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Artwork for Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts

Symphony Space
Short Stories
Selected Shorts
Symphony Space
Identity
New York City
Love
Friendship
Storytelling
Ray Bradbury
Literature
Family Relationships
Relationships
Games
Family Dynamics
Fiction
Book Banning
The New Yorker
Personal Narratives
Margaret Atwood
Grief

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes37Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

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Artwork for Selected Shorts

Latest Episodes

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 gives the children’s classic Lassie an affectionately humorous reboot.  The reader is Kirsten ... more

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three lively stories about the allure—or not—of summer.  Italian writer Massimo Bontempeli creates a magical beach inside an apartment in “The Miraculous Beach, or Prize for Modesty.” The work was translated by Jenny McPhee... more

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 C... more

Host Meg Wolitzer presents the Health vs Hype podcast. It's a show from the American Medical Association and helps you make smarter, more informed decisions about your health, without the fear-mongering or confusion. We hope you enjoy it as much as w... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Daniel Kehlmann
German-born playwright, screenwriter and novelist
Author
Episode: Shifting Identities
Trace Dominguez
Host of Health vs Hype with the AMA
American Medical Association
Episode: Introducing Health vs Hype with the American Medical Association
Lily King
Author of Five Tuesdays in Winter
Author
Episode: Walking on Eggshells
George Saunders
Author of Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and Husband
Author
Episode: Walking on Eggshells
Edie Falco
Performer reading Camp Emeline
Episode: Lost and Found
Roz Chast
New Yorker cartoonist, author of I Must Be Dreaming
Roz Chast/New Yorker
Episode: Roz Chast: While You Were Sleeping
Edward P. Jones
Pulitzer Prize-winning author; guest editor of Best Short Stories 2025, the O. Henry Prize Winners collection
Pulitzer Prize / Best Short Stories 2025
Episode: Twisty Tales: O. Henry Prize Winners with Edward P. Jones
Sonia Manzano
Actress and writer; voice of Maria on Sesame Street; reader on this episode
PBS / Sesame Street
Episode: Twisty Tales: O. Henry Prize Winners with Edward P. Jones
Hettienne Park
Reader/performer for Moon, stage/performer
Symphony Space (as reader)
Episode: Nothing to Do with Love

Host

Meg Wolitzer
Host of Selected Shorts; central figure guiding literary readings and discussions

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 3.5k ratings
  • Too much talking

    Too much commentary, diatribes, and analysis. I spend as much time fast forwarding through the talking as I do listening to the readings. Interviews belong on a different podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    cocososnow
    United States2 months ago
  • Great stories but….

    I wish Meg would stick to a simple introduction presenting the title, author, and reader. Too much commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Sonrise808
    United States3 months ago
  • quality listening

    As an avid pod listener/former big reader who has fallen out of that habit in recent years, this show is reminding me of the value in the latter - i’m LOVING it!! Was moved to leave a good review after the last story “Arrangements” in the latest episode (Modest Expectations). Richly written stories with nuances and variety, which is hard to come across in the podcast world sometimes. So good!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ziilecron
    United States3 months ago
  • Interviews?

    When there are stories, I enjoy them a lot. But can you put these interviews on another feed? They’re not what I imagine most of us are here for

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    emmylou1212
    United States4 months ago
  • Nothing good left here

    The selection of stories use to be monumentally better.

    It's hard to come across a story that is not cringy overperformed by the reader.

    Gone are the good old days of this podcast. Farewell, good friend.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    goodpodclub
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Praise for literary depth and varied voices; some want more traditional storytelling and fewer interviews.
Many appreciate strong story selections and actor-readings, though some critique performance intensity.
Listeners crave tighter host narration and prefer fewer pre- and post-story transitions.
Overall sentiment highlights high regard for storytelling quality and live performance energy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#23
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#19
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#54
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#93
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#241
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Pursuit of Happiness with Death, Sex and Money
Q: What did you think about the way it was constructed narratively?
The narrative leaps across time and space to mirror grief and renewal, and it challenges the audience to track those jumps while still feeling the emotional throughline.
Homewreckers
Q: Do you feel like more of a short story writer or a novelist or do you not think that way?
Erdrich explains that she writes with a strong sense of narrative voice and point of view, often starting with a story-like impulse but evolving toward longer forms; she values the craft of shaping a perspective over whether a work is a story or a novel.
Meg Wolitzer Talks with Louise Erdrich
Q: Do you feel in your heart or guts what your next project is meant to be, and how does that influence your choice between a short story and a novel?
Both writers describe how intuition guides them: stories often begin with a wave of emotion, and eventually expand into longer forms when the story demands more space, making the decision between short story and novel a fluid, consciously evolved process.
To the Rescue
Q: Where did the concept for 'Animal Hospital' come from?
Joe Meno explains that his own experiences alongside conversations with his young children about death inspired the story and informed how children grapple with the idea of mortality through play.
The Role You Were Born to Play
Q: Are you drawing on any personal experience?
Yes, I have a half-sister who is much older than me, which gives me a mix of experiences between being an only child and having a sibling.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Selected Shorts

What is Selected Shorts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary-arts podcast that pairs short fiction with live readings, anchored by a thoughtful host who guides discussions, author context, and performance. Episodes showcase a wide range of contemporary short stories, classic pieces, and themed salons, often interspersed with author intros, reader performances, and occasional branded segments. Notable elements include a strong emphasis on literary analysis, high-profile reader performances, and collaborations with literary communities, which can create a rich, theater-like listening experience. Potential listeners may appreciate nuanced storytelling, literary debates, and performances by accomplished actors, with occasional health or travel-themed and promotional interludes that broaden the... more

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How many subscribers and views does Selected Shorts have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Selected Shorts has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Selected Shorts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Selected Shorts:

1. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
2. The New Yorker: Fiction
3. The Moth
4. Snap Judgment
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Selected Shorts are there?

Selected Shorts launched 19 years ago and published 37 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Selected Shorts?

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What guests have appeared on Selected Shorts?

Recent guests on Selected Shorts include:

1. Daniel Kehlmann
2. Trace Dominguez
3. Lily King
4. George Saunders
5. Edie Falco
6. Roz Chast
7. Edward P. Jones
8. Sonia Manzano

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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