Belief in conspiracy theories, exercising before work, and living with OCD

It’s not hard to find headlines about conspiracy theories these days, and on social media, they appear everywhere. It would be easy to think that more people are falling victim to conspiracies than ever before, but is there any evidence that this is the case? Claudia Hammond talks to Joe Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, whose work polling the public on their belief in conspiracy theories has revealed some surprising findings.

The term ‘OCD’ is often thrown around without any knowledge of what it really means to live with obsessive compulsive disorder: a condition that, for some, can be debilitating and disabling. Meg, who has lived with OCD for over 30 years, tells Claudia how her OCD affects all aspects of her life, how the pandemic worsened the condition, and who in her life helps her manage the symptoms.

And Claudia is joined in the studio by Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds. Daryl takes us through some of the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology, including the best interventions to change cortisol levels, the benefits of exercising before work, and the association between private renting and biological ageing.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Sophie Ormiston Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum Production Coordinator: Siobhan Maguire Editor: Holly Squire