Love and UFOs

On this week’s SELECTED SHORTS, Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that offer unpredictable life lessons, from characters who are adolescent, and those who love them—a little eccentrically.  In “The Facts of Life,” by Anthony Marra, a preteen learns about the birds and the bees from an icon of ’90s masculinity. The reader is Santino Fontana.  In “Leave Me in St. Louis,” by Tania James, sisters tap their way into a new life.  The reader is Rita Wolf.  And in Elizabeth McKenzie’s “Hope Ranch,” a granddaughter discovers that her grandmother is a road warrior. The reader is Mia Dillon.   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 characters who need someone to listen to them.  In Jesse Eisenberg’s “If She Ran Into Me Now…” a high school failure wants to prove he did OK—and looks fabulous.  It’s read by Santino Fontana.  In Weike Wang’s“A Children’s Story,” read by Conrad Ricamora, a writer tries to please his aging mother with just the right story—for children.  And a curling enthusiast shares his passion with his girlfriend’s son in Frank Reilly’s “The Stirling Stone,” read by Chris Sullivan. 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 the podcast Before The Moment, hosted by music icon Nile Rodger. Nile sits down with some of music’s biggest names to uncover the turning points that defined them, and, importantly, what was happening before everything changed. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about persuasive, but not always trustworthy, characters.  In “Fortune-Telling,” by Alix Ohlin, an actor tries on new role, with unexpected consequences.  The reader is Crystal Dickinson.  And from an evening of contemporary Irish fiction, the great Jessica Lange, in her Selected Shorts debut, reads Andrew Meehan’s “Summer in the Mountains,” where a man who calls himself "Utopia Frank" finds just how far grand visions can carry him. 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.