Advertise on podcast: Selected Shorts

Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in that explore the idea of “fitting in,” and whether it’s worth the effort.  In “Reality,” by Diana Spechler, a woman longs for the ephemeral glory of a reality show. It’s read by Kirsten Vangsness. “Long Hair,” by Uche Okonkwo, performed by Karen Pittman, explores hair as a form of power.  And “A Sacrifice,” by Simon Van Booy, performed by Joanna Gleason, tells of social dynamics and family secrets in a small Irish village. A brief interview with Van Booy is included. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, a story about bad behavior. But it's also about family and the limits of forgiveness. While this story wasn't written that long ago, due to technological advancements, it feels like a piece of the past. Just 10, even 5 years ago, you had to know a character they called a "bookie" to "place your bets" and, if you didn't pay up, "have your legs broken." That's the world we're about to enter. The story was written by Austin Blaze. Blaze is a writer from Northern California. His work has been listed as a distinguished story in The Best American Short Stories and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize. Our reader is Will Brill. Brill went to Broadway in the revival of Oklahoma! and in the play Stereophonic—for which he won a Tony. On TV, he's featured on series such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and in films including Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing. After the story, Blaze speaks to host Aparna Nancherla about his work.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer invites us on a literary tour of Ireland with bestselling author Colum McCann, who hosted a live event at Symphony Space celebrating the rich heritage of Irish literature, and some gifted contemporary voices.  The program includes, “Lucy’s Boyfriend,” a sharp-witted story about contemporary dating mores by Anne Enright, read by Crystal Dickinson; a touching reflection on the loss of Ireland’s young to jobs overseas, “Fishing in the Sloe-Black River,” by McCann himself, read by Aedin Maloney; and “Toronto and the State of Grace,”  a wild social comedy by Kevin Barry that takes place at a bar at the end of the world and is read by Santino Fontana. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works that reassess and redefine our ideas of “the West.”  It’s both a landscape of awesome beauty, and the scene of cultural appropriation, and we’ve got two masters sharing and shaping our experience.  In Louise Erdrich’s “The Hollow Children” a natural disaster tests family ties.  It’s read by Tate Donovan.  And writer and environmental activist Rick Bass stress tests the West, and his main character, in “Fires,” read by John Benjamin Hickey.  We also reprise part of an interview with Louise Erdrich from earlier in the year.  In it, she mentions a new novel in progress, which has now been published: The Mighty Red: A Novel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that combine different sorts of unknowables:  unidentified—or hard to identify—flying objects, and romantic love.  In “The Duck,” by Ben Loory, a heartsick mallard has chosen a really unattainable object of affection.  The reader, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, was Sonia Manzano.  And an early Haruki Murakami story, “U.F.O. in Kushiro,” sends a jilted husband on a journey of self-discovery.  The reader, at The Japan Society, was Javier Munoz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer presents two favorite Selected Shorts works in which food and nourishment figure both literally and symbolically.  The narrator of Haruki Murakami’s “The Year of Spaghetti” seems to be just sharing pasta recipes, but it’s the recipe for assuaging loneliness that may elude him.  The reader is Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli.  And unusual family dynamics shape Amy Bloom’s “Love is Not a Pie,” performed by Hope Davis.  We also share a discussion of this work by the mother and daughter book club organized by our frequent reader Rita Wolf and her daughter Anjeli. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about love and marriage.  In Amy Silverberg’s “Have You Met Husband?” two men and a dog vie for this title.  The reader is Molly Bernard.  And Mary Gordon’s “The Magician’s Wife” is a touching portrait of life-long devotion—a kind of magic itself.  The reader is Jane Curtin. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

British actor Tim Curry died on August 26th at the age of 80. Celebrated for his infamous portrayal of Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, his decades-long career included many other roles on stage and screen.   Among them, Mozart in Amadeus; King Arthur in the Monty Python musical Spamalot; and the evil clown, Pennywise, in a television adaptation of Stephen King’s It. In a generous obituary, the BBC shared tributes from many friends and admirers in the arts.  One was from comedienne Carol Burnett, who wrote on social media that "nobody could play lovable villains better than he could". And that is the Curry we are pleased to share with you in this special bonus podcast, in his deliciously chilling and seductive reading of Stephen O’Connor’s "Ziggurat." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works of speculative fiction curated by best-selling author N.K. Jemisin.  In John Scalzi’s “When the Yogurt Took Over” a popular breakfast staple decides it’s good for everyone.  The reader in Jin Ha.  Chatbots and A.I. can be helpful—but sometimes too helpful--as we hear in Alexandra Chang’s “Me and My Algo,” read by Catherine Cohen.  And Jemisin herself reworks a classic by Ursula K. Le Guin in “The Ones Who Stay and Fight,” read by Teagle F. Bougere.  Some of Jemisin’s on stage comments are included in this show Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents four works that were read as part of our live evening with WNYC’s Radiolab and hosts Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.The theme was flight in many imaginative manifestations. Randa Jarrar’s “The Lunatics’ Eclipse” is a fable-like story of romance and interstellar travel, read by Abubakr Ali. Our second story is “Roy Spivey,” by Miranda July, and is a sly and gentle probing of celebrity culture.  It’s read by Molly Bernard.  Don Shea’s “Jumper Down” bares the vulnerability and resilience of a rescue worker. it’s read by Becca Blackwell.  And our last story, “My Life as a Bat,” shares the secret life a mysterious creature in fact and fable. It’s by Canadian fiction master Margaret Atwood and is read by Zach Grenier. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Erin Somers is an author we've featured twice on Too Hot in the past, making her the first three-timer in the history of Too Hot! She's the author of the novels Stay Up with Hugo Best and The Ten Year Affair; the latter originated as a short story of the same title, which we did read on Too Hot. She's quite good at finding new ways to articulate the twists and turns of romantic relationships, as this story confirms. Reading this piece is Miriam Shor, an actor known for shows such as Younger and The Americans. She also featured in the recent hit film American Fiction and the Apple TV series Pluribus. Aparna Nancherla is our host. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 what you do with all your passion when you have more energy than you know what to do with.  This story is by Jonathan Lethem. He's a writer known for novels such as Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude, as well as short stories, recently collected in his book, A Different Kind of Tension. While he's amazing at crafting great narrative hooks, he's also quite good at recreating the awkward moments of young adulthood, as you'll hear in today's story, "The King of Sentences." The story is read by Brendan Hunt, the longtime writer and theater actor who is best known these days for the series Ted Lasso: Hunt helped to create it, write it, and on the show, he plays Coach Beard. Stay tuned after the story for a fascinating interview between Lethem and host Aparna Nancherla about creative influences, the power and peril of parasocial relationships, and more.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion, the two authors sit down to discuss journalism, the #MeToo movement, the Supreme Court, and what it takes to tell a good story. Jodi Kantor is a best-selling author and prize-winning investigative reporter whose work reveals hidden truths about power, law, gender, technology and culture. She is the bestselling co-author of She Said, the book that details the story of decades of sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein. She specializes in stories on power, gender, and technology, including workplace investigations into Amazon and Starbucks, and recent coverage of the Supreme Court.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Louise Edrich about “The Big Cat,” her craft, and her Native American roots. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.