Meaningless Problems

A woman wants to buy their pub for five million pounds. But the deal will include all the pub’s memories.    Something to consider when reading/listening:    What is the true value of your memories?    You might enjoy this episode if you like:   Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman  Philosophical fiction  Speculative fiction  Pubs Memories Contemplating the meaning of life  Any f...

A short story about a man who gets toothache whenever he experiences happiness.    Something to consider when reading/listening:    What would you do if you got toothache whenever you experienced happiness?    You might enjoy this episode if you like:   Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman  Philosophical fiction  Speculative fiction  Toothache Happiness Contemplating the meaning...

What happens when a well known comedian accidentally discovers the secret of the universe?    Something to consider when reading/listening:    How would your life change if you knew that you literally were everyone who has ever lived?    You might enjoy this episode if you like:   Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman  The Egg by Andy Weir Philosophical fiction  Speculative fictio...

Alan lands a job at the world’s happiest company. What could possibly go wrong?    Something to consider when reading/listening:    How does monitoring emotions affect our emotions?    You might enjoy this episode if you like:   Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman  Philosophical fiction  Speculative fiction  Happiness Companies Invasions of privacy  Contemplating the meaning of...

Governments are always promising to make things better. What would happen if they actively tried to make things worse?    Something to consider when reading/listening:    Have you ever noticed that trying to force something to happen can make it less likely?    Come and see my new play - While We Wait - on at Arches Lane Theatre 3rd-7th March 2026. Tickets here: https://buytickets.at/waitwithme/19...

Kenny finds church to be a mystical experience - but not for the reasons you might expect.    Something to consider when reading/listening:    Is there a single truth that connects religions, psychedelic experiences, and near enough every story ever told?    Come and see my new play - While We Wait - on at Arches Lane Theatre 3rd-7th March 2026. Tickets here: https://buytickets.at/waitwithme/19623...

A new technology makes it possible for a mother and father to forgive their son’s killer. Should they use it?    Something to consider when reading/listening:    Given the possibility to let it go, can it ever be right to hold on to hatred?    You might enjoy this episode if you like:   Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman  Fiction that makes you think  Philosophical fiction  Spe...

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...

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  Philoso...

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 epis...

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...

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 ...

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 fic...

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...

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...

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 provi...

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’...

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 enjo...

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 Tale...

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/...

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 http...

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 episo...

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 lik...

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://ww...

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...