Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts has been presenting live readings of short fiction at Symphony Space in New York City since 1985, making it one of the longest-running literary events in the country. The podcast captures these performances, pairing celebrated actors with stories by both established and emerging writers. The result is something between a literary journal and a one-person show — each episode brings a story fully to life through performance. Hosted by Meg Wolitzer, the podcast features performers like Claire Danes, BD Wong, and Amber Ruffin reading works by a wide range of authors. The story selections span genres and styles — realist fiction, magical realism, humor, pathos — and the curation is thoughtful. Wolitzer introduces each piece with context about the author and the story, then steps aside to let the performance speak for itself. The podcast archive is still growing, with 32 episodes available and new ones premiering weekly on Thursdays. The connection to Symphony Space gives the show a gravitas that most fiction podcasts lack — these are not bedroom recordings, they are produced performances in one of New York's premier arts venues. If you love short fiction and appreciate hearing stories read by people who know how to inhabit a text, Selected Shorts is a rare treat in the podcast landscape.