Meaningless Problems

An atheist wakes up in heaven.

Philosophy - Comedy - Technology  

I Am is an original short story by Doe Wilmann 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman 

A History of the World in Ten and a Half Chapters by Julian Barnes 

The ‘Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal’ podcast

Sam Harris’ ‘Making Sense’ podcast 

‘The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast’

Alan Watts

Fiction that makes you think 

Philosophical fiction 

Speculative fiction 

The afterlife

Simulations 

Religion 

Contemplating the meaning of life 

Any form of philosophical enquiry 

Episode #12 of this podcast 

Episode #13 of this podcast 

Things to consider when listening: 

What happens after you die? What if you’re wrong? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

A writer is slightly concerned about the most recent episode of his short story podcast. He shares these concerns with a plumber and is surprised by his response. 

Comedy - Philosophy - Plumbing 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

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 Harris’ ‘Making Sense’ podcast 

‘The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast’

Alan Watts

Fiction that makes you think 

Philosophical fiction 

Speculative fiction 

Artificial intelligence 

The afterlife

Simulations 

Narcissism 

Contemplating the meaning of life 

Any form of philosophical enquiry 

Episode #3 of this podcast

Episode #12 of this podcast 

Speaking/listening to plumbers

Things to consider when listening: 

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only person who truly exists? How do you know other people are having an experience given that you have no way of accessing this experience? Is it possible that the world is a simulation? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

When an egotistical writer dies, he wakes up to discover his entire life was a simulation. 

Fake World, Equal World is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Sc-fi - Philosophy - Technology 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman 

Philip K Dick 

Fiction that makes you think 

Philosophical fiction 

Speculative fiction 

Artificial intelligence 

The afterlife

Simulations 

Narcissism 

Things to consider when listening: 

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only person who truly exists? How do you know other people are having an experience given that you have no way of accessing this experience? Is it possible that the world is a simulation? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

When a play is disrupted by protests, it does wonders for ticket sales.

Protest at the Theatre is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Comedy - Theatre - Corruption  

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads

Tom Sharpe 

PG Wodehouse 

Fawlty Towers 

Episode 4 of this podcast 

Theatre Funding 

Protests 

Plays about hairdressing 

Things to consider when listening: 

Is it wrong for theatre companies to take funding from companies they deem immoral? Is it ok for a protest group to disrupt a theatrical performance? Are some protests more likely to backfire than succeed? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

On the verge of becoming a grandparent for the first time, Irene reflects on her relationship with her husband aka ‘Plonker’.  

Plonker is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Dramatic Monologue - Psychological - Relationships 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads 

Dramatic Monologues 

Fiction that makes you think 

Psychological fiction 

The apparent unfairness of life 

Concorde

Hospitals 

Grandchildren 

UB40

Hugh Laurie 

Gordon Ramsay 

Episode 5 of this Podcast 

Things to consider when listening: 

Does life really pass quickly or is this just our memories playing tricks on us? Are memories a sufficient consolation for ageing? When you’re doing something fun, what matters more: the activity or the person/s you’re doing it with? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? (Why did I used persons in the question before last and people in the last one?)

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

Performed by Mary Tillett 

Recorded and edited by Sebastian Brown

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

A writer from 2043 laments being replaced by the AI chat bot ChatGPT. But are there some upsides? 

Consuming Content is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Sc-fi - Philosophy - Technology 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman 

Philip K Dick 

Fiction that makes you think 

Philosophical fiction 

Speculative fiction 

ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence 

Considering Creativity 

The idea of writers being replaced 

Things to consider when listening: 

Do you need to produce the art in order for it to belong to you? Where does creativity come from? Will AI make humans more creative or less? Does everyone have a form of creative genius hidden within? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

On the day the UK government tests out its new emergency alerts system, there are some unexpected consequences for writer Alvin Rikard (first seen in ep4) and prisoner-in-his-own-home Kevin (first seen in ep1). 

A Fantastic Government Initiative is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Comedy - Farce - Relationships 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads

Tom Sharpe 

PG Wodehouse 

Fawlty Towers 

Fiction inspired by true events 

Contemplating the nature of the self

Complaining about your partner 

Emergency alerts

Government initiatives 

Ignoring the voice in your head 

Things to consider when listening: 

Is it pointless having a wide audience if they won’t remember what you’ve written? Would you rather produce beautiful art for a small audience or forgettable art for a large one? Would an incoming ballistic missile change how you felt towards those around you? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

The person who wakes up in Mike’s body isn’t Mike. He or she has swapped bodies with Mike overnight and now they need to swap back. The trouble is, Mike’s body includes Mike’s mind, which means they have all of Mike’s thoughts and all of Mike’s memories too, and none of their own. How can you get back to your true self if you don’t know who or what that is? 

My True Self is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Absurdist - Comedy - Philosophy  

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads 

Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected

The Fly 

Non duality 

Albert Camus

René Descartes

Fiction that makes you think 

Psychological fiction 

Philosophical fiction 

Contemplating the nature of the self

Freaky Friday 

Being John Malkovich

The Change-Up

Body Swap stories 

Skiving work 

Things to consider when listening: 

Who/what is your true self? If you were to swap bodies and minds with another person, would you still be you? But don’t you have an almost entirely different body and mind than you did when you were a child? What do you mean by ‘you’? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

After sixteen years working in a bank, Emma still loves her job and still loves serving her customers. You might think this is great. But I’m the voice in Emma’s head and, for me, it’s a living nightmare. 

Your Opinion Matters is an original short story by Doe Wilmann

Comedy - Suspense - Psychological

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads 

Dramatic Monologues 

Fiction that makes you think 

Psychological fiction 

Contemplating the nature of the self

Banks

‘I Got You Babe’ by Sonny and Cher 

Episode 1 of this podcast 

Good customer service 

Ignoring the voice in your head 

Things to consider when listening: 

Who is that voice in your head who makes you do things you don’t want to do? Can a mundane job be enjoyable if you approach it with the right attitude? Do you prefer to stand in line or sit and wait? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023 

Scared that his whole life might pass him by, Edward devises a trick to help him appreciate his youth. 

Silly Old Trick - an original short story by Doe Wilmann, performed by Maison Sawyer 

Psychological - Suspense - Drama 

If you’d like to read the script of this episode go to meaninglessproblems.com and sign up to my monthly newsletter. You can also email me via the contact form. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. 

You might enjoy this episode if you like:

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads 

Dramatic Monologues 

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman 

Fiction that makes you think 

Psychological fiction 

Contemplating the nature of the self

Tricks 

Anaglypta wallpaper 

Shortbread biscuits 

Things to consider when listening: 

Does life really pass in the blink of an eye? Are memories a sufficient consolation for ageing? What’s the highest number of people you can share this podcast with? 

This episode is part of my challenge to write, record and produce a short story every single week for a year. If you’re looking for quality, suspense and intrigue, I’m not making any promises. But if you do like one of these stories please share it with your friends. 

If I complete this challenge and the podcast gets 1,000 subscribers in the process, a group of my friends have agreed to donate a combined £1000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

And if you’re a writer, maybe this will inspire you to take on a similar challenge yourself. In which case, let me know about it via email. doewilmann @ outlook.com

For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@piecesofdoe)

I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) and Twitter (@piecesofdoe) account but I can’t promise I’ll use them. 

Website:

Piecesofdoe.com or Meaninglessproblems.com 

Thanks for listening 

Credits:

Written by Doe Wilmann

Performed by Maison Sawyer

Recorded & Edited by Sebastian Brown

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 license to use the media ((Debussy Suite Bergamasque, Clair De Lune (Piano Cover) 229744340 Music ahawke99110 2023-03-02 Individual) was purchased under Pond5's Content License Agreement, a copy of which is available for review at https://www.pond5.com/legal/license. The Pond5 license authorizes the licensee to use the media in the licensee's own commercial or non-commercial production and to copy, broadcast, distribute, display, perform and monetize the production or work in any medium - including posting and monetization on YouTube - on the terms and conditions outlined therein. 

Meaningless Problems with Doe Wilmann

(C) 2023