What's Up Docs?

BBC Radio 4
What's Up Docs?
Latest episode

115 episodes

  • What's Up Docs?

    Doctors' Notes: Kissing

    10/2/2026 | 20 mins.
    Chris and Xand dig deeper into the evolution of kissing. They ask what first drew our guest into this unusual area of research, why evidence that humans and Neanderthals kissed is so significant, and why it’s so challenging to explain why kissing developed in the first place.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at [email protected] or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Matilda Brindle
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Social Media: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Ruth Rainey
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    Why do we kiss?

    10/2/2026 | 28 mins.
    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken try to get to the bottom of the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
    In this Valentine’s Day-themed episode, they turn their attention to kissing. Why do humans kiss, how did it evolve, and does it offer any biological advantage? They also explore the meaning behind different types of kisses and whether kissing is truly universal among humans – and what it means if it isn’t.
    To help them untangle the science behind one of our most intimate behaviours, they’re joined by Evolutionary Biologist, Dr Matilda Brindle.
    If you want to get in touch, you can email us at [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Matilda Brindle
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Social Media: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Ruth Rainey
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Doctors' Notes: Focus

    03/2/2026 | 24 mins.
    Drs Chris and Xand continue their conversation about focus with Duncan Astle, Professor of Neuroinformatics at the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge University.
    Chris and Xand want to know what the impact of having ADHD is, whether a diagnosis can help and if it can predict anything, the neurology and evolutionary explanations for ADHD, and which interventions are currently available. They also explore some controversial ways of improving focus and hear Dr Astle’s personal and clinical perspective on focus and ADHD.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at [email protected] or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Duncan Astle
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Researcher: Mili Ostojic
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Social Media: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Ruth Rainey
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    How can you improve your focus?

    03/2/2026 | 28 mins.
    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken cut through the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.
    In this episode, Chris and Xand dive into focus and how it can be improved. How do focus and attention work? Are there different types of attention? What impacts your ability to focus? Is social media ruining your focus? How can you improve? They explore the neurology of focus and attention, why you might find it difficult to focus, and how you can get better at it.
    Joining them to discuss this is Duncan Astle, Professor of Neuroinformatics at the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge University, and leader of the 4D Research Group, which looks at childhood development and developmental disorders.
    If you want to get in touch, you can email us at [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Duncan Astle
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Researcher: Mili Ostojic
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Social Media: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Ruth Rainey
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Daily Dose: Laughter

    30/1/2026 | 3 mins.
    In this Daily Dose, Chris and Xand return to their episode on laughter with Professor Sophie Scott CBE, a leading expert in the neuroscience of laughter, from University College London. Sophie explained how laughter is a positive, evolutionary trait that we all go on a journey to understand as we grow up.
    Daily Doses of expert wisdom from previous episodes will be dropping each weekday throughout January (except Tuesdays). You'll find them in the What’s Up Docs? feed on BBC Sounds, alongside all the main episodes of the podcast.

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About What's Up Docs?

In this BBC Radio 4 podcast, Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.Although they are identical twins, Chris and Xand are very different and they never stop thinking and arguing about science and health. They want to lead healthy, happy lives and as doctors, they want this for everyone. Yet they tussle over how best to get there.When it comes to looking after our own health, it can be confusing. Medicine and science produce amazing new treatments and diagnostics every day and we are bombarded with so many headlines and pieces of advice; but how are we supposed to know what's really best for us and then successfully apply it to our lives?Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken embrace this challenge; even as they marvel at the scientific breakthroughs, they grapple with the competing claims about health, wellbeing and how to live.From understanding testosterone therapies to microplastics in our diets, and the concept of 'hangriness' to the power of saying no - this podcast deals with the health stresses we all face every day, while taking on board how the decisions by corporations and governments affect all our health.Each episode, Chris and Xand are joined by an expert guest to examine the latest research, psychological insights, and data, to help listeners navigate the overwhelming amount of information and advice out there. They talk about the trials and tribulations in their own lives in their characteristically witty way - each teasing the other as they search for solutions. Xand has trouble sleeping , Chris has noisy knees, one of them has got an embarrassing itch. They have different ways of looking at things and find it really helpful to get the other one's point of view. These doctors are trying their best and encouraging listeners to do the same.Email: [email protected] Whatsapp: 08000 665123A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
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