Robot or Not?
The Incomparable
Jason Snell asks John Siracusa to rule on the meaning of various words and concepts. It’s not just about robots anymore. Have a question for John? Email [email protected].
- 2 minutes 44 seconds337: Shirt
Listener Roy brings us into his debate with his teenage son about what makes a shirt a shirt.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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2 March 2026, 5:00 pm - 2 minutes 50 seconds336: Building
Listener Jack wants to know if a few famous gates and statues are also buildings.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
Brandenburg Gate (DW)
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23 February 2026, 5:00 pm - 4 minutes335: Pop-Tart Pie
Listener Gregory thinks Pop-Tarts are pies. We have ratio questions. Also: We remember so many burned palates caused by calzones and McDonald’s fruit pies.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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16 February 2026, 5:30 pm - 6 minutes 56 seconds334: Open-Faced Sandwiches and French Bread Pizzas
Listener Gregory tries to confuse us with a question about open-faced sandwiches and pizza. We largely ignore him and talk about different ways to eat things that are like pizza, but aren’t quite pizza.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
See also: Pizza
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9 February 2026, 5:30 pm - 3 minutes 14 seconds333: Scrolling
Listener Scott’s wife sure has a strange definition of which way is up.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
See also: Swiping Right
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2 February 2026, 5:00 pm - 6 minutes 7 seconds332: Basement
Listener Joel has discovered some Canadians referring to the first floor of a two-story house as a “basement.” Does this defy all reason? How low must you go to be a basement?
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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26 January 2026, 5:30 pm - 11 minutes 9 seconds331: Supercars and Hypercars
Host John Siracusa asks himself to discuss the difference between Supercars and Hypercars, while Jason looks on.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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12 January 2026, 5:20 pm - 3 minutes 44 seconds330: Sleigh
The difference between a slegh and a sled.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
Sleigh v. Sled, what's the difference?
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29 December 2025, 10:19 pm - 6 minutes 38 seconds329: Charger follow-up
Listener William challenges our ruling about chargers and we get deep into the weeds of car charging.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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15 December 2025, 10:24 pm - 7 minutes 44 seconds328: Hoodie
Stephen Hackett has called us out and requests John’s ruling.
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
Show Notes & Links
Connected 538: A Future That Is Now Stuck in the Past
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1 December 2025, 10:25 pm - 5 minutes 39 seconds327: Blogs
What’s a blog, and what’s a news outlet? Are Jason and John bloggers?
John Siracusa and Jason Snell
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10 November 2025, 4:43 pm - More Episodes? Get the App