The Reality Check

What’s up, Checkers! This week, Adam takes a closer look at cupping therapy after Prime Minister Trudeau is spotted doing an interview with cup-shaped bruises on his arms. Our favo(u)rite resident astronomer Dr. Stuart Robbins joins the crew to explain zero gravity and how our bodies would respond if we stopped accelerating in space. Finally, Darren looks into the sticky truth about duct tape.

Welcome to another episode of your fave fact-checkin’ show! Darren kicks things off with a recap and discussion of April 22’s March For Science. Cristina looks into whether witchcraft is an actual crime under Canada’s Criminal Code. Finally, Adam asks the burning question on all of our minds lately...does the new Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino contain any coffee?

The TRC crew brings another fun and fact-filled show! First up, Darren looks behind the controversy swelling around the recent art installation in New York titled “Fearless Girl”. Producer Pat challenges the panel with an eye-opening game of Name That. Finally, Adam rounds out the show by digging into news claiming neanderthal remains may disprove the biological concept “Survival Of The Fittest”. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo code ‘Reality50’ to receive 50% off your first HelloFresh order. Use promo code ‘REALITY’ to get $50 off any Endy Sleep Mattress.

While Cristina is away, the rest of the crew still brings it! Darren once again tackles possible issues in the field of psychology by looking into social priming. Pat digs into a recent news story making the rounds regarding an alleged feral girl found living with monkeys in India. Finally, Adam delves into the interesting origin of the dollar sign. This week’s show is brought to you by HelloFresh and by Endy Sleep. Canadian Checkers can use the promo code ‘Reality50’ to receive 50% off your first HelloFresh order. Use promo code ‘REALITY’ to get $50 off any Endy Sleep Mattress.

It’s all about parents and babies this week for a good reason. First Cristina explores the science of mother’s milk and asks whether some breastfeeding advocates take things too far. Bonus: a very tired Adam gives us an update. Next, Darren examines whether parents are more or less happy than people without children.

Tired of hearing people say ‘it’s just a theory’? Pat tackles a listener’s email and schools us on the true definition of the often misunderstood word ‘theory’ in science. Adam dives into a recent article claiming a pesticide banned in Europe is turning up in Canadian water supplies. Finally, Cristina looks into the recent bad buzz around Cheerios cereal’s #bringbackthebees campaign. Bonus: name that drum loop!  

Darren takes a deep dive into the Implicit Association Test to see if it really does measure our unconscious levels of prejudice and assess implicit bias. Cristina explores whether there’s a chance she may get arrested if she takes photos of the night-lit Eiffel Tower on an upcoming trip to Paris. Finally, Adam explores a common news story that comes up around St. Patrick’s Day regarding Irish slavery in America.

The TRC crew is back with an entertaining show! First, Pat gives us a fascinating look into why people are licking Nintendo Switch cartridges and what the heck flavour tripping is. Next, Adam ponders the purpose of gossip. Lastly, Cristina tackles a Checker’s email asking whether seat belts would make school buses safer.

With the crew on holiday we bring you a discussion with Professor Jim Davies about what it means to have an emotion and how it could be possible to have emotions we don’t feel. Jim is a cognitive scientist and author of Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One With the Universe.

This week we bring you the second half of our crossover show with Dr. Stuart Robbins of the Exposing PseudoAstronomy podcast. Adam looks into whether aliens visiting earth are likely to be hostile. Cristina examines the lunar effect. Lastly, Stuart tries his hand at hosting a game of Name That: Powers of 10 edition.