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, t...
AI overview.Symphony Space is an esteemed cultural institution in New York City, celebrated for its dedication to the arts and literature through performances, readings, an…
Insights from recent episode analysis
On the show
- Hugh Dancy2 eps
- Michael Stuhlbarg2 eps
- Denis O’Hare2 eps
Also: Ann Harada, Sophie Carmen-Jones, Wyatt Cenac, Jodi Kantor, Kaneza Schaal, James Naughton, Santino Fontana, Nathan Hinton, Maggie Siff, Marin Ireland, Andrea Martin, Celeste Ng, Kristine Nielsen, Keir Dullea, Louise Erdrich, Naomi Kritzer, Ling Ma
Audience Interest
- short stories
- fictional narratives
Podcast Focus
- storytelling by actors
- diverse literary voices
Publishing Consistency
- 33 episodes published
- active for 4 years
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on 3 signals.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇺🇸United States · BooksHOME#8314K to 1.7M
- 🇨🇦Canada · Books#128.6K to 45K
- 🇦🇺Australia · Books#331.6K to 8.7K
- 🇮🇳India · Books#92419 to 2.2K
- 🇳🇿New Zealand · Books#43195 to 1.0K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
326K to 1.7M🎙 Daily cadence·36 episodes·Last published 3d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
1.1M to 5.7M🇺🇸96%🇨🇦3%🇦🇺1% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
598K to 3.2M23K real followers tracked across platforms
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/22/26 | Unexpected Guests | Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about unexpected guests. In Carlos Greaves’ “A Visit from the Tune Squad,” a procrastinating writer gets a surprise intervention, in performances by Santino Fontana, Dylan Marron, and Sarah Mezzanotte. In our second story, Willa Cather delivers a moving tale of sin and redemption. Patricia Clarkson reads “The Burglar’s Christmas.” | 58m 05s | ||||||
| 10/15/26 | Mostly Good Intentions | Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that explore good intentions and how they can go wrong. In “Mantis,” by Gina Chung, a deadly insect tries to mend her ways. The reader is Monica Raymund. Dino Buzzati’s “The Jacket,” translated from the Italian by Lawrence Venuti, features a garment that just keeps on giving—but at what cost? The reader is Justin Kirk. And two outsiders connect at a party in Caitlin Horrocks’ “23 Months,” read by Liza Weil. | 58m 17s | ||||||
| 10/8/26 | Fitting In | 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. | 1h 00m 00s | ||||||
| 10/5/26 | Too Hot For Radio: Austin Blaze "Hail Mary" | Actor Will Brill reads author Austin Blaze's short story, "Hail Mary." The episode is hosted by Aparna Nancherla. | 40m 19s | ||||||
| 10/1/26 | Passport to Ireland with Colum McCann | 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. | 58m 13s | ||||||
| 9/24/26 | The New American West | 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. | 58m 13s | ||||||
| 9/17/26 | Love and UFOs | 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. | 58m 17s | ||||||
| 9/10/26 | foodnourishment+4 | Michael ImperioliHope Davis | — | — | foodnourishment+5 | — | 1h 02m 55s | ||
| 9/3/26 | lovemarriage+3 | — | Have You Met Husband?The Magician’s Wife | — | lovemarriage+4 | — | 57m 07s | ||
| 8/30/26 | literatureperformance+3 | Tim Curry | Ziggurat | — | Tim CurryZiggurat+4 | — | 46m 21s | ||
| 8/27/26 | speculative fictionliterature+3 | N.K. Jemisin | When the Yogurt Took OverMe and My Algo+2 | — | speculative fictionN.K. Jemisin+3 | — | 1h 00m 03s | ||
| 8/20/26 | flightimagination+3 | Abubakr AliMolly Bernard+2 | The Lunatics’ EclipseRoy Spivey+2 | — | flightstories+3 | — | 1h 00m 57s | ||
| 8/13/26 | perceptionbelief+4 | Kirsten VangsnessAto Blankson-Wood | Heart of a ChampionThe Let-Out | — | perceptionbelief+5 | — | 57m 51s | ||
| 8/6/26 | summerfiction+4 | Hugh DancyRetta+1 | The Miraculous Beach, or Prize for ModestyThe Case for Remaining Indoors+2 | — | summer storiesfiction+5 | — | 1h 00m 06s | ||
| 7/30/26 | identitysocial exploitation+3 | Yetide Badaki | — | — | shifting identitiesVoices+4 | — | 59m 21s | ||
| 7/23/26 | idealized livesHollywood love story+3 | Tony HaleAnne Meara+1 | Boy Meets GirlThe Worm in the Apple+1 | — | ideal lifehumorous love story+3 | — | 1h 01m 30s | ||
| 7/16/26 | family dynamicsfear+3 | Lily King | Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and HusbandFive Tuesdays in Winter | — | George SaundersLily King+5 | — | 58m 30s | ||
| 7/9/26 | lossself-discovery+4 | — | — | — | lossself-discovery+5 | — | 59m 35s | ||
| 7/6/26 | fictionparenting+3 | Miriam Shor | — | — | Erin SomersMiriam Shor+3 | — | 29m 47s | ||
| 7/2/26 | immigrationNew York City+4 | — | WaterwellNew York Immigration Coalition | — | immigrantsNew York+4 | — | 1h 22m 59s | ||
| 6/25/26 | dreamsliterature+3 | Roz Chast | I Must be DreamingThe Wife on Ambien+2 | — | Roz Chastdreams+3 | — | 1h 01m 09s | ||
| 6/18/26 | O. Henry Prizeshort stories+4 | Edward P. Jones | — | — | O. Henry Prizeshort stories+6 | — | 58m 13s | ||
| 6/11/26 | love storiesfiction+3 | Min Jin Lee | — | — | lovefiction+5 | — | 58m 13s | ||
| 6/4/26 | happinessgrief+4 | Peter Francis JamesMichael Stuhlbarg | The Model MillionaireSpace | — | happinessgrief+5 | — | 58m 15s | ||
| 5/28/26 | identityconnection+3 | Richard KindAmy Ryan | — | — | identityconnection+3 | — | 58m 15s | ||
| 5/21/26 | expectationsdreams+3 | Constance ZimmerRandall Park+3 | Belletrist | — | Modest Expectationsstories+6 | — | 59m 36s | ||
| 5/14/26 | social occasionsintroverts+4 | Samantha IrbyRicha Moorjani+4 | — | Getty CenterLos Angeles | social occasionsintroverts+5 | — | 59m 09s | ||
| 5/7/26 | choicerelationships+4 | — | Direction of the RoadThe Shabbos Goy | — | choicefiction+6 | — | 58m 43s | ||
| 5/4/26 | meeting heroesfiction+3 | Jonathan Lethem | Ted LassoMotherless Brooklyn+2 | — | Jonathan LethemBrendan Hunt+4 | — | 44m 00s | ||
| 4/30/26 | natureoutdoors+4 | — | CacheArtsUtah Public Radio+5 | — | natureliterature+5 | — | 57m 12s | ||
| 4/23/26 | Jane Austenliterature+4 | Ann HaradaSophie Carmen-Jones+2 | Edgar and EmmaI Dated Jane Austen+1 | — | Jane AustenEdgar and Emma+3 | — | 1h 00m 10s | ||
| 4/20/26 | investigative reportingstorytelling+3 | Jodi Kantor | The New York Times | — | Jodi KantorMeg Wolitzer+3 | — | 30m 59s | ||
| 4/16/26 | family dynamicsmother-daughter bond+3 | Kaneza SchaalJames Naughton | Grand UnionWhat Feels Like the World | — | familydynamics+6 | — | 56m 59s | ||
| 4/9/26 | fictioncommunication+3 | Santino FontanaNathan Hinton+1 | — | — | fictioncommunication+3 | — | 57m 00s | ||
| 4/2/26 | fictionfilm+3 | Marin IrelandMichael Stuhlbarg+1 | Tribeca Film FestivalButton, Button+3 | — | Selected ShortsTribeca Film Festival+3 | — | 58m 37s | ||
| 3/26/26 | short storiesliterature+3 | Celeste Ng | Best American Short Stories 2025An Early Departure+1 | — | Best American Short StoriesMeg Wolitzer+5 | — | 58m 29s | ||
| 3/19/26 | marriagehumor+3 | Kristine NielsenKeir Dullea | The Breaking Up of the WinshipsThe Big Cat | — | marriagehumor+3 | — | 58m 48s | ||
| 3/19/26 | interviewliterature+3 | Louise Erdrich | The Big Cat | — | Meg WolitzerLouise Erdrich+3 | — | 14m 52s | ||
| 3/12/26 | fictionunlikely scenarios+3 | Naomi KritzerLing Ma | — | — | Selected Shortsfiction+4 | — | 59m 24s | ||
| 3/5/26 | realitydreams+3 | Denis O’Hare | The LeapDeath and the Lady+1 | — | realitydreams+3 | — | 59m 05s | ||
Showing 40 of 36
Pitch Fit is a Pro feature
See how bookable this show is for guests, which brands already advertise, the per-episode ad value, and the best-fit guest and sponsor profile. The numbers are blurred on the free plan.
How readily this show books outside guests like you.
How proven this show is for host-read sponsorships.
For Guests
ProFor Advertisers
ProUpgrade to Pro to unlock guest cadence, sponsor categories, fit scores, and per-episode ad value for this show.
Similar Audience Demographics
Podcasts that attract a similar listener profile
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Symphony Space is an esteemed cultural institution in New York City, celebrated for its dedication to the arts and literature through performances, readings, and film screenings. Known for fostering creativity and diverse artistic expression, it serves as a platform for engaging with various forms of storytelling. "Selected Shorts" is a unique podcast that brings short fiction to life, featuring performances by renowned actors. Each episode connects listeners to a rich tapestry of narratives, blending humor and poignancy while showcasing a variety of literary voices. With new episodes released weekly, the show creates an immersive experience that celebrates the art of storytelling. The podcast appeals to a broad audience, including literature enthusiasts, theater lovers, and anyone seeking emotional connection through storytelling. Listeners value the accessibility of high-quality performances, as well as the opportunity to discover new authors and stories that resonate with diverse aspects of society and culture.
By the numbers
- Total followers: 25K
- Total plays: 847K
- Total reviews: 2.8K
Platforms
TuneIn
- Followers: 1
Castbox
- Followers: 17K
- Plays: 409K
- Reviews: 15
YouTube
- Subscribers: 2.3K
- Views: 438K
- Videos: 348
Podcast App
- Followers: 2.9K
- Reviews: 2.7K
Podcast Republic
- Followers: 3.1K
- Reviews: 5
Audience
general
Key insights
What the show covers
- storytelling by actors
- diverse literary voices
- exploration of fiction
- cultural commentary
Audience interests
- short stories
- fictional narratives
- theater performances
- literary discussions
Platform reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- potential for broad audience
- no specific platforms detected
- unknown follower count
Publishing consistency
- 33 episodes published
- active for 4 years
- new episodes every Thursday
- weekly or more often
Chart history for Selected Shorts
Peaked at #8 in United States, top 10 in 1 of 44 tracked markets, currently #8 in United States.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | #8 | #8 | — |
| Canada | — | #12 | #12 | — |
| United States | — | #26 | #26 | — |
| Australia | — | #33 | #33 | — |
| Canada | — | #35 | #35 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #43 | #43 | — |
| RO | — | #44 | #44 | — |
| IL | — | #44 | #44 | — |
| South Africa | — | #44 | #44 | — |
| GR | — | #45 | #45 | — |
| KE | — | #48 | #48 | — |
| PH | — | #57 | #57 | — |
| IS | — | #59 | #59 | — |
| Ireland | — | #63 | #63 | — |
| SG | — | #63 | #63 | — |
| HU | — | #72 | #72 | — |
| AR | — | #75 | #75 | — |
| Sweden | — | #86 | #86 | — |
| KE | — | #86 | #86 | — |
| Australia | — | #89 | #89 | — |
Chart Positions
44 placements across 28 markets.
Chart Positions
44 placements across 28 markets.