Sliced Bread

Hosted by BBC Radio 4

Technology Health Fitness Science

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Episodes

217

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Sliced Bread is the series that investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread'? Science presenter Greg Foot finds out. Greg speaks to experts on a bunk-busting mission to test the latest consumer trends chosen by listeners. Do they live up to the hype? Or are they just marketing BS? Greg chats to the experts, dives into the data, performs tests and crunches the numbers before putting his findings back to the listener so they can decide if it’s worth spending their hard earned money on. New episodes of Sliced Bread are released weekly on Thursdays wherever you get your BBC podcasts. But you can listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds first, a week earlier than anywhere else. If you have a suggestion for a product to investigate, you can email the team on sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a WhatsApp voice note via the number 07543 306807. Sliced Bread is produced by BBC Audio North for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 1, 202629 min

Dough - Series 5: Supermarkets

Are self-checkouts here to stay or will we soon be paying without scanning or stopping? Greg Foot examines the future of supermarkets and considers wonder products and trends that might rise to success. Greg is joined by experts and entrepreneurs to discuss what is shaping today's everyday technology and what it may look like tomorrow, before the futurist Tom Cheesewright offers his predictions on what supermarkets might be like within five, ten and fifty years. In this episode: -David McIntosh - chief connected stores officer at Instacart which supplies smart trolleys to supermarkets that scan and weigh goods as they are dropped in and display a running basket total. -Nick Carroll - principal strategist for retail at the research insights company Mintel where he helps the UK's biggest retailers understand what's coming next -Anders Eriksson - chief executive of Swegreen which supplies the kit and support for supermarkets to grow their own fruit and vegetables inside their stores Among the topics up for consideration: What more can be done to stop people from stealing at self-checkouts? Why are printed pricetags disappearing from supermarket shelves? Could smart shopping trolleys steer us to discounts? And might the supermarket of the future not just sell but also grow your produce? Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is an Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

September 24, 202624 min

Dough - Series 5: Pets

Could advances in AI help us have conversations with our pets? Will a raccoon or a robot become the pet of the future? Or will or pets be sharing a seat beside us on the plane as we jet off for our next holiday? In this episode of Dough Greg Foot looks at pets and examines the rise of future wonder products. He's joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we'e seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow, before a leading futurist offers their predictions on what life might be like within five, ten and fifty years. In this episode Greg hears how technology, food innovations and even changes in aviation might transform the future for our pets. With him is the futurist Tracey Follows and guests including; -Professor Daniel Mills: Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at Lincoln University -Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, MRCVS, veterinary director at Pets at Home and Vets for Pets. -Professor Clara Mancini: Professor of Animal-Computer Interaction and Head of the Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory at the Open University Produced by Linda Walker and presented by Greg Foot. Dough is a BBC Audio North Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

September 17, 202624 min

Dough - Series 5: Cinemas

Is streaming really killing off the big screen? Greg Foot examines the future of cinemas and considers wonder products and trends that might rise to success. Greg is joined by experts and entrepreneurs to discuss what is shaping today's everyday technology and what it may look like tomorrow, before the futurist Tom Cheesewright offers his predictions on what cinemas might be like within five, ten and fifty years. In this episode: - Tim Richards - the founder and CEO of Vue cinemas - Patrick von Sychowski - known in the trade as "the Cinema Guru" he's a writer and blogger who works for CinemaNext, the largest installer and upgrader of cinemas across Europe. - Alexis Scalice - Vice President for Business Development & Entertainment at Cosm which is pioneering 'shared reality' cinematic experiences in large entertainment domes Among the questions up for consideration: Why are there more cinemas screenings of films from the past? Why are plastic popcorn buckets becoming collectors' items? And could the cinema of the future be a giant, panoramic dome? Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is an Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

September 10, 202624 min

Dough - Series 5: Gyms

Could weight-loss jabs make gyms less relevant? Greg Foot examines the future of the fitness sector and considers wonder products and trends that might rise to success. Greg is joined by experts and entrepreneurs to discuss what is shaping today's everyday technology and what it may look like tomorrow, before the futurist Tracey Follows offers her predictions on what gyms might be like within five, ten and fifty years. In this episode: Rebecca Passmore - chief operating officer of PureGym Cameron Saunders - chief executive of ukactive Varun Bhanot - co-founder and CEO of Magic AI Among the questions for consideration: Why are gyms becoming more popular? What might the training equipment of tomorrow look like? Will AI-instructors replace personal trainers? Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is an Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

September 3, 202624 min

Dough - Series 5: Money

Could cash be losing its crown as digital money gains ground? Greg Foot looks at money and examines the rise of the wonder products and technologies emerging across the financial sector. He's joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow, before a leading futurist offers their predictions on what life might be like within five, ten and fifty years. In this episode, Greg hears how digital wallets, AI, cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies could reshape the way we earn, spend and save, and asks whether the future of money will be more convenient, more inclusive, or come at the cost of privacy and control. With him is the futurist Tom Cheesewright and guests including: Jack Leslie and Rupal Patel – Bank of England economists and co-authors of Money: The Inside Story Frane Maroević – Director General of the International Currency Association (ICA) Diane Ayres – Vice President and Client Director at Visa, London Produced by Linda Walker. Dough is a BBC Audio North Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

August 27, 202627 min

Experimental Peptides

Is it OK to take experimental peptides like the Wolverine Stack? These are what bodybuilders, longevity gurus, and online influencers are all talking about: experimental peptides. They're chemicals that you can buy online, in packages with names like the Wolverine Stack or the Glow Stack. The websites say "for research purposes only" but talk about their supposed benefits for wound healing and de-aging, and lots of people have been injecting them in a bid to heal faster and look younger. Sliced Bread listener Steve is excited - and has even tried them for himself - but listener Sophie is worried. Both of them are asking whether there's any evidence behind the fantastic claims. To find out the truth, Greg Foot is joined by Dr Andrew Steele, longevity scientist and Director of the Longevity Initiative. All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: JULIA RAVEY, PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

August 20, 202632 min

Laundry Detergents

Pods, liquids and powders: which laundry detergent really cleans up? A trip down the laundry aisle can leave you faced with a welter of confusing marketing claims. From stain-busting formulas and lower-temperature washes to eco-friendly promises, every detergent seems to offer cleaner clothes, lower energy use and a lighter environmental footprint. Listener Rosanna came to Sliced Bread for help making sense of it all. She wants to know what really separates bio from non-bio detergents, whether pods, liquids and powders perform differently and if eco brands live up to their sustainability claims. To get the answers, Greg is joined by Professor Steven Abbott, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an expert in cleaning agents. All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

August 13, 202626 min

Pillows

What makes the perfect pillow? Nothing saying ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’ like a crick in your neck. With up to 70% of us experiencing neck pain at some point in our lives, sleeping in a dodgy position can lead to days of discomfort. And pillows might be part of the problem... Listener Angela has a frozen shoulder, and hoped a new pillow might provide a more comfortable night’s sleep. But with so many options to chose from, which one should she buy? One advertised for her preferred sleeping position? Soft or firm? And what about material: feathers, foam or fibre? She's asked Sliced Bread to help pick out the facts from the marketing fluff. Physiotherapist Dr Chris McCarthy from Manchester School of Physiotherapy joins presenter Greg Foot to discuss the most important factors in selecting the perfect pillow, personalised to you - plus, how to save your sleep when faced with a floppy hotel pillow... All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: JULIA RAVEY, PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

August 6, 202631 min

Air Conditioning

What's the best way to keep your home cool? As heatwave after heatwave pushes temperatures higher across the UK and Europe, air conditioning has become a serious topic. Listener Rachel is one of many people who have turned to a portable air conditioner for relief. About the size of a dehumidifier, these units cool a room by drawing in warm air, chilling it, and venting the excess heat outside through a hose, usually attached to a window. But with hotter summers forecast, Rachel is wondering whether it's worth investing in a fixed, or "split", air conditioning system instead. These systems use an indoor unit paired with an outdoor condenser and are increasingly common in homes across Europe. She wants to know: how much do they cost to buy and run? Are they difficult to install? And how noisy are they in everyday use? Then there are the cheaper "air coolers" that claim to lower temperatures by blowing air over cold water or ice. Do they genuinely cool a room, or are they simply fans with clever marketing? To find out, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Rachel and Professor Richard Fitton, Technical Director of the Energy House 2.0 test facility at the University of Salford. All of our episodes start with your suggestions. If you've spotted an advert, trend or wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

July 30, 202626 min

Language Learning Apps

Can you really learn a new language from apps like Duolingo? Sliced Bread listener Nathan Phelps has been teaching himself Japanese. He’s tried textbooks, tutors, and crucially, language apps on his phone - and he came to us because he’s seen these apps claiming to be “backed by science” to help you “learn a new language, fast”. More recently he’s even seen apps boast about “AI powered features” to help you practice your language skills, available on premium subscriptions. Nathan wants to know: are language apps an effective way to learn? How do they compare to other ways of learning? And can AI really supercharge your language skills? To find out more, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott, Professor of Language Science at the University of Oxford and Director of the Language Learning Lab in their Department of Education. All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT