Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.

My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.

As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable

experts and genuinely engaging voices. What you may not know is that the BBC

makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars,

poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples.

If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast over at BBC Sounds.

Hello, this is Simon Mabin.

Hello?

Hello, could I have your attention just for maybe the next nine minutes?

This is more or less on the BBC World Service.

I know that's asking a lot these days. It feels like we're being constantly bombarded by

information and stimulation. A man walks down the street says why am I short of attention got a shot

we're connected 24-7. our smartphones buzzing with social media updates and screens everywhere we turn.

It probably comes as no surprise then when you hear statistics about our shrinking attention spans. You might have read about it in Time magazine.

You now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish.

Or the Telegraph.

The age of smartphones has left humans with such a short attention span.

Even a goldfish can hold a thought for longer.

Or Canada's National Post?

Our attention spans have fallen from an average of 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds today.

Or on US radio.

...