Earth
Episode 240919 / 19 Sep 2024
How do farmers in the driest place on Earth manage to grow crops? With this solution!
Keeping kids off smartphones
Episode 240912 / 12 Sep 2024
Should we stop under 14s having phones?
Less salt, better health
Episode 240905 / 05 Sep 2024
Why do we need to reduce our salt intake?
Chocolate: Meet a real Willy Wonka
Episode 240829 / 29 Aug 2024
Would you like to be a chocolate maker, like Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka?
Why we love dumplings
Episode 240822 / 22 Aug 2024
Warning! This episode might make you very hungry...
Kids and climate change
Episode 240815 / 15 Aug 2024
What are young people's thoughts on climate change?
Birthday cakes
Episode 240808 / 08 Aug 2024
Do you remember your childhood birthday cakes?
The science of falling in love
Episode 240801 / 01 Aug 2024
What's really happening in our brain when we fall in love?
Why read books, not screens?
Episode 240718 / 25 Jul 2024
Why is it better to read from a book than a screen?
AI to reduce animal testing
Episode 240718 / 18 Jul 2024
Could AI reduce the need for animal testing?
The school that puts the kids in charge
Episode 240711 / 11 Jul 2024
What happens when you put the kids in charge of the school?
What can we learn from toddlers?
Episode 240704 / 04 Jul 2024
Learn to speak to yourself in the way that toddlers do!
How learning to read changes lives
Episode 240627 / 27 Jun 2024
How can literacy change people's lives?
Building a better world with wood?
Episode 240620 / 20 Jun 2024
How can buildings made from wood help our mental health?
How names can tell painful stories
Episode 240613 / 13 Jun 2024
Could our name have painful baggage?
E-rickshaws driving away pollution
Episode 240606 / 06 Jun 2024
Could E-rickshaws give us cleaner air?
Too old to have a baby?
Episode 240530 / 30 May 2024
Is it OK to be older parents?
How bubble tea got its bubbles
Episode 240523 / 23 May 2024
How was bubble tea invented?
Can you keep a secret?
Episode 240516 / 16 May 2024
Is it always negative to keep a secret?
Bitter food, better health?
Episode 240509 / 09 May 2024
Could bitter foods be better for your health?
Talking at the table
Episode 240502 / 02 May 2024
What do you talk about while having dinner?
Eating for two
Episode 240425 / 25 Apr 2024
Is it OK to eat unhealthy food during pregnancy?
Dancing for the brain
Episode 240418 / 18 Apr 2024
Do you love to dance?
Nudges: The secrets of persuasion
Episode 240411 / 11 Apr 2024
Are nudges good or bad?
Why sitting is bad for health
Episode 240328 / 04 Apr 2024
Could sitting be damaging to our health?
Why everyone loves the underdog
Episode 240328 / 28 Mar 2024
Could it be best to be the underdog?
Disability in music and theatre
Episode 240321 / 21 Mar 2024
Learn about the people who are making it easier for disabled musicians and music fans to perform and see live music
What makes a great library?
Episode 240314 / 14 Mar 2024
What makes a library a library?
Sewing to fight period poverty
Episode 240307 / 07 Mar 2024
Period poverty affects over 500 million people worldwide. How can a volunteer project help?
Plastic waste eaten by enzymes
Episode 240229 / 29 Feb 2024
Plastics can be difficult to recycle. Could a recently discovered enzyme help?
Feed your brain
Episode 240222 / 22 Feb 2024
Food is fuel for our brains. So, what should we be eating?
Food for new mums
Episode 240215 / 15 Feb 2024
Having a baby is exhausting! What do mothers need to eat after giving birth?
Fighting loneliness with soup
Episode 240208 / 08 Feb 2024
Hear how a project in the Netherlands is helping in the fight against loneliness
What is the future of work?
Episode 240201 / 01 Feb 2024
Is AI going to take away your job?
How the language of menus matters
Episode 240125 / 25 Jan 2024
Why is the language used on menus important?
The psychology of greed
Episode 240118 / 18 Jan 2024
Is it ever OK to be greedy?
Addicted to sugar
Episode 240111 / 11 Jan 2024
Are we addicted to sugar?
Our love of pets
Episode 240104 / 04 Jan 2024
Are you a dog or a cat person?
Sexism: Female farmers fighting back
Episode 231228 / 28 Dec 2023
How can female farmers beat rural sexism?
Learning lessons from the Moon
Episode 231221 / 21 Dec 2023
What can the Moon tell us about Earth?
Can we live without plastic?
Episode 231214 / 14 Dec 2023
Do we even want to live without plastic?
Invasive species: Why don't we eat them?
Episode 231207 / 07 Dec 2023
Could we eat invasive species?
What and where is Little Italy?
Episode 231130 / 30 Nov 2023
Mozzarella, ricotta, cannolis and focaccia... Where are we? Little Italy of course!
Social media and teenage health
Episode 231123 / 23 Nov 2023
What are the health risks of social media for teenagers?
Mystery flying objects
Episode 231116 / 16 Nov 2023
Have you ever seen an alien?
Elephant-proof farming
Episode 231109 / 09 Nov 2023
How can you stop elephants eating your crops?
Should we farm octopus?
Episode 231102 / 02 Nov 2023
Is it OK to eat animals that can feel emotion?
Ways to live for 100 years
Episode 231026 / 26 Oct 2023
How do people live to 100?
How green is your money?
Episode 231019 / 19 Oct 2023
Do you know how your money is being invested?
Mushrooms: Medicine or myth?
Episode 231012 / 12 Oct 2023
Should we be using mushrooms as medicine?
Saving dead languages
Episode 231005 / 05 Oct 2023
How can dead languages be revived?
Sounds that make you want to scream
Episode 230928 / 28 Sep 2023
Are there any sounds you find upsetting?
How fans talk about their passions
Episode 230921 / 21 Sep 2023
What language do fans use?
Making male friends
Episode 230914 / 14 Sep 2023
Do men find it hard to make and keep friends?
Space-saving solar hacks
Episode 230907 / 07 Sep 2023
How can we find space for more solar panels?
The stories behind our names
Episode 230831 / 31 Aug 2023
What do our names reveal about our culture and family history?
Heatwaves: can we adapt?
Episode 230824 / 24 Aug 2023
Can we adapt to heatwaves?
Are you unhappy at work?
Episode 230817 / 17 Aug 2023
Does work leave you feeling bored and exhausted?
Do you have eco-anxiety?
Episode 230810 / 10 Aug 2023
What is eco-anxiety and do you have it?
Can you stop a disaster?
Episode 230803 / 03 Aug 2023
Can natural disasters be prevented?
The right way to say sorry
Episode 230727 / 27 Jul 2023
Different ways to say sorry.
Foraging for wild food
Episode 230720 / 04 Jul 2023
Do you pick the fruit you eat from trees?
Plants fighting pollution
Episode 230713 / 13 Jul 2023
Can plants clean up our mess?
Should we fear chatbots?
Episode 230706 / 06 Jul 2023
How human are chatbots?
Is it wrong to eat plants?
Episode 230629 / 29 Jun 2023
Should we treat plants with the same consideration we treat animals with?
Sonic seasoning
Episode 230622 / 14 Jun 2023
Does sound make food taste better?
The benefits of doing nothing
Episode 230615 / 15 Jun 2023
Would being lazy have a purpose in life?
The art of subtitling
Episode 230608 / 08 Jun 2023
Hear how subtitles can help bring TV and movies to life
Ecotourism: good or bad?
Episode 230601 / 01 Jun 2023
We discuss the growing popularity of ecotourism.
Can climate change cause more disease?
Episode 230525 / 25 May 2023
With warming temperatures, mosquitos are now spreading to new areas, including Europe.
Food shortages
Episode 230518 / 18 May 2023
Listen to an expert on the global food system.
Addicted to war
Episode 230511 / 11 May 2023
BBC war correspondent Fergal Keane tells his story.
Ice and the origins of life on Earth
Episode 230504 / 04 May 2023
We talk about an essential element for life to thrive.
Women in politics
Episode 230427 / 12 Apr 2023
We discuss some of the reasons why women make up only 26% of the world's politicians.
What's the point of museums?
Episode 230420 / 20 Apr 2023
We discuss the role of museums in the 21st century and the items taken from different countries.
How culture affects sadness
Episode 230413 / 11 Apr 2023
What ways do you think culture can influence sadness?
Would you eat a Kalette?
Episode 230406 / 06 Apr 2023
Hear about a new kind of vegetable making an entrance in British kitchens
Do you get jealous easily?
Episode 230330 / 06 Mar 2023
Let's talk about the ugly green-eyed monster
Crowds
Episode 230323 / 23 Mar 2023
We discuss the role of crowds in modern life
Food and mood
Episode 230316 / 16 Mar 2023
We look at the link between what you eat and how you feel.
How to talk to a climate denier
Episode 230309 / 09 Mar 2023
The dos and don'ts of trying to discuss science with someone who doesn't believe in it
Losing your mother tongue
Episode 230302 / 02 Mar 2023
Hear the story of a woman who replaced her native Czech for English.
The health benefits of apples
Episode 230223 / 23 Feb 2023
Could 'an apple a day keep the doctor away'?
Why do we procrastinate?
Episode 230216 / 16 Feb 2023
Do you leave your work until the last minute?
Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?
Episode 230209 / 27 Jan 2023
What is doomscrolling and why are we attracted to bad news? Listen to find out!
Exercise for the lazy
Episode 230202 / 22 Jan 2023
What's the least amount of exercise you should do to stay healthy?
Can AI have a mind of its own?
Episode 230126 / 26 Jan 2023
Hear about the software engineer who became 'friends' with his computer
Climate change: Are there too many people?
Episode 230119 / 13 Jan 2023
Does the size of your carbon footprint depend on where in the world you were born? Listen to find out!
The hidden life of buffets
Episode 230112 / 12 Jan 2023
Neil and Sam discuss buffet meals and the history behind them.
Songwriting
Episode 230105 / 05 Jan 2023
Writing a memorable song isn't easy. So is there an art to good songwriting?
United against food waste
Episode 221229 / 16 Dec 2022
According to the UN, one third of the food we grow ends up in the rubbish bin - how can we stop this?
3D printers
Episode 221222 / 16 Dec 2022
How are 3D printers providing solutions to some of our medical problems?
Are opinion polls accurate?
Episode 221215 / 15 Dec 2022
What can opinion polls really tell us?
Deep-sea mining: Good or bad for the planet?
Episode 221208 / 29 Nov 2022
Learn about an idea to deal with climate change that could affect marine ecosystems.
Can music mend a broken heart?
Episode 221201 / 24 Nov 2022
Is music really a cure for a broken heart?
The art of conversation
Episode 221124 / 24 Nov 2022
We discuss whether the art of conversation is being lost in the era of social media
Qatar's World Cup workers
Episode 221117 / 17 Nov 2022
Hear about the workers who built the World Cup stadiums
Controlling the weather
Episode 221110 / 10 Nov 2022
How people are trying to manipulate the weather
Meet the flavourists
Episode 221103 / 03 Nov 2022
We talk about the people who make flavours
Are Halloween costumes too scary?
Episode 221027 / 25 Oct 2022
We discuss whether Halloween costumes are now too scary to be fun.
Does climate change make you anxious?
Episode 221020 / 20 Oct 2022
We discuss how extreme weather events are affecting our mental health.
Translating recipes
Episode 221013 / 13 Oct 2022
How to adapt dishes from other countries
Are artistic brains different?
Episode 221006 / 06 Oct 2022
We talk about Mozart, Jimi Hendrix and teach you vocabulary.
Why are prices going up?
Episode 220929 / 29 Sep 2022
Learn vocabulary to talk about inflation
English for dating online
Episode 220922 / 22 Sep 2022
We discuss the language used for online dating
Man vs beast: Who is more efficient?
Episode 220915 / 15 Sep 2022
We discuss the advantages of the design of the human body
Are you following your dreams?
Episode 220908 / 08 Sep 2022
Hear the inspiring story of people who are doing it
Do emojis make language better?
Episode 220901 / 01 Sep 2022
Are emojis turning us into lazy writers?
Being a beauty influencer
Episode 220825 / 25 Aug 2022
Hear about women who are using social media to change attitudes to beauty
Women in the workplace
Episode 220818 / 18 Aug 2022
Hear about the career-killing tasks that are holding women back in the workplace
Connecting remote communities
Episode 220811 / 11 Aug 2022
How can you connect the unconnected?
How pandemics end
Episode 220804 / 04 Aug 2022
We talk about previous periods in which deadly diseases went global
Confused by modern idioms?
Episode 220728 / 28 Jul 2022
Having a Groundhog Day? Keen to break the internet? Learn some modern idioms.
Which are more dangerous: sharks or humans?
Episode 220721 / 21 Jul 2022
How sharks have become an endangered species.
Climate change and animal evolution
Episode 220714 / 14 Jul 2022
Can today's animals evolve quickly enough to survive a changing climate?
Preserving traditional recipes
Episode 220707 / 07 Jul 2022
Missing your mother's cooking? We talk about traditional dishes.
Restoring trust in science
Episode 220630 / 30 Jun 2022
Astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson's quest to highlight the difference between opinion and fact
The Manhattan Project
Episode 220623 / 23 Jun 2022
In this episode, we discuss the events leading to the creation of the first atomic bomb.
Island life: Is it paradise?
Episode 220616 / 16 Jun 2022
What is life really like in the Pacific islands?
The technology of translation
Episode 220609 / 31 May 2022
What is the relationship between translation, technology and the human brain?
Queen Elizabeth II: What is the Platinum Jubilee?
Episode 220602 / 02 Jun 2022
We talk about a very British tradition
People who can taste words
Episode 220526 / 26 May 2022
Living with synaesthesia
Finding your way in space
Episode 220519 / 19 May 2022
Is there north and south in space?
Can VR treat fears and phobias?
Episode 220512 / 12 May 2022
Hear how tech is helping people change their behaviour for the better
Life in the modern office
Episode 220505 / 05 May 2022
How do you mark your personal territory?
Remembering Desmond Tutu
Episode 220428 / 28 Apr 2022
Deep convictions and a sense of humour - we talk about a man who helped end apartheid in South Africa.
Discoveries of the Deep Sea
Episode 220421 / 21 Apr 2022
We talk about an extreme environment which is stranger than fiction
Rhetoric: How persuasive are you?
Episode 220414 / 14 Apr 2022
We talk about an art that started with ancient Greek philosophers
Britain's love affair with coffee
Episode 220407 / 07 Apr 2022
It's not all about tea. Britons love coffee too!
Optimists vs Pessimists
Episode 220331 / 11 Mar 2022
Listen to a conversation about optimists and pessimists
The world of Agatha Christie
Episode 220324 / 24 Mar 2022
Hear a chat about the queen of murder mystery, who had her books translated into over 100 languages
Mars: Mysteries of the Red Planet
Episode 220317 / 17 Mar 2022
Is there life on Mars?
Why laughter is the best medicine
Episode 220310 / 10 Mar 2022
Shouldn't we take laughter more seriously?
Is being kind good for you?
Episode 220303 / 03 Mar 2022
Listen to what scientists are saying about the benefits of giving others a helping hand
Eating bugs
Episode 220224 / 24 Feb 2022
Would you eat a cricket? How about a portion of nice crunchy ants?
The benefits of boredom
Episode 220217 / 17 Feb 2022
Why not put your idle brain to good use?
Do our pets care about us?
Episode 220210 / 10 Feb 2022
We wonder what all that licking is really all about
Sleepy in South Korea
Episode 220203 / 03 Feb 2022
Life in a place where people work, study longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else
Preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics
Episode 220127 / 27 Jan 2022
Artificial snow, coronavirus and controversy surround the Beijing Games starting soon.
Are personalised diets the best way to be healthy?
Episode 220120 / 20 Jan 2022
Learn how microbes help digest food and have an impact in our bodies.
Inventing languages
Episode 220113 / 13 Jan 2022
How do languages get invented?
Welcome to the 'metaverse'
Episode 220106 / 06 Jan 2022
What will future technology be like?
Do trees have memories?
Episode 211230 / 30 Dec 2021
We talk about the defences plants might develop after facing periods of stress.
Algorithms
Episode 211223 / 23 Dec 2021
We talk about the maths formulas that are increasingly part of our lives
Changing the Earth's climate
Episode 211216 / 16 Dec 2021
Diamonds and poo - could these be used to help prevent climate catastrophe?
Body language online
Episode 211209 / 09 Dec 2021
How can we make video conferences feel more natural?
The Human Library: Life as an open book
Episode 211202 / 02 Dec 2021
Hear about a project through which you can borrow a person to have a candid chat with
How green is nuclear energy?
Episode 211125 / 25 Nov 2021
Questions about the safety of nuclear plants remain for many people.
Why we forget the things we learn
Episode 211118 / 18 Nov 2021
Georgina and Rob talk about memorising things.
Why is Super Mario so popular?
Episode 211111 / 11 Nov 2021
We talk about a famous video game character from the 80s.
Should fast food sponsor sport?
Episode 211104 / 15 Oct 2021
Should athletes be sponsored by companies that produce unhealthy food?
Grime: Music from architecture
Episode 211028 / 28 Oct 2021
We talk about the music of Wiley and Stormzy, inspired by derelict housing in London
Where do your tips go?
Episode 211021 / 21 Oct 2021
We discuss what happens to the extra money you give at restaurants
Angela Merkel
Episode 211014 / 14 Oct 2021
Why is the German leader Angela Merkel called 'Mutti'?
Smart tech and climate change
Episode 211007 / 07 Oct 2021
Could AI be the answer in the fight against climate change?
Going through the menopause
Episode 210930 / 30 Sep 2021
Why don't people talk more about this aspect of women's lives?
Bitcoin's energy cost
Episode 210927 / 27 Sep 2021
Bitcoin: is it an investment option for ordinary people?
I love my language!
Episode 210923 / 23 Sep 2021
Hear about a woman's effort to keep her language alive
Why are people collecting NFTs?
Episode 210920 / 20 Sep 2021
What are non-fungible tokens?
Robot Artists
Episode 210916 / 16 Sep 2021
Could robots be artists?
Bats: Friend or foe?
Episode 210909 / 13 Sep 2021
Learn more about these furry flying mammals
Is the planet warming up faster?
Episode 210909 / 09 Sep 2021
Some extreme weather events are puzzling scientists
Is technology harmful to youngsters?
Episode 210906 / 06 Sep 2021
Can spending hours online affect the new generation's mental health?
Is chimp politics like ours?
Episode 210902 / 02 Sep 2021
They make coalitions and have a desire for power. Are they like us?
Making sense of the census
Episode 210826 / 26 Aug 2021
What's behind counting people in a country?
The fear of numbers
Episode 210823 / 23 Aug 2021
How much maths do you need to know to get by?
A future without doctors?
Episode 210819 / 19 Aug 2021
We discuss if AI could replace human doctors and nurses
Lights! Camera! Kiss! - Intimacy on screen
Episode 210816 / 16 Aug 2021
How actors are made to feel more comfortable in intimate scenes
Concussion in sport
Episode 210812 / 12 Aug 2021
We discuss the long-term effects on players who make a career taking heavy tackles
Inside the head of Jeff Bezos
Episode 210809 / 09 Aug 2021
What goes in the mind of the richest person in the world?
The history of swimming
Episode 210805 / 05 Aug 2021
How a fun activity was discouraged by religion and in the name of school discipline
Do consumers care about carbon footprint?
Episode 210802 / 02 Aug 2021
Companies are considering using carbon labelling the same way as they use nutrition information
Are humans a messy species?
Episode 210729 / 29 Jul 2021
Learn the language of going to the toilet
The language of wine
Episode 210722 / 22 Jul 2021
A toast to the vocabulary you'll learn here!
How colour affects us
Episode 210719 / 19 Jul 2021
Which colour makes you happy?
Flexible working
Episode 210715 / 15 Jul 2021
Is there a stigma attached to not wanting to work the 9-to-5 shift?
Hypnotism
Episode 210708 / 08 Jul 2021
Can anyone be hypnotised?
Saving the white rhinos
Episode 210701 / 01 Jul 2021
We talk about a breeding programme with the last individuals of the species.
Making old things last longer
Episode 210624 / 24 Jun 2021
Shouldn't we stop throwing things away and start fixing them?
Building rapport with others
Episode 210617 / 17 Jun 2021
Do you 'read' people easily?
Food superstitions
Episode 210610 / 10 Jun 2021
Does carving scary faces into pumpkins really frighten away evil spirits?
The Rosetta Stone
Episode 210603 / 03 Jun 2021
We talk about the famous piece of rock that was key to translating the writing system created in ancient Egypt.
Compassion fatigue
Episode 210527 / 27 May 2021
Covid-19: Are we tired of feeling sorry for others?
Hermits
Episode 210520 / 20 May 2021
Why do people decide to be alone for long periods of time?
When males are not needed
Episode 210513 / 17 Mar 2021
Learn about self-cloning animals
Mermaids
Episode 210506 / 06 May 2021
Sirens, mermaids, mami wata... we talk about different representations of these intriguing water creatures.
A quieter world
Episode 210429 / 29 Apr 2021
Hear about whether noise is bad for our health
US and China vs climate change
Episode 210422 / 11 Mar 2021
Can the two biggest polluters work together?
Naked in nature
Episode 210415 / 15 Apr 2021
Hear about why being naked in nature might be good for you
The language of biscuits
Episode 210408 / 08 Apr 2021
Learn why this tasty snack became popular with the Industrial Revolution
Is English really English?
Episode 210401 / 01 Apr 2021
Where did today's English language really come from?
Astronauts on strike?
Episode 210325 / 25 Mar 2021
Hear all about the Skylab astronauts’ disagreement with mission control
Digital help for blind people
Episode 210318 / 18 Mar 2021
Hear about digital technology which helps blind people improve their lives
What’s the key to happiness?
Episode 210311 / 11 Mar 2021
Hear about what small things you can do to feel happier about life
Looking for utopia
Episode 210304 / 04 Mar 2021
Hear about how to create a happy place
Covid: One year on
Episode 210225 / 25 Feb 2021
Hear about Covid-19 and how our knowledge has changed
Singing in tune
Episode 210218 / 18 Feb 2021
Hear about singing and why it’s good to do it
Working for yourself
Episode 210211 / 11 Feb 2021
Hear about why some people are choosing to freelance
The woman whose cells never die
Episode 210128 / 28 Jan 2021
Hear about a woman whose cells never die
What makes a good story?
Episode 210121 / 21 Jan 2021
Hear about storytelling and how it helps us to connect and communicate
For the love of foreign languages
Episode 210114 / 14 Jan 2021
Is learning languages good for head, heart and soul?
Comfort Food
Episode 210107 / 07 Jan 2021
Hear about comfort food and why we eat it
What is fat-shaming?
Episode 201231 / 31 Dec 2020
Hear about why fat-shaming is on the rise
Coronavirus vs other pandemics
Episode 201224 / 24 Dec 2020
Hear about coronavirus and how it isn’t that bad compared to historical pandemics
Are trees intelligent?
Episode 201217 / 17 Dec 2020
Hear about how trees can communicate with each other
Can jellyfish help us solve our problems?
Episode 201210 / 10 Dec 2020
Could jellyfish could reduce plastic pollution?
Why do we choose to text instead of talk?
Episode 201203 / 03 Dec 2020
Hear how texting has become more popular than talking
Loneliness
Episode 201126 / 26 Nov 2020
Hear about how loneliness can affect everyone
Is punctuality important?
Episode 201119 / 19 Nov 2020
Hear about different people's attitude to being on time
Could you be a victim of online fraud?
Episode 201112 / 12 Nov 2020
Hear about online fraud and how it is becoming more common
Melting ice sheet: Is it too late?
Episode 201105 / 05 Nov 2020
Scientists worry about this year's global heating and melting polar ice
Walkman: the music player revolution
Episode 201029 / 29 Oct 2020
About 40 years ago, portable music players became a craze with the launch of the Sony Walkman.
Could humans live in underwater cities?
Episode 201022 / 22 Oct 2020
Hear about projects to create liveable underwater habitats
Hacking help for US elections
Episode 201015 / 15 Oct 2020
Volunteer hackers are invited to prevent election cyber-attacks
Do chimps have the same emotions as us?
Episode 201008 / 08 Oct 2020
Hear the iconic environmentalist Jane Goodall talk about the deep connections between humans and the great apes
How can we make the web a better place?
Episode 201001 / 01 Oct 2020
Learn about Web Science, a new academic subject about the internet
Coronavirus: Dealing with mass unemployment
Episode 200924 / 24 Sep 2020
What will the jobs market look like after the coronavirus pandemic ends?
Grandma therapy in Zimbabwe
Episode 200917 / 17 Sep 2020
Local project trains grandmothers to help Zimbabweans mental health
Is there a future without bees?
Episode 200910 / 10 Sep 2020
The number of bees is declining at an alarming rate, with serious consequences for humans.
How to talk about conspiracy theories
Episode 200903 / 03 Sep 2020
Conspiracy theories: Don't be fooled!
What’s the point of blood types?
Episode 200827 / 27 Aug 2020
What does your blood type say about you?
Will Covid-19 change cities?
Episode 200820 / 20 Aug 2020
The future of cities after the Covid-19 crisis
Is this the era of distrust?
Episode 200813 / 13 Aug 2020
What is trust? And who should we place our trust in?
No more bosses
Episode 200806 / 06 Aug 2020
Can companies operate better without managers?
The medicine of coronavirus
Episode 200730 / 17 Jul 2020
Neil and Georgina talk about the origins of Covid-19 and teach you related vocabulary.
Food made in space
Episode 200723 / 23 Jul 2020
Could plant growth studies in the ISS help feed people on Earth in the future?
Sport against poverty
Episode 200716 / 16 Jul 2020
Surf in South Africa, skateboarding in Afghanistan – are making poor children more assertive.
Covid-19: The office after lockdown
Episode 200709 / 09 Jul 2020
Lots of companies are rushing to install technology to make offices and workplaces safer.
Should we wear a face mask?
Episode 200702 / 02 Jul 2020
Is wearing a face mask necessary?
Millennials and business
Episode 200625 / 25 Jun 2020
Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?
Is being thrifty a virtue?
Episode 200618 / 18 Jun 2020
We talk about being a saver in a consumer culture and discuss the meaning of 'thrift' through history.
The food delivery revolution
Episode 200611 / 11 Jun 2020
New apps are transforming the way people order food from home
What difference has #MeToo made?
Episode 200604 / 04 Jun 2020
Listen to civil rights activist, Tarana Burke, who coined the phrase
Is the recycling system broken?
Episode 200528 / 28 May 2020
Is recycling a guilt-free way of encouraging us to use more plastic?
The soothing power of books
Episode 200521 / 21 May 2020
How can books help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times?
Shocking facts about electricity
Episode 200514 / 14 May 2020
How do electric systems differ across the world?
The importance of handwashing
Episode 200507 / 07 May 2020
Tips for parents coping with kids at home
Episode 200430 / 30 Apr 2020
The power of crying
Episode 200423 / 23 Apr 2020
Does crying make you feel better?
Are bucket lists always a good thing?
Episode 200416 / 16 Apr 2020
Bucket list dilemma
Is the pasty really Cornish?
Episode 200409 / 09 Apr 2020
Where does a pasty come from?
Touring bands and climate change
Episode 200402 / 02 Apr 2020
Music with a smaller carbon footprint
Training artificial intelligence
Episode 200326 / 26 Mar 2020
How smart is artificial intelligence?
Meditation and the brain
Episode 200319 / 19 Mar 2020
Free your mind
Will humans become extinct?
Episode 200312 / 12 Mar 2020
How long will we survive for?
The circular economy
Episode 200305 / 05 Mar 2020
Who's responsible for recycling?
Eating pond scum
Episode 200227 / 27 Feb 2020
Pond scum - the new superfood which could benefit your health and the planet
Could you give up fast fashion?
Episode 200220 / 20 Feb 2020
Cheap production of clothes is being blamed for contributing to global warming.
How resilient are you?
Episode 200213 / 13 Feb 2020
Are we born with the ability to cope well with difficult situations? Can we learn it?
Is it good to disagree?
Episode 200206 / 06 Feb 2020
Can a battle of ideas be a constructive exercise?
The benefits of low emission zones
Episode 200130 / 30 Jan 2020
What are low emission zones and why are more cities adopting these cleaner-air initiatives? Clean up your English by listening to this discussion
Women in politics
Episode 200123 / 23 Jan 2020
What's inspiring women to get involved in politics?
Could you give up booze for a month?
Episode 200116 / 10 Jan 2020
Giving up beer, wine and spirits is a challenge many people include in their New Year's resolutions.
The decline of the apostrophe
Episode 200109 / 09 Jan 2020
Apostrophe misuse
Why does seeing someone yawn make you yawn?
Episode 200102 / 02 Jan 2020
Why is yawning contagious?
Fake or real: What’s the best tree to have at Christmas?
Episode 191226 / 26 Dec 2019
What's the carbon footprint of your Christmas tree?
The calming power of nature
Episode 191219 / 19 Dec 2019
Can ecotherapy heal our urban woes?
Chatting to new people
Episode 191212 / 12 Dec 2019
Anxious about talking to people you don't know? Listen to what a social psychologist has to say about it.
Why take a gap year?
Episode 191205 / 05 Dec 2019
Does delaying university to travel help you get a job in the future?
The joy of free diving
Episode 191128 / 28 Nov 2019
Diving without air
Can robots care for us?
Episode 191121 / 21 Nov 2019
Robots with a heart?
Mental health in the workplace
Episode 191114 / 14 Nov 2019
How small changes can make a big difference to people with mental health issues at work.
Why do people like sad music?
Episode 191107 / 01 Nov 2019
What goes on in the brain and the body when we listen to Adele?
Why's it called 'mother tongue'?
Episode 191031 / 31 Oct 2019
Do we only learn language from our mother?
Is it a good idea to have a tattoo?
Episode 191024 / 24 Oct 2019
Are you prepared to be the canvas for a painting that might last forever?
Working for free
Episode 191017 / 17 Oct 2019
Internships: exploitation or valuable work experience?
Can you tell when someone is lying?
Episode 191010 / 10 Oct 2019
How lying helps society
Are you good at complaining?
Episode 191003 / 30 Sep 2019
Consumers are less keen to keep quiet when they are not happy with the service.
Does your name start with the wrong letter?
Episode 190926 / 26 Sep 2019
Learn about alphabet disadvantage!
Faking it: Computers that spot a real smile
Episode 190919 / 19 Sep 2019
Something to smile about
Is tourism harmful?
Episode 190912 / 12 Sep 2019
Everyone loves a holiday, but what damage can tourists do? Sam and Rob find out.
The future of food
Episode 190905 / 05 Sep 2019
How are we going to feed ourselves?
How can I help the environment?
Episode 190829 / 29 Aug 2019
Being more environmentally friendly
Does your age affect your political views?
Episode 190822 / 22 Aug 2019
Age and political views
Cryptocurrencies
Episode 190815 / 15 Aug 2019
Libra, Bitcoin... would you invest in digital money?
The art of tipping
Episode 190808 / 08 Aug 2019
How much should you tip?
Coffee cups: Do you use your own?
Episode 190801 / 01 Aug 2019
Does recycling coffee cups make a difference?
Are you at risk from online fraud?
Episode 190725 / 25 Jul 2019
Falling for fraud
Is shame always bad?
Episode 190718 / 18 Jul 2019
Why is 'shame' the emotion of now?
Do you care if you're poor when you're old?
Episode 190711 / 11 Jul 2019
Are you planning for a comfortable retirement?
Women’s football
Episode 190704 / 04 Jul 2019
FIFA Women's World Cup 2019
The business of eSports
Episode 190627 / 27 Jun 2019
Game on for eSports!
Can death metal bring you joy?
Episode 190620 / 20 Jun 2019
Does fast, loud, aggressive, guitar-based music inspire violence or happiness?
Is talking on the phone embarrassing?
Episode 190613 / 13 Jun 2019
Is talking on the telephone embarrassing?
Women and motorbikes
Episode 190606 / 06 Jun 2019
Why do we associate motorcycles with men?
Vampire shoppers
Episode 190530 / 30 May 2019
Shopping online in the middle of the night is becoming popular but, is it always a good idea?
What to do when you can't sleep
Episode 190523 / 23 May 2019
Is there anything more frustrating?
Being slim: Is it in our genes?
Episode 190516 / 16 May 2019
Studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person's weight is influenced by genes.
Can we trust a smart speaker?
Episode 190509 / 09 May 2019
Do smart speakers make life easier or spy on you?
Evolution and anxiety
Episode 190502 / 02 May 2019
Has anxiety been good for humans?
The rise in popularity of the comfy shoe
Episode 190425 / 25 Apr 2019
Everyone's wearing them!
Rabbits: cuddly friends or cunning tricksters?
Episode 190418 / 18 Apr 2019
Neil and Rob talk about the animal symbol of Easter in literature and in the real world.
The decluttering trend
Episode 190411 / 11 Apr 2019
Is it time you decluttered?
Why do we feel awkward?
Episode 190404 / 04 Apr 2019
Do you know that cringey feeling?
Side hustles
Episode 190328 / 28 Mar 2019
Do you have a second job?
How your eyes predict your personality
Episode 190321 / 21 Mar 2019
Be careful where you look!
Debating veganism: How to change someone's opinion
Episode 190314 / 14 Mar 2019
Debating veganism
What's on your to-do list?
Episode 190307 / 07 Mar 2019
How much do you enjoy doing housework and paying bills?
Unicorns
Episode 190228 / 28 Feb 2019
Why are these magical creatures back in fashion?
Are food allergies more common now?
Episode 190221 / 21 Feb 2019
Are you allergic to anything?
Dating apps
Episode 190214 / 14 Feb 2019
How effective are dating apps when you're looking for a romantic partner?
High heels
Episode 190207 / 07 Feb 2019
What's so special about these uncomfortable shoes?
Improving your memory
Episode 190131 / 31 Jan 2019
How good is your memory?
Concepts of happiness
Episode 190124 / 24 Jan 2019
What makes you happy?
Is music getting faster?
Episode 190117 / 17 Jan 2019
New technology might be putting an end to instrumental introductions to pop songs
The benefits of schadenfreude
Episode 190110 / 10 Jan 2019
What's the positive side of feeling good when bad things happen to people you envy?
Could you be flexitarian?
Episode 190103 / 03 Jan 2019
Would you all but give up eating meat to save the environment?
Michelle Obama on empowerment
Episode 181227 / 27 Dec 2018
The former US First Lady and her mission to inspire women
Why we push buttons
Episode 181220 / 20 Dec 2018
Are you a button presser?
The teenage brain
Episode 181213 / 13 Dec 2018
Inside a teenager's head
Why does 'x' mean 'kiss'?
Episode 181206 / 06 Dec 2018
What does 'x' really mean?
Photo-friendly food
Episode 181129 / 29 Nov 2018
Making good-looking food
The smell of coffee
Episode 181122 / 22 Nov 2018
How important is the smell of coffee?
What chickens can teach us about hierarchies
Episode 181115 / 09 Nov 2018
What can chickens teach us about organisation?
Loneliness
Episode 181108 / 08 Nov 2018
Can people feel lonely in a crowded place?
Objectification
Episode 181101 / 01 Nov 2018
Neil and Sam discuss objectification. What is it and is there really a 'perfect body'?
How creative should we be?
Episode 181025 / 25 Oct 2018
Rob and Neil discuss the must-have skill of the future
What is scumbro?
Episode 181018 / 18 Oct 2018
Paying a lot to look a mess!
Curbing our plastic addiction
Episode 181011 / 11 Oct 2018
Could we live without plastic? We discuss the issues and the progress that's being made.
Describing Generation Z
Episode 181004 / 04 Oct 2018
Have you grown up with social media?
High-vis fashion
Episode 180927 / 27 Sep 2018
A bright new fashion trend
Snowflakes and taking offence
Episode 180920 / 20 Sep 2018
The word snowflake has taken on a new meaning. We discuss this new term without causing offence!
Dating apps: How our brains react
Episode 180913 / 13 Sep 2018
What does our brain tell us to do when faced with a dating app?
Beating a sedentary lifestyle
Episode 180906 / 06 Sep 2018
Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Learn what made people more active in Finland.
Street food: Why is it becoming so popular?
Episode 180830 / 30 Aug 2018
Why is street food becoming more popular in the UK?
Are smartphones killing cameras?
Episode 180823 / 10 Aug 2018
Do people still buy cameras when everybody is keen on selfies?
Fathers
Episode 180816 / 16 Aug 2018
Why do men want to be fathers?
A tall story
Episode 180809 / 09 Aug 2018
Does being taller mean you earn more at work?
How intelligent is the octopus?
Episode 180802 / 02 Aug 2018
Learn more about this fascinating animal
Not going out
Episode 180726 / 26 Jul 2018
Why are countryside walks no longer so popular?
Is technology always the solution?
Episode 180719 / 19 Jul 2018
Why technology doesn't always know best
Smartphone addiction
Episode 180712 / 12 Jul 2018
Smartphone addiction
Surf and turf
Episode 180705 / 05 Jul 2018
Surf and turf shopping
Broken hearts
Episode 180628 / 28 Jun 2018
A healthy heart
Is gaming a sport?
Episode 180621 / 21 Jun 2018
The Fortnite phenomenon
Are you excited about the World Cup?
Episode 180614 / 14 Jun 2018
Are you a football fan?
Talking to machines
Episode 180607 / 07 Jun 2018
Our new virtual assistants
Taking risks
Episode 180531 / 31 May 2018
Risky language
Women in space
Episode 180524 / 24 May 2018
Gender equality
Football songs: Why are crowds so quiet these days?
Episode 180517 / 17 May 2018
Why are football fans so quiet nowdays?
Hangry: are you angry when you're hungry?
Episode 180510 / 10 May 2018
hungry + angry = hangry
Perfume: what your smell says about you
Episode 180503 / 03 May 2018
What does your smell say about you?
Is the internet good or bad?
Episode 180426 / 26 Apr 2018
Is the internet a positive thing?
Lying to children
Episode 180419 / 19 Apr 2018
Is it good to lie?
Are you a foodie?
Episode 180412 / 12 Apr 2018
How much do you know about the food you eat?
The future of marriage
Episode 180405 / 05 Apr 2018
Marriage decline
Who needs a manbag?
Episode 180329 / 29 Mar 2018
A bag for a man
Microadventures!
Episode 180322 / 22 Mar 2018
A mini-adventure
How do you learn to speak a language?
Episode 180315 / 15 Mar 2018
Words to learn
Robot therapist
Episode 180308 / 08 Mar 2018
Would you tell a robot your deepest secrets?
Hello, hello
Episode 180301 / 01 Mar 2018
The history of the humble ‘hello’
Swimming like a mermaid
Episode 180222 / 22 Feb 2018
A new approach to swimming
The rise of drones
Episode 180215 / 15 Feb 2018
Are drones taking off?
Transport of the future
Episode 180208 / 08 Feb 2018
Future travel
What’s in a name?
Episode 180201 / 01 Feb 2018
A new wedding trend?
Rise of the machines
Episode 180125 / 25 Jan 2018
Are robots and artificial intelligence taking over from humans? Dan and Neil discuss the rise of the machines
A dry January?
Episode 180118 / 18 Jan 2018
Are you trying to give up drinking this month? Catherine and Rob discuss abstaining and the benefits of a dry January
Ethical coffee
Episode 180111 / 11 Jan 2018
Would you pay more for coffee if you knew it was doing some good? Dan and Catherine discuss the pros and cons of ethically produced coffee.
Bitcoin: digital crypto-currency
Episode 180104 / 04 Jan 2018
Bitcoin is here and it's generating interest. Is that a good or bad thing? Dan and Neil discuss the pros and cons of this digital currency.
Is 'man flu' real?
Episode 171228 / 28 Dec 2017
Can science prove the existence of 'man flu' or are men just big babies? Dan and Neil discuss all this and give you six useful items of vocabulary.
The perfect Santa
Episode 171221 / 21 Dec 2017
A popular job at this time of year is playing the part of Santa. But what does it take to be the perfect Father Christmas? Neil and Dan discuss whether it's a role that would suit Dan.
Should schoolchildren have jobs?
Episode 171214 / 14 Dec 2017
The number of schoolchildren doing part-time jobs in the UK has fallen. Is that a good thing? Neil and Dan discuss the pros and cons of working while you're still at school.
What do you buy when you're sad?
Episode 171207 / 07 Dec 2017
Have you ever bought something when you're sad and then regretted it later?
Do you need to upgrade your phone?
Episode 171130 / 30 Nov 2017
How old is your smartphone?
Why more of us are getting fitter together
Episode 171123 / 23 Nov 2017
More people are going to the gym to get fitter but why?
How do you like your coffee?
Episode 171116 / 16 Nov 2017
Does a cafe's free wi-fi encourage you to go in and buy a coffee?
Pedestrianisation - is it good for cities and towns?
Episode 171102 / 02 Nov 2017
There’s a fresh interest in keeping cars out of cities. Is it a good idea?
Too much sugar
Episode 171026 / 26 Oct 2017
Are you aware of how much of the sweet stuff you eat?
What’s wetiquette?
Episode 171019 / 19 Oct 2017
When you have to be polite and courteous ... even when you swim!
Why pay for bottled water?
Episode 171012 / 12 Oct 2017
Can you tell the difference between the taste of bottled water and tap water?
Do adults exercise enough?
Episode 171005 / 05 Oct 2017
Neil and Rob talk about vigorous exercise – and whether adults take enough of it!
What can't computers do?
Episode 170928 / 28 Sep 2017
Are you afraid of machines that copy human intelligent behaviour?
The wonders of hair
Episode 170921 / 21 Sep 2017
Did you know that when the entire body is aging hair can grow stronger?
Having a row or asking for directions?
Episode 170914 / 14 Sep 2017
Tim and Neil talk about interactions that can be misunderstood by people of different backgrounds
Uniforms
Episode 170907 / 07 Sep 2017
A policeman, a pilot, a chef - what's our fascination with uniforms?
Laughing could kill you
Episode 170831 / 31 Aug 2017
Tim and Neil laugh their head off as they teach you useful vocabulary
Would the world stop without clocks?
Episode 170824 / 24 Aug 2017
Rob and Neil are in a hurry to discuss our concept of time and teach you new words
What makes a video go viral?
Episode 170817 / 17 Aug 2017
Rob and Neil discuss what makes people want to share a video
Fancy dress funerals
Episode 170810 / 10 Aug 2017
Have you ever thought about what sort of funeral you would like to have?
It's good to talk
Episode 170803 / 03 Aug 2017
The treatments that help people stay mentally healthy
How honest are we?
Episode 170727 / 27 Jul 2017
Have you ever cheated an honesty box? Is honesty really the best policy?
You think you're invisible?
Episode 170720 / 20 Jul 2017
Do you not want to be seen?
How do pets navigate?
Episode 170713 / 13 Jul 2017
How do lost cats and dogs find their way home?
Self-help
Episode 170706 / 06 Jul 2017
Want to improve your life?
Faces and first impressions
Episode 170629 / 29 Jun 2017
Can we trust our first impressions?
Built to fail?
Episode 170622 / 22 Jun 2017
Why do we throw away so much technology?
Mindfulness
Episode 170615 / 15 Jun 2017
Relax, slow down and breathe. Neil and Catherine explore mindfulness - what it is and what benefits it offers
Is happiness genetic?
Episode 170608 / 08 Jun 2017
Is happiness in the DNA?
Water Burial
Episode 170601 / 01 Jun 2017
A new way to rest in peace
Could you go vegan?
Episode 170525 / 25 May 2017
Could you give up meat and animal products?
Goldfish, brains and phones
Episode 170518 / 18 May 2017
Do people now have shorter attention spans than goldfish?
How much food do you waste?
Episode 170511 / 11 May 2017
Food waste is a major problem
The super rich
Episode 170504 / 04 May 2017
The rich are getting richer
Miraculous survival
Episode 170427 / 27 Apr 2017
How did a man fall from a 47 storey skyscraper and survive?
Sighing
Episode 170420 / 20 Apr 2017
Why do we sigh?
Multiple Careers
Episode 170413 / 13 Apr 2017
What's behind the trend for having more than one career?
Food and mood
Episode 170406 / 06 Apr 2017
How does your food affect your mood?
Dog detectors
Episode 170330 / 30 Mar 2017
Can dogs be used to detect cancer?
The rise of the emoji
Episode 170323 / 23 Mar 2017
Are you an emoji person? We explore how simple smiley faces have become powerful communication tools.
What your lunch says about you
Episode 170316 / 16 Mar 2017
What do you eat for lunch? Sandwiches are the most popular lunchtime meal in the UK, but why?
Mermaids – Fact or fiction?
Episode 170309 / 09 Mar 2017
Are mermaids real?
Life expectancy
Episode 170302 / 02 Mar 2017
Can humanity really breach the 90 year limit?
Gun control without guns
Episode 170223 / 23 Feb 2017
Gun control with no guns? How is that possible? Join Dan and Neil to find out.
How romance ruined love
Episode 170216 / 16 Feb 2017
Neil and Dan discuss romanticism
Can you trust your own eyes?
Episode 170209 / 09 Feb 2017
Catherine and Neil discuss why the police and the legal system are concerned about eyewitness testimony
Why do cities make us rude?
Episode 170202 / 02 Feb 2017
Catherine and Neil discuss how the pressures of modern living are making us hostile to each other
Family history
Episode 170126 / 26 Jan 2017
Why are so many people obsessed with learning about their family history? Neil and Catherine talk about genealogy
Life on the edge
Episode 170119 / 19 Jan 2017
The increased study of extremophile microbes has revealed a lot about what is and is not needed to sustain life on Earth
What's your superpower?
Episode 170112 / 12 Jan 2017
Why are we so fascinated with the superheroes that populate our cinema screens and comic books?
Driving
Episode 170105 / 05 Jan 2017
Alice and Neil discuss whether we would miss driving as driverless cars are tested in cities around the world
Introvert... and proud!
Episode 161229 / 29 Dec 2016
What’s your personality type? If you are an introvert you’re in good company; Barack Obama, JK Rowling are introverts...