
Learn 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 | 424 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Science | |||

This week we're trading hypothetical fungi and exploding planets for something scarier: actual government budgets. But don't worry - watching America accidentally hand the space race to China is just as entertaining as any sci-fi disaster scenario, a... more
What the if mosquitoes were helpless against the sweet smell of their own doom? Scientists genetically engineered Metarhizium fungus to smell so irresistibly delicious that mosquitoes can't help but fly straight into deadly traps with a 90-100% succe... more
What the if Frankenstein was real and doctors actually tried stitching corpses together to create new people? Forget dramatic lightning strikes and brooding in Gothic towers - the real adventure is managing the world's most complicated pharmacy order... more
What the if all bodies of water on Earth were fizzy like soda? In the real world, Seneca Lake in New York produces mysterious underwater booms called "Seneca guns" that scientists think come from occasional gas pockets, but nobody knows for sure. But... more
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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
I enjoy this show. There’s always something I learn when I listen to it.
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!
…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)
Super fun!
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.
Apple Podcasts | #210 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Episodes focus on a range of thought-provoking scientific concepts through imaginative scenarios, appealing to listeners who are curious about science and the universe. Topics covered include gravitational waves, the exploration of Mars, and the implications of gene editing technology, often with the help of expert guests from various scientific fields. The hosts engage in lighthearted yet educational discussions that bring humor and accessibility to complex subjects, making the show both entertaining and informative. A unique feature is its blend of scientific inquiry and creative storytelling, inviting listeners to ponder extraordinary "what if" questions while learning about real scientific principles.
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.
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Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What The If?, 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 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.
These podcasts share a similar audience with What The If?:
1. StarTalk Radio
2. This Week in Science – The Kickass Science Podcast
3. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
4. Ologies with Alie Ward
5. ScienceStuff
What The If? launched 8 years ago and published 424 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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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.
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of What The If?. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
Recent guests on What The If? include:
1. Nikolay Kukushkin
2. Nicholas Keating Casbarro
3. Phil Halper
4. Niayesh Afshordi
5. Dr. Vanessa Pirotta
6. Kirby Runyon
7. Chris Carberry
8. Sam Burbank
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.