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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

28:39

TRC #448: Justin Trudeau & Cupping + Ask An...

The Reality Check ·

2017/05/06

What’s up, Checkers! This week, Adam takes a closer look at cupping therapy after Prime Minister Trudeau is spotted doing an interview with cup-shaped bruises on his arms. Our favo(u)rite resident astronomer Dr. Stuart Robbins joins the crew to explain zero gravity and how our bodies would respond if we stopped accelerating in space. Finally, Darren looks into the sticky truth about duct tape.

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31:31

TRC #447: March For Science + Is Witchcraft a Crime...

The Reality Check ·

2017/04/28

Welcome to another episode of your fave fact-checkin’ show! Darren kicks things off with a recap and discussion of April 22’s March For Science. Cristina looks into whether witchcraft is an actual crime under Canada’s Criminal Code. Finally, Adam asks the burning question on all of our minds lately...does the new Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino contain any coffee?

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33:13

TRC #446: Is 'Fearless Girl' Bull? + Name That: Baby...

The Reality Check ·

2017/04/21

The TRC crew brings another fun and fact-filled show! First up, Darren looks behind the controversy swelling around the recent art installation in New York titled “Fearless Girl”. Producer Pat challenges the panel with an eye-opening game of Name That. Finally, Adam rounds out the show by digging into news claiming neanderthal remains may disprove the biological concept “Survival Of The Fittest”. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo

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23:48

TRC #445: Social Priming + Feral Girl Living With...

The Reality Check ·

2017/04/14

While Cristina is away, the rest of the crew still brings it! Darren once again tackles possible issues in the field of psychology by looking into social priming. Pat digs into a recent news story making the rounds regarding an alleged feral girl found living with monkeys in India. Finally, Adam delves into the interesting origin of the dollar sign. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo code ‘Reality50’ to receive 50% off your first

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40:06

TRC #444: Mashup: Breast Feeding And Lactivism + Are...

The Reality Check ·

2017/04/08

It’s all about parents and babies this week for a good reason. First Cristina explores the science of mother’s milk and asks whether some breastfeeding advocates take things too far. Bonus: a very tired Adam gives us an update. Next, Darren examines whether parents are more or less happy than people without children.

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30:54

TRC #443: Theory Vs Scientific Theory + Pesticides In...

The Reality Check ·

2017/03/31

Tired of hearing people say ‘it’s just a theory’? Pat tackles a listener’s email and schools us on the true definition of the often misunderstood word ‘theory’ in science. Adam dives into a recent article claiming a pesticide banned in Europe is turning up in Canadian water supplies. Finally, Cristina looks into the recent bad buzz around Cheerios cereal’s #bringbackthebees campaign. Bonus: name that drum loop!

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29:01

TRC #442: Implicit Association Test + Eiffel Tower...

The Reality Check ·

2017/03/24

Darren takes a deep dive into the Implicit Association Test to see if it really does measure our unconscious levels of prejudice and assess implicit bias. Cristina explores whether there’s a chance she may get arrested if she takes photos of the night-lit Eiffel Tower on an upcoming trip to Paris. Finally, Adam explores a common news story that comes up around St. Patrick’s Day regarding Irish slavery in America.

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32:38

TRC #441: Nintendo Switch And Flavour Tripping +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/03/17

The TRC crew is back with an entertaining show! First, Pat gives us a fascinating look into why people are licking Nintendo Switch cartridges and what the heck flavour tripping is. Next, Adam ponders the purpose of gossip. Lastly, Cristina tackles a Checker’s email asking whether seat belts would make school buses safer.

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11:48

TRC #440: Emotions You Don’t Feel?

The Reality Check ·

2017/03/10

With the crew on holiday we bring you a discussion with Professor Jim Davies about what it means to have an emotion and how it could be possible to have emotions we don’t feel. Jim is a cognitive scientist and author of Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One With the Universe.

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29:20

TRC #439: Would Aliens Be Hostile? + Lunar Effect +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/03/03

This week we bring you the second half of our crossover show with Dr. Stuart Robbins of the Exposing PseudoAstronomy podcast. Adam looks into whether aliens visiting earth are likely to be hostile. Cristina examines the lunar effect. Lastly, Stuart tries his hand at hosting a game of Name That: Powers of 10 edition.

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23:02

TRC #438: Fossil Fuel Vs Dinosaurs + How Animals...

The Reality Check ·

2017/02/24

This week Pat kicks off the show with a look into the idea that fossil fuels are the remains of dead dinosaurs. Next, Darren checks into many of the ways that animals stay warm during cold winter months. Lastly Adam wonders: how dry is dry cleaning? Enjoy! This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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29:19

TRC #437: Tariffs Vs The Border Wall + Movie Myths +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/02/18

The U.S. president is threatening to impose stiff tariffs on Mexican imports, but how do tariffs really work? Darren gives us the low-down. Next, Cristina looks into myths many of us believe thanks to movies and TV shows. Finally, Adam examines claims floating around social media that the Statue of Liberty was originally based on a Muslim woman. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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24:18

TRC #436: Applied Kinesiology + Japanese Tourists &...

The Reality Check ·

2017/02/11

On this week’s show, Adam gives us the rub on whether applied kinesiology is a legitimate practice. Cristina takes a closer look at a persistent myth that Japanese tourists flock to the Yukon to have sex under the Aurora Borealis. Finally, Darren examines various claims purporting the health benefits of coconut oil. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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26:02

TRC #435: Do We Live In A Black Hole + The Drake...

The Reality Check ·

2017/02/03

The Reality Check crew joins forces with Exposing PseudoAstronomy for a special crossover show this week! First up, Darren explores the notion that we may be living in a black hole. Pat breaks down the Drake Equation. Finally, Dr. Stuart Robbins explores whether a solar flare radiation burst really cracked the Earth’s magnetic field causing radio blackouts. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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25:06

TRC #434: Menstrual Synchrony + Name That: Internet...

The Reality Check ·

2017/01/27

Cristina starts this week’s show off checking into the widely held belief that women who who live or work closely together have periods that start to sync up. Next, Pat brings us another edition of everyone’s favourite guessing game, ‘Name That,’ about the internet in 2016. Lastly, Adam looks into the phrase ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it too.’ This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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27:31

TRC #433: Fingerprint Theft From Selfies? +...

The Reality Check ·

2017/01/21

Pat kicks off this week’s show with a touchy news item making the rounds claiming hackers can steal our fingerprints from selfies. Darren digs into some new analyses on whether celebrity deaths were more rampant in 2016 after all. Finally, Adam explores the probability of two people in a room sharing the same birthday. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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24:57

TRC #432: Winter Insects + Miracle Cream & Free...

The Reality Check ·

2017/01/13

This week, Darren assures us that those tiny dark objects moving across the snow are not our imagination. A recent ad popping up on socials for “miracle cream” has Cristina asking if free skincare trials are really as advertised. Finally, Adam uses the force to see if inadequate women’s healthcare destroyed Star Wars’ Old Republic. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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28:25

TRC #431: Annual Prediction Game + Fave Segments of...

The Reality Check ·

2017/01/06

The TRC crew reunite to kick 2016 to the curb and usher in the New Year with a fun-filled show! Adam checks the panel’s “clairvoyance” score by revisiting last year’s “predictions”. The panel set aside logic yet again to make their predictions for 2017. Favourite and most surprising segments from 2016 are highlighted. Finally, Darren rounds out the show by asking was 2016 really the worst year ever? This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50%

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27:20

TRC #430: The 6th Annual Holiday Parody Spectacular

The Reality Check ·

2016/12/30

Pat and Cristina hijack the last show of the year and feature holiday-themed parodies from years past. The crew offers up their year-end lists highlighting the favourite things they’ve read, watched and listened to in 2016. Finally, we revisit some of listener and panel top voted parodies. This week’s show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code ‘REALITY50’ to get 50% off your first order.

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12:10

TRC #429.5: Programming Good Ethics Into A.I.

The Reality Check ·

2016/12/27

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.

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443 results

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