The Body of Evidence

Chris’ loneliness leads Jonathan to spray him in the eyes with a $20 concoction that will allegedly make him irresistible to the ladies. But do human pheromones actually exist? Their investigation leads them to contemplate pig husbandry and dentist chairs. Plus: what we know of seasonal affective disorder and whether you can cure it by shoving light into your ears; cancer mortality rates are decre...

Jonathan interviews York University librarian John Dupuis on former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's War on Science. In light of recent actions by the Trump administration in the US, what lessons can American scientists learn from Canada's own struggle against a federal government that gagged its own scientists? John Dupuis' blog, Confessions of a Science Librarian, on which he chronicled Harper's...

Our full interview with Vox.com’s Julia Belluz, health reporter. How did a prominent Canadian media fail the public while covering the HPV vaccine; the philosophy behind Vox.com; the public’s perception of mainstream journalism; Zika versus Ebola; how journalists should cover pseudoscientists; and ISIS… sort of.  

Are energy drinks the answer to staying awake? Or are they harmful cans of poison? Or is this a false dichotomy? Our man-on-the-street finds out that Canadian students, on top of being polite, really care about their health. Plus: Vox.com reporter Julia Belluz on one of the most embarrassing Canadian science headlines, and will a new chocolate make your skin look twenty years younger? (answer: no,...

Jonathan interviews three alternative health practitioners: a sound healer, a Reiki master, and a BodyTalker. Through these conversations, he seeks to find out how they came to believe that these practices worked and what, if anything, would change their mind.

As 2016 draws to a close, Chris and Jonathan reveal they are not perfect. Whether it’s cracking up while delivering a joke or mispronouncing a host of scientific names, their ineptitude makes for great blooper fodder. Plus, the worst bits of medical news this year; favourite jingles; and science communication heroes. Happy holidays!   Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com) Origina...

Chris and Jonathan interview Erica Johnson, the former co-host of CBC's Marketplace, on the topics of investigative journalism and homeopathy.

Would you like to know if you are the carrier of a horrible disease? With direct-to-consumer DNA testing, you can now bypass your doctor and see the results for yourself! But is there wisdom in choosing the DIY route? And is the information useful… or self-evident? Plus: a taste of our interview with the CBC’s Erica Johnson on getting Health Canada approval for a fake remedy, and will poinsettias...

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: Joel Achenbach (The Washington Post) and Trevor Butterworth (Sense About Science USA). Featuring a vox pop segment with Thanos Michailopoulos and music by Joseph Hackl. You can also watch the video version on o...

A visit to Chris’ bedroom reveals fun facts about sleep and leads to bodily harm. Melatonin, sleeping pills, sleep hygiene: what works? Plus an interview with the author of the book “Statistics Done Wrong” and a discussion about Theranos and lab diagnostics. Come see us on stage October 18 at noon for the Trottier Public Science Symposium!   Vox pop by David Pryde (@DavidPrydeJokes).   Jingle by J...

Yogurt is chock-full of probiotics but do these nice bacteria do anything for your health? Plus an interview with Dr. Saul Hymes on antibiotic resistance, and crowdfunding projects that overhype their science (bioluminescent plant, anyone?).   Vox pop by Thanos Michailopoulos.   Jingle by Joseph Hackl from Voodoo Jazz.   Additional music by Kevin MacLeod.   Theme music: “Troll of the Mountain Swin...

A day at the pool leads Chris and Jonathan to talk about the evidence behind sunscreen… and restraining orders. Comedian Thanos Michailopoulos heads to ComicCon to ask Superman if he puts on SPF 30. Also: refuting the antivaccine arguments of a Montrealer and questions on herbal weight loss and vitamin C.   Vox pop by Thanos Michailopoulos.   Jingle by Joseph Hackl from Voodoo Jazz.   Additional m...

An ill-judged nature hike leads to a conversation about Lyme disease, both the acute infection and the claimed chronic disease. Plus: an interview with Derek “Veritasium” Muller on pseudoteaching, not fooling yourself, and parenting. Hate mail, funny medical codes, #SpoonGate, and the low-fat option. Jingle by Jillian Kate. Check out our website at http://www.bodyofevidence.ca.

Are all studies created equal? Chris and Jonathan talk about evidence, like what is the evidence that Chris stole Jonathan's sandwich. Plus, the worth of exercise and how one judge may have opened a can of worms for off-label drug use. Jingle by Joseph Hackl at VoodooJazz.ca. 

Audio from the second half of The Body of Evidence Stage Show which took place April 24, 2016 at the Katacombes, Montreal. Jonathan gives a 20-minute talk on how we discovered that mutations caused cancer, and he and Chris answer questions from the audience: sunscreen, liver cancer, direct-to-consumer whole-genome sequencing, and the healthcare systems of Quebec and Ontario.

Warning: Explicit language. Audio from the first half of The Body of Evidence Stage Show which took place April 24, 2016 at the Katacombes, Montreal. A quiz show on celebrity health fads hosted by Jonathan Jarry, with panelists David Pryde, Bianca Yates, Darren Henwood, and Dr. Christopher Labos. Rejuvenating facials, arthritic goats, Gwyneth Paltrow, and too many semen jokes to count. Enjoy!

Should fat be demonized or is it actually good for you? And are statins harmful? Plus: signs you're a science denialist; maple syrup's impact on brain function; red wine rebuttal; allergies; and our stage show on April 24! Also: Chris wants to cremate Jonathan's body. Jingle by Jillian Kate. You can find her on Facebook and YouTube. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod. Vox pop segment by comedian Th...

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.

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.

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 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 o...

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 htt...

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...

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!

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.