Selected Shorts

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about therapy—the benefits and perils of sharing your troubles with a stranger.  In “Therapy,” by J. Robert Lennon, the patient follows a recursive loop of doubt about the whole process. The reader is Troy Iwata.  In “Fable,” by Charles Yu, the issues that arise in therapy sessions morph into a revealing personal fairy tale.  The reader is BD Wong.  With comments by comedian Gary Gulman, who hosted the live show where these stories were presented.

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Host Meg Wolitzerpresents three stories about characters who try an end run around trouble, sometimes doing more harm than good.  In Joe Meno’s “Animal Hospital” a well-meaning father is surprised by his kids response to “let’s play doctor.”  The reader is Becky Anne Baker, and an interview with Meno is featured in the show.  In “The Silk Handkerchief,” by Sait Faik Abasiyanik, a thief and a night watchman have a moment of rapport.  It’s read by Amir Arison.  And Margaret Atwood’s recurring couple Tig and Nell try to stave off the inevitable by taking a  “First Aid” class. The reader is Maggie Siff.

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Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about sudden interventions that change lives.  In Stephen King’s “The Fifth Step” a beguiling stranger asks for help.  The reader is David Morse.  In “Blessed Deliverance,” by Jamel Brinkley, a neighborhood oddball may be its salvation.The reader is Teagle F. Bougere.

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Host Meg Wolitzer presents the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast, a show that takes the questions you always wanted to ask and talks about them in a way that is easy to understand. Some times we want simple answers to complex questions! We here at Selected Shorts have become big fans and hope you enjoy it too!

Host Meg Wolitzer helps a great documentarian celebrate a great American author.  Cather is the of author of novels like My Antonia and O Pioneers! And Ken Burns hosted a live evening of her shorter works to celebrate her sesquicentennial—her 150th birthday, in 2023.  On this program, we feature “The Way of the World,” in which an imaginary town’s young “citizens” are rife with romance and rivalry.  The reader is Sonia Manzano.   And a weary farmer’s wife recaptures her long-dormant passion for music at “A Wagner Matinee,” read by David Strathairn.

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