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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

34:51

TRC #468: Human Swallowed By Whale? + Breast...

The Reality Check ·

2017/09/27

Aaaaand we’re back! On this week’s show, Pat dives into whether a human could survive being swallowed by a whale. Cristina takes a serious look at dangerous claims made by clinics popping up promoting thermography for breast cancer screening. Finally, Adam schools us on whether a history researcher has cracked the code of The Voynich Manuscript.

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25:53

TRC #467: Truth In Advertising Vs Goop + Boil Hot Or...

The Reality Check ·

2017/09/16

This week Cristina tells us about a nonprofit called Truth in Advertising who have conducted an investigation into Gwyneth Paltrow’s site, Goop. Darren asks: is it better to boil hot water or cold water? Adam wonders why Cuba has so many classic cars.

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26:48

TRC #466: Science Of Summer + Biased Algorithms +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/09/09

This week, Darren looks into the science of late summer and why we get that sudden feeling that summer is gone. Honorary TRC’er and resident machine learning expert Dallas Card joins the Toronto crew in-studio to dissect whether algorithms can be biased. Finally, after hearing a female adaptation of Lord of the Flies is in the works, Adam asks whether the movie’s concept is even plausible. PS. If you ‘get’ this week’s photo, you win the internet.

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26:57

TRC #465: Hurricanes, Typhoons & Cyclones + Climate...

The Reality Check ·

2017/09/02

With Hurricane Harvey shaping up to be one of the most damaging natural disasters in U.S history, the panel dedicate this week’s show to learning more about hurricanes. First, Darren gives us a quick overview of what a hurricane is and the differences between it, typhoons, and cyclones. Adam looks at the impact of climate change on hurricanes. Lastly, Cristina digs into why and when evacuation orders are implemented during natural disasters after the recent criticism around Harris County.

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27:15

TRC #464: Glyphosate In Food? + Average Female & Male...

The Reality Check ·

2017/08/26

Pat digs into a listener request about a report that found ‘ALARMING’ amounts of the herbicide glyphosate in food. Next, Darren takes a closer look at the data on whether female and male interests differ, on average. Lastly, Cristina checks the science behind the saying that laughter is the best medicine.

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21:48

TRC #463: Google Memo + Eclipse Myths + Do Twins Run...

The Reality Check ·

2017/08/19

Darren is back and he has some thoughts about the ongoing reporting and discussions related to the Google memo. In preparation for the solar eclipse on August 21, Cristina checks into some commonly held beliefs about eclipses. Lastly, Adam looks into the ideas that twins run in the family and skip a generation.

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35:12

TRC #462: Sophomore Slump + Name That: Darren Edition...

The Reality Check ·

2017/08/12

Our old friend and OG TRC co-host Elan “Origami” Dubrofsky fills in this week for vacationing Darren with a ‘skepticool’ look at whether the phenomenon known as the “Sophomore Slump” has any truth to it. Pat has some fun trolling the panel with a game of Name That: Darren Edition. Finally, Adam picks apart the data behind recent headlines claiming millennials commit less and ‘housewives’ commit more adultery.

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37:06

TRC #461: Online Harassment Research + Arcade Fire vs...

The Reality Check ·

2017/08/05

Happy August, Checkers! This week Adam digs into a recent Pew Research Center study about online harassment to find out if women are more likely to be harassed online than men. Cristina gives us a lesson in Internet Trolling 101 featuring Canadian band Arcade Fire. Finally, Darren determines whether counting between lightning and thunder can really tell you the distance of a storm.

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40:14

TRC #460: Sam Harris vs Scott Adams On Trump +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/07/29

This week Darren gives us an impassioned critical overview of a recent interview on Waking Up with Sam Harris featuring Dilbert creator Scott Adams who makes a case for Trump. Cristina looks into how businesses get their logos on those big blue highway signs and at what cost. Finally, Adam looks at a recent and tragic news story about a Mink farm and reminds us sometimes there are consequences even with the best of intentions.

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36:32

TRC #459: Mashup: High Fidelity Music Players + Puff...

The Reality Check ·

2017/07/21

Pat and Cristina bring you a music themed mashup! First Pat sets the tone with a segment on high fidelity audio players and whether Neil Young’s Pono device is as ‘righteous’ as its name claims. Darren clears the smoke on whether Puff The Magic Dragon is about marijuana. Cristina rings in with a segment about Perfect Pitch.

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33:03

TRC #458: Wine Tasting Bias? + Activated Charcoal...

The Reality Check ·

2017/07/14

Darren kicks off this week’s show looking into whether seeing the colour of your wine influences your perception of its taste. Cristina digs into the purported health benefits of the latest activated charcoal food trend. Finally, Adam investigates the claim made in a recent History Channel documentary that new photo evidence of Amelia Earhart shows she survived a crash-landing.

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37:53

TRC #457: Perception Of Force + Name That: Food...

The Reality Check ·

2017/07/08

This week the crew is joined once again by ‘Physics Commando’ Barry Panas who challenges us to think about the labels we use to describe what we feel when it comes to force and motion. Pat gives us a food themed game of ‘Name That’. Adam checks the numbers on whether it always rains on Canada Day.

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29:49

TRC #456: Anonymous vs NASA + The Matilda Effect +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/07/01

Happy Canada Day Checkers! This week, Adam looks into a claim by Anonymous making headlines that NASA is about to announce the discovery of aliens. Inspired by the movie Hidden Figures, Cristina digs into the Matilda Effect and highlights some groundbreaking women scientists who were famously and shamelessly snubbed for their achievements. Finally, after Darren comes down from seeing the new Wonder Woman blockbuster, he explores whether Gal Gadot’s paycheque is as unfair as some make it sound.

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31:32

TRC #455: Mashup: Talking To Dogs + Dogs and Peanut...

The Reality Check ·

2017/06/23

Producer Pat is joined in the studio by his dog Holden while the rest of the crew has the week off. So, of course, all the topic are about dogs in this mashup episode. Darren digs into headlines that suggest science has confirmed dogs understand us. Cristina paws at rumours that peanut butter may be deadly to dogs. Adam bites into some research suggesting dogs hate hugs. Woof!

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23:54

TRC #454: Gas Pump Icon + Himalayan Salt Lamps + Why...

The Reality Check ·

2017/06/17

On this week’s show, Darren takes a closer look at the fuel icon on your car’s dashboard. Adam channels his skepticism into fact-checking the various purported claims of Himalayan Salt Lamps. Finally, Cristina cooks up a segment about why 350 degrees is a universal sweet spot.

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25:35

TRC #453: Sugar In The Gas Tank? + Conceptual Penis...

The Reality Check ·

2017/06/10

The weekend is here and so is TRC! First, Pat does an engine check on what would happen if someone put sugar in your gas tank. Darren looks into some big news in the skeptical community regarding the publication of a fake paper in a social science journal. Last, Adam battles rumours that the voice of Sailor Moon is the Japanese voice of Wonder Woman.

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32:30

TRC #452: Mount Everest The Tallest Mountain? + Does...

The Reality Check ·

2017/06/03

What a better way to kick off the month than a new dose of The Reality Check! First, Pat schools us on which mountain is really the tallest and why. Cristina digs into various studies to see if there is any evidence to support she should leave the radio on to soothe her dog while she’s gone. Finally, Adam takes on a persistent conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne is not who she seems.

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24:39

TRC #451: Does Paper Burn at 451 Degrees Fahrenheit?...

The Reality Check ·

2017/05/27

Happy weekend, Checkers! Darren burns through a segment about whether book paper ignites at 451 degrees fahrenheit as depicted in the Ray Bradbury novel. Next, Adam digs into recent headlines suggesting that humans migrated to the Americas 130 thousand years ago. Lastly, Cristina tempts you with an examination into whether wearing red makes you more attractive.

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29:05

TRC #450: Save Knocked Out Teeth With Milk? + Physics...

The Reality Check ·

2017/05/19

A brand new episode of TRC is here just in time for the weekend! Cristina looks into whether you can really save knocked out teeth by storing them in milk. The crew is joined by guest panelist and ‘Physics Commando’ Barry Panas who revisits theory vs theory and puts his physics spin on The Legend of Zelda. Lastly, Darren rounds out the show by examining whether car colour affects insurance rates.

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33:41

TRC #449: Why Use Stop In Telegrams + Ask An...

The Reality Check ·

2017/05/13

Your weekly dose of fun and facts is back with a brand new episode! Cristina takes on a twitter question about the use of the word ‘stop’ in telegrams and busts some old myths in the process. Our favo(u)rite resident astronomer Dr. Stuart Robbins returns with an update on New Horizons and to impart more wisdom about vacuums, and virtual particles. Finally, new dad, Adam investigates whether babies resemble their Fathers more than their Mothers. And speaking of Moms, Happy Mother’s Day!

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443 results

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