Sliced Bread

Can mushroom gummies really sharpen your mind, reduce stress, and boost your energy?Listener Daisy has been seeing adverts for mushroom gummies all over her Instagram. These aren't the psychedelic kind of mushrooms - instead they're gummy sweets containing so-called 'functional mushrooms' such as lion's mane and reishi. The companies promise that taking just two a day will provide all sorts of beneficial effects, and some online posts even hint that they can address symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.But do they actually work?To find out, Greg Foot is joined by Dr. Nicholas Money, mycologist and science writer at Miami University in Ohio; and Dr. Helen Wall, GP and menopause specialist.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 [email protected] OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

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 storesAmong 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.

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 domesAmong 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.