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Juliette Portala

Journalist & Podcast Researcher

Juliette Portala
Close-up on the church's entrance, where the porch-tower visibly leans

19 July 2026

Why does Caen's Church of Saint-Jean lean?

It's our very own Leaning Tower of Pisa, right here, in the centre of Caen! A church unlike any other: partially unfinished, architecturally varied and, more importantly, visibly unstable. So, why does the Church of Saint-Jean lean like that?
Crickets are often kept as pets in China

1 April 2026

These strange pets are trained to fight in China

For many of us, autumn is the time of peaceful strolls amid golden and ruby leaves, before winter comes to dampen our mood with its long, dark nights. But, on the other side of the world, September is the time for enthusiasts to buy the strongest crickets on the Chinese pet markets and to prepare for a fight. Or many fights.
Your fingers are tougher than they look!

25 April 2026

Feeling peckish? Here's why you couldn't bite your own fingers off, actually!

Have you ever tried biting your own fingers off? Probably not. But just in case you're considering having a go at a thumb or an index, it seems important to share the reasons why, despite their appearance, the ends of your hands are not made of soft baby carrots.
Why has Santa moved to Finland?

1 January 2026

How come Santa lives in Lapland? And when did he move to Finland?

Finland, dear Finland, you who have been ranked as the happiest country in the world for eight years running, what don’t you have that the rest of us envy you? A strong welfare system, high-quality education, universal healthcare, transparent governance … and Santa Claus. How greedy of you!

IN A NUTSHELL

"IN A NUTSHELL" is a "WHY IS THAT?" podcast, exploring all the curiosities of the world in a shorter form factor!

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