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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
Literature
Family Relationships
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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes36Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

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Artwork for Selected Shorts

Latest Episodes

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 Confession,” by Ernie Wang, a man struggles with a messy past that is affecting the presen... more

Host Meg Wolitzer presents the Wayfinder podcast. It’s a podcast about travel journeys that transform us, told through immersive stories of places, people, and moments that stay with you even once you are back home. Give it a listen, and we hope you ... more

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 size.  So if you’re “Medusa,” as in our first story, by Tania James, you try to figure out h... more

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social occasions for introverts and extroverts alike, curated with the Belletrist Book Club, founded by actor Emma Roberts and producer Karah Preiss, and recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Humo... 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

Constance Zimmer
Actor reading Medusa from Tania James
Belletrist collaboration
Episode: Modest Expectations
Randall Park
Actor reading We Only Wanted Their Happiness by Alexander Weinstein
Alexander Weinstein reading
Episode: Modest Expectations
Laura Harrier
Actor reading Arrangements by Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts story reading
Episode: Modest Expectations
Will Harrison
Actor reading Arrangements by Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts story reading
Episode: Modest Expectations
Emma Roberts
Co-founder of Belletrist, involved in introduction
Belletrist
Episode: Modest Expectations
Karah Preiss
Co-founder of Belletrist, involved in introduction
Belletrist
Episode: Modest Expectations
Judy Greer
Performing The Anniversary Trip by Victoria Lancelotta
Actor (Arrested Development, Ant-Man)
Episode: Save the Date with Belletrist Book Club
Erinn Hayes
Performing Bridal Body by Jen Spyra
Actor (Children's Hospital, The Goldbergs)
Episode: Save the Date with Belletrist Book Club
Nikki M. James
Reader/performer for Direction of the Road
Broadway actress
Episode: Fork in the Road

Host

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

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 Statesa month 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 States4 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 States6 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.

Fans value high-profile guests and theatre-quality delivery of stories.
Positive feedback highlights the enduring literary focus and varied story selections.
Critics note inconsistent pacing and overemphasis on interviews in some episodes.
Listeners appreciate the quality of readings and performances, though some want fewer host interludes.
Many long-time listeners miss the original host and prefer a quieter editorial approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#11
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#36
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#28
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#62
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#181
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?

A curated showcase of literary short fiction brought to life by a rotating cast of celebrated actors and authors. Episodes blend live readings, dramatic performances, and thoughtful commentary, often curated in collaboration with literary communities like Belletrist. Guests range from renowned novelists and editors to stage and screen actors who perform or read excerpts, creating an intimate, theatre-like experience that ties literature to performance and culture. Noteworthy is the recurring mix of classic and contemporary stories, high-profile reading talent, and behind-the-scenes context about the production and sponsor partnerships, which gives listeners a sense of both artistry and literary community-building.

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?

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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 New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
2. The Moth
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 36 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.

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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. Constance Zimmer
2. Randall Park
3. Laura Harrier
4. Will Harrison
5. Emma Roberts
6. Karah Preiss
7. Judy Greer
8. Erinn Hayes

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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