PODCAST · science
The Reality Check
by The Reality Check
Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.
Episodes
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TRC #740: Predicting the Impact of AI + Why Do People Run Counterclockwise?
It is quite difficult to predict how things will play out in the world of AI, but this doesn't mean we should give up on trying entirely or to assuming everything will be just fine. Darren looks at the implications of the assumptions many make about the future of AI. Then did you know that people...
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TRC #739: Is Space Fake? + Book Reviews: The Unthinkable and Moral Economics
Is space fake? Are the stars real? How about other planets? Despite what they tried to teach you in school, doesn't it just feel like the Earth is actually the center of the universe? Adam looks at people who don't believe in space, and explores why that may be. Darren gives us book reviews on…
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TRC #738: Hugging Face Attack and AI Risk + Are Your Moon Photos Fake?
The recent hack of Hugging Face servers by Open AI agents has raised some serious concerns about the current state of AI as well as implications on AI safety. Darren examines just what occurred and what this means more broadly. Adam investigates how real photos of the moon taken with smartphones,...
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TRC #737: The Odyssey Movie Review
Darren and Adam bring you a different type of show today as they have a discussion about the Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey. They discuss the film's merits and faults, technical achievements, their favourite parts of the film, other Christopher Nolan films and IMAX cameras.
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TRC #736: Book Review: Death in a Shallow Pond by David Edmonds + The Decoy Effect
Darren explores issues of moral philosophy in his review of Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need by David Edmonds. In this analysis he looks at this classic thought experiment, its implications, criticisms and rebuttals to them. Adam examines the Decoy...
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TRC #735: Why Is Superman Dressed Like That? + Europe Heat Deaths vs. US Gun Deaths
Superman's costume is iconic, but why does he dress like that? We just assume that superheroes should be wearing tight fitting outfits, tights and a cape, but it wasn't always like this. Adam looks at what Superman, a hero created in the 1930s, is really meant to look like, as well as what…
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TRC #734: AI Privacy Threats + Goodhart's Law and Fast Food Order Status Screens
Are you concerned about AI threats to your privacy? If you aren't, Darren's got a few reasons why you should be! Images of fingerprints and keys, wifi signals and more could leave you vulnerable to bad actors using AI. Adam wonders why the order status screens at McDonald's and other fast food...
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TRC #733: What Did Dinosaurs Sound Like? + Book Review: Chokepoints by Edward Fishman
Did tyrannosaurus rex roar? Adam looks at what sound they, and other dinosaurs, may have made and just why animals roar at all. Darren gives us a book review of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, by Edward Fishman, which looks at the history of economic sanctions, what…
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TRC #732: Our Windy Solar System + Classroom Windows on the Left Side
Is it windy on other planets and celestial bodies in our solar system? Darren looks at just what wind is and how much of it occurs on the surface of our various neighbours. Adam looks into whether or not windows are always on the student's left side in a classroom, and why that might be.
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TRC #731: Movie Franchise "Use It Or Lose It" Clauses + Anthropic's Mythos
Sometimes movie studios release low quality franchise films and one excuse for this might be that if they don't release a movie every X or Y years, they will lose the rights. Adam looks into these reversion rights, colloquially referred to as "Use It or Lose It" clauses, which force studios to…
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TRC #730: How Old Are Sharks? + Jim Carrey: Clone, Doppleganger or Mask?
Sharks are so old. How old are they? They're so old that you'll be shocked to hear of all of the things that haven't been on earth as long as sharks. Darren gives us a unique history of the earth by exploring the ages of very old things and contrasting them to the very long time that sharks have...
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TRC #729: Digital Devices in Schools + Books Reviews: Enshittification & Breakneck
What impact do digital devices like laptops, tablets and smart phones, both inside and outside of the classroom, have on childrens' ability to learn? Adam questions the assumption that these devices are always positive, and examines the research on the topic. Darren gives us two book reviews.…
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TRC #728: Does Moltbook AI Matter? + Family Feud Surveys
There has been a lot of news lately about Moltbook AI, a network of Artificial Intelligence agents who are interacting with each other in great numbers in a virtual space. Darren separates fact from fiction as he explores many fascets of this emerging technology and what it could mean for the...
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TRC #727: Things Your Parents Said Were Illegal + Canada's Apology Laws
This week's show is all about the law. Growing up our parents told us all kinds of things were illegal, such as driving with the dome light on in the car, riding in the back of a pickup truck, skipping school or playing Ding Dong Ditch. Adam explores whether any of these things are actually...
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TRC #726: Are Orange Cats Weird? + What Kind of Cat is Garfield?
After decades of doing the podcast we have finally gotten around to recording an episode entirely dedicated to orange cats. Darren examines just what's going on with orange cats acting weird on the Internet and in real life. Is Orange Cat Energy a thing or are humans just stereotyping orange taby...
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TRC #725: Infant Simulator Programs + Book Reviews: The Thinking Machine, The Philosopher in the Valley & Peak Human
For our first show of 2026 Adam looks at the efficacy of Infant Simulator Programs, which involves giving a fake baby to high school kids to discourage teen pregnancy. Darren gives us a review of three books, "The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip" by...
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TRC #724: Mistletoe + Christmas Tree Lights
As Christmas approaches we bring you the history of two popular decorations you might see this holiday season. Darren looks at the history of the mistletoe as a decoration, symbol of fertility and God killer. Adam looks at the first use of lights on a Christmas tree and it may be older than you...
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TRC #723: The Introduction to Darren McKee's Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World
With AI safety still underrated yet imperative, in this bonus episode of the show we share the Introduction to "Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World" by Darren McKee.
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TRC #722: Effective Giving + The Mona Lisa
Today, December 2nd, is Giving Tuesday. Darren gives an overview of the concept of Effective Giving, with some tips on how your charitable donations could will lead to the most good in line with your own priorities. Adam tackles a few claims about the Mona Lisa, inspired by not all that evidence...
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TRC #721: Our 2023 Interview with Yoshua Bengio
Two years ago we interviewed Yoshua Bengio, the prominent AI researcher, about his long career in AI where he helped build the foundations for the tools millions use around the world every day. We discussed the future of AI systems, including the importance of AI safety. Since then, Yoshua Bengio...
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TRC #720: Diabetes and DKA + Name That: Spot The Fake
We've got two special guests on the latest show! TRC alumni Pat and Cristina join us with a couple of great segments. First Critina tackles a number of myth about diabetes, including her own recent serious experience with DKA or diabetic ketoacidosis. Then Pat delights us with another round of...
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TRC #719: The Disney Point and Smoking + Book Reviews: Shadow Cell and Algospeak
Is the "Disney Point" the bizarre result of certain images of Walt Disney around Disney Parks with cigarettes edited out to give the illusion of a unique pointing style? Adam weighs the evidence. Then Darren gives us a couple of book reviews. First up is Shadow Cell by Andrew and Jihi Bustamante…
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TRC #718: Philosophical Zombies + Vampires and Tuberculosis
With Halloween coming up we bring you some spooky segments on zombies and vampires! Darren looks at the thought experiment about philosophical zombies also known as p-zombies. Does this idea make that much sense? Then Adam looks at cases of tuberculosis taking place in New England which, to…
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TRC #717: Air Conditioning in Europe + Book Reviews: Privacy and Surveillance and Quantum Mechanics
Why does air conditioning seem to be more common in North America than in Europe or other places around the world? Adam looks at the many factors that can encourage or hinder adoption of AC in various places. Darren gives us book reviews on a variety of topics with "What Is Real? The Unfinished...
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TRC #716: Depicting Intelligence in Fiction
How is intelligence portrayed in works of fiction? In books, films and TV, we often see depictions of very smart of sometimes less intelligent people, but it's never totally realistic. Darren leads a conversation about various fictional portrayals of intelligence from Ender Wiggin and Sherlock...
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TRC #715: Mashup: Trees
Wood you believe that it's all about trees on the latest episode of The Reality Check podcast? Here are two classic segments about trees. First up is an interview with tree expert Owen Clarkin who gets to the root of many tree facts. That segment may have planted the seeds for a future segment so...
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TRC #714: Superman Movie Discussion
It's a different kind of show this week as Darren and Adam discuss the recently released Superman film. The movie, directed by James Gunn, stars David Corenswet as Superman. The discussion includes a look at box office results and factors contributing to them, criticism of art and the various...
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TRC #713: Testosterone Replacement Therapy + Book Review Roundup: Apple in China, An Immense World, Canada Alone, Pronoun Trouble, Rise Above
This podcast is not sponsored by anyone selling testosterone and its hosts aren't on T, but there are a many who are! Adam looks into testosterone replacement therapy, TRT, and its connection to some podcasts which are popular with men. Darren then gives us some reviews of five books: Apple in...
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TRC #712: AI Make Brain Dumb? + Mentalism
Is AI making us dumber? Darren looks into a recent study, which spawned some less than great press coverage, trying to assess where or not using LLMs is making us less intelligent. We didn't really come to very good conclusions because we've been using too much AI. Adam gives an overview of...
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TRC #711: Are Dire Wolves Back? + Book Review Roundup: Nexus, Stoicism, CBT Made Simple, Philosophers in 90 Minutes
Could it be that dire wolves are no longer extinct? Researchers at Colossal Biosciences claim to have accomplished de-extinction of these long extinct wolves. Adam looks at the authenticity of their claims and examines what exactly they did to create these so called dire wolves. Then Darren does...
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TRC #710: Remembering Dr. Stuart Farrimond
Sadly, we recently got the news that our friend and frequent TRC contributor Dr. Stuart Farrimond passed away. Stuart was a medical doctor who had a brain cancer diagnosis at age 25. His treatment and side effects meant he had to stop practicing medicine. Stu reinvented himself as a food science...
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TRC #709: 100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla + Evidence of Alien Life on an Exoplanet?
Who would win in a fight, 100 men or 1 gorilla? If you're thinking that question is too vague then you'll love Darren's analysis of the situation. Adam looks at claims that we've found evidence of alien life on an exoplanet called K2-18B. I'm not saying it's aliens but… listen to the episode to...
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TRC #708: The Telepathy Tapes + AI Cheating At Chess?
The Telepathy Tapes is a popular podcast that tells the story of non verbal people showing evidence of psychic abilities and logging on to a psychic virtual chat room called The Hill. Adam looks into how realistic these claims are given what we know about Facilitated Communication. Darren looks...
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TRC #707: Is Tim Hortons Canadian? + Mysterious Structures Under The Great Pyramid
Is Tim Hortons Canadian? Darren takes a look at the history of the popular coffee and donut chain to see just how Canadian it is and what it even means to be a Canadian company. Adam dives into some recent news which suggests that there are massive structures underneath the Great Pyramid of Giza....
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TRC #706: An AI Generated Podcast by NotebookLM
Could Artificial Intelligence do a better job of recording a podcast than Darren and Adam? For this bonus episode we try something a little different. Darren gave Google's NotebookLM the introduction Uncontrollable, his book on AI safety, and asked it to generate a podcast based on the content....
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TRC #705: Book Round Up: Family Unfriendly and One Billion Americans + Is The 401 The Busiest Highway In The World?
After reading two books touching on the theme of birth rates Adam gives us an overview and discussion on Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be by Timothy Carney and One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias. Then Darren...
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TRC #704: Remembering Joe Nickell
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,...
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TRC #703: Jevons' Paradox + American vs. Canadian ingredients in food
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…
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TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
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…
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TRC #701: How Many Birds Do Cats Kill? + Book Review Roundup
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…
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TRC #700: The Rise of Podcasts + Are False Beliefs More Common?
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…
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TRC #699: Was Lamarck That Wrong? + What Do Animals See On A TV?
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...
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TRC #698: Converting Office Space to Housing + Book Review: The Singularity is Nearer
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.
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TRC #697: Did Hedy Lamarr Invent Wi-Fi? + Name That: Spot the Fake
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…
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TRC #696: Did Sakana AI Change Its Own Code? + Who is Margaret Hello?
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…
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TRC #695: The Science of Sharknado + Book Review: Invisible Rulers by Renée DiResta
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...
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TRC #694: Can Meditation Be Harmful? + Did Cavemen Live in Caves?
Could meditation ever be harmful? Darren examines the evidence to determine if meditation, which can have many benefits, might sometimes have a negative impact on people's lives. Adam looks at the idea of cavemen and wonders if, as their name suggests, that they really spent all that much time in...
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TRC #693: When Is Soap Not Really Soap? + Book Review: Determined
What's the difference between a bar of soap and the stuff we use to clean dishes, laundry and cars, and can you just use any of those in the shower? Adam tries to find out whether the stuff that's fit for baby ducks if good enough for you skin. Darren gives us a review of Determined: The Science…
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TRC #692: Cultivating Critical Thinking + Letting Food Cool Before Refrigerating It
We look at some fundamental ways of cultivating critical thinking on the latest show. Darren looks at some common cognitive biases and logical fallacies and how to use these in order to have a better more accurate understanding of the truth of the things we face every day. Then Adam looks at the...
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TRC #691: Why Can't AI Do Laundry and Dishes?
Can we say that AI is going in the wrong direction, as it does our art and writing while we suffer doing laundry and dishes? It's just Adam on the show this week as he overanalyzes a viral tweet by looking at how much the time and way we do chores has changed for the better over the centuries,...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Reality Check have?
The Reality Check currently has 350 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Reality Check about?
Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.
How often does The Reality Check release new episodes?
The Reality Check publishes regularly with 350 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Reality Check?
You can listen to The Reality Check on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Reality Check?
The Reality Check is created and hosted by The Reality Check.
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