The Reality Check

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 223:35:12
  • More information

Informações:

Synopsis

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

Episodes

  • TRC #434: Menstrual Synchrony + Name That: Internet 2016 + Have Your Cake And Eat It Too?

    27/01/2017 Duration: 25min

    Cristina starts this week’s show off checking into the widely held belief that women who who live or work closely together have periods that start to sync up. Next, Pat brings us another edition of everyone’s favourite guessing game, ‘Name That,’ about the internet in 2016. Lastly, Adam looks into the phrase ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it too.’ This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #433: Fingerprint Theft From Selfies? + Revisiting Celebrity Death Stats + The Birthday Paradox

    21/01/2017 Duration: 27min

    Pat kicks off this week’s show with a touchy news item making the rounds claiming hackers can steal our fingerprints from selfies. Darren digs into some new analyses on whether celebrity deaths were more rampant in 2016 after all. Finally, Adam explores the probability of two people in a room sharing the same birthday. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #432: Winter Insects + Miracle Cream & Free Trials + Star Wars’ Old Republic Women’s Healthcare

    13/01/2017 Duration: 24min

    This week, Darren assures us that those tiny dark objects moving across the snow are not our imagination. A recent ad popping up on socials for “miracle cream” has Cristina asking if free skincare trials are really as advertised. Finally, Adam uses the force to see if inadequate women’s healthcare destroyed Star Wars’ Old Republic. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #431: Annual Prediction Game + Fave Segments of 2016 + Was 2016 Really The Worst Year?

    06/01/2017 Duration: 28min

    The TRC crew reunite to kick 2016 to the curb and usher in the New Year with a fun-filled show! Adam checks the panel’s “clairvoyance” score by revisiting last year’s “predictions”. The panel set aside logic yet again to make their predictions for 2017. Favourite and most surprising segments from 2016 are highlighted.  Finally, Darren rounds out the show by asking was 2016 really the worst year ever? This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #430: The 6th Annual Holiday Parody Spectacular

    30/12/2016 Duration: 27min

    Pat and Cristina hijack the last show of the year and feature holiday-themed parodies from years past. The crew offers up their year-end lists highlighting the favourite things they’ve read, watched and listened to in 2016. Finally, we revisit some of listener and panel top voted parodies. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #429.5: Programming Good Ethics Into A.I.

    27/12/2016 Duration: 12min

    Some extra content this week for all you checkers! Darren and Adam have a discussion with friend of the show Jim Davies about programming good ethics into artificial intelligence. Jim is an associate professor in the Institute of Cognitive Science at Carleton University. 

  • TRC #429: Is Barter The Origin Of Money? + More Trees Than Stars? + Snowflakes

    23/12/2016 Duration: 25min

    Special guest, Lars, gets things started by examining whether barter is the origin of money. Next, Pat looks into whether there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way. Lastly, Darren gives us a primer on snowflakes.  This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #428: Truffle Oil + The Science Of Idiocracy + Paid Sick Leave

    16/12/2016 Duration: 27min

    Pat starts things off by digging for the truth about truffle oil. Next, Adam looks into the science behind the movie ‘Idiocracy’ and asks: is natural selection making us dumb? Lastly, Cristina coughs up some facts around the real cost of not providing paid sick leave. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #427: Possession Is 9-10ths Of The Law? + Genes Predict Athletic Performance? + What Is Organic?

    09/12/2016 Duration: 29min

    Adam kicks things off by decoding the common phrase ‘possession is 9/10ths of the law’. Next Cristina looks into whether direct-to-consumer genetic tests can really help predict a child’s athletic predisposition. Lastly, Darren checks into what the organic label really means. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #426.5: Effective Donating 2016

    06/12/2016 Duration: 19min

    ‘Tis the season for giving so TRC brings you an extra show this week. Darren and Adam revisit a segment on effective donating during the holidays with some updates for 2016. This show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #426: Measuring Pregnancy: Weeks Vs Months? + Name That: Canadian Citizenship + The 5 Second Rule

    02/12/2016 Duration: 26min

    Adam kicks off the show looking at whether it is better to measure pregnancy in weeks or months. Next, Pat tests the panel’s “Canadianness” with a game of ‘Name That’ featuring questions from Canadian citizenship practice exams. Darren closes out the show with a look at the five second rule.  This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

  • TRC #425: Fake News, Facebook & The Election + FTC Vs Homeopathy + Ultrasound Determining Fetal Sex

    25/11/2016 Duration: 29min

    Darren kick off the show looking at headlines about fake news, Facebook and the U.S. election.  Cristina looks at new FTC rules regarding homeopathy.  Lastly, Adam brings us a segment about determining fetal sex via ultrasound.  

  • TRC #424: Harambe For President? + Moving To Canada + Trump Predictions

    19/11/2016 Duration: 30min

    Pat kicks off The Reality Check’s first post-US election show looking into claims that voters may have thrown off the election results by voting Harambe 2016. Adam gives any disgruntled American friends the 411 on how to move to Canada. Finally, Cristina scrutinizes the validity of alleged uncanny Trump predictions floating around social media.

  • TRC #423: Daylight Saving Time + Stopped Male Birth Control Study

    11/11/2016 Duration: 27min

    Cristina reality checks some common misconceptions about Daylight Saving Time.  Darren looks at recent headlines about a male birth control study which was stopped due to adverse effects.

  • TRC #422: Theraband FlexBar Effective? + Star Wars Filming Near You? + Name That: Remembrance Day

    04/11/2016 Duration: 29min

    Cristina checks into a listener’s questions about the effectiveness of a product called ‘Theraband Flexbar’ for tennis elbow. Adam looks at some headlines about a new Star Wars flick being filmed near you which are making the rounds on social media. Pat tests the panel’s knowledge with a Remembrance Day themed episode of everyone’s favourite mostly guessing game, ‘name that.’

  • TRC #421.5: Darren On Ron Corbett Unscripted

    31/10/2016 Duration: 38min

    BOO!  We bring you a rebroadcast of Darren's appearance on CFRA News Talk Radio on Halloween, 2013.  He participated in a debate about ghosts, spirits and the paranormal for a special episode of Ron Corbett Unscripted.

  • TRC #421: US Election Polls + Fake Academic Papers + Plain Cigarette Packaging

    28/10/2016 Duration: 29min

    Darren kicks off the show by taking a look at election polls and their real-world margin of error. Next, Pat digs into predatory publishers and fake academic articles. Lastly, Adam fans the flames on the debate around the effectiveness of plain cigarette packaging after a listener asks TRC to look at “both sides of the argument”.  

  • TRC #420: Origin of 420 + Gem Newman of Bad Science Watch + History Of Halloween

    21/10/2016 Duration: 25min

    This week Cristina looks into the origin of 420 and its connection to pot. Pat brings us an interview with Gem Newman of Bad Science Watch about proposed new regulation for natural health products and how Canadian Checkers can get involved. Lastly, Darren looks into the interesting history of Halloween.  

  • TRC #419: Are Bees Endangered? + Peanut Butter Deadly To Dogs? + Transcendental Meditation

    15/10/2016 Duration: 28min

    This week, Darren delves into all the buzz around headlines citing bees are endangered. Cristina digs into why peanut butter containing xylitol may be deadly to dogs. Finally, Adam enlightens us with a look at transcendental meditation.

  • TRC #418: Should You Rake Your Leaves? + Name That: World Producers Edition + The Great Pitbull Debate

    10/10/2016 Duration: 30min

    On this week’s show, Darren arms you with advice on whether it’s really necessary to rake your yard leaves and kick them to the curb. Adam bravely gets in the middle of the great pitbull debate. Lastly, Pat tests the panel’s knowledge of top producing countries with another enlightening game of “Name That”.

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