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. Episode 171207 / 07 Dec 2017 Have you ever bought something when you’re sad and then regretted it later? Episode 171130 / 30 Nov 2017 How old is your smartphone? Episode 171123 / 23 Nov 2017 More people are going to the gym to get fitter but why? Episode 171116 / 16 Nov 2017 Does a cafe’s free wi-fi encourage you to go in and buy a coffee? Episode 171102 / 02 Nov 2017 Thereâs a fresh interest in keeping cars out of cities. Is it a good idea? Episode 171026 / 26 Oct 2017 Are you aware of how much of the sweet stuff you eat? Episode 171019 / 19 Oct 2017 When you have to be polite and courteous … even when you swim! Episode 171012 / 12 Oct 2017 Can you tell the difference between the taste of bottled water and tap water? Episode 171005 / 05 Oct 2017 Neil and Rob talk about vigorous exercise â and whether adults take enough of it! Episode 170928 / 28 Sep 2017 Are you afraid of machines that copy human intelligent behaviour? Episode 170921 / 21 Sep 2017 Did you know that when the entire body is aging hair can grow stronger? Episode 170914 / 14 Sep 2017 Tim and Neil talk about interactions that can be misunderstood by people of different backgrounds Episode 170907 / 07 Sep 2017 A policeman, a pilot, a chef – what’s our fascination with uniforms? 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 Episode 170817 / 17 Aug 2017 Rob and Neil discuss what makes people want to share a video Episode 170810 / 10 Aug 2017 Have you ever thought about what sort of funeral you would like to have? Episode 170803 / 03 Aug 2017 The treatments that help people stay mentally healthy Episode 170727 / 27 Jul 2017 Have you ever cheated an honesty box? Is honesty really the best policy? Episode 170720 / 20 Jul 2017 Do you not want to be seen? Episode 170713 / 13 Jul 2017 How do lost cats and dogs find their way home? Episode 170706 / 06 Jul 2017 Want to improve your life? Episode 170629 / 29 Jun 2017 Can we trust our first impressions? 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 Episode 170608 / 08 Jun 2017 Is happiness in the DNA? Episode 170601 / 01 Jun 2017 A new way to rest in peace Episode 170525 / 25 May 2017 Could you give up meat and animal products? Episode 170518 / 18 May 2017 Do people now have shorter attention spans than goldfish? Episode 170511 / 11 May 2017 Food waste is a major problem Episode 170504 / 04 May 2017 The rich are getting richer Episode 170427 / 27 Apr 2017 How did a man fall from a 47 storey skyscraper and survive? Episode 170420 / 20 Apr 2017 Why do we sigh? Episode 170413 / 13 Apr 2017 What’s behind the trend for having more than one career? Episode 170406 / 06 Apr 2017 How does your food affect your mood? Episode 170330 / 30 Mar 2017 Can dogs be used to detect cancer? 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? Episode 170309 / 09 Mar 2017 Are mermaids real? Episode 170302 / 02 Mar 2017 Can humanity really breach the 90 year limit? Episode 170223 / 23 Feb 2017 Gun control with no guns? How is that possible? Join Dan and Neil to find out Episode 170216 / 16 Feb 2017 Neil and Dan discuss romanticism Episode 170209 / 09 Feb 2017 Catherine and Neil discuss why the police and the legal system are concerned about eyewitness testimony 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 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 Whatâs your personality type? If you are an introvert youâre in good company; Barack Obama, JK Rowling are introverts..
. Why do crazes take off? Episode 161222 / 22 Dec 2016 Why is it that some games, hobbies and activities become crazes while others donât? Alice and Neil talk about their preferences When do you feel sleepy? Episode 161215 / 15 Dec 2016 Alice and Neil discuss circadian rhythms â the so-called body clock that influences an organism’s daily cycle of changes Episode 161208 / 08 Dec 2016 Sophie and Neil discuss why the last pharaoh of Egypt still fascinates people today Animal phobias Episode 161201 / 01 Dec 2016 Why do we fear animals that pose no threat to us? Sophie and Neil discuss the reason why fear of spiders is so common Episode 161124 / 24 Nov 2016 Neil and Alice talk about the defiant women who fought for their right to choose their representatives Why we love trainers Episode 161117 / 17 Nov 2016 Call them what you want â trainers, sneakers, tennis shoes â but why does everybody love them so much? On your bike Episode 161110 / 10 Nov 2016 Sophie and Neil discuss the bike’s mass appeal, from helping to widen the gene pool to blazing a trail for the womenâs movement Episode 161103 / 03 Nov 2016 Sophie and Neil discuss social networks and why we often use different identities for different social media How do you read your news? Episode 161027 / 27 Oct 2016 Free, digital news is threatening traditional newspapers. Sophie and Neil discuss the pros and cons of news in print Do opposites attract? Episode 161020 / 20 Oct 2016 Why are we attracted to some people and not to others? Sophie and Neil discuss love at first sight Is loneliness in our genes? Episode 161013 / 13 Oct 2016 What is loneliness and why do we feel it? Sophie and Neil discuss how feeling lonely can help us to survive Who do you think you are? Episode 161006 / 06 Oct 2016 How do you see yourself and how do others see you? Alice and Neil discuss identity and how appearances can be deceptive Episode 160929 / 29 Sep 2016 Why is punctuation important? Neil and Alice discuss rhetoric, commas and full stops.
Episode 160922 / 22 Sep 2016 Alice and Neil discuss penicillin, the so-called wonder drug discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming Global warming Episode 160915 / 15 Sep 2016 What might the world look like if temperatures keep rising? Neil and Alice discuss the need to adapt to the changes ahead Old tech Episode 160908 / 08 Sep 2016 Did you ever own a Walkman or a record player? Alice and Neil discuss old tech and why the US Pentagon still uses floppy disks Slang Episode 160901 / 01 Sep 2016 Neil and Alice discuss the differences between slang, jargon, and swearing, while teaching you some Cockney Rhyming Slang Domestic chores Episode 160825 / 25 Aug 2016 Do women clean the house more often than men? Alice and Neil discuss the topic and teach you a tidy amount of vocabulary Have you walked off your pizza? Episode 160818 / 18 Aug 2016 Is food labelling clear enough to help us make healthy choices? Alice and Neil discuss chocolate chip muffins along with some other tasty vocabulary How to cure writer’s block Episode 160811 / 11 Aug 2016 Who were the Muses and how did they help the creative process? Neil and Alice discuss how to be more creative Is English changing? Episode 160804 / 04 Aug 2016 Will we still be speaking in an English we recognise in a thousand years’ time? Alice and Neil make some educated guesses! Heritage sites Episode 160728 / 28 Jul 2016 Neil and Alice discuss the threat to The Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru Are we there yet? Episode 160721 / 21 Jul 2016 Why do some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours? Neil and Alice discuss our perception of time Cities of the future Episode 160714 / 14 Jul 2016 What will the cities of the future look like, and will we enjoy living in them? Alice and Neil discuss Neil’s attempt at town planning Diabetes Episode 160707 / 07 Jul 2016 Why is the disease diabetes on the rise? Alice and Neil talk about the role that diet has to play in this global health problem Get on with it! Episode 160630 / 30 Jun 2016 Why do we procrastinate? Rob and Alice discuss why it can be difficult to get on with tasks Who would you imitate? Episode 160623 / 23 Jun 2016 Why do we like to impersonate people? Neil tries out his best impression of Elvis while teaching you some related vocabulary How to prepare for an exam Episode 160616 / 16 Jun 2016 Alice and Rob consider which study techniques are good and which aren’t. Does sleeping with a book under your pillow help? Episode 160609 / 09 Jun 2016 Young entrepreneurs are appearing everywhere. Alice and Rob discuss whether grey hair is best Do as I say, not as I do Episode 160602 / 02 Jun 2016 Why do people often say one thing and do another? Alice and Rob ask how far hypocrisy is actually part of who we are Could you be an astronaut? Episode 160526 / 26 May 2016 Do you have what it takes to go to space? Alice and Rob discuss the challenges of a job thousands of people are keen on Conspiracy theories Episode 160519 / 19 May 2016 Do you believe men walked on the Moon? Alice and Rob discuss why some people are suspicious about everything Have you got too much stuff? Episode 160512 / 12 May 2016 You’ve decluttered and tidied but could you live life free of stuff? Alice and Rob discuss why we give objects emotional value How bad is booze? Episode 160505 / 05 May 2016 Are you a teetotaler or a drinker? Rob and Alice discuss what risk to your health regular drinking may have Is chivalry dead? Episode 160428 / 28 Apr 2016 What does it take to impress the ladies in the 21st century? Neil and Alice discuss knights in shining armour Never too old Episode 160421 / 21 Apr 2016 Is retirement the end of everything or just a door for new opportunities? Alice and Rob talk about aging Do you think for yourself? Episode 160414 / 14 Apr 2016 Do you always agree with what most people in your group say? Neil and Sophie discuss staff meetings. Brain training Episode 160407 / 07 Apr 2016 Neil and Sophie discuss the health benefits of being able to speak two languages fluently. And Neil… speaks Japanese! Is social media a distraction? Episode 160331 / 31 Mar 2016 How often do you check your phone? Neil and Sophie discuss how social media is changing the way we interact. Gardening Episode 160324 / 24 Mar 2016 Sophie and Neil discover that soil has some surprising qualities and discuss how growing food can be therapeutic too What’s in a fairy tale? Episode 160317 / 17 Mar 2016 Sophie and Neil talk about traditional fairy tales for the adult market and teach you some magical vocabulary Corporate team building Episode 160310 / 10 Mar 2016 Neil and Sophie discuss the growing industry of team building â from zombie bootcamps to horse training for executives. Episode 160303 / 03 Mar 2016 Neil and Sophie discuss Mars, the fourth rock from the Sun It’s all in the genes Episode 160225 / 25 Feb 2016 Neil and Sophie talk about gene editing, designer babies and how many errors Neil might have in his genetic code.
Giving away your fortune Episode 160218 / 18 Feb 2016 How generous are you? Neil and Sophie discuss Mark Zuckerberg and what it takes to be a modern-day philanthropist. How would you like to pay? Episode 160211 / 11 Feb 2016 Are the days of paying by cash for a latte or a newspaper nearly gone? Alice and Neil discuss Neil’s fondness for loose change… How do you like your tea? Episode 160204 / 04 Feb 2016 Tea comes in different forms â milky, sweet or spicy. Alice and Neil discuss how this Asian leaf conquered the world. The commute Episode 160128 / 28 Jan 2016 Train, car, bicycle … Hundreds of millions of us make the same journey day in day out. Take a hike with Alice and Neil and learn new vocabulary. Are we afraid of food? Episode 160121 / 21 Jan 2016 Are food allergies on the increase and if so, why? Neil and Alice talk about the growing fear of food and teach new words.
Is modern life making us tired? Episode 160114 / 14 Jan 2016 Are artificial lights and late night TV ruining our sleep? Neil and Alice discuss the issue and teach you related vocabulary. Asking the right questions Episode 160107 / 07 Jan 2016 What does it take to be a good interviewer? Neil and Alice discuss TV chat show hosts and teach you some related vocabulary. Episode 151231 / 31 Dec 2015 How much does appearance really matter? Neil and Alice discuss fitness and New Year’s resolutions Christmas kindness Episode 151224 / 24 Dec 2015 Some families struggle to buy even food and canât afford presents.
Neil and Alice discuss how some charities are helping those in need. Why do we take risks? Episode 151217 / 17 Dec 2015 Alice and Finn talk about the passion some people have for danger and the unseen threats we face every day Episode 151210 / 10 Dec 2015 Alice and Neil discuss the psychological pressures of going to university. They also teach some related vocabulary. Robin Hood Episode 151203 / 03 Dec 2015 Neil and Alice discuss the long-lasting appeal of this man with a bow and how he has changed over the centuries How much is your spouse worth? Episode 151126 / 26 Nov 2015 Do you know how much your partner earns? Is he or she in debt? Would this make you love them less? Episode 151119 / 19 Nov 2015 The BBC broadcasts a season of programmes discussing women’s issues around the world Episode 151112 / 12 Nov 2015 Are you good at telling jokes? What makes a good comedian? The impact of plastic Episode 151105 / 05 Nov 2015 Should we all pay for supermarket plastic bags? Neil and Alice take a look at the environmental impact of plastic and teach you some related words. Episode 151029 / 29 Oct 2015 Should the difficult language of Shakespeare be ‘translated’ into plain English? New transport on two wheels Episode 151022 / 22 Oct 2015 The bicycle is the most popular form of two-wheeled transport in the world, but could we all soon be using hoverboards? Listen to Neil and Finn’s conversation and learn some new words.
Will robots take our jobs? Episode 151015 / 15 Oct 2015 If you are sitting at a desk or answering the phone, stop for a moment and ask: could a robot or machine do this job better? Neil and Finn discuss the future of our jobs. Do we read to show off? Episode 151008 / 08 Oct 2015 Neil and Alice discuss what kind of book people like to be seen reading. Do you like to impress people with a classic book in your hands? Episode 151001 / 01 Oct 2015 Does being born in the summer reduce your chance of going to university? The Earth’s core Episode 150924 / 24 Sep 2015 Take a trip with Rob and Alice to find out about the Earthâs core. Theyâll discuss how hot it is â and whether there are any dinosaurs living there! The meaning of clothes Episode 150917 / 17 Sep 2015 Do you dress formally or casually? Do you choose trendy items or old comfortable ones? Rob and Will talk about the meaning of clothes.
The Proms Episode 150910 / 10 Sep 2015 It’s been described as the world’s largest and most democratic classical music festival. Neil and Finn guide you through the BBC Proms Is knuckle cracking good for you? Episode 150903 / 03 Sep 2015 What an awful sound – cracking your knuckles! Listen in to Rob and Neil to find out if it’s a useful skill or just an annoying habit Evolution before Darwin Episode 150827 / 27 Aug 2015 Was Charles Darwin the only man with ideas about evolution? Rob and Neil talk about someone else who discovered it first. Lifts Episode 150820 / 20 Aug 2015 What are the modern day dilemmas in using a lift? Rob and Neil discuss the awkwardness and irritation of being in one Compulsory voting Episode 150813 / 13 Aug 2015 Should young people be made to vote in elections or should we choose? We discuss the ideas behind compulsory voting Chins Episode 150806 / 08 Aug 2015 What do we need our chins for? Rob and Neil discuss how we got them and what our chins say about us Why do gibbons sing duets? Episode 150730 / 30 Jul 2015 Why do gibbons sing duets and what has this got to do with the evolution of the human language? Episode 150723 / 23 Jul 2015 Skinny models: What does the law say about walking the catwalk? Episode 150716 / 16 Jul 2015 The dangers of computer games. How good are they for our health? Episode 150709 / 09 Jul 2015 It’s amazing! What part of our body have scientists discovered can heal and help us? Why did Singapore ban gum? Episode 150702 / 02 Jul 2015 Do you chew gum and what do you do with it when you’ve finished? Listen to Rob and Finn discussing the history and chemical properties of gum and why it’s messing up our streets whilst explaining some related vocabulary Food banks Episode 150625 / 25 Jun 2015 Food banks provide food to people in the UK who can’t afford to buy their own. Rob and Finn discuss this how they work and how they help many of the country’s poorest The teenage brain Episode 150618 / 18 Jun 2015 Listen to Neil and Rob discussing mood swings, risk taking, and why people make fun of teenagers, while they also explore some related vocabulary.
The Outernet Episode 150611 / 11 Jun 2015 How can remote parts of the world get access to the internet? Neil and Catherine discuss a new idea for spreading knowledge Episode 150604 / 04 Jun 2015 What makes us angry and why is aggression useful? Neil and Catherine discuss human behaviour. Episode 150528 / 28 May 2015 Big bushy beards have become so fashionable that there’s now an art exhibition dedicated to them Is a door just a door? Episode 150521 / 21 May 2015 A London apartment block has front and back entrances for private and social housing – or so-called rich and poor doors. Does it make sense to you? Listen to a discussion whilst learning some housing-related vocabulary The first space walk Episode 150514 / 14 May 2015 Fifty years ago, on 18 March 1965, Soviet astronaut Alexei Leonov took the first space walk. Listen to Rob and Neil describing the struggles of that ground-breaking space mission whilst explaining some related vocabulary. Wireless furniture for phones Episode 150507 / 07 May 2015 Furniture with built-in wireless charging technology – like a coffee table is now being sold. ‘Built-in’ means the technology is included as part of the table. So you just pop your phone on the table, and technology does the rest! Saving China’s elephants Episode 150430 / 30 Apr 2015 Many animals face extinction.
But people are realising that they must act now to stop further losses. A scheme to save the Asian elephant in China could provide an answer. Life without music Episode 150423 / 23 Apr 2015 How does music make you feel? Research shows that it actually influences us more than we realise – whether we’re at the movies, the supermarket, or down the pub The story behind coffee Episode 150416 / 16 Apr 2015 Coffee is now the most popular drink in the world. But what about the economics and politics of coffee production? It’s as complicated as getting the right flavour in your cup The sun Episode 150409 / 09 Apr 2015 Rob and Neil put on their sunglasses to find out more about this special star and teach some related vocabulary. We promise you wonât be blinded with science! The three-parent baby Episode 150402 / 02 Apr 2015 The UK has become the first country to approve legislation allowing the creation of babies with genetic material from three people. Listen to Neil and Harryâs conversation and learn some related vocabulary. Episode 150326 / 26 Mar 2015 What are some art galleries banning to protect their paintings? Find out with Neil and Harry Human microchips Episode 150319 / 19 Mar 2015 An electronic device under your skin?! Workers in Sweden take part in experiment which allows them to get in and out of their office without a key, ID or password.
Listen to Neil and Harryâs chat and learn some related vocabulary. The two sides of Churchill Episode 150312 / 12 Mar 2015 This year marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchillâs death.
He is known throughout the world for his role in defeating Nazi Germany but he also made mistakes. Listen to Neil and Mikeâs discussion, and learn new vocabulary. Poverty in a rich world Episode 150305 / 05 Mar 2015 We live in a richer world.
But the gap between rich and poor is still very wide in individual countries. How to change this? Listen to Rob and Harryâs discussion, and learn some related vocabulary. The cost of life-saving vaccines Episode 150226 / 26 Feb 2015 The price of vaccines has escalated and some poor countries are struggling to prevent children from catching certain life-threatening diseases, says Medecins Sans Frontieres. Listen to Rob and Neilâs discussion, and learn some related vocabulary.
Do you fear Artificial Intelligence? Episode 150219 / 19 Feb 2015 Will thinking computers be the end of humans? Listen to Rob and Neilâs chat and learn some related vocabulary. Should tourists go to Antarctica? Episode 150212 / 12 Feb 2015 About 37,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this season. But should they be going to a region with such a sensitive environment? Listen to Rob and Neilâs conversation and learn some new vocabulary. Does your CV shine? Episode 150205 / 05 Feb 2015 At a time when more people compete for fewer jobs, are you sure you present your skills and abilities well to a potential employer? Listen to Rob and Neil’s conversation and learn some related vocabulary. Are you big on small talk? Episode 150129 / 29 Jan 2015 Going to a party where you don’t know anyone? Listen to Rob and Neil’s advice and learn some related vocabulary Are computers making us dumb? Episode 150122 / 22 Jan 2015 We use computers for everything nowadays.
Are we forgetting our own abilities – and losing our talent? Listen to Rob and Neil’s discussion, and learn some related vocabulary Smokers to face one more ban Episode 150115 / 15 Jan 2015 Smoking in cars with children might be banned in England. Listen to Neil and Rob’s chat and learn some related vocabulary Bullying or normal competition? Episode 150108 / 08 Jan 2015 Is bullying just an attempt to give a bad name to what is part of human nature? Listen to Rob and Neilâs chat and learn some related vocabulary. Time capsules Episode 150101 / 01 Jan 2015 What would you put in your time capsule? Listen to Rob and Neilâs chat and learn new vocabulary The Christmas Truce Episode 141225 / 25 Dec 2014 When enemy soldiers sang together in WW1. Listen to Rob and Finnâs chat and learn some related vocabulary. Episode 141218 / 18 Dec 2014 The London school where students speak 42 different languages Episode 141211 / 11 Dec 2014 Laughter isn’t always the best medicine, says research Cloud of suspicion Episode 141204 / 04 Dec 2014 Are your pictures, documents and videos safe online? Listen to Rob and Finn’s chat and learn new vocabulary Episode 141127 / 27 Nov 2014 Nowhere to park? How the sharing economy is changing the way we use our space Can science fiction save the world? Episode 141120 / 20 Nov 2014 How can science fiction help the world? Rob and Finn discuss a project which aims to inspire through stories of a bright future Episode 141113 / 13 Nov 2014 Why is eating meat bad news? Episode 141106 / 06 Nov 2014 Do real-life superheroes exist or are they just cartoon characters? Episode 141030 / 30 Oct 2014 Rob and Finn discuss the World Health Organisation’s recommendations on e-cigarettes Episode 141023 / 23 Oct 2014 Should we eat less sugar? Listen to Rob and Neil and learn new vocabulary Episode 141016 / 16 Oct 2014 Is learning English getting easier? Find out what’s new Episode 141009 / 09 Oct 2014 Why do we buy so much food and not eat it all? Learn more about food waste Sleeping on the job Episode 141002 / 02 Oct 2014 Is it right to sleep at work? Rob and Finn discuss the benefits of sleeping on the job. Episode 140929 / 29 Sep 2014 Is the way we see famous people a new thing? Learn about the first ‘modern celebrity’. Dealing with boredom Episode 140821 / 21 Aug 2014 Bored? You’re not alone.
Rob and Finn discuss how to deal with boredom and teach some related vocabulary. We promise you won’t be bored! .
