Robot or Not?

Topology can be tricky. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

It’s a big thing in the middle of nowhere. Does it need to be a rock to be a monolith? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

When is something electronic, and when is it electric? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Is that just a really short acting part, or is it only a cameo? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We salute all Moms, no matter their classification. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listener/Professor Lisa can handle conceptual analysis on her own, but she does wonder why campus delivery robots make her so angry. (It wasn’t just because they’re Russian.) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

A bunch of baseball writers drafted pastas. John has thoughts. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Does texture matter when it comes to robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Paul Atreides and the Fremen sure look cool, but won’t they die of hyperthermia in those suits? (Incomparable Members will find a special bonus episode of Robot or Not in the First Class feed today. Become a member for lots of goodies!) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Select all ROBOT RELATED PODCASTS. If there are none, click Stop. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

John has one, but also doesn’t have one. Mary married some merry carrots. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listener Ashley wants to know about the true meaning of friendship. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Why do Americans crowd out the rest of two continents from the namespace? John thinks it’s about imperialism; Jason thinks it’s because our country has no proper name. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listener Scott wants to know what “homemade” cooking is. Jason made this episode from scratch. (But the theme song was store-bought.) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Jason starts to ask John a question, but everything gets derailed. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What makes a car a car, and not a truck, or an SUV, or a crossover? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

When is Next Wednesday? Is it Wednesday? Or the Wednesday after that? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What makes something money? Is gold money? Is Bitcoin? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Do Sundays start the week, or end it? When does the week end, and is that the weekend? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What’s cooking? Is making tea cooking? John’s answers may surprise you. They certainly surprised Jason. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The proper way to eat popcorn. 🍿 John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listeners Jono and Chris, and friend Tony Sindelar, have questions about what John defines as ‘camping.’ Suffering is surprisingly part of the calculation. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listener Beth seeks enlightenment about what makes something a photo. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Listener Isaac wants us to judge if a certain “floating bridge” is actually a ferry. This leads, of course, to a discussion of infinite bridges and whether a fairy is a ferry in California. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

If robots at a grocery-store warehouse works in tandem, are they robots? If they have a hive mind, are they still robots? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.