What If World - Stories for Kids

When Cthunkle opens a seemingly harmless coffee shop, Alabaster Zero is certain there’s an evil plot behind it. There certainly is more to the story, and we’ll have to dive into Cthunkle’s past to hear the full story. Lessons include: if you think a friend is making strange choices, it may be time to learn more about them; a person has to really want to change for it to ever happen This episode is...

Can Fred the Dog find friends happiness in a town without any people? Maybe, if he can find some sticks… Lessons include: happiness doesn’t look the same for every person, and that’s a good thing; it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself, but it can make you feel really good! This episode is sponsored by Bobby Wonder, a podcast from an Emmy Award winning team. Join the fun, expand your imagina...

Petey the Party Planner Pirate puts on a potluck party, and there are a few surprises in store… also, a lot of candy casseroles. Then the world gets taken over, obviously. Lessons include: It’s okay to ask for help sometimes; setting a good example can feel pretty great even if it doesn’t always inspire others to do the same. This episode is sponsored by Bobby Wonder, a podcast for kids from the E...

By popular request, we’re finally bringing you an interview with Dracomax! And it gets better, because this interview was conducted BY KIDS! Specifically, the amazing hosts of Cool Facts About Animals. Lessons include: we all have a little dragon inside us, and it’s important to let it out in safe and constructive ways! Check out the podcast Cool Facts About Animals to enjoy more of their antics a...

The hardest part of making a donut might be picking out its toppings. Why not let the donut pick for itself? Existential crisis, that’s why ;) Lessons include: You may change your appearance, but people are going to have a hard time liking you until you like yourself; finding your path is difficult for everyone, but it’s okay to accept help along the way. This episode originally aired September 3r...

It’s the final level of Whomanji, the Crayungle! Can the Jammaloo family defeat Piggylily, or will they end up turning into stuffed animals?! That’ll make sense when you listen… probably. Lessons include: We’re meant to learn about our capabilities gradually, so we can use them responsibly Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, a better chance of having your qu...

The Jammaloo Family faces level two of the Whomanji game. Will they get their power-ups and finally have an awesome training montage? Lessons include: even grownups (and older siblings) sometimes need to be reminded of their own lessons; practicing together is a lot more productive than showing off alone. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, a better chance o...

Zizi’s giant butterflies take her family to a mysterious jungle, or are they just inside a video game? Maybe JFKat can help them figure it out… but probably not. Lessons include: just because we’re capable of something, doesn’t mean we’ll be good at it right away; quality time comes from taking in our friends and family, whether or not we’re doing our favorite activity. Join our Patreon for Ad-Fre...

Mr. Eric teams up with Rhea Pechter of Little Stories for Tiny People this week. Fair Elise and Pixacato are fed up with work and school, respectively. Good thing it’s Freaky Friday! Can Fair Elise survive a day in ballet school? Can Pixacato solve the mystery of the missing robot brains? Did Alabaster Zero also get Freaky Friday’d, or does the grizzled cop just really love ballet? Lessons include...

With Fair Elise busy being president, Alabaster Zero is going to need Mr. Eric’s help to solve the latest mystery. Lessons include: admitting you don’t know something can take a lot of bravery; activity can help you feel better, especially after you’ve shared your big feelings. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, a better chance of having your question answe...

When one best friend wants some space from another, is that okay? San Antonio based comedians Mary Picarazzi and Tanveer Arora will help us figure it out! Lessons include: everyone needs a little space sometimes; it’s great to be encouraging of your friends and their artwork. Mary Picarazzi and Tanveer Arora are late night comedians and friends to Mr. Eric. They have an interview podcast for grown...

On our 200th episode, Mr. Eric’s friends Lindsay and Marshall from Tumble get swept away to What If World… again! Can they enjoy living in an air tank while their fish grows legs and tries to take care of them? Lessons include: grownups have it rough sometimes, too; feeling cooped up will make anyone irritable, eventually Find out the real science behind this question on Tumble’s companion episode...

Remember when all you wanted was a flying laser puppy and your mom said “You’ll blow our roof off!” Let’s see if the old adage is true. Lessons include: parents may seem unfair, but they’ll do anything to protect us; lasers are better off left to make believe Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, a better chance of having your question answered, and more! patr...

Can our adventurers escape from the cake and find the last ingredient for their magic spell? Let’s hope, or this story will be a bummer! Lessons include: hiding from our problems usually makes them worse; other people don’t get to tell us who we’re supposed to be This story is part of the Guilds & Goblins miniseries, where What If World characters play an original tabletop RPG for kids and familie...

Lowlandra, Scullen, and Zachimedes hide from their unicar pursuers in a mysterious cave… and predictably, things just keep getting weirder! Lessons include: hiding from our problems usually makes them worse; other people don’t get to tell us who we’re supposed to be This story is part of the Guilds & Goblins miniseries, where What If World characters play an original tabletop RPG for kids and fami...

All Mr. Eric wants is to have a simple interview. One where he doesn’t end up being eaten… Good luck to him! Lessons include: beauty takes many forms; most things we feel embarrassed about are pretty normal and easy for other people to understand Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, a better chance of having your question answered, and more! patreon.com/whati...

Mining robot K8-E3, aka Kaytee Three, is trying to find the last piece of a lost asteroid, but she accidentally unleashes a horde of hungry bubbles! Lessons include: Getting to know the other party can help an argument resolve itself; there are usually renewable resources available if we think creatively. Check out our friends at Mystery Recipe to uncover the fun, fantastical, and fascinating side...

Can Ari Kelly of At Your Level help find Fred the Dog at the center of What If World? Or will JFKat and Patty Pan mess up the mission? Lessons include: imagination is wonderful, but it takes work to make dreams come true; learning when to lead and when to follow is part of being a great teammate Check out Ari’s show, At Your Level, and listen to his interview with Mr. Eric here. Join our Patreon f...

Kennen from The King of Random joins us on another time-bending excursion full of sciency magic, magicy science, and, of course, mishap. Can he, Whendiana, Learninator, and Abacus bring dinosaurs back to What If World’s future? Lessons include: Good science takes lots of time, care, and thought; most scientists have a lot more questions than they ever find answers, and that’s all part of the fun!...

It’s Fair Elise’s first official day as President of What If World, and everybody wants her to use her magic to help them right away. Meanwhile, Fred’s off somewhere digging a very deep hole... Lessons include: Everyone needs to take a break sometimes; no one person can do it all, we’ve got to work together to truly improve our world. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show,...

Two of your favorite characters team up this week… or at least they would if they could learn to get along. After a classic magic milkshake mix-up, the kitty president and hapless wizard will have to learn to listen if they ever want to change back. Lessons include: you shouldn’t have to mistreat one friend in order to make another happy; good listening doesn’t mean tuning the rest of the world ou...

Zachimedes, Lowlandra, and Scullen will make a new friend and discover a new enemy as our three part Guilds & Goblins adventure is concluded. Lessons include: Observing other can be a great way to learn, but helping others is a great way to grow! This story is part of the Guilds & Goblins miniseries, where What If World characters play an original tabletop RPG for kids and families. The dice rolls...

The adventurers awaken as captives, with no memory of how they got to this strange new place? Can they find their way out of even more trouble than usual? Lessons include: A little “bad luck” can challenge our creativity and lead us to bold new ideas This story is part of the Guilds & Goblins miniseries, where What If World characters play an original tabletop RPG for kids and families. The dice r...

The adventurers get some cryptic clues to start their next quest. The only way to find what they need will be to face down their most dangerous challenge yet! Lessons include: Donating, repurposing, and recycling your old things can give them a new life; when our actions have unintended consequences, it’s important to take responsibility for them Today, we’re sponsored in part by Faraway, a new sh...

Cthunkle left off with the impulsive ghost of Ifmas Present. Will the wicked Squidopus learn the error of his ways, or will he defeated by a sludge monster? Lessons include: Being kind and fair can feel like a sacrifice, but it’s a very rewarding one; being unfair may not always get you punished, but it rarely brings you true happiness. Today, we’re sponsored in part by Faraway, a new short story...