Selected Shorts
Symphony SpaceOur 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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 35 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksFictionArts | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Written by Carmen Maria Machado, the dark, inventive and sensual writer behind the collection Her Body and Other Parties, and the memoir In the Dream House, this story, “Persephone Rides at the End of Days," was commissioned for the Selected Shorts a... more
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about characters wrestling with their roles in life. In “The Ugly Sister,” by Joanne Harris, a fairy-tale villainess tells her side of the story. The reader is Jayne Atkinson. And a young wife struggles to fi... more
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about finding solutions to complex problems, and to simple ones. T. C. Boyle tackles evolution and government intervention in “Top of the Food Chain,” read by Zach Grenier. In Matthew Ryan Frankel’s “Carapace,... more
Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays’ associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways. Amy Krouse Rosenthal presents a playful encounter with the Almighty in “Interview with God,” perf... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- 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 Podcasts4CuteLouise
United Statesa month 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 Podcasts2sfcarltUnited States2 months ago - Look forward to episodes each week
Sometimes it is amazing that these stories are free. You can also find older episodes on their website
Apple Podcasts5Lofihiphop123United States2 months ago - Overacting is erasing the legacy of Isaiah Sheffer
No one can replace him, of course, but my goodness how the readers have slid into actorly bad habits. It’s a shame. These are short stories, not monologues. Someone alert the director or the engineer or Meg W or someone that this is no longer special; it’s a slog.
Apple Podcasts3PureSaraSueUnited States4 months ago - Beyond disappointed but not at all surprised
How do you platform Israeli writers, when Palestinians are being genocided by Israel, the colonizing, thieving, pseudo-nation that uses Western powers to bully every one of their neighbors and anyone who dares to speak out or resist? WHERE are the Palestinian, Yemeni, and Lebanese storytellers??? WHERE?!? Needless to say, I am blocking and demoting this podcast.
Apple Podcasts1StardustBabeUnited States4 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #14 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #29 | United States/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #32 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #67 |  United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #79 | Canada/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #159 | United Kingdom/Arts |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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 art of storytelling, this audio platform invites listeners to experience a variety of short stories read by notable actors. Episodes feature a compelling array of narratives that range from humorous takes on life's absurdities to poignant reflections on human connections. With each episode, the enchantment of literature is brought to life through an engaging blend of performances and insightful commentary from the host. The format encompasses modern reimaginings of classic tales, explorations of unique themes like personal identity, time, and relationship dynamics, helping listeners to reflect on broader human experiences through the lens of fiction. This unique convergence of acclaimed performers and diverse narratives make... more
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 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 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. Meron Hadero
2. Matthew Ryan Frankel
3. Ira Glass
4. Sara Bareilles
5. Michael Cunningham
6. Geoffrey Arend
7. Michael Urie
8. Colton Dunn
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.