161. What if Alabaster Zero got interviewed by Mr. Eric and JFKat?

It’s the interview(s) you’ve all been waiting for! Alabaster dishes on his past, JFKat interrupts (a lot), Mr. Eric starts to lose it, and that’s all before our special guest arrives!

It's the interview(s) you've all been waiting for! Alabaster dishes on his past, JFKat interrupts (a lot), Mr. Eric starts to lose it, and that's all before our special guest arrives! Lessons: we all want to be taken seriously sometimes, but that shouldn't mean we always have to act serious; it's okay to have more than one "favorite," or even different things you love in different moments!

Alabaster Zero by Ana Stretcu

Lessons: we all want to be taken seriously sometimes, but that shouldn’t mean we always have to act serious; it’s okay to have more than one “favorite,” or even different things you love in different moments!

What If World is donating our Patreon earnings for the entire month of April to lafoodbank.org. Get ad-free stories, bonus audio, and help feed some hungry people. Join our Patreon! 

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What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. This episode’s Alabaster Zero artwork was created by Ana Stretcu.

160. What if Story Pirates came into What If World?

Uh-oh, Cthunkle has captured the Story Pirates’ Lee Overtree! Will Lee be able to help Cthunkle with his reading, or will the storyteller be stuck in Cthunkle’s slimy lair forever?

Lessons: read what interests you, just don’t forget to try new things now and then; reading is not a competition, so take your time, be kind to yourself, and enjoy! 

Uh-oh, Cthunkle has captured the Story Pirates' Lee Overtree! Will Lee be able to help Cthunkle with his reading, or will the storyteller be stuck in Cthunkle's slimy lair forever? Lessons: read what interests you, just don't forget to try new things now and then; reading is not a competition, so take your time, be kind to yourself, and enjoy!

Check out Story Pirates for more great stories, and join their free Creator’s Club for exclusive content updated daily for you and your kids to enjoy. 

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

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What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. 

159. What if there was such a thing as magic shoes? (w/ Scott Cranfield)

Author Scott Cranfield brings the Wise Bear to What If World. Can he help Bob the Blob find his confidence, or will it take a pair of magic shoes to make the difference?

Author Scott Cranfield brings the Wise Bear to What If World. Can he help Bob the Blob find his confidence, or will it take a pair of magic shoes to make the difference?

Lessons include: When seen in a new light, a challenge can turn into an opportunity; confidence is always inside you, but it takes practice to learn how to find it

Scott asked us to give a discount offer to our listeners. We’re not making any profit off of this, just trying to help another artist whose release has been affected in these times.

1. Go to WiseBearStories.com

2. Click ‘add to basket’ followed by ‘view basket’ 

3. Type ‘whatifworld’ into the coupon code and click apply.  The product will be reduced by 33%.  

4. Click proceed to checkout 

 What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

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What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. The week’s artwork is from “The Wise Bear Stories,” illustrated by Raphilena Bonito.

158. What if everyone wore the same color clothes? (w/ Niki Smith)

Author and illustrator Niki Smith helps Mr. Eric tell a story where a Purple & Green striped horse has to save her school and friend from Ragged the Dragon.

Author and illustrator Niki Smith helps Mr. Eric tell a story where a Purple & Green striped horse has to save her school and friend from Ragged the Dragon. Lessons include: Wearing different colors helps us express ourselves; no one is "supposed" to be mean or nice, but we can always choose to treat other people well.

Lessons include: Wearing different colors helps us express ourselves; no one is “supposed” to be mean or nice, but we can always choose to treat other people well.

Check out Niki Smith’s “The Deep and Dark Blue.” You can get your copy at Bookshop to support your local bookstore, or on Amazon.

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

Subscribe to What If World wherever you listen to podcasts!

What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. This episode’s artwork is from the cover of Niki Smith’s The Deep and Dark Blue.

157. What if dinosaurs were alive today?

The episode is a fun story-telling activity, and there’s even a What If Story tossed in as a demonstration.

The episode is a fun story-telling activity, and there's even a What If Story tossed in as a demonstration. Lessons include: we are all capable of telling each other fun stories; even the greatest treasure in the world can't replace all of life's simple joys.

Lessons include: we are all capable of telling each other fun stories; even the greatest treasure in the world can’t replace all of life’s simple joys.

If you want some questions to use as story prompts, try our What If Question Generator!

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

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What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. This episode’s artwork was put together using images from Chris and David.

156. What if Mr. Eric got sucked into What If World and Cthunkle took him into his lair?

Cthunkle seems to think that “social distancing” means shutting himself away for eternity at the bottom of Squid Lake. Can Mr. Eric help him find other ways to have fun?

Cthunkle seems to think that "social distancing" means shutting himself away for eternity at the bottom of Squid Lake. Can Mr. Eric help him find other ways to have fun? Lessons: When people are worried, it's more fun to be a helper than a trickster; Washing our hands and keeping them away from our face is a healthy habit year round!

Lessons: When people are worried, it’s more fun to be a helper than a trickster; Washing our hands and keeping them away from our face is a healthy habit year round!

This episode talks about social distancing. Our What If World characters do see each other in a small group so that we can answer our kid’s questions, but, in the US, the recommendation of health professionals as of March 14th, 2020, is to cancel classes and playdates and to spend time with your immediate family  . Stay safe and healthy out there!

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

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My friends at Kids Listen have made extra podcast content for you this week to help fill your free time. Also, here’s a great episode from NPR about Coronavirus and Parenting.

What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. This episode’s art is from OCAL.

155. What if clouds were made out of cotton candy?

Barbara Bot teams up with Cleocatra to save our president from the clutches of the chocolate monsters. Could today be the day when magic comes back to What If World?

Barbara Bot teams up with Cleocatra to save our president from the clutches of the chocolate monsters. Could today be the day when magic comes back to What If World? Lessons include: When there are too many problems to consider all at once, try just focusing on one at a time; Our minds are incredibly powerful, and can make falsehoods appear to be true!

by Ana Stretcu

Lessons include: When there are too many problems to consider all at once, try just focusing on one at a time; Our minds are incredibly powerful, and can make falsehoods appear to be true!

If you haven’t heard episodes 138. What if barbies were real and they lived with evil robots?, and 149. What if magic didn't exist?, this story may be a bit more confusing than usual ;)

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

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What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. This episode’s Cleocatra artwork was created by Ana Stretcu.

154. What if Mr. Eric wasn't real?

Poppa Loo’s News reports from a speeding train where people are turning into elements from the periodic tables! Can he and Mamma Jamma find Mr. Eric and help us get What If World back on track?

Poppa Loo's News reports from a speeding train where people are turning into elements from the periodic tables! Can he and Mamma Jamma find Mr. Eric and help us get What If World back on track?

Lessons include: Researching a problem can help you take the right steps to fix it; in a serious situation, it’s important to keep thinking and observing in order to stay safe.

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

Subscribe to What If World wherever you listen to podcasts! 

What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. Today’s artwork was drawn by Peck, our incomparable patron and superfan, back in 2018. 

22. What if a tree named Harrigo went to eat a chocolate that was talking?

What if that knotted old tree you pass by every day was actually a grumpy talking chocolate fanatic? Meet Harrigo, a tree with a real sweet trunk, and the young candy bar who teaches him that being nice is a little harder than just not eating your friends. 

What if that knotted old tree you pass by every day was actually a grumpy talking chocolate fanatic? Meet Harrigo, a tree with a real sweet trunk, and the young candy bar who teaches him that being nice is a little harder than just not eating your friends.

This episode originally aired March 13th, 2017.

This is truly one of my favorite old stories. I hope you enjoy it! We’ll have a new story for you next week. Thanks for listening and spreading the word!

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

Subscribe to What If World wherever you listen to podcasts! 

What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com. Today’s artwork was drawn by Peck, our incomparable patron and superfan, back in 2018. 

153. What if clocks were bananas and monkeys ate time?

We learn a little bit about Mr. Eric today as he travels back in time. Can he stop the Time Monkey, or will he get stuck in his own past?

We learn a little bit about Mr. Eric today as he travels back in time. Can he stop the Time Monkey, or will he get stuck in his own past? Lessons include: Our past helps shape who we are today, even the parts that aren't so great; big new challenges are always scary, but they can help us learn about ourselves.

Lessons include: Our past helps shape who we are today, even the parts that aren’t so great; big new challenges are always scary, but they can help us learn about ourselves

What If World exists thanks to our Patrons. Get a better chance at having your question chosen, plus Ad-Free stories, a Shout-Out on the show, bonus audio, and more. Join our Patreon!

Subscribe to What If World wherever you listen to podcasts! 

What If World is made by Eric O’Keeffe with help from Karen O'Keeffe. Our theme song is by Craig Martinson and our podcast art is by Jason O’Keefe. Additional songs and sound effects from audioblocks.com.