Selected Shorts

Guest host Jane Kaczmarek presents two very different stories about the overlap of aspirations and dreams. In “Fairness,” by Nigerian-born writer Chinelo Okparanta, a young girl from a well-to-do household is obsessed with the idea of having lighter skin, an obsession shared by all the women in her family circle. The reader is Chinasa Ogbuagu. In Rachel Simon’s eerie “Little Nightmares, Little Dreams,” a husband wants to share everything with his wife of fifty-four years, including their dreams. The story is performed by Maria Tucci.

Guest host Cynthia Nixon presents stories about the family dynamics between children and parents. It's never too early to defy gender norms, as Ivan E. Coyote confides in "No Bikini," read by Becca Blackwell. A woman confronts her mother's aging, and her own childlessness, in Kathryn Chetkovich's tender story "The World with My Mother Still In It," read by Phillipa Soo. And three generations are "At the Zoo," in a story by Caitlin Horrocks: a rowdy grandpa, a sensitive child, and a mother caught between the two. The reader is Kate Walsh.

Guest host Hope Davis presents three stories about being perceived, and remembered, by others. In Aimee Bender’s “The Rememberer,” wonderfully performed by the late Marian Seldes, a woman has to reconstruct her lover from memory as he undergoes an extraordinary transformation. In “Rumors About Me,” an ordinary man becomes a media sensation. The unsettling story is by Yasutaka Tsutsui, translated by Andrew Driver, and performed by Kennedy Kanagawa. And an orange rules the world in a gentle fantasy by Benjamin Rosenbaum, performed by John Cameron Mitchell.

Guest host Michael Cerveris presents two stories in which a lot happens, but subtly. The narrator of A.M. Homes’ “Yours Truly” is “hiding in the linen closet” on a journey of self-discovery. The reader is Beth Malone. In Weike Wang’s “Omakase” a couple’s special sushi dinner proves unexpectedly revealing. The reader is Jennifer Lim.

Guest host Roxane Gay presents two stories about making things work out, though sometimes at a cost. In “Loose Change,” by Andrea Levy, performed by Eve Best, a well-off Londoner has a strange encounter in an art gallery, one that recalls a pivotal moment in her family’s past. In Manuel Munoz’s "Anyone Can Do It,” a poor woman takes a risk in order to provide for her family. The reader is Monica Raymund.

Guest host Cynthia Nixon presents stories by two masters of the short-story form. Humor, humanity, and fantasy all combine in four tales of things gone wrong. In “Fly Already” by Etgar Keret, performed by Liev Schreiber, a widower and his small son watch a drama unfold. In “Where Are You?” by Joyce Carol Oates, performed by Dianna Agron, a demanding husband pushes his wife to the limit. In “One Gram Short” by Etgar Keret, performed by Ira Glass, a stoner makes a really bad deal; and Oates’ “Assassin” combines tongue-in-cheek horror and political satire. Becky Ann Baker is the reader.

Approaching Peace by Symphony Space

Motherhood with Celeste Ng and Mary Karr by Symphony Space

Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents two stories in which social outliers strive for love. In “Tandolfo the Great,” by Richard Bausch, a sad-sack children’s clown falls head over heels—without a banana peel. Michael Ian Black is the reader. And American master Carson McCullers presents a complex theory about the nature of love, from a surprising source: a down-at-heels guy in a diner. Lance Reddick reads “A Tree, A Rock, a Cloud.”

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.

Riverhead at 25 by Symphony Space

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.

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.

Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents three stories about workers and the workplace—and "the daily grind." In a John Cheever classic, “Bayonne,” a busy waitress defends her territory. The reader is Mary Kay Place. The always succinct Lydia Davis gives us “Alvin the Typesetter,” in which a bohemian artist battles job conformity. The late David Rakoff performs. And in “OBF, Inc." by Bernice L. McFadden, an interviewee at a hip start-up learns about a secret organization that sells cultural capital. It’s performed by Teagle F. Bougere.

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.