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 special episode, recorded before a live audience at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales, Chris And Xand discuss the anatomy of the smile, its evolutionary origins and some of the health claims of smiling. Is smiling uniquely human? Can the simple act of moving our muscles to form a smile make you feel happier? And is smiling the same across cultures and genders? To find out, they’re joined by several experts and an African street dog named Jack.

Featuring Professor Ben Garrod from the University of East Anglia, Dr Magdalegna Rychlowska from Queen’s University, Belfast and Sinead Rushe from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Ben Garrod Producer: Rami Tzabar Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producers: Maia Miller-Lewis and Grace Revil 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

In this ‘uncut’ special episode, recorded before an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, Chris and Xand discuss the anatomy of the smile, explore its evolutionary origins and examine some of the health claims about the power of the smile.

Can a smile really give your brain the same reward as two thousand bars of chocolate? Will putting a pencil in your mouth make you feel happy? And how do you fake the perfect smile when realising you’ve failed to win a BAFTA for the eighth time?! Expect some science and some silliness and a dog that looks like a loaf of bread.

Featuring Professor Ben Garrod from the University of East Anglia, Dr Magdalegna Rychlowska from Queen’s University, Belfast, Sinead Rushe from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and jack the African street dog.

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Ben Garrod, Dr Magdalegna Rychlowska, Sinead Rushe Producer: Rami Tzabar Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producers: Maia Miller-Lewis and Grace Revil 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.

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 find out whether we can conquer boredom. Why do we experience boredom? Do we experience it less than we used to? And how can we motivate ourselves to complete tasks we find boring? They speak to Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg, experimental social psychologist at the University of Essex, to find out.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Grace Revill 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

Chris and Xand continue their conversation about boredom with Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg. They discuss what happens in our brains when we feel bored, whether some people are more prone to boredom than others, and why boredom isn’t always a bad thing.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Researcher: Grace Revill 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.

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

In this episode, they want to get to the bottom of the hype around protein. Should we be worried about not getting enough? What are the best sources of protein? And are protein supplements fact or fad? They speak to Nita Forouhi, Professor of Population Health and Nutrition at the University of Cambridge, to find out.

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Nita Forouhi Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Assistant Producer and Researcher: William Hornbrook 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

Chris and Xand take a deeper dive into the world of protein. They are joined by Nita Forouhi, Professor of Population Health and Nutrition at the University of Cambridge, to discuss which groups of people might need more protein in their diets, how we can best optimise our protein intake, and the joys and challenges of Nita’s research.

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 Nita Forouhi Producer: Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Assistant Producer and Researcher: William Hornbrook 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.

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast show where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore every aspect of our health and wellbeing. In recent years, long-overdue conversations around the menopause have begun to break taboos and change perceptions. But it can still be a confusing or misunderstood topic, especially with the explosion of menopause marketing that’s come alongside increased awareness.

In this episode, they’re joined by Professor Mary Ann Lumsden, gynaecologist and academic at the University of Glasgow, to ask about the challenges she’s seen in her clinic and whether growing awareness has actually translated into better outcomes for women.

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123. Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Mary Ann Lumsden Producers: Emily Bird and Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

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

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken dig deeper into hormone replacement therapies for the menopause and are joined again by Professor Mary Ann Lumsden, gynaecologist and academic at the University of Glasgow. Can testosterone replacement be effective in women? What are the benefits of HRT? Is it right for everyone? And are there gaps in the research?

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Mary Ann Lumsden Producers: Emily Bird and Jo Rowntree Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis 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.