Selected Shorts

Symphony Space

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.

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35 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes35

Newest first

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 technician’s mobile phone takes over his life—and not in the usual way. The reader is David Costabile. Writer Chika Unigwe sets a subtle story of social exploitation in the teeming city of Lagos. The reader is Yetide Badaki, who commented on the story during a backstage interview
Thursday · 59 min
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 a Hollywood love story. It’s read by Tony Hale. In the John Cheever classic “The Worm in the Apple” a couple have the perfect life—but no one can believe it. It’s read by Anne Meara. And a harried mother fantasizes about a brand new life in Vanessa Cuti’s “Our Children,” performed by Claire Danes, followed by an interview with Danes.
July 23 · 1 hr 1 min
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 central character goes to greater and greater extremes to protect his family from—everything. The reader is BD Wong. And a couple tiptoe towards love in Lily King’s “Five Tuesdays in Winter,” read by Justin Kirk. A brief interview with King is included.
July 16 · 58 min
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 differ about how to raise a strong-willed daughter. The reader is Crystal Dickinson. And in Taryn Bowe’s “Camp Emeline,” performed by Edie Falco, a family struggles after a loss, but grief leads to self-discovery for the determined narrator. This lovely work also introduces SELECTED SHORTS’ first-ever on-air book club. Wolitzer joins a l
July 9 · 59 min
Too Hot For Radio: Erin Somers "Washing Up"
Miriam Shor (Pluribus, The Americans) reads Erin Somers' story about a mom doing not seemingly very mom-like things.
July 6 · 29 min
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 performance of thirteen stories and one song that vividly bring to life the vital role immigrants play in New York City's past, present and future. Here are their names: Mary Twomey, Sara M., Zead Ramadan and Andy Eng, Mónica Carrillo, Sabelo Narasimhan, Sadie Frowne, Gulnahar Alam, Fred Amram, Mohmoud Widdi, Tien “Johnny” Nghe, and Kofi, and Ha
July 2 · 1 hr 22 min
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 on Ambien,” by Ed Park, is a sort of late-night fever dream. It’s read by John Fugelsang. In Tessa Hadley’s “Bad Dreams,” images than begin in dreams envelop a family in real life. The reader is Rita Wolf. Tom Barbash’s “Stay Up With Me” charts the rocky path of an old love affair. It’s read by Jason Ralph. And stay tuned for Chast’
June 25 · 1 hr 1 min
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 19th-century writer best known for slyly humorous stories like “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “Gift of the Magi,” but contemporary selections range wide. In “Rosaura at Dawn,” by Daniel Saldaña París, a woman searches for new life, and a new home. The reader is Sonia Manzano. And “Countdown,” by Anthony Marra, is a darkly comic look at life in m
June 18 · 58 min
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 “happily ever after” but are still engaging. In “Love in the Slump,” by Evelyn Waugh, clueless upper-crust newlyweds are sent on a comic odyssey. The reader is Jane Kaczmarek. And Esther Yi’s “Moon” explores something we often mistake for love—obsession--as a young woman is drawn farther and farther into K-Pop fandom. The story was sele
June 11 · 58 min
Too Hot For Radio: Jonathan Lethem "The King of Sentences"
The author of novels such as Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude brings us a story about meeting your heroes. It's read by the actor Brendan Hunt, best known these days for the series Ted Lasso.
May 4 · 44 min
Tell Me More: Jodi Kantor
Meg Wolitzer speaks to Jodi Kantor, the prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, as part of the spin-off series, where we bring together all kinds of stories and storytelling.
April 20 · 30 min
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.
March 19 · 14 min
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 this program.
March 5 · 16 min
Too Hot For Radio: Paul La Farge "Another Life"
Actor Josh Radnor performs Paul La Farge's story, "Another Life."
March 2 · 28 min
Too Hot For Radio: Carmen Maria Machado "Persephone Rides at the End of Days"
Cynthia Nixon reads Carmen Maria Machado's short story, "Persephone Rides at the End of Days."
January 5 · 20 min
Bonus: Etgar Keret and Ira Glass
Israeli writer Etgar Keret talks to his friend, This American Life host Ira Glass.
Dec 11, 2025 · 35 min
Meg Wolitzer Talks to Author Michael Cunningham
The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Hours sits down with Meg for a chat about all things writing.
Nov 13, 2025 · 22 min
Tell Me More: Kathryn Nicolai
Introducing Tell Me More, a bonus podcast that brings all kinds of stories and storytelling together under one big tent. First up, an interview with the popular host of the podcast, Nothing Much Happens, Kathryn Nicolai.
Sep 15, 2025 · 32 min
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.
Jun 26, 2025 · 17 min
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.
Jan 16, 2025 · 14 min

Selected Shorts

Shifting Identities

Picture Perfect

Walking on Eggshells

Lost and Found

Too Hot For Radio: Erin Somers "Washing Up"

Stories from the City of Immigrants with Waterwell

Roz Chast: While You Were Sleeping

Twisty Tales: O. Henry Prize Winners with Edward P. Jones

Nothing to Do with Love

Too Hot For Radio: Jonathan Lethem "The King of Sentences"

Tell Me More: Jodi Kantor

Meg Wolitzer Talks with Louise Erdrich

Meg Wolitzer Talks with Denis O'Hare

Too Hot For Radio: Paul La Farge "Another Life"

Too Hot For Radio: Carmen Maria Machado "Persephone Rides at the End of Days"

Bonus: Etgar Keret and Ira Glass

Meg Wolitzer Talks to Author Michael Cunningham

Tell Me More: Kathryn Nicolai

Bonus: A.M. Homes interviews Margaret Atwood

Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks with Judy Blume