The Reality Check

Hey, Checkers, the TRC crew is back with a mixed bag of facts! First, Pat brings us an entertaining segment after investigating an image macro dubbed ‘treason tags’ making the rounds on social media. Next, Adam takes a second look at the claim that the Atacama Mummified Skeleton found in Chile was not of this world. Lastly, Darren goes down a rabbit hole to school us on Godwin’s Law.  

This week’s show is dedicated to an interview with author and animal protection advocate Paul Shapiro. Adam and Darren talk with Paul about cellular agriculture and his Washington Post bestseller book ‘Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World.’

This week, Adam looks into a viral post suggesting that confectionery company Cadbury is waging war on Easter. Next Darren takes a deep dive into Jordan Peterson and his book ‘12 Rules For Life’. Lastly Cristina checks into headlines suggesting that Lebron James gained 7 pounds during a single basketball game. Enjoy!

Happy Spring Equinox, Checkers! This week, Adam questions whether gun violence in Canada is really increasing by targeting the facts. Pat challenges the crew to an Easter-ish version of everybody’s favourite mostly guessing game. Lastly, Darren warns us about an online passport service taking advantage of unsuspecting Canadians.

Aloha Checkers! The whole crew is here for a brand new show. Back from a trip to Hawaii, Darren discusses how the islands that make up the State came to be. Cristina, once again, looks into the question: are euthanasia drugs showing up in dog food? Lastly, Adam looks into some recent headlines claiming that Amelia Earhart’s bones have been found.

Brian Tomasik from Reducing-Suffering.org discusses ethics, animal welfare and far-future scenarios from a suffering-focused perspective. Here is his interview from 2015 presented in its entirety for the first time. This was one of the more controversial interviews on TRC and generated quite a bit of conversation.  As always, we’re interested to hear what you think. The crew will be back next week with a freshly minted show. Enjoy!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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?

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.

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.

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.