Robot or Not?

143: Phones

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Smartphones, dumb phones, feature phones, and computers in your pocket. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

142: Toasters

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Slot toasters, toaster ovens, and the definitions thereof. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

141: Podcasting

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What makes something a podcast? OMG, are we one?! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

140: Bread

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bread is bread, but what about hot dog buns, bagels, tortillas, and pitas? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

139: Planets, and also Pluto

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

John is given the opportunity to endorse or reject the rulings of the International Astronomical Union. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

138: Job Security

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

John’s worked (and left) a lot of jobs. What’s his personal philosophy about job security versus going it alone as an independent? John Siracusa ...

137: Nerds and Geeks

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The subtle and vexing difference between a nerd and a geek. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

136: Programming

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What is computer programming? And what doesn’t qualify? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

135: Reality TV

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When is a game show a game show, and when is it reality television? Also, we reveal our favorite reality TV show. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

134: Personal Computers

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is a Mac a PC? Is an iPad a computer? Does John favor a broad definition or a narrow one? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

133: Gnocchi

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What makes pasta pasta? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

132: Seasons

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The conundrum of seasons versus eternally pleasant weather. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

131: Savory Donuts

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bagels are not donuts, people. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

130: Sweaters

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Listener Ed, we’ve got bad news. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

129: Pets

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What makes an animal a pet? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

128: The Midwest

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did both of Jason’s parents both come from the Midwest, or only one? What are the true boundaries of America’s heartland? John Siracusa and Jason ...

127: Potato Chips

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From Sour Cream & Onion to BBQ, what are the “real” potato chip flavors? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

126: Vacation

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you don’t go anywhere, is it a vacation? What if you go somewhere, but you don’t relax? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

125: Cheesecake

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is cheesecake cheese, cake, pie, tart, or none of the above? Does the angle of the pan matter? Does crust content matter? Do any of us matter, really?...

124: The Trolley Problem

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As recently highlighted on “The Good Place”, it’s a classic ethical conundum that John wants absolutely no part of. And what if the trolley driv...

123: Janet from "The Good Place"

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Never believe what a robot tells you. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

122: Night (bark) Joggers (bark)

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A dog interlude. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

121: Holidays and Holiday Movies

25 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a movie a holiday movie? How do they celebrate winter holidays in warm climates? Merry Christmas to all, especially in Australia! John Sira...

120: Death

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Okay, time to call it. Time of death— wait, wait, everybody hold on. How do we define death? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

119: Life

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How can we call something alive? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

118: Ice Cream

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It would seem like ice cream versus frozen yogurt would be the main debate. But the pronunciation of a third competitor completely derails us. John Si...

117: Brunch

31 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the names of meals and when they happen, and make an interesting(?) digression into human sleep cycles. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

116: Salad

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

From leafy greens to sugary Jell-O concoctions, all sorts of things are called salads. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

115: Barbecue

02 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our confused series of episodes about food-related topics, it’s time for John and Jason to talk about Jason’s favorite food style and w...

114: Smoothie

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If everything can be a smoothie, then nothing is. So we try to define what makes a smoothie and acts as a bulwark against the milkshake. John Siracusa...

113: Art

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

112: Donuts

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We don’t know quite what an old-fashioned donut is, but we know what we like… and what we don’t. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

111: Artificial Intelligence

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What makes machine intelligence “real AI”? And what is the difference between strong and weak AI? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

110: Anime and Kaiju

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The very definition of video entertainment from Japan. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

109: Sport

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What makes something a sport, and not an exercise or a game? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

108: Condiments and Favorite Foods

26 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring Jason’s favorite food, what a “favorite food” even is, and the hazy dividing line between condiments and other edibles. John Siracusa ...

107: Science Fiction

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What’s science fiction? And more importantly, is Star Wars science fiction, fantasy, or something else? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

106: Computer Chips

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Is everything a computer chip? Is nothing a computer chip? Jason thinks this is gonna be good. John thinks it’s obvious. John Siracusa and Jason Sne...

105: Canonical Bagel Flavors

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What is the canon of bagels? Why are some ingredients allowed in an Everything Bagel but not any other bagel style? What makes raisins an acceptable i...

104: Pizza Toppings

02 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What toppings are allowed on pizza? And what about using a knife and fork to eat pizza? There are many rules. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

103: Pizza

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John weighs in on what makes something a pizza, including the horror of the Turkey Dinner Pizza. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

102: Sandwiches

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring what makes a sandwich, while also discussing the history of food, sandwiches as satire, and the difference between llamas and camels. John ...

101: Supervillains

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John helps Jason figure out the precise moment when a villain becomes a supervillain. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

100: The Robot

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Your hosts return to where it all began and then prepare to set out for new horizons. (Robot or Not will return in two weeks with a new series of ep...

99: Your Hosts

27 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are John and Jason robots? All will be revealed! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

98: Human Beings

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Could it be? Are we all robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

97: Captchas

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What does a robot do when it gets to a web page with a checkbox that says “I’m not a robot”? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

96: The Gate at Jabba's Palace

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The gate at Jabba’s palace in “Return of the Jedi” talks to droids, or has something inside it that talks to droids. So is it a robot? John Sira...

95: Autonomous Sailboats

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

They roam the ocean, scanning for important data and relaying their information home. There are no humans on board. Are these lonely sea voyagers robo...

94: Shardik

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The robotic guardian of the Beams. He looks like a bear but has a satellite dish on his head. He’s a thousand years old. John Siracusa and Jason Sne...

93: Nintendo R.O.B.

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Game controller, robot, or total embarrassment? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

92: Pronunciation

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

ˈrōˌbät or ˈrōbət? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

91: Naked Robotic Core

02 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

An unadorned iPhone can be a Naked Robotic Core, but is it a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

90: Mechagodzilla

26 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Look who was under the tree! It’s a giant mechanical monster! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

89: Battlebots

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Among the fiercest creatures in the machine kingdom are the Battlebots. They’re designed for fighting! But are they really robots, or is that just a...

88: School Babies and CPR Dummies

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

High school students carry them around and learn what it’s like to be a parent. Or you learn how to revive them by pressing their chest and breathi...

87: K5 Mall Robot

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It patrols the mall. Sometimes it knocks over small children. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

86: The Hosts of "Westworld"

28 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The HBO series “Westworld” makes us contemplate whether its central characters, the Hosts, are robots or not. (We recorded this episode after the ...

85: The Bicentennial Man

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A robot slowly turns himself human. When does he stop being a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

84: Metal Mario

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes Mario is metallic. Does that make him a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

83: Kayaks

07 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

They are boats with paddles. What else are they? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

82: The Borg

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Straight out of “Star Trek” come these technological villains. Also, we discuss larger issues including AIs and hive minds. John Siracusa and Jaso...

81: The Energizer Bunny

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It just keeps going, and going, and going…. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

80: Tachikoma and Fuchikoma

17 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Little cute robots from “Ghost in the Shell.” John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

79: SpaceX

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Self-guided rockets and drone barges. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

78: Hot Dogs

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

They’re sure tasty, and it’s meat between bread, but are hot dogs sandwiches? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

77: Daft Punk

26 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

They sure look like robots. But who’s under the masks?

76: Animals in "Blade Runner"

19 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The owl and the snake from “Blade Runner” raise some interesting questions.

75: Bubo

12 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A little metal owl from “Clash of the Titans.” Crafted by the gods, can he possibly be a robot?

74: Gort

05 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The robot from “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, plus a long digression into Star Trek androids.

73: Cartoons

29 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is all animation “cartoons”?

72: Robots from "Castle in the Sky" and "The Iron Giant"

22 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Two beloved metal creatures from animation.

71: RoboCop

15 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

That “Robo” prefix is sure interesting, and he’s probably a cop, but…

70: The Robots of "Futurama"

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Bender, Calculon, and Hedonismbot.

69: Tron

01 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

He fights for the users inside a computer. Can software people be robots?

68: Canadarm

25 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A fancy “robot arm” from Canada. But when is a robot arm just an arm, and when is it a robot?

67: Silicone Stingray

18 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Part animal, part machine. But is it a robot?

66: Traffic lights in South Africa

11 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Please obey robot.

65: Serena Williams

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Wimbledon time, and so our discussion turns to tennis, and Serena Williams—who is not a robot, despite her perhaps wishing she was.

64: Rossum's Universal Robots

27 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Karel Capek’s play that made this podcast possible.

63: Animatronic Creatures

20 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Country Bears, Chuck E. Cheese, and the things from Five Nights at Freddy’s.

62b: Filesystems and Flowerpot Robots

18 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Live from RelayCon WWDC 2016, it’s a special live edition of Robot or Not.

62: General Grievous

13 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

He’s a droid with a cough. So what’s the deal?

61: Elevators

06 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

They go up, they go down. They might even go sideways from time to time. And they can be smart. But are they robots?

60: Inspector Gadget

30 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Go go Gadget! Also we get off on a tangent about Penny, inspired by The Flop House.

59: The Doctor from "Star Trek: Voyager"

23 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Can a hologram be a robot?

58: Synths

16 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

From the AMC TV series “Humans,” the lifelike Synths look like humans but don’t act like it. And they bleed a funny color.

57: Baymax

09 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

He’s an inflatable, medical robot from “Big Hero 6”—but can you back up your personality and still be a robot?

56: The Incomparable's Logo

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Our own robot (or not) is in the spotlight at last.

55: The Tin Woodman

25 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

If he only had a heart.

54: T-1000

18 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It’s made of liquid metal.

53: Tamagotchi

11 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is it even a game? What if you had a video game that featured a robot?

52: The Robots of "Destiny"

04 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

From Bungie’s bestselling video game, Ghosts, Exos, Rasputin, and other things that might be robots.

51: Lego Simulated Worm Toy

28 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A software model of a flatworm, piloting a Lego Mindstorms toy.

50: The Matrix

21 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Agents and Oracles and Architects from the “Matrix” trilogy.

49: Chatbots

14 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

They listen to us and talk back. But is that enough?

48: Replicants

07 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Roy Batty, Pris, and all the rest. They’ve seen the Tannhauser Gate, but are they robots?

47: Thomas and Friends

29 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Living rail cars in Sodor.

46: Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo

22 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The bots from “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”

45: Nanobots

15 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Enter the realm of the very, very tiny as John and Jason ponder if size matters when it comes to whether something is a robot or not.