Category Archives: The Reality Check Episodes

TRC #646: Donating During Disasters + Domestication Syndrome + ‘Intellectuals and Society’ By Thomas Sowell

Cristina looks at the dark side of charitable donation and shares valuable advice and insight from Humanitarian Logistics expert Dale Herzog. Adam dives into new research around domesticated silver foxes and revisits Animal Domestication Syndrome. Darren reviews Thomas Sowell’s ‘Intellectuals … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | Leave a comment

TRC #645: The Panther of Kharkiv

Short show for you this week. The internet was recently abuzz about a cat named Mikael.  Supposedly, Ukrainian army cats were trained to spot and direct the location of Russian sniper lasers. The story discussed was of Mikael, “The Panther … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 1 Comment

TRC #644: Ottawa Convoy Confusion

The trucks, the honking, the bouncy castles, the hot tubs. It’s all Darren today. As a resident in downtown Ottawa, he gives us his thoughts on the “freedom convoy” which has been occupying the city centre for over three weeks. … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 6 Comments

TRC #643: Catalytic Converters + Masked People More Attractive? + New Year’s Resolutions

Cristina looks into why thefts of catalytic converters in cars has soared lately. Adam takes a skeptical lens to recent headlines suggesting that wearing face masks make people seem more attractive. Finally, Darren brings us a fascinating exploration of New … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 1 Comment

TRC #642: Annual Prediction Show: 2022 Edition

In what has become a yearly ritual to highlight the futility of ‘predictions’, Adam, Producer Pat, and Cristina guess at what might happen in the new year and look back on our guesses from last year. Download direct: mp3 file http://traffic.libsyn.com/therealitycheck/TRC_642.mp3

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | Leave a comment

TRC #641: Dangers Of High Density Crowds + Memes: Conspiracies Or Clickbait? + ‘Rationality’ By Steven Pinker

Cristina delves into the fascinating yet terrifying science of high density crowds in light of the recent Astroworld music festival tragedy. Adam takes a closer look behind popular memes. Are they data mining, pushing elaborate conspiracy theories, or just plain … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 4 Comments

TRC #640: Effective Donating 2021 + Longest Lunar Eclipse?

Darren brings us an important overview of the recent updates from the charity evaluation website GiveWell to help inform your charity donation decisions this holiday season. Adam rounds out the show by scrutinizing claims that the recent lunar eclipse was … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | Leave a comment

TRC #639: Mae Jemison + House Prices + Superman vs Phone Booth

Cristina shines a spotlight on the incredible career of the first African-American female in space, Dr. Mae Jemison, and shares some fun Star Trek trivia. Adam takes a look behind the factors contributing to higher house prices to determine if … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 5 Comments

TRC #638: Human Augmentation

Darren delivers a compelling synopsis of a report released by the UK Department of Defence earlier this year regarding the field of Human Augmentation. Could integrating the abilities of both people and machines be critical to winning future wars? Download … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | 1 Comment

TRC #637: COVID App Privacy Vulnerability? + ‘Spot The Fake’ + ‘The Next 500 Years’

Adam discovers a vulnerability in the new COVID Verify Ontario app that allows an easy way for anyone to see personal information contained in someone’s Quebec QR code. Pat challenges the crew with an always-entertaining game of ‘Spot The Fake’. … Continue reading

Posted in The Reality Check Episodes | Leave a comment