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What If World - Stories for Kids

Recommended Ages
This is the recommended age range according to Common Sense Media, but preschoolers and teenagers also enjoy the show.

Ages 5 to 11.

What If World is a storytelling podcast for kids and families, created by Eric O'Keeffe to spark imagination, laughter, and learning by answering kids' "What if…?" questions. A work-from-home dad, Mr. Eric's stories have reached millions of listeners worldwide. What If World has been cited as one of the best podcasts for kids by The New York Times, Washington Post, Mental Floss, Parents.com, and Edison Research. Each story blends creativity, humor, and gentle life lessons, making it an engaging supplement for literacy, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. Parents love that it's screen-free, safe, and endlessly re-listenable, with hundreds of free episodes and new stories released weekly. While it's ideal for families who enjoy imaginative, character-driven stories, it does not offer a formal curriculum.

Features
AuditoryEarly LearnerExperientialInclusive

The creator of What If World, Mr. Eric, worked with kids of all ages for over thirteen years before having two of his own. Our meditations help kids deal with their anxiety and every story helps us learn to celebrate our differences and overcome challenges. Lots of kids report that the familiarity of Mr. Eric's many voices and the gentle soundtracking of each episode helps them relax after a stressful moment or get passed their sleep struggles.

Pros

Families love the creativity and high production value of each story. We are always growing and learning as we respond to your kids' What If Questions, and even if we can't answer ever question we receive, we make sure to show our gratitude to our listeners in every episode. We have helped kids grow for years, as we've continued to grow ourselves!

Cons

The most frequent complaint we get is for representing LGBTQ+ characters in What If World. To be clear, we are not talking about adult content. We are simply normalizing the existence of characters who, for example, use they/them pronouns, or families where both parents share the same gender identity. We're always working to be as inclusive as possible with our stories, and we are reading up-to-date parenting guides regularly to make sure our messages are as progressive as possible.

There are hundreds of free episodes available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. These free stories are released weekly and are ad-supported. For $5 per month, families receive instant access to every episode ad-free, dozens of bonus episodes, a shout-out on the show, and an annual mailing for one child. Additionally, they gain access to our educator resources Google Drive folder upon request, as well as more benefits. For $10 per month, families also receive a shout-out and an annual mailing for each child, digital access to the TTRPG for kids "Guilds & Goblins," and the opportunity to directly submit ideas for new stories and bonus content to the creators, with adult supervision.

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What If World - Stories for Kids
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Skills

What kids will learn
View all collections
ELA
ELA
Social Studies
Social Studies
Art
Art
Creative Writing
Creative Writing
Creativity
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Ethics
Ethics
Humanities
Humanities
Life Skills
Life Skills
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Writing

Our mission

Keep Wondering.

Curiosity and hope are inextricably linked. When children continually ask questions, they remain open to new ideas and challenges. What If World uses interactive shows to tell progressive stories and satires. We aim to keep kids laughing and learning well into adulthood.

Our story

Eric started telling stories over video calls to his young nephew across the country. Karen, co-creator of What If World, used her audio-editing expertise to turn some of these stories into podcast episodes. At the beginning, they were begging friends and family to submit their What If Questions, but now they've got more than they could ever answer! Having reached millions of listeners over the years, they've now got young adult listeners leaving reviews about how What If World helped them grow. Eric and Karen hope to make many more stories for your kids in the years to come.

FAQ: Additional Details about What If World - Stories for Kids

As the sun begins to stream through the window, illuminating the cozy home classroom, the day starts with a soft hum of excitement in the air. The distinct smell of pancakes drifts from the kitchen, infusing the space with warmth and comfort—perfect fuel for a day of adventure.

After breakfast, the child settles into a plush bean bag chair, snuggled under a soft blanket that feels like a warm hug. Parents gather nearby, ready to embark on today’s lesson with "What If World." They hit play, and the sound of a whimsical theme song fills the room, drawing the child’s attention fully. The cheerful, engaging tone of the host beckons them into a world where imagination reigns supreme.

As the podcast unfolds, splashes of vibrant sound effects—like the whoosh of a dragon in flight or the gentle rustle of leaves in an enchanted forest—envelop the child. They can picture it all vividly in their minds, creating a mental movie that sparks curiosity and wonder. The engaging story stimulates their appetite for knowledge as they listen intently, eyes wide with enthusiasm.

During the storytelling, parents pause the episode to discuss what they’ve heard. Using the opportunity, they ask questions that engage critical thinking: “What do you think might happen next?” or “How would you feel if you were in that character’s shoes?” This interaction involves verbal participation, encouraging the child to express ideas and enhance comprehension.

Later in the day, inspired by the themes in the podcast, the child picks up a sketchbook, the paper feeling textured beneath their fingers. They grab colored pencils, the rich hues bringing their fantasy world to life on the page, as they illustrate their own version of the story. The act of creating keeps their imagination soaring.

Finally, the family gathers together for a delightful art showcase. The air is filled with the laughter and joy of sharing ideas, as they all admire the unique creations inspired by the podcast. The child is beaming with pride, feeling supported and validated, their creativity nurtured through the captivating narratives of "What If World."

By the end of the day, the child not only experiences the magic of storytelling but also leaves with a treasure trove of learning outcomes—enhanced listening skills, imaginative thinking, and a newfound desire to explore stories further. What If World has transformed this day into an unforgettable journey of education and entertainment, perfectly tailored for the homeschooling experience.

Most parents use What If World to spark imagination in young children and to give them a healthy screen-free break from more traditional schoolwork. We encourage parents to engage in a conversation with their child after each 15-25 min episode to reinforce the lessons of the story.

Most caregivers enjoy listening along with their kids, and that's we recommend for the best results. However, we end each new episode with discussion questions and we have a general worksheet that grown-ups can use to challenge their young listeners, whether or not they heard the story.

Mr. Eric, host of What If World, has ADHD and comes from a long line of ADHD family members. Many neurodivergent listeners have reported enjoying our show and feels like it really speaks to them. Furthermore, the editing style of the show keeps the music and FX soft enough so as not to distract or disrupt any of our young listeners, be they neurodivergent or neurotypical.

As a screen-free podcast, many listeners find our format helps them to think critically without having to read carefully. Furthermore, we have over 100 professionally written transcripts to accompany our earlier episodes (available on our website) if listeners wish to practice reading along. Most parents report that their kids listen to their favorite stories three or more times, and that calming repetition can help them read along. Some will even play our stories at a reduced speed to help with comprehension.

We don't talk down to our listeners and we challenge them with big ideas. Whether a gifted student simply needs an escape, or whether they are grappling with an emotional issue separate from their academic excellence, What If World is there for them.

Mr. Eric, host of What If World, has ADHD and comes from a long line of ADHD family members. Many neurodivergent listeners have reported enjoying our show and feels like it really speaks to them. Furthermore, the editing style of the show keeps the music and FX soft enough so as not to distract or disrupt any of our young listeners, be they neurodivergent or neurotypical.

As a screen-free podcast, many listeners find our format helps them to think critically without having to read carefully. Furthermore, we have over 100 professionally written transcripts to accompany our earlier episodes (available on our website) if listeners wish to practice reading along. Most parents report that their kids listen to their favorite stories three or more times, and that calming repetition can help them read along. Some will even play our stories at a reduced speed to help with comprehension.

Our patron offers a free trial. After that, monthly or annual supporters can cancel any time, but no refunds will be offered.

What If World has an "off-the-cuff" style. We tell a new story every week, and Mr. Eric is a trained improviser, comedian, and voice actor, so things can get pretty silly some weeks. While we like to ground every episode with important life lessons, we don't often interrupt our stories with questions for the kids. Instead, we put our discussion questions at the end of the story. Kids who like a very slow style of story with lots of listen-and-response prompts may not enjoy What If World.

Our podcaster friend Rhea Pechter makes a great show called Little Stories for Tiny People, which has a slower delivery style. Young or highly sensitive listeners sometimes prefer her pacing to ours.

Our TTRPG for kids, Guilds & Goblins, has become a popular segment on the show and is a great family-friendly alternative to violent tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Our website, whatifworldpodcast.com, has several playlists to help ease kids into the show or help them find a style of story that interests them. We also have a resource for adults that sorts our first 250 episodes by theme, which caregivers find helpful when trying to reinforce a lesson or get their kids thinking critically.

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Meet Eric O'Keeffe

Eric O’Keeffe, also known as Mr. Eric, is a SAG actor, improviser, and co-creator of the podcast "What If World." Eric has worked with children for most of his life, teaching preschool, karate, gymnastics, improv, theater, and storytelling to kids throughout Brooklyn and Los Angeles. When he’s not recording voice-overs or editing episodes of the show, Eric’s busy raising his two kids. He's a black belt in Shotokan Karate and loves playing TTRPGs with his other podasting buddies after his kids go to sleep.

Modulo's expert opinion

Our learning specialists give their honest evaluation
ManishaCEO and Founder of Modulo

What If World Stories for Kids sparks imagination and critical thought through creative storytelling I love sharing with families.