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Should you take naps?

Chris and Xand explore why we nap, if it鈥檚 actually good for us, and whether we should all be making time for it.

Welcome to What鈥檚 Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken tackle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.

In this episode, they鈥檙e asking, what鈥檚 the deal with naps? Some people nod off in minutes, while others can鈥檛 manage it at all. So why is napping so different from person to person? Is it actually good for us? Is there a 鈥渞ight鈥 way to nap - and should we all be making time for it? Also, they uncover what鈥檚 really happening inside the brain when we drift off.

To help answer these questions, they鈥檙e joined once again by Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at the University of Oxford.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
Guest: Professor Russell Foster
Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar and Jo Rowntree
Editor: Kirsten Lass
Researcher: Grace Revill
Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
Social Media: Leon Gower
Digital Lead: Richard Berry
Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
Sound Design: Ruth Rainey

At the 麻豆社:
Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A Loftus Media production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Oct 2025 16:30

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Chris van Tulleken
Presenter Xand van Tulleken
Producer Maia Miller-Lewis
Executive Producer Jo Rowntree
Executive Producer Rami Tzabar
Interviewed Guest Kathy Willis
Editor Kirsten Lass
Researcher Grace Revill
Composer Phoebe McFarlane
Commissioning Editor Rhian Roberts
Production Company Loftus Media

Broadcast

  • Tue 21 Oct 2025 16:30

Podcast