Sliced Bread

Listener Jennifer is considering switching contact lenses, if there's an alternative that's more eco friendly. She's not alone - we've had lots of questions about eyecare options, and whether the fancy features some lenses offer are worth the extra cash. Joining Greg and Jennifer in the studio to talk all things contact lens are Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, a clinical adviser to the College of Optometrists, and Sarah Smith - a research optometrist who's studied the environmental impact of these tiny pieces of plastic.Have you seen a product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it is SB or BS? Then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Is it worth paying more for premium car tyres?There's a huge range of car tyres to choose from and the price differences between them can be significant. So do you really need to pay more to get a good tyre?Listener Ian runs a car maintenance business and wants to know if the budget tyres he's been fitting are the right choice. Will they last as long and be just as safe? What do the different ratings on the labels you can see online mean? And as he moves towards electric cars he's also keen to know whether they need a special sort of tyre.With the help of two experts in the field, Greg Foot 'treads' through the studies and the science to find out more. It's how he rolls (we'll stop now). As ever we are still looking for your suggestions of products to look into. If you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Lots of different types of period products claim to be eco friendly, from menstrual cups to period pants and reusable pads. But how do their environmental credentials stack up? That's what listener Sam wants to know - and she's not the only one asking about not just the impact of these so called sustainable period products on planetary health, but also on women's health too. Joining Sam and Greg for this one are Natalie Fee, founder of the non profit City to Sea, who campaigns for "plastic-free periods", and Dr Nicola Tempest, a senior lecturer in gynaecology at Liverpool University.And if you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

The UK market for air care products is expected to grow to ?674 million this year - and for this episode, we're investigating just how these products tackle bad smells in our homes. Can air fresheners really "eliminate" stinky odours with science, or do they just smell nicer? And what does using them do for our air quality? That's what listener Conor from Manchester wants to know. He joins Greg in the studio, alongside two experts - Nicola Carslaw, a professor in indoor air chemistry? at the University of York, and emeritus professor of chemo-reception at the University of Manchester, Krishna Persaud.Have you seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it's SB or BS? Please let us know - you can email sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807.PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Greg Foot investigates the effectiveness of LED face masks for skincare, exploring their ability to reduce wrinkles, promote collagen production, and improve skin conditions like acne and rosacea. The podcast delves into the different light types, safety concerns, and limited scientific evidence supporting the benefits of LED face masks. It discusses the popularity of LED face masks, their application, pricing, and the surging demand for these skincare devices.

BBC Business journalist and guests explore the rise and fall of Safeway UK, discussing its innovative strategies, challenges, and ultimate acquisition by Morrison's. They delve into nostalgic memories, competitive initiatives, and the supermarket's impact on the industry.

Green Shield Stamps could be traded in for 'free' gifts so why did consumers abandon them? Sean Farrington examines their rise and fall and discovers how they spawned a famous retail chain which is still trading. The stamps were the centrepiece of an early form of loyalty scheme and were collected by tens of millions of people across the UK. They were given out by shops with every purchase and could be exchanged for a wide range of household goods and luxury items from handbags to vacuum cleaners and even cars. The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, speaks to expert guests including:Sir John Timpson - chairman of the retail services provider, Timpson, who dedicated a chapter of his book on 'High Street Heroes' to the Green Shield Stamp founder, Richard Tompkins. Professor Leigh Sparks - Professor of Retail Studies at the University of Stirling.Alongside them, analysing the stamps' fortunes is the entrepreneur, Sam White.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.This episode was produced by Jon Douglas.You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes.Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.

Entrepreneur Sam White joins the host to delve into the rise and fall of Mothercare's UK stores. They discuss the challenges faced by the retailer, its female-centric approach, and the evolution of its retail strategy. Insights into the emotional connection with Mothercare and the impact of changing consumer behavior are shared, highlighting the resilience and transformation of the iconic brand.

Why was the video sharing platform, Vine, closed down?Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the app which pioneered short, shareable videos on social media. Sean speaks to one of Vine's founders, Rus Yusupov, the Vine content creator, Eric Dunn, and the BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman.Alongside them all analysing Vine's fortunes is the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White.Produced by Viant Siddique. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes.Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.

Why did the restaurant chain, Little Chef, disappear from our roadsides? Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the brand which brought us Jubilee Pancakes, Olympic Breakfasts and free lollies for the kids. At its peak, Little Chef had over 400 restaurants on most of our major highways and a turnover well in excess of ?100m. So, how did such a successful business ultimately end up toast? Sean speaks to Fiona Alper who was married to the Little Chef co-founder, Sam Alper; the entrepreneur, Lawrence Wosskow, who once owned Little Chef and Becky Parr-Phillips who started as a waitress but rose through the ranks to become Little Chef's head of operations. Alongside them all to analyse Little Chef's fortunes is the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White. This episode was first broadcast in April 2024Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.