The Body of Evidence
Dr. Christopher Labos
Dr. Christopher Labos and guests use the body of evidence to go beyond science and medicine headlines and hype. All to help you develop your critical thinking skills so that when you google your symptoms, you won't believe you're going to die tomorrow.
The Body of Evidence is your weekly dose of clarity on complex health topics and the often-sketchy medical information found online. Hosted by cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests, this podcast brings you engaging interviews, original reporting, and humour-filled commentaries to help you navigate the world of medicine. Episodes tackle everything from debunking misinformation to exploring the reality of certain conditions to the effectiveness of social media medical trends. With an extensive archive dating back to 2015,The Body of Evidence is your go-to source for understanding science and medicine and developing critical thinking about your health.
The Body of Evidence is your weekly dose of clarity on complex health topics and the often-sketchy medical information found online. Hosted by cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests, this podcast brings you engaging interviews, original reporting, and humour-filled commentaries to help you navigate the world of medicine. Episodes tackle everything from debunking misinformation to exploring the reality of certain conditions to the effectiveness of social media medical trends. With an extensive archive dating back to 2015,The Body of Evidence is your go-to source for understanding science and medicine and developing critical thinking about your health.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 3, 2016 • 49min
014 - Brain Training and Cancer Cures
Could Chris' memory be improved by using brain training software? Plus: special guest Logan Fulford, Ph.D. student, on why we don't have a cure for cancer yet; the simultaneous need and near-futility of science communication; the importance of replications; and Chris loses it with Dr. Sam Chachoua.
Feb 4, 2016 • 43min
013 - Chocolate and Influenza
On Valentine's Day, will eating chocolate make you lose weight and/or cure your cancer (actual claims)? We talk cocoa beans, Casanova, and umami (actual taste). Plus: zinc, Vitamin C, and Cold FX for your flu; sponsored content; Western medicine; and a teddy bear.
Jan 13, 2016 • 41min
012 - Female Viagra and Science Journalism
Is there a "female Viagra" and will it boost your sex drive? Plus: an interview with Brooke Binkowski of snopes.com and answers to our listeners' questions. Our comedian this month is Gina Granter (and her friends!). Chris gives Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia! a run for his money. Please be patient with his singing. You'll love how it ends. And remember: nothing says "sexy times" like "flibanserin". (The idea for this episode was suggested to us by Geoff Brown. This episode is dedicated to him. May he and his wife have plenty of orgasms.)
Dec 3, 2015 • 43min
011 - Carcinogens and Brian Clement
The WHO recently proclaimed red and processed meat to be harbingers of cancerous doom… or have they? We talk risk, hazard, and whether or not your yoga pants are trying to kill you. In the second half of the show, we discuss Brian "Sprouts Will Cure You" Clement and how to tell if someone is a quack. Our street correspondent is comedian Wassim El-Mounzer and our singer-songwriter is Joseph Hackl of VoodooJazz.ca.
Nov 5, 2015 • 1h
010 - Symposium Edition (GMOs! Vaccines! Cell Phones!)
Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry host a one-hour version of their podcast, The Body of Evidence, on stage at the Trottier Public Science Symposium (McGill University). Their guests: Paul Offit (vaccines); Geoffrey Kabat (cell phones); and Kevin Folta (GMOs). Featuring vox pop segments with Thanos Michailopoulos and music by Joseph Hackl. You can also watch the video version by going to http://www.bodyofevidence.ca
Sep 29, 2015 • 19min
009 - Blooper Reel #1
While we recuperate from Funny You Should Think That! and the Trottier Public Science Symposium (and a marathon for one of us), we are metaphorically opening our doors to you: listen to our madness and flubs. It's our very first blooper reel, but it's so much more than this! You get to listen again to all our amazing jingles, courtesy of Joseph Hackl of VoodooJazz.ca. Plus you get to hear our theme song in its full Balkan jazz glory: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.
Sep 17, 2015 • 4min
008 - Smoking
Smoking went from the coolest habit you could have to being harshly demonized. But what does the body of evidence say on cigarette smoking? The answer may surprise you. Plus: an announcement! Make sure your lunch time is free of pesky meetings on September 29th! You won't want to miss this!
Sep 1, 2015 • 21min
007 - Red Wine
We've all heard it: red wine is good for your heart. It was even on 60 Minutes! But how strong is the science behind this claim? And will drinking a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc make Dr. Labos more interesting to the women around him? Our street correspondent is comedian Thanos Michailopoulos (@thanosmic) and our singer-songwriter is Joseph Hackl of VoodooJazz.ca.
Aug 6, 2015 • 21min
006 - Milk
Is milk a creamy health elixir or a dangerous brew of bacteria? Is there both rhyme and reason behind pasteurization or does it destroy milk's dairy goodness? In an attempt to answer the question, Jonathan and Dr. Labos battle lactose intolerance and osteoporosis, deliver a history lesson on Louis Pasteur, and get tangled up in brucellosis. Do you have a brain abscess? Stop listening now and go see a doctor. Take a picture of the pus but don't send it to us. Our street correspondent is comedian Jen Sakato and our singer-songwriter is Joseph Hackl of VoodooJazz.ca.
Jul 2, 2015 • 21min
005 - E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes are all the rage these days, and their manufacturers are claiming all kinds of things: they help you quit smoking, they're healthier, they'll enhance your sex life (OK, maybe not the last one). Is "vaping" better than smoking? Jonathan Jarry and Dr. Christopher Labos look at the body of evidence on e-cigarettes. Their addictive discussion is laced with lines from The Lion King, quotes from Shakespeare, and obscure phonological references. Our street correspondent is comedian Thanos Michailopoulos and our singer-songwriter is Joseph Hackl of VoodooJazz.ca.
