
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 35 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | FictionBooksArts | |||

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
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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
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.
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?
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
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #7 | |
Apple Podcasts | #23 | |
Apple Podcasts | #15 | |
Apple Podcasts | #48 | |
Apple Podcasts | #67 | |
Apple Podcasts | #195 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Selected Shorts:
1. The Moth
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3. The New Yorker: Fiction
4. Snap Judgment
5. This American Life
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.
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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Selected Shorts from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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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
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