In a rare topical episode, John and Jason discuss Marty, the tall, googly-eyed robot that may soon be roaming the aisles of a supermarket near you. Does Marty meet the Roomba test? Are the googly eyes fooling anyone? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Show Notes & Links Marty the Robot enters supermarkets Happy Fun Ball Support this show and ot ...…

Is this real or are we in a video game? How can we tell the true nature of the universe? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Do hackers do good, or bad, or both? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” Merry Christmas, everybody! Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.…

Choosy mothers pronounce it differently. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Where spreadsheets and databases collide. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

“You haven’t done soup yet, have you?” Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Smartphones, dumb phones, feature phones, and computers in your pocket. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Slot toasters, toaster ovens, and the definitions thereof. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What makes something a podcast? OMG, are we one?! Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Bread is bread, but what about hot dog buns, bagels, tortillas, and pitas? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

John is given the opportunity to endorse or reject the rulings of the International Astronomical Union. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

John’s worked (and left) a lot of jobs. What’s his personal philosophy about job security versus going it alone as an independent? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.…

The subtle and vexing difference between a nerd and a geek. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What is computer programming? And what doesn’t qualify? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

When is a game show a game show, and when is it reality television? Also, we reveal our favorite reality TV show. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.…

Is a Mac a PC? Is an iPad a computer? Does John favor a broad definition or a narrow one? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What makes pasta pasta? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

The conundrum of seasons versus eternally pleasant weather. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Bagels are not donuts, people. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

It's all unraveling - Listener Ed, we’ve got bad news. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Do chickens count? - What makes an animal a pet? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What are the boundaries? - Did both of Jason’s parents both come from the Midwest, or only one? What are the true boundaries of America’s heartland? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Canonical flavors - From Sour Cream & Onion to BBQ, what are the “real” potato chip flavors? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

And what about Staycations? - If you don’t go anywhere, is it a vacation? What if you go somewhere, but you don’t relax? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Not a pie - Is cheesecake cheese, cake, pie, tart, or none of the above? Does the angle of the pan matter? Does crust content matter? Do any of us matter, really? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Ethical problems - As recently highlighted on “The Good Place”, it’s a classic ethical conundum that John wants absolutely no part of. And what if the trolley drives itself? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Not a woman. - Never believe what a robot tells you. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Woof! - A dog interlude. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Ho, ho, ho - What makes a movie a holiday movie? How do they celebrate winter holidays in warm climates? Merry Christmas to all, especially in Australia! Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

This is the big one - Okay, time to call it. Time of death— wait, wait, everybody hold on. How do we define death? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

It's made of Life Stuff - How can we call something alive? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

There's only one R in Sherbet - It would seem like ice cream versus frozen yogurt would be the main debate. But the pronunciation of a third competitor completely derails us. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Meal times and sleep times - We discuss the names of meals and when they happen, and make an interesting(?) digression into human sleep cycles. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Fruit Salad? Yummy yummy. - From leafy greens to sugary Jell-O concoctions, all sorts of things are called salads. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

BBQ - Continuing our confused series of episodes about food-related topics, it’s time for John and Jason to talk about Jason’s favorite food style and what happens when you put food on a grill. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Will it blend? - If everything can be a smoothie, then nothing is. So we try to define what makes a smoothie and acts as a bulwark against the milkshake. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

But is it art? - I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Two blind men describe an elephant. - We don’t know quite what an old-fashioned donut is, but we know what we like… and what we don’t. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

When is a machine truly intelligent? - What makes machine intelligence “real AI”? And what is the difference between strong and weak AI? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What defines Anime? - The very definition of video entertainment from Japan. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Baseball? Is not sport, is game. - What makes something a sport, and not an exercise or a game? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Ketchup or Peanut Butter? - Exploring Jason’s favorite food, what a “favorite food” even is, and the hazy dividing line between condiments and other edibles. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Sci-Fi or Fantasy? - What’s science fiction? And more importantly, is Star Wars science fiction, fantasy, or something else? Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Microchips. Not potato chips. - Is everything a computer chip? Is nothing a computer chip? Jason thinks this is gonna be good. John thinks it’s obvious. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

Bialys! - What is the canon of bagels? Why are some ingredients allowed in an Everything Bagel but not any other bagel style? What makes raisins an acceptable ingredient, yet bars blueberries? Mr. Siracusa, native of the great state of New York, educates Mr. Snell, one of those California hippie types, about what a real bagel is. Host John Sira ...…

Canonical pizza toppings - What toppings are allowed on pizza? And what about using a knife and fork to eat pizza? There are many rules. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

You have left Pizza Country. - John weighs in on what makes something a pizza, including the horror of the Turkey Dinner Pizza. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

What is a sandwich? - Exploring what makes a sandwich, while also discussing the history of food, sandwiches as satire, and the difference between llamas and camels. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).

How super is my villain? - John helps Jason figure out the precise moment when a villain becomes a supervillain. Host John Siracusa and Jason Snell.By podcast@theincomparable.com (The Incomparable).