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PODCAST

The Reality Check

The Reality Check

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

science natural sciences

All Episodes

22:33

TRC #488: Urine-Based Test For Sex Of Fetus + How...

The Reality Check ·

2018/02/24

The crew has the week off but still brings you a new fact-filled TRC! Cristina and Pat chat with Ryan Armstrong from Post-Truth Health and Bad Science Watch. He tells us whether urine-based tests coming to Canada can determine the sex of a fetus during pregnancy. Next Darren delivers a promised follow-up to his segment about neurons asking how many neurons does the human brain have?

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30:59

TRC #487: Solar Eclipse Fallout + The Bicameral Mind...

The Reality Check ·

2018/02/17

This week, Darren looks into the potential downside of watching a solar eclipse and asks, ‘Is it worth it?’ Adam gets all ‘Darren’ on us with an interesting segment about consciousness and the bicameral mind. Lastly, Cristina investigates whether an online dating site has the evidence to back up their claims that they use science to match people.

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26:25

TRC #486: Valentine’s Day Myths + Name That: V-Day...

The Reality Check ·

2018/02/11

Another theme-filled show coming at you! First, Cristina combs through widely-held Valentine’s Day myths to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction. Pat challenges the panel with another game of Name That: V-Day Edition. Finally, Darren rounds out the show with a ‘heartfelt’ segment about the amazing organ behind Valentine’s Day.

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33:19

TRC #485: Neurons + YouTube Copyright Claims + Why...

The Reality Check ·

2018/02/03

Another week, another great episode of TRC! On this week’s show, Darren follows his impulses and takes a deep dive on neurons. Adam looks into YouTube’s content ID system to find out why a video of white noise could possibly set off a copyright claim. Finally, Cristina explains the real reason that February is the shortest month of the year.

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37:05

TRC #484: Contact Lenses + Vegetarianism Rates +...

The Reality Check ·

2018/01/28

After a recent run-in with a rogue contact lens Cristina asks, what would happen if you never took your contacts out? Darren looks at the rates of vegetarianism and what the statistics really mean. Finally, Adam breaks downs how many times you need to use reusable bags to offset the use of plastic ones.

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26:50

TRC #483: Mailbag + Raw Water + Do Bears Hibernate?

The Reality Check ·

2018/01/20

The Fab Four is back this week! Adam kicks off the show with some interesting listener email. Cristina dives into the latest raw water fad to bring you the raw facts. Finally, Darren ponders whether bears really hibernate.

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31:15

TRC #482: Coffee Enemas + The Physics Of Curling +...

The Reality Check ·

2018/01/13

With Darren away this week, the crew is joined by our favourite “physics commando” Barry Panas. First, Cristina looks into the latest ‘wellness’ gadget that Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP is peddling. Spoiler alert: it involves an orifice. Next, Barry takes on a question from Producer Pat about how much sweeping really affects the game of curling. Finally, Adam looks into whether the Trump administration really did ban the CDC from using 7 words.

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46:12

TRC #481: Fave Segments of 2017 + Name That: Year In...

The Reality Check ·

2018/01/06

The TRC crew is back to usher in the New Year with a fun-filled show! First, we look back at our favourite and most surprising segments from 2017. Next, Pat challenges the panel with a year in review game of ‘Name That’. Lastly, Adam revisits the gang’s ‘predictions’ from last year and we set aside logic yet again to guess what might happen in 2018.

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39:52

TRC #480: Aluminum Christmas Trees + Habitable Zones...

The Reality Check ·

2017/12/28

With Cristina out sick this week, our favourite astronomer Stuart Robbins joins the panel. First Adam looks into aluminum Christmas trees and whether or not ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ is to blame for their demise. Next, Stuart gives us a long promised overview of habitable zones. Lastly, Darren takes a look into a couple of interpretations of the lyrics for ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’.

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30:23

TRC #479: Dowsing + Violence Decreasing? + #1...

The Reality Check ·

2017/12/17

On this week’s TRC, Cristina looks into whether the City of Ottawa is really using dowsing to locate water. Next, Adam checks into a study that seems to contradict Steven Pinker’s “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined”. Lastly, Darren asks: did a fake restaurant in London reach #1 rated on Trip Advisor?

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27:26

TRC #478: Mashup: Skeptical Newlywed Game + Ghost...

The Reality Check ·

2017/12/09

While the crew takes the week off in honour of Adam’s nuptials, Producer Pat brings you a wedding-themed mashup episode! First, Adam plays game show host during a skeptical (and highly entertaining) version of the newlywed game featuring special guests Elan and Dina. Next, Darren gives us a spirited segment looking into whether people in China are stealing corpses for ghost weddings.

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29:35

TRC #477: Wedding Night Sex? + Game Farm Photography...

The Reality Check ·

2017/12/02

On this week’s show, freshly married Adam looks into how many people actually have sex on their wedding night. Cristina explores the world of wildlife photography and finds out it isn’t what it seems. Finally, ‘tis the season for Darren to revisit charitable giving and arm us with effective donating tips.

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29:26

TRC #476: MAGA Transformers Toy? + Name That: Spot...

The Reality Check ·

2017/11/25

On this week’s show, Adam looks into whether a recently released Transformers toy contains a Pro-Trump message. The gang has a ton of fun playing Producer Pat’s game of Name That: Spot the Fake Fact. Darren checks into headlines suggesting that eating tilapia may be no better for you than bacon, hamburgers or doughnuts.

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30:44

TRC #475: Age Of Consent + Elections Signs + ‘Allah’...

The Reality Check ·

2017/11/19

Given the troubling sexual harassment and assault allegations in the news involving minors, Darren takes a look at age of consent laws worldwide. Cristina fields a Checker’s question regarding whether election campaign signs have any measurable impact on voter share. Finally, Adam digs into claims that Arabic characters spelling “Allah” are woven into ancient Viking funeral costumes.

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25:07

TRC #474: Buffett Challenge: Hedge Vs Index Funds +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/11/11

Darren digs into Warren Buffett’s challenge where he bet $1 million that a portfolio of hedge funds couldn’t beat the S&P 500 Index fund over a ten year period. So...did it? Cristina and Pat bring you part 2 of a great chat with Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Specialist Dr. Dave Stukus who schools us on the flu shot and answers more of your questions.

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30:12

TRC #473: Does Sugar Cause Diabetes? + Allergy Doc...

The Reality Check ·

2017/11/04

Come for the Science, stay for the FUN! On this week’s show, Adam looks at the leading causes of diabetes after a listener calls Darren out on his joke linking sugar to the disease. Cristina and Pat bring you part 1 of a great chat with Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Specialist Dr. Dave Stukus who answers listener’s burning questions. Finally, Cristina and Pat hang with Dr. Ken Milne, host of Skeptic’s Guide to Emergency Medicine, and OB-GYN and master GOOP Debunker, Dr. Jen Gunter of Wielding The

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26:43

TRC #472: Blue Moonlight In Movies? + Halloween Myths...

The Reality Check ·

2017/10/27

On this week’s show, Darren wonders: why do filmmakers colour grade moonlight to be blue? Next, Cristina explores Halloween folklore vs Halloween facts. Lastly, Adam asks: is there a Melania Trump double or doppelganger out there pretending to be her at press events?

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34:15

TRC #471: McGurk Effect + Britt Wray & Rise Of The...

The Reality Check ·

2017/10/20

On this week’s show, Pat explains an illusion known as the McGurk Effect which demonstrates the interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception. We bring you part two of Darren and Adam’s discussion with author Britt Wray about her book ‘Rise Of The Necrofauna.’ Cristina checks into the clickbait headline ‘you’re more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark.’

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34:12

TRC #470: Vegas Shooting Conspiracies + Britt Wray &...

The Reality Check ·

2017/10/15

On this week’s show, Pat checks into some of the more prevalent conspiracy theories related to the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas. Next up, the first of a 2 part interview featuring a fascinating conversation with Britt Wray, author of Rise Of The Necrofauna, about bringing extinct species back to life. Lastly, Adam takes a look into the validity of viral videos featuring Enchroma glasses for colour blindness

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30:19

TRC #469: Can A Computer Program Tell If Someone Is...

The Reality Check ·

2017/10/07

On this week’s show, Adam looks into an article suggesting that deep neural networks are more accurate than humans at detecting sexual orientation from facial images. Pat gives us another episode of everyone’s favourite mostly guessing game, name that: the world’s largest. Lastly, Darren addresses some commonly believed myths about nuclear weapons.

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443 results

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