The Reality Check

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. 

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.’

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.

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”.  

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.  

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.

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”.

Pat starts the show with a bit of sleuthing about a recent advertorial. A flu stricken Cristina looks into the idea that you can balance an egg on its end during the Equinox. Darren examines whether the field of psychology is in crisis. Adam checks into headlines claiming that NASA has changed the zodiac signs.

On this week’s show, we take on 2 Checker requests. First, Pat explores the claims in a viral video about trisodium phosphate in kid’s cereal. Next, Cristina looks at the effectiveness of vapour rubs. Finally, Adam checks the physics of the viral water bottle flip trick making the rounds.

Darren explores whether the recent 22 Push-up Challenge making the rounds actually helps veterans. Pat tests the panel’s knowledge on hoaxes with another edition of Name That. Finally, Adam looks into whether parents are really naming their babies after Pokémon.  

It’s TRC’s 8th birthday! This week, Darren digs into recent headlines that suggest science has confirmed our canine friends understand us. Cristina examines the controversy swirling around the canonization of Mother Teresa. Finally, Adam looks at how a study came up with the 10 most common childhood dream jobs.

Is helium infused beer really a thing? Pat looks into the science behind a video making the social media rounds. Our favo(u)rite astronomer stops by to answer our questions about the recent exoplanet discovery, mysterious SETI signal, and the latest on New Horizons. Finally, Adam dives in to determine whether Scrooge McDuck could swim in his money bin. Cheers!