Selected Shorts: "Pride Inside" Episode Summary
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Host: Meg Wolitzer
Producer: Symphony Space
Introduction to Pride Inside
Timestamp: [00:38]
Meg Wolitzer opens the episode by acknowledging Pride Month, setting the stage for a celebration of LGBTQ+ narratives through a selection of short stories and a poem. She emphasizes the significance of the 1969 Stonewall riots as a pivotal moment that catalyzed the gay pride movement, transforming private lives and public perceptions. The episode aims to honor the legacy of Stonewall by presenting stories from queer writers that explore themes of love, family, and belonging with both humor and heartache.
Meg Wolitzer:
"The 1969 Stonewall riots were a watershed moment socially and politically, inspiring the gay pride movement, transforming private lives and public perception."
(00:52
1. "No Bikini" by Ivan E. Coyote
Performer: Becca Blackwell
Timestamp: [02:23] - [07:25]
Ivan E. Coyote, a renowned writer and activist, presents "No Bikini," a poignant and humorous tale reflecting on childhood experiences with gender identity and societal expectations. The story centers on a young, androgynous child navigating summer swimming lessons while grappling with the discomfort of wearing a two-piece bikini.
Key Themes:
- Gender Identity: Explores the fluidity of gender expression and the societal pressures to conform.
- Childhood Innocence: Highlights the simplicity and resilience of childhood amidst complex emotions.
- Parental Expectations: Illustrates the tension between individual identity and parental expectations.
Notable Quotes:
-
Becca Blackwell as Narrator:
"I had a sex change once when I was six years old."
(02:25 -
Becca Blackwell as Narrator:
"It was easier not to be afraid of things like diving boards and cannonballs and backstrokes when nobody expected you to be afraid."
(05:20 -
Becca Blackwell as Narrator:
"How could I explain to her that it wasn't what I had done but what I didn't do?"
(06:30
Meg Wolitzer's Commentary:
Timestamp: [07:25]
Meg praises "No Bikini" as a "charming, low key rite of passage story," highlighting its portrayal of self-awareness and quiet triumph amidst societal challenges.
Meg Wolitzer:
"It's such a charming, low key rite of passage story. You know that things may get tougher down the line, but right now there's the quiet triumph of knowing exactly who you are, no matter what you're wearing."
(07:25
2. "Sleepless" by Michael Cunningham
Performer: Mike Doyle
Timestamp: [08:47] - [22:54]
Michael Cunningham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, delivers "Sleepless," a bittersweet narrative delving into the complexities of relationships, uncertainty, and the yearning for permanence. The story follows two lovers, Trask and Lee, as they navigate their intertwined lives while dealing with personal and external pressures.
Key Themes:
- Love and Connection: Explores the depth and fragility of romantic relationships.
- Escape and Home: Examines the idea of finding a place to belong amidst turmoil.
- Mental Health: Addresses insomnia and emotional turmoil as central motifs.
Notable Quotes:
-
Lee (Narrator):
"We've been awake three or four days now. It isn't the drugs or the music or the dog. It isn't only that. It's because we've gotten too nervous and interested to sleep."
(08:50 -
Trask:
"The earth is forgetting us. Look at all that. It's forgotten already."
(15:10 -
Lee:
"We are the lords of this particular universe, this star speckled water, this funky porch with its busted rattan and dead geraniums still prim in their pots."
(18:45
Adaptation and Choreography:
Timestamp: [22:54]
Meg announces a new movement piece inspired by "Sleepless," choreographed by Larry Kegwin. This adaptation enhances the story's emotional depth through dynamic dance, capturing the essence of Cunningham's narrative.
Meg Wolitzer:
"What Cunningham does with devastating beauty is place you inside his characters. We inhabit their bodies and hearts, feel their intermingled sadness and joy, and lose ourselves for the span of the peace."
(22:54
3. "Snowfall" by Deesha Filyaw
Performer: Michelle Beck
Timestamp: [26:11] - [53:13]
Deesha Filyaw's "Snowfall" is a deeply evocative story portraying the struggles and resilience of a new couple adapting to life in a harsh, wintry environment away from their southern roots. The narrative captures the physical and emotional toll of winter, intertwined with memories of family and home, and the complexities of their relationship.
Key Themes:
- Adaptation to Change: Highlights the challenges of moving to a new environment and adjusting to its demands.
- Nostalgia and Memory: Reflects on the longing for familial warmth and the comfort of past relationships.
- Relationship Dynamics: Explores the strain and intimacy within a romantic partnership under stress.
Notable Quotes:
-
Rhonda:
"Black women aren't meant to shovel snow."
(26:15 -
Lee:
"We miss how they laughed and were easy with each other, how their friendships lasted lifetimes."
(35:40 -
Rhonda:
"Leelee, you're all I've got in the world."
(44:00 -
Lee:
"I want my mother. If my phone wasn't in my purse in the backseat of the car, I would call my mother right this minute."
(49:30
Meg Wolitzer's Reflection:
Timestamp: [53:13]
Meg comments on the vivid portrayal of life in "Snowfall," emphasizing the story's ability to immerse listeners in the characters' physical and emotional landscapes.
Meg Wolitzer:
"It's about the moment when a house becomes a home, about how you can keep what you thought you left behind, about really being known by another person, even if you did meet her on the Internet."
(53:13
4. "Song for the Kicked Out" by K Ulande Barrett
Performer: Kay Ulande Barrett
Timestamp: [54:18] - [56:28]
K Ulande Barrett presents a powerful poem, "Song for the Kicked Out," which serves as an anthem for marginalized communities. The poem addresses themes of identity, resilience, and collective strength, challenging societal norms and celebrating the unity within the LGBTQ+ and Brown communities.
Key Themes:
- Identity and Intersectionality: Examines the convergence of queer and brown identities.
- Resistance and Empowerment: Emphasizes collective action and the power of community.
- Cultural Heritage: Reflects on ancestral strength and the legacy of overcoming adversity.
Notable Lines:
-
Barrett:
"Together we are an anthem, a song no matter what. Together we're bigger than all their hetero CIS straight fuss."
(55:10 -
Barrett:
"We are bigger than the sirens that stab our hearts. We are bigger than Boys Town, progress, rainbow flags, vodka ads and bars."
(56:00
Meg Wolitzer's Commentary:
Timestamp: [56:28]
Meg underscores the poem's significance in asserting the right to self-narration and celebrating the fulfilled promises of pride through ordinary yet profound lives.
Meg Wolitzer:
"These stories from authors like Michael Cunningham and Ivan E. Coyote help us to see some of the promise of pride fulfilled. LGBTQ people living what we might call ordinary lives with the usual degrees of happiness, sadness and humor."
(56:28
Conclusion and Reflections on Stonewall Legacy
Timestamp: [56:28] - [58:18]
Meg Wolitzer ties the episode's narratives to the broader legacy of Stonewall, highlighting the ongoing impact of those events on contemporary LGBTQ+ lives. She shares a personal anecdote about living near the historical Stonewall Inn, emphasizing its enduring significance regardless of the changing businesses that occupy the space.
Meg Wolitzer:
"Wikipedia informs me that over the years the building has been a bagel shop and a shoe store, and now it's called the Stonewall Inn again. But regardless of what you can buy in that space a year or a decade from now, it'll always have a powerful history."
(57:30
Final Remarks
Timestamp: [58:18]
Meg Wolitzer wraps up the episode by acknowledging the production team and sponsors, reiterating the essence of Selected Shorts in bringing diverse and meaningful stories to listeners.
Key Takeaways
- Representation Matters: The episode showcases diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting personal and collective experiences.
- Legacy of Stonewall: Emphasizes the lasting impact of the Stonewall riots on modern queer narratives and the fight for acceptance and visibility.
- Intersectionality: Explores the interconnectedness of various identities and the unique challenges faced by individuals at these intersections.
- Emotional Depth: Each story and poem delves into complex emotions, from nostalgia and love to resilience and empowerment.
Notable Quotes Overview
- "I've been awake three or four days now. It isn't the drugs or the music or the dog. It isn't only that. It's because we've gotten too nervous and interested to sleep." – Lee in "Sleepless" (08:50)
- "Together we are louder than all the world's unsaid." – Kay Ulande Barrett in "Song for the Kicked Out" (56:10)
- "It's about the moment when a house becomes a home, about how you can keep what you thought you left behind." – Meg Wolitzer (53:13)
Final Thoughts
"Pride Inside" by Selected Shorts offers a rich tapestry of queer experiences, blending fiction and poetry to celebrate diversity and the enduring spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. Through heartfelt performances and insightful commentary, the episode honors the legacy of Stonewall while presenting contemporary stories that resonate with themes of identity, love, and resilience.