The Program audio series podcast artwork
Fiction

The Program audio series

by IMS | Writing an audio drama sci-fi anthology about history of the future | Not at AI
Explicit Science FictionFictionDrama
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Where it charts

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United Kingdom · Fiction
#173 New on this chart
Pulse 5

Ranking history

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About the show

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.

Latest episodes

  • Single source of truth

    June 10, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

    A 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, and list of references. Join the show's Patreon at…

  • [INTRO] Jakob's notebook: The Promised Planet

    January 7, 2026 · 8 min

    When 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 supporter yourself at patreon.com/programaudioseries to get…

  • The Program Shows of Accolade: Absolutely No Adventures, Remnants & The World to Come

    December 10, 2025 · 28 min

    Sample 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 Adventures Remnants The World to Come Two other comedies…

  • [UNLOCKED] Decompiling The Program: Contemporary Cube Theory + BIG NEWS

    October 23, 2025 · 48 min

    Join 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. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Contemporary Cube Theory

    July 30, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min

    For 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 first hand account. Visit programaudioseries…

  • Hard fork

    June 18, 2025 · 50 min

    When 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 full transcript, credits, and list of references. Join the…

  • Random number generator [FREE bonus episode]

    March 26, 2025 · 2 min

    Join 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 Program listeners. Upgrade at any time to get…

  • Free trial period

    December 4, 2024 · 1 hr 6 min

    Nine 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 programaudioseries.com/35-free-trial-period-III for full transcript, credits, and list of…