logo
episode-header-image
May 7
12m 10s

Are saunas and cold plunges actually goo...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Saunas and cold plunges are getting really popular and people say they can boost your mood and come with all sorts of health benefits. So we sent Hannah off to try them out and see what she thought…

In this episode we talk about why so many people are into saunas and cold plunges with Emilia Jansson, a BBC journalist and our resident Finn. Plus we’ll hear if there’s evidence that they’re actually good for you with James Gallagher, our Science and Health Correspondent.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Ash Mohamed Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
May 8
How Sir David Attenborough inspired me to protect our planet
You’ve probably grown up hearing his unmistakable voice in some of your favourite nature documentaries…we’re of course talking about Sir David Attenborough, who turns 100 this Friday. He’s been making wildlife films for more than 70 years, turning nature documentaries into must-s ... Show More
10m 19s
May 6
Hantavirus: How worried should we be?
A cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean has been hit by an outbreak of hantavirus. A number of passengers on the MV Hondius have been infected with the virus, and three have died. Some passengers have been evacuated from the ship and it’s currently anchored off Cape Ver ... Show More
9m 50s
May 5
Does rejection therapy actually work?
What if the best way to stop fearing rejection is to seek it out? Rejection therapy - the idea of deliberately putting yourself in situations where you might be rejected - has exploded on social media. From asking strangers for favours to dancing on trains, people are documenting ... Show More
10 m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Turkey with the good hair
Turkey has become the hair transplant capital of the world. And it's part of a global boom in medical tourism. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean R ... Show More
26m 11s
Sep 2024
Undercover: The Times investigation into Turkish plastic surgery clinics
<p>Medical tourism to Turkey for ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ and liposuction is surging despite the risks.&nbsp;</p><p>The UK government says at least 28 people have died since 2019 as a result of medical tourism to the country.&nbsp;</p><p>Our correspondent goes undercover to expose ... Show More
32m 30s
Sep 2025
Would you have your legs broken to be taller?
Alongside dental work, hair transplants and nose jobs, people from around the world are travelling to Turkey to get leg-lengthening surgery. Ruth Michaelson reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus 
29m 1s
Mar 2025
Turmoil in Turkey: the people vs Erdogan
<p>The arrest and jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkey’s main political challenger to President Erdogan, has sent shockwaves across the country. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest his detention and express growing concerns over Turkey's shift ... Show More
32m 34s
Mar 2025
Erdoğan, not Trump, is Europe's new best friend on security
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and the main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been arrested. So what is Europe doing about it? Staying pretty quiet, it seems. Mass protests are breaking out across Turkey but Brussels is keeping its counsel. In this ... Show More
35m 58s
Sep 2018
Brainwashing, Legal Brothels and Hair Transplants
Is China trying to brainwash Muslim Uyhgurs? Kate Adie introduces stories and insights from correspondents around the world: John Sweeney meets two men who say they fled China after seeing inside a ’re-education camp' in the north-west province of Xinjiang. It’s claimed that up t ... Show More
28m 40s
Jun 2024
TOP Hair Doctor - Baldness Solutions, Hair Growth & Transplants | Dr. Abhishek Pilani | TRS 417
Check out my Mind Performance app: Level SuperMind Android - https://install.lvl.fit/3ywsabo79tgefzzwtshqe iOS - https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1623828602?pt=124995957&ct=Ranveer53&mt=8 Join the Level Community Here: https://linktr.ee/levelsupermindcommunity Check out B ... Show More
1h 20m
Mar 2025
What do the mass protests mean for future of Turkey & Erdogan?
<p>Since last week, Turkey has been rocked by mass protests over the jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on thinly-evidence corruption and terrorism charges. These protests are widely seen as the most significant challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sin ... Show More
29m 23s
Jun 2015
A Turkish Mosaic
Windows on the world. Today: diverse and contradictory views about the Turkish election and the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan from three very different parts of the country; there's now a record number of migrants in the French port of Calais - they're concerned not on ... Show More
27m 43s