What The If?
Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle PanicciaLearn how to think like EINSTEIN! Every week we learn science running imaginative thought experiments. Our brilliant guests are some of the world’s greatest science fiction writers, scientists & science communicators. Leap into a journey to answer the most fascinating question in the universe: What The IF?
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 437 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Science | |||
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Latest Episodes
What the if humans moved in schools — not classrooms, but like fish? Inspired by Carl Zimmer's New York Times article on how misinformation spreads among schooling fish, this episode explores a world where you can't go anywhere without your tightly s... more
MIT physicist David Kaiser is one of those rare scientists who can make mind-bending physics feel like a great conversation over coffee — funny, generous, and genuinely thrilled by what we still don't know. And what he's working on is wild. What the ... more
A conspiracy theory went viral claiming that on August 12th, 2026, Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds. The internet did what the internet does, and millions of people started talking about it. So we decided to take the question seriously — wha... more
What the if a groundhog could actually predict the weather? Turns out Punxsutawney Phil would need way more than a shadow — we're talking a full groundhog space program, weather satellites, underground supercomputers, and a solar shade the size of we... more
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Reviews
- Cheap and lazy
The use of AI generated slop for a podcast that evidently has the financial backing to pay artists is both insulting and genuinely just really cheap.
Do better. This stinks
Apple Podcasts1glytxh
United Kingdom6 months ago - Great show
I enjoy this show. There’s always something I learn when I listen to it.
Apple Podcasts5Reavis Creavis
United States5 years ago - Entertaining and educational!
This podcast is a fun way to explore alternate realities using scientific reasoning. I love how it opens the mind to new and intriguing scenarios. I can’t wait to listen to all the episodes! Great podcast! Thanks for putting this together!
Apple Podcasts5Flash-no-More
Canada5 years ago - Great fodder for the brain…
…when Philip Shane and Prof. Matt Stanley delve into one of their scientific / technological / cultural ”what the ifs”. The best that I know the responses from Matt Stanley are mainly improvised on the spot (which gave me a weird tangent, as the voice of Matt sounds very similar to the know-it-all droid C-53 from Mission-to-Zyxx, an equally improvised, albeit fully fictional, great podcast)
Apple Podcasts5MooseMeister
Germany5 years ago Super fun!
Podcast Addict55 years agoPlumberDan
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Apple Podcasts | #181 |  South Africa/Science |
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Frequently Asked Questions About What The If?
What is What The If? about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Exploring the intersection of imagination and scientific inquiry, this podcast presents a unique format where hosts engage in thought experiments related to pressing scientific questions. Each episode typically includes humorous yet insightful discussions surrounding a central theme or hypothetical scenario, often incorporating perspectives from leading guests in science, science fiction, and communication. Topics range from the potential consequences of extraterrestrial phenomena to the ethics of emerging technologies, providing a platform that stimulates curiosity and critical thinking about our universe.
Where can I find podcast stats for What The If??
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for What The If?. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to What The If? and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does What The If? get?
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What are the audience demographics for What The If??
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How many subscribers and views does What The If? have?
To see how many followers or subscribers What The If? 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.
Which podcasts are similar to What The If??
These podcasts share a similar audience with What The If?:
1. StarTalk Radio
2. Radiolab
3. Hidden Brain
4. TED Talks Daily
How many episodes of What The If? are there?
What The If? launched 9 years ago and published 437 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact What The If??
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for What The If??
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What The If? from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for What The If??
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What guests have appeared on What The If??
Recent guests on What The If? include:
1. David Kaiser
2. Dr. Kirby Runyon
3. Dr. Robin George Andrews
4. Ian Durham
5. Gaby Penicia
6. Dr. Kiki
7. Chris Carberry
8. Nikolay Kukushkin
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.