Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchBattlebots
Episode 89
Among the fiercest creatures in the machine kingdom are the Battlebots. They’re designed for fighting! But are they really robots, or is that just a clever marketing name?
They fight!
John Siracusa a…
Published on 8 years, 11 months ago
School Babies and CPR Dummies
Episode 88
High school students carry them around and learn what it’s like to be a parent. Or you learn how to revive them by pressing their chest and breathing into their mouths. But are these learning tools …
Published on 9 years ago
K5 Mall Robot
Episode 87
It patrols the mall. Sometimes it knocks over small children.
Does it follow Asimov's laws?
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
Mall security bot knocks down to…
Published on 9 years ago
The Hosts of "Westworld"
Episode 86
The HBO series “Westworld” makes us contemplate whether its central characters, the Hosts, are robots or not. (We recorded this episode after the first seven episodes of season one had aired; forgive…
Published on 9 years ago
The Bicentennial Man
Episode 85
A robot slowly turns himself human. When does he stop being a robot?
Robin Williams, Isaac Asimov, and Grobycs!
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
"The Bicent…
Published on 9 years ago
Metal Mario
Episode 84
Sometimes Mario is metallic. Does that make him a robot?
Do metal men dream of robot sheep?
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by be…
Published on 9 years, 1 month ago
Kayaks
Episode 83
They are boats with paddles. What else are they?
They have paddles.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members…
Published on 9 years, 1 month ago
The Borg
Episode 82
Straight out of “Star Trek” come these technological villains. Also, we discuss larger issues including AIs and hive minds.
You will be assimilated.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Support this show …
Published on 9 years, 1 month ago
The Energizer Bunny
Episode 81
It just keeps going, and going, and going….
Nothing outlasts the Energizer
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
Energizer Bunny (Wikipedia)
…Published on 9 years, 1 month ago
Tachikoma and Fuchikoma
Episode 80
Little cute robots from “Ghost in the Shell.”
They're adorable...
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Referenced Works
Ghost in the Shell
[Amazon] …Published on 9 years, 2 months ago