Selected Shorts

Эпизоды

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  Romance of the Summer 06.08.2026 1ч

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents three lively stories about the allure—or not—of summer. Italian writer Massimo Bontempeli creates a magical beach inside an apartment in “The Miraculous Beach, or Prize for Modesty.” The work was translated by Jenny McPhee and is read by Hugh Dancy. Humorist Samantha Irby doesn’t get summer, and presents a contrarian’s view in “The Case for Remaining Indoors,” read by Retta. And Denis O’Hare reads a baseball classic—W.P. Kinsella’s “The Thrill of the Grass.”
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  Shifting Identities 30.07.2026 59мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about shifting identities. In “Voices”, by German writer Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Carol Brown Janeway, a computer technician’s mobile phone takes over his life—and not in the usual way. The reader is David Costabile. Writer Chika Unigwe sets a subtle story of social exploitation in the teeming city of Lagos. The reader is Yetide Badaki, who commented on the story during a backstage interview
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  Picture Perfect 23.07.2026 1ч 1мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about idealized lives, and ideas about what constitutes an ideal life. “Boy Meets Girl” is Jen Kim’s humorous version of a Hollywood love story. It’s read by Tony Hale. In the John Cheever classic “The Worm in the Apple” a couple have the perfect life—but no one can believe it. It’s read by Anne Meara. And a harried mother fantasizes about a brand new life in Vanessa Cuti’s “Our Children,” performed by Claire Danes, followed by an interview with Danes. .
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  Walking on Eggshells 16.07.2026 58мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about being careful. The title says it all in George Saunders’ “Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and Husband,” as the central character goes to greater and greater extremes to protect his family from—everything. The reader is BD Wong. And a couple tiptoe towards love in Lily King’s “Five Tuesdays in Winter,” read by Justin Kirk. A brief interview with King is included.
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  Lost and Found 09.07.2026 59мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about losing something, but finding something revealing to take its place. In “Light,” by Lesley Nkeka Arimah, parents differ about how to raise a strong-willed daughter. The reader is Crystal Dickinson. And in Taryn Bowe’s “Camp Emeline,” performed by Edie Falco, a family struggles after a loss, but grief leads to self-discovery for the determined narrator. This lovely work also introduces SELECTED SHORTS’ first-ever on-air book club. Wolitzer joins a lively mother/daughter group to talk about Bowe’s work and how they related to it.
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  Too Hot For Radio: Erin Somers "Washing Up" 06.07.2026 29мин

  Miriam Shor (Pluribus, The Americans) reads Erin Somers' story about a mom doing not seemingly very mom-like things.
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  Stories from the City of Immigrants with Waterwell 02.07.2026 1ч 22мин

  In this program, created in collaboration with Waterwell and the New York Immigration Coalition, guest host Arian Moayed takes listeners through a live performance of thirteen stories and one song that vividly bring to life the vital role immigrants play in New York City's past, present and future. Here are their names: Mary Twomey, Sara M., Zead Ramadan and Andy Eng, Mónica Carrillo, Sabelo Narasimhan, Sadie Frowne, Gulnahar Alam, Fred Amram, Mohmoud Widdi, Tien “Johnny” Nghe, and Kofi, and Hassan Iqbal. Readers include Moayed, and, in order of content, Jayne Houdyshell, Roberta Colindrez, Simu Liu, Pej Vahdat, Camila Cano-Flavia, Sunita Mani, Micaela Diamond, Sepideh Moafi, Kathryn Grody, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman, and Justin H. Min. Near the middle of the program, a Korean folksong, “New Arirang,” is performed by Ruthie Ann Miles. Listeners should note that Gulnahar Alam’s moving story, which begins at 36:56, includes a brief description of domestic abuse near the beginning of her narration.
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  Roz Chast: While You Were Sleeping 25.06.2026 1ч 1мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works from an evening with New Yorker author and cartoonist Roz Chast, inspired by Chast’s book I Must be Dreaming. “The Wife on Ambien,” by Ed Park, is a sort of late-night fever dream. It’s read by John Fugelsang. In Tessa Hadley’s “Bad Dreams,” images than begin in dreams envelop a family in real life. The reader is Rita Wolf. Tom Barbash’s “Stay Up With Me” charts the rocky path of an old love affair. It’s read by Jason Ralph. And stay tuned for Chast’s own weird dream life, some of which she shares in this episode.
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  Twisty Tales: O. Henry Prize Winners with Edward P. Jones 18.06.2026 58мин

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two O. Henry Prize-winning stories, from the volume guest edited by Edward P. Jones. The Prize was created in honor of the 19th-century writer best known for slyly humorous stories like “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “Gift of the Magi,” but contemporary selections range wide. In “Rosaura at Dawn,” by Daniel Saldaña París, a woman searches for new life, and a new home. The reader is Sonia Manzano. And “Countdown,” by Anthony Marra, is a darkly comic look at life in modern Russia. The reader is Morgan Spector.
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  Too Hot For Radio: Jonathan Lethem "The King of Sentences" 04.05.2026 44мин

  The author of novels such as Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude brings us a story about meeting your heroes. It's read by the actor Brendan Hunt, best known these days for the series Ted Lasso.
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  Tell Me More: Jodi Kantor 20.04.2026 30мин

  Meg Wolitzer speaks to Jodi Kantor, the prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, as part of the spin-off series, where we bring together all kinds of stories and storytelling.
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  Meg Wolitzer Talks with Louise Erdrich 19.03.2026 14мин

  In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Louise Edrich about “The Big Cat,” her craft, and her Native American roots.
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  Meg Wolitzer Talks with Denis O'Hare 05.03.2026 16мин

  In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with actor Denis O’Hare about his craft, and his approaches to readings of the two very different stories on this program.
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  Too Hot For Radio: Paul La Farge "Another Life" 02.03.2026 28мин

  Actor Josh Radnor performs Paul La Farge's story, "Another Life."
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  Too Hot For Radio: Carmen Maria Machado "Persephone Rides at the End of Days" 05.01.2026 20мин

  Cynthia Nixon reads Carmen Maria Machado's short story, "Persephone Rides at the End of Days."
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  Bonus: Etgar Keret and Ira Glass 11.12.2025 35мин

  Israeli writer Etgar Keret talks to his friend, This American Life host Ira Glass.
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  Meg Wolitzer Talks to Author Michael Cunningham 13.11.2025 22мин

  The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Hours sits down with Meg for a chat about all things writing.
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  Tell Me More: Kathryn Nicolai 15.09.2025 32мин

  Introducing Tell Me More, a bonus podcast that brings all kinds of stories and storytelling together under one big tent. First up, an interview with the popular host of the podcast, Nothing Much Happens, Kathryn Nicolai.
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  Bonus: A.M. Homes interviews Margaret Atwood 26.06.2025 17мин

  As part of our live event with Margaret Atwood, host A.M. Homes interviewed her from the stage at Symphony Space. Here is that interview.
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  Bonus: Meg Wolitzer Talks with Judy Blume 16.01.2025 14мин

  Meg Wolitzer speaks with author Judy Blume about her life, her writing and the challenges of book banning.