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Selected Shorts 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. Produced and distributed by Symphony Space.
Selected Shorts

Podcast Directory
Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts

From Radiotopia

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. Produced and distributed by Symphony Space.

Most Recent Episodes

Approaching Peace

On this show, guest host Hope Davis presents three stories about finding some kind of peace and stability in a variety of challenging circumstances. In Rabih Alameddine's "Break" a trans woman reconnects with a sibling. The reader is Pooya Mohseni. Dave Eggers imagines a world changed by determined parents in "Your Mother And I," performed by the late David Rakoff. And love triumphs over illness in Amy Bloom's "Silver Water," performed by Linda Lavin. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motherhood with Celeste Ng and Mary Karr

On this show, guest host Kate Burton introduces two stories that look at the joys and complexity of motherhood. They were chosen by the novelist Celeste Ng and memoirist and essayist Mary Karr, each of whom comments briefly on her pick. In "Looking for a Thief," by Danielle Lazarin, a suburban mother questions her choices. The story is performed by Heather Burns. And Burton reads Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing," in which another mother wonders if she's done right by a challenging first child. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outcasts in Love with Maulik Pancholy

Two stories in which social outliers strive for love. "Tandolfo the Great," by Richard Bausch, is read by Michael Ian Black. And Lance Reddick reads "A Tree, A Rock, a Cloud" by American master Carson McCullers. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Evening with LeVar Burton

Guest host LeVar Burton presents two of his favorite stories. In Lucia Berlin's "Friends," the characters have different ideas about who benefits from their weekly lunches. The reader is Lydia Gaston. Next, Burton himself reads Jocelyn Nicole Johnson's powerful "Control Negro," in which an academic and father tries a real-world experiment to prove a theory about racism. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's Left Behind

Guest host Meg Wolitzer presents three diverse stories that look at what gets left behind when life changes, gradually or suddenly. Restless retirees try on the ultimate next step in Greg Ames' funny "Funeral Platter," performed by Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole. The family in Julia Alvarez's "Liberty" are on their way to a new life in America, but it's difficult leaving the old one behind. The reader is Laura Gomez. And a trainer of guide dogs for the blind learns how to let go, in Amy Hempel's "The Dog of the Marriage," performed by Joan Allen. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riverhead at 25

Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents works that reflect on the diversity and excellence of Riverhead Books, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018. The program features "Flower Hunters," by Lauren Groff, performed by Maria Dizzia, and "Buck Boy," by James McBride, performed by Teagle Bougere, as well as special commissions from Aja Gabel ("Alarm") and R.O. Kwon ("Tempo") both performed by Hettienne Park. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Personal Politics

Guest host Baron Vaughn presents three works where the personal and the political collide. In "Parent Night at Confidence Academy," by Kiley Reid, a teacher lets parents know what she really sees in their kids. The reader is Juliana Canfield. Two kingdoms have created ideal societies, as long as you don't mind a little restraint, in this playful fable by Berlin Alexanderplatz author Alfred Doblin, read by Kate Burton. And local politics gets ugly (even the dog is involved) in Peter Orner's "Shouting Wenkie," performed by Liev Schreiber. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of Control

Guest host Cynthia Nixon presents three works about losing control. In Dmitry Biriukov's "Hello?" a crowded city bus inspires one passenger to create a romantic scenario. The reader is Mike Doyle. Jenny Allen offers up a disastrous crafts project in "How to Tie-Dye," reader by Jane Curtin. And Anton Chekhov gives us a clueless young man beset by determined women in "From the Diary of a Hot-Tempered Man," read by Sam Underwood. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Too Hot for Radio: Stephen Tobolowsky "Listen to the Dog"

Writer and character actor Stephen Tobolowsky reads his own story about a Thanksgiving dinner that takes a most unexpected turn. Later he talks to host Aparna Nancherla about his work in TV, movies, and his podcast, The Tobolowsky Files. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Too Hot For Radio: Jess Walter "Helpless Little Things"

From the best-selling author Beautiful Ruins, an edgy, suspenseful story about a drug-dealing Portland con artist voiced by actor Denis O'Hare who seems to have the perfect scam going... until it all goes wrong. Jess Walter talks to host Aparna Nancherla about where he gets his inspiration from, reading his reviews, and how he handles the dreaded writer's block. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selected Shorts

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