Starbooked

Selected Shorts

Hosted by Meg Wolitzer

Selected Shorts, hosted by novelist Meg Wolitzer and produced by Symphony Space in New York, presents short stories performed by actors. The show has 36 episodes on a roughly two-week cadence, typical length about 42 minutes. Estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, with an estimated rate of $90 to $625 per host-read mid-roll.

Why brands sponsor Selected Shorts

Literary audience of loyal listeners on a long-running New York arts institution's show

  • 2,801 Apple Podcasts ratings with a 4.4 average, a strong engagement signal for a niche show
  • Hosted by novelist Meg Wolitzer, produced by Symphony Space, with 36 episodes since 2022
  • Episodes run about 42 minutes, long enough for a host-read spot with an undivided audience
Best forbook publisherspremium lifestyle or stationery brandscultural institutions
Watch forNo prior sponsorship seen, so the sponsorship format and inventory would need to be negotiated with the producer.

Brand fit report

Content

Topics, IAB taxonomy
Books and Literature70%
Arts and Entertainment30%
Formats
dramatic reading, author interview, themed anthology, bonus performance
Tone
literary, warm
Language
English
Production
Studio production
Typical length
35 to 60 minutes

Audience

Commercial intent10/100
Comments asking for links, prices or where to buy
Sentiment85/100
Estimated from titles, descriptions and engagement
Est. downloads per episode5k–25k
Estimated, confidence 60%: 2,801 Apple ratings points to the 5,000 to 25,000 band, shifted up for a show with a public radio base, weekly-to-biweekly cadence and a national broadcast reach; a 2022 start is under five years old.
Audience asks aboutWhich authors and stories are featuredHow to attend live recordingsWhere to find past episodes and collections
Age
10%18-24
20%25-34
20%35-44
50%45+
Gender
60%women
40%men
Countries
🇺🇸 United States85%
LanguagesEnglish 100%

Commercial

0%of the last 20 episodes had a sponsor
None seenno sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes
Brands seen
None yet
Categories promoted
None yet
Affiliate links
No

No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the show is supported by Symphony Space and its shop and digital downloads.

Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability

Profanitylow
Adultlow
Drugslow
Violencelow
Politicslow

Family friendly
Literary fiction readings from the feed titles, such as 'Mostly Good Intentions' and 'Love and UFOs', show no explicit flags.

We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.

Where to listen

Benchmark score: 93 / 100

Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.

Consistency Latest episode within the usual cadence50 / 50
Activity Episodes in the last 90 days, weekly is full marks23 / 30
Reach Estimated downloads per episode, 20k is full marks15 / 20

Recent episodes

EpisodeDateLength
Mostly Good Intentions2026-10-1558 min
Fitting In2026-10-081 h 0 min
Too Hot For Radio: Austin Blaze "Hail Mary"2026-10-0540 min
Passport to Ireland with Colum McCann2026-10-0158 min
The New American West2026-09-2458 min
Love and UFOs2026-09-1758 min

Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 4 days ago, a new one about every 14 days.

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. New episodes every Thursday, from Symphony Space.
Selected Shorts's own show description from the podcast feed

Do you make Selected Shorts? Claim or remove this page.

About Selected Shorts

Selected Shorts is a literary podcast and public radio show produced by Symphony Space in New York City. Each episode features actors performing short stories from writers and emerging authors, sometimes around a theme, a guest author's favorites, or a special collaboration. The website names novelist Meg Wolitzer as host.

The feed shows 36 episodes with a cadence of about every 14 days and a median episode length near 42 minutes. Apple Podcasts lists 2,801 ratings with an average of 4.4. Audience size is an estimate: roughly 5,000 to 25,000 listeners per episode, based on rating volume and the show's public radio reach as described on the website.

No sponsors appear in the feed. At an estimated $90 to $625 per host-read mid-roll, the show suits book publishers and premium cultural or lifestyle brands seeking a literary audience.

Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Selected Shorts can edit or remove this page at any time.

Questions about Selected Shorts

How much does Selected Shorts charge for a podcast sponsorship?

Estimated at $90 to $625 per host-read mid-roll, based on an estimated 5,000 to 25,000 downloads per episode at $18 to $25 per 1,000. Final pricing depends on the show's current terms.

What is Selected Shorts about?

Selected Shorts is a literary podcast where actors perform short stories by well-known and emerging writers. Episodes are recorded live at Symphony Space in New York and sometimes feature author interviews.

How do I contact Selected Shorts about sponsoring an episode?

The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.

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