Robot Or Not?

Big robots with people inside, as seen in “Shogun Warriors” and “Pacific Rim.”

Like the song says.

The main computer of the USS Enterprise.

The “Knight Rider” car is cool, but is it a robot? What about KITT’s evil twin, KARR? Also, the dark pre-history of Pixar’s “Cars.”

Honda’s ASIMO, Sony’s AIBO, and other cute things that can do The Robot dance. Also, our Radio Shack memories.

Look for the union label.

Does a self-guided vacuum cleaner cross John’s minimum bar for a robot? And what does that have to do with ants and dogs?

They’re funny, but are they robots?

Pondering sentient Google cars, Johnny Cab, and autopilots.

The greatest prog rock album ever made.

John and Jason try to understand robot dogs. Plus, a trip through old “Doctor Who” episodes.

Cyborgs and robots and humans—how do we tell these things apart?

John’s position on supermarket self-checkout machines, Jason’s need for beer when he visits his in-laws, and whether attaching arms to things makes them robots.

We explain why we’re here, and then discuss the protagonist of Styx’s 1983 album “Kilroy Was Here.”

A flashback to past podcasts, as a way of explaining why this podcast exists.