Selected Shorts

Guest host Kate Burton presents three stories in translation selected with the international literary organization Words Without Borders. A wealthy woman winds up on the other side of the poverty line in Évelyne Trouillot’s “Detour,” performed by Rita Wolf and Arian Moayed. A civil servant becomes a soccer star in Réka Mán-Várhegyi’s "Woman Striker Has Killer Left Foot,” performed by Adina Verson. And two teenage misfits visit a chimp in “Muzaffer and Bananas” by Yalçın Tosun, performed by Arian Moayed.

Guest host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about profound and unexpected connections between people—territory she herself covers a lot as a writer. Old enemies meet in Lauren Groff’s “Once,” performed by Cynthia Nixon. Old friends come together and wonder what might have been in Rachel Khong’s “Slow and Steady,” performed by Hettienne Park. And an artistic collaboration takes a bizarre turn in Elizabeth Crane’s “Something Shiny,” performed by Kate Walsh.

Guest host Jane Kaczmarek presents three stories where facts, beliefs, and fabrications coincide. Essayist Samantha Irby debunks nature, fresh air, and sunshine in “The Case for Remaining Indoors,” performed by Retta. Rebecca Makkai shares tattered facts about a terrorist in “Everything We Know About the Bomber,” performed by John Cameron Mitchell. And Michael McKean brings a difficult father to life in Walter Kirn’s “The Hoaxer.”

Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents stories, essays, and poems, and speeches celebrating America’s diversity and wealth of stories. An aging father ponders his life in Elizabeth Strout’s “The Walk,” read by Ellen Burstyn. The whole country’s talking in Susan Minot’s “Listen,” read by Jennifer Ikeda and Khris Lewin. Julia Alvarez faces prejudice and finds her voice in “Speak! Speak!” read by Selenis Leyva, and Henry Louis Gates intros works by 19th-century African-American women writers from his anthology.

Funny Favorites from Andy Borowitz by Symphony Space

Past and Future by Symphony Space

Guest host Cynthia Nixon presents two stories featuring man's best friend. In "Pie Dance," by Molly Giles, a divorcee balances a complicated family menage with the help of her dancing dog. Nixon read this story as part of Radio Love Fest, a production of WNYC and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, at BAM's Harvey Theater. Then in Maile Meloy's touching tale, "Madame Lazarus" an elegant, aging Frenchman is no longer certain of his younger lover, but has complete faith in the love and loyalty of his self-willed terrier Cordelia. Reader Rene Auberjonois read this story at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

Guest host Robert Sean Leonard presents a tribute to the classic TV series, “The Twilight Zone,” including two stories that were featured on the show: Price Day’s “Four O’Clock,” read by Zachary Quinto, in which a man with awesome powers knows just how to improve the world. And “Perchance to Dream,” by Charles Beaumont, in which the lines between sleeping and waking blur. It’s read by Zach Grenier. Roald Dahl’s “The Landlady,” is the perfect hostess, thinks the unwary young man who comes to her door. It’s read by Sam Underwood.

Bruce Jay Friedman has been hailed by critics as a comic genius, a writer whose vision confronts the malaise of contemporary life with a liberating deadpan humor. Friedman has published several novels, multiple collections of short stories, four plays, and several works of nonfiction. His short story “A Change of Plan” was adapted by Neil Simon and Elaine May into the movie The Heartbreak Kid. He wrote the movie scripts for Doctor Detroit, Stir Crazy, and Splash, for which he received an Oscar nomination and the Steve Martin film The Lonely Guy was based on Friedman’s book. Our reader is celebrated actress Sigourney Weaver.

Over the years, Selected Shorts has recorded amazing stories that due to language issues or content advisories were, well, too hot for radio. Now we've gone into the vault, selected some of the best of these recordings, and created this new podcast. It’s Selected Shorts: Too Hot For Radio. Each episode centers around one story, whether it’s 5 minutes or 45 and will feature commentary and special guests. The show is hosted by comedian Aparna Nancherla. We'll be releasing one show every other week with our partner Panoply. Initial shows feature stories by Stephen King, Simon Rich, Hillary Mantel, and Chuck Palahniuk.