The Reality Check

TRC #432: Winter Insects + Miracle Cream & Free Trials + Star Wars' Old Republic Women's Healthcare

13 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 "mirac...

TRC #431: Annual Prediction Game + Fave Segments of 2016 + Was 2016 Really The Worst Year?

06 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 revisi...

TRC #430: The 6th Annual Holiday Parody Spectacular

30 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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 highlig...

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

27 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

TRC #429: Is Barter The Origin Of Money? + More Trees Than Stars? + Snowflakes

23 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Special guest, Lars, gets things started by examining whether barter is the origin of money. Next, Pat looks into whether there are more trees on Eart...

TRC #428: Truffle Oil + The Science Of Idiocracy + Paid Sick Leave

16 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pat starts things off by digging for the truth about truffle oil. Next, Adam looks into the science behind the movie 'Idiocracy' and asks: is natural ...

TRC #427: Possession Is 9-10ths Of The Law? + Genes Predict Athletic Performance? + What Is Organic?

09 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Adam kicks things off by decoding the common phrase 'possession is 9/10ths of the law'. Next Cristina looks into whether direct-to-consumer genetic te...

TRC #426.5: Effective Donating 2016

06 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

'Tis the season for giving so TRC brings you an extra show this week. Darren and Adam revisit a segment on effective donating during the holidays with...

TRC #426: Measuring Pregnancy: Weeks Vs Months? + Name That: Canadian Citizenship + The 5 Second Rule

02 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Adam kicks off the show looking at whether it is better to measure pregnancy in weeks or months. Next, Pat tests the panel's "Canadianness" with a gam...

TRC #425: Fake News, Facebook & The Election + FTC Vs Homeopathy + Ultrasound Determining Fetal Sex

25 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren kick off the show looking at headlines about fake news, Facebook and the U.S. election.  Cristina looks at new FTC rules regarding homeopathy....

TRC #424: Harambe For President? + Moving To Canada + Trump Predictions

19 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pat kicks off The Reality Check's first post-US election show looking into claims that voters may have thrown off the election results by voting Haram...

TRC #423: Daylight Saving Time + Stopped Male Birth Control Study

11 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cristina reality checks some common misconceptions about Daylight Saving Time.  Darren looks at recent headlines about a male birth control study whi...

TRC #422: Theraband FlexBar Effective? + Star Wars Filming Near You? + Name That: Remembrance Day

04 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cristina checks into a listener's questions about the effectiveness of a product called 'Theraband Flexbar' for tennis elbow. Adam looks at some headl...

TRC #421.5: Darren On Ron Corbett Unscripted

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

BOO!  We bring you a rebroadcast of Darren's appearance on CFRA News Talk Radio on Halloween, 2013.  He participated in a debate about ghosts, spiri...

TRC #421: US Election Polls + Fake Academic Papers + Plain Cigarette Packaging

28 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren kicks off the show by taking a look at election polls and their real-world margin of error. Next, Pat digs into predatory publishers and fake a...

TRC #420: Origin of 420 + Gem Newman of Bad Science Watch + History Of Halloween

21 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week Cristina looks into the origin of 420 and its connection to pot. Pat brings us an interview with Gem Newman of Bad Science Watch about propo...

TRC #419: Are Bees Endangered? + Peanut Butter Deadly To Dogs? + Transcendental Meditation

15 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Darren delves into all the buzz around headlines citing bees are endangered. Cristina digs into why peanut butter containing xylitol may be...

TRC #418: Should You Rake Your Leaves? + Name That: World Producers Edition + The Great Pitbull Debate

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's show, Darren arms you with advice on whether it's really necessary to rake your yard leaves and kick them to the curb. Adam bravely get...

TRC #417: Advertorial + Balance Eggs On Equinox + Is Psychology In Crisis? + Did NASA Change Your Zodiac Sign?

30 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pat starts the show with a bit of sleuthing about a recent advertorial. A flu stricken Cristina looks into the idea that you can balance an egg on its...

TRC #416: Trisodium Phosphate in Kid's Cereal? + Vicks VapoRub + Bottle Flip Physics

24 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's show, we take on 2 Checker requests. First, Pat explores the claims in a viral video about trisodium phosphate in kid's cereal. Next, C...

TRC #415: 22 Push-up Challenge + Name That: Hoax Edition + Are Parents Naming Their Kids After Pokémon?

17 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren explores whether the recent 22 Push-up Challenge making the rounds actually helps veterans. Pat tests the panel's knowledge on hoaxes with anot...

TRC #414: Talking To Dogs + How Saintly Was Mother Teresa? + Kids' Dream Jobs Study

10 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's TRC's 8th birthday! This week, Darren digs into recent headlines that suggest science has confirmed our canine friends understand us. Cristina ex...

TRC #413: Helium Infused Beer? + Stuart Robbins On Proxima B, SETI Signal, New Horizons + Scrooge McDuck's Money Bin

02 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is helium infused beer really a thing? Pat looks into the science behind a video making the social media rounds. Our favo(u)rite astronomer stops by t...

TRC #412: Do People Read Past A Headline? + Should You Floss? + Is Cancer A Modern Disease?

26 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cristina looks into some research asking whether people share articles that they haven't actually read.  Next Darren check into recent headlines sugg...

TRC #411: Olympic Medal Counts + Name That: Olympics + Is Air Conditioning Sexist?

20 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren looks into who is really winning the Olympics and whether the way we count medals is fair. Pat tests the panels knowledge of the Olympics with ...

TRC #410: Iraq Bans Bomb Detectors + Redheads and Pain + More Celebrity Medical Advice

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pat takes a look into the history of the ADE-651 bomb detectors used in Iraq. Next, Darren explores whether people with read hair feel more pain. Last...

TRC #409: Melania Trump vs Science + Pokemon Go + Our Mathematical Universe

01 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cristina takes us back to high school to explore the probability that Melania Trump plagiarized part of Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic convention sp...

TRC #408 - 8 Glasses Of Water A Day + 2016 Celebrity Deaths + Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?

25 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren explores the idea that you should drink eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy, Cristina looks at whether 2016 has been atyp...

TRC #407: Panelists Disagreeing Mashup - Geeks and glasses + 0.9999 = 1? + Bike Helmet Safety

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

TRC #406: Solar System Mashup - Pluto A Planet? + Planet 9 Discovered

27 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With the full crew on vacation, we bring you a special mashup episode featuring honorary TRC panelist Dr. Stuart Robbins of the Exposing PsuedoAstrono...

TRC: Special Announcement

17 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The TRC crew is taking a well earned week off however we did want to share some exciting news with you.

TRC #405: Spoon Bending 101 + Hillary vs. Bernie + Changing O Canada

11 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Cristina gives us the scoop on a spoon bending workshop at the University of Alberta using nothing but the power of her mind. Darren looks ...

TRC #404: Lunar Effect + Name That: Apollo Missions + Are The Stars We See Dead?

03 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week's show is all about space! Cristina looks into a listener email questioning whether the lunar cycle somehow influences human behaviour. Next...

TRC #403: Lamb Of God Vs Joel Osteen + ElbowGate + Dogs Detect Low Blood Sugar?

27 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's show, Pat looks into social media posts suggesting that heavy metal band, Lamb of God, received an award from televangelist Joel Osteen...

TRC #402: Helping Or Hurting Wildlife? + Is Uber A Scam? + Did A Teen Find A Lost Mayan City?

20 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's show, Darren examines recent stories about people who put a baby bison in their car in Yellowstone National Park.  Next, Cristina does...

TRC #401: Did Apple Steal Your Music? + Disaster Relief + Catterbox

13 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's show, Pat looks into a recent story making the rounds on the internet about Apple stealing your music. Next, Darren revisits the best w...

TRC #400: Panel Questions + Do Dogs Hate Hugs? + Alberta Toddler Meningitis Case

07 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of our 400th episode, we take on a couple of listener questions. Then Adam looks into whether your dog really hates it when you give th...

TRC #399: Free Throw Distraction + Differentiating Science From Pseudoscience + Do Politicians Keep Promises

29 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The whole crew is back together.  First Pat examines whether fans can affect the outcome of  basketball games by distracting players who are taking ...

TRC #398: The Physics of Superheroes + Name That: High School Edition + Green Moon

22 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

While Adam is galavanting in Europe, “Physics Commando” Barry Panas joins the crew to school us on the physics of superheroes. Pat discovers who s...

TRC #397: Star Wars Droids with Jim Davies + Misleading Terms In Psych Fields + Star Wars Myths

16 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Friend of the show Jim Davies joins us this week to explore our psychology, and often conflicted feelings, about droids in the Stars Wars universe. Cr...

TRC #396: French's Ketchup Better For Ontario? + Misleading Headlines + China Bans April Fools'?

08 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Adam squeezes the truth out of rumours that French’s Ketchup, rather than Heinz, is supporting Ontario industries.  Next Cristina looks into whethe...

TRC #395: Tribeca vs Vaxxed + Double-Dipping + Tay: Microsoft's AI "Racist" Chatbot + Energy-Infused Beauty Products

02 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren kicks off the show with a quick panel discussion about Tribeca Film Festival’s decision to pull a controversial documentary linking vaccines ...

TRC #394: Money & Happiness + An Evening With Neil deGrasse Tyson + How Is Easter Sunday Determined?

25 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Happy March Equinox, Checkers! This week, Darren delves into the age-old question, does more money really make us happier? Pat and Cristina give a rec...

TRC #393: Talking Mirrors with Barry Panas + Clinton Onion Conspiracy + Splenda vs Cancer

18 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Very special guest Barry “Physics Commando” Panas reflects on whether mirrors reverse left and right. Next, Adam peels back the layers on a conspi...

TRC #392: Is 4K TV Worth It? + Is Trump Really A Good Businessman?

12 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Adam takes an in-depth look into 4K resolution TVs and whether taking the plunge is worth it. Next, Darren examines whether Donald Trump is...

TRC #391: Apple Retro 1970 Bug + Hitler's Micropenis? + Leap Year Revisited + Video Gaming's First Transgender Character

05 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Go Skeptic, it’s your podcast! This week, Pat squashes the recent iPhone retro 1970 Bug making the rounds. Darren points a skeptical lens at current...

TRC #390: Is The Solar System A Vortex? + Peanut Butter vs Alzheimer's + Sitting Too Close To The TV

26 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren examines a video, that recently resurfaced, revolving around the premise that the solar system is a vortex. Cristina sniffs out the facts on re...

TRC #389: Left-Right Confusion + Cats Meow Only At Humans? + Superforecasting Review

20 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s show, Pat hands us an interesting segment about why some people have trouble telling their left from their right.  Adam “mewses”...

TRC #388: Science vs "Resting Bitch Face" + Death By Super Bowl? + Gravity Of Melting Ice

13 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Just admit it, Checkers. That first segment title caught your eye and you knew Adam was back!  Adam raises a skeptical eyebrow at recent headlines cl...

TRC #387: Zika Virus + Wisdom Teeth Removal A Racket? + Battery Charging Myths

06 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With Adam and his antics enjoying the warmth of St. Lucia, the show must still go on! Darren breaks down the Zika virus and fills us in on what we sho...

TRC #386: Planet 9 with Dr. Stuart Robbins + Lettuce Worse Than Bacon? + Cats vs Cucumbers

30 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Ahoy, Checkers! With all the hype about a potential new planet discovery named “Planet 9”, we thought it would be good to get a reality check from...

TRC #385: Health & Fitness Myths + Name That: Game That + Why Can't We See Apollo Mission Remnants With A Telescope?

23 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Darren kicks off the show by revisiting and debunking some pervasive nutrition and fitness myths. Pat brings us another fun-filled edition of Name Tha...

TRC #384: Did Nikola Tesla Contact Aliens? + FTC vs Lumosity + Ugly Baby Lawsuit?

16 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome, Checkers to your 384th episode of TRC! First Adam, addresses a listener’s email from last year asking whether Nikola Tesla contacted extrat...

TRC #383: Lardass Autocorrect Kardashian? + Name That: Internet 2015 Edition + Last Year's Fave Segments + 2016 Predictions

09 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We like big facts and we cannot lie. The TRC crew reunite to kick off the New Year with a fun-filled show! Cristina butts in first with a story that w...

TRC #382: Dunning-Kruger Effect + Deep Learning + Do The British Have Bad Teeth?

02 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Merry New Year, Checkers!  This week, Adam takes the night off while Darren and honorary TRC’er Dallas Card join the Toronto crew in the flesh for ...

TRC #381: The 5th Annual Holiday Parody Spectacular + Dr. Ken Milne's SGEM vs SPIDES

26 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

With the Festivus upon us, Darren and Adam hand the reins of the sleigh over to Pat and Cristina for the fifth annual holiday show. The duo share the ...

TRC #380: Starbucks Hates X-mas? + When Is A Cold Contagious? + Kubrick Admits To Faking Moon Landings?

19 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s show we have lots of questions!  First Cristina looks into a viral video claiming that Starbucks hates Christmas.  Next Darren wond...

TRC #379: Charitable Giving + Premium vs Regular Gas + Elf On The Shelf

12 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s show, tis the season for Darren to revisit charitable giving and effective donations. Pat fills us in on an email from a TRC’er who...