Podcast appearances and mentions of Meg Wolitzer

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two unconventional love stories, one classic, one contemporary, that avoid the usual tropes of “meet cute,” “opposites attract,” or “happily ever after” but are still engaging.  In “Love in the Slump,” by Evelyn Waugh, clueless upper-crust newlyweds are sent on a comic odyssey.  The reader is Jane Kaczmarek.  And Esther Yi's “Moon” explores something we often mistake for love—obsession--as a young woman is drawn farther and farther into K-Pop fandom. The story was selected by guest editor Min Jin Lee for Best American Short Stories 2023.  It's read by Hettienne Park.  And we hear Lee's and Park's thoughts about the story. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the second of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and our live event host Anna Sale, we explore issues of happiness.  Host Meg Wolitzer introduces a satirical romance by Oscar Wilde (did he write any other kind?).  “The Model Millionaire” is read by Peter Francis James.  In Kevin Brockmeier's “Space,” a grieving widower and his son try to get past their loss, looking for light in the darkness.  The reader is Michael Stuhlbarg. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the first of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and host Anna Sale, we explore issues of identity and connection.  In “Sacrament of Confession,” by Ernie Wang, a man struggles with a messy past that is affecting the present.  The reader is Richard Kind.  And in a touching do-over, a man meets his wife for the first time—again.Amy Ryan reads Seth Fried's “You Again.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Mamas are manifesting summer with two new Middle Grade books that will inspire parents and teachers during break. Whether you're an outdoorsy type or a science geek or both, the Mamas have adventure stories that will keep your kiddos entertained.   Book Chat:Wilderness Hacks by Joslin BrorsenFound Sound by Meg Wolitzer and Charlie Panek www.twolitmamas.com

Host Meg Wolitzer presents four stories, recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, in which characters shape their expectations and dreams to a manageable size.  So if you're “Medusa,” as in our first story, by Tania James, you try to figure out how to live in the world instead of turning it to stone.  The reader is Constance Zimmer.  Parents in our second story, “We Only Wanted Their Happiness,” by Alexander Weinstein, make a tactical choice about technology.  It's performed by Randall Park.  The narrator of Honor Levy's “Good Boys,” read by Annie Hamilton, understands that infatuation is a phase.  And a man and a woman sidestep romance in “Arrangements” by Charlie Watts, performed by Laura Harrier and Will Harrison.  The program was created in cooperation with Belletrist, an online book club created by Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social occasions for introverts and extroverts alike, curated with the Belletrist Book Club, founded by actor Emma Roberts and producer Karah Preiss, and recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Humorist Samantha Irby asks “Please Invite Me to Your Party,” but we're not sure she means it. The reader is Richa Moorjani. Victoria Lancelotta's “The Anniversary Trip,” performed by Judy Greer, is, and is not, about the married couple making the trip. And Jen Spyra takes to extremes what it takes to get to the altar in perfect shape in “The Bridal Body,” performed by Erinn Hayes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzerpresents two stories about characters who find themselves in a place in which they need to make a choice, something that will affect them for the rest of their lives.  In Ursula K. Le Guin's classic, “Direction of the Road,” an ancient being has to make hard choices in its role as a guardian and a force of nature.  The reader is Nikki M. James.  In Helen Schulman's “The Shabbos Goy,” a divorcee and a rabbi develop an interesting relationship around their mutual love of poetry.  The reader is Jessica Hecht. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzerpresents four works in which nature and the out-of-doors drive both plots and character.  Humorist Jenny Allen does battle with her stubborn plants in “Garden Growing Pains,” read by Kirsten Vangsness.  The majestic Canadian border separates an Indigenous family in Thomas King's “Borders,” read by Kimberly Guerrero.  A housewife masters one of the elements in “Flying,” by Alyce Miller. The reader is Kirsten Vansgness again.And a sudden storm creates a sense of abandon in the Kate Chopin classic “The Storm,” read by Jane Curtin.  “Garden Growing Pains,” “Borders,” and “Flying,” were presented in cooperation with CacheArts and Utah Public Radio, KUSU-FM. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  Host Meg Wolitzercelebrates Jane Austen's 250th with works by, and inspired by, the enduring romance novelist.  Ann Harada performs an early Austen piece, “Edgar and Emma;” Sophie Carmen-Jones reads a letter from Austen to a mentor, James Stanier Clarke.  Then things get playful in the T.C. Boyle parody “I Dated Jane Austen,” performed by Wyatt Cenac.  And Hugh Dancy reads from an Austen classic, “Persuasion.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR GIVEAWAY: https://bookfairepod.riverside.com/In this episode of The Book Faire Podcast, host Anthony provides an essential roundup of new children's book releases and high-stakes library news from across the country. We explore the legislative progress of Alaska's Freedom to Read Bill and provide a critical update on the Rutherford County Library System's ongoing policy challenges. The conversation also dives into the legal battle in California, where a school district faces discrimination lawsuits over anti-LGBTQ+ practices, highlighting the vital role of intellectual freedom in the elementary and middle school classroom.We feature a diverse selection of new titles, including a groundbreaking YA nonfiction book on the history and impact of the AIDS epidemic in America. Teachers and librarians will find valuable insights into using contemporary children's literature to navigate complex historical and social themes while championing the freedom to read. From tracking modern publishing trends to defending diverse stories, this episode offers the curriculum-aligned resources and news updates you need to stay informed and empowered as an advocate for young readers.New Releases:Can You Grow a Striped Banana? By Jill Santopolo, illus. by Momoko Abe (Ages 2-5)Found Sound by Meg Wolitzer and Charlie PanekRayana Johnson's Giant Leap by Jill Tew (Ages 8-12)The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko (Ages 10-14)Gods & Comics by Kat Cho with illustrations by Robin Har (Ages12+)The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by Gabriel Duckels and David Levithan (Ages 14+)

SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR GIVEAWAY: https://bookfairepod.riverside.com/In this episode of The Book Faire Podcast, host Anthony provides an essential roundup of new children's book releases and high-stakes library news from across the country. We explore the legislative progress of Alaska's Freedom to Read Bill and provide a critical update on the Rutherford County Library System's ongoing policy challenges. The conversation also dives into the legal battle in California, where a school district faces discrimination lawsuits over anti-LGBTQ+ practices, highlighting the vital role of intellectual freedom in the elementary and middle school classroom.We feature a diverse selection of new titles, including a groundbreaking YA nonfiction book on the history and impact of the AIDS epidemic in America. Teachers and librarians will find valuable insights into using contemporary children's literature to navigate complex historical and social themes while championing the freedom to read. From tracking modern publishing trends to defending diverse stories, this episode offers the curriculum-aligned resources and news updates you need to stay informed and empowered as an advocate for young readers.New Releases:Can You Grow a Striped Banana? By Jill Santopolo, illus. by Momoko Abe (Ages 2-5)Found Sound by Meg Wolitzer and Charlie PanekRayana Johnson's Giant Leap by Jill Tew (Ages 8-12)The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko (Ages 10-14)Gods & Comics by Kat Cho with illustrations by Robin Har (Ages12+)The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by Gabriel Duckels and David Levithan (Ages 14+)

  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works with unusual family dynamics. In Zadie Smith's “Grand Union,” the mother-daughter bond transcends death and brings with it a whole family history. The reader is Kaneza Schaal. And Richard Bausch's “What Feels Like the World,” read by James Naughton, explores the bond between a grandparent and a grandchild. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about scaling the outsized real world down to manageable proportions.  A couple brings the Papal seat home in Ben Loory's “The Vatican,” read by Santino Fontana; In “I Love Betty,” by Kaitlyn Greenidge, communication problems invite interesting solutions, in a story read by Nathan Hinton. And in Shirley Jackson's “The Beautiful Stranger” a wife and mother wonders if she's in the right life, but tries to fit into it.It's read by Maggie Siff.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that crossed the boundaries between fiction and film for our collaboration with this prestigious New York film Festival. An eerie game has unexpected consequences in Richard Matheson's “Button, Button,” performed by Marin Ireland. Michael Stuhlbarg gives a rousing performance of Lewis Carroll's “Jabberwocky;” and Andrea Martin reads the story that inspired the Hollywood classic All About Eve—Mary Orr's “The Wisdom of Eve.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories from the volume Best American Short Stories 2025, selected by guest editor Celeste Ng.  In “An Early Departure,” by Jessica Treadway, a family relationship is altered in a moment at the train station. The reader is Cynthia Nixon.  In “Third Room,” by Julian Robles, an apartment, and its mysterious tenant, take on lives of their own.  The reader is Ivan Hernandez.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Time is flying—both in this book and you know… in life—and we're clocking back in for another book club! We're excited to discuss this month's pick, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder! We chat about why we chose it, its unique structure, the dynamic of friends with vs without kids, and what 5 parties define our adulthood!   If you liked this book, you may like - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, Olive by Emma Gannon.   What we read this week Olivia - Good People by Patmeena Sabit, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder Becca - Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson, Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore   April's Book Club Pick -    Obsession Becca - Up Thai on 72nd and 2nd   Sponsors Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for up to 20% off. MacMillan - Tiffany Crum's This Story Might Save Your Life is read by Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins and available now, wherever you listen to audiobooks!    Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our BFF Group! Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!   Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Louise Edrich about “The Big Cat,” her craft, and her Native American roots. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two humorous stories about marriages not made in heaven.In James Thurber's classic “The Breaking Up of the Winships,” a long-married couple fall out over Donald Duck. The reader is Kristine Nielsen. And in Louise Erdrich's “The Big Cat,” read by Keir Dullea, two powerful wives, a bemused husband, and a symphony of bone-jarring snores.   The program also features an interview with Erdrich.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories with unlikely scenarios, rare events that have, at least fictionally, come to pass.Naomi Kritzer uses the idea of “The Little Free Library”—one of those impromptu structures that facilitate the swapping of books—to imagine an exchange of quite a different sort.  The reader is Melora Hardin.  And Ling Ma imagines how winning the lottery—292.2 million to one—actually plays out.  “Winner” is read by Cindy Cheung. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus feature, host Meg Wolitzer talks with actor Denis O'Hare about his craft, and his approaches to readings of the two very different stories on this program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in which reality contrasts with the dreams, perceptions, and actions of the characters.In “The Leap,” by Louise Erdrich, a mother's unusual skill set changes the outcome of events.  The reader is Elizabeth Reaser.  In “Death and the Lady,” by Ben Loory, even the Grim Reaper harbors illusions.   And his parents' damaged marriage haunts an adult child in Delmore Schwartz's “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities.” Both the Loory and the Schwartz are read by multi-talented actor Denis O'Hare, and Wolitzer talks to him about his craft. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories by the extraordinary Japanese writer Haruki Murakami that demonstrate the breadth of his emotional imagination over a career of 35 years.  In an early story, “The Window,” a professional letter-writer recalls an intimate encounter with a woman, and a hamburger steak.  The reader is Mike Doyle.  In the later story, “Kahu,” read by Jennifer Ikeda, a woman goes on a blind date, only to be blindsided. Both stories were recorded at the Japan Society in New York City, as part of an ongoing collaboration with Selected Shorts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on SELECTED SHORTS, guest host DeRay Mckesson presents four works that consider the Black experience in America from bold perspectives.  Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm recalled her historic victory in her essay “Unbought and Unbossed.”  An excerpt is read by Crystal Dickinson.  James Baldwin's powerful letter to his nephew, “My Dungeon Shook,” is read by Christopher Jackson.  Poet Sonia Sanchez recalls a life-altering encounter with Malcolm X in “Homegirls on St. Nicholas Avenue,” read by Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Percival Everett turns the tables on Southern racists in “The Appropriation of Cultures,” read by Wren T. Brown. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on SELECTED SHORTS, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about problems without solutions.  In Elif Batuman's “The Board,” read by Cindy Cheung, the protagonist has found the perfect apartment, but he has to satisfy a Kafka-esque co-op committee.  Jesse Eisenberg imagines an irritating sibling with problems of global proportions in ““My Little Sister Texts Me with Her Problems,” read by real-life sisters Lacey Lamar and Amber Ruffin.  And a patient is drawn to her therapist—but is this a bad thing? in Esther Freud's “Transference,” read by Claire Danes.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that demonstrate the ways in which characters—like all of us—can play many different roles in one another's lives, and in the world around us. Cherline Bazile's “Tender,” which guest editor Min Jin Lee included in Best American Short Stories 2023, reflects the contradictory nature of friendship.  It's read by Anna Uzele.  And our second story, Grace Paley's “The Contest,” reflects the contradictory nature of courtship, as the bewildered narrator is alternatively flattered and bullied by a girl with way more on the ball than he has.He tells us so himself, in the voice of actor Justin Bartha. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're going back to the archives for a 2019 conversation with Meg Wolitzer, whose best-selling books include The Interestings and The Ten-Year Nap. Wolitzer brings readers deep into the lives of her characters, and her clear prose, is infused with sharp observations about group dynamics and ambition. A feminist thread runs throughout all of her work, particularly in her novel “The Wife,” a satirical portrait of a marriage between an acclaimed writer and his overlooked and uncredited spouse. It was adapted into a movie starring Glenn Close. On January 24, 2019 , Meg Wolitzer came to the Sydney Goldstein Theater, to be interviewed by New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik. The two talked about her just-published work The Female Persuasion, an investigation into power and different generation's conflicting concepts of feminism. 

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about characters wrestling with their roles in life.  In “The Ugly Sister,” by Joanne Harris, a fairy-tale villainess tells her side of the story.  The reader is Jayne Atkinson.  And a young wife struggles to find her place in a close-knit family in “Underwater,” by Hannah Kingsley-Ma, read by Marin Ireland. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about finding solutions to complex problems, and to simple ones. T. C. Boyle tackles evolution and government intervention in “Top of the Food Chain,” read by Zach Grenier. In Matthew Ryan Frankel's “Carapace,” a young boy struggles with feelings at a family funeral—with the help of some crabs. The reader is Philip Estrera. And a young woman traveling between two worlds and two families has to deal with what to put in “The Suitcase” by Meron Hadero. The reader is Renée Elise Goldsberry. The show also includes an interview with Hadero. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays' associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways.  Amy Krouse Rosenthal presents a playful encounter with the Almighty in “Interview with God,” performed by Jayne Atkinson and James Naughton.  In Sherrie Flick's “Heidi is Dead,” read by Adina Verson, a second wife tries to tune in with her in-laws. And John Cheever's “Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor” is a richly comic and warmhearted look at giving and receiving.  Teagle F. Bougere reads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two provocative stories that address the idea of communing with something “other”.  In Etgar Keret's “Polar Bear” an AI program, and a lonely widow, commune.  The reader is Michael Imperioli. And Mom is close by—and full of unwanted advice—in “The Acorn” by Elizabeth Stix, performed by Dylan Baker. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about people inserting themselves into the lives of others—in their own best interests. In Simon Rich's “Relapse,” friends rally 'round when one of their numbers heeds the call of the muse. It's read by Ophira Eisenberg. In Langston Hughes' “Thank You, M'am,” read by Pauletta Washington, a fierce old lady sets a young man straight. And a young woman finds an ingenious way to cheer up retirees—and herself—in Miranda July's “The Swim Team,” read by Parker Posey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three fictionaldisappearing acts.  In “We Have Your Son,” by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, a kidnapping goes wrong.This darkly humorous piece recalls O'Henry's “The Ransom of Red Chief” and is performed by Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker.  In “Where's Dad?” by Claire Fridkin, performed by Emily Skeggs, the hunt for Waldo gets personal.  And Anita Felicelli creates a mysterious lodger and an atmosphere of Hitchcockian dread in “A Minor Disturbance,” performed by Jill Eikenberry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories about characters coping with pre-existing difficulties, large and small—and then encountering someone or something ready to change everything. In “Shoulder-Top Secretary” by Shinichi Hoshi, performed by Thom Sesma, a door-to-door salesman unveils the must-have technology of the future. In “It Had Wings” by Allan Gurganus, performed by Marian Seldes, a celestial being offers up a possible remedy for the aches and pains of life.  And our final story, “The Toynbee Convector,” is a Ray Bradbury classic in which a time machine delivers a hero to our tumultuous present. It's read by Mike Doyle, with whom we also spoke backstage on the night of his performance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer sits down with her friend, writer Michael Cunningham. Michael is an American novelist, screenwriter, and educator. He is best known for his novel The Hours, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award and was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film and opera. What happens when two writers get together? Well, of course, they talk about writing, specifically his story, “Jacked,” read by Jim Parsons, which we featured on Selected Shorts, but they also nerd out about the semicolon and Scrabble. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three imaginative and funny reworkings of classic stories.  In Ginny Hogan's “Phantoms and Prejudice,” Jane Austen's Bennet sisters learn about ghosting.  The reader is Sara Bareilles.  Anthony Marra invents a plausible reason for murder in his reworking of Poe's “The Tell-Tale Heart,” read by Mike Doyle.  And Michael Cunningham turns Jack into an entrepreneur in “Jacked,” read by Jim Parsons. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about the nature of time and how it shapes our lives. In Helen Phillips' “The Knowers,” a woman chooses to learn a vital fact about her future, while her husband does not. Stockard Channing reads this thought-provoking fantasy. In Anita Felicelli's “Time Invents Us” a chance encounter turns the clock back for an aging artist. It's read by Kirsten Vangness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories in which characters are faced with unexpected revelations that alter their lives. In “A Fable with Slips of White Paper Spilling from the Pockets,” by Kevin Brockmeier, performed by Geoffrey Arend, a thrift purchase comes with unusual fringe benefits.  In “Lady Tigers,” by Nick White, performed by Michael Urie, the bus driver of a girls' softball team encounters a storm, and a secret. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about self-deception.  In “Participation Trophy,” by Simon Rich, the author is taken to task by a discarded relic of childhood triumphs.  The reader is Colton Dunn.  Japanese playwright and novelist Betsuyaku Minoru creates an Industrial Age fable in “Factory Town.”  The story was translated by Royall Tyler and is read by Suzy Nakamura.  And a college student falls in love with the idea of love in Lauren Pruneski's “Mama, Mama,” read by Kirsten Vangsness.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this SELECTED SHORTS, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that cross generations.  In Justin Torres' “Trash Kites,” performed by Coleman Domingo, teens find beauty in scarcity.A daughter's aging parent links her past and present in “The World with My Mother Still in It,” by Kathryn Chetkovich, performed by Phillipa Soo.  And a tutor tries to create a bond with her privileged student in “Ancient Rome,” by Kyle McCarthy, performed by Tavi Gevinson. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about our relationship with man's best friend, from an evening of dog stories hosted by Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer.  Emma Brewer's “Think You Deserve Companionship? Apply to Adopt a Dog Today,” pokes fun at the bureaucratic hurdles involved in getting a new friend.It's performed by Gasteyer.  Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum offers a up a tale of romance, transformation and machinations, in “The Glass Dog,” performed by Jeremy Shamos.  And David Means' “Clementine, Carmelita, Dog,” tells the tale of one dog with two names—and two families.  It's performed by Javier Munoz.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this SELECTED SHORTS, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about moving out of familiar territory into new spaces and new understanding.  In Meron Hadero's “The Thief's Tale,” read by Teagle F. Bougere, an émigré can't leave some of his old ways behind.  “The Tallest Doll in New York City,” by Maria Dahvana Headley, imagines what happens when two iconic skyscrapers fall in love.It's read by Becca Blackwell.  And summer trip yields unexpected treasures in Anne Tyler's “The Feather Behind the Rock,” read by Jane Curtin.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about the risks and rewards of making things “better.”  In Kim Fu's “Fair,” a Selected Shorts commission, a woman's envy of her neighbors takes a dramatic turn.  The reader is Julie Benko.  In Kristen Iskandrian's “Quantum Voicemail,” a long-distance friendship is tested by a bold move.  The reader is Lauren Ambrose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer offers up stories about limited viewpoints and larger visions. In “You Can Find Love Now" by Ramona Ausubel, performed by Amy Ryan and Martin Short, an unusual character drops into the dating pool; in “The Weave,” by Charles Johnson, performed by Arnell Powell, a heist gets hairy; and in J. Robert Lennon's “Blue Light, Red Light,” a child's fears find his family seeking tech support. It's performed by Fred Hechinger. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The host of Selected Shorts, Meg Wolitzer launches the spin-off podcast, Tell Me More. If you know Selected Shorts you know that we're obsessed with stories. This new show will give us the chance to talk about many different kinds of stories—not just fiction! In the future, we'll talk to actors and journalists and, who knows, scientists, visual artists, even chefs. Creative people all tell stories of some kind, and this is our chance to look behind the scenes and find out how those stories get made.On this episode, podcaster and author Kathryn Nicolai of Nothing Much Happens joins Meg. The title of her podcast tells you a lot of what you need to know. Her show is entirely fiction written and performed for occasional insomniacs who need something calming in their ear at night to help them fall asleep. In their conversation, they get into the power of sleep, and the power of stories, and they unpack a curious condition in which people literally cannot picture things in their minds. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about the attraction and perils of reinvention.In “Kerosene,” by Simon Rich, timing is all in matters of invention.  The reader is Santino Fontana.  Attentive parents want to keep their baby safe at all costs in “The Cage,” by Tania James, read by Nicole Kang.  And a widowed man looks for love—with some guidance from his late wife--in “The Dark,” by Jess Walter, read by Jason Alexander.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about those moments, those situations, those people that pull you in and won't let you go. These works focus on unexpected encounters that end up affecting a character's life in some unusual or enduring way. “Missed Connection—M4W” by Raphael Bob-Waksberg takes the idea of “chance encounter” to its limits. It's performed by Richard Kind. “My Years of Living Dangerously” by Danielle Henderson explores the idea of sin and redemption. It's performed by Karen Pittman. And in Melissa Banks' ruefully comic “Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Away,” performed by Julianna Margulies, one sibling makes a bad choice the other has to live with.