Meaningless Problems
An original short story by Doe Wilmann every single week for at least a year.
Episodes
For ten years, Eric has cared for his vegetative state brother with no hope he’ll ever recover. A scientific breakthrough changes everything.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Would you accept a blissful inner life if it meant no interaction with the outside world?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fict...
Sylvia’s understanding of reality is shaken by an encounter with her dressing gown cord, a padlock and a snake.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Can evolutionary psychology fully explain human behaviour or is there something deeper at play?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fiction
Speculative fiction...
A new technology turns every human being into a super genius, ushering in heaven on earth. There’s just one problem: it doesn’t work in Liverpool.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
If it’s possible to use technology to increase our intellectual and emotional intelligence, does this destroy the idea that certain people are ‘good’ and others are ‘bad’?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales...
What happens when every married woman on earth wakes up with the desire to divorce her husband?
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Where do your desires come from?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fiction
Speculative fiction
John Wyndham
Spur of the moment decisions
Marriages
Divorces
Talking about ...
He’s given his daughter an imaginary friend and she’s become quite attached. Does this make him a bad dad?
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Do you think there’s any harm in kids having an imaginary friend?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fiction
Speculative fiction
Imaginary friends
Kids
Swings
Roun...
Jerry’s new boyfriend appears to be perfect in every way. But he has a dark secret at the bottom of his garden.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Can an argument be logically correct but still ultimately wrong?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fiction
Speculative fiction
Carl Jung
Cows
Sheds
Vegani...
This is a story about two people called Brian. One is spiritually enlightened. The other is depressed. But do they have more in common than they realise?
Something to consider when reading/listening:
What are the two different versions of you? And do they ever have differing interpretations of the same event?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
Fiction that ma...
Some theories about the existence of god are silly. This one is literally… silly.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
What other qualities would a maximally great god have?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
God
Atheism
Stephen Fry
Christopher Hitchens
Alan Watts
Fiction that makes you think
Philosophical fiction
Speculative fiction
Jokes
Skin c...
In the near future, it is widely agreed that children would be better off if they never learnt how to speak.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Would you sacrifice your ability to speak if it meant never having another negative or stressful thought?
Written and performed by Doe Wilmann
Thanks to Katie Empett and Ross Hindle for reading early versions of this episode and providing notes.
Artwork by Katie Emp...
If life is a game, Harvey Rain is determined to win. But what does winning actually look like? And what does this mean for the other players?
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Is it true that the only thing worse than not getting what you want is getting it?
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum:...
When Poppy announces she wants to kill herself, her playwright husband employs a peculiar coping technique.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
To what extent does negative visualisation make you grateful for what you have?
Comedy - Philosophy - Stoicism
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilmann/
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: F...
Having spent a year writing short stories for a podcast, the writer wonders what was the point.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
What was the point of this short story podcast?
Comedy - Philosophy - Plumbing
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilmann/
You might enjoy this episode if you like:
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagle...
Lost in thought at a funeral, our narrator sets out a compelling case for why we should never ask anyone what they do for a living.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
To what extent does your job define who you are?
What Do You Do is an original short story by Doe Wilmann
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilmann/
For information about upcoming s...
Businessman Nathan Norrie calls upon a spiritual guide to help improve the atmosphere among his work colleagues. The guide offers three peals of wisdom.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
If a message is true, does it matter if the messenger is dishonest?
It Might as Well Be is an original short story by Doe Wilmann
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe...
The prime minister is facing the biggest strike in British history. But the strikers are the last people she’d expect to strike. And their reason for striking is even more surprising.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
Can you truly be rich if your life lacks meaning?
The Meaning of Work is an original short story by Doe Wilmann
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.c...
Tony’s tried everything to make himself more employable, more dateable, more popular. He’s tried life coaches, elocution coaches, therapists, personal trainers but he’s looking in the wrong place. He’s not the problem. I am. I am Tony’s vibe.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
To what extent can a person be aware of their own vibe?
Comedy - Philosophy - Politics
Member of Parliament Lawrence Sitwell is frustrated by the failure of his political career. A conversation with an old friend causes him to rethink everything.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
When politicians try to make something better, are they more likely to make it worse?
Comedy - Philosophy - Politics
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilma...
In Bernard’s local pub, everyone carries their life’s achievements with them in a big black bag.
Philosophy - Spirituality - Absurdism
The Weight of Achievement is an original short story by Doe Wilmann
Something to consider when reading/listening:
If you were never allowed to tell anyone about your successes, which of your current goals would you continue to pursue?
A writer is slightly concerned about his short story podcast. He shares these concerns with a plumber and is surprised by his response.
Something to consider when reading/listening:
How do you know for certain that you are not a fictional creation dreamt up by somebody else?
Comedy - Philosophy - Plumbing
If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilmann/
You might...
The top five short stories from 2023. If you’re new to Meaningless Problems, this might be a good place to start.
These are the stories with the timestamps for each:
- It Wasn’t Me - 1.30 - Kimi is delighted with Su-Z, a new personal assistant software that can send and respond to emails on her behalf. But her delight is punctured when her boyfriend receives a message from one of her email contacts claiming that he and Kimi h...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.