The Reality Check

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.

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.

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.

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% off your first order.

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.

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.

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 Earth than stars in the Milky Way. Lastly, Darren gives us a primer on snowflakes. This week's show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code 'REALITY50' to get 50% off your first order.

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 selection making us dumb? Lastly, Cristina coughs up some facts around the real cost of not providing paid sick leave. This week's show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code 'REALITY50' to get 50% off your first order.

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 tests can really help predict a child's athletic predisposition. Lastly, Darren checks into what the organic label really means. This week's show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code 'REALITY50' to get 50% off your first order.

'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 some updates for 2016. This show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code 'REALITY50' to get 50% off your first order.

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 game of 'Name That' featuring questions from Canadian citizenship practice exams. Darren closes out the show with a look at the five second rule. This week's show is brought to you by hellofresh. You can use the promo code 'REALITY50' to get 50% off your first order.

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. Lastly, Adam brings us a segment about determining fetal sex via ultrasound.

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 Harambe 2016. Adam gives any disgruntled American friends the 411 on how to move to Canada. Finally, Cristina scrutinizes the validity of alleged uncanny Trump predictions floating around social media.

Cristina reality checks some common misconceptions about Daylight Saving Time. Darren looks at recent headlines about a male birth control study which was stopped due to adverse effects.

Cristina checks into a listener's questions about the effectiveness of a product called 'Theraband Flexbar' for tennis elbow. Adam looks at some headlines about a new Star Wars flick being filmed near you which are making the rounds on social media. Pat tests the panel's knowledge with a Remembrance Day themed episode of everyone's favourite mostly guessing game, 'name that.'

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, spirits and the paranormal for a special episode of Ron Corbett Unscripted.

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 academic articles. Lastly, Adam fans the flames on the debate around the effectiveness of plain cigarette packaging after a listener asks TRC to look at "both sides of the argument".

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 proposed new regulation for natural health products and how Canadian Checkers can get involved. Lastly, Darren looks into the interesting history of Halloween.

This week, Darren delves into all the buzz around headlines citing bees are endangered. Cristina digs into why peanut butter containing xylitol may be deadly to dogs. Finally, Adam enlightens us with a look at transcendental meditation.

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 gets in the middle of the great pitbull debate. Lastly, Pat tests the panel's knowledge of top producing countries with another enlightening game of "Name That".

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 end during the Equinox. Darren examines whether the field of psychology is in crisis. Adam checks into headlines claiming that NASA has changed the zodiac signs.

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, Cristina looks at the effectiveness of vapour rubs. Finally, Adam checks the physics of the viral water bottle flip trick making the rounds.

Darren explores whether the recent 22 Push-up Challenge making the rounds actually helps veterans. Pat tests the panel's knowledge on hoaxes with another edition of Name That. Finally, Adam looks into whether parents are really naming their babies after Pokémon.

It's TRC's 8th birthday! This week, Darren digs into recent headlines that suggest science has confirmed our canine friends understand us. Cristina examines the controversy swirling around the canonization of Mother Teresa. Finally, Adam looks at how a study came up with the 10 most common childhood dream jobs.

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 to answer our questions about the recent exoplanet discovery, mysterious SETI signal, and the latest on New Horizons. Finally, Adam dives in to determine whether Scrooge McDuck could swim in his money bin. Cheers!

Cristina looks into some research asking whether people share articles that they haven't actually read. Next Darren check into recent headlines suggesting that maybe you shouldn't bother flossing your teeth. Lastly, Adam examines whether cancer is a modern disease.

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 a game of name that. Adam checks out the idea that air conditioning is sexist.

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. Lastly, those wacky celebrities are at it again! Cristina fact checks Khloe Kardashian's advice that you should put vitamin E on your V.

Cristina takes us back to high school to explore the probability that Melania Trump plagiarized part of Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic convention speech. Adam travels across the land searching far and wide to debunk recent news stories about Pokémon Go. Finally, Darren takes an in depth look at the non-fiction book Our Mathematical Universe by Swedish-American cosmologist Max Tegmark.

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 atypically bad for celebrity deaths and Adam checks into whether cell phones cause cancer.

With the full crew on vacation, we bring you a special mashup episode featuring honorary TRC panelist Dr. Stuart Robbins of the Exposing PsuedoAstronomy blog and podcast. First Stu takes the panel through the history of what we call planets and also addresses a listener email about the decision to reclassify Pluto. Next he breaks down news headlines that claim astronomers have found a 9th planet in our solar system.

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

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 behind the Hillary vs. Bernie democratic race to parse out the facts. Finally, Adam shows his patriotism by looking at the history of our anthem O Canada and the movement to make the lyrics gender-neutral.

This week's show is all about space! Cristina looks into a listener email questioning whether the lunar cycle somehow influences human behaviour. Next, Pat delivers another game of Name That, testing the panel's knowledge of the Apollo missions. Lastly, Adam checks out yet another listener email about whether the stars we see at night are so old that many of them are dead.

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. Next Darren digs into ElbowGate, where the Canadian Prime Minister is accused of manhandling Gordon Brown and elbowing Ruth-Ellen Brosseau. Lastly, Adam examines claims that dogs can detect low blood sugar in people with diabetes.

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 the math on how much Uber drivers really make. Last, Adam fact checks headlines claiming that a Quebec teenager found a lost Mayan city.

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 way to give during a disaster on the heels of the Fort McMurray wildfires. Finally, Adam talks about...what else? Cats! Is there really a new cat collar that will translate your cat's meows? Collar me skeptical.

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 them a hug. Lastly Cristina leads the panel in a discussion about the recent conviction of two Alberta parents who were found guilty in their 19-month-old son's death from meningitis.

The whole crew is back together. First Pat examines whether fans can affect the outcome of basketball games by distracting players who are taking free throws. Next Darren looks into the demarcation problem in the philosophy of science. Lastly Cristina checks up on how well politicians do with keeping their campaign promises.

While Adam is galavanting in Europe, “Physics Commando” Barry Panas joins the crew to school us on the physics of superheroes. Pat discovers who showed up in class with a game of Name That: High School Quiz Edition. Finally, Darren investigates whether there’s any truth to a claim making the rounds on the internet about a rare green moon.

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. Cristina schools us in terms often misused when reporting psychological science. Finally, Adam rounds out this week’s Geek factor by debunking some popular Star Wars myths.

Adam squeezes the truth out of rumours that French’s Ketchup, rather than Heinz, is supporting Ontario industries. Next Cristina looks into whether readers are influenced by misleading headlines, even if they read the full article. Lastly Darren checks into reports that China has banned April Fools’ day.

Darren kicks off the show with a quick panel discussion about Tribeca Film Festival’s decision to pull a controversial documentary linking vaccines with autism from their line-up. Next, Pat dives right into a listener email about double-dipping. Adam looks into how the internet corrupted Microsoft’s innocent new AI chatbot Tay in less than 24 hours. Finally, Cristina gets goopy with a segment about energy-infused beauty products.

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 recap of An Evening With Neil deGrasse Tyson in Toronto. Finally, Adam hops right into a segment about how Easter is determined.

Very special guest Barry “Physics Commando” Panas reflects on whether mirrors reverse left and right. Next, Adam peels back the layers on a conspiracy about The Onion and Hillary Clinton. Lastly, Cristina sweetens things up by looking at a recent study claiming Splenda causes cancer.

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 as successful at business as he claims to be.

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 news stories suggesting Hitler suffered from a condition that affected the size of his penis. Cristina jumps in to school us on the origins of Leap Year. Finally, Adam respawns an old theory regarding who gaming's first transgender character is, and reminds us how good he looks in red.

Darren examines a video, that recently resurfaced, revolving around the premise that the solar system is a vortex. Cristina sniffs out the facts on recent reports that peanut butter could be used for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, Adam takes a look at whether watching television close-up can harm your eyesight.

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” whether adult cats only meow at humans and not each other. Finally, Darren predicts you may find the recent book Superforecasting:The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner well worth a read.