The Reality Check

Darren is back and he has some thoughts about the ongoing reporting and discussions related to the Google memo. In preparation for the solar eclipse on August 21, Cristina checks into some commonly held beliefs about eclipses. Lastly, Adam looks into the ideas that twins run in the family and skip a generation.

Our old friend and OG TRC co-host Elan “Origami” Dubrofsky fills in this week for vacationing Darren with a ‘skepticool’ look at whether the phenomenon known as the “Sophomore Slump” has any truth to it. Pat has some fun trolling the panel with a game of Name That: Darren Edition. Finally, Adam picks apart the data behind recent headlines claiming millennials commit less and  ‘housewives’ commit more adultery.

Happy August, Checkers! This week Adam digs into a recent Pew Research Center study about online harassment to find out if women are more likely to be harassed online than men. Cristina gives us a lesson in Internet Trolling 101 featuring Canadian band Arcade Fire. Finally, Darren determines whether counting between lightning and thunder can really tell you the distance of a storm.

This week Darren gives us an impassioned critical overview of a recent interview on Waking Up with Sam Harris featuring Dilbert creator Scott Adams who makes a case for Trump. Cristina looks into how businesses get their logos on those big blue highway signs and at what cost. Finally, Adam looks at a recent and tragic news story about a Mink farm and reminds us sometimes there are consequences even with the best of intentions.

Pat and Cristina bring you a music themed mashup! First Pat sets the tone with a segment on high fidelity audio players and whether Neil Young’s Pono device is as ‘righteous’ as its name claims. Darren clears the smoke on whether Puff The Magic Dragon is about marijuana. Cristina rings in with a segment about Perfect Pitch.

Darren kicks off this week’s show looking into whether seeing the colour of your wine influences your perception of its taste. Cristina digs into the purported health benefits of the latest activated charcoal food trend. Finally, Adam investigates the claim made in a recent History Channel documentary that new photo evidence of Amelia Earhart shows she survived a crash-landing.

This week the crew is joined once again by ‘Physics Commando’ Barry Panas who challenges us to think about the labels we use to describe what we feel when it comes to force and motion. Pat gives us a food themed game of ‘Name That’. Adam checks the numbers on whether it always rains on Canada Day.

Happy Canada Day Checkers! This week, Adam looks into a claim by Anonymous making headlines that NASA is about to announce the discovery of aliens. Inspired by the movie Hidden Figures, Cristina digs into the Matilda Effect and highlights some groundbreaking women scientists who were famously and shamelessly snubbed for their achievements. Finally, after Darren comes down from seeing the new Wonder Woman blockbuster, he explores whether Gal Gadot’s paycheque is as unfair as some make it sound.

Producer Pat is joined in the studio by his dog Holden while the rest of the crew has the week off.  So, of course, all the topic are about dogs in this mashup episode. Darren digs into headlines that suggest science has confirmed dogs understand us. Cristina paws at rumours that peanut butter may be deadly to dogs. Adam bites into some research suggesting dogs hate hugs. Woof!

On this week’s show, Darren takes a closer look at the fuel icon on your car’s dashboard. Adam channels his skepticism into fact-checking the various purported claims of Himalayan Salt Lamps. Finally, Cristina cooks up a segment about why 350 degrees is a universal sweet spot.

The weekend is here and so is TRC! First, Pat does an engine check on what would happen if someone put sugar in your gas tank. Darren looks into some big news in the skeptical community regarding the publication of a fake paper in a social science journal. Last, Adam battles rumours that the voice of Sailor Moon is the Japanese voice of Wonder Woman.

What a better way to kick off the month than a new dose of The Reality Check! First, Pat schools us on which mountain is really the tallest and why. Cristina digs into various studies to see if there is any evidence to support she should leave the radio on to soothe her dog while she’s gone. Finally, Adam takes on a persistent conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne is not who she seems.

Happy weekend, Checkers! Darren burns through a segment about whether book paper ignites at 451 degrees fahrenheit as depicted in the Ray Bradbury novel. Next, Adam digs into recent headlines suggesting that humans migrated to the Americas 130 thousand years ago. Lastly, Cristina tempts you with an examination into whether wearing red makes you more attractive.

A brand new episode of TRC is here just in time for the weekend! Cristina looks into whether you can really save knocked out teeth by storing them in milk. The crew is joined by guest panelist and ‘Physics Commando’ Barry Panas who revisits theory vs theory and puts his physics spin on The Legend of Zelda. Lastly, Darren rounds out the show by examining whether car colour affects insurance rates.

Your weekly dose of fun and facts is back with a brand new episode! Cristina takes on a twitter question about the use of the word ‘stop’ in telegrams and busts some old myths in the process. Our favo(u)rite resident astronomer Dr. Stuart Robbins returns with an update on New Horizons and to impart more wisdom about vacuums, and virtual particles. Finally, new dad, Adam investigates whether babies resemble their Fathers more than their Mothers. And speaking of Moms, Happy Mother’s Day!

What’s up, Checkers! This week, Adam takes a closer look at cupping therapy after Prime Minister Trudeau is spotted doing an interview with cup-shaped bruises on his arms. Our favo(u)rite resident astronomer Dr. Stuart Robbins joins the crew to explain zero gravity and how our bodies would respond if we stopped accelerating in space. Finally, Darren looks into the sticky truth about duct tape.

Welcome to another episode of your fave fact-checkin’ show! Darren kicks things off with a recap and discussion of April 22’s March For Science. Cristina looks into whether witchcraft is an actual crime under Canada’s Criminal Code. Finally, Adam asks the burning question on all of our minds lately...does the new Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino contain any coffee?

The TRC crew brings another fun and fact-filled show! First up, Darren looks behind the controversy swelling around the recent art installation in New York titled “Fearless Girl”. Producer Pat challenges the panel with an eye-opening game of Name That. Finally, Adam rounds out the show by digging into news claiming neanderthal remains may disprove the biological concept “Survival Of The Fittest”. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo code ‘Reality50’ to receive 50% off your first HelloFresh order. Use promo code ‘REALITY’ to get $50 off any Endy Sleep Mattress.

While Cristina is away, the rest of the crew still brings it! Darren once again tackles possible issues in the field of psychology by looking into social priming. Pat digs into a recent news story making the rounds regarding an alleged feral girl found living with monkeys in India. Finally, Adam delves into the interesting origin of the dollar sign. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo code ‘Reality50’ to receive 50% off your first HelloFresh order. Use promo code ‘REALITY’ to get $50 off any Endy Sleep Mattress.

It’s all about parents and babies this week for a good reason. First Cristina explores the science of mother’s milk and asks whether some breastfeeding advocates take things too far. Bonus: a very tired Adam gives us an update. Next, Darren examines whether parents are more or less happy than people without children.