Why You're Wrong

By Jesse Dybka and Tim Wilson

Society & Culture Natural Sciences Science & Medicine Education

What's Why You're Wrong about?

Why You're Wrong is weekly show by Tim Wilson and Jesse Dybka that focuses on current news topics and common beliefs that need a little reason and critical thinking applied. Why You're Wrong will let you know, well, why you're wrong.

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Why You're Wrong episodes:

07.01.2015
Special Announcement
A special annoucement of tweaks to the podcast format and our newest member of the team.
05.13.2015
Ep 108 - Folk Psychology (part 2)
Common expressions in folk psychology and whether or not they're true. In part 2, we look at if the best revenge is living well, the pitfalls of being a borrower or lender, if it's better to give than to receive,...
05.07.2015
Ep 107 - Folk Psychology (part 1)
Common expressions in folk psychology and whether or not they're true. In part 1, we look at if you should prefer sticks and stones breaking your bones over words that never hurt, if opposites attract, and if you can teach...
04.27.2015
Ep 106 - Science in the News (part 2)
A guide to writing and reading science news. In part 2, we talk about using science as a noun, choosing experts, making good analogies, what specific words mean in science vs everyday use, and sum up the ten commandments of...
04.15.2015
Ep 105 - Science in the News (part 1)
A guide to writing and reading science news. In part 1, we talk about the proper context for facts, questions as headlines, and false balance in science media and journalism.
04.09.2015
Ep 104 - Solving World Problems (part 2)
Why You're Wrong answers profound listener questions. In part 2, answering the vital questions regarding pizza, quenching thirst, human immortality, and why people cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
04.01.2015
Ep 103 - Solving World Problems (part 1)
Why You're Wrong solves the world's problems. In part 1, the vastly underqualified hosts solve obesity through making informed dietary choices and highway traffic.
03.25.2015
Ep 102 - WYW At The Movies (part 2)
Why you're wrong about movies and the movie industry. In part 2, why movie theaters charge so much for popcorn and whether piracy is really hurting the movie business.
08.19.2014
Ep 101 - WYW At The Movies (part 1)
Why you're wrong about movies and the movie industry. In part 1, Hollywood accounting, why hugely successful movies don't make money, and why studio meddling and interference can be a double edged sword.
07.21.2014
Ep 100 - Legal Eagles (part 2)
Common misconceptions about the law and popular legal cases, as expounded on by two wholly underqualified legal eagles. In part 2, the McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit, the difference between copyrights, trademarks, and patents, and movie/tv tropes you've probably guessed by...
07.02.2014
Ep 99 - Legal Eagles (part 1)
Common misconceptions about the law and popular legal cases, as expounded on by two wholly underqualified legal eagles. In part 1, Monsanto suing farmers, and the George Zimmerman trial in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
06.17.2014
Ep 98 - Sci-Fi vs Reality (part 2)
Featuring Teddy Wilson from the TV, the second of a two part discussion of (mostly) science fiction and how it influences and represents reality.
06.04.2014
Ep 97 - Sci-Fi vs Reality (part 1)
Featuring Teddy Wilson from the TV, the first of a two part discussion of (mostly) science fiction and how it influences and represents reality.
05.13.2014
Ep 96 - JFK (part 2)
In Part 2, why you're wrong about JFK conspiracy theories and how Oliver Stone has ruined the popular belief about his assassination.
01.12.2014
Ep 95 - JFK (part 1)
In Part 1, why you're wrong about Lee Harvey Oswald and his life, the role he played in the JFK assassination, and why it's entirely possible he did it all himself.
12.12.2013
Ep 94 - Not What You Think (part 2)
In Part 2, why you shouldn't be too worried about coming into contact with small amounts of harmful things, or others drinking and driving on holiday weekends.
10.30.2013
Ep 93 - Not What You Think (part 1)
In Part 1, why it doesn't matter that much about how you dry your hands, and why you shouldn't be too worried about coming into contact with harmful things.
10.11.2013
Ep 92 - Energy 2: Power (part 2)
Misconceptions about green and alternative sources of energy. In part 2, why you're wrong about clean coal, the viability of current green and alternative energy sources, and the nirvana fallacy.
09.26.2013
Ep 91 - Energy 2: Power (part 1)
Misconceptions about green and alternative sources of energy. In part 1, why you're wrong about hydroelectricity, solar panels in the winter, and wind turbines killing birds. More to come in part 2.
08.25.2013
Ep 90 - Glass Houses
What skeptics and critical thinkers (us included!) get wrong. Why you can easily prove a negative and why it doesn't matter, the naturalistic fallacy and why it isn't what you think it is, the fallacy fallacy and why not to...
08.05.2013
Ep 89 - Advertising
Does advertising work? Probably not on you, since you're so smart. Attractive too! Listen to this episode! We're taking a look at if advertising works, how it claims to work, how much of it you need, and what happens if...
07.03.2013
Ep 88 - Less is More
If less is more, imagine how much more MORE could be! As it turns out, things don't always scale quite as linearly as you'd hope. Looking at how we make decisions, information fiends and foes, why we sometimes pick the...
06.21.2013
Ep 87 - Military Misconceptions
In retribution for the sports episode, Tim gets to talk about various military misconceptions. Explaining the difference between rifles and guns, ships and boats, different ranks and how they came to be, and why everyone hates the air force. Bonus...
06.12.2013
Ep 86 - Be Afraid
Being scared or worried is a natural reaction that's hard to shake, but we're not often scared of the right things. This episode we're looking at what's worth worrying about with swimming pools, guns, animal attacks, and kidnapping.
06.05.2013
Ep 85 - On Being Wrong
Why being wrong and being right aren't just opposites, and why that's important. Talking about falsificationism and why being right isn't as useful as being wrong, as well as being not even wrong and wronger than wrong. By the end...
05.24.2013
Ep 84 - Mental Disorders
Mental disorders, maybe more than any other disease, are often misunderstood and misrepresented in society and the media. Looking at what it means to have a mental disorder and clarifying differences between obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, dissociative identity...
04.21.2013
Ep 83 - College
Is college worth it? In our changing world, is a college degree as valuable as it used to be? In this episode, we look at earning potential, costs, benefits, drawbacks, and levels of personal satisfaction over the last few decades...
03.24.2013
Ep 82 - Listener Questions 3
Listener feedback and questions. Looking totally unqualifiedly at the structure of the universe, North American politics, listening to music too loudly, and colourblindness.
03.12.2013
Ep 81 - Sports
Sports myths, facts, and legends. Sports drinks, stretching, football and intelligence, home field advantage, Michael Jordan, and marathons.
02.25.2013
Ep 80 - Winter 3
More winter facts and myths while there's still snow on the ground and a chill in the air.
02.15.2013
Ep 79 - Fluoride: Fact or Fiction?
The facts and fictions behind fluoridated water: what it is, what it does, and why you should or shouldn't be worried about it.
02.05.2013
Ep 78 - Diminishing Returns
Not every cost/benefit relationship is a linear one, so knowing the point of diminishing returns prevents getting frustrated or wasting your time, money and effort.
01.29.2013
Ep 77 - Predictions of 2012
Looking back at our predictions from last year, counting the hits and forgetting the misses just like any good psychic. Also, making equally as accurate predictions for 2013!
01.19.2013
Ep 76 - Dispatches From Eschaton 2012
Interviews from Eschaton 2012. Featuring members of the Ottawa Skeptics and The Reality Check, Allan Daoust, Heina Dadabhoy, Ian Cromwell, and PZ Myers.
12.20.2012
Ep 75 - The Horror, The Horror
The news media and public perception can makes some things seem scarier than they actually are. This week we look at violence statistics for vacationers in foreign countries compared to back home, and why the reporting over an 8 point...
12.13.2012
Ep 74 - Listener Questions 2 - Part 2
Part 2 - Questions and answers from and for you, dear listener.
11.30.2012
Ep 73 - Listener Questions 2 - Part 1
Questions and answers from and for you, dear listener.
11.24.2012
Ep 72 - Scales
How people misinterpret scales: SPF, earthquakes, pH, MPG, and weight.
11.15.2012
Ep 71 - No Cure For Cancer
Cancer myths and misconceptions: cures, preventions, treatments, statistics and charities.
11.09.2012
Ep 70 - Halloween
Giving you 51 weeks of prep time for next Halloween, we look at ghosts, hauntings, and halloween safety myths.
11.01.2012
Ep 69 - Something For Nothing 2
More proof that nothing in life is free: 419 scams, pyramid schemes, multi level marketing, and recycling.
10.24.2012
Ep 68 - 13 Reasons To (Not) Doubt Evolution
13 reasons to doubt evolution as provided by BestBibleScience.org, and 13 reasons not to doubt evolution as provided by yours truly. Misunderstandings, misinterpretations and downright falsehoods.
10.18.2012
Ep 67 - Crime and Punishment 2
Getting even tougher on crime by looking at the statistics behind more aspects of police investigations and trials: criminal behavioural profiling as made famous by The Silence of the Lambs and Criminal Minds, and whether or not CSI has had...
10.11.2012
Ep 66 - Crime and Punishment
Getting tough on crime is a popular political platform, but is it all it's cracked up to be? Looking at statistics behind the deterrent effects of capital punishment, mandatory minimum sentences, and the broken window idea of preventative policing shows...
10.03.2012
Ep 65 - Experts That Aren't 2
Like our previous episode on self-professed experts who aren't what they seem, this episode looks at audiophiles and coffee snobs and puts some popular beliefs to the challenge of the double blind test. As well, we clarify the difference between...
09.26.2012
Ep 64 - Quotes That Aren't
Everyone loves a pithy quote from a famous person, but a lot of quotes aren't what they seem. Looking at famous quotes that were misinterpreted, misapplied, or even never said at all.
09.19.2012
Ep 63 - Something For Nothing
No matter how much we may know better, it's hard to resist wanting something for nothing. Looking at free energy, hybrid cars, losing weight, and political expectations.
09.12.2012
Ep 62 - Fallacies of the Supernatural
Fallacies committed by those hunting aliens and ghosts and why they aren't and shouldn't be taken as convincing arguments.
09.03.2012
Ep 61 - Why We're Wrong 4 / Administrative Details
A few quick clarifications, rambling about space, and shout-outs. All the administrative details you could want, all in one place.
08.29.2012
Ep 60 - You Aren't What You Eat
Why you're wrong about food. Looking at aspartame, MSG, genetically modified food, chemicals, and health risks.

What's Why You're Wrong about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Why You're Wrong episodes:

Special Announcement

Ep 108 - Folk Psychology (part 2)

Ep 107 - Folk Psychology (part 1)

Ep 106 - Science in the News (part 2)

Ep 105 - Science in the News (part 1)

Ep 104 - Solving World Problems (part 2)

Ep 103 - Solving World Problems (part 1)

Ep 102 - WYW At The Movies (part 2)

Ep 101 - WYW At The Movies (part 1)

Ep 100 - Legal Eagles (part 2)

Ep 99 - Legal Eagles (part 1)

Ep 98 - Sci-Fi vs Reality (part 2)

Ep 97 - Sci-Fi vs Reality (part 1)

Ep 96 - JFK (part 2)

Ep 95 - JFK (part 1)

Ep 94 - Not What You Think (part 2)

Ep 93 - Not What You Think (part 1)

Ep 92 - Energy 2: Power (part 2)

Ep 91 - Energy 2: Power (part 1)

Ep 90 - Glass Houses

Ep 89 - Advertising

Ep 88 - Less is More

Ep 87 - Military Misconceptions

Ep 86 - Be Afraid

Ep 85 - On Being Wrong

Ep 84 - Mental Disorders

Ep 83 - College

Ep 82 - Listener Questions 3

Ep 81 - Sports

Ep 80 - Winter 3

Ep 79 - Fluoride: Fact or Fiction?

Ep 78 - Diminishing Returns

Ep 77 - Predictions of 2012

Ep 76 - Dispatches From Eschaton 2012

Ep 75 - The Horror, The Horror

Ep 74 - Listener Questions 2 - Part 2

Ep 73 - Listener Questions 2 - Part 1

Ep 72 - Scales

Ep 71 - No Cure For Cancer

Ep 70 - Halloween

Ep 69 - Something For Nothing 2

Ep 68 - 13 Reasons To (Not) Doubt Evolution

Ep 67 - Crime and Punishment 2

Ep 66 - Crime and Punishment

Ep 65 - Experts That Aren't 2

Ep 64 - Quotes That Aren't

Ep 63 - Something For Nothing

Ep 62 - Fallacies of the Supernatural

Ep 61 - Why We're Wrong 4 / Administrative Details

Ep 60 - You Aren't What You Eat