Do you really know?
Episodes
How does pollution affect my mental health?
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the government, air pollution is the “largest environmental risk to public health”, and accounts for between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths...
What is a ‘sandwich employee’?
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our professional lives, just as in our personal ones, we all wear many hats. But how does juggling all those roles make us feel? For some, it can b...
What is astropsychology?
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Regular listeners will remember how astrology has undergone somewhat of a revival in recent years. Knowledge of terms like “Saturn return” and “...
Which foods should I avoid after their expiry date?
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some expired food products are easy to identify, due to an unpleasant smell, mould, swollen packaging or abnormal colour for example. But others show ...
What are the dangers of overusing paracetamol?
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paracetamol, a staple in UK households, is widely available over the counter and commonly used to alleviate headaches, toothaches, joint pain, flu sym...
What is gooning during masturbation?
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know how an orgasm usually goes, right? It starts with those little shivers, then the heat builds, your heartbeat picks up, everything’s racing ...
Why do we get nightmares?
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the American Academy of Sleep medicine, 50% to 85% of adults experience occasional nightmares, with 2% to 8% of people having nightmares ...
Could the 12-12-12 method help you declutter your home?
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since the 1960s, the minimalist movement has been captivating art and interior design enthusiasts. It’s all about simplicity, emphasising a ret...
What is social jet lag?
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably heard of jetlag, the feeling of fatigue and disorientation that occurs when you travel across different time zones, but did you know...
What are the warning signs of a toxic friendship?
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the warning signs of a toxic friendship? Today is World Friendship Day, a chance to reflect on how important friends are in our lives. Gene...
Orania: what is this town that’s still reserved for white people?
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s start with a number: 63. That’s South Africa’s Gini index score, a measure of income inequality. Zero means perfect equality, 100 means to...
How can I regain energy quickly?
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the summer holiday season draws to a close, ask yourself this. Did you manage to get as much rest as you would have liked? A lot of people out ther...
Where does the myth of the Loch Ness Monster come from?
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Affectionately known as Nessie, the mythical Loch Ness Monster has been a source of fascination and terror for many centuries. Many sightings have bee...
What are pick me boys?
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Self-deprecation can be an endearing trait in some people. After all, it’s important not to take oneself too seriously, isn’t it? But when pick me...
What benefits can we get from journaling?
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a 2016 WHO study, 25% of the global population is likely to develop a mental disorder during their lifetime. But of course there are cert...
What is the two-day rule?
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After enjoying a period of relaxation during the summer, many of us return to studies or work with a desire to develop good habits and a better routin...
What is a testicle bath?
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Still in this day and age, the burden of being responsible for birth control falls mainly on women. You’ve got an almost endless list of reversible ...
What is fatphobia?
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being overweight is a stigma. While around 13% of the world’s population are obese, they are largely absent from the public limelight and often find...
What is ‘Girl Dinner’?
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Girl Dinner is a TikTok phenomena though you would be hard pressed to find any recipes as it is more of a style of eating than anything specific. It...
How quick is premature ejaculation?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the British Association of Urinological Surgeons, somewhere between 20 and 30% of men experience premature ejaculation. But of those men,...
How can you clean your hair without using shampoo?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might think that shampoo is essential for keeping your hair clean and healthy, but there are other ways to wash your hair that don’t involve h...
What is Focus Friday?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be honest: being productive at work on Fridays can be a real challenge. A 2019 study by Accountemps found that Friday was the least common choic...
Does money really make us happy?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, people in wealthier countries are happier on average, but only up to a point. Even in so-called ...
Why is the BRICS bloc expanding?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
During the 15th annual BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 6 new member countries would b...
Does sleeping next to someone improve sleep quality?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever cursed your luck at having a partner who snores, or spends the whole night tossing and turning in bed? It can be tempting to consider ab...
Are micro naps actually effective?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After lunch, many of us get that familiar afternoon slump, an overwhelming urge to just doze off for a little while. And on weekends or during holida...
Which foods mustn't you put in the microwave?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The microwave first emerged in the 1950s and has since become a common fixture in kitchens worldwide. 2018 data from Statista showed that 93% of UK ho...
What is climate shadow, the newest way to measure your impact on global warming?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of carbon footprint dates back to the early 2000s and ironically was introduced by oil giant BP. But recently, a new concept was created: the...
What advantages does pretty privilege give attractive people?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Of course, as the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but even as children we all kind of realise who’s seen as physically attrac...
How did Ozempic get so popular?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about a diabetes medicine which has gained a reputation for leading to weight loss. Ozempic became popular among Hollywood celeb...
What are plant milks?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plant milks have been all the rage for a number of years now, and they’re gradually taking up more and more space on supermarket shelves, to the det...
What do masculinists mean by a "soyboy"?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At first glance, it’s a jab at men who don’t eat meat, especially those who drink soy milk. But pretty quickly, it took on a political edge. Tod...
What is the soft evening concept from Tiktok?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel frustrated about work dominating your life? Maybe in your free time, you try to make up for that by enjoying yourself and having a bu...
How can I overcome my fear of speaking in public?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a study conducted by the Statistic Brain Research Institute in 2016, 74% of the global population feels uncomfortable speaking in front o...
What is the best time of year to find work?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The SeptemberSurge hashtag has accrued 12.9M views on the platform at the time of recording. The trend suggests that September is the ideal time to fi...
What is microwork?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Microwork is paid work which usually involves short and repetitive tasks carried out on a smartphone or computer. It could be identifying objects show...
Why is the UK not as happy as it used to be?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the World happiness report, of the 137 countries they include, the UK has fallen to 19th position. This follows a steady decline over the...
Is it bad to drink coffee after 4pm?
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the British Coffee Association, we drink around 98 million cups of coffee per day in the UK. That’s around one and a half cups for ever...
What is future faking?
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I can’t wait for us to get married;” “Let’s travel the world together;” “We’re going to have two kids and buy that apartment across t...
Do you know about home design maximalism?
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In past episodes of Do You Really Know, we’ve talked about a number of Scandinavian lifestyle trends, like death cleaning and hygge for example. Bot...
How can I cope with post holiday blues?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there, haven't we? That moment when a holiday comes to a close and the reality of everyday life sets in. The post-holiday blues, that f...
What are happy hormones?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent scientific brief from the World Health Organisation, explained that anxiety and depression had increased by 25% worldwide over the first year...
What do I need to know before getting laser eye surgery?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shortsightedness or myopia affects long distance vision, preventing people from seeing objects over a few yards away. You may remember we covered the ...
Can you improve your relationship by learning your love language?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gary Chapman is the author of The Five Love Languages, a book first published in 1992 that outlines how people express and experience love. He argues...
What is the keto diet?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the keto diet? The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet which allegedly helps weight loss and fighting diseases such as diabetes, epil...
What should you do after having unprotected sex?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s happened to most of us at least once. A condom breaks, it turns out the girl forgot to take her pill, or you got carried away and had sex even ...
Is it a bad idea to fall asleep in front of screens?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re surrounded by screens all day, right up until we go to bed. Our lives are intertwined with technology, from the smartphone alarms that wake us...
What is false memory syndrome?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been sure about a memory only to be told you’ve got it wrong? It’s a common experience: you confidently recall a detail from the pas...
Can a messy desk help some people work better?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”. If you’re obsessed with having a tidy work environ...
Why is my circadian rhythm so important?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve no doubt heard references to the existence of body clocks, and it’s no surprise because all of our bodily functions are regulated by the ci...
How can I save money on back-to-school supplies?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The start of any school year is always an emotionally charged time, whether you’re a child or an adult. But as a parent that excitement can quickly ...
Could smartphone use be giving you text neck?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to data from Finder.com, the average Brit now spends 4 hours and 14 minutes using their smartphone each day. It’s hardly surprising; smart...
Could brain dumping help you manage your anxiety?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Overthinking can be a real cause of anxiety for some people. Have you ever struggled to get to sleep at night with all the thoughts running through yo...
Is intermittent fasting really effective?
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Intermittent fasting has been making waves, especially on social media, where it's often hailed as a miracle fix for weight loss. While it's no silver...
Could hot rodent men be the new male ideal?
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Society’s beauty standards constantly evolve, and sometimes in surprising ways. The terms "rodent man" and "hot rodent man" have gone viral on TikTo...
Should we all be working a 4 day week?
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the unsuspected consequences of a global pandemic is a re-evaluation not only of how we work but what work means to us. For some the flexibili...
What to do when you’re exhausted after your holidays?
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It may come as a surprise, but for some, summer isn’t always a time for rest and recharging. Quite the opposite, in fact. This phenomenon, known as ...
What does it mean to be a seenager?
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard the term "seenager" being used lately. It's a new buzzword that describes a demographic group that's becoming increasingly importan...
How can you change your body odour?
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Much like your fingerprints, your body odour is totally unique to you. It varies from person to person based on the chemical makeup of their sweat, wh...
What is sign singing?
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deafness is known for being an invisible disability, which can lead to exclusion and loneliness. According to a Human Rights Watch article from 2019, ...
Are women really more emotional than men?
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Irrational”, “overdramatic”, “hysterical”, “sensitive” - if you’re a woman you have most likely been described using one of these wor...
What is the olive theory from Tiktok?
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The olive theory actually started trending on Tiktok as of early 2023, leading younger generations to get familiar with How I Met Your Mother and on...
What is dissociative identity disorder?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Still to this day, this psychological condition is most often referred to by its previous name: multiple personality disorder. That’s in particular ...
Are electric toothbrushes really more effective?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Electric toothbrushes come with a head that makes small circular movements automatically. Studies have shown that, for the same amount of brushing tim...
Why do we get bad breath in the morning?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to The Cleveland Clinic, around one in four people are affected by bad breath. It’s also known as halitosis and bad breath can be a source...
What is environmental racism?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is environmental racism? We’ve covered a lot of environmental issues on Do You Really Know? so regular listeners will be well aware of how th...
How are social media influencers making money through rage baiting?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2020, TikTok has allowed its creators to make money by posting on the platform. To do so, they need at least 10,000 followers and to rack up 100...
Which cooking method is the healthiest?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cooking not only destroys bacteria and germs but also makes food more digestible, especially meat. It changes the taste, appearance, color, and mos...
Is living by the sea better for your health?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t know about you, but I find that there’s something about the seaside air which just always makes me relax and puts me in a better mood. As ...
What's the best time of day to have sex?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the years, many surveys have looked into what time of day people say they most enjoy having sex, but the findings have varied drastically. For i...
What happens in the brain when we lie?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has lied at least once in their life. But did you know that we lie at least once a day? This surprising conclusion comes from an American stu...
What is 'Tomato Girl summer'?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might have seen this term on TikTok, Instagram or Pinterest, but do you really know what it means? ‘A Tomato Girl Summer’ is a retro trend ins...
What are plant milks?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plant milks have been all the rage for a number of years now, and they’re gradually taking up more and more space on supermarket shelves, to the det...
How do I know if I'm allergic to gluten?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, gluten-free diets have become more and more popular. No doubt you’ve seen “Free From” aisles in your local supermarket, and you...
How to use less water?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Water footprint matters because scientists have calculated that the climate crisis makes drought 20 times more likely, while the UN predicts that dem...
What are the most hydrating foods?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know staying hydrated is crucial for feeling fit and healthy. The general recommendation is to drink between 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day. B...
What are the alternatives to air conditioning?
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As summers get hotter, more and more people are turning to air conditioning to cool down buildings and vehicles. Not only does it make us more comfort...
Why do we get addicted to social media?
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A report from CyberCrew revealed how UK residents spend an average of 110 minutes per day on social media. Many of us start scrolling before we’ve e...
Is sleeping in bad for your health?
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t know about you but for me not having to set an alarm on a Saturday or Sunday morning is really one of life’s simple pleasures. With my pac...
Should my next holiday be a staycation?
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
May 29th was Spring Bank Holiday in UK. Going on holiday is cool, but not always within reach for everyone. It requires time, as you may need to get y...
What are 4 tips for fighting fatigue?
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If there’s one unpleasant feeling we’re all familiar with, it’s tiredness. At the start of the new school year, it can be particularly prevalent...
Is it bad to drink water with a meal?
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's often said that drinking water while eating can make the stomach swell, causing bloating. But in reality, there are no studies to back that up. S...
What is the Smurfette Principle?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does that ring a bell? How many of you spent hours in front of the Smurfs as children? We’re sure you remember the smiley little girl with blond hai...
What is chemical submission?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may have seen headlines in recent weeks about a deeply shocking French court case. A man has admitted drugging his wife with powerful sedatives ov...
Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A comfy mattress, be it firm or soft, and a good pillow are all essential for a good night’s sleep but increasingly people are also buying weighted ...
What is cookie jarring in the dating world?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have an ex who seems to always get back in touch whenever they’re feeling lonely and have no one else in their sights? Or how about this: ...
What is sexsomnia?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know someone who talks in their sleep, or occasionally sleepwalks around the house, perhaps even heading to the kitchen to prepare a nighttime ...
Should you be reducing salt in your diet?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Salt is a common ingredient in many foods, and it’s essential for our health. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, two minerals that help regulat...
What is hobby dating?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Perhaps you've already experienced that awkward feeling on a first date when you don't really know what to say to each other. Having a drink or going ...
Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may well have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you shouldn’t skip it. But did you know that prior to the indus...
Is there any truth that lemon water is good for you?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lemon water is a popular drink that many celebrities and wellness gurus swear by. But is it really as good as they claim? Or is it just another fad th...
What three things do I need to know about the clitoris?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The clitoris is the only organ in the human body that’s dedicated solely to pleasure. It doesn’t have any muscles or play any role in the body's o...
What is de-extinction?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is de-extinction? The process of de-extinction is all about bringing extinct species back to life. It became known in the 2010s, thanks to an a...
What is domotics, the technology behind smart homes?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever had a “conversation” with Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa, you may well have been using a domotics system, without necessarily kn...
Is it a good idea to sleep with my pet?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ever slept with a cat or a dog, you know how cozy it can be. Whether they are at the foot of the bed or on the duvet, pets can make you fe...
Why do web addresses start with www?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might be surprised to learn that the famous “www” in website addresses didn’t originate in Silicon Valley or New York, but at the European O...
How do you explain intuition?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all experienced those gut feelings, hunches, or flashes of insight that seem to come from nowhere. But what exactly is intuition, and can it be ...
What are the best techniques for giving oral sex to a woman?
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Society tends to make sex all about penetration, but it really doesn’t have to be that way. Giving your partner oral sex can be an invigorating expe...
How can I cut my summer holiday spending?
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to comparison website Finder.com, UK residents plan to spend an average of over £2100 on holidays abroad in the year 2023. Spending abroad ...
How can you improve your memory and recall skills?
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Memory is the ability to store and retrieve information, and recall is the process of accessing that information when needed. Both are essential for ...