Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story "To Be or Not to Be," a darkly comic look at a future world that solved overpopulation by requiring volunteers to die so newborns can live. The episode follows a father facing an impossible choice, a hospital muralist's reflections, and the chilling telephone number 2BRO2B.

The story is presented in two parts with musical interludes and gentle narration designed for listeners experiencing mild to moderate dementia.

A financial advisor prepares a masterpiece portfolio for Herbert Foster, only to discover that Herbert secretly spends his weekends playing raw jazz under the name Firehouse Harris. Torn between duty to his wife and a father’s wild music, Herbert keeps his respectable life by day and his passion by night.

This final episode closes Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s tale of money, identity, and the small, costly compromises that shape a life.

Clear Tales is a podcast for listeners with mild to moderate dementia. Host Richard Carlton London explains the show's focus on short chapters, simple plots, clear language, and familiar musical interludes to keep adult listeners engaged and entertained.

In this episode we present Part 1 of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "The Foster Portfolio," a narrated short story about a salesman who discovers a surprising portfolio of securities that contrasts with a family's modest everyday life.