Shows / Selected Shorts
Selected Shorts
Our greatest actors transport us through the magic of fiction, one short story at a time. Sometimes funny. Always moving. Selected Shorts connects you to the world with a rich diversity of voices from literature, film, theater, and comedy. New episodes every Thursday, from Symphony Space.
Episodes
- Selected Shorts
Charming Devils
Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about persuasive, but not always trustworthy, characters. In “Fortune-Telling,” by Alix Ohlin, an actor tries on new role…
- Selected Shorts
Unexpected Guests
Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about unexpected guests. In Carlos Greaves’ “A Visit from the Tune Squad,” a procrastinating writer gets a surprise…
- Selected Shorts
Mostly Good Intentions
Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that explore good intentions and how they can go wrong. In “Mantis,” by Gina Chung, a deadly insect tries to mend her ways…
- Selected Shorts
Fitting In
Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in that explore the idea of “fitting in,” and whether it’s worth the effort. In “Reality,” by Diana Spechler, a woman longs…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Austin Blaze "Hail Mary"
On this episode, a story about bad behavior. But it's also about family and the limits of forgiveness. While this story wasn't written that long ago, due to…
- Selected Shorts
Passport to Ireland with Colum McCann
On this Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer invites us on a literary tour of Ireland with bestselling author Colum McCann, who hosted a live event at Symphony…
- Selected Shorts
The New American West
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works that reassess and redefine our ideas of “the West.” It’s both a landscape of awesome beauty, and the scene of cultural…
- Selected Shorts
Love and UFOs
Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that combine different sorts of unknowables: unidentified—or hard to identify—flying objects, and romantic love. In “The…
- Selected Shorts
A Full Plate
Meg Wolitzer presents two favorite Selected Shorts works in which food and nourishment figure both literally and symbolically. The narrator of Haruki…
- Selected Shorts
Forsaking All Others
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about love and marriage. In Amy Silverberg’s “Have You Met Husband?” two men and a dog vie for this title. The reader is…
- Selected Shorts
Tim Curry Performs "Ziggurat" by Stephen O'Connor
British actor Tim Curry died on August 26th at the age of 80. Celebrated for his infamous portrayal of Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Picture…
- Selected Shorts
Building Worlds, with N.K. Jemisin
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works of speculative fiction curated by best-selling author N.K. Jemisin. In John Scalzi’s “When the Yogurt Took Over” a…
- Selected Shorts
Up in the Air with Radiolab
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents four works that were read as part of our live evening with WNYC’s Radiolab and hosts Lulu Miller and Latif…
- Selected Shorts
Seeing is Believing
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about perception and the relationship between what we see and what we believe. In “Heart of a Champion,” T.C. Boyle…
- Selected Shorts
Romance of the Summer
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three lively stories about the allure—or not—of summer. Italian writer Massimo Bontempeli creates a magical beach inside an…
- Selected Shorts
Shifting Identities
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about shifting identities. In “Voices”, by German writer Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Carol Brown Janeway, a computer…
- Selected Shorts
Picture Perfect
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about idealized lives, and ideas about what constitutes an ideal life. “Boy Meets Girl” is Jen Kim’s humorous version of…
- Selected Shorts
Walking on Eggshells
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about being careful. The title says it all in George Saunders’ “Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and Husband,” as the…
- Selected Shorts
Lost and Found
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about losing something, but finding something revealing to take its place. In “Light,” by Lesley Nkeka Arimah, parents…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Erin Somers "Washing Up"
Erin Somers is an author we've featured twice on Too Hot in the past, making her the first three-timer in the history of Too Hot! She's the author of the…
- Selected Shorts
Stories from the City of Immigrants with Waterwell
In this program, created in collaboration with Waterwell and the New York Immigration Coalition, guest host Arian Moayed takes listeners through a live…
- Selected Shorts
Roz Chast: While You Were Sleeping
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works from an evening with New Yorker author and cartoonist Roz Chast, inspired by Chast’s book I Must be Dreaming. “The Wife…
- Selected Shorts
Twisty Tales: O. Henry Prize Winners with Edward P. Jones
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two O. Henry Prize-winning stories, from the volume guest edited by Edward P. Jones. The Prize was created in honor of the…
- Selected Shorts
Nothing to Do with Love
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two unconventional love stories, one classic, one contemporary, that avoid the usual tropes of “meet cute,” “opposites attract,” or…
- Selected Shorts
The Pursuit of Happiness with Death, Sex and Money
In the second of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and our live event host Anna Sale, we explore issues of happiness. Host Meg…
- Selected Shorts
Death Sex Money
In the first of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and host Anna Sale, we explore issues of identity and connection. In “Sacrament of…
- Selected Shorts
Modest Expectations
Host Meg Wolitzer presents four stories, recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, in which characters shape their expectations and dreams to a manageable…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Jonathan Lethem "The King of Sentences"
Today's story is all about what happens when you become infatuated with someone you don't really know. And what strange or scary things you might do in order…
- Selected Shorts
Tell Me More: Jodi Kantor
In a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion, the two authors sit down to discuss journalism, the #MeToo movement, the Supreme Court, and what it takes to tell…
- Selected Shorts
Meg Wolitzer Talks with Louise Erdrich
In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Louise Edrich about “The Big Cat,” her craft, and her Native American roots. Hosted by Simplecast…
- Selected Shorts
Meg Wolitzer Talks with Denis O'Hare
In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with actor Denis O’Hare about his craft, and his approaches to readings of the two very different stories on…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Paul La Farge "Another Life"
This story is one from our archives, by Paul La Farge. Pay attention because the author delivers lots of little hints about what is happening behind the…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Carmen Maria Machado "Persephone Rides at the End of Days"
Written by Carmen Maria Machado, the dark, inventive and sensual writer behind the collection Her Body and Other Parties, and the memoir In the Dream House…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Etgar Keret and Ira Glass
Symphony Space was thrilled to host an evening with Israeli writer Etgar Keret, whose stories we’ve featured many times on Selected Shorts. He was interviewed…
- Selected Shorts
Meg Wolitzer Talks to Author Michael Cunningham
Meg Wolitzer sits down with her friend, writer Michael Cunningham. Michael is an American novelist, screenwriter, and educator. He is best known for his novel…
- Selected Shorts
Tell Me More: Kathryn Nicolai
The host of Selected Shorts, Meg Wolitzer launches the spin-off podcast, Tell Me More. If you know Selected Shorts you know that we're obsessed with stories…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: A.M. Homes interviews Margaret Atwood
As part of our live event with Margaret Atwood, host A.M. Homes interviewed her from the stage at Symphony Space. Here is that interview. Hosted by Simplecast…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks with Judy Blume
Meg Wolitzer speaks with author Judy Blume about her life, her writing and the challenges of book banning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See…
- Selected Shorts
A Conversation with Andy Borowitz
Host Meg Wolitzer talks with political satirist and author Andy Borowitz in this bonus interview. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com…
- Selected Shorts
Too Hot For Radio: Ottessa Moshfegh "The Weirdos"
From the author of Eileen and My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a story about weird people doing weird things. Read by Colby Minifie from The Boys, The Marvelous…
- Selected Shorts
Picture Perfect
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about idealized lives, and ideas about what constitutes an “ideal” life. “Boy Meets Girl” is Jen Kim’s humorous version…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: A Conversation with Elizabeth Strout
Host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Elizabeth Strout about her story “Home” and the fictional family Strout has created. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…
- Selected Shorts
Meg Wolitzer interviews Louise Erdrich
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to author Louise Erdrich about her story; her writing life; and what do with left over index cards. Hosted…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks to Denis O’Hare
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to actor Denis O’Hare about his craft, and his approaches to readings of the two very different stories on…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Visits Her Favorite Indie Bookstore
Host Meg Wolitzer visits a favorite indie bookstore, Three Lives & Company in Greenwich Village, remembers her early years there as a writer and reader, and is…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Margaret Atwood and A.M. Homes
In this bonus conversation, writers Margaret Atwood and A.M. Homes discuss everything from feminism, time, writing and dystopian fiction, to Atwood’s new short…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks to Alison Stewart
In this bonus conversation, host and best-selling author, Meg Wolitzer, talks to host of WNYC’s All of It, Alison Stewart. Wolitzer reveals some of the secrets…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks to Patricia Marx
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and New Yorker humorist Patricia Marx about her story “Singin’ in the Acid Rain,” and writing…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks with George Saunders
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders about crafting short stories, where ideas come…
- Selected Shorts
Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks to Elizabeth Strout
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout about writing, short stories, and the use of…
Selected ShortsHost Meg Wolitzer Talks to Comedian Michael Ian Black
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to comedian and writer Michael Ian Black about what he’s been reading and the tricky business of being…
Selected ShortsBonus: Meg Wolitzer and Mona Eltahawy Talk Being a Dangerous Woman
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to journalist, activist and feminist writer Mona Eltahawy about her life, literature and what it means to…
Selected ShortsBonus: Meg Wolitzer and Alison Stewart Talk Fiction
A bonus interview between our host and best-selling author, Meg Wolitzer, and the host of WNYC’s All of It, Alison Stewart. Wolitzer reveals some of the…