Welcome to another edition of This Upbeat Life, where we explore the lighter, stranger, and occasionally eyebrow-raising corners of health, wellness, and happiness.

Quick News: Sleep-Deprived Teens

This week’s headline topic examines a major study tracking more than 3,000 adolescents through sleep monitors, brain scans, and cognitive testing. The results are striking: teenagers who sleep earlier and longer demonstrate sharper thinking, better memory, stronger vocabulary, improved problem-solving skills, and even larger brain volume.

Listeners are invited to self-experiment: try three or four nights of proper rest and see if life feels easier. Report back to: thisupbeatlife@gmail.com.

The Real Deal: Sunscreen Contouring

Today’s deep dive explores the unusual and risky social-media trend of sunscreen contouring—using different SPF levels to create natural-looking contour lines through tanning. Dermatologists universally warn against it, noting the very real dangers of UV damage, premature ageing, and skin cancer.

Have you tried sunscreen contouring or its safer alternatives? Share your story at thisupbeatlife@gmail.com.

Far Out Stuff: The Man Who Robbed a Bank to Escape His Wife

In 2017, 70-year-old Lawrence John Ripple of Kansas took marital frustration to spectacular extremes. After arguing with his wife, he declared he’d rather be in jail than at home—then walked into a bank with a note claiming he had a gun, collected $3,000, and calmly waited for police.

Thank you for listening! Until next time, remember: happiness is the best medicine.

Join me as we meet William who is 10. William, a very cheerful young man, talks about his schooling, likes and dislikes, his musical abilities, the importance of sport and how important family is to him.

I have known William and his family for a few years now and he’s one of the most gung-ho young men I know, always ready with a cheeky smile, very smart and will have a go at virtually anything. You can’t help but smile when you listen to him!

If you feel like buying me a coffee so I can carry on what I’m doing, I’d really appreciate it and you can do that here. If you don’t, that’s also cool, I know times are tight.

Join the conversation and have your say: – How do your children stay happy and healthy? What’s important to them? Are they managing to get enough exercise and thriving – or not?

Email me at thisupbeatlife@gmail.com and let me know and I’ll read out some emails on a near future episode.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with a friend or two who could use a little lift.

Music accreditation – Shane Ivers

Today’s show is a wild mix of myth-busting, cocoa-fuelled revelations, and, yes… seven comfort tigers. I tackle the age-old question – does too much sugar send your kids into orbit? And…staying with the sweet theme, is chocolate as bad for you as we’ve been told? And finally, a comforting story about 7 tigers – roar!

Fun fact, Leo, the Lion from MGM logo fame does not use his own roar, it’s done by a tiger to sound more ferocious. (this on the web page)

If you feel like buying me a coffee so I can carry on what I’m doing, I’d really appreciate it and you can do that here. If you don’t, that’s also cool, I know times are tight.

Join the conversation and have your say: – are your kids behaviours affected by sugar? What’s your go-to chocolate — dark, milk, or something wild and nutty? And if you could have one emotional support animal (within reason!), what would it be? Email me at thisupbeatlife@gmail.com your confessions may just make it into a near future episode.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with a friend who could use a little lift. Because life’s better when it’s upbeat — and a little more chocolatey!

Music accreditation – Shane Ivers