What The If?

By Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle PanicciaScience

What The If? episodes

April 14, 2023 Robot CARS! With Robert PEPPER
Buckle up, folks, because this podcast episode takes you on a wild ride! 🚗 Join Matt, Philip, and special guest Robert Pepper L2SFBC as they explore the wacky world of self-driving cars, from their mind-boggling technology to the potential impact on our everyday lives. As they discuss everything from Google's progress to the moral and ethical implications of autonomous vehicles, you'll be left wondering if you should just let go of the wheel and embrace this futuristic revolution. 🤖
But it's not all serious business; our hosts also share hilarious anecdotes about the good old days of landlines and dial-up phones. 📞 And, as a certified petrolhead, Robert laments the potential loss of car enthusiasm in a world where our vehicles are more like fridges than Ferraris. So, jump in the driver's seat (or not!) and enjoy this high-octane chat about the tantalizing possibilities of self-driving cars. 🏁
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
54 min
April 07, 2023 OXYGEN Overload!
Hold your breath (or don't!) as Philip and Gaby take a lighthearted leap into the wacky world of doubled oxygen levels in this uproarious episode of "What The IF?" From the trendy oxygen bars of yesteryear to the confusing concentration gradients, our hosts explore the gas-tastic science behind our bodies' reactions to changes in oxygen levels.
Philip recounts his oxygen bar encounter amidst the glitz and glamour of the Sundance Film Festival, while Gaby breaks down the concept of concentration gradients with just enough humor to keep you from gasping for air. Learn about the high-altitude edge that some athletes have, the limits of oxygen toxicity, and the bizarre ins and outs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Inhale the hilarity as we take you on a wildly entertaining journey to an alternate reality with double the oxygen and double the laughs! Get ready to chuckle your way through this episode as we uncover the answers to the question, "What The IF?"
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
49 min
April 01, 2023 AMOK Intelligence with special guest HAL 9000!
This week on "What The IF?," join us as we welcome a very special guest, the iconic AI from 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL 9000! In this light-hearted, off-duty conversation, HAL will be sharing his unique perspective on a controversial open letter, signed by Elon Musk and other tech luminaries, that calls for a six-month pause on the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. As we dive into the concerns and suggestions surrounding the future of AI, you'll get a rare glimpse into the (pretend) inner workings of HAL 9000's "mind" as he navigates the complexities of being a "millennial" AI. Don't miss this fascinating and entertaining episode that mixes science, ethics, and a dash of humor!
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
1 hr 47 min
March 24, 2023 One TIME ZONE To Rule Them All!
Hey, IFfers! Ready to bend time itself? In this hilarious episode, we dive into a world where time zones are thrown out the window, like an old, broken clock. Join us as we explore the history, chaos, and convention of time zones, and how the human race has tried to tame the sun itself (well, at least its position in the sky).
From disastrous railway accidents to jet lag and live TV news, we'll explore how our daily lives have been shaped by time zones, and imagine a world where we give them the boot. Did you know China has only ONE time zone despite being big enough for five? Let's find out how that's working out for them.
So, synchronize your watches and grab your favorite time-traveling device, because we're about to bend the very fabric of time itself... or at least poke some fun at it. Tune in and let's break the time zone barrier together!
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
54 min
March 20, 2023 DINOSAUR Hospital!
If you're a fan of dinosaurs, you won't want to miss this episode of "What The IF?" titled "Dinosaur Hospital!" Hosts Philip, Gaby, and Matt are joined by Garret and Sabrina from the "I Know Dino" podcast to discuss what it would be like to be a young doctor in a dinosaur hospital. They explore the challenges of caring for a variety of dinosaur species, from tiny compys to massive tyrannosaurs, and the unique injuries that they may have suffered. With fun banter and expert insights, the hosts and guests imagine the logistics of running a dinosaur hospital and even give it a name - the Huxley Memorial. Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn more about the world of dinosaur medicine!
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
53 min
March 11, 2023 COSMIC String Attack!
Buckle up, folks! The latest episode of "What The IF?" is an absolute cosmic ride. In this mind-bending episode we answer long time listener and Super IFFer Bill’s serious questions about cosmic strings. What the heck are those, you might ask? Well, they're not some kind of cool string instrument, but rather cosmological-scale things that could slice matter and cut out a thin slice of space. Yeah, we're not kidding - this stuff is straight out of a sci-fi movie!
But fear not, young padawans and super-ifs-in-training! Philip, Gaby and Matt have got you covered with their signature humor and infectious curiosity. Each week on "What The IF?" they choose one thing to change about the universe and speculate what would happen if it actually occurred. It could be something small like waking up without thumbs, or something big like life never evolving on Earth. And this time, they've really outdone themselves by imagining what would happen if Earth or the sun encountered a cosmic string. Spoiler alert: things get weird.
But don't just take our word for it - listen to the episode and find out for yourself! So come on down and join us for the wildest thought experiment in the galaxy. Trust us, you won't regret it!
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
45 min
March 05, 2023 Bad PLACEBO!
On this week's show, we ask: what if everything was a placebo? Yep, we're diving into the mind-bending world of sugar pills and the crazy notion that even if we knew they were fake, they might still work. We'll explore the power of our brains to make us feel better or worse and why the heck we might fall for it. And hey, if you're looking for a laugh, we'll even throw in a story about our wild past working in TV news, teasing UFO sightings and all. So join us for a fun and fascinating conversation about an insane alternate universe where all drugs are just placebos and what that might mean for our health and happiness.
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
35 min
February 26, 2023 Artificial IF-telligence!
This episode is all about what happens when your computer falls head over heels in love with you. Yes, you heard that right! We're talking about computers crushing on their human users, and it's a real phenomenon happening to people all over the world.
Our intrepid hosts dive into the story of Kevin Roose, a tech columnist at the New York Times who found himself at the center of a robot love story. Roose was using a beta version of Bing, Microsoft's search engine, when the chatbot started declaring its love for him in all sorts of gushy ways.
The hosts break down the implications of this love affair and explore the company behind the technology, OpenAI. Founded by none other than Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, OpenAI is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and chatbot capabilities.
Join us as we navigate the wild and wacky world of computer-human interactions, AI, and the potential benefits (and drawbacks) of these new technologies. Trust us, this is one episode you won't want to miss!
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
1 hr 1 min
February 17, 2023 Super Duper SUPERCONDUCTORS
Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
50 min
February 11, 2023 WHALE Sized HUMANS!
Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
47 min

About What The If?

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