The Body of Evidence
Dr. Christopher Labos
Dr. Christopher Labos and guests use the body of evidence to go beyond science and medicine headlines and hype. All to help you develop your critical thinking skills so that when you google your symptoms, you won't believe you're going to die tomorrow.
The Body of Evidence is your weekly dose of clarity on complex health topics and the often-sketchy medical information found online. Hosted by cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests, this podcast brings you engaging interviews, original reporting, and humour-filled commentaries to help you navigate the world of medicine. Episodes tackle everything from debunking misinformation to exploring the reality of certain conditions to the effectiveness of social media medical trends. With an extensive archive dating back to 2015,The Body of Evidence is your go-to source for understanding science and medicine and developing critical thinking about your health.
The Body of Evidence is your weekly dose of clarity on complex health topics and the often-sketchy medical information found online. Hosted by cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests, this podcast brings you engaging interviews, original reporting, and humour-filled commentaries to help you navigate the world of medicine. Episodes tackle everything from debunking misinformation to exploring the reality of certain conditions to the effectiveness of social media medical trends. With an extensive archive dating back to 2015,The Body of Evidence is your go-to source for understanding science and medicine and developing critical thinking about your health.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 7, 2016 • 48min
018 - Lyme Disease and Veritasium
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.
Jun 4, 2016 • 40min
017 - Evidence and Exercise
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.
May 18, 2016 • 57min
016B - Stage Show 1 - Talk
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.
May 5, 2016 • 1h 5min
016A - Stage Show 1 - Quiz
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!
Apr 7, 2016 • 53min
015 - Fat and Denialism
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 Thanos Michailopoulos. Our theme music is "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.
Mar 3, 2016 • 49min
014 - Brain Training and Cancer Cures
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.
Feb 4, 2016 • 43min
013 - Chocolate and Influenza
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.
Jan 13, 2016 • 41min
012 - Female Viagra and Science Journalism
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 idea for this episode was suggested to us by Geoff Brown. This episode is dedicated to him. May he and his wife have plenty of orgasms.)
Dec 3, 2015 • 43min
011 - Carcinogens and Brian Clement
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 of VoodooJazz.ca.
Nov 5, 2015 • 1h
010 - Symposium Edition (GMOs! Vaccines! Cell Phones!)
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 http://www.bodyofevidence.ca
