Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents works that reflect on the diversity and excellence of Riverhead Books, celebrating a quarter century.&nbsp; The program features “Flower Hunters,” by Lauren Groff, performed by Maria Dizzia, and “Buck Boy,” by James McBride, performed by Teagle Bougere, as well as special commissions from Aja Gabel (“Alarm”) and R.O. Kwon (“Tempo”) both performed by Hettienne Park.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host Michael Cerveris presents four stories inspired by other books and authors.&nbsp; Immigrants collide at Wal-Mart in Juan Martinez's “Best Worst American,” read by Cristin Milioti.&nbsp; An old friendship is strained in Namwali Serpell 's "Double Men," read by Nikki M. James.&nbsp; Seth Fried re-imagines Kafka's "Metamorphosis"; the reader is Jennifer Mudge.&nbsp; And Dino Buzzati visits "Kafka's Houses" on trip to Prague.&nbsp; The reader is Tony Roberts.&nbsp;<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host Hope Davis presents two stories about rituals.&nbsp; A young author takes a glamorous older woman to lunch and all does not go well in “The Luncheon” by Jeffrey Archer, performed by Jefferson Mays.&nbsp; And host Davis performs Amy Bloom’s touching story “Love is Not a Pie,” in which family secrets, and family bonds, are shared after a funeral. &nbsp;<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host David Strathairn presents two stories about longing.&nbsp; In Peter Carey’s “American Dreams,” a small Australian community is transformed into a tourist destination by a bizarre bequest.&nbsp; Strathairn is the reader.&nbsp; And writer and actor Lisa Fugard performs her own beautiful “Night Calls,” about a lonely widower, his young daughter, and an endangered bird.<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host Jane Kaczmarek presents two stories about people who beat the odds.&nbsp; In Lauren Groff’s “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners,” read by Amy Ryan, a sensitive boy grows up in a house full of snakes.&nbsp; Then, writer Kiese Laymon recalls coming of age in racist Jackson, Mississippi in his memoir “How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America,” read by Brandon J. Dirden.<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host John Darnielle presents two of his favorite weird stories.&nbsp; In Amparo Davila’s “Moses and Gaspar,” a grieving man has inherited two—creatures—from his dead brother.&nbsp; But what in the world are they?&nbsp; Peter Jay Fernandez reads.&nbsp; A slick salesman has a little something extra up his sleeve in Dennis Etchison’s “The Pitch,” read by Michael Shannon. &nbsp;<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Guest host Michael Cerveris presents three unusual love stories.&nbsp; A goofy guy meets the girl of his dreams in a really strange way in "Chainsaw Apple," by Arthur Bradford, read by Josh Radnor.&nbsp; Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov recalls a ten-year-olds' "First Love," read by Edward Herrmann.&nbsp; And a desperate housewife's plans for adventure are foiled in Dorothy Thomas's "The Getaway," read by Mia Dillon.<br><br>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>