The Reality Check

An action packed show this week!  Susan Gerbic joins the crew to discuss Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia.   Next, Cristina tells us about an industry funded study on butter with surprising results. Lastly, Darren looks into facts and stats about deaths from heat and cold.  

Three interesting segments this week.  First, Cristina addresses a listener email ‘aboot’ cultural stereotypes and subjective judgments based on people’s accents. Next, the gang is once again joined by Dina Tsirlin who looks into some shocking facts about electroconvulsive therapy.  Lastly, Adam takes aim at recent headlines suggesting that a cat ‘took’ a bullet for a kid.  

  The Reality Check celebrates its 7th birthday! This week we’re bringin’ the science and the sci-fi with two fact-filled segments. First, Darren kicks things off with an analysis of the Reproducibility Project which looks at experimental and correlational studies published in the field of Psychological Science. Adam dives head first into recent DNA studies on octopuses and the resulting headlines suggesting they come from an alien world.

  On this week’s show, Cristina rouses the panel with some research that addresses whether we can ever really catch up on lost sleep. Guest Lars Péloquin explains the concept of Trickle-down Economics. Finally, Pat looks into why NASA recently had to address rumours which suggested an impending Asteroid catastrophe.

Guest panelist and honorary TRC’er Dr. Stuart Robbins from the “Exposing PseudoAstronomy” podcast joins us once again to answer questions about New Horizons and help us navigate the various claims made by the media coverage of Pluto.  Adam rounds out the show by looking into the various conspiracy theories surrounding The Berenstain Bear children series.

  Hey TRC’ers!  While Adam is away this week, friend of the show Dallas Card joins us once again in studio to explain Simpson’s Paradox. Pat challenges the panel to another game of Name That: GMO Edition. Finally, Cristina flushes out a listener’s email regarding traveller’s diarrhea myths.

  Imma let you finish...but this episode of TRC is off the hizzy! First, Adam kicks the show off with an in depth look at ‘provocative’ new research that suggests bullying is genetic. TRC alumni Elan joins the crew this week to unveil the real facts behind the Shroud of Turin. Finally, Darren raps about a recent ‘news piece’ gone viral featuring Kanye vs a wheelchair basketball team of middle school kids.

TRC keeps bringin’ da facts! Darren starts us off by dipping into a segment about popular hydration myths. Cristina digs into what happens when you donate your body to Science. Finally, Adam reflects on whether or not it’s easy to detect a two-way mirror.

Pat sets the tone with a segment on high fidelity audio players and whether Neil Young’s new Pono device is as ‘righteous’ as its name claims. Darren reflects on popular misconceptions around sunscreen. Finally, Cristina tips-off with a segment about how some cutting edge technology called the Catapult GPS is being used in elite sports training.

Wassup TRC'ers! Darren kicks things off with a detailed segment about Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia, aka GSoW. Adam serves us a lighthearted look at whether McDonald’s Happy Meal Minions are swearing at us.  Finally, Cristina asks the burning question, what’s the science behind “The Munchies”?

Welcome, bienvenida, bienvenue TRC’ers! Pat kicks off this week’s show addressing a listener’s email regarding whether there’s any real science behind health applications for mobile phones. Cristina takes a walk down Sesame Street to explore whether exposure to the show leads to improved early educational outcomes in preschoolers. Finally, Adam raises an eyebrow at the Confederate flag.

Despite some technical issues this week, the crew plowed through to bring you another great episode of TRC! On today’s show, Darren takes an in-depth look into the controversial story behind Rachel Dolezal and leads the panel in an interesting discussion about the definition of Race. Adam relays his experience looking at cancer treatment options for his sick cat Cheese and the woo he encountered in the process. Finally, Cristina dives into a myth about whether or not stockbrokers really jumped out of windows during a financial crisis.  

  Cristina takes over TRC Studios to DJ another magnificent Mashup episode. This week the running theme is “Women”. Enjoy!

Welcome TRC Family to another jam-packed episode! Adam kicks off the show this week by looking into the brouhaha over whether Caitlyn Jenner really beat out Noah Galloway to win an ESPN Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Our guest panelist statistician Alex Demarsh introduces us to Bayesian Statistics demonstrating that some of us would have enjoyed stats way more in high school if he was at the chalkboard. Finally, Cristina unearths the dung in Biodynamic Farming. Special shout out to TRC’er David for sending in such a great parody suggestion + lyrics for “How Deep Is Your Woo” that even Baritone Pat couldn’t resist!

The whole gang is back to deliver another fun-filled show! Cristina rings in with a segment about Perfect Pitch and a recent study that looks at whether the ability can be learned by adults. Pat challenges the panel’s knowledge of Weather & Climate with an informative game of Name That.  Last but not least, Darren breaks down the timeline surrounding the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

With Pat & Cristina away, guest host Dr. Michael Thompson steps in to join the crew! Adam gives us a whiff of aromatherapy, specifically multi-level marketing company doTerra Essential Oils. Michael offers some historical context around the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Finally, Darren touches upon phototropism and whether sunflowers follow the sun.

  Pat kicks off this week’s show revisiting an older segment on DNR with some new information about the mortality rate in DNR patients. Darren looks into the phenomenon of men having more than one penis. Finally, Adam hands us a segment about the interesting origin of the Vulcan Salute and the Death Grip myth.

  Hello TRC’ers! This week’s show is a veritable potpourri of topics! Darren studies Ontario’s new Sex-Ed Curriculum and addresses its critics. Adam tackles the meme keeping us all up at night...did the kids from Magic School Bus grow up to be Captain Planet’s Planeteers? Lastly, Cristina dissects some commonly prescribed medical procedures that we may not actually need.

TRC is bringin’ it! Cristina bites into a segment about dubious Health, or self-professed “wellness” bloggers and the potential hazards of their claims, and in some cases lies. Adam touches down with a detailed look into the origins of crop circles and the various explanations behind them. Finally, Darren dips into Tax-Free Savings Accounts to break down a political statement.

Dr. Stuart Robbins from Exposing PseudoAstronomy is back to discuss the search for Earth-sized exoplanets.  Pat then leads the crew in another game of Name That and lastly Darren looks into whether an Israeli stamp in passports can affect travel to Arab and Muslim countries.