What's Up Docs? Podcast
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.
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 665123
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
Episodes to download
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Daily Dose: Embarrassment
Friday
Chris and Xand return to embarrassment and why it’s an important social emotion.
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Daily Dose: Knees
Thursday
Chris and Xand return to their episode on knees and the advice for looking after them.
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Daily Dose: Menstrual Health
Last Wednesday
In this Daily Dose, Drs Chris and Xand return to their episode on the menstrual cycle.
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Should we be turning over a new leaf in January?
Last Tuesday
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken ask why making changes is so hard.
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Daily Dose: Difficult Conversations
Last Monday
Chris and Xand return to difficult conversations, reflecting on how best to approach them.
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Daily Dose: False Memories
Fri 2 Jan 2026
Chris and Xand return to false memories, asking what they are, and why we all have them.
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Daily Dose: Napping
New Year's Day 2026
In this first Daily Dose, Chris and Xand reflect on what the ideal nap looks like.
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Introducing the Daily Dose
Wed 31 Dec 2025
Need a January refresh? Chris and Xand have it covered with Daily Doses of expert wisdom.
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Doctors' Notes: Joy
Tue 30 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken take a deeper dive into the science of joy.
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Is joy always good for us?
Tue 30 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore joy and why it can be a complicated emotion.
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How can you find comfort in the winter months?
Tue 23 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the true meaning of comfort, past and present.
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Doctors' Notes: Hearing Loss
Tue 16 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand look at how cognitive processing of sound works and what can go wrong.
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What can you do about hearing loss?
Tue 16 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand want to know why hearing loss happens and what can be done about it.
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Can you be ‘addicted to dopamine’?
Tue 9 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken ask what dopamine really is and why it matters.
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Doctors' Notes: Beliefs
Tue 2 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand want to know how beliefs form, spread, and resist change.
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Does what we believe about our health affect it?
Tue 2 Dec 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to know why beliefs about our bodies are so powerful.
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Doctors' Notes: Dry Skin
Tue 25 Nov 2025
The docs want to know about eczema, how steroids can help, and the stigma around skin.
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How should you relieve dry skin?
Tue 25 Nov 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to know why dry skin happens and how to relieve it.
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Doctors' Notes: Hot and Cold Therapies
Tue 18 Nov 2025
Chris and Xand want to know if cold water swimming and contrast therapy are good for you.
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Do hot and cold therapies work?
Tue 18 Nov 2025
Drs Chris and Xand want to know whether it’s good to challenge your body temperature.
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Doctors' Notes: All-or-Nothing Thinking
Tue 11 Nov 2025
Drs Chris and Xand want to know how all-or-nothing thinking occurs in everyday life.
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How to escape all-or-nothing thinking
Tue 11 Nov 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to know what ‘all-or-nothing’ thinking is.
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Doctors’ Notes: Heart Special at BBC Radio Theatre
Tue 4 Nov 2025
Chris and Xand explore the wonders of the human heart, in a specially extended episode.
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How can you look after your amazing heart?
Tue 4 Nov 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the wonders of the heart and how to look after it.
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Doctors' Notes: Psychedelics
Thu 30 Oct 2025
Chris and Xand take a deeper dive into psychedelics and discuss the use of microdosing.
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Doctors' Notes: False Memories
Tue 28 Oct 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken delve further into the research around false memories.
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What should we do about false memories?
Tue 28 Oct 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the role of false memories in our lives.
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Doctors' Notes: Napping
Tue 21 Oct 2025
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to know how napping varies across ages and cultures.













