If you’re reading this in the middle of a heatwave, you’ve probably already noticed your brain isn’t firing on all cylinders. The good news is, it’s not just you.

In this episode, Grace is joined by Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the growing body of research showing that as temperatures rise, our ability to do demanding mental work can start to decline.

Together, they unpack why complex cognitive tasks are especially vulnerable, what this means for organisations and education, and how heat is likely to become an increasingly important issue in the years ahead.

They also discuss what workplaces, schools and universities can do differently – from improving airflow to rethinking when demanding work, meetings and exams are scheduled.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

References:

• Ebi, K.L., Capon, A., Berry, P., Broderick, C., de Dear, R., Havenith, G., Honda, Y., Kovats, R.S., Ma, W., Malik, A. and Morris, N.B. (2021) ‘Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks’, The Lancet, 398(10301), pp. 698–708.
• PLOS Climate (no date) ‘Cumulative exposure to urban heat can affect the learning capacity of students and penalize the vulnerable and low-income young population: A systematic review’, PLOS Climate. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000618
• Thompson, R., Hornigold, R., Page, L. and Waite, T. (2018) ‘Associations between high ambient temperatures and heat waves with mental health outcomes: a systematic review’, Public Health, 161, pp. 171–191.
• Zeng, P., Sui, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, H., Cheng, D., Che, Y. and Helbich, M. (2025) ‘Heat risk during hot weather is associated with poorer self-reported mental health: A cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China’, Cities, 164, p. 106078.