PODCAST

Meaningless Problems

Doe Wilmann

An original short story by Doe Wilmann every single week for at least a year.

fiction comedy fiction

All Episodes

19:26

#61 Combination

Meaningless Problems ·

2025/10/25

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 Sheds Snakes Dressing gown cords Contemplating the meaning of

21:04

#57 Mad Cow

Meaningless Problems ·

2025/07/05

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 Veganism Morality Contemplating the meaning of life Any form of

08:37

#55 Omnisilly

Meaningless Problems ·

2025/05/10

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 cancer in children Contemplating the meaning of life Any form of

23:47

#54 Unspeakable Parenting

Meaningless Problems ·

2025/04/12

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 Empett Music by Claude Debussy with permission from Pond5. A

21:00

#53 Rain Always Win

Meaningless Problems ·

2025/03/09

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: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman Sam Harris’ ‘Making Sense’ podcast Alan Watts Fiction that makes you think Philosophical fiction Speculative fiction Chicken

44:55

#52 Hope for the Worst

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/02/25

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: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman Alan Bennett’s

15:04

#51 What Was the Point?

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/02/18

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 Eagleman The ‘Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal’ podcast Sam

12:29

#50 What Do You Do?

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/02/11

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 stories and live performances of my stage plays, go to

19:10

#49 It Might as Well Be

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/02/04

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-wilmann/ For information about upcoming stories and live

16:18

#48 The Meaning of Work

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/01/28

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.com/author/doe-wilmann/ For information about upcoming stories and

10:24

#47 Tony’s Vibe

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/01/21

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 If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to https://www.fairobserver.com/author/doe-wilmann/ You might

12:20

#46 Culling Cobras

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/01/14

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-wilmann/ You might enjoy this episode if you like: Alan Bennett’s

03:36

#45 The Weight of Achievement

Meaningless Problems ·

2024/01/07

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? If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You

14:18

#44 Futility

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/31

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 enjoy this episode if you like: Sum: Forty Tales from the

01:17:46

BONUS EPISODE: Best of 2023

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/29

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 have fallen in love. Will Kimi’s boyfriend believe her when she pins the

32:07

#43 A Wise Man (Christmas story)

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/24

A silly story, especially for Christmas. Working the early-turn Christmas Eve shift, Sergeant Rod just wants to finish at five, collect his daughter’s bizarre choice of present and go home. But his boss, the local drug lord and south London’s canine population have other ideas. Something to consider when reading/listening: Are you feeling Christmassy? Comedy - Family - Christmas A Wise Man is an original short story by Doe Wilmann If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to

14:27

#42 Prime Minister’s Questions

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/17

Thanks to developments in AI and VR, every voter now has the right to meet their political candidates one-on-one. These hyper-realistic chat bots look and sound exactly like their real-life equivalents and they answer questions with 99.9% accuracy. So what happens when the British primer minister’s chat bot starts making some very provocative statements? Something to consider when reading/listening: Would this type of hyper realistic chatbot enhance our elections? Prime Minister’s

10:43

#41 No Words

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/10

A new medical procedure will remove anxiety and allow you to live perfectly in the moment. The only downside? You have to give up your ability to comprehend language. Something to consider when reading/listening: What would you be prepared to give up in exchange for perfect peace of mind? No Words 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 stories and

10:13

#40 The Meaning of Love

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/12/03

Like most of his friends, Burt hates his job and lives for the weekend. And when his friends start installing modules into their brains that make them enjoy their work, Burt is furious with them. What’s the point of escapism if there’s nothing to escape? Something to consider when reading/listening: Could you live a good life if you enjoyed every part of it? The Meaning of Love is an original short story by Doe Wilmann If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to

09:16

#39 Losing the Plot

Meaningless Problems ·

2023/11/26

After a mental breakdown, Michael reconsiders his entire perception of the world. Something to consider when reading/listening: Are there any narratives in your own life that you’d be better off without? Losing the Plot 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/ You might enjoy this episode if you like: Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads Non Duality Spirituality Sum: Forty Tales from the

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