Eat the rainbow: what can food colour tell us? 15 Sep 2026 00:22:00
When you're done with your weekly grocery shop, how colourful is your trolley?
We know eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for you, but colour could matter.
Norman and Tegan discuss what gives fruit and veggies their hue and whether it's important when it comes to healthy eating.
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Mouthwash: good or bad for you? 08 Sep 2026 00:23:00
How much time does your oral hygiene routine take? You brush, floss, interdent, maybe even use a tongue scraper.
Is using a mouthwash going to give you any additional benefit? Or could you be doing some harm?
Norman and Tegan answer questions about the effectiveness of mouthwash, what it does to your oral microbiome and why there might be a link to blood pressure.
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Why wear a continuous glucose monitor? 01 Sep 2026 00:22:00
Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, have transformed how people with diabetes manage their blood sugar.
But in wellness circles, more and more people without diabetes are being encouraged to try these devices.
Norman and Tegan get to the bottom of what these devices can actually tell you, and the potential harms.
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Are rest days from exercise necessary? 25 Aug 2026 00:21:00
Not many people would argue that rest isn’t important, but how would you define a rest day?
For an elite athlete a rest day could be going for a long walk. For your average person it could mean sitting on the couch.
Norman and Tegan ask – why is rest important, and do you need it to make progress in the gym?
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What has your nose got to do with sleep? 18 Aug 2026 00:18:00
Have you ever spritzed your pillow with lavender and wondered, is this actually doing anything?
There are some surprising ways that smells can affect sleep, and it might have something to do with how our brains work.
Norman and Tegan discuss how smells, good and bad, could affect your nightly snooze.
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Why do we cry? 11 Aug 2026 00:20:00
Do you feel better after a good cry, or do you feel worse than ever?
There can be a lot to cry about, good or bad: a break-up, a milestone, a tragedy, a sappy movie.
Norman and Tegan discuss why we evolved to cry, and the purpose it serves as we get older.
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What is ultra-processed food? 04 Aug 2026 00:24:00
You might be hearing a lot about ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, and how we should all be avoiding them.
But you might be struggling with figuring out what exactly IS an ultra-processed food. Sweetened drinks, sure. What about bread? Yoghurt?
Norman and Tegan unpack why it isn’t a simple question, and where the evidence stands on the health consequences.
*A previous version of this episode may have implied that the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) board is comprised of current food industry representatives that are directly involved in setting food policy. This was edited on 12/08/2026.
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Body hair removal: healthy or not? 28 Jul 2026 00:23:00
The modification and removal of body hair has been going on for centuries, but our reasons for it have evolved.
Some believe it’s more hygienic to remove, others argue it’s against our nature to be so hairless.
Norman and Tegan trim the evidence on body hair: leg, armpit, pubic and even inside your nose.
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Ashwagandha: what's the evidence? 21 Jul 2026 00:20:00
Ashwagandha supplements are rising in popularity, but the herb has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine.
The supposed benefits are broad – from stress to sleep, athletic performance and boosting testosterone.
Norman and Tegan explore where the evidence stands, and uncertainties about potential risks.
References:
An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda Chemical composition, cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibitory properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal root extracts Chemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects of Withania somnifera for Pharma-Food Industry Applications Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? Exploring the efficacy and safety of a novel standardized ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in adults experiencing high stress and fatigue in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!
How does chronic stress affect the body? 14 Jul 2026 00:22:00
When you're going through a stressful time it can have knock-on effects on your routine.
Sleep, diet, exercise routines can be thrown out of whack. And when that stress goes for weeks or months, it can have a serious impact.
Norman and Tegan unpack the various forms of chronic stress, like burnout, and how they can disrupt your health.
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Why do some people get motion sickness? 07 Jul 2026 00:23:00
Sea sickness, car sickness, space sickness – when it comes down to it, it’s all the same.
But not everybody suffers the same. Some people are even lucky enough to grow out of motion sickness.
Norman and Tegan talk about what’s going on when the world goes topsy-turvy, and what you can do about it.
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How to drive down your cancer risk 30 Jun 2026 00:21:00
Lately there have been lots of scary headlines about cancer rates rising in younger adults.
What can you do to drive down your cancer risk?
Norman and Tegan offer some practical tips, and discuss what's in your control versus what isn't.
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Should you be taking calcium supplements? 23 Jun 2026 00:20:00
Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause.
Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good option
Norman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart?
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Can tapping calm your nervous system? 16 Jun 2026 00:19:00
There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down.
What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out?
Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety.
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Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy? 09 Jun 2026 00:18:00
Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well.
So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong?
Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
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Still coughing — are you still infectious? 02 Jun 2026 00:18:00
Cold season is upon us, so it’s no wonder you’re side-eyeing that person coughing on the bus.
But does a cough mean someone is still infectious? How do you know you’re in the clear to go back to work?
Norman and Tegan talk through the science, and also how attitudes have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Can your joints predict the weather? 26 May 2026 00:19:00
Have you heard the phrases, "aches and pain, coming rains" or about "ill health due to evil winds"?
Many people believe they can feel a change in weather coming on because pain flares in their joints.
Norman and Tegan unpack what could be going on, and whether it's backed by scientific evidence.
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Should you get a full-body MRI? 19 May 2026 00:22:00
It’s good to be on top of your health – but how far would you go to ensure you’re staying healthy?
Ads have popped up for full-body MRIs, promising to catch things from cancer to aneurysms.
Norman and Tegan scan through the potential benefits and risks of looking inside seemingly healthy bodies.
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Deep dive on progressive exercise 12 May 2026 00:22:00
You might've heard the qualifier that exercise is good for you – but you need to be progressing that exercise over time.
Running further, lifting heavier, exercising for longer. How important is it to up the stakes?
Norman and Tegan flex their muscles on progressive training and its benefits.
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Hantavirus: what we know about the cruise ship outbreak 11 May 2026 00:13:00
A cruise ship at the centre of a virus outbreak — sound familiar?
Passengers and crew are beginning to disembark the MV Hondius after several cases of hantavirus sent them into quarantine.
The virus is usually caught through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Transmission between humans is rare.
Norman and Tegan answer common questions about the hantavirus, and how it compares to the handling of COVID-19.
Why is yawning contagious? 05 May 2026 00:17:00
It’s easy to catch a yawn – you might even yawn while you’re reading this.
It’s not just humans that yawn, but all kinds of verterbrates, even fish! But contagious yawning is rarer.
Norman and Tegan unpack why we yawn in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
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Tonsils, appendix, gallbladder: is anything actually useless? 28 Apr 2026 00:20:00
You might know them as "vestigial" organs, but we no longer overlook organs that aren’t vital for life.
While they can be removed, your tonsils, appendix and gallbladder play important roles in the body.
Norman and Tegan define what "vestigial" actually means, and how our bodies adapt to losing an organ.
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Should you be eating more fruit? 21 Apr 2026 00:20:00
Not a fruit lover, but eat plenty of veggies? Ever wondered if skipping that banana might actually matter?
We all know a mix of fruit and vegetables is key to a long, healthy life.
Norman and Tegan dig into whether eating little or no fruit could actually be bad for you.
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Red and other light therapy — can it work? 14 Apr 2026 00:18:00
If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably been advertised light therapy face masks.
These high-tech hockey masks promise to plump up or heal your skin through light – often red, but sometimes yellow, green, blue or even purple.
Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not.
References:
This episode first aired on December 18, 2024.
Why are some people right (or left) handed? 07 Apr 2026 00:19:00
What determines whether you’re right or left handed? Is there really such a thing as being ambidextrous?
It’s a surprisingly complicated story, and culture comes into play – some people are forced to go against their dominant hand.
Norman and Tegan parse through the history of handedness in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
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Headaches: causes, cures and exercise?! 31 Mar 2026 00:21:00
Headaches are common, but the causes are wide and varied, and some are more serious than others.
Why do we get headaches? What's the difference between a headache and a migraine?
Norman and Tegan talk through some basics about headaches, and why a round of squats might help...
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Is a vibration plate worth the cost? 24 Mar 2026 00:23:00
We've all probably wished for a way to achieve our fitness goals without the strain and sweat that can come with exercise.
So what if you could lose weight, gain muscle and improve circulation just by standing on a vibrating platform?
Norman and Tegan buzz through the evidence for and against vibration plates and so called "passive exercise".
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Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine? 17 Mar 2026 00:20:00
Snail slime, or snail mucin, has become a popular product in skin care.
Some claim it has anti-ageing properties, but if the early research shakes out, snail mucus could have even more significant uses.
Norman and Tegan discuss why snail gunk has become a hero of cosmetics, and what else it might be capable of.
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Could headphones be damaging our ears? 10 Mar 2026 00:22:00
Walking down the street, most people you pass will be wearing headphones or ear buds. Chances are you are too!
But is this trend of noise-cancelling harming your ears or the way your brain processes sound?
Norman and Tegan sound out the evidence on headphone use and hearing damage, and what you can do to protect your ears.
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Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer? 03 Mar 2026 00:19:00
Many people believe that taking vitamin C supplements helps their immune system fight off colds.
But there are even bigger claims attached to this supplement – that it not only boosts immunity, but fights cancer.
Norman and Tegan introduce us to the Nobel laureate who pushed these theories decades ago, and whether there’s any truth to them.
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Can peptides keep you young and buff? 24 Feb 2026 00:23:00
Unless you're in certain corners of the internet, you won't be aware of the peptide craze promising to grow your muscles and slow ageing.
That's because your average GP won't be printing a prescription for these injectable drugs, like BPC-157 or melanotan.
Norman and Tegan discuss why there's so much fan fare over unproven peptides with some potentially nasty side effects.
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Can flossing benefit more than your teeth? 17 Feb 2026 00:20:00
Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites?
Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to maintain.
Norman and Tegan pick through the history of flossing, and whether it can improve your heart and brain health too.
Terms and conditions of our World Science Festival Brisbane ticket giveaway!
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Doing nothing: the benefits of boredom 10 Feb 2026 00:22:00
With endless entertainment at your fingertips on your phone, how often do you really sit and do absolutely nothing?
It turns out that even when you’re staring into the middle distance, your brain is firing away with activity.
Norman and Tegan explore why giving your brain a break might be important for learning and creativity.
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Should we all be taking fish oil? 03 Feb 2026 00:21:00
How many times a week are you eating fish? What about oily fish, like salmon and tuna?
Our dietary guidelines recommend the regular consumption of fish to potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and even macular degeneration.
Norman and Tegan dig into the oily history of fish, and whether supplements can have the same effect.
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Should you wait to swim after eating? 27 Jan 2026 00:14:00
It’s so common to tell kids to wait an hour after eating to swim that many of us never question it.
But what are the actual consequences of jumping straight back in the pool after you’ve had your lunch?
Norman and Tegan tackle whether this advice is grounded in evidence, and discuss what you should actually avoid.
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Is retirement bad for you? 20 Jan 2026 00:21:00
Last year Norman made the shocking statement that people shouldn’t retire because it’ll be bad for their brains.
After an influx of requests, we’ve looked at the evidence not only when it comes to brain health, but heart health, metabolic health and mental wellbeing.
Norman and Tegan unpack the complex story of what happens to your brain and body when you retire – depending on the job you had.
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Diet vs exercise: which is more important? 13 Jan 2026 00:21:00
A few weeks into the new year you might be reassessing your resolutions and wondering where to put your energy.
Is it possible to choose between diet or exercise? Or are the two inherently intertwined?
Norman and Tegan try to untangle the untangleable, pitting diet and exercise against one another in different arenas.
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Why you don't need to avoid seed oils 06 Jan 2026 00:17:00
It can be hard to keep up with food fads and diet trends (and spoiler: you don’t need to).
But an intriguing assumption that has gained traction recently is that seed oils – think canola, sunflower, grapeseed – are terrible for you.
Norman and Tegan unpack how that assumption has spread, and whether there’s any solid evidence to back it up.
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Should you opt for aluminium-free deodorant? 30 Dec 2025 00:17:00
We haven’t always suppressed our sweat or our natural body odour, but in many cultures now it’s expected we’ll all try to smell our best.
You might be seeing more ads for ‘natural’ deodorants that promise to keep you fresh without any harmful ingredients.
Norman and Tegan talk through those ingredients, and whether they carry any risks.
This episode first aired on March 19, 2025.
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Why do some people pee more often? 23 Dec 2025 00:16:00
Do you find yourself complaining that you've got a small bladder, as you run to the toilet for the third time in an hour?
There are many reasons a person might pee more than others, including some scary medical conditions.
But as Norman and Tegan explain, in most cases your bladder is just deconditioned and you need to get your urinary tract into shape.
This episode first aired on April 15, 2025.
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Sunscreen spectacular: UV protection, SPF drama, endocrine disruptors 16 Dec 2025 00:21:00
There have been many discussions this year about sunscreen, its effectiveness and its ingredients.
While there are some unknowns, what we’re sure of is sunscreen’s ability to protect us from the sun’s ageing and cancer-causing rays.
Norman and Tegan slip, slop, slap some questions about sunscreen: SPF scandal, endocrine disruptors and vitamin D concerns.
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Do the benefits of creatine go beyond the gym? 09 Dec 2025 00:22:00
Creatine is getting a lot of hype lately, at least according to our listeners.
It’s being pushed for everything from menopause to dementia for its supposed energy-boosting, brain-boosting benefits.
Norman and Tegan explore what is really going on with creatine outside of its muscle-building potential.
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Why do we dream? 02 Dec 2025 00:22:00
Whether or not we remember our dreams, we all have them. But the answer to why we dream is complicated.
There's a lot going on in our brains during sleep, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase when most dreams go down.
Norman and Tegan talk through the purpose of dreams, how time warps as we snooze and whether there are any downsides to these nightly hallucinations.
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What's the best time of day to exercise? 25 Nov 2025 00:15:00
When you’ve got a busy schedule, it’s important to just exercise when you can. But if you have the luxury of choice, is there an optimal one?
You might’ve even heard that exercising at certain times of day can lead to harm.
Norman and Tegan run through the evidence around heart attacks, workouts and what happens when you’re a morning or a night person.
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Should you aim for an alkaline lifestyle? 18 Nov 2025 00:19:00
Humans are slightly alkaline – your blood should be a pH between 7.35 to 7.45. Anything outside that range can be life-threatening.
So why are you being told to follow an alkaline diet? Proponents of the diet claim it can tackle everything from osteoporosis to cancer.
Norman and Tegan do a litmus test on the alkaline-acid balance and whether it’s a driver of chronic disease.
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Anything wrong with falling asleep in front of the TV? 11 Nov 2025 00:20:00
You’re settling into the couch after a long day, ready to relax with your favourite show … next thing you know, you’re asleep.
What is it about the TV that puts people to sleep, and what can you do to avoid dozing off?
Norman and Tegan explore comfort watching, binge-watching and blue light exposure.
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Difference between dry needling and acupuncture? 04 Nov 2025 00:21:00
If you've seen a physiotherapist, you might’ve undergone needling with the promise it will reduce your pain.
Did you receive dry needling or acupuncture? How can you tell the difference between the two?
Norman and Tegan poke through the evidence to find out how effective these techniques can be.
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What is lead doing in protein powder? 28 Oct 2025 00:22:00
You might’ve seen headlines about high levels of lead being found in common protein supplements.
With these products becoming more popular, the news has some eager gym-goers concerned about what they’re consuming.
Norman and Tegan discuss how these results compare to our historical exposure – from Ancient Rome to Australia in the 1960s.
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Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances? 21 Oct 2025 00:21:00
Once you go looking, you realise there are scents in everything – from skincare to cleaning supplies to candles. And of course, perfume.
Are there any implications to our health from taking in natural and synthetic fragrances from all these products?
Norman and Tegan sniff out the evidence when it comes to scent, and whether we should be worried.
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Should you be flexible enough to touch your toes? 14 Oct 2025 00:22:00
Whether you can or not, it feels like a sign of fitness to be able to reach down and touch your toes.
But how important is flexibility when it comes to your physical fitness? Is it a necessary part of healthy ageing?
Norman and Tegan stretch through the evidence on flexibility – when does it count, and how can you achieve it?
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You can listen to more episodes of the What’s That Rash? podcast with presenters Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. We answer your questions on everything from TikTok wellness trends to wonder drugs and diet myths.