Made of Stronger Stuff BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body, to find out what it can tell us about our innate capacity for change. To finish this series, they're in the brain getting acquainted with the amygdala.
Is the amygdala really the home of fear? Kimberley and Xand meet someone who has had theirs removed, discovering the true nature of this part of the brain, and how it can give us a roadmap to dealing with our everyday anxieties.
Producer: Georgia Mills
Mixer: Tom Brignell
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body, to find out what it can tell us about our innate capacity for change. This time, they examine the wrist, and its role as the hub where technology meets the body.
Kimberley and Xand meet a man whose life was saved by his smartwatch, examine the potential pitfalls of devices that don't work for everyone equally, and learn how much data our wrists can truly give away.
Producer: Georgia Mills
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body, to find out what it can tell us about our innate capacity for change. This time, the ovaries go under the microscope.
Kimberley and Xand hear from someone whose ovaries have caused them to hurtle through major life stages in the course of a few years, meet a scientist who thinks we may have female fertility all wrong, and examine the unresolved mysteries of the menopause.
Producer: Georgia Mills
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body, to find out what it can tell us about how we live in the world. In this episode, they find out there's much more to tears than meets the eye.
What is the purpose of tears, does crying actually make you feel better, and what happens when you lose your ability to make them at all?
Producer: Georgia Mills
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body, to find out what it can tell us about our innate capacity for change. In this episode, they take on the social media pariah - dopamine.
They examine this tiny chemical's wide roles in the brain and body, and question whether we should make cognitive enhancers available for general use. There's also a dive into some intriguing research which suggests your breakfast could influence your most fundamental decision-making ability.
Producer: Georgia Mills
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken continue their journey around the human body, asking what our insides can reveal about our lives and the world around us.
The knee is one of the most complicated joints in the human body, but also one of the most prone to failure. In this episode, Kimberly shares the story of someone with a rare genetic disorder that results in poorly developed kneecaps, while drilling into the gory detail of knee replacements. Later, Xand explores osteoarthritis and the exciting research that could change how we think about joint injury.
Producer: James Tindale
Researcher: Leonie Thomas
Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4