Sciencetits

This week on Sciencetits, we, Dr. Brenda Finney and Dr. Frances Hall gleefully abandon the lab coats (but not the curiosity) to explore a different kind of science altogether: the science of getting dressed without wanting to cry in a fitting room. And to guide us through the complex equations of style, confidence, and chest‑related mysteries, we welcome the brilliant and endlessly delightful Anna Berkeley.Anna isn’t just a stylist — she’s basically the Marie Curie of clothes, minus the radiation and plus some extremely chic trousers. With nearly 30 years in the fashion trenches, she’s worked with over 130 global brands, spent seven years buying designer denim at Selfridges, jet‑setted to fashion weeks around the world, and written for a lineup of publications so impressive it makes the rest of us feel like we’ve wasted our lives (The Times, The Telegraph, FT, Stella, Red, etc.). In 2023, she took all that expertise and distilled it into Think Shape, the groundbreaking app that helps women understand fit, proportion, and why that top you loved on the hanger makes you look like a disgruntled lampshade.In this episode, we rewind all the way back to Anna’s early days in fashion buying, where she discovered what women actually want from clothes (spoiler: things that fit) and how working behind the glamorous storefronts, with other stylists and hundreds of women gave her a PhD‑level understanding of body shapes and how to help us find our style.Then we dive into the big question: Why did the world need Think Shape? Anna talks about the experiences that sparked the app, the recurring frustrations she saw in women’s shopping experiences, and the realisation that figuring out your proportions shouldn’t require a protractor, an anthropology degree, and three glasses of wine.We also get into the hot topic of the moment: how modern fashion often ignores the glorious diversity of women’s chests. (Don’t worry, it’s all aboveboard and scientifically phrased.) Anna breaks down how her Body Map process finally gives women vocabulary — and solutions — for understanding their upper‑half architecture. Necklines, structure, balance… it’s basically the TED Talk you didn’t know you needed.From there, we explore what it was like for Anna to transform her stylist superpowers into software. She shares the weirdest challenges of making an app that feels personal, not judgemental, and how she managed to keep Think Shape empowering instead of becoming yet another digital gremlin whispering, “Have you tried being smaller?”Finally, Anna reflects on the unexpected joys (and shocks) of becoming a tech founder, plus the early user feedback that shaped Think Shape into the game‑changing tool it is today.It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s surprisingly educational, and it might just change the way you get dressed tomorrow morning.LINKS:https://www.annaberkeley.com/ https://www.think-shape.com/As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin Kasyanov

Our guest this episode once got told off for breastfeeding in a kiddie pool... Join us this week as we talk to Dr. Ellie Syddall, A&E doctor and breastfeeding advocate for her patients and fellow doctors.Incidentally, where is the weirdest place you have breastfed?In this lively and heartfelt episode, we dive into what it really looks like to balance medical training with the realities of raising a young family. Dr. Ellie shares candid stories from her years in A&E—sometimes pumping between shifts, sometimes studying for exams with a baby attached—and the resilience it takes to navigate a system that isn’t always designed with parents in mind. We explore how becoming a mother reshaped her identity as a doctor, giving her deeper empathy for patients and a sharper awareness of how healthcare can better support new parents.From latch struggles to public‑feeding confrontations, we unpack the trials of breastfeeding with warmth and humour, including the myths that stubbornly refuse to disappear—from “you have nipple thrush” to “lanolin is great for sore nipples” Ellie helps debunk each one with evidence, clarity, and the occasional eye‑roll.We also talk about what genuine support looks like, whether you’re a partner, friend, colleague, or a stranger in the supermarket. Spoiler: unsolicited advice isn’t helpful, but turning up with brownies almost always is.Finally, we revisit our own early breastfeeding days, sharing the awkward, chaotic, and unexpectedly joyful moments that come with learning how to use your boobs for the purpose they were actually designed for. This episode is equal parts informative and hilarious—a celebration of the messy magic of feeding babies, the communities that lift us up, and the women who manage to do it all while saving lives on the side.As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall.Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks:1.     MiLC – Medics Lactation Community, https://www.facebook.com/groups/480916214609440/2.     IBCLC = International Board of Lactation Consultants3.     The boob remembers! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/6166704.     National Breastfeeding Helpline – (UK) 0300 100 0212, https://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/5.     National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline – (USA) 1-800-994-9662

This episode we do a rundown on the key stages of how breasts develop from the fetus to puberty. WITHOUT trying to spend too much time remembering how much of a horror show puberty was… Anyway, Brenda also found some statements about this process from across the internet and poses them to Frances throughout, and some of them are truly unhinged (Toothpaste?!). Making us want to reiterate, DO NOT believe everything you see on the internet. 1.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3706056/ a.      Breast development review2.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6234077/ a.     General genital development3.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2863107/ a.     Longitudinal tracking of development4.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483246/ a.     Genes and Breasts5.     https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/135/6/995/65043/Mammary-development-in-the-embryo-and-adult-a6.     https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2397847320936281 a.     Hormones in meat and growth

Ever wondered why mammals are called mammals? Spoiler: it’s all about the milk. In this episode of Sciencetits, we venture into the evolutionary origins of the mammary gland. We trace the timeline back to when glands first started secreting nutritious goo and as the theory goes not just for offspring, long before marketing made cleavage a cultural phenomenon.Where did milk come from? Turns out, it wasn’t invented by cows—it likely began as a skin secretion to keep eggs moist (talk about multitasking). Over millions of years, evolution said, “Let’s make this dinner, for the kids” and voilà: lactation.But here’s the kicker—why do humans have breasts that stick around even when we’re not nursing? Most mammals only flaunt them during feeding season. We explore theories ranging from sexual selection (thanks, Darwin) to fat storage and signaling fertility. It’s science, it’s history, and yes, it’s a little cheeky. Tune in for an episode that proves evolution has a sense of humor—and a soft spot for mammary innovation.As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks/Refrences:Oftedal, OT. The Evolution of Milk Secretion and its Ancient Origins. Animal, 6:3, 355-368, 2012Capuco, AV and Akers RM. The Origin and Evolution of Lactation. J. Biol, 8:37, 2009thenode.biologists.com, Exploring Mammary Gland Development and Evolution with Organoid TechnologyPawlowski, B and Zelazniewicz, A. The evolution of perennially enlarged breasts in women: a critical review and a novel hypothesis, Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 96:6, 2021

This week we dive into the science of friendship and stress. Prompted by a social media post claiming that women’s friendships help them handle stress better, Brenda investigates the origins of this claim—only to discover the cited “recent” study dates back to 2000 and isn’t even primary research.Together, the hosts unpack the “tend-and-befriend” theory, a biobehavioral hypothesis proposed by UCLA researchers that suggests women respond to stress through nurturing and social bonding. The paper, published in Psychological Review, synthesizes findings from psychology, neuroendocrinology, and evolutionary biology, but notably lacks empirical data. Brenda and Frances explore the implications of theoretical models in science, the importance of distinguishing between hypothesis and evidence, and how scientific ideas evolve through citation and critique—this one has over 5,600 citations!With their signature blend of humor and insight, the duo challenge listeners to think critically about what “recent” means in science and how social connections shape our health. Tune in for a smart, sassy look at friendship through the lens of science.As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks:Biobehavioural Responses to stress in females: tend-and-befriend, not flight-or-flight, https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2000-08671-001.htmlAcute Stress Processing in Burnout, https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-658-49752-1.pdf Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB (2010) Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Med 7(7): e1000316. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316 https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-03055-7 Presence of a Friend is Associated with Progesterone Response after Social Exclusion, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5496214

In this unapologetically raw and refreshingly honest episode, Hayley Field—aka the Lifestyle Ninja—joins us to tear down the myths, marketing fluff, and outright nonsense that plague the fitness and wellness industry, especially when it comes to menopausal women. With her signature no-BS attitude and a few well-placed expletives, Hayley dives into what actually works when it comes to managing whole body health—not just chasing abs or step counts.We talk about the importance of integrating physical and emotional wellbeing, and why cookie-cutter fitness plans and “miracle” supplements are just not doing anything good. Hayley shares practical, science-backed strategies for building strength, resilience, and self-trust, while calling out the toxic narratives that shame women into submission.This episode is for anyone tired of being sold quick fixes and ready to embrace a more empowered, holistic approach to health. Expect laughter, truth bombs, and a whole lot of swearing. Because sometimes, the only way to cut through the crap is to call it what it is.As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks:Hayley Field - Lifestyle Ninja: https://lifestyle.ninja/ https://lifestyle.ninja/blog-2/Hayley's Midlife Mailbag: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPoJKjDCLQD/https://examine.com/

This week Frances gives Brenda a pop quiz on several random topics which caught her eye. From the dichotomy of good and evil in babies to electric animals, here we go! We have also tacked on our first bit of Bonus Content which got us in the right, cheery frame of mind for podcasting! Enjoy!As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks: Are we born good or evil? | BBC EarthWynn-Bloom-Moral-Handbook-Chapter-2013-14pwpor.pdfInfluence of light exposure during early life on the age of onset of bipolar disorder.The potential influence of LED lighting on mental illness.https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-worlds-most-electric-animals

Welcome Back! We are rested and ready to go after our summer break. We kick off this week with Karin, a toxicologist Frances found synergy with as they kept running into each other at conferences. Our chat just goes to show how different scientific minds impact how we move through the world - but also get sucked in by clever (or nefarious - depending on your point of view) marketing. We cover skincare, muscle care and working out as we age.Also - I do apologise - there may be quite a lot of background noise in this episode - despite my best efforts and AI tool assistance, I couldn't seem to get it all cleaned out!As always if you have questions or suggestions please get in touch!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall.Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin KasyanovLinks:www.examine.com - Great independent resource for pulling together facts and data about nutritional supplements. Examine is an entirely independent organization, and does not accept any money from outside sources.Impact of creatine supplementation on menopausal women’s body composition, cognition, estrogen, strength, and sleep. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12291186/ (This is an example of the creatine studies we discuss - with 15 participants!)Most important step of skincare: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/healthier-looking-skin - Number 1 is sunscreen!

For our last show before our summer break (we should be back in late August/September), we are chatting to @tobytheneuroscientist, who came across the Sciencetits TikTok FYP feed and Brenda immediately knew it would be great to get him on the show. Toby is a PhD student studying dementia at UCL and his social media content is just...*Chefs kiss.We talk to Toby about how he decided to do his PhD, and what he wants to do with his career, with a little advice thrown in along the way.Including the importance of networking and making use of British pub culture in all the right ways!Find him as @tobytheneuroscientist on TikTok and send him some love!Right as we are off for the summer, catch up on all our episodes, leave us a review or send us a note. We would love to hear from you!Our email address: Sciencetitspod@outlook.comFollow us on all the socials!Instagram, Threads and Tiktok- @sciencetitspodBlueSky - @sciencetitspod.bsky.socialContent outlined and presented by Brenda Finney and Frances Hall. Music from audiojungle.net – Konstantin Kasyanov