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What's That Rash?

What's That Rash?

ABC Australia 250 Episodes Sep 2, 2026

Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.

Episodes

Why wear a continuous glucose monitor?
Why wear a continuous glucose monitor? Sep 2, 2026 0:22:00 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.References:The wellness inspired rise of continuous glucose monitors
Are rest days from exercise necessary?
Are rest days from exercise necessary? Aug 26, 2026 0:21:00 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?References:'No pain, no gain' debunked: Why post-exercise soreness is not e
What has your nose got to do with sleep?
What has your nose got to do with sleep? Aug 19, 2026 0:18:00 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.References:From antiquity to modern hygiene: the archaeological and medicinal legac
Why do we cry?
Why do we cry? Aug 12, 2026 0:20:00 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.References:The Riddle of Human Emotional Crying: A Challenge for Emotion ResearchersThe neurobiology of human cryingEmotional ex
What is ultra-processed food?
What is ultra-processed food? Aug 5, 2026 0:24:00 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
Body hair removal: healthy or not?
Body hair removal: healthy or not? Jul 29, 2026 0:23:00 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.References:Trends in body hair removal as depicted through artGetting plucked:
Ashwagandha: what's the evidence?
Ashwagandha: what's the evidence? Jul 22, 2026 0:20:00 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
How does chronic stress affect the body?
How does chronic stress affect the body? Jul 15, 2026 0:22:00 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.References:Chronic Stress - ScienceDirectPhysio
Why do some people get motion sickness?
Why do some people get motion sickness? Jul 8, 2026 0:23:00 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.References:Motion SicknessValidating sensory conflict theory and mitigating motion sic
How to drive down your cancer risk
How to drive down your cancer risk Jul 1, 2026 0:21:00 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.References:Overview of cancer in Australia, 2025 - Australian Institute of Health and WelfareEffects of diets on risks of cancer and the mediating
Should you be taking calcium supplements?
Should you be taking calcium supplements? Jun 24, 2026 0:20:00 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 optionNorman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart?References:Calcium supplements have 'very little place' in modern
Can tapping calm your nervous system?
Can tapping calm your nervous system? Jun 17, 2026 0:19:00 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.References:How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circlesClinica

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