The Weekly What If: A Beautiful Mess Ends
In the final installment of the "Weekly What If" segment on Brother, Sister, Whatever, Josh and Lisa treated listeners to a nostalgic journey through their favorite hypothetical scenarios while introducing two brand new questions to bookend this beloved segment.
The episode begins with a fresh question: "If you had to live in one of your childhood imaginary worlds, where would you be and what would your role be?" Josh immediately gravitates toward the Dragon Ball Z universe, imagining himself as Goku saving Earth from destruction. Lisa, however, takes a different approach, preferring to exist within the worlds of her childhood books like Sweet Valley High or The Babysitter's Club. Interestingly, she specifies she'd rather be a sidekick than the main character, explaining that sidekicks have less pressure and are expected to make mistakes, offering a fascinating glimpse into how she views herself.
The siblings then revisit six of their favorite "What If" questions from past episodes. The first explores time travel: "What if you woke up tomorrow in a completely different decade, past or future?" Lisa immediately chooses the 1990s, describing it as "her decade" when she was happiest. Josh, thinking more practically, notes he'd choose the past because he could use future knowledge to his advantage but admits he's actually happiest in the present. Both siblings reminisce about how life required more patience in previous decades, creating space for imagination through boredom – a sharp contrast to today's immediate gratification culture.
Another compelling scenario they discussed was: "What if you could instantly master any skill?" Lisa surprisingly chooses martial arts and self-defense, explaining it would provide both practical protection and a psychological boost to her self-esteem. Josh selects psychological profiling, expressing a desire to understand people on a deeper level – a skill not far removed from his current work analyzing and helping dogs and their owners.
Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking questions was: "What if everyone had to wear a visible meter showing their social battery level?" Both siblings agree this would fundamentally change social interactions. Josh points out that such knowledge might prevent people from taking others' low energy personally, while Lisa notes that inconsiderate people would likely ignore others' battery levels regardless.
The siblings also pondered what they would do if comfort items suddenly became illegal. Josh immediately identifies physical comforts like soft pants and perfectly positioned pillows as essentials he would struggle to live without. For Lisa, comfort foods like meat lasagna would be her contraband of choice, especially when sick. The contrast highlights how differently individuals define comfort in their lives.
The episode concluded with a new question about sibling narration in Morgan Freeman style, which sparked a nostalgic tangent about The Wonder Years and its narrative voice. This final segment perfectly embodied the casual, meandering conversations that made the "Weekly What If" so engaging for listeners.
As Josh and Lisa bid farewell to this beloved segment, they promised exciting new content for the upcoming season, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what's next for Brother, Sister, Whatever.
