Twitter: @AfterDinnerCon
Site: www.afterdinnerconversation.com
71 episodes
2019 to 2023
Average episode: 39 minutes
Open in Apple Podcasts • RSS
Categories: Ethics • Interview-Style • Three+ Hosts
Podcaster's summary: Named “TOP 20 PHILOSOPHY PODCAST” for 2022! | Brought to you by “After Dinner Conversation” publishing; thoughtful discussions about the philosophy and ethics found in the short fiction stories from our monthly magazine. | Or, put another way, discussions about “what-if” examples, across literary genres, regarding ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, utilitarianism, aesthetics, moral relativism, and political and economic philosophy.
| Episodes |
| 2023-Jan-29 • 19 minutes E71. "Season Five Recap" - After Dinner Conversation editor Kolby answers listener questions. Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2023!STORY SUMMARY: After Dinner Conversation editor Kolby wraps up the Season Five podcast and answers ten listener questions.BOOK LINK: Download the accompanying short stories here.MAGAZINE: Sign up for our monthly magazine and receive short stories that ask ethical and philosophical questions. Use the discount code on our website to get the first month free!SUPPORT: Support us on Patreon.FOLLOW: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok |
| 2022-Nov-06 • 40 minutes E70. "The Growing And Weeding Of Dandelions" - Can the stakes ever be so high that genocide of a species is a reasonable option? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: In this work of philosophical short story fiction, a civilization-sized space ship has been flying to populate the surrounding solar systems. They start with a skeleton crew, use ship resources and grow their population over generations, then arrive at a new planet. They drop off the extra people, replenish their raw ... |
| 2022-Oct-20 • 41 minutes E69. "For Your Safety" - How do you know if the government-imposed limits on personal freedom “for your protection” have gone too far? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Zoe gets a knock on her door from the Department of Public Health. They have detected increased biochemical signatures that lead them to believe she has been having sexual intercourse without a properly filed Intimate Partnership Agreement (IPA). The IPA’s are for her... |
| 2022-May-10 • 36 minutes E68. "Cruel Means, Bitter Ends" - Should war be "won" at any cost? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: When, if ever, is it okay to let evil win? Should all wars be fought to the bitter end, or is ending the suffering of your people more important? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the Prime Minister is a long-time military man sworn to fighting the evil aggression of the Theocratic Republic of New Ang... |
| 2022-Apr-18 • 26 minutes E67. "Exodus" - What makes a “religious” holiday? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: What makes a “religious” holiday? Does the combination of ritual, culture, and family custom all merge together to create “religion?” Does it even matter if the historical basis for religious stories are false? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the spaceship computer AI wakes up a family in deep space... |
| 2022-Apr-04 • 33 minutes E66. "Rose-tinted Glasses" - Can you stop yourself from "growing up?" Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: What do we lose when we leave childhood and become adults? Is this a good thing? Can we, at least for a moment, turn back time and see the world again as a child? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Becca and Adam are members of the Fairytale Fellowship, a group of children who can still see the magic i... |
| 2022-Mar-21 • 37 minutes E65. "The Wrong Side Of History" - How far would you go to protect your legacy? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: Is it appropriate to hold politicians accountable for their past votes, their past actions, and their past opinions, even if they are not reflective of them today? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Senator McCoy is 130 years old and is considered a “national treasure” for his nearly century of public ... |
| 2022-Mar-07 • 25 minutes E64. "The Machine" - Would you help create general AI? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: A review of “Newcomb’s paradox” and “Roko’s Basilisk,” asks the question, it is better to help build a super AI when failure to do so might later get you punished by it? This work of philosophical short story of fiction is written as a letter to a friend. The letter writer was told about, and is now working on, a comp... |
| 2022-Feb-21 • 32 minutes E63. "Bugs In The Valley" - How do you decide who gets scarce medical treatments? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: Should medicine developed through privately funded research be auctioned off to the highest bidder or distributed to those most in need? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Amaya has developed a “bug” based on a rare flower that actively finds and repairs damaged cells in the human body. Her friend, and... |
| 2022-Feb-07 • 37 minutes E62. "Appreciating Hate" - Should we stop consuming art from vile artists? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: Is acceptable to consume art that reflects the “depraved, the cruel, the violent, and the heartless” aspects humanity? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Felix doesn’t go for “moral relativism.” He believes there is good and evil, that art should not reflect the evil of the world, or enrich artists who... |
| 2022-Jan-24 • 33 minutes E61. "Conscience Cleaners" - Does a criminal need to remember his crime? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: Should a criminal suffering from the remorse of the crime he committed be permitted to be freed of that pain? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Mr. Henmore’s was convicted of a terrible crime many years ago. He served his time, and been paroled, and is genuinely remorseful for what he did. In fact, hi... |
| 2022-Jan-10 • 33 minutes E60. "Home For The Holidays" - Do you ever give up on family? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlyNamed... “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2022!STORY SUMMARY: How do you find common ground with those that believe in a vast, intricate, media conspiracy to hide the truth? In this work of philosophical short story of fiction, the narrator drives out to his parent’s house to visit them for the holidays. Much to his surprise, when his parents open the door, they are only two fe... |
| 2021-Dec-27 • 29 minutes E59. "Claim" - Should sexual assault allegations be an insurable risk? “Should sexual assault allegations be an insurable risk?” Jeremy and Sarah discuss the philosophy and ethics of insurable risk in the short story, “Claim" by Fiona Ennis. Subscribe. |
| 2021-Nov-29 • 21 minutes E58. "Season Four Recap" - After Dinner Conversation editor Kolby answers listener questions. Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: After Dinner Conversation editor Kolby wraps up the Season Four podcast and answers ten listener questions.DISCUSSION:What got you interested in doing After Dinner Conversation?How do all of you know each other from the podcast?Why does your audio sound different each episode?How long do you think you will do the podcasts for?Why does Kolby always do the story introductions?How can I submit a story for consideration for the podcast? How do you find ... |
| 2021-Nov-15 • 47 minutes E57. "The Devil You Know" - Do you ALWAYS have an obligation to confront evil? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: The narrator is walking down a small-town street when he comes across the devil, relaxing on vacation for the holidays. The narrator knows it is the devil because of his horns and goat legs. He also has a few small demon children in tow. The narrator, surprised, stops the devil to talk to him. The devil is cordial and says he has outsourced most of the “hell work” and spends his time traveling around the world moving from place to place. He likes the... |
| 2021-Nov-01 • 45 minutes E56. "Blackorwhite" - At what point are you old enough to be punished for life? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: The prison medical doctor is called in the middle of the night to take care of Fuzzy, an uneducated, mostly toothless, prisoner who has spent the majority of his life behind bars. Fuzzy, it seems, has gotten into eating cheese, something that strongly disagrees with his stomach and causes severe diarrhea. While the doctor waits for Fuzzy on the toilet and treats him for dehydration he learns Fuzzy’s story. Fuzzy was a young child from a poor family w... |
| 2021-Oct-18 • 39 minutes E55. "The Perfect Daughter" - Should you betray your morals to give your child every legal advantage in life? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Jane goes to visit her parents over the Christmas holiday. She has recently learned that her parents, under a program that favors the rich and elite, had had her genetically modified before she was born to be the best possible version of herself. Jane is crushed at learning that her life success has nothing to do with her hard work and is angry at her parents for having genetically modified her. Her father argues the problem of evil; that it was in h... |
| 2021-Oct-04 • 45 minutes E54. "The Freedom Machine" - What's wrong with getting a little AI advice? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Kiki has a problem, the computer program that continually whispers the best choices, the Infinity System, is broken. She has been using it for years and simply doing what it says. Following its advice has become second nature to her. She heads into the shop to get it looked at, and finds out it must be sent off for repairs. She will be making choices on her own for a few days. The friendly “Mastermind” service representative at the shop asks her out ... |
| 2021-Sep-20 • 43 minutes E53. "Step Back" - Is our "natural" biology always the best choice? “Is our "natural" biology always the best choice?” We discuss the philosophy and ethics of having a natural term pregnancy when an incubation chamber can carry the better more safely in the short story, “Step Back" by Henry McFarland. |
| 2021-Sep-06 • 32 minutes E52. "Guilt-Edge Security" - How would you live your life, if you lived forever? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: A traveling salesman sits at the bar after a long day drinking bourbon. He is approached and cleverly pitched a new product he has discovered on a distant rim planet, Life. The product stops the aging process. The first batch is free, and the salesman returns eight years later to get into the distribution business.DISCUSSION: There are really three things going on in the story. First, how would you live your life differently if you knew you were goin... |
| 2021-Aug-23 • 27 minutes E51. "A Wolf On The Bus" - How do you know if you’ll protect others? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: The narrator is simply going about her life riding the bus home from work. A few stops later, a wolf gets on the bus, pays the bus ticket, and has a seat. The woman has heard about wolves and is apprehensive. At the next stop a few teenagers get on the bus. They see the wolf and immediately begin teasing it. The wolf refuses to fight back until, eventually, the narrator stands up for the wolf. The teenagers get off and the woman speaks to the wolf. ... |
| 2021-Aug-09 • 52 minutes E50. "Prey" - How do you break the cycle of living? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Jared has decided to enter a government program that, after 15 hours of counseling, will allow him to legally take his own life. Doctor Ansley is the top government therapist with 199 “saves” for the year. After several sessions it becomes clear that Jared has serious conviction about dying, but he also has a secret reason for his choice. Only after Doctor Ansley tricks him by giving him a fake test does he divulge his true reason for wanting to di... |
| 2021-Jul-26 • 43 minutes E49. "Take-em!" - When is a request from a loved one emotional manipulation? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: The narrator is invited by his father to go duck hunting as part of their bonding time. The narrator wants to spend time with his father, but expresses ethical concerns about hunting ducks. The father asserts hunting is a natural part of human evolution. The debate continues as the narrator decides to go on the hunt, but is undecided if he will pull the trigger. The story ends with father and son in the blind just at the moment before the narrator ... |
| 2021-Jul-12 • 34 minutes E48. "Reach" - Should we know "the story" of the people behind the products we purchase? “Should we know ‘the story’ of the people behind the products we purchase?” We discuss the philosophy and ethics regarding the lives of the people who assemble the products we buy in the short story, “Reach" by Mark Braidwood. |
| 2021-Jun-28 • 48 minutes E47. "Echo" - What natural rights does a human in an artificial body deserve? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Martha dies. She wakes up three years later with her consciousness put into the body of an android. She did not ask for this, it simply happened. She is forced to accept that Martha is dead, and that she must live out her new life as Echo. As an android, she has limited rights. She cannot see her former family or friends. She can only work for minimum wage. She cannot interact with any technology. She cannot go to the same location more than twice ... |
| 2021-Jun-14 • 54 minutes E46. "Sienna's Monster" - How do you escape the monster inside you? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Sienna is living with a “Monster,” in this case, her father. He does not hit her, but he does yell, and rant, and breaks things. Sienna grows up always on edge that the “monster” will lash out at her. Over time, she builds up equally toxic defense mechanisms. She learns to yell back and to be as hate-filled as her father. This all changes when she goes to college and meets her roommate Clara. Clara does not lash ... |
| 2021-May-31 • 53 minutes E45. "Bill And The Tooth Fairy" - When is it wrong to have a sincerely held belief? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: (Not suitable for children.) Bill believes in the Tooth Fairy. He is 28 years old. His girlfriend finds this odd, and sometimes socially awkward, but otherwise harmless. This changes, however, when Bill has his wisdom teeth removed and places them under his pillow with the expectation that the Tooth Fairy will accept his offering and provide him her payment as her showing of appreciation. To appease his belief system, Bill’s girl... |
| 2021-May-17 • 40 minutes E44. "Simon" - What would happen if you killed the devil? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Simon is on trial for, literally, killing the devil. He did it by telling everyone he was going to kill the devil. Of course, the devil found out and came to visit him. Simon told the devil he was a cheap peddler of a product, fear, he had never personally experienced. To prove he feared nothing, the devil removed his immortality. When he did that, Simon shot and killed him. However, nothing changed in the world. Evil didn’t go away, or even get less... |
| 2021-May-03 • 22 minutes E43. "Season Three Recap - Listener Questions" Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: After Dinner Conversation Editor, Kolby, answers questions from readers and recaps Season Three.DISCUSSION: Kolby answer reader mail and recaps Season Three. What are his favorite stories from Season Three? What does he consider to be the most quintessential stories After Dinner Conversation has published? Why did we switch from publishing short stories to a monthly magazine? How do you judge stories for publication, and what are the best ways to ... |
| 2021-Apr-19 • 54 minutes E42. "People Used To Die Every Day" - Is sleep a waste of time? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Peter finds out his partner Samir has been sneaking around behind his back to “try out dreaming.” According to Samir, he likes the way sleeping, and dreaming, makes him feel. And besides, he argues, it doesn’t do any harm; his work will never find out. Peter decides to break the law in support of their relationship and to stop taking the drug that makes sleep and dreams unnecessary, in order to better understand his partner. However, after one try Pe... |
| 2021-Apr-05 • 38 minutes E41. "Teddy And Roosevelt" - Do role models really matter? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Roosevelt is a young black child who is obsessed with the life and philosophies of President “Teddy” Roosevelt. He is new at the school and due to an issue with other students is forced into the “Friends Group;” a social adjustment group for students the school have deemed at-risk. While in the group he meets Teddy, an overweight boy who has been in the group for years because he pulled an X-ACTO knife in art class on a fellow student who continued ... |
| 2021-Mar-22 • 50 minutes E40. "The Waiting Room" - Is it selfish to abandon your natural abilities to follow your dream? “Is it selfish to abandon your natural abilities to follow your dream?” We discuss the ethics of natural abilities vs following your dreams in the short story, "The Waiting Room" by Kate Choi. Subscribe. |
| 2021-Mar-08 • 44 minutes E39. "The Crate" - Is it better to strip away judgment, or to be judged? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: A college student lives in a society dedicated to removing prejudice and judgment. They do this, in part, by having citizens live in mobile crates. They rarely see each other in person and putting down others is sure to get you re-education training. The main character, along with her friend, escape to a nearby society that has no such restrictions. In fact, each person is put into a societal category. Our intelligent protagonist, looking forward to ... |
| 2021-Feb-22 • 39 minutes E38. "In Their Image" - What happens when a Teddy can't find its purpose? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: A preacher arrives on an off-world planet inhabited by 7 foot tall, multi-colored, bears, aka “Teddies.” Her mission is to run her church and, if possible, convert the local Teddies to Christianity. Over time she makes no progress and her church is at risk of being shut down by those funding it. She heads to the local Teddy church and learns that, according to their faith, God can only return when everyone alive is fulfilling their “Purpose” and, if ... |
| 2021-Feb-08 • 46 minutes E37. "Externalities" - While facts are unchanging, is 'truth' contextual? Named “Top 20 Philosophy Podcast” for 2021!STORY SUMMARY: Set in the 1600’s, a traveling man of knowledge comes into town with his young assistant and assortment of books. Various townspeople come to visit him, paying to ask questions. Why do my gums bleed? Why does is steel I forge brittle? Finally, a wealthy man comes and asks if he should allow his daughter to marry the local guard. The traveling man says yes, that love is always a thing to respect. The wealthy man comes back later with his daughter and ... |
| 2021-Jan-23 • 38 minutes E36. "Everyone's Gay In Space" - What if your clone was gay? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: Douglas Junior and his wife both have a rare, recessive, genetic disease. They donate their blood to a lab to help them find a cure. Through a medical mix-up, Douglas Junior’s DNA is used to create his clone. 20 years later he finds out about his clone and reaches out to meet him. Things don’t go exactly as planned as Douglas Junior is a blue-collar working man, while his clone is a top-of-the-class gay student who plans to join the space program.DISCUSSION: In... |
| 2021-Jan-10 • 34 minutes E35. "Sacrificing Mercy" - Would you let your spouse die for their faith? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: A woman is diagnosed with a heart condition and is offered the ability to grow a new heart to replace hers. She declines based on her religious beliefs. Her husband, who has medical power of attorney, waits until she is unconscious and near death, and goes against her wishes and orders the life saving procedure. When she wakes and finds out what he has done she divorces him. Even after the divorce and going out of jail, he does not regret his choice.DISCUSSION:... |
| 2020-Dec-28 • 41 minutes E34. "Performance" - Are you simply what you repeat? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: A weak spirited loser is contacted by the government and informed he has a twin that is the head of a powerful mafia organization. The government will pay him $1 million dollars if he goes through their program to learn the mannerisms and speech of his mafia twin and replace him in the organization. As the twin learns how to act like the mafia boss, he becomes more like him until he escapes the training program with the money and a new personality.DISCUSSION: A... |
| 2020-Dec-13 • 39 minutes E33. "Love Sounds" - How much should you let family with mental health issues into your life? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: The story is from the perspective of a mother and her interest in what she believes is her daughter’s pending marriage. She has mental health issues that lead her to be temporarily institutionalized after the birth of her child. The daughter meets with mother from time to time, but provides very little information about her life. The mother continues to get worse until she is picked up by the police after an episode at a perspective wedding venue. The daughter ... |
| 2020-Nov-29 • 46 minutes E32. "The Mind Reader" - Is it in our nature to be ruled by a Fascist? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: The story is a flashback of a man telling a story from the 1970’s that has always stuck with him. He is a psychology student learning about the “F Test” a test that supposedly allows you to gauge your fascist tendencies. He friend, a Vietnam Vet, disagrees with the simplicity of the test. To prove his point he talks to, and easily manipulates, a bohemian woman in the bar to change her life. The narrator watches and does nothing, but is horrified by how easily t... |
| 2020-Nov-16 • 37 minutes E31. "Idle Horns" - What do you do when it's punishment to punish? "What do you do when it's punishment to punish?" We discuss the ethics and choices in the short story "Idle Horns" by Garrett Davis. |
| 2020-Nov-02 • 44 minutes E30. "Farewell, Odysseus" - Would you get a human as a pet? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: Set in the future, the Dios are a group of super humans who, because of having the wealth over generations to make mental and physical enhancements, are a different, and superior, race. Humans on earth sometimes agree to go to live on Mars with the Dios as their pets. The narrator is one such person, that is, until he starts to ask too many questions.DISCUSSION: Great world building. A longer and more complete story than we usually do. Perhaps this is a warning... |
| 2020-Oct-19 • 48 minutes E29. "All My Tomorrows" - How many tomorrows would you give up for a single yesterday? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: A sixteen year old girl is put in charge of her parents’ shop that sells memories of your past in exchange for a year of your future. The girl loves her job and all the memories she can feel leaking through the files. A sad man comes in and asks to have the memory of his “last good day.” She sells him the day at a discounted price for the remainder of the life he has left. It was, he says, the last day before he learned a terrible secret he never recovered from... |
| 2020-Oct-05 • 56 minutes E28. "The Seven Absent Sins" - Are all sentient species hard-wired to sin? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: A Jesuit Priest researches other sentient beings in the universe looking for species that are incapable of committing one of the cardinal sins. He finds six different species that, because of their biology, he says, cannot commit one of the sins. He is unable to find a species without the sin of Pride. He questions, but finally confirms, that this strengthens his belief in God.DISCUSSION: Are their merits of earth closing itself off from the universe for years ... |
| 2020-Sep-21 • 45 minutes E27. "Two-Percenters" - Should we make everyone special? “Should we make everyone special?” Kolby, Jeremy and Ashley discuss the choices in the medical ethics science fiction short story "Two-Percenters" by CJ Erick. |
| 2020-Sep-07 • 56 minutes E26. "Snitch" - When doing a moral good, do the ends justify the means? “When doing a moral good, do the ends justify the means?” Kolby, Jeremy and Ashley discuss the choices in the inner city development short story "Snitch" by Charles Williams. |
| 2020-Aug-24 • 54 minutes E25. "Pneumadectomy" - Would you remove your soul, to save your life? “Would you remove your soul, to save your life?” Kolby, Ashley, Jeremy and Sarah discuss the choices in the medical ethics short story "Pneumadectomy" by Harris Coverley. |
| 2020-Aug-10 • 50 minutes E24. "Choose" - What if death is the only option? “What if death is the only option?” Kolby, Ashley, Jeremy and Sarah discuss the ethics and choices in the suspenseful short story "Choose" by David Whitaker. |
| 2020-Jul-27 • 48 minutes E23. "Prevention" - Would you turn on your son, to save his school? “Would you turn on your son, to save his school?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the suspenseful short story "Prevention" by Margaret Karmazin. |
| 2020-Jul-13 • 45 minutes E22. "An Infinite Game" - Is everyone selfish, when death is on the line? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: Four prisoners are made to draw straws for the order they stand in a row. Their prison guard plans to push his bayonet into the first person and see how far back it goes in the line of men. The first man in line panics, runs, and is shot. The narrator talks to the man in front of him and tries to convince him not to run so he might slow down the thrust. The heavy set man in the back thinks he is safe, but the guard changes his mind and stabs him instead. In the... |
| 2020-Jun-29 • 40 minutes E21. "Prohibition" - Can you blame an addict for not following the law? “Can you blame an addict for not following the law?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the short story "Prohibition" by David Edward Rose. |
| 2020-Jun-15 • 31 minutes E20. "How The Cockroach Lost Its Voice" - When cockroaches could talk, and humans were still unhappy. Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: An older and younger (talking) cockroach climb to the top of the highest thing, the refrigerator, to overlook their world. The older roach tells the child that the humans he sees can talk, and also have a 3rd eye inside of them that allows them to imagine the future and remember the past, and this is what makes them unhappy all the time. An angel moth comes down and takes away the roaches ability to speak forever.DISCUSSION: A children’s story, but one with a g... |
| 2020-Jun-01 • 42 minutes E19. "The Orphan's Dilemma" - Is getting a future worth forgetting the past? “Is getting a future worth forgetting the past?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the short story "The Orphan’s Dilemma" by Christopher Burrow |
| 2020-May-18 • 35 minutes E18. "The Book Of Approved Words" - Are there words so horrible they shouldn’t even exist? “Are there words so horrible they shouldn’t even exist?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the dystopian short story "The Book Of Approved Words" by W.M. Pienton. |
| 2020-May-04 • 40 minutes E17. "A Change Of Verbs" - What if you just said what you meant? Named “Top 15 Podcast” for 2020!STORY SUMMARY: The main character is a passive University Professor with a nagging wife. For some reason he decides today will be different and he goes through the entire day saying, and doing, what he actually feels. The day goes amazingly well, with classes, with colleagues, and he decides this will start a new chapter in his life.DISCUSSION: Mixed reactions on this story. On the one hand, isn’t it his own fault for not always saying what he meant and letting people walk ov... |
| 2020-Apr-20 • 29 minutes E16. "Abrama's End Game" - If god told you she was ending your world, would you fight back? "If god told you she was ending your world, would you fight back?" Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the fantasy science fiction short story "Abrama’s End Game" by David Shultz. |
| 2020-Apr-06 • 38 minutes E15. "Ruddy Apes And Cannibals" - If a civilized cannibal invited you to dinner, would you attend? "If a civilized cannibal invited you to dinner, would you attend?" Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the alternative history short story "Ruddy Apes And Cannibals" by Shikhandin. |
| 2020-Mar-23 • 43 minutes E14. "Give The Robot The Impossible Job!" - Can teaching methods go too far when murder is on the line? “Can educational methods go too far when murder is on the line?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and choices in the science fiction AI short story "Give The Robot The Impossible Job!" by Michael Rook. |
| 2020-Mar-09 • 43 minutes E13. "Believing In Ghosts" - How much power are you willing to give to AI? “How much power are you willing to give to AI?" Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics in the science fiction AI short story "Believing In Ghosts" by André Lopes. |
| 2020-Feb-24 • 34 minutes E12. "A Community of Peers" - Would you cast the first stone? STORY SUMMARY: Ex-military guy has his car break down and wanders into a remote village. A person is tied to a tree about to be stone. The village elder says under the tradition of the community, if there is a stranger in town, they can cast the first stone. The person on the tree was fairly tried and convicted under their laws, but he won’t tell him the crime committed. He does throw the first stone and kills the man instantly.DISCUSSION: This was a really tough one for the group. On the one hand, we pay t... |
| 2020-Feb-10 • 37 minutes E11. "Rainbow People Of The Glittering Glade" - Does society have the right to tell you you’re worthless? STORY SUMMARY: A group of people are sent by the Kingdom through shifting deserts to find a rumored people that have rainbow skin. As they get closer they see people in the desert turned to stone, and others nearly stone simply repeating the same task over and over again. One of them is injured and they get to the rainbow people in need of medical attention. They learn that anyone who lives in the community will slowly turn to stone unless the community deems them of value and allows them to take place in a... |
| 2020-Jan-27 • 30 minutes E10. "The Alpha-Dye Shirt Factory" - Is suicide ever the rational choice? STORY SUMMARY: The story is told in the 1st person by a woman in the late 1800’s working in a inner city garment factory. She comes out of the bathroom to see a fire breaks out. Women try and escape down the elevator shaft as smoke fills the room. She heads for the fire escape, but it collapses, killing everyone on it. Finally, she decides the best thing to do to prevent being burned to death it to jump to her death.DISCUSSION: The story is a historical fiction version the Triangle Shirt factory fire. The s... |
| 2020-Jan-13 • 31 minutes E9. "The Truth About Thurman" - Is there a "better" decision, when both cause someone to die? STORY SUMMARY: The main character heads into the military supervisors office. It seems two soldiers have been captured terrorists who are threatening to kill them both unless the US Government tells them before the deadline which to kill, and which to go free. One is a woman, and the other is gay. They want the government to make a Sophie’s Choice, so to speak. The government decides to do neither and launch a rescue operation that fails. Both are killed. The story ends with the original solider who started... |
| 2019-Dec-30 • 31 minutes E8. "Lay On" - Can a person be evil in their mind, or must it be in the act? “Can a person be evil in their mind, or must it be in the act.” Kolby, Jeremy, and Jessica discuss the ethics in the urban fantasy short story "Lay On" by Vera Burris at La Gattara Cat Cafe in Tempe, AZ. |
| 2019-Dec-16 • 36 minutes E7. "Are You Him?" - If someone is crying, are you the kind of person that would stop? “If someone is crying, are you the kind of person that would stop?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Jessica discuss the ethics and choices in the short story "Are You Him" by John Sheirer. |
| 2019-Dec-02 • 30 minutes E6. "As You Wish" - If you could change anything about yourself, would you ever stop? STORY SUMMARY: Children’s story that starts with a bunch of old tattered stuffed animals being found in a trunk by a woman. She can talk to the stuffed animals and says she will fix them back up. At first, the requests are simple, fix a torn ear… but later, the stuffed animals ask for more changes. The unicorn wants its horn removed. The panda wants to be less fat. The zebra wants its stripes removed. The final character, Sad Bear, who is always sad because he has a frown sewn on, is offered the chance to h... |
| 2019-Nov-18 • 35 minutes E5. "Pretty Pragmatism" - Can a good idea come from a horrible source? “Can a good idea come from a horrible source?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Jessica discuss the ethics of the choices made in the short story, "Pretty Pragmatism" by Jenean McBrearty. |
| 2019-Nov-04 • 31 minutes E4. "This I Do For You" - Can you be a hero, if you didn’t know you volunteered? “Can you be a hero, if you didn’t know you volunteered?” Kolby, Jeremy, and Ashley discuss the ethics and morality of the choices made in the short story "This I Do For You" by Margaret Karmazin as part of the After Dinner Conversation Series. |
| 2019-Oct-21 • 33 minutes E3. "The Shadow Of The Thing" - Would you take a pill that showed you the truth about the world? STORY SUMMARY: The narrator goes to his friend’s house. She has invited him there because she wants to take a new street drug. But this drug is special, if you take it once, the effect lasts forever. It’s supposed effect is it allows you to see the true nature of the world. Her husband has already taken it, and he is very different, referring to the objects around him as only the “the form of the thing.” The friend takes the pill and, while she is waiting for it to take hold, the narrator realizes there are... |
| 2019-Oct-06 • 30 minutes E2. "My Fellow (Immortal) Americans" - Don't you have a right to immortality? STORY SUMMARY: Sometimes in the future, the President gives a speech to a group of wealthy donors. In this future, time is the only currency and, if you have enough of it, you can live forever. The focus of the President’s speech is about in opposition to the new labor laws that want to pay a higher minimum time wage. The President argues, it will encourage laziness, and is anti-capitalistic. That the hard working rich, deserve to live forever, and pass their accumulated years on to their children to do the... |
| 2019-Sep-24 • 27 minutes E1. "Patchouli Lost" - How far would you go to help a friend, who is unwilling to help themselves? Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Magazine: Code “Happy” for 12 Issues/$4.95! https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/subscribe/yearlySTORY... SUMMARY: The male narrator calls a friend who is locked her bathroom while her abusive ex-boyfriend pounds on the door outside. The narrator comes over and looks after his friend for a few days. However, he insists that she block the ex-boyfriends phone number or he will stop helping her. She refuses, and the stop talking.DISCUSSION: Is the narrator a good person? He h... |