Episode
Why do I bite my nails?
- Podcast
- Oxford Sparks Big Questions
- Published
- Oct 29, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 896
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://oxfordsparks.libsyn.com/why-do-i-bite-my-nails
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/oxford-sparks-big-questions-420721/episodes/why-do-i-bite-my-nails/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/oxford-sparks-big-questions-420721/why-do-i-bite-my-nails.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Many of us will be familiar with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs), perhaps without even realising it. Such behaviours - which include hair-pulling, nail biting and skin picking - can not only cause physical harm, but also often bring feelings of shame. Because of this, open discussion around BFRBs has been limited. In this episode of The Big Questions Podcast, we chat to Prof Clare Mackay from Oxford's Department of Psychiatry, who both studies and lives with BFRBs.