Free Daily Podcast Summary
Selected Shorts: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Symphony Space
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, theater, and comedy.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago58 min
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.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago58 min
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago1h 0m
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago40 min
Too Hot For Radio: Austin Blaze "Hail Mary"
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.
- 4 weeks ago58 min
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Sep 24, 202658 min
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Sep 17, 202658 min
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Sep 10, 20261h 2m
A Full Plate
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.
Get Selected Shorts summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Small Fictions
Small Fictions
The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
Fiction writers from The New Yorker read their own stories.
The New Yorker: Fiction
A monthly reading and conversation with The New Yorker’s fiction editor Deborah Treisman.
The Truth
Immersive audio dramas with original stories, rich sound design, and diverse genres from suspense to comedy.
HumorUs Stories — Classic and Original Funny Stories
A curated collection of classic and original humorous short stories, narrated with wit and timing.
1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales
Classic short stories from renowned authors of the 1850–1930 era, curated and narrated for emotional depth and timeless appeal.
Comedy Saved Me
Comedians and entertainers share personal stories about how humor helped them overcome life’s challenges and find healing through laughter.
The Heart
Cinematic audio stories exploring love, intimacy, and human connection through immersive, boundary-pushing narratives.
The Broadway Show: Uncut
Extended interviews with top stage and screen stars, offering behind-the-scenes access to Broadway’s biggest shows and personalities.
Timesuck with Dan Cummins
A comedian explores bizarre historical events, conspiracies, and true crime with dark humor and deep research.
Dead Pilots Society
Unproduced TV pilot scripts are performed by知名 actors in live table reads hosted by industry insiders.
The Fog City Mysteries: IN COLOR!
A radio detective in a surreal, fog-bound city solves bizarre crimes and uncovers odd conspiracies in a comedic noir audio series.
About 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, theater, and comedy.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Selected Shorts in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Selected Shorts daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Selected Shorts as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Selected Shorts podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Selected Shorts product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Symphony Space.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Selected Shorts release new episodes?
Selected Shorts publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Selected Shorts cover?
Selected Shorts covers topics including Fiction, Arts, Books, Culture, Society & Culture. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Selected Shorts summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.