Selected Shorts

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the complex and contradictory nature of human identity through short fiction stories about multifaceted characters.

This episode of Selected Shorts features three fictional stories about people who vanish, exploring the mystery and emotional impact of disappearances through playful and strange narratives.

This episode features an interview with podcaster Kathryn Nicolai about her sleep-focused fiction podcast Nothing Much Happens, exploring how she creates calming stories to help listeners fall asleep.

This episode of Selected Shorts features three short stories about unexpected encounters that tangibly affect characters' lives, performed live by actors at Symphony Space.

Meg Wolitzer discusses Louise Erdrich's short story 'The Big Cat' with a focus on its themes of marriage, relationships, and the creative process behind fiction writing.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores fiction about unlikely events like winning the lottery and their psychological impact on people.

This episode introduces Haruki Murakami's distinctive writing style and recurring motifs through a discussion of his short stories featured on Selected Shorts.

This episode of Selected Shorts features fiction and essays that reexamine American history and progress through the works of influential figures like James Baldwin and Shirley Chisholm.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores themes of preparation and unexpected challenges through short stories by writers like Margaret Atwood, framed by humorous reflections on practical advice and literary inspiration.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the theme of interventions through short stories by Stephen King and Jamel Brinkley, examining how outside agents impact lives in various ways.

This episode explores the life and work of underappreciated 20th century American writer Willa Cather through a conversation with documentarian Ken Burns and host Meg Wolitzer.

This episode explores how people inhabit various roles in their lives, from daily identities to deeper personal parts, through fiction stories about whether we can break out of predetermined roles.

This episode explores the themes of giving, receiving, and holiday traditions through personal anecdotes and fictional stories.

Ira Glass interviews his longtime friend, Israeli writer Etgar Keret, about his new short story collection and shares a humorous anecdote about Israeli airport security.

This episode explores the theme of self-deception through a short story about participation trophies and personal anecdotes, such as indulging in unhealthy food while avoiding the truth.

This episode explores the human tendency to imagine better lives through two short stories about relationships, examining themes of aspiration, comparison, and the contradictions in what we seek.

This episode explores three fictional short stories that present unsolvable problems in different styles, examining how literature addresses life's complex dilemmas.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the unique dynamics of neighbor relationships through fiction, examining how proximity creates both distance and unexpected intimacy.

This episode explores the theme of perfect mismatches through three short stories about unusual relationships and attractions.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the magic of books and words through short stories about literary sensations and personal connections, featuring a visit to an indie bookstore.

This episode of Selected Shorts features provocative short stories by authors like Umberto Eco and Edith Wharton that explore summer travel and adventures with themes of romance, betrayal, and unexpected twists.

This episode explores the intersection of therapy and fiction, examining how psychological concepts influence storytelling and cultural conversations, featuring insights from actors and live performances.

This episode reimagines classic stories like Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, and Jack and the Beanstalk with modern twists, featuring actors Jim Parsons and Sara Bareilles.

Meg Wolitzer interviews author Michael Cunningham about his writing, including his story 'Jacked' and his connection to fairy tales.

This episode features Meg Wolitzer and Cynthia Nixon celebrating the 2025 Best American Short Stories volume edited by Celeste Ng, highlighting two selected stories and the editorial process.

Host Aparna Nancherla introduces the podcast 'Selected Shorts Too Hot for Radio' and explores the theme of whether names can hint at destiny, using her own name's mythological origins as an example.

This episode of Selected Shorts features humorous short stories about marriages in jeopardy, exploring the unexpected ways relationships are tested, along with an interview with author Louise Erdrich.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the theme of time through two short stories, including Helen Phillips' sci-fi tale 'The Knowers', examining how time affects human lives and choices.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores stories about simple and unexpected solutions to problems, featuring a story by T.C.

This episode features a discussion of Roxane Gay's short story 'Requiem for a Glass Heart', exploring its themes of sexuality, feminism, and unexpected narrative twists.

This episode explores how unexpected, accidental moments in everyday life can lead to profound personal revelations and wisdom through short fiction stories.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores the concept of reality through three short stories, including Louise Erdrich's 'The Leap' about a mother's instinct to save her child.

This episode celebrates the 100th anniversary of The New Yorker magazine by featuring selected short stories from its new anthology, A Century of Fiction, with commentary from fiction editor Deborah Treisman.

This episode explores the parallels between AI and maternal voices through humorous fiction, delving into the inner monologues that shape writers' lives and storytelling.

Actor Denis O'Hare discusses the differences between reading aloud for live audiences versus microphones, how audience reactions influence performance, and the challenges of translating written text to spoken word.

Host Aparna Nancherla introduces a risque fictional story by Paul La Farge from the archives, warning about cocaine and sex in unusual places while highlighting its subtle narrative.

This episode explores the generation gap through humor and reflection, using dated references and short fiction to examine how cultural differences shape perceptions between older and younger generations.

This episode explores how writers use sleight of hand techniques similar to magicians to manipulate reader expectations and create surprise in fiction.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores how to address problematic behavior in friends through short stories about intervention, accountability, and communication.

This episode features a literary short story by Pam Houston exploring themes of love, sex, and relationships through surreal imagery and playful syntax, blurring lines between a boyfriend and a dog.

This episode explores the deep bond between humans and dogs, examining their transformation from wolves to beloved family members and the emotional benefits they provide.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores stories about characters who find delight and liberation in being uprooted, featuring works by authors like Ann Tyler performed by actors like Jane Curtin.

This episode of Selected Shorts features actors Amy Ryan and Martin Short performing Ramona Ausubel's short story 'You Can Find Love Now', a quirky take on mythology that explores limited viewpoints and new perspectives through fiction.

This episode of Selected Shorts explores fiction about the human impulse to reinvent things that already work well, using stories like Simon Rich's to examine creativity and perfectionism.

This episode of Selected Shorts features fiction stories about intimate emotional conflicts and tensions within families and relationships, exploring drama and comedy in everyday triggers and combustible situations.

This episode of Selected Shorts features fiction stories about characters encountering various solutions to their problems, including a door-to-door salesman with futuristic technology, a celestial being offering remedies, and a Ray Bradbury time travel classic.

This episode of Selected Shorts Too Hot for Radio features a provocative short story by Rachel B.

Meg Wolitzer interviews Judy Blume on election eve, discussing personal anxiety and the surge of government-led book banning in Florida, including Pan America's efforts to combat it.

Novelist A.M.

This episode celebrates McSweeney's 25th anniversary by exploring its history as an indie publisher known for clever, funny, and literary works, including journals, satire, and educational initiatives.

Meg Wolitzer interviews investigative reporter Jodi Kantor about her work on the Harvey Weinstein case, the Obamas, and the Supreme Court.

Meg Wolitzer introduces two stories about family bonds from unusual perspectives, performed by actors.

Host Meg Wolitzer introduces an episode of Selected Shorts featuring short stories about strange substitutions and creative recreations of reality.

This episode of Selected Shorts features stories that have been adapted for the screen, including All About Eve, The Twilight Zone, and Alice in Wonderland.

An interview with author Andy about his short story 'A Very Nixon Halloween', exploring Nixon's post-presidential exile.

Michael Ian Black introduces a story by Otessa Moshfegh for the Too Hot for Radio series, warning of mature content.

Actors perform short stories exploring idealized lives and the cost of perfection.

An interview with author Elizabeth Strout about her short story 'Home' and her novel 'Lucy by the Sea', including a discussion of her interconnected character universe.

An interview with author George Saunders about his short stories, focusing on the tension between action and inaction in fiction.

Meg Wolitzer interviews author Mona Eltahawy about her essays on fearlessness, bravery, and the personal dangers of self-censorship.