PODCAST · health
Sliced Bread
by BBC Radio 4
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist Sean Farrington examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt? Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today? Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He learns about the tremendous success of a brand before hearing how it faltered, with help from expert commentators and people who were directly involved. How do they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently? The self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, is alongside him, analysing the missteps that changed a brand’s fortunes and reaching her own, often instru
Episodes
-
Dough - Series 5: Money
Could cash be losing its crown as digital money gains ground? Greg Foot looks at money and examines the rise of the wonder products and technologies emerging across the financial sector. He's joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and…
more -
Your Next Listen: Sort Your Life Out Unpacked
Organisational expert Dilly Carter introduces her podcast, Sort Your Life Out Unpacked. In this episode, Dilly is joined by the ‘queen of podcasting’, Elizabeth Day. Elizabeth brings three meaningful items for Dilly to unpack – literally and figuratively. Each one reveals a story from her life,...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Experimental Peptides
Is it OK to take experimental peptides like the Wolverine Stack? These are what bodybuilders, longevity gurus, and online influencers are all talking about: experimental peptides. They're chemicals that you can buy online, in packages with names like the Wolverine Stack or the Glow Stack. The...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Laundry Detergents
Pods, liquids and powders: which laundry detergent really cleans up? A trip down the laundry aisle can leave you faced with a welter of confusing marketing claims. From stain-busting formulas and lower-temperature washes to eco-friendly promises, every detergent seems to offer cleaner clothes,...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Pillows
What makes the perfect pillow? Nothing saying ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’ like a crick in your neck. With up to 70% of us experiencing neck pain at some point in our lives, sleeping in a dodgy position can lead to days of discomfort. And pillows might be part of the problem...…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Air Conditioning
What's the best way to keep your home cool? As heatwave after heatwave pushes temperatures higher across the UK and Europe, air conditioning has become a serious topic. Listener Rachel is one of many people who have turned to a portable air conditioner for relief. About the size of a…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Language Learning Apps
Can you really learn a new language from apps like Duolingo? Sliced Bread listener Nathan Phelps has been teaching himself Japanese. He’s tried textbooks, tutors, and crucially, language apps on his phone - and he came to us because he’s seen these apps claiming to be “backed by science” to help...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Kitchen Sponges, Cloths and Brushes
Which is the most hygienic for cleaning your kitchen? Most of us will be familiar with the cheap packs of coloured kitchen sponges with the abrasive tops, used for washing dishes and wiping surfaces. But could they be harbouring a host of bacterial baddies? Listener Caroline wants to know as she...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Robotic Lawnmowers
Can robotic lawnmowers save you time without hassling hedgehogs? Listener Pat has seen adverts for robotic lawnmowers and has lots of questions: Do they cut effectively? How do they manage with edges and flower borders? And what about avoiding wildlife and other objects in the garden? To find…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 16: Gut Microbiome Tests
Can a test tell you what's living inside your gut - and what to do about it? That's what listener Pete Mace asked us, kicking off a brand new series of Sliced Bread! He's seen 'gut microbiome tests' advertised by ZOE, Randox Health and others. They promise to tell you about the bacteria - and…
more -
Toast - Series 7: Orange
Orange was once one of the most recognisable brands in Britain — a mobile network with its iconic slogan “The future’s bright, the future’s Orange”, it helped turn mobile phones from elite business tools into everyday essentials. But while the Orange name still exists globally, its mobile service...
-
Toast - Series 7: Izal Medicated Toilet Paper
Izal medicated toilet paper was once a staple of British bathrooms - a curious cultural icon, remembered as much for its distinctive feel as for its antiseptic promise. Produced for decades by the Sheffield‑based company Newton, Chambers & Co., Izal became woven into the fabric of schools,...
-
Toast - Series 7: Paperchase
Why did the popular stationery chain, Paperchase, end up closing all of its shops? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates in the company of resident entrepreneur, Sam White. Paperchase was founded by two former art students in the late 1960s and went on to become the design...
-
Toast - Series 7: EasyCinema
The EasyJet founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Iannou, tried to shake up the cinema industry by introducing low-cost movie theatres. Tickets were priced as low as 20p for customers who booked in advance. So, why didn't EasyCinema take off? Stelios speaks to the BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington,...
-
Toast - Series 7: Wilko
Wilkinson - or Wilko as it became known - was a privately-owned family business that had been successful for decades, offering low-priced household products from its chain of high street stores. So why did it falter during a cost-of-living crisis when people were looking for value? The BBC…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Food Containers
Is it ok to store food in plastic containers? That's the question put by listener Joe Tattersall in this, the last episode in the current series of 'Sliced Bread'. Joe's noticed scuffs and abrasions on his reusable plastic containers and is concerned about whether that increases the risk of...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Cat Litter
What kind of cat litter is best for cats, owners and the environment? After we looked at dog poo bags for an episode, it's only right that we answer some questions for the cat lovers, around cat litter. Listener Ella got in touch to ask about it, after adopting her Sphynx indoor cat, Mr. Big…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Ergonomic Keyboards and Mice
Do ergonomic devices like split keyboards and vertical mice help with comfort and health? If you're a heavy computer user there are an increasing variety of weird and wonderful options to help improve your comfort and reduce the risk of aches and pains associated with 'Repetitive Strain Injury'...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Vibration Plates
Can Vibration Plates help with fitness, bone density, and even lymphatic drainage? They've been around for a while but vibration plates seem to be having another 'moment'. Originally touted as a piece of fitness kit for the gym or home, the latest ads on social media seem to be promoting claims...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Hair Removal Devices
Can Intense Pulsed Light devices really "zap" away your unwanted hair? You may have seen IPL devices advertised on social media - that promise painless hair removal using light to "zap" away body hair. Listener Karen got in touch to ask if these "Zappers" could possibly free her from having to...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Infrared Saunas
Are infrared saunas as effective as traditional ones? If you've ever sat sweating on a wooden bench in a traditional ('Finnish') sauna wondering if there was an easier way, could infrared be the answer? Infrared saunas work at lower temperatures, ostensibly making it easier to stay in there for...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Earwax Removers
Almost everyone is guilty of fiddling with their ears, especially if they can feel a build-up of earwax in there. But what actually works to get rid of it, and should we be messing with them in the first place? Listener Martin got in touch after finding out his earwax build-up was returning - and...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 15: Collagen (2026 Update)
What's the latest on collagen? The new series of Sliced Bread kicks off with an update on one of the wonder products most-requested by listeners. Presenter Greg Foot first looked at collagen in 2022 and returns to the subject to find out what has changed in the scientific landscape since then....
-
Dough - Series 4: Food
What will the food of the future look like? Greg Foot finds out. Greg Foot, host of BBC Radio 4’s Sliced Bread, returns with Dough — the series exploring the rise of future wonder products that could transform the way we live. Each episode examines the emerging technologies and innovations poised...
-
Dough - Series 4: Eyewear
Could smart glasses with built-in video cameras become widely accepted? Greg Foot, host of BBC Radio 4's 'Sliced Bread' brings you 'Dough', examining the rise of future wonder products. Greg is joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and...
-
Dough - Series 4: The Office
What will the office be like in future? Greg Foot, host of BBC Radio 4's 'Sliced Bread' brings you 'Dough', examining the rise of future wonder products. Greg is joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow,...
-
Dough - Series 4: Trains
Could ticketless travel and satellite connectivity be coming to our rail network? Greg Foot examines the rise of future wonder products. He's joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow, before a leading...
-
Dough - Series 4: Mobile Phones
What will mobile phones be like in future? Greg Foot investigates Greg Foot, host of the BBC Radio 4 show 'Sliced Bread', brings you 'Dough'. Each episode explores future wonder products that might rise to success and redefine our lives. Experts and entrepreneurs discuss the trends shaping what...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Baby Sleep Products
Sleep deprived parents everywhere are tempted to reach for anything that might help them get a little more sleep overnight – but can products promising to encourage babies to snooze for longer – really do that? And is there any science to back it up? That is exactly what tired Dad-of-three Dave...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Kitchen Knives and Sharpeners
Which knife is best for the kitchen and how do you keep it sharp? After buying various knives over the years that ended up blunt, listener Susan is looking for one that will last. She's seen an array of different types and materials: Damascus steel, Japanese Gyuto knives, as well as alloys and...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: VPNs
Do you really need a VPN? Listener Andrew has seen and heard lots of adverts for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and wants to know if they'll beef up the security on his computer. Will they provide extra protection from malware or hackers? To get the answers, presenter Greg Foot is joined in the...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Kefir
Listener Amanda was Kefir curious, and got in touch with Sliced Bread to ask if the Kefir she was consuming for breakfast every day – was really having an impact on her health, cognitive function, and her gut? She wasn’t the only person to get in touch about kefir either, with others saying they...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Can taking testosterone help with low libido and energy? It's all over social media and is often touted by celebs - both male and female - but is testosterone replacement therapy the answer to listener Clive's low energy levels? Clive got in touch after sending off for a blood test with an online...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Dark Chocolate
Listener Jenny, who enjoys a 90% cocoa bar from time to time, got in touch to ask if some of the reports that dark chocolate can have a positive effect on things like circulation and mood - have any truth behind them? But Jenny also told Sliced Bread that since she read reports that heavy metals...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 14: Weight-loss Injections
Is it ok to stay on weight loss injections? They have been nothing short of a pharmaceutical phenomenon. But for people like listener Lynn who've had huge success on weight loss drugs like Mounjaro, the question now arises about the implications of using them long-term. Could there be a...
-
Toast - Series 6: Farepak's Christmas Hampers
What led to the collapse of the Christmas savings club Farepak? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him. It's our Christmas special and we're turning the clock back to the mid 1960s…. and looking at a business which started from...
-
Toast - Series 6: C&A's UK Stores
The fashion chain C&A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White. C&A used to be one of the biggest fashion retailers...
-
Toast - Series 6: Skype
Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him. Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of Toast, she gives her off-the-cuff and authentic...
-
Toast - Series 6: Dasani Water
Dasani water, a bottled water from Coca-Cola, proved a big hit in the U.S.A so why did it last for less than 6 weeks in the UK? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how it ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White. In the early...
-
Toast - Series 6: BlackBerry Smartphones
How did the company behind the revolutionary BlackBerry smartphone lose its grip on the handset market? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with special guest, Sir Stephen Fry, who has remained 'faithful' to the BlackBerry brand. Alongside them is the entrepreneur, Sam…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 13: The Sliced Bread Christmas List 2025
The team has gone through 30 episodes over the past year, and carved out five potential present worthy products that may well be heading down a chimney to you this Christmas. (We wanted to give you plenty of time to include them in your letters to Santa.) Greg Foot will share with you the key...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Cough Medicines
Are cough medicines any better than just taking honey and lemon? When Listener Sally sent in a croaky voicenote to our Sliced Bread Whatsapp number (07543 306807 - put us in your contacts!) we knew we had to tackle this one. Sally didn't think the medicine she used for her cough did very much, so...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Car Shampoos and Coatings
Are special shampoos and coatings any good at cleaning and protecting your car? They're all over Instagram: washes, foams, and ceramic coatings in a rainbow of coloured bottles that promise to give your car that showroom shine. For listener James - a driving instructor - the question is whether...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Fake Tans
Listener Julie has been reaching for the fake tan every spring to add a "bit of colour" to her legs, but after much trial and error with foams, lotions and gels, she got in touch with Sliced Bread to ask what is actually IN fake tan? How does it work - and is there a particular kind that might…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Toenail Fungus Treatments
Can anything stop toenail fungus in its tracks? It's one of the most-requested but least-talked-about topics, so listener Julia speaks for many as she joins us to ask about treatments for toenail fungus. She's keen to know if the laser-light devices shes's seen on social media really do work, as...
-
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Scar Gels and Oils
Greg Foot speaks to Consultant Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon Dr Emma Craythorne - who has plenty of skin in the game - to find some answers for listener Phil about about scars, how they occur, the different types, and what might help make them less obvious. Each episode Greg…
more -
Sliced Bread - Series 13: Creatine
Can creatine boost your body and mind? Listener Simon has been taking the fitness supplement creatine and wants to know if the science backs up the claim that it can make you stronger and faster. He's also heard that it can help with cognitive function. To find out if creatine can boost body and...
-
Dough - Series 3: The Future of Flight
Can supersonic air travel make a comeback? Greg Foot, host of the BBC Radio 4 show 'Sliced Bread', now brings you 'Dough'. Each episode explores future wonder products that might rise to success and redefine our lives. Experts and entrepreneurs discuss the trends shaping what today's everyday...
-
Dough - Series 3: The Future of Clothing
Could 'smart' clothing monitor our health? Greg Foot, host of the BBC Radio 4 show 'Sliced Bread', now brings you 'Dough'. Each episode explores future wonder products that might rise to success and redefine our lives. Experts and entrepreneurs discuss the trends shaping what today's everyday...
-
Dough - Series 3: The Future of Housebuilding
Could your future home be built by a robot bricklayer? Greg Foot, host of the BBC Radio 4 show 'Sliced Bread', now brings you 'Dough'. Each episode explores future wonder products that might rise to success and redefine our lives. Experts and entrepreneurs discuss the trends shaping what today's...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers.
In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist Sean Farrington examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt?
Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today?
Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He learns about the tremendous success of a brand before hearing how it faltered, with help from expert commentators and people who were directly involved. How do they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently?
The self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, is alongside him, analysing the missteps that changed a brand’s fortunes and reaching her own, often instru
HOSTED BY
BBC Radio 4
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sliced Bread have?
Sliced Bread currently has 205 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sliced Bread about?
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist Sean Farrington examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get...
How often does Sliced Bread release new episodes?
Sliced Bread publishes regularly with 205 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Sliced Bread?
You can listen to Sliced Bread on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sliced Bread?
Sliced Bread is created and hosted by BBC Radio 4.
URL copied to clipboard!