The Reality Check
Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.
- Update frequency
- every 16 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 404
- Years Active
- 2014 - 2025
TRC #342: Talking Pluto with Dr. Stuart Robbins + Name That: Grade 9 Edition + Arsenic Levels in California Wines
Guest panelist Dr. Stuart Robbins from “Exposing PseudoAstronomy” launches this week’s show by tackling a listener’s email regarding Pluto and the IAU’s definition of a planet. Pat grades our knowl…
TRC #341: Health Canada & Natural Remedies + Food Stereotypes + Why Paper Cuts Hurt So Much
Darren is back on home turf and kicks off this week’s show by putting Health Canada’s licensing of natural remedies under the microscope. Adam digs into race and gender-based food stereotypes. Fina…
TRC #340: Interview With Thomas Clark From The Center For Naturalism
A few months ago Darren and Adam had the opportunity to interview Thomas Clark from The Center for Naturalism. We hope you enjoy this interview while the regular crew takes a well deserved week of…
TRC #339: Was Everyone In The Middle Ages Drunk? + Lie Detection + Dressgate
Former TRC host Jon Abrams returns to examine whether everyone in the Middle Ages drank liquor because water was so dirty and polluted. Next Adam tells us the truth about lie detection. Or does he…
TRC #338: Stradivarius Debate + SFoSF Inventions + How To Predict The Future On The Internet
Dubrofsky’s back! Elan drops by TRC Studios this week to play co-host and examine whether a Stradivarius violin lives up to its reputation. Pat tests our knowledge of inventions with a game of “Scien…
TRC #337: Women In Science + Brian Tomasik on Wild Animal Suffering Part 2 + Blue Blood
With Adam at the helm this week, we kick off with a segment from Cristina highlighting the challenges women face forging a path in Science-related fields, we feature part 2 of our interview with gues…
TRC #336: American Sniper + Brian Tomasik on Wild Animal Suffering + Rent-To-Own
With Cristina filling in as host, Adam slings a segment about the real story behind American Sniper, while guest Brian Tomasik opens our eyes to Wild Animal Suffering in part 1 of 2 interview segme…
TRC #335: Meditation + Name That: Anatomy Edition + V-Steam & Gwyneth Paltrow
When Darren’s away, the panel will play! On this week’s show, guest host Dina reflects on claims surrounding Meditation, Pat tests our knowledge of Anatomy with another edition of Name That, and Cris…
TRC #334: Blasphemy in Canada + Why Allergy Myths Persist + Does Cake Mix Really Need an Egg?
On this week’s fun and fact-filled show, Darren kicks things off swearing Blasphemy is alive and well in Canada. Cristina breaks out in a segment about why debunked allergy myths continue to persis…
TRC #333: Cali Causes Cancer? + Talking Transgender + The Most Bombed Country is…
Adam is back from his vacation/reconnaissance mission in California where he investigates why everything in the State purports to cause cancer or birth defects. Pat addresses gender identity in an …
TRC #332: Wind Chill + Bad Pharma Overview + Does Bottled Water Expire?
Even with Adam away, TRC delivers! Cristina blows in with an interesting breakdown of the Wind Chill Index, while Darren probes the book “Bad Pharma” by British physician and academic Ben Goldacre. …
TRC #331: Bad Luck & Cancer + Annual Predictions + Sushi & Wasabi
Happy New Year from TRC! On this week’s episode, Darren doubles down on whether cancer is mostly the result of bad luck, while Adam looks into his crystal ball for our Annual Predictions. Pat rounds…
TRC #330: The Fourth Annual Holiday Parody Spectacular
With half of the regular TRC crew off for the holidays, Pat and Cristina hijack the show for a fourth year running and revisit some of the best parodies and highlights of the year.
TRC #329: Murder Down Under + Cake or Death + The Sitting Dead + #HomicideTheNorth
The Reality Check panel delivers a morbidly merry episode this holiday season! Pat goes down under to see if Adelaide is worthy of its ‘murder capital’ rep, while Cristina presents the odds of dyin…
TRC #328: Superintelligence Overview + Guinness Two-Pour + Is Grumpy Cat a ‘100-millionaire’?
TRC drops another informative show with some hilarious outtakes! Darren takes over the world show with an in-depth overview of Nick Bostrom’s book Superintelligence, Cristina gives us a sobering look…
TRC 327: Racial Disparity + Perception Quiz + The Cheerleader Effect
This week’s show is #1! Dina stirs the melting pot and gives us a taste of racial disparity as it relates to education, employment, and the penal system, Darren tests our knowledge of key social i…
TRC #326: Bates Method + Outlet Malls + Does Roomba Map a Room + Hope & Resurrection
This week’s awesome episode kicks off with Pat focusing on The Bates Method. Cristina shops for facts about outlet malls, while Adam cleans up with a segment about Roombas. Lastly, Darren raises ou…
TRC #325: Cells On A Plane + Effective Donating Revisited + Sad Music
On this week’s show, Adam rings in about whether we really have to turn off cell phones on a plane, Darren contributes by revisiting effective donating, and Cristina conducts a minor segment about …
TRC #324: Serial Killer Myths + Name That: Weights and Measures + Is Chocolate Poison To Dogs?
Another great episode! First Cristina slays a few misconceptions about serial killers, next Pat sizes up the panel's knowledge about weights and measures with another game of 'name that.' Lastly,…
TRC #323: Mashup Episode: SkyMall + Mattress Doubles In Weight + Almond Joy's Got Nuts
Elan is your DJ for this "humour" themed mash-up episode. Unfortunately it is also his last appearance as a regular panelist on the podcast.