The Reality Check

Mar 06 2025 400 ep. 33 mins 14.9k
The Reality Check Podcast artwork

Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.

  Science  Society & Culture
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TRC #704: Remembering Joe Nickell

Mar 06 2025 32 mins  
Joe Nickell, the world renowned paranormal investigator, died earlier this week at the age of 80. He was a great inspiration to us here at The Reality Check and it was a great pleasure for some of us to have met him back in 2009 at The Amazing Meeting. At that time we recorded this interview, originally used in episode 53 of the show, where we talk with Joe Nickell about his fascin

TRC #703: Jevons’ Paradox + American vs. Canadian ingredients in food

Feb 23 2025 34 mins  
Darren revisits a topical segment from the past looking at Jevons’ Paradox which suggests that as a resource becomes more efficient, it may paradoxically be consumed more. Then Adam looks at some recent controversies about artificial colouring in Froot Loops cereal, how those are labeled in the US and Canada and what that means.

TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk

Feb 04 2025 39 mins  
With Valentines Day coming up we are taking this opportunity to revisit a romantic segment we did five years ago with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk. In this interview she discusses the work she does in the Positive Activities in Intimate Relationships (PAIR) Lab at Carleton University in which they study factors that promote and hinder positive activities in intimate relationships.

TRC #701: How Many Birds Do Cats Kill? + Book Review Roundup

Jan 12 2025 42 mins  
It is often said that cats are responsible for the death of countless birds. Adam looks at where these numbers come from and wonders whether they are all that accurate. Darren gives a review of four books which he recently read. He’ll share an AI and human summary of “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit, Enemies and Neighbors: Arabs and Jews in

TRC #700: The Rise of Podcasts + Are False Beliefs More Common?

Dec 15 2024 38 mins  
It’s the 700th episode of The Reality Check podcast! On this special show we look back at the last 16 years to see how much things have changed since way back in 2008. Darren looks at the history of podcasts and how far we’ve come and then Adam looks at which false beliefs have become more or less over time since the show started.

TRC #699: Was Lamarck That Wrong? + What Do Animals See On A TV?

Nov 05 2024 41 mins  
When it comes to evolution many focus on what Jean-Baptiste Lamarck got wrong with his model of inheritance. Darren looks at what he got right and considers his discoveries in light of the scientific understanding of the world of his time. Adam, based on first hand anecdotal evidence of many cats and dogs, wonders what pets see when they looking at various types of TVs and computer

TRC #698: Converting Office Space to Housing + Book Review: The Singularity is Nearer

Oct 21 2024 27 mins  
Why don't they just convert all of the unused office space to housing? Adam looks at the challenges involved in converting office buildings to residential space. Then Darren gives us a review of Ray Kurzweil's recent book The Singularity Is Nearer.

TRC #697: Did Hedy Lamarr Invent Wi-Fi? + Name That: Spot the Fake

Sep 30 2024 31 mins  
We have some very special guests on this week's episode as TRC alumni Pat and Cristina join us with some great segments. Cristina looks at the truth behind a viral meme that says that famous actress Hedy Lamarr invented Wi-Fi, and gives us some background on this fascinating woman's life. Then Pat delights us with everyone's favourite mostly guessing game Name That: Spot The Fake.

TRC #696: Did Sakana AI Change Its Own Code? + Who is Margaret Hello?

Sep 09 2024 32 mins  
Could an AI rewrite its own code? Has it perhaps already done so? Darren looks at the story which suggests that an AI Scientist, developed by Sakana AI, was able to change its own source code. What exactly happened and are you worried enough about it? Then Adam investigates the truth behind a viral claim that we say “hello” on the telephone because of Graham Bell’s fiancée a

TRC #695: The Science of Sharknado + Book Review: Invisible Rulers by Renée DiResta

Aug 25 2024 38 mins  
After having watched all six Sharknado films Adam decides to do some research into the science of these not at all ridiculous films, uncovering the truth about the plausibility and historical precedent for a tornado filled with living sharks. Darren gives us a book review of Renée DiResta’s Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality, which explores how powerful infl