How can the bicycle industry recover from sales that plummeted after the pandemic? The entrepreneur, Sam White, hosts Dough - the BBC Radio 4 series which looks at the business behind profitable everyday products and where the smart money might take them next. In each episode, Sam, and the futurist, Tom Cheesewright, are joined by product manufacturers and industry experts whose inside knowledge gives a new appreciation for the everyday things that we often take for granted. Together they look b...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min
Could washing machines soon be cleaning our clothes without using any water? The entrepreneur, Sam White, hosts Dough - the BBC Radio 4 series which looks at the business behind profitable everyday products and where the smart money might take them next. In each episode, Sam, and the futurist, Tom Cheesewright, are joined by product manufacturers and industry experts whose inside knowledge gives a new appreciation for the everyday things that we often take for granted. Together they look back on...
Mar 13, 2025•25 min
Game consoles have come a long way since the 1970s but could their days now be numbered? The entrepreneur, Sam White, returns with a new series of Dough - the BBC Radio 4 show which looks at the business behind profitable everyday products and where the smart money might take them next. In each episode, Sam, and the futurist, Tom Cheesewright, are joined by product manufacturers and industry experts whose inside knowledge gives a new appreciation for the everyday things that we often take for gr...
Mar 06, 2025•25 min
Listener Angela is a musician, and long-time wearer of Hearing Aids – but as her parents and friends have started reaching an age where they might need them, she’s wondering what advice to give them - and whether paying more for a hearing aid, and potentially going private – would really help? There’s no question – Hearing Aids are Sliced Bread – but can the top end products really deliver on claims they can improve sound, reduce background noise, stream directly from phones or tables, and chang...
Feb 27, 2025•29 min
Edinburgh gardener Alan got in touch with Sliced Bread, to ask if he really needs to be spending money on buying and applying plant food or fish, blood and bone meal to his roses and woody perennials? He was keen to know what is in these commercial plant foods that come as a solid, liquid or granule, how often he is supposed to use them, whether they make as much of a difference as they claim, and if he can save money by making his own “mulch” out of fallen leaves? Greg Foot investigates with th...
Feb 20, 2025•25 min
Do Boiling Water Taps save you money? They're often seen in offices but boiling water taps are increasingly popular for the home kitchen too. They hold hot water at a constant temperature in a tank under your sink and claim to save you money compared to boiling a regular kettle. But does the evidence back up the marketing hype? Listener Jenny got in touch with Sliced Bread because she's upgrading her kitchen and is thinking about investing in a boiling water tap. She's keen to know how the figur...
Feb 13, 2025•30 min
Grounding Sheets - do they really work? It's perhaps the most-requested product in Sliced Bread history but is there any real science behind grounding (or 'earthing') sheets? The claims made for them are wide and varied - from reducing inflammation and pain, to helping with sleep. How do they do this? Proponents say grounding sheets connect you to the Earth's own electrical field and dissipate electrical charges in your body, built up though everyday activities like wearing rubber-soled trainers...
Feb 06, 2025•30 min
Which cooking oils are best for your health? Listener Sarah got in touch after seeing claims on social media that more expensive oils are better for you than regular vegetable, or rapeseed oil. And listener Kamal sent us a voicenote asking about coconut and avocado oil - both touted as healthier alternatives to other types of oil. Are they worth the extra cost? And what about health concerns if certain oils are overheated? To get the answers Greg is joined by Professor of Population Health and N...
Jan 30, 2025•32 min
Listener Helen from Manchester got in touch to ask about Protein Powders, as she considered replenishing her supply that she’s been taking after long distance runs. She wanted to know if Whey or Plant-based protein really can help her build and repair muscle, whether there’s a set amount she should be having, if one type is better than the other, or if she could just get the protein she needs from her food – and save on buying another bag? Greg Foot brings back Professor of Human Physiology, Spo...
Jan 23, 2025•26 min
Listener Steve got in touch with us after trying out a set of Smart Scales himself. He wanted to keep an eye on his protein levels – which his scales claimed to do – for health reasons, and because he’d heard that we need more protein as we get older. His scales also promised to show him his body fat, muscle mass, and bone mass via a corresponding app on his phone. However, some of those readings didn’t seem quite right – making him question how accurate his scales are, and if they can REALLY te...
Jan 16, 2025•25 min
Can you insulate your home for less than £100? With winter setting in listener Robin got in touch with Sliced Bread to find out if there's a way he can insulate his very old, very cold Victorian house on a budget. He's seen plastic films that go over the windows and silver foil-type backings that go behind the radiators. Do any of them work to keep the cold out and more of that precious heat in? And what about other solutions like thick curtains or blinds - can they be effective? Greg is joined ...
Dec 26, 2024•27 min
The team has gone through over 100 episodes of Sliced Bread, and carved out five popular products that may well be heading down a chimney to you this Christmas. Greg Foot will share with you the key points from experts we’ve spoken to on Air Fryers, Mascara, Perfume, Running Shoes, and DNA Ancestry Tests - as well as their conclusions in one handy festive slice! We’ve also updated some of the topics too. (The information in this episode was correct at the time of recording.) And as always, all o...
Dec 16, 2024•42 min
Can wonder products halt hair loss and grow back luscious locks? We're back with a new series of Sliced Bread and a fresh batch of investigations into your suggested wonder products. First up this time are lotions and pills that promise to stop hair loss - and even grow it back. For this episode Greg is joined at our Salford studios by two listeners, Ian and Kimberley. Ian got in touch about two products he's seen - Minoxidil and Finasteride - which he hopes can help with male pattern baldness. ...
Dec 12, 2024•36 min
The mobile phone retailer, Phones 4u, was hugely profitable, so why did it have to close all of its 700+ shops? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington and the entrepreneur, Sam White discover how Phones 4u ended up toast with help from expert guests including: John Caudwell - Phones 4u founder Nikki Barrow & Chris Papageorgiou - former Phones 4u staff members Ian White - editor of Mobile News magazine Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BB...
Dec 05, 2024•25 min
Dan-Air was one of Britain's biggest airlines and took millions of people on their first package holidays. So, why did such a successful business end up 'toast'? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White look into it. They are joined by: -Graham Simons - Dan-Air historian and author of the book 'The Spirit of Dan-Air' -Jackie Stacey & James Hoffmeister - former Dan-Air cabin crew Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio ...
Nov 28, 2024•25 min
Our Price Records was one of Britain's biggest music retailers offering cut-price albums at over 300 local high street stores. So, why did the chain disappear even before the internet transformed the music industry? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White, examine the retailer's fortunes. How did it manage to become so successful? And why did it end up 'toast'? The pair are joined by expert guests including: -Neil Boote - former commercial director at Virgin...
Nov 21, 2024•25 min
Kodak made photography mainstream so why did it falter in a digital age? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers how Kodak rose to become a massive global enterprise best known for its cameras and film. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. Kodak is still trading profitably but is now a much smaller business than it once was. Sean and Sam hear from expert guests including: Kamal Munir - Professor of Strategy &...
Nov 14, 2024•25 min
Why did we lose Reader's Digest magazine when it is still going in America? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers what happened to the brand which started over a hundred years ago and became the most widely read magazine in the world. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. How did a magazine which pinched articles from other publications become so successful? And why did it end up toast in the UK? Sean speaks...
Nov 07, 2024•28 min
Listener Liz has recently switched to a coffee pod machine, that promises to deliver her a quick, convenient and delicious cup of coffee when she wants at the touch of a button. But she started to wonder about how the pods can be recycled, and whether her decision to swap to them had a greater impact on the environment? Greg Foot ‘filters’ through the research on coffee’s carbon footprint alongside two experts, to find out where pods fall. He tastes the difference between a few different brewing...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min
Do we really need all those cleaning sprays? Have a peek in anyone’s cupboard under the sink (ask first or it can get a bit weird) and you’re bound to find a clutch of cleaning sprays and products. The marketing often says they’re designed for certain rooms and do specific jobs. But listener Alice wants to know if we really need different sprays for our bathrooms and kitchens. Will soap and water do the same job, and what about supermarket own-brand products? She’s also keen to know about the cl...
Oct 24, 2024•30 min
Can taking special supplements help us to live longer? It's the 100th episode of Sliced Bread and to mark the occasion we're investigating the pills and supplements that claim to help us live longer - and more healthy - lives. Listener Soly has heard about so-called 'biohackers' such as Bryan Johnson in the US, who are trying to turn back the clock on their biological age and reverse the process that makes their bodies vulnerable to illness and disease. Each day they're taking a special blend of...
Oct 17, 2024•33 min
Does a session in a float tank work wonders for your mental health and exercise recovery? Listener Maddy has heard a lot about float tanks and joins Greg Foot to find out if it really is the latest product worth spending money on. She’s a keen runner and wants to know if claims that it can help with exercise recovery stack up. And what about the effects on the brain? When Maddy's partner recently paid for a session in a float tank he reported a sense of both relaxation and euphoria, which helped...
Oct 10, 2024•32 min
Listener Nikki from Essex has a problem in her garden with a certain slippery character – the slug. She told Sliced Bread that she’s lost many a plant to them, and had to abandon growing certain kinds altogether – because while they’re being a nuisance, she doesn’t want to harm them. She has been researching non-lethal slug repellents, and wants to know if they actually work? Can things like egg shells, copper tape and wool pellets stop them in their slimy tracks? We speak to principal entomolog...
Oct 03, 2024•29 min
Do drinks and powders with electrolytes help to hydrate you better? Listener Rob got in touch as he’s recently taken up a new sport and wants to know if electrolytes can help his performance and recovery. He’s seen lots of adverts on social media for drinks and powders containing electrolytes that claim to hydrate you better than just plain water. But do they? To find the answers, Greg speaks to Graeme Close, Professor of Human Physiology and Head of the Research Institute for Sports and Exercis...
Sep 26, 2024•30 min
Listener Raffi is tired of his morning coffee going cold by the time he's ready to drink it. There are plenty of products out there promising to do a better job than Raffi's flask, and they come with a range of price tags. But how do they work and what is the ideal drinking temperature? Dr Michael de Podesta, a chartered physicist and measurements expert, has been looking into these very questions. He joins Greg and Raffi in the studio to run through his experiments - and explain how 'double wal...
Sep 19, 2024•29 min
Greens powders are made up of dozens of ingredients, which are ground up and added to water. They claim to do all sorts of things for our bodies, like give us extra energy, clearer skin, boost our gut health and reduce bloating. But they're not cheap. So what's in them and do they work? That's what listener Sofie, whose social feeds have been bombarded with adverts for greens powders, wants to know. She's not alone - we've had lots of messages asking us to look into these products. To get some a...
Sep 12, 2024•29 min
Lots of people use a foam roller, either before after exercise. It's not usually a very comfortable experience - as Greg finds out in this episode - but is worth the pain? Can they really increase flexibility before exercise, and ease our muscles afterwards? Is it any better than stretching? As you'd expect, there are plenty of claims around these products, which cost anything from a tenner to more than £100 for a vibrating version. We're going right around the world for this one - listener Bren...
Sep 05, 2024•30 min
Do more expensive dishwasher tablets clean better? And how do eco versions stack up? We are back with a new series of Sliced Bread and even more investigations into your suggested wonder products! We'll also be hitting a significant milestone during this batch of programmes so look out for more on that. First up - dishwasher tablets. Listener Deborah got in touch after hearing our deep-dive into dishwashers themselves and had some burning questions about the tablets we put in them. Do more expen...
Aug 29, 2024•29 min
Could fridges make way for kitchen cabinets that don't just keep food fresh but actually grow it? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products, assessing where the smart money is going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of refrigeration including: Federica Torelli – Head of Product Management with Smeg which makes fridge freezers. E...
Aug 15, 2024•25 min
Will anyone iron clothes in the future? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products, assessing where the smart money is going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of garment care including: Leonor Carneiro - the category leader for garment care at Versuni which owns the Philips brand and is famous for making products including steam ...
Aug 08, 2024•25 min
