The 100 Word Stories Podcast
Episodes
Weekly challenge #1048 – Give Up
24 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie Richard Serendipidy Tom Lewie Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is PICK TWO Buffering Update An old postcard offensive Roll LIZZIE Give up. ...
Deaf safe words
23 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do deaf people use as safe words? I’m asking for a friend. Who I have tied up in the basement. So he can’t sign out HELP. And he̵...
Old general
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The old general had gone senile years ago. He kept calling his caretaker, his chief of staff, and he would ask about reports from the field. The nurse...
Dead professor
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last time I went back to the old school, it was for Professor Ellsworth’s funeral. A lot of his former students came, came out for the memorial serv...
Oboe
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If I win the lottery, I will call a few major symphonies and buy the oboe chair. There’s no reason for it. It’s just so strange, nobody wo...
Destroy the past
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I saw so many things in the city that I’d never experienced before. The people. The lights. The stores. The streets. The buildings. And in the m...
Happily never after
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
And the prince and princess didn’t live happily ever after. After a few miscarriages, the princess had four daughters in a row. The prince cheat...
Weekly Challenge #1047 – Railing
17 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Lizzie Richard Lewie Serendipidy Tom Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Give Up LISA The Railing of Lost Things There’s a railing where th...
Late scribbles
16 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Toby came up with really good ideas late at night. He’d be brushing his teeth or putting on a night shirt for climbing the bed and an idea we just h...
Bad reception
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After the wildfire destroyed part of the city, the mayor and city council promised they do everything to help rebuild. But despite millions of dollars...
Early retirement
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After months of job hunting, I’ve picked up a lot of good tips for questions to ask during interviews. Not that I get a lot of interviews. A lot of ...
Our princess
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase thank you, Mario, but our princess is in another castle. Well it turns out that our princess likes to hang out...
Tanking the season
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve been a Houston Astros fan for a pretty long time, back when they were good then they got to the World Series somehow, then they really sucked, ...
Keep the farm
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Papa Joe made Papa Wally, my daddy, promise not to sell the farm. Daddy kept his promise, but when he gave me the farm, he also gave me overdue proper...
Weekly Challenge #1046 – Complete idiot
10 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Lizzie Richard Lewie Serendipidy Tom Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Railing LEWIE The newspaper described John as an idiot. Frustrated, ...
The fear of sundials
09 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Doctors called Jeremy‘s fear of sundials irrational, but he had a perfectly valid reason to fear the diabolical contraptions. His father was found s...
Ham King
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Hammond was the ham king of the Pacific Northwest. For years, trucks would bring pigs to his factory, and out came refrigerated trucks and rail ca...
The first man
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kaseem counted out the barley for the harvest and prepared a clay tablet in the frame. Poking marks into it with a reed, he noted that there were 17,0...
Baldwin
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Under a cloak and bandages soiled by his leprosy-torn body, silver mask on his face, King Baldwin lay dying on his bed. Somehow, he had kept Jerusalem...
Blake
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Blake was a knife-thrower. He could throw any knife with deadly accuracy. Not just balanced throwing knives, like other assassins. Any knife. Even but...
The full moon
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When I was little, I wondered why the moon would fill up and then empty. And when it was full, what stuff was it full of. “It’s just how i...
Weekly Challenge #1045 – Family Portrait
03 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Lizzie Richard Lewie Serendipidy Tom Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Complete idiot LISA A Family Portrait We were playing at grannies. A...
Fraud on the moon
02 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The first permanent lunar base wasn’t named after Neil Armstrong as we hoped. Instead, it was named after some Chinese God. Despite years of plannin...
We have signal
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cell phone service is really gotten bad around here. The company sent me out to the tower, and I went up the ladder, clipping to the safety wire, and ...
Super Rose
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Some people get really cool superpowers like flying or invisibility or invulnerability, but Rose always knew which direction north was. And not just m...
The Rebellion
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I loaded up my cart with olives for the run to Caeseria. The Roman roads made the trip so much easier. “Let’s go, boy,” I said to my...
Work from home
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mindy kept a switchblade in her purse. The walk from her office to her car in the parking garage wasn’t the best. On some nights, the lights were ou...
Seven
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alarms went off almost daily in processing plant seven. It was an orbital asteroid rendering facility that had seen better days. Demoted to a training...
Weekly Challenge #1044 – PICK TWO Fever, Shoulder, Torpid, Hairbrush, A dead plant
26 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie Richard Lewie Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Family portrait RICHARD The House Sitter “It’s just a dead plant....
Play time
25 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After we had grass rolled out on our front yard, I would let our cats out to roll around and play and stock out there. I got an Apple AirTag on a coll...
Seagulls
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I live near the bay, and when I go to the beach, I see pelicans and eagles and other birds hunting for fish on the water. I like to watch them stridin...
Receding water
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It hasn’t rained here in Pleasant Valley for a while. The stream that goes under the old library bridge is dry. The pond in the park, you can tell f...
Cross
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When I walk through the park that used to be a golf course, there are a lot of houses with their backyards facing the former cart paths and fairways a...
Shared Fear
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jake and Molly carved their initials in the grand oak in Somerville Park. The sheriff talked to their parents. They agreed on a punishment. The magist...
Crossing Turtles
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
During my daily walks, I see various creatures. Squirrels and birds and rabbits and turtles. This morning, I saw a turtle by the side of the road. And...
Weekly Challenge #1043 – An empty deodorant can
19 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is PICK TWO Fever Shoulder Torpid Hairbrush A dead plant LIZZIE Beach towel, sungl...
George walks
18 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
George was a pirate, but he wasn’t a very good pirate. During his downtime, he liked to walk around the neighborhood. Which wasn’t very difficult ...
Twin masks
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Molly and Mindy were identical. Except that Molly wore a tragedy mask everywhere while Mindy wore a comedy mask. Anyone who got to know them… re...
Jumping
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I remember the last time I met Death. We were on the ledge of a very tall building. People on the street below. Cars passing by. And we were up here. ...
Danny stops
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Danny rode his bike to the library every day. He’d lock it to the lamp post, walk through the doors, and work his way down the stacks, one book ...
Lending library
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I live in a golf and tennis resort town, lots of families and retirees. People drive golf carts around and the kids ride their motorized bicycles like...
Parade worthy
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The town had never had a parade. They had things worth celebrating, but nothing parade worthy. So the mayor decided they would have a parade. They got...
Weekly Challenge #1042 – Chip
12 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Lewie Planet Z The next topic is An empty deodorant can RICHARD Like his dad? She turned and smiled at me ...
Mapping
11 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Henry walked through the woods, he listened to the birds and the wind blowing through the trees. Sometimes he would stop and close his eyes and jus...
Prepped
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alfred kept a cheat sheet tattooed on his left arm. Werewolves were silver bullets. Mummies were fire. Vampires were garlic and crosses and mirrors. A...
Air conditioning plus frog
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I put a cover over my air-conditioning heat pump to keep leaves and rocks out of it. However, somehow something got in there. There was a loud banging...
Basic chemistry
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Early chemists discovered elements by looking around, maybe digging a little. Maybe they had to heat something up a little. Further on, chemists had t...
Adam West is the Buddha
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
They say that if you meet Buddha by the side of the road, you must kill him. But that is not Buddha. It is Adam West. You know, the guy who played Bat...
Add to the alphabet
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The alphabet started small. Two or three marginalized groups, bringing their causes together, fighting for their rights. Then other groups added thems...
Weekly Challenge #1041 – Classic
05 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Planet Z The next topic is Chip RICHARD Might as well jump So, my mate John from the tribute band, Fan Halen, was fee...
The race to the bottom
04 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Art critics are racists. Take two neo-expressionist artists: Cy Tombly and Jean Basquiat. Both made rudimentary art, scribbles and scrawled words. The...
Disappear
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
My parents are dead. My father’s brother, my gay uncle, had no children. And before that, the name was what some clerk wrote down. At the immigr...
Small town walk
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a small town, and the grocery store, pharmacy, and a few restaurants are about seven minutes walk. So, unless I’ve got a lot of groceries to ...
Robot hot dog vendors
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people have opinions on the robot umpires, but I’m looking forward to robot hot dog vendors. Because I don’t want to wait for tha...
Render unto Ralph
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jesus may have said to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, but when it came to his next-door neighbor Ralph, he said screw that creep. Ra...
It’s a von trapp
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I was sitting by a stream when an old man carrying a worn out map, walked up to the stream, crossed it, and made a mark on his map. I’ve done it, he...
Weekly Challenge #1040 – PICK TWO Cover band, Slow down, Empty streets, Sculpture gallery, Shred
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Classic LEWIE As the tour guide brought the group through a museum, a che...
It spreads
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I guess it isn’t working out so well. Protestors without masks. People coming across the border for health care. Kids being kids. Fingerpointing...
The package never boils
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two months ago, they launched a new series of video cards. But they didn’t make enough of them, so they were impossible to get. Unless you went ...
The cold dead heart
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I got a letter from Greenpeace the other day. Your classic Save The Whales plea. When I think whales, I think the killer whale Shamoo at Sea World. Le...
Run its course
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I used to be pretty good at frisbee golf. I had a strong throw and pretty good accuracy. I practiced throwing at trees and trash cans at various dista...
Job posting
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Freddy saw a job posting, and he sent his resume and cover letter. Two days later, they wrote him back saying that they went with another candidate. T...
Light it up
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Henderson liked to go for walks and smoke cigars after dinner. But that was kinda hard, being an astronaut on the space station. So, he ate his steak ...
Weekly Challenge #1039 – Bubble Wrap
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lisa Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is PICK TWO Cover band Slow down Empty streets Sculpture gallery Shred ...
Cart
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The shabby overcoat, boots, and dirty hat pushing the shopping cart full of junk around is Gertrude. But don’t bother calling her that. She̵...
We come in REDACTED
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a year since the aliens arrived, and everything is so much better. They brought all sorts of technology and medicine and other things, and...
The signal
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The satellite just kind of drifted around Earth doing its job, picking up weather signals. One night, it caught something weird, like a low humming no...
Soma
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Years ago, our town voted to Fluoridate the water. Now, we’re being asked to vote on Somadate the water. Scientists say Soma is safe. Just as sa...
The overpasses
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There are fences and cameras watching the overpasses. Because people throw things over the side on to the traffic below. There were a few wrecks. Peop...
Talk to Mars
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The signal from the Mars colony stopped. We tried to connect to the emergency relay satellites, but they didn’t respond. It took a month to prep...
Weekly Challenge #1038 – The noisiest place in the universe
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lisa Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Bubble wrap. LEWIE Title: Silence Has Teeth Alone. In the dark. It i...
Dumb fat monkey
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When I go for my walks, I don’t wear a headset or listen to music or podcasts anymore. I’d rather listen to the birds, singing or the squirrels ch...
Waiting for Lord Foster
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From the void came a wind. It blew in all directions. Lord Foster licked his finger and held it to the wind. He sensed… something… There. ...
Danny will dance again
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been three years since Danny last danced. He’s sitting there, on the edge of the dance floor, watching all the dancers dancing. But d...
Snowball fight
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Looking at all the sports at the winter Olympics and all the different competitions with teams and individual achievements, I wonder if they just wann...
Three car washes
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I like to get a car wash after I go to the beach. It’s really to vacuum the sand up from my floormats, even though I wrap my shoes in a towel an...
Box it up
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of every contract, they mail out a FedEx label to put on a box to send their laptop back, and sometimes I like to put a little something ex...
Weekly Challenge #1037 – Dear everyone
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lisa Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is The noisiest place in the universe. LEWIE Dear Everyone, Except for ...
Keep turning left until you’re right
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
They say hateful things, The Hateful. They hate anything that they don’t agree with. “You disagree with us?” they say. “Then w...
The dictator
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When the occupying Army caught the dictator, we announced it to the press. And the press cheered. People took to the streets and cheered, firing their...
Dee
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a long time since Dee died. Her kidneys failed, and she’d been on dialysis, but needed a transplant. Her family didn’t mat...
The days
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
So, it’s May. Mother’s Day came and went… My father’s birthday coming soon… Then father’s day… and my mother...
Clouds with character
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I like to go down to the beach at the bay every now and then just stand there, listening to the water on the shore. When it’s a nice sunny day with ...
Wash
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a few car washes in town and two of them are with the same chain that uses a subscription model, and sometimes the wash is broken at one, an...
Weekly Challenge #1036 – Twist
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lisa Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Dear everyone RICHARD Twist I hate how the world has become so dumbe...
Funeral for a funeral
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A member of Hamas died in a Lebanese village. His stash of weapons and explosives exploded. So, they held a funeral for him. A riot broke out, and thr...
Family not friends
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why did I forsake my father? Why did I forsake my mother? When it’s friends that you love like family, they matter. And I will do everything I c...
Fire and brimstone
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hell isn’t all fire and brimstone, you know. That’s just a little light show the welcoming committee uses to scare the new residents. Once...
Doctor Odd Gender Reveal
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Doctor Odd was keenly aware that he wouldn’t live forever, and despite growing an army of clones to carry on his legacy of mad science, he had a...
Fred the assassin
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fred was an assassin. That’s what he put on his taxes: Assassin. He killed for money. But not just anyone. He only killed IRS agents. People wit...
The Rotten Apple
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
So, the virus is spreading. And it’s spreading through New York like wildfire. What is it about New York that makes it dangerous and deadly? The...
Weekly Challenge #1035 – PICK TWO Stings Low flying Supply Clothes pegs Stick
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is Twist RICHARD Plump “What do you think?” As pouts go, it̵...
To the Victor came the spoils
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Uncle Victor had been in an iron long for 20 years. Aunt Millie hired a nurse to take care of them. He did stocks from a computer that he controlled w...
Remote buttons
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
My television remote has a Netflix button. So does my DVD player remote. I don’t subscribe to Netflix, so I find the button annoying. And I hit ...
The old tax fraud
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
My father was a corporate lawyer in the restaurant industry for years. He retired to run a glass business. But he failed to send in the company’...
Analytics
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It used to be that to find out what your users wanted, you asked them. You brought them in to a focus group or you sent out a survey. Then, companies ...
Every two weeks
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The last job I had, it felt like I was drawing a line with one hand and erasing it with the other. Every project I put any effort into got delayed or ...
Touch grass
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Even though my cat can go out in the enclosed patio and enjoy lying in the sun and watching birds, she still howls at the front door to be allowed to ...
Weekly Challenge #1034 – Experiment
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lewie Lisa Lizzie Richard Tom Serendipidy Norval Joe Planet Z The next topic is PICK TWO Stings Low flying Supply Clothes pegs Stick LEWIE Champion ...
Coaching
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When I got drafted out of college, I was the new kid on the team. Some of the returning players saw me as a threat to their jobs, and they hazed and p...