Too much commentary, diatribes, and analysis. I spend as much time fast forwarding through the talking as I do listening to the readings. Interviews belong on a different podcast.

I wish Meg would stick to a simple introduction presenting the title, author, and reader. Too much commentary.

As an avid pod listener/former big reader who has fallen out of that habit in recent years, this show is reminding me of the value in the latter - i’m LOVING it!! Was moved to leave a good review after the last story “Arrangements” in the latest episode (Modest Expectations). Richly written stories with nuances and variety, which is hard to come across in the podcast world sometimes. So good!

When there are stories, I enjoy them a lot. But can you put these interviews on another feed? They’re not what I imagine most of us are here for

The selection of stories use to be monumentally better. It's hard to come across a story that is not cringy overperformed by the reader. Gone are the good old days of this podcast. Farewell, good friend.

I used to listen to this podcast faithfully every week and then I’d listen to them again but not anymore. There are people out here who have an attention span of more than 7 minutes. We actually listened to the entire podcast when it was an hour long! Not anymore. You gave up quality for quantity. You lost this faithful listener. How many more did you gain?

I went to hear Selected Shorts in the mid-1980s at the original Symphony Space before the theater was renovated and renamed. I loved hearing the stories in person, read by wonderful actors and introduced by Isaiah Sheffer. It was exciting but low key. I moved to California in 1987 and have not been able to make another trip to Symphony Space. Just wanted to say I loved it, loved being in the "delivery room" when Selected Shorts was born. I never heard a story I didn't love. I'm afraid it's very different now, but I will listen to the podcasts, which I only recently came across. After reading the reviews, I'd make one suggestion, "Go back to your roots". Find out what it was like back then and see if you can recreate it as much as possible. Unfortunately, you won't be able to bring back Isaiah Sheffer.

I was a huge fan of the original Selected Shorts and was thrilled to discover the new podcast. Sadly, this edition of SS is a huge disappointment. As many reviews have pointed out, the host talks too much and most of the readers/actors are over doing it. As someone else mentioned, these are short stories, not monologues or scripts.

Sometimes it is amazing that these stories are free. You can also find older episodes on their website

No one can replace him, of course, but my goodness how the readers have slid into actorly bad habits. It’s a shame. These are short stories, not monologues. Someone alert the director or the engineer or Meg W or someone that this is no longer special; it’s a slog.

How do you platform Israeli writers, when Palestinians are being genocided by Israel, the colonizing, thieving, pseudo-nation that uses Western powers to bully every one of their neighbors and anyone who dares to speak out or resist? WHERE are the Palestinian, Yemeni, and Lebanese storytellers??? WHERE?!? Needless to say, I am blocking and demoting this podcast.

These stories are mostly great and it’s fun to hear some talented actors read them (even if some tend to turn it up to eleven). And, I have to give credit to the host for curating this content. I just wish she’d leave it at that. I really don’t enjoy the gifted 8th grade level editorial content before AND after every story. It just pops my balloon every time. Pro tip. Open the transcript and scroll down to the beginning of the story.

I’ve really enjoyed the actual story content, but for months, there are nothing but interviews and conversations - NOT the reason I subscribe to a short story podcast. When are they going to get back to some real content?

I look forward to every new podcast! The variety of stories and performers is excellent. The hosts are great and interview give us insight as listeners.

The stories are interesting, but sometimes they’re kind of a miss, like what was the point of that story.. It’s like a knock off version of the Moth. But the host Meg needs to just make her own podcast where she talks the whole time because she’s clearly dying to be important and heard. She talks way way too much and she kills it for me.

Not only are the story choices incredible with a wide berth of subjects but the performers/ narrators are magic. Take a tiny head vacation to one of these fictional destinations. I really love this show. Thank you.

I really enjoy the observations and insights host Meg Wolitzer brings to Selected Shorts. I have been a fan of the show since before the word “podcast” made its debut, and loved waking up Sunday mornings to hear host Isaiah Sheffer introduce and sometimes perform the spoken stories. While I miss his low key demeanor and his polished voice, I was very pleased when Meg took the lead after Isaiah’s passing. Meg brings to the show a writer’s appreciation for the stories and the writers behind the stories. I will routinely look up other works by the writers, guided by Meg’s own impressions of what’s been presented. I’ve read with concern the posts that are dismissive or negative about Meg’s contributions to the show. To each his or her own, of course. But it would be a shame, in my view, were we to lose such a talented host. Don’t it always seem to go that we don’t know what we’ve got til it’s gone?

Update: is no one in the SS world hearing what we are all Saying about Meg? Read. The. Reviews. Even the 5 star ones are begging for Meg to shush up. Those of us who have loved this platform for over 25 years simply cannot wrap our heads around her silly and cringey intrusions. The "I love Meg" reviews are extremely rare and imo faker than a 3 dollar bill. She picks her own story to read this week? Then does commentary on it? It was a horrible story. The audience was sound asleep. Full of references no one got --but cmon! You can't pick your own story then host the show and slather butter all over your stale bread. At the very least get a guest host to take the reins the week you select your own story. My old review still stands: Are there directors? Rehearsals? Or do they just come from the sound stage of their sit coms to speed read through volunteer gigs? More than half of the stories are ones I cringe through because of the very very poor quality of the reading. The more famous and busier the reader, the worse the reading. From the first to the last word of capotes short story I was slack jawed. Not to mention that the intro was literally as long as the story. Meg Wolitzer is the bane of my existence. The. Bane. Then the first line of the next story just starts with a mistake. Is there a period after counter? This sounds like someone had never read the story before. SS has always had a smattering of emotive readers who over do it. That’s for the last 20 years. Maybe bc I’ve decided to give it a try again over Covid I’m poorly conditioned for performances like the ones I’ve been hearing. Also I’ve been spoiled by stellar performances on audible by no name readers of superior skill. Ok I get it audible is edited and this is live. All the more reason to rehearse and direct these readings.

Stories are great but I really miss the old host who passed away. This new one seems to thin we all need to hear her analysis of the story and her take on why it’s good. Too much nattering on - have to fast forward to get to the story.

Out of bounds

Perfect selection for this time in history. Bravo!

This used to be such a great program when Isaiah Sheffer was host now the host rambles at the stories of boring. Why not mix it up the different hosts each week?

Irritated lately by the story selection. Snarky McSweeney’s essays and the like are commentary, not fiction. I was excited about the banned books episode but then they didn’t read a single banned work! The story selection under Wolitzer is just a huge disappointment. Ditch the essays, lose Wolitzer’s precious intros, and bring back good, substantive fiction read by actors with gravitas. And make the back catalog available please. Alec Baldwin reading Wharton, Jane Curtain reading anything/everything.

I love listening to the stories but I find the host’s seemingly endless banter to be unbelievably annoying. I cope by skipping through those parts, going straight to the stories.

I loved this show when Isaiah Sheffer was host. Now with Meg Woolitzer, there is too much talking before and after each story and when she stated the, “return of book club,” I let out a loud groan. Ugh. I’m here to listen to stories, not the host gabbing with their friends or family members. And, I don’t find her interviews with the actors who have done the reading very compelling or interesting.

Always a pleasure to listen to and enjoy. A delight.

This for me was the best. I grew up watching them and then the love story I experienced thank you for all the great memories.

Love every story and excited for the next episode.

I love Meg’s insight and selections! I delight in hearing every new episode and look forward to each Author and Narrator. As a whole, this show brings up sweet memories of chocolate milk and story hour in the afternoon as a small child!

It’s better than the best

….catch them exactly when they are ending. So many times I have enjoyed a story on this podcast and when it ends I am lost in thought about it. Then, suddenly I am ripped out of that wonderful feeling by Meg Walletzer and her unbearable commentary. I’ve found it pretty simple to fast forward past Meg Willitsir’s intros (which are all sad little bits of her relating everything to her own life and always pointing out that she’s a writer too!) The intros are easy to dismiss as pathetic even if I accidentally hear a moment or two. The outros are so bad that even hearing one or two words of them can ruin a story. Meg Wulletzaar’s compulsion to impart her godlike wisdom feels almost malicious. Meg explains the bigger meanings as she is the puzzle master and we are all dumbstruck. She breaks it down even more for all of us idiots and tells us specifically how the story “relates” to our everyday lives. Recently I had to listen to an outro I was on Bluetooth headphones and I couldn’t get to my phone, it happened to be commentary from a book club. It was so different than Meg’s toxic thoughts even though some of them focused on bigger themes. Some of them disagreed and some of them just said little things that they noticed and liked. It was great, it made me think about the story even more. I realized this is what Meg thinks she is doing. Oh well, as long as I catch the stories before I even hear a split second of Meg’s dogmatic voice this is a great podcast!

Just can’t listen to this podcast. Seems to be steeped in gay experiences and it just is. It what I want to listen to.

True writers read by exceptional actors who relate to what they are reading. Some stories remind me why I love literature others are just curious. But I love both, equally.

Consistently interesting stories read with passion by actors; if you love short stories or literature, you will love this podcast.

My father used to make up stories to get us to fall asleep! I will sometime enjoy a SS at bedtime too! I love the association!

This is more of a testament to the awesome Meg Wolitzer. Meg, your insights, interviews, and passion for good literature is refreshing. This is especially true during a season of non-literate persons foisting their elementary approach to story telling on us. You encourage and promote the best. You are the best, only to be challenged by your mom—-and I love your interviews of Mom!

…by how much more life there is in the actors’ rendition of stories than there is when I read them. Many Thanks for the literary awakening.

I have been a great fan of selected shorts .. I was ready to listen Thursday .. ALL of my saved shows and newly added - are all listed as”E” explicit- What happened ??

This and Snap Judgement are my required listening for amazing storytelling

And I don’t have to dress up!

Growing tired of Ms. Wolitzer's choices.

Thank you! The intros set the stage for time to stop - just listen and enjoy.

I found Iain McKeon here and others

I honestly don’t get the negative reviews, but then I didn’t follow the show before it was hosted by Meg. Personally I greatly enjoy Meg’s intros; they add flavor and context, and I like her style. And I relish so many of the stories themselves, whether for content and/or delivery. Of course I don’t enjoy them all equally; that would not be humanly possible.

Not a great radio voice- Ok but her content is worse! The act is reading. The stories are fantastic, as I have the stories selected.

Way too much time devoted to Meg. Never had that with Isiah.

Ophira is not the former host of a show….she was the host of a former show. Your editors lack of skill is very apparent

The fiction is usually very good and the actors’ readings are great. I used to love this show but Meg Wolitzer’s style is just not for me and she takes up too much time and space, which sort of ruins it for me. So I don’t listen very often any more. I used to listen every week. [sad face]

See tzila99’s review

I’ve enjoyed Selected Shorts since the Isaiah Sheffer days when you had to tune into NPR on the radio one day a week. But i am finally giving up on it. The story selections are always so joyless the last few years. Even when they are intended to be funny, its always just grim humor, or worse, bitter humor. Just drab and joyless tales week after week. Don’t get me wrong. I am not looking for only humor. I like a good sad tale, or social commentary, but those don’t have to be dreary. A moving story now and then would be great too. I will miss the professionally read stories, so much talent. However, all the talent in the world can’t save story after story of the divorcee coming to terms with - fill in the blank: spousal betrayal, kids leaving home, friendship failures, aging parents. We need a better mix: Down to the Sea in Ships, mixed with Cheever, then Frankencat, then Wharton, then, fine, some dreary modern angst. But, please, a larger emotional range than story after story of ho-hum nobody’s muddling through a joyless experience/life/day/interaction. So sick of it. Every week i try to listen and every week its a different version of the same thing. Stories can be meaningful and witty without being comedy. And there is a filling of the heart in a moving, heroic, or poignant tale that is like joy. So, I am not trying to say that the show has to be more funny. By the way, SS, throwing in the occasional Etgar Keret doesn't prove I am wrong. It just proves I am right. Yes he is a fenius surrealist and often funny, but his stories are mostly grim looks at a harsh realities. So just another example of the narrow emotional range that i am entirely over. I cannot be the only one here who would like a fresh take on story selections. Maybe I will check back in the future.