The Reality Check

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 220:51:31
  • More information

Informações:

Synopsis

Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.

Episodes

  • TRC #489: Busting History Myths With Professor Buzzkill

    03/03/2018 Duration: 20min

    Did Mussolini make the trains run on time? Was Rosa Parks just ‘too tired’ to give up her seat? The crew is off this week so Cristina and Pat seize the opportunity to chat with fellow podcaster, author and historian extraordinaire Professor Buzzkill, aka Joseph Coohill. Joe schools us on history myths, ‘good’ evidence, and some interesting topics he’s covered on Professor Buzzkill: History 101.

  • TRC #488: Urine-Based Test For Sex Of Fetus + How Many Neurons?

    24/02/2018 Duration: 22min

    The crew has the week off but still brings you a new fact-filled TRC! Cristina and Pat chat with Ryan Armstrong from Post-Truth Health and Bad Science Watch. He tells us whether urine-based tests coming to Canada can determine the sex of a fetus during pregnancy. Next Darren delivers a promised follow-up to his segment about neurons asking how many neurons does the human brain have?

  • TRC #487: Solar Eclipse Fallout + The Bicameral Mind + eHarmony Backed By Science?

    17/02/2018 Duration: 30min

    This week, Darren looks into the potential downside of watching a solar eclipse and asks, ‘Is it worth it?’ Adam gets all ‘Darren’ on us with an interesting segment about consciousness and the bicameral mind. Lastly, Cristina investigates whether an online dating site has the evidence to back up their claims that they use science to match people.

  • TRC #486: Valentine’s Day Myths + Name That: V-Day Edition + The Heart

    11/02/2018 Duration: 26min

    Another theme-filled show coming at you! First, Cristina combs through widely-held Valentine’s Day myths to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction. Pat challenges the panel with another game of Name That: V-Day Edition. Finally, Darren rounds out the show with a ‘heartfelt’ segment about the amazing organ behind Valentine’s Day.

  • TRC #485: Neurons + YouTube Copyright Claims + Why Does February Only Have 28 Days?

    03/02/2018 Duration: 33min

    Another week, another great episode of TRC! On this week’s show, Darren follows his impulses and takes a deep dive on neurons. Adam looks into YouTube’s content ID system to find out why a video of white noise could possibly set off a copyright claim. Finally, Cristina explains the real reason that February is the shortest month of the year.

  • TRC #484: Contact Lenses + Vegetarianism Rates + Plastic vs Reusable Bags

    28/01/2018 Duration: 37min

    After a recent run-in with a rogue contact lens Cristina asks, what would happen if you never took your contacts out? Darren looks at the rates of vegetarianism and what the statistics really mean. Finally, Adam breaks downs how many times you need to use reusable bags to offset the use of plastic ones.

  • TRC #483: Mailbag + Raw Water + Do Bears Hibernate?

    20/01/2018 Duration: 26min

    The Fab Four is back this week! Adam kicks off the show with some interesting listener email. Cristina dives into the latest raw water fad to bring you the raw facts. Finally, Darren ponders whether bears really hibernate.

  • TRC #482: Coffee Enemas + The Physics Of Curling + Did The CDC Ban 7 Words?

    13/01/2018 Duration: 31min

    With Darren away this week, the crew is joined by our favourite “physics commando” Barry Panas. First, Cristina looks into the latest ‘wellness’ gadget that Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP is peddling. Spoiler alert: it involves an orifice. Next, Barry takes on a question from Producer Pat about how much sweeping really affects the game of curling. Finally, Adam looks into whether the Trump administration really did ban the CDC from using 7 words.

  • TRC #481: Fave Segments of 2017 + Name That: Year In Review + Annual Predictions

    06/01/2018 Duration: 46min

    The TRC crew is back to usher in the New Year with a fun-filled show! First, we look back at our favourite and most surprising segments from 2017. Next, Pat challenges the panel with a year in review game of ‘Name That’. Lastly, Adam revisits the gang’s ‘predictions’ from last year and we set aside logic yet again to guess what might happen in 2018.

  • TRC #480: Aluminum Christmas Trees + Habitable Zones + Baby, It’s Cold Outside

    28/12/2017 Duration: 39min

    With Cristina out sick this week, our favourite astronomer Stuart Robbins joins the panel. First Adam looks into aluminum Christmas trees and whether or not ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ is to blame for their demise. Next, Stuart gives us a long promised overview of habitable zones. Lastly, Darren takes a look into a couple of interpretations of the lyrics for ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’.

  • TRC #479: Dowsing + Violence Decreasing? + #1 Restaurant Fake?

    17/12/2017 Duration: 30min

    On this week’s TRC, Cristina looks into whether the City of Ottawa is really using dowsing to locate water. Next, Adam checks into a study that seems to contradict Steven Pinker’s “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined”. Lastly, Darren asks: did a fake restaurant in London reach #1 rated on Trip Advisor?

  • TRC #478: Mashup: Skeptical Newlywed Game + Ghost Weddings

    09/12/2017 Duration: 27min

    While the crew takes the week off in honour of Adam’s nuptials, Producer Pat brings you a wedding-themed mashup episode! First, Adam plays game show host during a skeptical (and highly entertaining) version of the newlywed game featuring special guests Elan and Dina.  Next, Darren gives us a spirited segment looking into whether people in China are stealing corpses for ghost weddings.

  • TRC #477: Wedding Night Sex? + Game Farm Photography + Effective Giving

    02/12/2017 Duration: 29min

    On this week’s show, freshly married Adam looks into how many people actually have sex on their wedding night. Cristina explores the world of wildlife photography and finds out it isn’t what it seems. Finally, ‘tis the season for Darren to revisit charitable giving and arm us with effective donating tips.

  • TRC #476: MAGA Transformers Toy? + Name That: Spot The Fake + Tilapia and Omega-6

    25/11/2017 Duration: 29min

    On this week’s show, Adam looks into whether a recently released Transformers toy contains a Pro-Trump message. The gang has a ton of fun playing Producer Pat’s game of Name That: Spot the Fake Fact. Darren checks into headlines suggesting that eating tilapia may be no better for you than bacon, hamburgers or doughnuts.

  • TRC #475: Age Of Consent + Elections Signs + ‘Allah’ Found At Viking Burial Site?

    19/11/2017 Duration: 30min

    Given the troubling sexual harassment and assault allegations in the news involving minors, Darren takes a look at age of consent laws worldwide. Cristina fields a Checker’s question regarding whether election campaign signs have any measurable impact on voter share. Finally, Adam digs into claims that Arabic characters spelling “Allah” are woven into ancient Viking funeral costumes.

  • TRC #474: Buffett Challenge: Hedge Vs Index Funds + Allergy Doc Dave Stukus Pt. 2

    11/11/2017 Duration: 25min

    Darren digs into Warren Buffett’s challenge where he bet $1 million that a portfolio of hedge funds couldn’t beat the S&P 500 Index fund over a ten year period. So...did it? Cristina and Pat bring you part 2 of a great chat with Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Specialist Dr. Dave Stukus who schools us on the flu shot and answers more of your questions.

  • TRC #473: Does Sugar Cause Diabetes? + Allergy Doc Dave Stukus Pt. 1 + SGEM Hang With Dr. Jen Gunter

    04/11/2017 Duration: 30min

    Come for the Science, stay for the FUN! On this week’s show, Adam looks at the leading causes of diabetes after a listener calls Darren out on his joke linking sugar to the disease. Cristina and Pat bring you part 1 of a great chat with Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Specialist Dr. Dave Stukus who answers listener’s burning questions. Finally, Cristina and Pat hang with Dr. Ken Milne, host of Skeptic’s Guide to Emergency Medicine, and OB-GYN and master GOOP Debunker, Dr. Jen Gunter of Wielding The Lasso Of Truth.

  • TRC #472: Blue Moonlight In Movies? + Halloween Myths + Fake Melania Trump?

    27/10/2017 Duration: 26min

    On this week’s show, Darren wonders: why do filmmakers colour grade moonlight to be blue? Next, Cristina explores Halloween folklore vs Halloween facts.  Lastly, Adam asks: is there a Melania Trump double or doppelganger out there pretending to be her at press events?

  • TRC #471: McGurk Effect + Britt Wray & Rise Of The Necrofauna 2 + Sharks Vs Vending Machines

    20/10/2017 Duration: 34min

    On this week’s show, Pat explains an illusion known as the McGurk Effect which demonstrates the interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception. We bring you part two of Darren and Adam’s discussion with author Britt Wray about her book ‘Rise Of The Necrofauna.’ Cristina checks into the clickbait headline ‘you’re more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark.’

  • TRC #470: Vegas Shooting Conspiracies + Britt Wray & Rise Of The Necrofauna + Enchroma Glasses

    15/10/2017 Duration: 34min

    On this week’s show, Pat checks into some of the more prevalent conspiracy theories related to the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas. Next up, the first of a 2 part interview featuring a fascinating conversation with Britt Wray, author of Rise Of The Necrofauna, about bringing extinct species back to life. Lastly, Adam takes a look into the validity of viral videos featuring Enchroma glasses for colour blindness

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