The Body of Evidence

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff guest stars to discuss our changing food environment. He talks dieting, The Biggest Loser, food frequency questionnaires, and the Cornell Food Lab fiasco. He also valiantly defends his children against the Don Drapers of the world. Also on the show: California issues guidelines for people worried about cell phones and how these guidelines were released is a really wacky story involving “FREEEEDOM!”; electricity to fight cancer; and Chris’ The More You Know wholesome message regarding driving.   Yoni Freedhoff’s blog: http://www.weightymatters.ca   California’s guidelines for cell phone use:https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR17-086.aspx   The trial on tumor-treating fields: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29260225   Vox pop by Wassim El-Mounzer.   Jingle by Joseph Hackl.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Our second end-of-year special is chock full of bloopers. Plus, the worst bits of medical news this year; favourite jingles; and science communication heroes. Happy holidays!   Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com) Original music by Seth Donnelly   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A Christmas-themed delivery and Stanley-Kubrick-directed opening skit lead Chris and Jonathan to discuss the worth of chemotherapy. Do doctors themselves refuse chemo, and is chemotherapy only effective in 2% of cases? You may be surprised to find out the origin of the latter myth in the Worst Paper Ever (possibly). Also, Jonathan makes Chris cry; will doctors stop stenting stable angina; and Jonathan’s interview with Dr. Steven Novella on the importance of the narrative when debunking false beliefs and on how being an outspoken skeptic has changed Dr. Novella’s social life for the better.   The Worst Paper Ever (possibly): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630849   Go to the McGill OSS YouTube channel to see more interviews with skeptical luminaries: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlDe7Vc5YS1Z0-FMVJdQAA   Vox pop by Alex Wood.   Jingle by Jillian Kate.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A conversation with Trevor Butterworth of Sense About Science USA and Adam Oliver Brown of the University of Ottawa on art, science, education, and communication.   Topics covered include the use of design in statistics; the silos of academia; false balance in science journalism and recent improvements; how science experts end up in the media; students sneaking into scicomm workshops; apartment design in NYC; the original PhD; Jon Snow, Florence Nightingale and Da Vinci walk into a bar; government-mandated curricula in schools; curiosity; GMOs; how to teach both children and adults; and storytelling.   You can follow Trevor (@Butterworthy) and his organization (@SenseScienceUSA) on Twitter, and you can find Adam on his website, adamoliverbrown.com.

A Fantasia-inspired flirt with the dark arts strips Chris of his humanity. Does hypnotherapy work for smoking cessation, getting over phobias, weight loss and pain control? And is it any better than visualization, relaxation, or straight-up counselling? And will we ever find out what Tanya loves to do (no, no we won’t). Also: valid (and less valid) criticism of a retracted Canadian paper linking aluminum to autism, and how universities keep falling for pseudoscience (clue: follow the dollar signs).   The CBC coverage of the retraction of Dr. Shaw’s paper: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ubc-autsism-vaccine-paper-retraction-chris-shaw-1.4351855   The Cracked Science episode on the 200-million-dollar donation to UC Irvine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoRmUYlHTXU   Vox pop by Darren Henwood.   Jingle by Jillian Kate.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A special message from the hosts of this award-winning podcast (we can say it now! it's true!)

An unfortunate accident befalls Chris in a stairwell, which prompts him to confront the opioid epidemic. What are these molecules, are they addictive, and are doctors solely responsible for their abuse? We talk about how all this relates to the Vietnam War, and we welcome back Myco Caine! Also: a fun lesson in cardiology as we debunk the movie FLATLINERS; a sing-along with The LEGO Movie; antidepressants and an early death; and one patron gets a very special thank-you.   Note from the editor: Jonathan is not a sociopath.   VOTE for us in the People’s Choice Awards! http://blog.scienceborealis.ca/news/canscifav/   The National Post article on antidepressants: http://nationalpost.com/news/new-research-found-antidepressants-may-increase-risk-of-early-death   Song cover by Joseph Hackl.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   “Pomp and Circumstances” by the Eastern Wind Symphony.    Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A lifting-related misunderstanding puts a strain on Jonathan and Chris’ relationship… and Chris’ back. What can one do when faced with nonspecific lower back pain, besides “nothing”? So many interventions to choose from: exercise, insoles, X-rays, NSAIDs, Tylenol, muscle relaxants, gabapentinoids, opioids, hot and cold, massages, acupuncture, chiropractic, mattresses, bed rest, and a partridge in a pear tree. But what works? Also: can essential oils kill bacteria or, at the very least, relax you?; the PURE study that everyone is talking about; adding more oxygen may not be like adding more cow bell; and a special announcement means more science communication for everyone!   The paper on the antibacterial activity of some essential oils: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693916/   Dr. Greger’s Orange Aromatherapy Video: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/orange-aromatherapy-for-anxiety/   The paper testing orange oil for experimental anxiety: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2011.0551   The Skeptical Inquirer article on aromatherapy: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/whats_that_i_smell_the_claims_of_aromatherapy   The press release on oxygen therapy for heart attacks: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/oxygen-therapy-does-not-improve-survival-in-patients-with-heart-attack-symptoms   Vox pop by Alex Wood.   Jingle by Joseph Hackl.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Chris’ addiction almost leads to a car crash, so Jonathan decides to stage an intervention. Is sugar addictive? What even is an addiction? Could it be that the popular definition has little to do with the medical one? Talks of cocaine (or Michael Caine), binge-eating disorder, and How I Met Your Mother follow. Also: did somebody take antiviral Tamiflu’s medal away? And why were parents sending their child’s snot to researchers? What kind of topsy-turvy world do we live in?! Be sure to stay until the end for the mother of all burns.   An editorial on the downgrading of Tamiflu by the WHO: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712200235.htm   The clinical trial on high-dose vitamin D in children: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2643763   Vox pop by Wassim El-Mounzer.   Jingle by Jillian Kate.   Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Jonathan talks to a Reiki Grand Master about therapeutic touch, the clinical trials that allegedly show that it works, the concept of "energy", and her nutritional advice.