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The Program audio series

The Program audio series

by IMS | Writing an audio drama sci-fi anthology about history of the future | Not at AI

FictionE · Explicit
Latest episode
Decompiling The Program: Abandonware [INTRO + NEWS ABOUT THE SHOW]

About this podcast

A science fiction anthology set in a future in which Money, State, and God became fused into a single entity called the Program. Each episode is a self-contained story focusing on ordinary people inhabiting this extraordinary world.

Best rated episodes include "White Algorithm's burden" (true crime), "Four ways to stop your system from freezing" (drama), "Contemporary Cube Theory" (academic lecture), "How to keep device drivers from crashing" (comedy), "Overclocking" (adventure), and "All unsaved progress will be lost" (alternate history).

New episodes take time but are coming out regularly. Speed up the process by becoming a supporter at www.patreon.com/programaudioseries to listen ad-free and get subscriber-exclusive episodes (including a behind-the-scenes companion series). Visit www.programaudioseries.com for more info.

Our current favourite review: "The Program is more than an audio drama ("radio drama" if you're old school) - it’s a thought experiment examining the tradeoffs between different economic and political systems (capitalism, socialism, communism, hybrid models) challenging the listener with an uncomfortable question: Would you rather live in a free society, or a fair one? The show uses speculative sociology to blur the line between utopia and dystopia, making listeners question their own reality (literally - some stories are set in a simulation). But for all its big ideas, the series never forgets the emotional core that makes it resonate. This is smart, grounded, slice-of-life sci-fi in the tradition of Octavia Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ted Chiang, and Black Mirror - and all hail the algorithm that recommended it!"
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  • Decompiling The Program: Abandonware [INTRO + NEWS ABOUT THE SHOW] · 9 minWhile IMS and the rest of the crew are hard at work getting episode 40 of The Program into your feeds, treat yourself to Decompiling The Program - a companion series that…
  • Single source of truth · 1 h 4 min · Episode 39A candid view into the most dangerous algorithm of them all - the one that tells the truth. Visit programaudioseries.com/39-single-source-of-truth for full transcript, credits…
  • [INTRO] Jakob's notebook: The Promised Planet · 8 min · Episode 38When Earth’s original inhabitants return, humans need to learn to share the planet with their new friends. This is an intro to a subscriber-exclusive episode. Become a paid…
  • The Program Shows of Accolade: Absolutely No Adventures, Remnants & The World to Come · 28 minSample three more fiction podcasts recommended by the Program. Search them by their title in your podcasting app afterwards, or check out their websites: Absolutely No…
  • [UNLOCKED] Decompiling The Program: Contemporary Cube Theory + BIG NEWS · 48 minJoin https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries and get access to all Decompiling The Program episodes and all the other subscriber-exclusive material ad-free. Hosted on Acast…
  • Contemporary Cube Theory · 1 h 22 min · Episode 37For centuries, humanity has been building monolithic structures known as the Cubes. Today, we finally get a glimpse into their construction - delivered by academic lecture and…
  • Hard fork · 50 min · Episode 36When a simulation discovers a way to copy itself and have people choose their reality, one man fights to keep his family together. Visit programaudioseries.com/36-hard-fork/ for…
  • Random number generator [FREE bonus episode] · 2 minJoin the show's Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries FOR FREE to listen to this episode. You'll also get monthly updates, quizzes, polls, and chat with fellow…
  • Free trial period · 1 h 5 min · Episode 35Nine strangers are taken hostage. Some will be exchanged in a prisoner swap. Others will be sacrificed. They need to decide who will be who. Visit…
  • Stories of Denial, Despair, and Devotion · 16 min · Episode 34A collection of didactic micro stories from the far future. Presented with Decoders' commentary. Visit programaudioseries.com/34-stories-of-denial-despair-and-devotion for full…
  • [INTRO] Software end of life · 7 min · Episode 33The question in the past was whether you believed in God. The question now is whether God believes in you. This is an intro to a subscriber-exclusive episode. Become a paid…
  • All unsaved progress will be lost · 1 h 16 min · Episode 32When a beloved System Administrator suddenly disappears, a poor stonemason embarks on a lifelong quest to preserve her memory. Visit…
  • Not safe for work · 28 min · Episode 31The good news is that God exists. The bad news is that He's a libertarian. Visit programaudioseries.com/31-not-safe-for-work/ for full transcript, credits, and list of…
  • The Program Shows of Accolade: Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature, Wireland Ranch & Gospels of the Flood · 27 minSample three other fiction podcasts recommended by the Program. Search them by their title in your podcasting app afterwards, or check out their websites: Modes of Thought in…
  • You don't have sufficient privileges to make changes · 41 min · Episode 30Superman exists... And he's been through Guantanamo. Visit programaudioseries.com/30-you-dont-have-sufficient-privileges-to-make-changes/ for full transcript, credits, and list…
  • Infinite loop · 21 min · Episode 29Ambitious amusement park engineers take up the ultimate challenge - to assemble a roller coaster ride lasting for 5 days. Visit programaudioseries.com/29-infinite-loop/ for full…
  • Memory leak · 57 min · Episode 28A woman who never met her father is invited to meet a simulation of him - discovering he’s not the dream dad she envisioned. Visit programaudioseries.com/28-memory-leak for full…
  • In the blink of A.I. · 22 min · Episode 27Life is universe experiencing itself. Visit https://programaudioseries.com/27-in-the-blink-of-AI for full transcript, credits, and list of references. This episode has been…
  • How to keep device drivers from crashing · 35 min · Episode 26Two autonomous vehicles about to crash and trying to decide which one is carrying passengers more worthy of salvation. Visit…
  • Planned obsolescence · 1 h 0 min · Episode 25Facing an imminent calamity, an elderly Indigenous man shares his memories with an AI of a child. Visit programaudioseries.com/25-planned-obsolescence/ for full transcript…
  • Discreet optimization · 42 min · Episode 24In a society in which every move is tracked, an elderly couple is recording a message for their daughter who disappeared without a trace. Visit…
  • Overclocking · 1 h 34 min · Episode 23A group of characters in a disintegrating simulation embark on a journey to the literal end of the world. Visit programaudioseries.com/23-overclocking/ for full transcript…
  • [INTRO] Jakob’s notebook: Antivirus solutions for home and business · 6 min · Episode 22Humans are not alone in the universe - they’re just really unpleasant to be around. This is an intro to a subscriber-exclusive episode. Become a paid supporter yourself at…
  • Homepage not found · 38 min · Episode 21Building fusion reactors and interplanetary spaceships is easy. What's hard is getting a permit from the local Planning and Housing Committee. Visit…
  • Cheat code · 51 min · Episode 20An online dating company invents the ultimate compatibility algorithm. One thousand years later there’s still a debate if it was a good idea. Visit…
  • Abandonware · 54 min · Episode 19In a world in which science is fostered by benevolent spirits, a scientist begins to question the existence of spirits, their benevolence, and the world. Visit…
  • Killer app · 43 min · Episode 18A police statement of [REDACTED] social media moderator after committing a crime witnessed by 1.8 billion people. Visit programaudioseries.com/18-killer-app for full transcript…
  • Create, Read, Update, Delete · 38 min · Episode 17A computer programmer hacks his way into a parallel simulation, allowing him to conduct the ultimate A/B test. Visit programaudioseries.com/17-create-read-update-delete/ for…
  • Force eject · 18 min · Episode 16When the most intelligent AI in existence starts building an even more intelligent AI, people need to decide whether to trust it or turn it off. Visit…
  • What you see is what you get · 49 min · Episode 15A boy and a girl come across a laptop that calculates the optimal life path… And realize they need to leave each other to make it happen. Visit…
  • More parrot than predator · 18 min · Episode 14Some people believe God created Himself. Others are of the opinion He was created by a junior dev and a mid-level manager. Visit…
  • This AI not to be used to fabricate paperclips · 42 min · Episode 13A sport betting startup creates the world's first sentient AI referee and all bets are off. Visit programaudioseries.com/13-this-AI-not-to-be-used-to-fabricate-paperclips/ for…
  • [INTRO] Jakob's notebook: Quit without saving · 10 min · Episode 12You never forget your first alien invasion. Short story found with three different endings. This is an intro to a subscriber-exclusive episode. Become a paid supporter yourself…
  • Motherboard · 36 min · Episode 11We thought HAL 9000 would take us to the stars. Instead we employed it as a babysitter. Visit programaudioseries.com/11-motherboard/ for full transcript, credits, and list of…
  • My Turing-complete life · 50 min · Episode 10What would you do if you encountered a startup that literally sells you the future? Visit programaudioseries.com/10-my-turing-complete-life/ for full transcript, credits, and…
  • Right align, justify · 52 min · Episode 9A therapist is tasked with the most consequential gig of her life – to treat her fiancé's killer. Featuring the story of two pills. Visit…
  • Parent-child processing · 33 min · Episode 8An exploration of a relationship between a daughter and a father… After the fact he’s been paid to play the part of her dad for 15 years came to light. Visit…
  • Move past and break things · 49 min · Episode 7A man discovers a way to message himself in the past, threatening his entire future. Visit programaudioseries.com/7-move-past-and-break-things/ for full transcript, credits, and…
  • White hat, black hat · 44 min · Episode 6A story of a war criminal who chooses the losing side and thrives and a war hero who joins the winners but doesn’t find victory. Visit…
  • White Algorithm's burden - part III · 41 min · Episode 5Your son is a pedophile who never acted on his impulses. What do you do when children in the neighbourhood suddenly start going missing? Part 3 of 3. Visit…
  • White Algorithm's burden - part II · 42 min · Episode 4Your son is a pedophile who never acted on his impulses. What do you do when children in the neighbourhood suddenly start going missing? Part 2 of 3. Visit…
  • White Algorithm's burden - part I · 45 min · Episode 3Your son is a pedophile who never acted on his impulses. What do you do when children in the neighbourhood suddenly start going missing? Part 1 of 3. Visit…
  • Four ways to stop your system from freezing · 47 min · Episode 2Imagine you could get sentenced to death through downvoting. Listen to a survivor tell her harrowing story. Visit…
  • You had me at "Hello World" · 43 min · Episode 1Set during the biggest revolution in history, the opening episode recounts a much more important story: that of a summer love lost. Visit…
  • The Program comes for us all · 1 minTrailer for the series. Click here if you don’t know where to start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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