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Artwork for Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes35Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionBooksArts

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Artwork for Selected Shorts

Latest Episodes

Host Meg Wolitzerpresents two stories about characters who find themselves in a place in which they need to make a choice, something that will affect them for the rest of their lives.  In Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic, “Direction of the Road,” an ancie... more

Host Meg Wolitzer presents the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast, a show that takes the questions you always wanted to ask and talks about them in a way that is easy to understand. Some times we want simple answers to complex questions! We here at Selected ... more

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 to make real contact with that person. The story is also about youth, love of language, and ... more

Host Meg Wolitzerpresents four works in which nature and the out-of-doors drive both plots and character.  Humorist Jenny Allen does battle with her stubborn plants in “Garden Growing Pains,” read by Kirsten Vangsness.  The majestic Canadian border s... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ann Harada
Reader of Edgar and Emma; Broadway/TV actor
Avenue Q; Symphony Space readings
Episode: Jane Austen at 250
Sophie Carmen-Jones
Reader of Jane Austen's letter to James Stanier Clarke; Selected Shorts debut
Theater/Stage
Episode: Jane Austen at 250
Wyatt Cenac
Reader of I Dated Jane Austen; contemporary writer/comedian
HBO; The Daily Show; TC. Boyle collaboration
Episode: Jane Austen at 250
TC Boyle
Author-reader of I Dated Jane Austen; collaboration with Austen's world
Author
Episode: Jane Austen at 250
Jodi Kantor
Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times; co-author of She Said
The New York Times
Episode: Tell Me More: Jodi Kantor
James Naughton
Longtime leading man reading What Feels Like the World by Richard Bausch
The Reading / Selected Shorts
Episode: Extended Families
Kaneza Schaal
Reader performing Grand Union excerpt, a Selected Shorts regular and performance artist
Grand Union / Selected Shorts
Episode: Extended Families
Santino Fontana
Tony-winning stage actor read Ben Loory's The Vatican; known for Broadway shows and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Episode: Remakes and Replicas
Nathan Hinton
Reader for Kaitlyn Greenidge's I Love Betty
Theater/Stage Acting
Episode: Remakes and Replicas

Host

Meg Wolitzer
Host and author, providing insights into the stories and engaging with the themes presented in the narratives, with a strong writing background that enriches the listener's experience.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 3.4k ratings
  • 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 States18 days 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 States2 months ago
  • Short Changing Listeners

    I used to listen to this podcast faithfully every week and then I’d listen to them again but not anymore. There are people out here who have an attention span of more than 7 minutes. We actually listened to the entire podcast when it was an hour long! Not anymore. You gave up quality for quantity. You lost this faithful listener. How many more did you gain?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ApperUzr
    United States3 months ago
  • I was around at the birth of Selected Shorts

    I went to hear Selected Shorts in the mid-1980s at the original Symphony Space before the theater was renovated and renamed. I loved hearing the stories in person, read by wonderful actors and introduced by Isaiah Sheffer. It was exciting but low key. I moved to California in 1987 and have not been able to make another trip to Symphony Space. Just wanted to say I loved it, loved being in the "delivery room" when Selected Shorts was born. I never heard a story I didn't love. I'm afraid it's... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CuteLouise
    United States5 months ago
  • Disappointed

    I was a huge fan of the original Selected Shorts and was thrilled to discover the new podcast. Sadly, this edition of SS is a huge disappointment. As many reviews have pointed out, the host talks too much and most of the readers/actors are over doing it. As someone else mentioned, these are short stories, not monologues or scripts.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sfcarlt
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many listeners appreciate the variety of stories and the talented narrators who bring them to life.
Overall, listeners enjoy the thematic depth of the content but occasionally criticize the pacing and presentation of the stories.
There are mixed feelings about the current hosting style, with some expressing a desire for less commentary from the host and a return to straightforward story readings.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#23
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#48
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#67
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#195
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Role You Were Born to Play
Q: How do you feel the story exemplifies the theme of sibling rivalry?
The story showcases the complexities of sibling relationships, mixing humor with disturbing elements that resonate with shared experiences and perceptions.

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?

Focusing on the intersection of storytelling and performance, this podcast features prominent actors bringing short stories to life. Each episode is carefully curated, showcasing a range of narratives that highlight complex emotions, societal reflections, and the intricacies of human experience. Through its diverse selection of tales—from contemporary fiction to classical literature—listeners are invited to explore themes such as identity, friendship, and personal growth, often accompanied by insightful discussions from the host.

Where can I find podcast stats for Selected Shorts?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Selected Shorts. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Selected Shorts and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Selected Shorts get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Selected Shorts, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Selected Shorts?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Selected Shorts, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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

How many episodes of Selected Shorts are there?

Selected Shorts launched 19 years ago and published 35 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Selected Shorts?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Selected Shorts from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Selected Shorts?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Selected Shorts. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Selected Shorts?

Recent guests on Selected Shorts include:

1. Ann Harada
2. Sophie Carmen-Jones
3. Wyatt Cenac
4. TC Boyle
5. Jodi Kantor
6. James Naughton
7. Kaneza Schaal
8. Santino Fontana

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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