What If World - Stories for Kids

When Heyna the Hyena tries out to play Pawccer in the Whirling Cup, all the dog and cat players can’t figure out what team to put her on. Will she get to play, or will she use her magical knitting powers to sabotage her favorite game? Lessons include: We can all grow through inclusivity; Attacking others in anger will never help matters, no matter how justified your anger may be. Join our Patreon...

Eddie joins us as Davey Jones, the Sea Monkey King of the Pirates. He and Petey are on a journey to find Petey’s long lost brother, Jack Parrot. They’ll encounter Scalebeard as well as a dragon’s hoard of magic lunchboxes. Lessons include: There is enough for everyone if we all work to share it; we all need quality time together, as well as quality time alone! Eddie Gamarra is the executive produc...

Alabaster Zero has his very first day off. Can he solve the mystery of R&R? Lessons: We all need a balance of work and leisure in our lives; Try not to confuse EASY with FUN, there are many different ways to enjoy your free time, and variety is important! This episode first aired May 5th, 2018. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, a better chance of having your question a...

Glurmph the Inventor (played by Teddy) gets a visit from Zachimedes, who is on a quest to find a hidden city. Watch out for magic sheep, giant dragonflies, and unpredictable inventions on this new G&G adventure. Lessons include: Sharing knowledge can help us discover new ideas; anyone who can imagine can be an inventor. This story is part of the Guilds & Goblins miniseries, where What If World cha...

What a joyous day! Fred the Dog has had puppies… don’t ask us how. Fred guides us through a relaxing Freditation, meant to help us (and his flying puppies) get to sleep or take on the rest of the day from a more mindful place. Lessons include: Body Awareness, Body Positivity, Relaxation, Mindfulness Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, a better chance of having your quest...

Shoebert the Tree needs help getting to Karate class, but she gets distracted by a big Halloween party. Can Fred the Dog, Fair Elise, and Sprite Alright help her when none of them have their flying powers? Lessons include: Quitting after a bad day can be tempting, but reassessing after a good day can help you figure out how you really feel. This episode is brought to you by KiwiCo! Enjoy fun, affo...

Mike Rylander joins us, playing a whole slew of characters in a space odyssey you won’t soon forget… and keep an eye out for FREDZORB THE DESTROYER. Lessons: All people deserve to be treated equally; dogs and cats CAN get along ;) This episode first aired October 14th, 2019. Find out more about our special guest, Mike Rylander, actor, improviser, narrator, and dad: mikerylander.com Join our Patreo...

The Mazked Azenger arrives, and she’s ready to solve all of What If World’s problems in a flash… but why does it seem like What If World is having more problems than usual? Lessons include: Solving small problems is important, even if it’s not always exciting; If we learn to empower each other, nobody needs to feel powerless. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, a better...

Ghostly bananas are littered across What If World, and no one can get anywhere without slipping over and over and over! Our guest, Elise Parisian, plays paranormal detective Incognita, and must help Fair Elise solve the mystery… Lessons include: Experts can help us with their specialized knowledge and understanding; we can’t all enjoy the same foods, but we won’t know until we try them! Elise Pari...

The storybooks are missing, but JFKat and Poppa Loo still have their stories to tell. Can they bring back imagination, or will they get distracted by pranks? Lessons include: Think carefully before playing tricks on your friends; even grownups having trouble communicating with each other sometimes, but patience and understanding goes a long way. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on...

The Jammaloo family wants to play G&G, but somebody has laminated all of their storybooks shut and they can’t come up with any adventure ideas! Can they figure out what happened to the books or come up with new stories themselves? Lessons include: There is more to discover than we’ll ever have time to learn; even without books and screens, we can still tell stories together. This episode is brough...

Zizi is back to school, and has officially achieved the status of “Big Kid.” Will she and Benocerous be able to handle Music class? Hopefully one of them knows how to speak piano… Lessons include: it may be hard to say what you mean, but keep trying to make your good intentions known; understanding others takes effort, but it can help you make friends and resolve disagreements. This episode origin...

Our guest, actor, writer, and improviser Kevin Swanstrom helps Mr. Eric tell a totally improvised story. Will Buckaroo’s Everything Store have a successful first day, or will they have to literally chase down customers on their extra long legs? Lessons include: If you only ever give things away, you’ll have nothing left before you know it! A good helper knows they can’t do it all alone. Grownups,...

Scully the Squid and Rola Rabbit get invited to a Back-to-School Dance! Can an underwater creature enjoy a land-lubber dance? Maybe if DJ Abacus picks out the right tunes… Lessons include: Dances and loud music can make some people uncomfortable; being accommodating means paying attention to other people’s needs. This episode is brought to you by Caraway. They design non-toxic ceramic-coated home...

Obsidian the Cat and Ferrivarius the Ferret are musicians who can’t get along. Maybe it’s because they both have such villainous voices. Can a shared love of cookies finally get these two rascals to see eye-to-eye? This episode originally aired February 27th, 2017. This episode is brought to you by KiwiCo! Enjoy fun, affordable, and educational activities for kids of all ages shipped straight to y...

Our young guest this week is Kesler Talbot, one of the stars of the new Netflix series, Lost Ollie. Can he help Fred narrate this story, or will he have to intervene in order to save Mr. Eric? Lessons include: The less control we have, the more stress we feel; a little treat can help with sudden stress, but we've got to enjoy all things in moderation Missing: one stuffed rabbit named Ollie with a...

Make way for a true Monarch among butterflies as she tries to find a home for her great big family to live in the city. Can Peter the Realtor help? Lessons include: getting older means new freedoms and new responsibilities; growing cities need shared green spaces; frisbee golf is a great alternative to golf if want to play a challenging game at a city park This episode is sponsored by Outschool. E...

How does JFKat end up leading a team of giant hairballs to the Little League championships? Presumably, it involves lots of naps… Lessons include: winning without work doesn’t help us grow; healthy competition can teach resilience and cooperation This episode is sponsored in part by Caraway. They design non-toxic ceramic-coated home goods that have raised the standards of what you cook and bake wi...

We're so happy to be bringing you a story that Mr. Eric told along with our friend Jonathan Cormur on his podcast, Dorktales Storytime. Normally, we replay an old favorite once a month, so I hope you all enjoy this rare treat! Dorktales Storytime, hosted by voice actor Jonathan Cormur, is a podcast featuring slightly wacky and very geeky retellings of classic fairy tales with social-emotional less...

With the Observatorium closed for the summer, Abacus wants nothing more than to get out into his garden. Of course, sugar rain, cake clouds, and time traveling heroes aren’t going to make it easy on him. Lessons include: We all need time to tend our own gardens (AKA take care of ourselves); a good friend will respect your boundaries. Join our Patreon for Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, a...

JFKat wants to make a comic strip, so naturally he goes to the home of comic artist Porter Mason. Porter is a wonderful artist, improviser, and parent, but will he be able to handle JFKat’s bunny-branded allergies? Lessons include: creativity comes in many forms; group projects take a lot of teamwork and listening (and sometimes a lot of messes). Check out Porter Mason at rooniecomics.com for kid-...

Zach and Zizi find a rare hair brush pine, and they set out to find the fabled cloud dogs who are said to live at the top. Will they make it to the top? Can they stay safe climbing one of the tallest trees in What If World? We’ll see! Lessons include: When working toward a goal, it’s okay to reassess as you go. Ask yourself (1.) if it’s important, (2.) if it’s achievable, and (3.) how you feel abo...

Have you ever wanted to know what the “P” in Abacus P. Grumbler stands for? You can finally find out in this week’s magical outer-space adventure! Lessons include: It’s okay for boys to be pretty and like pretty things; your family will always lovely you, even if the shape of that family changes. This episode is brought to you by KiwiCo! Enjoy fun, affordable, and educational activities for kids o...

Pixicato sneaks out to a concert using a newly discovered magic, but then everything starts going wrong. Can she get her magic under control, or will she put her new bug friends in danger? Lessons include: Your grownups always want to hear about your life, mistakes and all; trust can be built (and rebuilt!) as long as both sides put in the work. This episode is sponsored in part by Caraway. They d...

What happens when your favorite sewer wizard gets his magic wrench wand chewed on by Fred the Dog? Why don’t we ask him! Wizards, pirates, and dragon-turtle-dogs come along for the ride in this story told through your interview questions. Lessons include: it takes time and effort to discover our purpose in life; sometimes we need to give criticism a rest and just be there for our loved ones. Join...