The Reality Check

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 220:51:31
  • More information

Informações:

Synopsis

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

Episodes

  • TRC #373: WHO Processed Meat Cancer Study + The Science of Gremlins + Do Bras Cause Cancer?

    31/10/2015 Duration: 43min

    BOO! This week, Darren looks closely into the reporting around the recent published study from WHO’s cancer agency (IARC) regarding links between cancer and the consumption of red and processed meat. Adam applies logic to break down the science of Gremlins. Finally, Cristina takes on another controversial post on Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog Goop suggesting wearing a bra causes cancer.

  • TRC #372: Knowledge Translation with Dr. Ken Milne + Name That: Nobel Edition + Ghost Weddings

    24/10/2015 Duration: 53min

    Emergency medical doctor Ken Milne and host of The Skeptic’s Guide to Emergency Medicine podcast is a totally gnarly dude! He takes time out to join the panel and talk about the knowledge translation project which he founded. Pat teaches us all a few things with a riveting game of Name That featuring Nobel Prize trivia. Finally, Darren gives us a spirited segment by looking into whether people in China are stealing corpses for ghost weddings.

  • TRC #371: Riveted With Jim Davies + Is Polling Effective? + Extraneous Factors & Judicial Decisions

    16/10/2015 Duration: 52min

    Cognitive scientist and author Jim Davies joins the crew this week for a riveting discussion about his book ‘Riveted.”   Next Adam surveys the evidence about whether political polling is effective.  Lastly, Cristina chews on the question of whether extraneous factors affect judicial decisions. Enjoy!

  • TRC #370: Antibacterial Soap + Maple Water + Anti-Vaxxers Funding Fail + Top CO2 Emitters

    10/10/2015 Duration: 37min

    TRC drops four segments this week for your listening pleasure. First, Pat scours the research after a listener writes in questioning whether antibacterial soap is more effective at killing germs.  Adam taps into the recent health claims lauding the benefits of Maple Water. Cristina looks into why anti-vaxxers are up in arms over a recently published funded study. Finally, Darren takes an exhaustive look at which countries are the highest CO2 emitters.

  • TRC #369: Follow Your Career Passion? + Farmer’s Almanac + Subway Becoming Halal?

    04/10/2015 Duration: 47min

    Not even the flu can keep Producer Pat from finally bringing you this week’s episode of TRC! First, Darren explores whether or not encouraging people to follow their passion when choosing a career is sage advice. Next, Cristina takes on a listener’s suggestion and points a skeptical lense at the weather forecasts made by the Farmer’s Alamanacs. Finally, Adam checks into whether or not the claim that Subway has Halal-only restaurants is fact or fiction.

  • TRC #368: Barcodes and 666 + Ahmed Mohamed’s Clock + Do Tax Cuts Cause Job Growth

    26/09/2015 Duration: 47min

    TRC brings you a hella diverse show this week!  First, Pat sidles up to the bar code to determine whether the 666 conspiracy theory holds any weight. Next, Adam takes a facts-based look at the recent controversy around 14 year old Ahmed Mohamed’s homemade clock. Finally, Darren points his skeptical lense at the political argument that small business tax cuts stimulate job growth.

  • TRC #367: Susan Gerbic of GSoW + Industry Funded Studies + Deaths From Heat and Cold

    19/09/2015 Duration: 44min

    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.  

  • TRC #366: Accent Bias + Electroshock Therapy + Did A Cat Take A Bullet For A Kid?

    12/09/2015 Duration: 44min

    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.  

  • TRC #365: Reproducibility of Psychological Science + Are Octopuses Aliens? + Happy Birthday TRC!

    05/09/2015 Duration: 42min

      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.

  • TRC #364: Can You Catch Up On Sleep? + Trickle-down Economics + Is An Asteroid Coming?

    29/08/2015 Duration: 34min

      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.

  • TRC #363: Talking New Horizons with Dr. Stuart Robbins + The Great Berenstain Bear Debate

    22/08/2015 Duration: 55min

    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.

  • TRC #362: Simpson’s Paradox + Name That: GMO Edition + Traveller’s Diarrhea Myths

    14/08/2015 Duration: 33min

      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.

  • TRC #361: Bullying + Shroud of Turin + Kanye vs Wheelchair Basketball Team

    08/08/2015 Duration: 38min

      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 #360: Hydration + Donating Your Body To Science + Two-Way Mirrors

    01/08/2015 Duration: 36min

    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.

  • TRC #359: High Fidelity Audio Players + Sunscreen Revisited + Catapult GPS

    25/07/2015 Duration: 35min

    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.

  • TRC #358: Guerrilla Skepticism + Foul-mouthed Minions + The Munchies

    18/07/2015 Duration: 46min

    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”?

  • TRC #357: Mobile Medical Apps + Sesame Street vs Preschool + Viral Nonsense: Confederate Flag Edition

    11/07/2015 Duration: 45min

    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.

  • TRC #356: Rachel Dolezal and Transraciality + Alternative Cancer Therapies for Pets + Did Stockbrokers Really Jump Out of Windows?

    03/07/2015 Duration: 47min

    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.  

  • TRC #355: Mashup Episode: Breast Cancer Screening + Sexism in Science + Jackie Mitchell

    26/06/2015 Duration: 45min

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

  • TRC #354: Caitlyn Jenner vs Noah Galloway + Bayesian Statistics 101 with Alex Demarsh + Biodynamic Farming

    20/06/2015 Duration: 44min

    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!

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