FACTORALY

Where would we be without our brains? The fact that we don't know the answer is because our brains find that question tricky. From regulating our breathing and heart rate, to propelling us from one place to another physically, literally, and virtually, our brains are fantastic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Industrious little things, beavers. And great for the environment. In this episode, we look into beaver life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skateboards started out as something for skateboarders to do when the surf wasn't up. Today it's an Olympic sport! Follow the story of these noisy, clattery, dangerous bits of wood, fibreglass and silicone on wheels here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Libraries are good things. Not needed as much these days, what with the internet? Well, it depends on who you ask. There are still lots of libraries, and they still have their place, from the local lending library to the national institutions. Go and check out your local library. These days, there's more there than you might think. As always, click on the pics to be taken down library-sized rabbit...

Welcome to our 100th episode! Here's a ton of ideas about 100 that won't cost you a cent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're very nearly at our 100th episode, so we thought we'd go on holiday. Well, actually, we thought we'd do what other audio series do when they fancy a break and put together some of the best bits from the last 99 episodes. So, this one includes snippets from Cucumbers; Typography; Vikings; Curry; Pipes; Bells; Shoes; Bottles; Jelly; Nuts; Spectacles; Camels; Cereal; and Chefs. If you'd like to...

Kites have been around for a while. Mostly for pleasure, but also with many utilitarian purposes. In this episode, we launch into the uses and styles of kites, highlighting some of the people who used them to achieve fame.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wind is all around us and one of the most powerful forces on Earth. It has a massive effect on our lives and the lives of every living thing on the planet. Not to mention things that aren't alive at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Witchcraft has nearly always been used to do good. In physical health and in wellbeing. But there was a time in the 14th and 15th centuries and onwards when it was very much frowned upon. Today, we delve into the world of witches and witchcraft, exploring the fascination with women who sought alternative ways of healing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holidays are fun - usually. In fact most of the fun of a holiday comes from its antici pation. We didn't mention it in this episode, but here's a link to a study... https://www.nathab.com/blog/anticipation-is-the-happiest-part-of-a-travel-journey They're good for your health, too, and to enhance one's perception of this wonderful ball we all live on.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Spoons can be used for eating or drinking from or serving or even playing. This episode looks at all kinds of uses of the common or garden spoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salt is part of life. We wouldn't be anywhere without salt - literally, it's essential to human life. From the sea that we crawled out of, to the preservation of food, we need salt. This episode shakes the facts, and seasons your ears with salty goodness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tennis is one of the most-watched sports in the world. And it's been around a long time. From early origins as a game played with the hand against a wall, to the high-tech judged matches we can watch on TV today. In this episode, we explore all that history, with some heavy slices of weird thrown into the net for luck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geese have been with us forever, domesticated for their meat and feathers, not to mention their guardianship properties. In this episode, we delve into geese in all their beauty and practicality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You need hands to hold someone you love. In fact you need hands for all sorts of things. This episode looks at lots of aspects of hands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grass is everywhere. You can wear it, you can eat it, you can drink it, you can play on it - you can even grow it underwater. Grass is vital to the health of the planet and everyone on it. In this episode, we run our fingers through this wonderful plant in all its iterations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noses. They smell. That's what they're there for. To warn you of bad things, to alert you to good things. To be as plain as they are on your face. In this episode, we dig deep into noses. Not with our fingers, but with our minds! We stick our noses into a foundry of facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It sounds weird. You see a goat dancing having eaten something, and you decide to give it a try. Yet this is the apocryphal story of the origin of coffee. Today it's a massive industry and addicts are rarely seen without a cup - even when walking to work! Today is all about the bean. As always, click on the pics to take a sip of lots more about this brilliant beverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

Kangaroos are weird. They move differently, give birth differently, and they even communicate differently. They're absolutely fascinating. And this episode is different, too. It's a three-hander where we're chatting with our friend on the spot, Gregory Dwyer, all about these extraordinary Australian animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are cooks, and there are chefs. This one is about the latter. Those who train under greatness and go on to achieve greatness themselves - even if, at the end of the day, it's only a plate of food. From the first celebrity chef to the buttons on the overalls, this one is for the foodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beds... We spend a third of our life in them, but where did they originate? And why do men generally sleep on the door side of the bed? Lots of answers in this week's episode.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you like trains? We do. They are to travel what podcasts are to entertainment. You can do lots of other things whilst enjoying getting from A to B. Or in the case of this episode, from Stockton to Beijing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know what a berry is? Think again. So many things that we think of as berries aren't technically berries. Find out what is and isn't a berry in this berry episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's nothing quite like the exhilaration of downhill skiing. The cold, clear mountain air is invigorating, and although skiing has been around since the Stone Age, the downhill version has only been around for a century or so. Dive into the mogul hills of facts in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting from A to B requires a route, and if many people take the same route, that eventually becomes a road. Roads are integral to modern life, and this episode explains what they are and why they're brilliant - especially if, like Bruce, you enjoy driving Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.