Meaningless Problems

#59 The Forced (performed by Kirsten Callaghan)

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 free will
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 
Thank you to Kirsten Callaghan for performing the episode. Kirsten is an actor, writer and musician best known for playing the lead role in award-winning feature film Vindication Swim which is currently available on Prime Video. You can follow Kirsten on Instagram at kirstenscallaghan 
Thanks very much for listening! Don’t forget to follow/subscribe in your podcast app.
 
And you can join the mailing list here: meaninglessproblems.substack.com 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at Craig@loveyourwork.uk (My real name is Craig Wilmann, Doe is a nickname I apparently gave myself when I was was two)  
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com / Loveyourwork.uk 
 
Credits:
 
Written by Doe Wilmann
 
Performed by Kirsten Callaghan and Doe Wilmann 
 
Thanks to Katie Empett and Kirsten Callaghan 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) 2025

#58 Nothing’s Constant

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
Roundabouts 
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 
 
Thanks very much for listening! 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at Craig@loveyourwork.uk (My real name is Craig Wilmann, Doe is a nickname I apparently gave myself when I was was two)  
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com / Loveyourwork.uk 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2025

#57 Mad Cow

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 philosophical enquiry 
 
Thanks very much for listening! 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at Craig@loveyourwork.uk (My real name is Craig Wilmann, Doe is a nickname I apparently gave myself when I was was two)  
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com / Loveyourwork.uk 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2025

#56 The Two Brians

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 makes you think 
Philosophical fiction 
Speculative fiction 
Spiritual Enlightenment 
Depression 
People called Brian 
Beards 
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 
 
Thanks very much for listening! 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at Craig@loveyourwork.uk (My real name is Craig Wilmann, Doe is a nickname I apparently gave myself when I was was two)  
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com / Loveyourwork.uk 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2025

#55 Omnisilly

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 philosophical enquiry 
 
Thanks very much for listening! 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at doewilmann@outlook.com 
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2025

#54 Unspeakable Parenting

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 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) 2024
 
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 
Silence
Children
Silent children 
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 

#53 Rain Always Win

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 farming
Lab grown meat
World domination
Contemplating the meaning of life
Any form of philosophical enquiry
 
Thank you for listening. Please follow the podcast to stay up to date with the latest episodes.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at doewilmann@outlook.com 
Website:
Meaninglessproblems.com 
Thanks for listening 
Credits:
Written and performed by Doe Wilmann
Thanks to Katie Empett 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) 2025

#52 Hope for the Worst

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 Talking Heads 
Sam Harris’ ‘Making Sense’ podcast 
Alan Watts
Fiction that makes you think 
Philosophical fiction 
Speculative fiction 
Plays
The Shard
Hoping for the worst 
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at doewilmann@outlook.com 
 
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. 
 
For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@meaninglessproblems)
 
I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) account dedicated to the podcast. 
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com 
 
Thanks for listening 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2024

#51 What Was the Point?

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 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 #13 of this podcast 
Episode #44 of this podcast 
Speaking/listening to plumbers
 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at doewilmann@outlook.com 
 
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. 
 
For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@meaninglessproblems)
 
I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) account dedicated to the podcast. 
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com 
 
Thanks for listening 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2024

#50 What Do You Do?

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 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 
Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads
A History of the World in Ten and a Half Chapters by Julian Barnes 
Spirituality 
Fiction that makes you think 
Short stories with a twist
Philosophical fiction 
Speculative fiction 
Graveyards 
Headstones
Not talking about work 
Contemplating the meaning of life 
Any form of philosophical enquiry 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast as a whole at doewilmann@outlook.com 
 
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. 
 
For writing tips and advice, follow me on TikTok (@meaninglessproblems)
 
I also have an Instagram (@meaninglessproblems) account dedicated to the podcast. 
 
Website:
 
Meaninglessproblems.com 
 
Thanks for listening 
 
Credits:
 
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 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) 2024