• Am I getting enough sleep?
    Apr 22 2025

    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore every aspect of our health and wellbeing.

    In this episode they explore sleep deprivation, something both Chris and Xand experience. Many people have become obsessed with getting the perfect night’s sleep. We’re using gadgets, monitoring how many hours we’re getting each night, and taking supplements. But how worried should we actually be?

    Chris and Xand talk to Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University, to seek some reassurance. How do we stop our lack of sleep from keeping us up at night?

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on sleep deprivation or anything else that caught your attention in this episode - you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp us on 08000 665123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Russell Foster Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researchers: Grace Revill and Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby At the BBC: Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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    29 mins
  • Doctors' Notes: Sleep
    Apr 22 2025

    Chris and Xand dig deeper into sleep deprivation with Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University, Russell Foster. They discuss the evolution of sleep and the difference between sleepiness and fatigue.

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Professor Russell Foster Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researchers: Grace Revill and Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

    At the BBC: Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith

    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.

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    26 mins
  • Do I need testosterone?
    Apr 15 2025

    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore every aspect of our health and wellbeing. In this episode they want to know about testosterone replacement therapy.

    It’s been suggested to Xand that he needs some testosterone replacement therapy - but should he take it? Does testosterone really boost mood, sexual appetite and energy? When testosterone declines in men as they get older and when women go through the menopause, can increasing testosterone offer positive results?

    Chris and Xand are joined by Dr Channa Jayasena, expert in reproductive endocrinology to find out.

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on testosterone or anything else that caught your attention in this episode - you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp us on 08000 665123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Dr Channa Jayasena, Imperial College London Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researchers: Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

    At the BBC: Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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    29 mins
  • Doctors' Notes: Testosterone
    Apr 15 2025

    Chris and Xand dig deeper into the role of testosterone with Dr Channa Jayasena, expert in reproductive endocrinology from Imperial College London.

    They discuss how  testosterone interacts with other hormones, particularly oestrogen and the different roles these hormones play when it comes to male and female biology. They also explore the populism of testosterone.

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this, or any other topic in the series, you can email at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Dr Channa Jayasena, Imperial College London Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researchers: Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

    At the BBC: Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith

    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.

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    19 mins
  • How can I look after my knees?
    Apr 8 2025

    In a new podcast from BBC Radio 4, doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the messy and complicated world of health and wellbeing.

    In this episode they want to know about knee pain - why do we get it, what can we do to treat and prevent it, and should we really just ‘push through it’? They talk to Philip Conaghan, Professor of Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Leeds, to find out.

    If you want to get in touch, you can email at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Philip Conaghan Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Grace Revill Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Production Manager: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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    29 mins
  • Doctors' Notes: Knees
    Apr 8 2025

    Join Chris and Xand for some bonus content, digging deeper into the topic of each week’s episode of What’s Up Docs?

    In this episode they look at knees and are joined by Philip Conaghan, Professor of Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Leeds. They discuss key exercises we can be doing to help with chronic knee pain, what the best kind of pain relief is, and how to ensure longevity of the ligaments.

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this, or any other topic in the series, you can email at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or send us a message or voice note on Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Philip Conaghan, Professor of Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Leeds Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researchers: Grace Revill Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

    At the BBC: Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith

    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.

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    21 mins
  • Am I hangry?
    Apr 1 2025

    In a new podcast from BBC Radio 4, doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the messy and complicated world of health and wellbeing.

    In this episode they want to know about ‘hanger’. Is it real? Or is being hangry just a marketing tool?

    Guest Professor of Social Psychology Viren Swami from Anglia Ruskin University says it's real - but hunger is not the only thing that contributes to our emotional state.

    If you want to get in touch, you can email at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Viren Swami Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Production Manager: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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    29 mins
  • Doctors' Notes: Hanger
    Apr 1 2025

    Join Chris and Xand for some bonus content, digging deeper into the topic of each week’s episode of What’s Up Docs?

    Such is their passion for health and wellbeing that when joined by an expert they find it hard to contain their excitement and the questions just keep coming. Doctors' Notes is the solution. Here, they spend a little more time with the expert and explore some ideas that they can’t get out of their minds.

    In this episode, picking up from their conversation with Professor of Social Psychology, Viren Swami, Chris and Xand take a further look at hanger. Looking into the personal, physical and psychological components of hanger, they delve into the political and social issues attached to hunger.

    If you’d like to share your thoughts on hanger or anything else that caught your attention in this edition of Doctors' Notes or the main episode on hanger, you can email whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665123.

    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Lisa Lipman Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Production Manager: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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    16 mins
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