Do you really know?

To all our female listeners: have you ever been a victim of misogyny in the workplace? Sadly, the chances are you have, given that a 2022 survey by recruitment agency Randstad found that 72% of women have “encountered inappropriate behaviour from male colleagues”, while 67% had experienced some form of gender discrimination. But there are some simple everyday actions that can help us to counter se...

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

Surely nothing affects taste other than what you actually put in your mouth, right?! Well actually no, that’s not true - at least according to a study published in December 2022 in Food Quality and Preference. The researchers behind that found that the colour of our dishware might influence our perception of taste. And it’s not the first study of its kind; I’m going to tell you about other similar...

Anal sex has become more and more popular in recent years, and that’s true for young people in particular. In August 2022, The Guardian reported on a survey conducted by National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyle, which found that 28.5% of 16 to 24-year-olds were engaging in anal sex, up from a previous figure of just 12.5% from “recent decades”. Anal sex doesn’t come without its risks thou...

Let’s face it, life throws curveballs at us—being stuck in traffic, a demanding boss, or even chores piling up at home. Anger is a natural response, but unchecked, it can wreak havoc on our personal and professional lives. Slow down and above all breathe! Breathing is crucial for getting rid of anger. By fully oxygenating the brain, it switches from a fight or flight reaction to immediate relaxati...

What do Serena Williams, Beyoncé, Henry Cavill, Ryan Gosling and Nicole Kidman all have in common? Well apart from being famous, they’ve all been the targets of transvestigations in recent times.  As you may have guessed, the term is a combination of "transgender" and "investigation." It’s actually a bizarre type of conspiracy theory which sees web users attempt to prove that certain famous people...

Some psychological and addiction experts say that making and sticking to resolutions can do wonders for your health. And just because it’s not the New Year right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t start a resolution right away. After all, there’s no time like the present, right? Let's face it though, sticking to a resolution can be tough, especially when it comes to giving up something you’re used t...

According to UK government data, a total of 6.5 billion passenger journeys were completed using public transport vehicles like buses, trains and tram systems, in the year to March 2023.  Packed platforms, overcrowded carriages and uncertain schedules are just some of the issues public transport commuters have to deal with on a regular basis, not to mention the occasional strike. Being crammed into...

For some, true-crime stories have a strangely calming effect when they are tucked up in bed for the night. It’s a phenomenon that’s not gone unnoticed on TikTok, where people share how tales of mystery and suspense are part of their go-to nighttime routine. If you’re one of those who drift off to the narration of unsolved cases, rest assured, you’re in good company. And although the link between c...

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

The last week or so has seen temperatures reach around 20° in the south of England, and you can expect to see similar temperatures for the next month or so as we head into summer. Whenever the weather warms up, there’s always a temptation to try to mask any odours or stains that are coming from our sweaty bodies, but it’s worth bearing in mind that sweating is actually a crucial bodily function. D...

Many of us feel completely disoriented at times, and are afraid of getting lost, whether in the middle of the city, in the forest, when travelling or in the car. In an age where GPS reigns supreme, many of us have become overly reliant on technology. Yet, there’s a growing desire to hone our natural navigational skills and understand the brain’s role in guiding us. What we call our "sense of direc...

Research by productivity software provider Asana showed that 70% of knowledge workers experienced burnout in 2021. Now we’ve talked about the symptoms of burnout before on Do you Really Know. It's typically characterised by physical and emotional exhaustion at work, and considered a psychiatric condition. But in recent years, the younger generation has been reshaping workplace norms. Many young wo...

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

Ah, the G-spot... An often cited but frequently elusive erogenous zone which has a reputation of being able to unlock intense female orgasms if you know how to stimulate it the right way.  The G-spot was first discovered by German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg - hence the G part of the name - back in 1950. But the term was only coined in his honour in the 1980s, by a group of researchers who were...

Many of us have a ritual of falling asleep to our favorite tunes or a comforting podcast. It’s no surprise we find solace in this routine; after all, music is known to dial down blood pressure and heart rate, ease anxiety, and reduce cortisol levels. The benefits don’t stop there – music can also boost oxytocin production and sweep away those pesky negative thoughts, setting the stage for a peacef...

According to The Sun, scientists say that “the average person in the UK now consumes more than eight kilograms of chemical additives every year.” Of course with that being an average figure, it can shoot up even further for those who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods.  If you’ve ever looked closely at ingredients lists on the packaging of food you buy in your supermarket, you’ll have noticed the...

As of March 2024, the UK inflation rate stood at 3.2%, well below the record levels that had been seen a year prior. But still the cost of living crisis is biting and grocery shopping is one of the areas in which prices rose the most across 2022 and 2023. Thinking of ways to save on groceries has become really important and we’ve got a special tip for all of you listening today. The 6-1 method com...

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

Hypersexuality, overactive libido and sex addiction are just a few of many terms used to describe those who simply can’t seem to get enough when it comes to sex. According to UK-Rehab.com, it’s estimated that somewhere between 3% and 6% of adults in the country are addicted to sex.  It might be a hot topic these days, but the concept only really surfaced in the late 1970s. The rise of the internet...

April 2024 saw a couple in the south of France handed a one-year suspended sentence, and a ban from having pets, after they were discovered keeping 159 cats and seven dogs in their 860 sq foot apartment. According to BBC News, the “animals were discovered last year living in filth, many dehydrated, suffering from malnutrition or infected with parasites.”That shocking animal hoarding case seems to...

A funeral is one of those rare occasions where you don’t really need to think too much about your choice of outfit. After all, everyone wears black to funerals as a sign of grief, don’t they? Well, that might be true in the Western world, but it’s not necessarily the case everywhere, which is what we’re going to talk about today.  In the Western world, funeral customs have long been intertwined wi...

For many, slipping into socks before bed is as natural as brushing their teeth. It’s comforting, like a warm hug for your feet. But not everyone’s a fan—some can’t stand the thought of socks at night. Preferences aside, there’s more to this bedtime debate than comfort. So, is snoozing in socks a secret health hack? But does it really help you drift off quicker? Sounds a bit contradictory, right? I...

Members of Gen Z, when you were kids, you might well have had grand plans for your twenties – owning a house, landing a job, getting hitched, and having kids. But where are you now?  Are you a keen saver eyeing up homeownership, perhaps abiding by some of the methods we've talked about in the past on Do You Really Know?, like loud budgeting, cash stuffing or the 50/30/20 method? Or do you feel pow...

According to the British Association of Urinological Surgeons, somewhere between 20 and 30% of men experience premature ejaculation. But of those men, less than a quarter actually seek medical advice. That’s despite it being an issue that often takes a toll psychologically on the man and the relationship they have with their partner. If it's always been an issue, it's termed primary premature ejac...