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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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  • 40 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 43 min
  • English

Episodes 40

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  • July 30 · 59 min

    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

  • July 23 · 1 hr 1 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 16 · 58 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 9 · 59 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 2 · 1 hr 22 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

  • June 25 · 1 hr 1 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 18 · 58 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 11 · 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

  • April 20 · 30 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.

  • March 19 · 14 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 5 · 16 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.

  • Sep 15, 2025 · 32 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.

Showing 21–40 of 40 episodes