
Jason Snell asks John Siracusa to rule on the meaning of various words and concepts. It’s not just about robots anymore. Have a question for John? Email robot@theincomparable.com.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 363 | Founded | 11 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PhilosophySociety & Culture | |||

Is a car wash a building with machinery in it or a robot? This question allows us to flip the “episodes since ‘Robot or Not’ was about robots” sign back to zero.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a robot as “Your Plastic Pal Who’s Fun to Be With.” The Hitchhiker’s Guide to ... more
Is a place overseas if you don’t have to go over a sea to get there?
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
"San Diego's newest overseas nonstop flight starts today"
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If you can’t hear part of this episode it’s because that part was in parentheses. Thanks to (Listener) Charlie for sending in this question.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
ATP 642
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I always listen to this show first. Short and fun, well worth going through the whole series.
Sweet and short! Keep it up
Brief little discussions about definitions, wacky in a fun way.
Aside from being guaranteed entertainment and wit, it makes for a quick and cheery listen.
P.S. if you’re new to the show, listen to a new non-robot episode e.g. Bacon, Doors and Is Star Wars Sci-fi, as well as a classic Robot one from the archives.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #136 |
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A concise, witty face-off format where two hosts debate word meanings, definitions, and the boundaries of what counts as a robot, extending to broader philosophical and linguistic topics. Episodes mix brisk, toy-channel-length conversations with sharper insights into language, taxonomy, and how people categorize everyday concepts. The show stands out for its rapid-fire banter, clear stances, and a playful willingness to challenge labels and definitions in techy, nerdy, and cultural contexts.
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Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Robot or Not?, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
To see how many followers or subscribers Robot or Not? has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
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5. Reconcilable Differences
Robot or Not? launched 11 years ago and published 363 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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