What If World - Stories for Kids cover art
Ages 5–7Ages 8–12 Stories

What If World - Stories for Kids

About the show

What If World is a storytelling podcast for kids. Each week, Mr. Eric takes a "what if?" question from a friend and spins it into a story just for you.

Show full description Hide full description

Join Mr. Eric for imaginative stories sparked by kids' questions, fostering curiosity and resilience.

Grownups, share your kids' What-If Questions, and we may use them in a story! Call our voicemail at 205-605-WHAT or email hello@whatifworldpodcast.com.

Fast Facts

Audience
Ages 5–12
Network
Eric O'Keeffe / Starglow Media
Format
Listen in any order
Typical length
22 min
Episodes
534
Seasons
11 seasons
Topics
Stories For Kids, Fiction, Comedy Fiction

Episodes

534 episodes

  1. 412. Farting Lobster, Burping Crab: Part 2

    32 min 19 October 2026

    What happens when a lobster, a crab, a wizard, a detective, and a Junkodile each try to save the day all on their own? Hopefully a lesson about teamwork… Lessons include: A true helper isn’t concerned with getting glory or showing off.

  2. 411. Farting Lobster, Burping Crab: Part 1

    24 min 12 October 2026

    When Derek the lobster and Kiwa the crab find out that New What City needs their help, they leave their sewer home and set out on a magical—and sometimes gassy—adventure. Lessons include: Working together doesn’t always mean doing the same thing; we never need to make a big deal about farts and burps. It’s just a body doing what comes naturally. Get our Yoto Cards! We’ve got a Best Of Collection, our first Guilds & Goblins campaign, and a collection of Meditations. Which episode do you think should be in our next collection? Share questions, art, & ideas with a grown-up's help via Patreon, email: hello@whatifworldpodcast.com, voicemail: 205-605-WHAT (9428), or Instagram: @whatifworldpodcast Eric and Karen O'Keeffe make What If World. Our producer is Miss Lynn. Character art by Ana Stretcu, episode art by Lynn Hickernell, podcast art by Jason O’Keefe, and theme song by Craig Martinson.

  3. 410. Gavin asks: What if Fred could turn anything into sticks?

    17 min 5 October 2026

    When Fred wakes up in a stick-free meadow, he’ll do anything in his power to find something to chew. Lessons include: Taking responsibility for our mistakes; listening to other people’s body boundaries (even when you’re a make believe dog). This is the audio-only version of a YouTube video shot in front of a green screen for a kid-friendly, low-stimulation, no AI video. Grownups, you can find it via this link or by searching on YouTube Kids for What If World. Note: While chewing on a big sturdy stick can be fun for a dog, don’t let them consume the pieces. And don’t let them chew on Oak, which is not considered pet-safe.

  4. 145. Will & Sean ask: What if Fred had a Pokemon?

    20 min 26 October 2026

    When a giant snow dragon crashes the holiday school party, everyone is trying to blame everyone else for unleashing the beast! Can you pick out the grains of truth from this collection of tall tales? Lessons include: We are not required to hug others, there are many perfectly friendly ways to say hello; The truth can be hard to figure out sometimes, because one event recalled from a new perspective can sound very different! This remastered episode has new sound effects, improved audio, and a post-show reflection. The original version aired on December 9th, 2019.

  5. 409. Jackson asks: What if I turned into Godzilla and destroyed the city? (w/ Hamish Steele)

    28 min 28 September 2026

    On his first day of school, Jackson (played by Hamish Steele) gets turned into a giant monster! Will he crash through Mystak City or get sent to outer space? Lessons include: Everyone needs an outlet for their big feelings; taking a little break in a big moment just takes a little imagination. We are celebrating the release of Go-Man vs. the Star Dragon, the second in an amazing graphic novel series for kids featuring giant monsters, robots, super heroes, and more! These stories are funny, heartfelt, and action packed. Our kids love them and we hope yours will too. Pick up both Go-Man graphic novels wherever you get your books, and find out more at: hamishsteele.co.uk

  6. 408. Nate asks: What if a chair broke with snakes inside? (w/Zoe Goldman)

    23 min 14 September 2026

    Fred and Abacus visit the Getty Museum, and see a chair that keeps making them think about snakes! Special guest Zoe Goldman shows us that there's no cutting corner with art, even if you have magic. Themes include: Artistic skills take a long time to master and art takes a long time to make! Hear Mr. Eric on season two of If Objects Could Talk, the Getty Museum’s first podcast for kids, produced by our guest, Zoe Goldman. In each episode, a different work of art takes you on an imaginative journey through its history from the object's perspective! Check out If Objects Could Talk⁠ wherever you listen to podcasts! Want more kids podcasts for the whole family? Grown-ups,

  7. 407. Niamh asks: What if flamingos were fortune tellers?

    23 min 7 September 2026
  8. 406. Evil Wizard Radio

    19 min 31 August 2026
  9. 405. Pietown #3: What if frogs invaded with magic?

    26 min 17 August 2026
  10. 404. Pietown #2: What if trumpet fish could play the trumpet?

    25 min 10 August 2026

    If a fish trumpets the loudest, does that make it right? Let’s find out as we explore New What City and try to find out why everyone is turning into pie! Themes include: Everyone has different strengths, being loud doesn’t make you right

  11. 403. Ilana asks: What if anyone on the sidewalk turned to pie? (Part 1)

    22 min 3 August 2026

    Meet Zorilla Gorilla, Zebra Fitzgerald, and the Great Catsby in a New What City adventure that lets us see What If World’s biggest city in a new light. Themes include: Making new friends, looking out for tricky behavior, moving to a new home, grown-ups handling their big feelings, weird is wonderful. Support the show, get our Yoto Card, or

  12. 402. John asks: What if a dog and a detective went camping?

    19 min 27 July 2026

    Talking Bears and mumbling Bearries are just some of the strange creatures Fred the Dog and Alabaster Zero will encounter on their camping trip. Mr. Eric and Miss Lynn fully improvise this story, inspired by your questions, and offer some pointers along the way. Lessons include: When telling a story with a friend, it helps to talk to them about your ideas before you start.

  13. 401. Amanda asks: What if you interviewed Miss Karen?

    20 min 20 July 2026

    Detective Alabaster Zero will solve the mystery of how Miss Karen helped create What If World. Will he get to the bottom of her villainous plot against cereal? Lessons include: We’ve got to be bad at something before we get to be sort of okay at it; it can be very fulfilling to figure out something on your own.

  14. 400. Rollygobs #3: The Starshard

    29 min 6 July 2026

    A classic dungeon crawl takes Iggy, Scuggy, and Claude through Fun Gus’s Mush Room as they try to save the city of STEAMhold. Lessons include: Kindness comes back to you in unexpected ways; there is always another problem for a hero to help with. This week, we play G&G with Molly Murphy as Claud the Leafbat Sidekick, Jonathan Cormur as Ignis Draconius the Fire Sorcerer, and Scuggy Woodrot, the Armadillo Magineer. Molly Murphy is the head writer for Dorktales Storytime Podcast, and you can reach them for all your writing needs at: mkmurphycreative@gmail.com Jonathan Cormur is a professional voice actor, and you can hear many of his amazing voices on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast: jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast Dante Belletti tutors middle and high school students on Zoom for test prep and academic support. Grown-ups can email danteabelletti@gmail.com to learn more! This story is part of a Guilds & Goblins adventure, where What If World guests play an original tabletop RPG for kids and families. Real-life dice rolls, usually with a 20-sided die, help us tell the story, along with your questions! Part 1 & 2 of this series are episodes 398-399. Look for G&G or Cryptid Kids episodes if you want to hear more.

  15. 399. Rollygobs #2: The Skyspire

    29 min 29 June 2026

    Our heroes face gargoyles and magic plants as they attempt to climb the tallest tower in the city! Can Ignis the Fire Sorcerer, Scuggy the Armadillo Magineer, Claude the Leafbat Sidekick, and the painted superhero known as Knight Wing reach the top in one piece? Lessons include: Listening and creative thinking are more effective than fighting. This week, we play G&G with actor and tutor Dante Belletti, the voice actor behind Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Jonathan Cormur, and the head writer for Dorktales, Molly Murphy! Molly Murphy is the head writer for Dorktales, and you can reach them for all your writing needs at: mkmurphycreative@gmail.com Jonathan Cormur is a professional voice actor and you can hear many of his amazing voices on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast: jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast Dante Belletti tutors middle and high school students on Zoom for test prep and academic support. Grown-ups can email danteabelletti@gmail.com to learn more! This story is part of a Guilds & Goblins adventure, where What If World guests play an original tabletop RPG for kids and families. Real-life dice rolls, usually with a 20-sided die, help us tell the story, along with your questions! Part 1 of this series was episode 398. Look for G&G or Cryptid Kids episodes if you want to hear more.

  16. 398. Rollygobs #1: The Frozen Portal

    30 min 22 June 2026

    Can Ignis the Fire Sorcerer, Scuggy the Armadillo Magineer, Claude the Leafbat Sidekick, and the painted superhero known as Knight Wing rescue the unicorns from the frozen portal? Lessons include: When rivals work together, they can do amazing things; everyone has different specialties, even if they share similar interests! This week, we play G&G with three players: actor and tutor Dante Belletti, the lead voice actor for the Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Jonathan Cormur, and the head writer for Dorktales, Molly Murphy! Dante tutors middle and high school students on Zoom for test prep and academic support. Grown-ups can email danteabelletti@gmail.com to learn more! Jonathan Cormur is a professional voice actor and you can hear many of his amazing voices on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast: jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast Molly Murphy is the head writer for Dorktales and you can reach them for all your writing needs at: mkmurphycreative@gmail.com This story is part of a Guilds & Goblins adventure, where What If World guests play an original tabletop RPG for kids and families. Real-life dice rolls, usually with a 20-sided die, help us tell the story, along with your questions! Look for G&G or Cryptid Kids episodes if you want to hear more.

  17. 397. Pandabeard vs. Mr. Eric vs. Krakthuncle (Part 2)

    21 min 8 June 2026

    Krakthuncle returns with an appetite and Petrina is snoozing on duty. Can the red panda pirates win the day with their cuddly might? Lessons include: Doing the work of the house together is a chance to connect with your family; getting caught up on chores makes for uninterrupted creative time! This episode was written by writer/actor, and good friend of Mr. Eric’s, Kevin Swanstrom! Check him out for all your writing/acting needs at kevinswanstrom.com

  18. 396. Henry asks: What if everyone grew beards? (Part 1)

    21 min 1 June 2026

    Petrina the Pirate takes over the story and Mr. Eric has to face the Red Panda Pirates! Lessons include: We each need to help out with the work of the home; we cannot cuddle others without their consent. 2 This episode was written by writer/actor, and good friend of Mr. Eric’s, Kevin Swanstrom! Check him out for all your writing/acting needs at kevinswanstrom.com

  19. 395. Fred & the Peanut Butter Beast (with Andy Griffiths)

    26 min 25 May 2026

    In the latest episode of their madcap cooking show, inFredible, Fred gets turned into Peanut Butter and chased by the Peanut Butter Beast! We are joined by Andy Griffiths, author of the hilarious You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast, illustrated by Bill Hope. Lessons include: Table manners help you enjoy your meal safely and mindfully; if a device is unnecessary, set it aside while you eat. Australian Children's Laureate Andy Griffiths is our special guest this week. His latest book is a fully illustrated adventure for kids 6-10, called You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast! We read the first two books with Thing 1 and Thing 2 and all had a lot of laughs. Find it at your favorite bookstore and please share any What Ifs it inspires!

  20. 394. Rory asks: What if Fred the Dog turned into a door with a face?

    21 min 18 May 2026

    In our first Rory-Fred-Doory-Story, we take a trip to What If World’s favorite theme restaurant, Chunky Choosers. They play the claw game, build plastic block monsters, and meet JFKat for a French Toast Party! Lessons include: Hard games are more rewarding than easy ones; you can travel anywhere with your imagination What If World producer Miss Lynn is heading back out on the road with a series of concerts in June! Will she be near you? Check her tour dates and find out!

  21. 393. Thiago asks: What if shoes could walk by themselves?

    21 min 4 May 2026

    Everyone’s favorite vampiric comic, Cackula, leads a meditation this week, focusing on kindness. But if you ask him, it’s a “Deaditation,” and he may or may not possess a pair of shoes… Lessons include: We owe ourselves kindness; we can look back to understand our failures and focus on our wins.

  22. 392. Cluckerdile’s Revenge! (with John Patrick Green)

    25 min 27 April 2026

    The InvestiGators, Mango & Brash, visit What If World when their comic creator, John Patrick Green, goes missing! Can the gators find the captured comic, or will their non-canonical half-chicken half-crocodile nemesis defeat them once and for all? Lessons include: Art can bring out the good in all of us; revenge is never necessary. You can find the InvestiGators graphic novel series for kids at your local bookstore. Visit InvestiGatorsbooks.com to learn more about the series, which includes four audiobook adaptations! You can also follow the author and illustrator at johnpatrickgreen.com.

  23. 391. Sonali asks: What if Fred became an international pop star?

    21 min 20 April 2026

    How does a job at the Post Office turn Fred the Dog and JFKat into pop stars? Listen and find out! Lessons include: We need to eat a variety of foods to stay healthy and happy; we can reduce plastic waste by looking for biodegradable alternatives.

  24. 390. Claire asks: What if bug bites were from invisible unicorns?

    25 min 6 April 2026

    We meet baby Dracomax and Abacus and see a What If World Home Invention show as everyone in What If World tries to figure out the Invisibility Crisis! Lessons include: Our kind little choices every day make the world a better place; in dragon language, apologize means “Give Pizza”

  25. 389. Felix asks: What if the world is an apple being eaten by a space giant?

    24 min 30 March 2026

    The crew of the Squidship Squiggler must save the planet of Applonia from a hungry moon! Or is it the other way around? Lessons include: All kinds of life are precious; with compromise and cooperation, all creatures can learn to live in peace.

  26. 388. Dude, Where’s My Broom? (Cryptid Kids #17)

    29 min 23 March 2026

    Abacus P. Grumbler runs the adventure today, as the Cryptid Kids track down clues at a magical college full of snakes, goblins, and SUSPECTS! Lessons include: This G&G adventure shows you how to run a simple, fun TTRPG mystery for kids. ⁠Mystery Snacks⁠, a family-focused TTRPG sourcebook, is available for pre-order! Get "Dude, Where’s My Broom” and seven other easy-to-run adventures for kids at ⁠mystery-snacks.backerkit.com⁠. A huge thanks to our friend Steph C. of ⁠TTRPGkids.com⁠ for letting us use their adventure to inspire this story!

  27. 387. Lucian asks: What if Alabaster Zero became a flower farmer?

    23 min 9 March 2026

    Alabaster is forced into a very long vacation and reveals a secret superpower! Lessons: We don’t have to be who people expect us to be; taking a break can help us see in a new light

  28. 386. Emma asks: What if Fred found a ball that could make him teleport? (w/ Kevin Del Aguila)

    22 min 2 March 2026

    Join us for a Tuna Tune with special guest Kevin Del Aguila, bookwriter and lyricist for the amazing Dog Man: The Musical and Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical! Adventure across What If World and beyond as Fred & JFK finally find a home! Lessons include: Travel can be tiring, but it’s a great way to make new discoveries and connections! Find out when Dog Man: The Musical, Cat Kid: The Musical, and the Click Clack Moo musical are touring near you at twusa.org.

  29. 385. Evie asks: What if there was a chicken who was also a knight?

    18 min 23 February 2026

    Grab your Buggy Board and join us at the beach! Can Hudson the chicken knight solve the mystery of the missing beach bug? Only with your help! Lessons include: Leave shells and rocks on the beach; Every creature deserves a home! 2

  30. 384. Denim asks: What if Fred became a math wizard?

    20 min 9 February 2026

    Fred the Dog, JFKat, and Dancey Pantsy have been looking for a home since last summer. Now they’re going to get help from their local library! Lessons: This is an exercise in improv, with a grown-up and kid working together and agreeing with each other to bring you an amazing adventure! his week, we’re teaming up with TTRPGKids to tell you about Mystery Snacks, a collection of easy-to-use all-ages TTRPG mysteries funding right now on BackerKit. This game features drop-in scenarios that serve up cozy, silly, and twisty whodunit vibes to your table. Follow the campaign here: tinyurl.com/MystrySnks1

Showing the 300 most recent episodes. Open the show in the app for the full back-catalogue.

0:00 0:00
Get the app →
Once Upon a Pod Get the app — free for 7 days