story: Recent Episodes
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Over in Connecticut, a reader says GOP Senate candidate Linda McMahon - who has a primary today - sent out a mailer last night hitting the challenger she'd like to face in November, Democrat Richard Blumenthal. "So, she must be feeling confident," this reader says.
Another sign of McMahon's confidence: "There were no McMahon signs to be found anywhere," when this reader voted at 7:45 AM.
In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, no such luck. One time darling of the left, Ned Lamont, is in a "dead heat" with Dan Malloy, the former mayor of Stamford [fixed].
Any other dispatches from Connecticut, send 'em my way.
On this Valentine's Day, two stories about timeless love. Love that lasts a lifetime, and love that ends after a few days. This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.Storytellers:Tate Russell encounters some drama in high school drama.Steve Glickman deals with his parents after moving back in with them.Podcast # 906 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about perfect pairs, and what happens if and when they split up. A friendship unravels in “Mrs. Carrington and Mrs. Crane,” by Dorothy Parker, performed by Mia Dillon and Rita Wolf.Writer Toure feels that there ought to be a corresponding ritual to marriage and commitment celebrations, and has created “The Breakup Ceremony,” performed by Maulik Pancholy. And in “Twins,” by Philip Graham, siblings rediscover one another. It’s performed by Michael Tucker.
In this episode, stories of support coming from surprising places -- and moments of seemingly divine intervention. Family ties, a raucous subway ride, and hidden treasure. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media. Storytellers:A young Hope Iyiewuare rebels against his family's chore rotation.Onnesha Roychoudhuri takes a stand on the subway.Gregory Brady finds himself unprepared for a triathlon.Charlotte Cline and her boundary-resistant family navigate a loss.Wang Ping starts a banned book club during the Cultural Revolution in China. Podcast # 709 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stories from the heart of heartbreak.
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Host Ira Glass talks with Lauren Waterman, who's in the middle of a break-up right now and grappling with totally contradictory feelings. (5 minutes)Act One: In the wake of a break-up, writer Starlee Kine finds so much comfort in break-up songs that she decides to try and write one herself—even though she has no musical ability whatsoever. For some help, she goes to a rather surprising expert on the subject: Phil Collins. (29 minutes)Act Two: Eight-year-old Betsy Walter goes on a campaign to understand her parents' divorce — a campaign that takes her to school guidance counselors, children's book authors, and the mayor of New York City. (10 minutes)Act Three: Ira talks with divorce mediator Barry Berkman about why it's bad when the justice system gets involved in a break-up. (8 minutes)Act Four: What divorce looks like from the dog's point of view. (5 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Host Meg Wolitzer hands off to stage and film actor Teagle F. Bougere, our guest host for a show that celebrates the protean literary master and social activist Langston Hughes (1901-1967). It features three of his most striking works. In “Passing” Hughes reflects on a difficult aspect of the Black experience—the need some felt to “pass” as white. Program host Teagle F. Bougere is the reader. Pauletta Pearson Washington reads the humorous and much anthologized “Thank You, M’am." And Joe Morton performs one of Hughes’ most celebrated works, “The Blues I’m Playing,” which charts the long and complex relationship between a brilliant young Black pianist and her white patron. All three stories reflect Hughes’ explorations of questions of race, identity, and personal destiny.
In this hour, expect the unexpected! False assumptions and surprising revelations at home, online, and in the fridge. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Benji Waterhouse makes a house call during his first week as a psychiatrist.Comedian Jamie McDonald finds himself at the center of a Twitter storm.Salima Saxton and her husband try to build the "perfect life".Podcast # 905 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People stuck in a loop, trying to find their way out.
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Prologue: Host Ira Glass talks to B.A. Parker about her birthday tradition. (6 minutes)Act One: Producer Aviva DeKornfeld speaks with a father and daughter who have been playing the same game for 25 years. (9 minutes)Act Two: Talia Augustidis asks a single question over and over. (5 minutes)Act Three: Editor David Kestenbaum speaks with Jeff Permar, who is trapped in a Groundhog Day situation — with an actual groundhog! (9 minutes)Act Four: Parking in a big city can be a real pain. Producer Valerie Kipnis speaks with a man who has taken it upon himself to try to mitigate the weekly hassle. (14 minutes)Act Five: Short fiction from Bess Kalb about a groundhog named Susan, who has her own opinions about the holiday named after her species. (7 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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In honor of the big game, we've got three stories all about football, family, and growing up. This episode is hosted by Marc Sollinger.Storytellers:Dame Wilburn is hit hard while playing tackle football.Tina Moore connects with her son by getting into fantasy football.Adam Bottner makes an immaculate connection in an unlikely place.Podcast # 904 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories from a live evening at Symphony Space celebrating the prolific writer Stephen King. It was hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead.
The program presents King in two different modes: the legendary scare-master who entered the horror genre with Carrie, and the author of stories that draw on memory and family like “The Last Rung on the Ladder.” An excerpt from Carrie is read by Carrie Coon, and “The Last Rung on the Ladder” is read by John Benjamin Hickey. Colson Whitehead speaks briefly from the stage.
A new book from journalist Tanya Pearson, Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s, explores the surge of female rock stars in the 90's and why their popularity waned into the 2000s. Pearson discusses her book alongside musician Tanya Donelly and we take your calls.
Singer-songwriter Neko Case is known for her beautiful voice and her fierce and haunting lyrics that convey emotional truths. In her new memoir, The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You, she charts her evolution from being "raised by two dogs and a space heater" in rural Washington state by two teenage parents, to becoming an internationally acclaimed musician. She discusses her book as well as her latest project, writing songs for a musical theater adaptation of "Thelma and Louise."
*Neko Case will be in conversation with Emma Straub at Books Are Magic tonight at 7.
"Presence," a new film directed by Steven Soderbergh, flips the horror genre on its head by telling the story from the ghost's point of view. It's written by David Koepp. Koepp's had success with blockbusters like "Mission Impossible" and "Jurassic Park" and he discusses his latest project and what it was like working with the prolific director. Actor Callina Liang also discusses starring in the film.
Loading..."Presence," a new film directed by Steven Soderbergh, flips the horror genre on its head by telling the story from the ghost's point of view. It's written by David Koepp. Koepp's had success with blockbusters like "Mission Impossible" and "Jurassic Park" and he discusses his latest project and what it was like working with the prolific director. Actor Callina Liang also discusses starring in the film.
Singer-songwriter Neko Case is known for her beautiful voice and her fierce and haunting lyrics that convey emotional truths. In her new memoir, The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You, she charts her evolution from being "raised by two dogs and a space heater" in rural Washington state by two teenage parents, to becoming an internationally acclaimed musician. She discusses her book as well as her latest project, writing songs for a musical theater adaptation of "Thelma and Louise."
Neko Case will be in conversation with Emma Straub at Books Are Magic tonight at 7. A new book from journalist Tanya Pearson, Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s, explores the surge of female rock stars in the 90's and why their popularity waned into the 2000s. Pearson discusses her book alongside musician Tanya Donelly and we take your calls. Mali Obomsawin had a prolific 2024, releasing two collaborative albums — with Jake Blount, and as Deerlady with Magdalena Abrego — and composing the score for the documentary “Sugarcane,”* which is now nominated for an Oscar. Obomsawin talks about her various projects and performs live.
In this hour, we're drawing back the curtain! Surprises, discoveries, and difficult realizations. All will be revealed... This hour is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Linda King makes a grave mistake at a wake.Aisha Rodriguez has always felt like one of the guys, until she has a reckoning with her sense of safety.Meredith Morrison gets a coveted role in the school play much to her chagrin.Betty Reid Soskin, a Black woman, and her family try to adjust when move to an all-white neighborhood in the 1960s.Jayson Nuñez gets the bike he always wanted.Jitesh Jaggi helps bring breakdancing to the streets of Mumbai. Podcast # 703 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
An investigation of when and why people ask loaded questions that are a proxy for something else.
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Prologue: Host Ira Glass talks with producer Tobin Low about the question he got asked after he and his husband moved in together, and what he thinks people were really asking. (4 minutes)Act One: “What do you think about Beyoncé?” and other questions raised by people on first dates. (12 minutes)Act Two: When a common, seemingly innocuous question goes wildly off the rails. (13 minutes)Act Three: Why are people asking me if my mother recognizes me, when it’s totally beside the point? (14 minutes)Act Four: Schools ask their students the strangest essay questions sometimes. The experience of tutoring anxious teenagers through how to answer them requires a balladier, singing their lived experience to a crowd as though it were the Middle Ages. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories in which some things are saved and some are left behind. In Haruki Murakami’s “Lederhosen,” performed by Aasif Mandvi, the traditional German shorts become a singular obsession for one half of a married couple. In Elizabeth McCracken’s “Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark,” a couple and their son find themselves in over their heads. Mike Doyle is the reader.
This week on The Moth Radio Hour: stories of beef! Petty grievances to full blown rivalries. At work, over the phone, and, of course, online. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Lori Tucker-Sullivan begins getting a series of strange phone calls.18 year old Morgan Balavage is betrayed by a friend/coworker. Matthew Trenda gets into a war of words with an internet stranger. Diego Aguirre finds it difficult to be both angry at the world and a dog owner. Podcast # 903 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People living in that in-between moment before everything changes.
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Prologue: Kirk Johnson tells Ira about a strange choice he made during his family’s evacuation from the Sunset Fire in Los Angeles. (5 minutes)Act One: Editor Nancy Updike tries to make sense of this current moment by talking to a master of dark comedy, Armando Ianucci. (19 minutes)Act Two: As President Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office, producer Valerie Kipnis talks to Ukrainian soldiers on the front line who wonder about what his administration could mean for them. (14 minutes)Act Three: Editor Susan Burton reflects on the ramp-up to an era that comes for so many of us. (9 minutes)Act Four: In the wake of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, producer Miki Meek talks to a woman on a very particular mission. (6 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode - we’ll put on our dance shoes, we’ll find our pelvis, and we’ll find the joy and the self-expression that anybody, at any age, can get from dance. This episode is hosted by Blaze Ferrer. Storytellers:Katie Rivard finds herself through dance. Jessica Ribera lives out her dreams as an understudy.Podcast # 902 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories that were presented as part of an evening with the writer Judy Blume that explored the issues around book banning, and featured works by two authors whose works have been banned. (Blume’s works have also frequently been banned.). First, Xu Mason’s witty “Finally a Book that Cannot be Banned,” imagines what it would take to write a work that could escape all censure. It’s read by Troy Iwata. Celebrated children’s author Roald Dahl cooks up the perfect murder in “Lamb to the Slaughter,” read by Catherine O’Hara. And David Sedaris recounts a challenging encounter with a young man in “Bruised,” read by Maulik Pancholy. Some of Blume’s onstage remarks are included.
Meg Wolitzer speaks with author Judy Blume about her life, her writing and the challenges of book banning.
Loading...A new film tells the story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who became the first woman in United States history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. Actor Ryan Destiny, who plays Shields, joins us alongside director Rachel Morrison to talk about bringing this story to life on-screen. "The Fire Inside" is in theaters now.
The new PBS Independent Lens documentary, "Minted," examines the NFT market craze, from its meteoric rise to its dramatic fall and its possible future in another Trump administration. We're joined by the film's director, Nicholas Bruckman and a featured artist in the film, Kina Matahari.
New year, new books! Producer Jordan Lauf discusses some of her most anticipated new reads this winter. Plus, we take your book recommendations.
A new film tells the story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who became the first woman in United States history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. Actor Ryan Destiny, who plays Shields, joins us alongside director Rachel Morrison to talk about bringing this story to life on-screen. "The Fire Inside" is in theaters now.
The new PBS Independent Lens documentary, "Minted," examines the NFT market craze, from its meteoric rise to its dramatic fall and its possible future in another Trump administration. We're joined by the film's director, Nicholas Bruckman and a featured artist in the film, Kina Matahari.
Let the feathers fly! This week, a special avian hour. Stories from a Ravenmaster, a scientist, and a reluctant chicken farmer about the birds that made them as happy as a lark or as crazy as a loon. This episode is hosted by The Moth's former Artistic Director, Catherine Burns, and her parrot, Hamilton. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers: The Ravenmaster at the Tower of London, Christopher Skaife, has a tough first day.Dame Wilburn and her wife decide to raise chickens in Detroit.Research scientist Irene Pepperburg forms a 30-year bond with a parrot named Alex. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the new year, stories of people trying a radical approach to solving their problems.
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Prologue: Ira meets two sisters who got into a fight, and then learned a lesson in turning the other cheek. (8 minutes)Act One: A hardened PI works the toughest case of his very young life. (18 minutes)Act Two: Producer Aviva DeKornfeld talks to a man who finds himself the target of vengeful crows. (8 minutes)Act Three: Comedian Josh Johnson wonders if some people should’ve been spanked as kids. (10 minutes)Act Four: Writer Etgar Keret reads his story about a bus driver who refuses to open the doors for late passengers. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this Selected Shorts program, host Meg Wolitzer presents stories about journeys—physical and emotional—that end in unexpected places. In “A Woman Driving Alone,” by Marie-Helene Bertino, the main character travels s long way to see a friend, but seems also to be escaping a challenging moment in her life. The piece was commissioned for Selected Shorts’ anthology Small Odysseys, and is read by Amber Tamblyn. In Tom Perrotta’s “Nine Inches”, a teacher drives only across town, to chaperone a middle school dance, but almost gets into trouble himself. The story is performed by Santino Fontana.
This week, a special edition of The Moth Radio Hour featuring a live show from Johannesburg, South Africa. Stories of unexpected connections, scads of visitors, and putting bread on the table—literally. Hosted by Lebo Mashile with additional hosting by Moth Director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media. Storytellers:8 year old Webster Isheanopa Makombe's mother sends him on his first solo mission to get bread. A chance encounter rekindles Nsovo Mayimele's passion for her career.In order to support her family and all of their house guests, Mathilda Matabwa and her husband take a chance on an unconventional new business.Podcast # 901 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This piece is by writer Maeve Dunigan. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker and in McSweeney's; and her first collection of humor pieces and essays, Read This to Look Cool, will be published in 2025. Our reader was none other than Susie Essman, the longtime stand-up comic who spent many years yelling at Larry David while playing Susie Green on Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has also had recurring roles in series including Broad City and Hacks. After the story, Host Aparna Nancherla talks to Meg Wolitzer about this story; she's a novelist and the regular host of Selected Shorts—the show which provides Too Hot with its cornucopia of highbrow demi-smut. On top of all this, she is an avid Scrabble and Words with Friends player; so she surely knows about the feeling described in the story.
People climbing to be number one. How do they do it? What is the fundamental difference between us and them?
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Prologue: Ira Glass talks with Paul Feig, who, as a sixth-grader, at the urging of his father, actually read the Dale Carnegie classic How to Win Friends and Influence People. He found that afterward, he had a bleaker understanding of human nature—and even fewer friends than when he started. (9 minutes)Act One: David Sedaris has this instructive tale of how, as a boy, with the help of his dad, he tried to bridge the chasm that divides the popular kid from the unpopular — with the sorts of results that perhaps you might anticipate. (14 minutes)Act Two: After the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, U.S. diplomats had to start working the phones to assemble a coalition of nations to combat this new threat. Some of the calls, you get the feeling, were not the easiest to make. Writer and performer Tami Sagher imagines what those calls were like. (6 minutes)Act Three: To prove this simple point—a familiar one to readers of any women's magazines—we have this true story of moral instruction, told by Luke Burbank in Seattle, about a guy he met on a plane dressed in a hand-sewn Superman costume. (13 minutes)Act Four: Jonathan Goldstein with a story about what it's like to date Lois Lane when she's on the rebound from Superman. (13 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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For the New Year, we've got two stories about resolving to quit some bad habits. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.Storytellers:Ian Stewart does his best to quit smoking.Melissa Earley learns some lessons on a post-divorce vacation.Podcast # 900 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For the New Year, we've got two stories about resolving to quit some bad habits. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
Storytellers:
Ian Stewart does his best to quit smoking.Melissa Earley learns some lessons on a post-divorce vacation.
Podcast # 900
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in that look at some of the ways we “keep score” in life even though we know it’s not a game. Simon Rich explores the game as intergenerational competition in “The Tribal Rite of the Strombergs,” read by John Hodgman. In Dylan Marron’s “Some News,” a man carefully tracks an old friend on social media, while eyeing his own accomplishments. Marron is the reader. And Joanne Harris’ “Fule’s Gold,” a teacher tries to put himself on the board—by stealing points from an unwitting student. The reader is Gildart Jackson.
In this hour, the moments of shock and uncanny realizations, and the tenacity, perspective, and humor that help us through. An unexpected skating partner, a family divided, a daily commute, and surviving a catastrophic tragedy. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Aaron Pang describes a painful commute on San Francisco’s BARTJoel Brady and his wife have a “date night” at the Neville Island Roller Drome.Michelle Robertson and her sister are constantly in competition. Patience Murray experiences an unthinkable act of violence firsthand.
Podcast # 901
In this hour, the moments of shock and uncanny realizations, and the tenacity, perspective, and humor that help us through. An unexpected skating partner, a family divided, a daily commute, and surviving a catastrophic tragedy. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Aaron Pang describes a painful commute on San Francisco’s BARTJoel Brady and his wife have a “date night” at the Neville Island Roller Drome.Michelle Robertson and her sister are constantly in competition. Patience Murray experiences an unthinkable act of violence firsthand.Podcast # 901 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
[REBROADCAST FROM September 25, 2024] A biographical drama, "Lee," tells the story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Director Ellen Kuras and actor Kate Winslet, who stars as Lee, discuss the film which is now streaming on Hulu.
[REBROADCAST FROM August 21, 2024] In the thriller "Blink Twice," a mysterious billionaire invites a group of friends to a tropical weekend getaway where things are not what they seem. The movie marks the directorial debut of actor Zoë Kravitz, who joins to discuss the movie which is now streaming on Sling TV and MGM+.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 22, 2024] Collaborators Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis join us to discuss their new project, the concept album Warriors. It's a multi-genre musical adaptation of the 1979 movie "The Warriors," which tells the story of a Coney Island gang who need to fight their way back to Brooklyn after they are framed for a murder in the Bronx.
[REBROADCAST FROM September 5, 2024] EGOT winning musician John Legend has just released his debut family album, My Favorite Dream, produced with Sufjan Stevens. The album also features contributions from Legend's wife Chrissy Teigen and children Luna and Miles. Legend joins us for a Listening Party.
Loading...[REBROADCAST FROM September 25, 2024] A biographical drama, "Lee," tells the story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Director Ellen Kuras and actor Kate Winslet, who stars as Lee, discuss the film which is now streaming on Hulu. [REBROADCAST FROM August 21, 2024] In the thriller "Blink Twice," a mysterious billionaire invites a group of friends to a tropical weekend getaway where things are not what they seem. The movie marks the directorial debut of actor Zoë Kravitz, who joins to discuss the movie which is now streaming on Sling TV and MGM+. [REBROADCAST FROM September 5, 2024] EGOT winning musician John Legend has just released his debut family album, My Favorite Dream, produced with Sufjan Stevens. The album also features contributions from Legend's wife Chrissy Teigen and children Luna and Miles. Legend joins us for a Listening Party. [REBROADCAST FROM October 22, 2024] Collaborators Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis join us to discuss their new project, the concept album Warriors. It's a multi-genre musical adaptation of the 1979 movie "The Warriors," which tells the story of a Coney Island gang who need to fight their way back to Brooklyn after they are framed for a murder in the Bronx.
We leave the normal realm of human error and enter the territory of huge breakdowns.
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Prologue: Jack Hitt tells the story of a small-town production of Peter Pan in which all the usual boundaries between the audience and actors dissolve entirely. (6 minutes)Act One: Jack Hitt's Peter Pan story continues. (18 minutes)Act Two: The first day on the job inevitably means mistakes, mishaps, and sometimes, fiascos. A true story, told by a former rookie cop. (13 minutes)Act Three: Comedian Mike Birbiglia talks about the time he ruined a cancer charity event by giving the worst performance of his life. Here's a hint: He improvised. About cancer. (10 minutes)Act Four: Journalist Margy Rochlin on her first big assignment to do a celebrity interview: Moon Unit Zappa in 1982. Midway through the interview: fiasco! (7 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Guest host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in which games are featured. Brian Agler’s “The Rules of this Board Game Are Long, But Also Complicated” speaks for itself as the unnamed host of game night makes it clear there is no way to win this one. Meg Wolitzer is the reader. In John Updike’s “Still of Some Use,” a family clears its attic of old games; memories and emotions surface, along with battered boards and random game pieces.The reader is James Naughton. In Susan Perabo’s “Some Say the World,” a fragile young woman holds the world at bay with Parcheesi. The reader is Colby Minifie.
In this hour, windows into new or unfamiliar worlds. Behind the scenes at a haunted attraction, back of house at a Portland restaurant, and the thrills of Christian puppetry. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Amir Baghdadchi takes on a frightening new gig.Michael Maina realizes he's in over his head at his first job after medical school.Katy Strange desperately wants to join her church's Christian puppet team. Jenny Nguyen pursues her dream of becoming a chef, from kitchens in Portland to Vietnam, and back. Podcast # 899 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this hour, windows into new or unfamiliar worlds. Behind the scenes at a haunted attraction, back of house at a Portland restaurant, and the thrills of Christian puppetry. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Amir Baghdadchi takes on a frightening new gig.
Michael Maina realizes he's in over his head at his first job after medical school.
Katy Strange desperately wants to join her church's Christian puppet team.
Jenny Nguyen pursues her dream of becoming a chef, from kitchens in Portland to Vietnam, and back.
Podcast # 899
The tiny thing that unravels your world.
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Prologue: Ira talks to Chris Benderev, whose high school years were completely upended by an impromptu thing his teacher said. (8 minutes)Act One: For Producer Lilly Sullivan, there’s one story about her parents that defines how she sees them, their family, and their history. She finds out it might be wrong. (27 minutes)Act Two: For years, Mike Comite has replayed in his head the moment when he and his bandmate blew their shot of making it as musicians. He sets out to uncover how it all went awry. (13 minutes)Act Three: Six million Syrians fled the country after the start of its civil war. A few weeks ago, one woman watched from afar as everything in her home country changed forever – again. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, two stories about being grateful, especially around the holidays. This episode is hosted by Christina Norman.
Storytellers:
Stephanie Garibaldi’s daughter has a sneaky plan for Santa.Justin Werfel tries to impress his father with a gift.
Podcast # 888
On this episode, two stories about being grateful, especially around the holidays. This episode is hosted by Christina Norman.Storytellers:Stephanie Garibaldi’s daughter has a sneaky plan for Santa.Justin Werfel tries to impress his father with a gift.Podcast # 888 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Guest host Meg Wolitzer presents our holiday show--two stories about being home for the holidays and how you can count on your Mom to be there for you—and possibly to complicate things. First, memoirist Augusten Burroughs recalls a disastrous—and hilarious—childhood cooking project. Reader Michael Cerveris relishes every bite. And in “Live Wires” by Thomas Beller, a young man invites his girlfriend to his mother’s annual Hanukkah party. The reader is Jane Curtin.
In this special December holiday hour, stories about celebration, differing traditions, and family. A mother and son do their best to keep the gifting spirit alive, a daughter tries to fulfill her mother’s wish for a Trinidadian feast, and a man waits and waits for the perfect moment to kiss a date. Those and more stories in this episode. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Peter Aguero and his mother exchange holiday gifts made of paper.Tracey Segarra sends a Hanukkah card that her mother-in-law takes issue with.Steve Glickman attempts to escape a snowy Chicagoan Christmas for Puerto Vallarta.Dawn Fraser is tasked to find the perfect ingredients for a Trinidadian Christmas.Evan Lunt takes his grandmother’s menorah to college as a keepsake of her.Bernie Somers counts down to a first kiss on New Year's Eve with a romantic interest. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this special December holiday hour, stories about celebration, differing traditions, and family. A mother and son do their best to keep the gifting spirit alive, a daughter tries to fulfill her mother’s wish for a Trinidadian feast, and a man waits and waits for the perfect moment to kiss a date. Those and more stories in this episode. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Peter Aguero and his mother exchange holiday gifts made of paper.
Tracey Segarra sends a Hanukkah card that her mother-in-law takes issue with.
Steve Glickman attempts to escape a snowy Chicagoan Christmas for Puerto Vallarta.
Dawn Fraser is tasked to find the perfect ingredients for a Trinidadian Christmas.
Evan Lunt takes his grandmother’s menorah to college as a keepsake of her.
Bernie Somers counts down to a first kiss on New Year's Eve with a romantic interest.
Banias is an 8-year-old kid living in Gaza. And she has a story to tell — many stories, in fact.
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Prologue: While on the phone with reporter Maram Hamaid in Gaza, producer Chana Joffe-Walt gets interrupted by Maram’s daughter––Banias, eight, who grabs the phone from her mother and starts telling us about her life. The narrator arrives. (8 minutes)Part One: Banias, an 8-year-old in Gaza, tells us about her life––her friends, the games she plays, the things she cares about. Everything but the war going on around her. (25 minutes)Part Two: Banias talks about the war. (20 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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We take a look back at some of the stories that most resonated with our audience. This episode was hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.If you'd like to check out the video countdown of 2024’s most shared Moth stories we mentioned in the episode, you can follow us on TikTok or Instagram @MothStories.Storyteller:Wilderness guide Monte Montepare takes inexperienced hikers on a glacier expedition. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We take a look back at some of the stories that most resonated with our audience. This episode was hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
If you'd like to check out the video countdown of 2024’s most shared Moth stories we mentioned in the episode, you can follow us on TikTok or Instagram @MothStories.
Storyteller:
Wilderness guide Monte Montepare takes inexperienced hikers on a glacier expedition.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories of inspiration small and large. In these tales, writers investigate moments in which art inspires life, or life inspires art, especially in a visual medium. In Elizabeth Crane’s “Blue Girl,” read by Valorie Curry, a young woman's secret life is given an unusual public forum. In Jai Chakrabarti’s “Lessons with Father,” commissioned for our Small Odysseys anthology, a middle-aged child tries to connect with her late father through brushstrokes. The reader is Purva Bedi. And in William Boyd’s “Varengeville,” read by Dan Stevens, a young man strays from his famous family as he discovers himself on canvas.
Officials have identified 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as the person of interest in last week’s killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania on firearm charges as police work to bring him back to New York. Meanwhile, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny of all charges in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely. Finally, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo has dropped her sexual harassment lawsuit as the former governor considers running for New York City mayor.
In this hour, stories of the adventures—and misadventures—of growing up. In a cave, on the ball field, and on a camping trip. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, producer of this show.
Storytellers:
Trevor Nourse gets lost in a cave.
Susan Rohde gets to play wiffle ball with the cool kids.
New camp counselor Martha Cooney is determined to win "rookie of the year."
Self-proclaimed nerd Usra Gahzi goes on a coed camping trip.
Sivad Johnson and his buddies seek to reach new heights on their bikes.
Jim Hasson grows up with a healthy fear of strangers.
8th grader Nadia Hakim learns a lesson thanks to depilatory cream.
Podcast # 897
In this hour, stories of the adventures—and misadventures—of growing up. In a cave, on the ball field, and on a camping trip. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, producer of this show.Storytellers:Trevor Nourse gets lost in a cave.Susan Rohde gets to play wiffle ball with the cool kids.New camp counselor Martha Cooney is determined to win "rookie of the year."Self-proclaimed nerd Usra Gahzi goes on a coed camping trip. Sivad Johnson and his buddies seek to reach new heights on their bikes.Jim Hasson grows up with a healthy fear of strangers.8th grader Nadia Hakim learns a lesson thanks to depilatory cream.Podcast # 897 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
One call to a very unusual hotline and everything that followed.
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Prologue: Ira talks about a priest who set up what may have been the first hotline in the United States. It was just him, answering a phone, trying to help strangers who called. (2 minutes)Act One: The Never Use Alone hotline was set up so that drug users can call if they are say, using heroin by themselves. Someone will stay on the line with them in case they overdose. We hear the recording of one call, from a woman named Kimber. (13 minutes)Act Two: An EMT learns he was connected to the call, in more ways than he realized. (16 minutes)Act Three: Jessie, who took the call, explains how she discovered the hotline. She keeps in touch with Kimber. Until one day, Kimber disappears. (16 minutes)Act Four: We learn what happened to Kimber after she called the line. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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What happens when you meet your idols. In this case, we discover three literary legends. This episode was hosted by Suzanne Rust.Storytellers:Harriett Jernigan gets flustered when she has a chance encounter with Maya Angelou.Mandy Gardner learns an important lesson in a graveyard.Podcast # 896 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What happens when you meet your idols. In this case, we discover three literary legends. This episode was hosted by Suzanne Rust.
Storytellers:Harriet Jernigan gets flustered when she has a chance encounter with Maya Angelou.Mandy Gardner learns an important lesson in a graveyard.
Podcast # 896
Loading...In “Hard Truths,” the latest film from Mike Leigh, Marianne Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy Deacon, an angry, tightly wound woman. The intense performance has already earned a Best Actress nod from the New York Film Critics Circle, and awards season buzz. Jean-Baptiste joins us to talk about the role.
The beloved French-Moroccan restaurant Cafe Gitane has provided a home to artists and creatives for 30 years. Now, a new coffee table book celebrates the anniversary with recipes, photos, and stories. Isobel Lola Brown, author of the book, and Luc Lévy, owner of the Cafe, join us to discuss Cafe Gitane: 30 Years. Plus, we take your calls.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich discusses her new novel, The Mighty Red, about a group of people who come together in North Dakota to attend a wedding, including a man determined to steal the soon-to-be-wife away.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris revisits the Trump administration's family separation policy in his new documentary film, "Separated." Based on NBC News Political and National Correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s book, Separated: Inside an American Tragedy, Morris interviews government officials about the true purpose of the policy. Morris and Soboroff join us to discuss the film before it airs on MSNBC this Saturday.
[REBROADCAST FROM March 19, 2024] Author Percival Everett had a big year, with the adaptation of his novel Erasure, "American Fiction," taking home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now, he's written a new novel, a retelling of the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who joins Huck's journey. Everett joins us to discuss James. (This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.)
New York-based alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger Immanuel Wilkins recently released his second album, Blues Blood. Wilkins returned to All Of It to talk about the album and perform live with his quartet, which features Micah Thomas on piano, Rick Rosato on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums. Today, we presented a full live track that was not aired along with the original conversation.
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.
In this hour, stories of giving and receiving. A volunteer, a would-be chef, a firefighter, a date in need of a liver, and a scientist who needs a helping hand before she can help anyone else. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Stacey Curry and her boyfriend end up being a perfect match, in more ways than one.Having grown up ashamed of her voice, Kristin Huang is reluctant to sing.Kayleigh Hudson attempts to cook an elaborate meal for her friends. Sivad Johnson decides, reluctantly, to step into the spotlight.Mary-Claire King battles through heartbreak to make a breakthrough in cancer research.Podcast # 699 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this hour, stories of giving and receiving. A volunteer, a would-be chef, a firefighter, a date in need of a liver, and a scientist who needs a helping hand before she can help anyone else. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Stacey Curry and her boyfriend end up being a perfect match, in more ways than one.Having grown up ashamed of her voice, Kristin Huang is reluctant to sing.Kayleigh Hudson attempts to cook an elaborate meal for her friends. Sivad Johnson decides, reluctantly, to step into the spotlight.Mary-Claire King battles through heartbreak to make a breakthrough in cancer research.
Podcast # 699
Things our dads taught us, whether they intended to or not.
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Prologue: Ira talks about the time his dad taught him to shave, and how unusual that was. (5 minutes)Act One: When Jackie read the obits for the man who had invented the famous Trapper Keeper notebook, she was very surprised. As far as she knew, the inventor was very much alive. It was her dad. Not the guy in the obit. (15 minutes)Act Two: A father and son find themselves in a very traditional relationship. Until the end. (21 minutes)Act Three: Simon Rich reads his short story "History Report," in which a father explains the sex robots of the future. And other things as well. (14 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, unearthing an important part of American history. Plus, we go behind the scenes to learn how a Moth Mainstage story is crafted - and talk about what it takes to make sure a story is heard.
If you'd like to support the important work that The Moth is doing to build empathy and increase connection, please make a donation. Visit themoth.org, or text give24 to 78679.
This episode was hosted by Jodi Powell.
A special thanks to Crystal Finn, Matilda Matabwa, Pastor Herbert Broome, and Larry Rosen, whose voices we heard in this episode.
Storytellers:
Pastor Herbert Broome realizes that a critical piece of history that he was a part of is omitted in his local museum.
Podcast # 895
On this episode, unearthing an important part of American history. Plus, we go behind the scenes to learn how a Moth Mainstage story is crafted - and talk about what it takes to make sure a story is heard. If you'd like to support the important work that The Moth is doing to build empathy and increase connection, please make a donation. Visit themoth.org, or text give24 to 78679.This episode was hosted by Jodi Powell.A special thanks to Crystal Finn, Matilda Matabwa, Pastor Herbert Broome, and Larry Rosen, whose voices we heard in this episode.Storytellers: Pastor Herbert Broome realizes that a critical piece of history that he was a part of is omitted in his local museum.Podcast # 895 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this week’s SELECTED SHORTS, we're going to hear stories about students and schools that abandon the usual rules to follow their own, unusual, codes of behavior. In "Singin' in the Acid Rain," by Patricia Marx, performed by Katrina Lenk, it’s recess at a post-apocalyptic school. Marx talks with Meg Wolitzer about the story and her unique brand of humor after the read. The class in “The School,” by Donald Barthelme, performed by Laura Esterman, is facing a difficult test; and young love is framed by larger issues in "Melvin in the Sixth Grade," by Dana Johnson, performed by Nikki M. James. We hear from James about this nuanced rite-of-passage story.
Loading...Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen join us to discuss starring in the new, original Broadway musical, "Maybe Happy Ending." They play Oliver and Claire, two retired helper robots who find themselves falling in love. "Maybe Happy Ending" is running now at the Belasco Theater.
Family recipes passed down from generation to generation are sacred in many households. But sometimes it's hard to get a recipe that was never written down, or try to get a certain recipe from a family member before it's too late. Ahead of Thanksgiving, Valerie Frey, author of Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions, gives us some tips on how to preserve our food heritage, and take your calls.
25 years ago this Thanksgiving, five-year-old Elián González was found floating alone on an inner tube a few miles off the coast of Florida. He had left Cuba with his mother and a group of other migrants, but their boat capsized, leaving Elián the only survivor. His great uncle in Miami wanted him to stay in the U.S. His father wanted him to return to Cuba. The international custody battle then became its own mini cold war. The story is told in the new podcast, "Chess Piece: The Elián González Story." Host Peniley Ramirez joins us to discuss.
Traveling to see friends and family this week? Planning on spending hours in the kitchen? Or maybe you just are looking to relax with this holiday? If so, a podcast might be in order. We'll speak to Lauren Passell, curator of Podcast The Newsletter and podcast writer for LifeHacker, about the best podcasts to listen to this holiday, and we'll take listener calls.
In this hour stories of acceptance, moving on, and letting go. Growing older and maybe wiser, and stepping boldly into the future. This hour is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Elizabeth Gray contends with aging.Neema Avashia and her students are united in grief.A teacher helps keep Maxie Jones on the straight and narrow.After swearing off love, Jennifer Birmingham gets advice from an unexpected source. Susan Earley tries to return a shirt purchased for her late grandfather. Erik Heen's stepdaughter doesn't want his help.
Podcast # 693
In this hour stories of acceptance, moving on, and letting go. Growing older and maybe wiser, and stepping boldly into the future. This hour is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Elizabeth Gray contends with aging.Neema Avashia and her students are united in grief.A teacher helps keep Maxie Jones on the straight and narrow.After swearing off love, Jennifer Birmingham gets advice from an unexpected source. Susan Earley tries to return a shirt purchased for her late grandfather. Erik Heen's stepdaughter doesn't want his help. Podcast # 693 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How do you count almost 12 million votes if you’re not the government? This week, we bring you the extraordinary story of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who created the only verifiable public record of votes in their presidential election — and other stories of people trying to correct the official record with their own versions.
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Prologue: Host Ira Glass sets us up for Nancy Updike’s insider account of the recent presidential election in Venezuela. The story is an incredible national drama that plays out in thousands of polling stations across the country, with regular people trying to ensure a fair vote count that everyone can agree on. (2 minutes)Act One: Producer Nancy Updike tells the story of the people of Venezuela trying to prove who won their recent presidential election beyond a shadow of a doubt. (22 minutes)Act Two: Host Ira Glass spent America’s presidential election in the swing state of Michigan, where he found very little dispute over the ballot count from Republican poll challengers in Detroit now that they are doing the counting themselves. (8 minutes)Act Three: This story is about a creepy and dangerous creature that does all kinds of terrible things. It’s also about someone trying to set the record straight on those exact assumptions about this notorious creature. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that reflect on the beauty and vulnerability of the natural world. In “Joyas Voladoras,” by Brian Doyle, we hear the many different heartbeats of the natural kingdom.The reader is Becca Blackwell. And a talking fox has a lot to tell us about reading aloud, shopping malls, and fried chicken “Fox 8,” a darkly funny fable by George Saunders read by John Cameron Mitchell. And we’re joined by the mother/daughter book club we’ve featured on a couple of earlier episodes, which discusses “Fox 8,” at the end of the show.
In this hour, stories from risk-takers, innovators, and trail-blazers. Scientific feats, pushing the boundaries of age, and a different kind of motherhood. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Whale biologist Iain Kerr demonstrates his new invention on live-television.
Carolyn Meyer tries online dating at the age of 80.
Roseline Orwa reclaims her power and starts a new chapter.
Podcast # 894
In this hour, stories from risk-takers, innovators, and trail-blazers. Scientific feats, pushing the boundaries of age, and a different kind of motherhood. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Whale biologist Iain Kerr demonstrates his new invention on live-television.Carolyn Meyer tries online dating at the age of 80. Roseline Orwa reclaims her power and starts a new chapter. Podcast # 894 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
[REBROADCAST FROM October 7, 2024] Daniel Dae Kim stars in David Henry Hwang's farcical play "Yellow Face," about an Asian American playwright who mistakenly casts a white actor in an Asian role in his own production. Kim and Hwang join us to discuss the production, which runs through November 24.
Keiko was a hugely beloved adventure park attraction. He was also captured in the wild and taken away from his mother when he was just a calf. When Hollywood learned about him, a colossal effort began to un-tame him and send him back to the ocean.
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Prologue: Ira introduces a new series from Serial Productions and The New York Times. "The Good Whale" is about the killer whale Keiko and is reported by Daniel Alarcón. (2 minutes)Act One: Daniel Alarcón takes us back to the early 90’s when Keiko lived in an adventure park in Mexico City, swimming with human friends. (43 minutes)Act Two: Producer Diane Wu travels to Minnesota, where the turkey set to be pardoned by The President of the United States later this month is having the turkiness trained out of him. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, stories about the theater, performing, and life on the stage. This episode was hosted by Marc Sollinger.
Storytellers
Rose Laughlin finds that playing Jesus in her school’s passion play is trickier than one might expect.Honor Finegan tries out for the musical, Annie.
Podcast # 893
A routine that never changes can get old. So this week on Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that shake up domestic life, teaching the characters something new about themselves and their circumstances. In “Scaffolding Man” by Jenny Allen, performed by Patricia Kalember, a woman in a drab marriage is intrigued by a “hot” stranger. In "Myrna's Dad" by Cyn Vargas, a father’s changing occupations hide a family secret. The reader is Krystina Alabado. And in “Overtime” by Hilma Wolitzer (Meg’s mom), read by Becky Ann Baker, a happy couple gets a jolt when the man’s ex moves into their apartment. After the story, Meg interviews Hilma about what gave her the idea and her writing in general.
The new movie "Albany Road" tells the story of a New York executive (Renée Elise Goldsberry) forced to share a car with the mother of her ex-fiancé (Lynn Whitfield). On the ride, she discovers that the mother has been keeping a big secret. Whitfield and writer and director Christine Swanson join us to discuss the film, which premieres November 15.
Laura Marling describes each of her records as a "time-stamped chapter of my life," with the latest one, Patterns in Repeat, being her first release as a new mother. She joins us to perform songs from the record live in our studio.
In 1997, Dylan Scholinski published the memoir, The Last Time I Wore a Dress, which chronicled their time as a teenager being institutionalized and diagnosed with "Gender Identity Disorder." Scholinski, who is non-binary, writes about the treatment they endured while trying to be "cured" of their feelings about their gender. Now, the memoir has been re-released and updated with a new epilogue. Scholinski joins us to discuss the book, and their views on how trans issues and gender issues played a role in the 2024 election.
Just over 20 years ago, the first Modern Love essay ran in the New York Times. The column has since published thousands of essays, and Modern Love has grown to include a podcast, live performances, and more. Editor Daniel Jones and podcast host Anna Martin join us to reflect on what they’ve learned about love and the stories that have impacted them most, and we take your calls.
A special Veterans Day edition of The Moth Radio Hour. After returning from active duty in the Middle East, a marine searches for new meaning; a 97 year old woman describes training young men for WWII combat as a WASP; a father being deployed to Iraq must find a way to explain it to his children; and a WWII soldier from Wisconsin serves with the segregated 93rd Infantry Division in the South Pacific. This special hour is hosted by The Moth's Producing Director, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Mike Scotti finds new meaning after returning from active duty in the Middle East.Dawn Seymour becomes part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), training young men stateside to enter WWII overseas.Bill Krieger tucks his daughter in at night before being deployed to Iraq. William Cole serves as a radio operator in the 93rd Infantry Division, a segregated unit, in the South Pacific.
Podcast # 356
With Donald Trump’s victory this week, many people looked at the election results and thought, yeah, this is the country I thought it was. For some people, that was a hopeful thing. For others, kind of the opposite. This week, we talked with people who helped make it happen and some who are looking to what’s next.
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Prologue: Ira talks with Zoe Chace about watching Trump’s victory from an ecstatic room in Michigan. Then he checks in with a DC cop who was injured at the Capitol on January 6. (7 minutes)Act One: Trump has claimed that he will be able to deport between 15 and 20 million people. But neither he nor his team have spelled out exactly how they’d do it. Producer Nadia Reiman looked into what mass deportation could actually look like on the ground if and when it comes to pass. (17 minutes)Act Two: Trump won record numbers of Latino voters this year. Ike Sriskandarajah spent the day with a guy in Pennsylvania who's been working to bring Latino voters to Trump for years. (15 minutes)Act Three: Ira talks with two of Trump’s “political enemies” about their post-election plans. (8 minutes)Act Four: Ten different states had abortion rights measures on their ballots this election. Producer Miki Meek got curious about a particular kind of political ad that aired in many of those states and called up a few of the women whose stories were featured in them. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Loading...Legendary music producer Quincy Jones, known for working with such icons as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, died this week at the age of 91. New York Times art and culture critic Wesley Morris joins us to discuss Jones' legacy and take listener calls.
The Brooklyn Choir Project merges traditional choir singing with the energy and ethos of New York’s indie music community, tackling new choral arrangements of tunes by a diverse group of local songwriters whose styles range from alt-folk to Indian classical and West African art rock. Choir organizer Jaren Feeley, as well as local songwriters and other members of the choir, join us to sing in-studio and talk about building community through music ahead of the choir’s first performance next week on Thursday, November 14th at 7pm at the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn.
We air highlights from our conversation with author Dinaw Mengestu who joined us for our October Get Lit with All Of It event. His new book, Someone Like Us, is about a journalist who returns home to his Ethiopian community in D.C. to uncover family secrets and examine his father's sudden death.
We air highlights from our conversation with 5x Grammy Award-winner Angelique Kidjo who joined us for our October Get Lit with All Of It event for a special live performance.
We air highlights from our conversation with author Dinaw Mengestu who joined us for our October Get Lit with All Of It event. His new book, Someone Like Us, is about a journalist who returns home to his Ethiopian community in D.C. to uncover family secrets and examine his father's sudden death.
Legendary music producer Quincy Jones, known for working with such icons as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, died this week at the age of 91. New York Times art and culture critic Wesley Morris joins us to discuss Jones' legacy and take listener calls.
Host Meg Wolitzerpresents works that reflect on the loss of love, creatively imagined by a quartet of thoughtful writers. In “The Space,” by Christopher Boucher, a lost love is replaced by—her absence. The reader is Rob Yang. In Wendi Kaufman’s “Helen on Eighty-Sixth Street,” the loss is the backstory, as a lively ‘tween, voiced by Donna Lynne Champlin, finds ways to deflect the emotional fallout from her father’s absence. Sharon Olds’ wrenching poem, “Last Look,” read by Jane Kaczmarek, is our palette clearer before we close with a Raymond Carver classic, “Why Don’t You Dance?”The couple idly roving a lawn sale don’t realize they are walking through the detritus of lost relationship.The reader is Corey Stoll.
Information has become so siloed that it's easy for misinformation to spread. We'll discuss the role of media in the 2024 election with NPR's David Folkenflik and take your calls.
Nearly 70-percent of Americans said this year's presidential election was a "significant" source of stress, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. Vox senior reporter Allie Volpe and psychotherapist Jneé Hill talk about how to deal with election-related stress and take calls from listeners.
Today, Fox News has become one of the top cable news networks, however, this was not the case 25 years ago. In the 10th season of Slate's Slow Burn podcast, host Josh Levin revisits the moment between 2000 and 2004 when Fox News first surged to power through interviews with former hosts, reporters, producers, opponents, and Fox’s victims. Levin joins us to discuss this season and take calls from listeners.
Loading...Today, Fox News has become one of the top cable news networks, however, this was not the case 25 years ago. In the 10th season of Slate's Slow Burn podcast, host Josh Levin revisits the moment between 2000 and 2004 when Fox News first surged to power through interviews with former hosts, reporters, producers, opponents, and Fox’s victims. Levin joins us to discuss this season and take calls from listeners. Information has become so siloed that it's easy for misinformation to spread. We'll discuss the role of media in the 2024 election with NPR's David Folkenflik and take your calls. Our November Full Bio selection is John Lewis: A Life, written by author David Greenberg. Greenberg interviewed Lewis before his death as well as over 250 people for a comprehensive biography about the U.S Congressman, Civil Rights Activist, and preacher of getting into, as he called it, "good trouble." On Day One, we learn more about the early life of John Lewis, growing up in rural Alabama and how he was the first member of his family to attend college. Nearly 70-percent of Americans said this year's presidential election was a "significant" source of stress, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. Vox senior reporter Allie Volpe and psychotherapist Jneé Hill talk about how to deal with election-related stress and take calls from listeners.
In this hour, stories of people who swam upstream, went against the grain, forged their own paths. Standing tall, dressing for success, and getting behind the wheel. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Jameer Pond brings his act as a comedian to college.
Shristi Karki watches her mom learn a new skill.
6 foot 11 year old Shannan Scarselleta competes in a middle school obstacle course.
Gina Belafonte chronicles her relationship with her mother.
Podcast # 892
The author of the story is Carlos Greaves. His stories have been featured in The New Yorker and McSweeney's. Reading this story is Jon Cameron Mitchell who wrote and starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch—the musical and its film adaptation—and has made memorable appearances in series including Girls, Shrill, and City on Fire. And he continues to follow his passions with projects such as his musical podcast Anthem: Homunculus. After the story, host Aparna Nancherla talks to Greaves about his work, and yes, Satan.
A wee flame, flickering in the dark.
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Prologue: Who’s trying to bridge the gap between Blue America and Red America? Ira gets a glimpse of one guy who might be able to do just that. (3 minutes)Act One: A politically divided couple searches for a news source they both can trust. (26 minutes)Act Two: "June" is making a tactical decision about her vote this election. (13 minutes)Act Three: Frank Filocomo thinks people care too much about politics when it comes to dating. His dates don’t necessarily agree. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, stories about kindness, care, and what we owe each other. The episode was hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
Storytellers:
Matthew Dicks finds a friend at McDonalds.
Heidi Munson’s boss goes the extra mile.
Laurie Bushbaum tries to find a way to give away her mom’s hats.
Podcast # 891
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about objects of love, and feelings that can't be returned, for very different reasons. In “A Love Letter” by Greg Ames, a boy falls head over heels in a crosswalk. Actor and Young Adult author Maulik Pancholy really captures teen ardor and angst in his reading. And in Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s “Sugar Babies,” another teenager learns about adult responsibility from an everyday pantry staple. The reader is Sonia Manzano.
Loading...Happy Halloween! American writers, artists, and filmmakers have had an interest in the spooky and macabre for centuries. A new book traces that history and the role horror has played in American culture from the Salem witch trials to today. Author and Columbia professor Jeremy Dauber joins us to discuss, American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond.
When MF DOOM passed away suddenly in 2020, the music world grieved for one of the most legendary and mysterious rappers in the genre. DOOM, who grew up on Long Island, was known for performing in a mask, concealing his identity, and creating multiple cult-classic underground albums like Operation: Doomsday, Madvillainy, and MM..FOOD. Journalist S.H. Fernando Jr. has written a new biography of the influential rapper, The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast, and he discusses his research with us ahead of his book event tonight at the Brooklyn Museum in conversation with Hanif Abdurraqib.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Tobe Hooper's horror masterpiece, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The iconic slasher film broke new ground in horror cinema and became a primary influence for many of the filmmakers that followed, most recently Ti West's popular film "X." We discuss the legacy of the film, and take calls, with Erik Piepenburg, who writes a monthly horror column for the New York Times.
In the new true crime documentary “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara,” Director Erin Lee Carr investigates the 15 years long scam that has ensnared pop star Tegan Quin. Carr joins to discuss.
In this hour, moments and memories that mold the future. Life or death choices made in an instant, bygone mistakes, and letting go of grudges and guilt. This hour is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:
Julie Pryor is tasked with driving on the [infamously] dangerous Alaskan Haul Road.
A pregnant Madeleine Berenson endures harassment and discrimination from her employer.
Michael Fischer risks his life for a bag of pretzels.
Carol Seppilu finds a unique way to brave her depression.
Podcast # 684
People who tell a lie and then believe the lie more than anyone else.
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Sean Cole explains why he decided that he would speak with a British accent—morning, noon and night—from the age of fourteen until he was sixteen, and how he believed the lie that he was British must be true. (3 minutes)Act One: The story of two young people who, in their search to figure out who they were, pretended to be people they weren't. Both were from small towns; both took on false identities. For two years in high school, producer Sean Cole spoke with a British accent. As a freshman in college, Joel Lovell told lies about his own diet and about his parents. (15 minutes)Act Two: The story of a con man, one of the most successful salesmen in a long-running multimillion-dollar telemarketing scam, who finally got caught when he was conned himself. Producer Nancy Updike talks about the case with Dale Sekovich, Federal Trade Commission investigator. (16 minutes)Act Three: Shalom Auslander reads his true story, "The Blessing Bee." It's about the time when, as a third-grader at an Orthodox Jewish school, Shalom saw his chance to both make his mom proud, and push his drunken father out of the picture. Part of his scheme involved winning the school's bee on the complicated Hebrew blessings you say before eating certain foods. The other part of the scheme: Sinning. (19 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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We've got a special treat for you this episode! We're featuring a recent Los Angeles GrandSLAM - with hosting, audience slips, music, and of course, great stories. The episode was introduced by Sarah Austin Jenness, and the GrandSLAM was hosted by Brian Finkelstein. The musicians in this episode were Alexander Burke and Ebin Schletter
Storytellers:
Jess Nurse learns a bit about friendship after your twenties.
David Ambroz finds inner strength in a challenging situation.
Brian Kett plays disc-golf with some misfits.
Meg Wolitzer presents four works drawn from an evening of satirical stories about American political history, hosted by Andy Borowitz.Nothing is sacred. First, Joe Yan imagines Abraham Lincoln, huckster, in “I’m Abraham Lincoln and I Beg Of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday With Mattress Sales,” read by Ikechukwu Ufomadu. In “Running for Governor,” Mark Twain imagines himself in the political horse race. The reader is John Cameron Mitchell. John and Abigail Adams had a famously happy marriage, despite often being apart, and why not imagine them taking advantage of the 18th century version of modern media options? That’s the premise of Alexandra Petri’s “John and Abigail Adams Try Sexting,” read by Ophira Eisenberg and Ikechukwu Ufomadu. And the show wraps with a piece by Borowitz himself, “A Very Nixon Halloween,” inspired by a photograph of Nixon as an awkward civilian after he left office.The reader is Caroline Aaron.
Host Meg Wolitzer talks with political satirist and author Andy Borowitz in this bonus interview.
Loading...Broadway's "Suffs" tells the story of the fight for women's suffrage, led by National Woman's Party founder Alice Paul. The show won Tony Awards for both Best Book and Best Original Score, as well as a number of nominations including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role (Nikki M. James) and Best Direction (Leigh Silverman). James and Silverman join us. "Suffs" is running at Music Box Theatre through January 5.
Before he became a New York City doorman, Stephen Bruno's story begins in the Bronx. Growing up as an academically gifted kid, Bruno's path didn't necessarily go as planned. In his new memoir, Building Material: The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman, Bruno describes how he went from being broke and flunking out of college to landing a prestigious doorman job for a fancy Park Avenue building. He also shares stories about New York that only doormen might get to witness. Bruno, now an author as well as still a doorman on Park Avenue, is with us to discuss his story.
Award-winning artist Edra Soto has an ongoing series of installations based on rejas, wrought iron screens frequently seen outside homes in Puerto Rico. Graft is the latest installation and is on view at Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park through August 2025. Soto joins us to discuss her work as part of a commission through the Public Art Fund.
Collaborators Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis join us to discuss their new project, the concept album Warriors. It's a multi-genre musical adaptation of the 1979 movie "The Warriors," which tells the story of a Coney Island gang who need to fight their way back to Brooklyn after they are framed for a murder in the Bronx.
In this hour, stories about clarity and perspective. Seeing one another, feeling seen, and seeing oneself with the veil lifted. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Rae Wynn-Grant's perspective on America shifts while studying wildlife in Africa.Angelica Lindsey-Ali makes Hajj while 8 months pregnant.Grace Topinka joins a new friend for spa day.Zakiya Minifee is determined to not be "that American" during a trip abroad.Josh Holland meets his birth mother at 39.
Podcast # 681
Thirteen parole board members decide whether or not one man should be released from prison.
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Prologue: Henry Dee has been locked up for most of his life, nearly 50 years. Now, he’s up for parole. Reporter Ben Austen tells the story. (19 minutes)Part 1: The parole board members puzzle through the pros and cons of releasing Henry Dee from prison and cast their votes. (26 minutes)Part 2: Reporter Ben Austen continues the story. (8 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Thirteen parole board members decide whether or not one man should be released from prison.
Prologue: Henry Dee has been locked up for most of his life, nearly 50 years. Now, he’s up for parole. Reporter Ben Austen tells the story. (19 minutes)Part 1: The parole board members puzzle through the pros and cons of releasing Henry Dee from prison and cast their votes. (26 minutes)Part 2: Reporter Ben Austen continues the story. (8 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Rarely do we devote one show to just one writer, but on this Selected Shorts, we turn the show over to universally beloved author George Saunders. Saunders somehow finds the good, or at any rate the imperfectly human, in his characters. The result is a catalog as funny as it is moving, as devastating as it is hopeful. On this program, two stories that perfectly illustrate this. “Love Letter” is from Saunders’ latest collection Liberation Day. In it, an anxious grandfather who is ambivalent about the state of the world counsels an older grandchild. “Love Letter” is read by Stephen Colbert. And a favorite from our archives, “The Falls,” shows us two flawed men given a chance to do the right thing. René Auberjonois reads. The show also includes a conversation between host Meg Wolitzer and Saunders.
Loading...Last night marked the return of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which had been on pause for a few years. Once a dominant women's underwear and lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret has struggled to keep up with modern notions of beauty and desirability... and the former CEO, Les Wexner, became embroiled in the scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Co-author Lauren Sherman joins us to discuss her new book, Selling Sexy: Victoria's Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. The book was co-written with Chantal Fernandez.
In the 90's, Jane Pratt launched the influential magazine Sassy, then went on to publish XO and Jane--women's magazines that combined thoughtful and often pioneering journalism with fashion and beauty. Now, after the "death" of print, Pratt is returning to editorial with "Another Jane Pratt Thing," which launched September 26th on Substack. She joins to discuss.
At this year's Grammys, tabla player Zakir Hussain took home three Grammy awards, the first musician from India to win that many in one year. Hussain is currently on tour with santoor player Rahul Sharma, and Hussain stops by to reflect on his big year and his efforts to preserve and spread Indian classical music. Hussain is playing in Ridgefield, CT on Oct. 17th, and Symphony Space in New York on Oct. 20th.
Bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen joins us to discuss her latest cookbook, What Goes with What: 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless Possibilities, which helps home cooks figure out how to nail a perfectly balanced meal every time.
Ira Glass has news to share about some things happening here at This American Life.
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Ira Glass has news to share about some things happening here at This American Life.
To sign up as a Life Partner, visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners.
Lo and behold! Stories of shocks and surprises—both good and bad. A birthday gift with unintended consequences, family secrets, and support from an unlikely fanbase. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Michelle Jalowski. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Jessie shows her family photos from her recent travels...and more.
Cat Powell-Hoffman learns about her biological family.
Musician Paul Chin works tirelessly on an EP.
Kelli Dunham doesn't like accepting help from others.
Podcast # 891
So much of the fight for the presidency is coming down to battles for small slices of voters who can help throw swing states to one candidate or another. Abbas Alawieh, a leader in the Uncommitted movement, grapples with how to get his voters the thing they want.
Prologue: When you have some power, but not a lot, how do you wield it when you’re suddenly cast into the spotlight? (4 minutes)Act One: Zoe Chace and Ben Terris follow Abbas Alawieh as he fights to broker a deal at the DNC – a way to potentially satisfy the people who voted “Uncommitted” in the primaries as a protest vote against Biden’s handling of the war in Israel and Gaza. (33 minutes)Act Two: Three weeks after the Democratic National Convention, Abbas speaks at a tense community meeting in Michigan about the Uncommitted organizers’ general election recommendation and hears back from voters on how they feel about the Democratic nominee at this point. (15 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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So much of the fight for the presidency is coming down to battles for small slices of voters who can help throw swing states to one candidate or another. Abbas Alawieh, a leader in the Uncommitted movement, grapples with how to get his voters the thing they want.
It's the last day for a discounted Life Partners subscription. Sign up now for bonus content, ad-free listening, and more.
Prologue: When you have some power, but not a lot, how do you wield it when you’re suddenly cast into the spotlight? (4 minutes)Act One: Zoe Chace and Ben Terris follow Abbas Alawieh as he fights to broker a deal at the DNC – a way to potentially satisfy the people who voted “Uncommitted” in the primaries as a protest vote against Biden’s handling of the war in Israel and Gaza. (33 minutes)Act Two: Three weeks after the Democratic National Convention, Abbas speaks at a tense community meeting in Michigan about the Uncommitted organizers’ general election recommendation and hears back from voters on how they feel about the Democratic nominee at this point. (15 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, we feature two stories all about the hectic, maddening, hair-pulling side of raising kids. Plus, we feature some very special guests reading the credits. This episode was hosted by Kate Tellers.
Storytellers:
Mary Lea Carroll tries to figure out how her mom raised so many children without absolutely losing it.
PT Smith learns the true meaning of fatherhood.
Special thanks to Fritz & Olai (9), Nilah (8), Iris & Harvey (6), Zelda (4) and Esi (9 months).
Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about the tricky subject of envy that question whether the grass is in fact always greener somewhere else.In Alexandra Petri’s “Seneca Falls for You,” feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton almost gets trapped in a romance novel.The reader is Ophira Eisenberg. Ben Phillipe’s sly fairy tale, “The Luck of Others,” read by Joanna Gleason, reminds us to beware of what we wish for. And a small town charity auction surfaces envy and confusion in George Saunders’ “Al Roosten,” read by Tony Hale.
Loading...From Marla Mindelle, creator and star of "Titanique," comes a new comedy that sees its protagonist, Stacey, trapped inside a musical. Will she find (or sing) her way out? Mindelle joins us to discuss "The Big Gay Jamboree," which she co-wrote and stars in. The show is running at the Orpheum Theater through January 19.
This week, we're spotlighting local New Jersey artists who are showing work at the Montclair Art Museum as part of the 2024 New Jersey Arts Annual now on view through January 5. We continue with Copie Rodriguez, who discusses his piece in the show, "Mom," and how he captures neighbors and community members in his work.
James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Kristina Cho discusses her latest cookbook, Chinese Enough: Homestyle Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Stir-Fries, and More, which combines her Cantonese roots with her American upbringing. Cho will be speaking at Farm to People with Books Are Magic tonight.
Samora Pinderhughes releases the first part of his new two-part album, Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears on October 18, but this week he performs live at Blue Note on Oct. 7-8th. He joins us before his performance to preview the project and to discuss his career as a multidisciplinary artist.
In this hour, stories of fear -- facing it, outgrowing it, and learning from it. From shadowy childhood demons, to the anxieties of parenthood, and life or death choices in the face of discrimination. This hour is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Zaena Tessema's mother invokes a mysterious figure to control her children.Diane Kastiel gets unexpected and unwanted news.Bruce Lee teaches Tito Chavez-Nguyen how to find his way in a new school.Patricia Aro is scared that her children will ask her about death.Chelsea Shorte is pulled over for the first time while masculine presenting.Rufus May fears his own experience with mental health issues will keep him from being a clinical psychologist.
Podcast # 680
Loading...In honor of WNYC's 100th birthday, All Of It is celebrating 100 pieces of art in New York City. Each month we'll speak with a tastemaker in the arts world about their favorites. Our October segment features Hyperallergic co-founder and editor-in-chief Hrag Vartanian who shares 10 pieces he thinks all New Yorkers should see. This week, we're spotlighting local New Jersey artists who are showing work at the Montclair Art Museum as part of the 2024 New Jersey Arts Annual show now on view through January 5. We start with Maria Mijares, who discusses her piece in the show, "4 Fashion Girls" and her work in public spaces around the Garden State. Author Charles Bock didn't have being a father on his list of high priorities. But when his wife dies of cancer, leaving him a single father to a three-year-old daughter, he realizes it's time to step up. He recounts his experience with single fatherhood in the new memoir, I Will Do Better: A Father’s Memoir of Heartbreak, Parenting, and Love. We discuss with Bock, and take calls from our listeners, as part of our series Mental Health Mondays. Daniel Dae Kim stars in David Henry Hwang's farcical play "Yellowface," about an Asian American playwright who mistakenly casts a white actor in an Asian role in his own production. Kim and Hwang join us to discuss the production, which runs through November 24.
Daniel Dae Kim stars in David Henry Hwang's farcical play "Yellow Face," about an Asian American playwright who mistakenly casts a white actor in an Asian role in his own production. Kim and Hwang join us to discuss the production, which runs through November 24.
*We stated in this interview that Richard Price was cast in "Miss Saigon." The actor was actually Jonathan Pryce.
Author Charles Bock didn't have being a father on his list of high priorities. But when his wife dies of cancer, leaving him a single father to a three-year-old daughter, he realizes it's time to step up. He recounts his experience with single fatherhood in the new memoir, I Will Do Better: A Father’s Memoir of Heartbreak, Parenting, and Love. We discuss with Bock, and take calls from our listeners, as part of our series Mental Health Mondays.
Chen Almog-Goldstein was kidnapped by Hamas along with her three youngest children on October 7, 2023. This week, she tells the story of their life as hostages in Gaza.
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Prologue: The 251 hostages taken by Hamas a year ago have become a divisive symbol in Israel. Host Ira Glass talks about the father of one hostage, and what happened to him at a protest last week when he called for a hostage deal. (6 minutes)Part One: On this week’s show, we’re airing excerpts of interviews with former hostages produced by an Israeli podcast, Echad Bayom. In these interviews they describe, in a remarkably detailed and complicated way, what happened to them a year ago. Part Two: Chen’s story continues, with a description of what it was like to be hidden in a small apartment with her children and their captors. (6 minutes)Part Three: Chen talks about the complicated relationship between her family and the people holding them hostage. (6 minutes)Part Four: Chen describes hearing the Israeli news while in captivity, including one night when her own father was interviewed. (4 minutes)Part Five: Chen talks about what it was like to walk around the streets of Gaza in disguise and their eventual release, 51 days after they were taken from their home. (13 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Chen Almog-Goldstein was kidnapped by Hamas along with her three youngest children on October 7, 2023. This week, she tells the story of their life as hostages in Gaza.
Prologue: The 251 hostages taken by Hamas a year ago have become a divisive symbol in Israel. Host Ira Glass talks about the father of one hostage, and what happened to him at a protest last week when he called for a hostage deal. (6 minutes)Part One: On this week’s show, we’re airing excerpts of interviews with former hostages produced by an Israeli podcast, Echad Bayom. In these interviews they describe, in a remarkably detailed and complicated way, what happened to them a year ago. Part Two: Chen’s story continues, with a description of what it was like to be hidden in a small apartment with her children and their captors. (6 minutes)Part Three: Chen talks about the complicated relationship between her family and the people holding them hostage. (6 minutes)Part Four: Chen describes hearing the Israeli news while in captivity, including one night when her own father was interviewed. (4 minutes)Part Five: Chen talks about what it was like to walk around the streets of Gaza in disguise and their eventual release, 51 days after they were taken from their home. (13 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Meg Wolitzer presents two stories with surprises the characters didn’t anticipate. A smart Mom defies expectations in “Agouti,” by Brenda Williams, performed by Laurine Towler. And a smart house has unexpected features in a classic by sci-fi master Ray Bradbury.Stephen Colbert reads “The Veldt.”
In this hour, stories of self-reliance and autonomy. What's in a name, the ties that bind us, and a life-altering diagnosis. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Shaylan Clark grows up in Harlan County, where every family has at least one coal miner.
Quetzalli Castro is frustrated by teachers who can't pronounce her name.
Daisy Joy Rodrigo worries that her parents won't approve of her boyfriend.
Brian Jeansonne describes how living with ALS has impacted his family.
Podcast # 889
People caught in limbo, using ingenuity and guile to try to get themselves out.
Prologue: Rachel has two kids. Elias, age seven, is a vegetarian. Theo, age five, is not. But Elias wants Theo, and everyone else in the house, to be vegetarian too. So Rachel and her husband are in the middle of negotiating the desires of two very strong willed kids. (12 minutes)Act One: Sara Corbett's father-in-law Dick is 81. And he's become obsessed with a limbo most of us hate – the music he hears whenever he's on hold. (14 minutes)Act Two: Mark Oppenheimer reports on agunah in the Orthodox Jewish community. An agunah is a woman whose husband refuses to give her a divorce – in Hebrew it means "chained wife." If you're an Orthodox Jew, strictly following Jewish law, the only real way to get divorced is if your husband agrees to hand you a piece of paper called a get. Without the get, women who want out of their marriages can stay chained to their husbands for years. In New York, a couple of rabbis were recently accused of using violence to force men to give their wives a get. (17 minutes)Act Three: Brett Martin documents a previously unnoticed human phenomenon, one that involves airplanes, crying, and Reese Witherspoon. (11 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, to celebrate our inaugural Kansas City StorySLAMs, we're featuring two stories from KC.
If hearing the energy of the crowd (take it from everyone who was there, the show was super fun!) has got you hankering to attend a Kansas City StorySLAM, just go to themoth.org/kansascity for tickets and dates. And if you want to attend a StorySLAM in your area, just go to themoth.org/events and hit StorySLAMs in the dropdown menu.
This episode was hosted by Chloe Salmon.
Storytellers:
Glenn North learns a hard lesson involving a dirtbike.
Sue Marie Moreno helps found a nurturing community.
Meg Wolitzer presents two favorite Selected Shorts works in which food and nourishment figure both literally and symbolically. The narrator of Haruki Murakami’s “The Year of Spaghetti” seems to be just sharing pasta recipes, but it’s the recipe for assuaging loneliness that may elude him. The reader is Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli. And unusual family dynamics shape Amy Bloom’s “Love is Not a Pie,” performed by Hope Davis. We also share a discussion of this work by the mother and daughter book club organized by our frequent reader Rita Wolf and her daughter Anjeli.
In this hour, stories of the past echoing into our present. A history lost to slavery, modern life clashing with religion, going from a party lifestyle to a corporate gig, and using memories of an injury to help others. This hour is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:
After a trip to Senegal's Door of No Return, Hannah Drake tries to piece together a family history obliterated by slavery. Craig Mangum explores his relationship to Mormonism and its sacred garments. Luanne Sims has to grow up fast when she gets her first real job.Dan Ariely is called upon to help a fellow burn survivor.
Podcast # 666
One kid comes to America as an exchange student and commits herself to the senior year experience.
Prologue: We talk to high school seniors in Salt Lake City who are trying to have the perfect year. (5 minutes)Act One: Every year, thousands of teenagers come from all over the world to experience American high school. Last year, thirteen students from Palestine came to the US on a program sponsored by the US State Department. We tell the story of a girl named Majd, from Gaza, and her extraordinary year in America. (50 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Meg Wolitzerpresents a show of stories about replacements and stand-ins. While we tend to crave the original, sometimes a substitute can bring more happiness than the “real” thing. In Steve Almond’s “A Happy Dream,” read by Phil LaMarr, a young man assumes a new identity in pursuit of love. In “A Brief Note on the Translation of Winter Women, Written by the Collective Dead, Translated by Amal Ruth,” a writer speaks for those who have passed. The “real” author is Rivers Solomon, and the reader is TL Thompson. In “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” by Alexander Weinstein, a robot child and its human family learn about love all at once. The reader is Tony Hale.
Gather 'round for an episode of The Moth Radio Hour with stories of coming together - in sadness, in celebration, in faith and in the nude. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Kate Tellers. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Bonnie Levison takes a risk and stands tall … and nude.
Adam Bottner makes an immaculate connection in an unlikely place.
Sister Laurena discovers a new relationship with her faith by changing a habit.
Oleeta Fogden's much anticipated party for her first period does not go as planned.
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, Mary Shaughnessy learns to lean on her community.
Podcast # 887
People trying and struggling to see what another person sees.
Prologue: Guest-host Tobin Low talks to comedian Tig Notaro about a jarring ride to school with her son. (6 minutes)Act One: Producer Aviva DeKornfeld heads to the Calgary Stampede to watch as men try out a machine designed to simulate menstrual cramps. (15 minutes)Act Two: A man can’t seem to see anyone in his life for who they really are, plunging his life into chaos. (18 minutes)Act Three: Senior Editor David Kestenbaum hears about a way to save some money and help save the world. All he needs is a little help. (5 minutes)Act Four: Marie Phillips reads a short story involving an aloof friend, a goose, and some extreme gardening. (7 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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In this episode, we're featuring two stories from young people that were developed as part of The Moth Story Lab. If you're interested in participating, or know of a young person who might be, just go to themoth.org/education for more information.
Host: Ana Stern
Storytellers:
Aravah Chaiken learns a lesson about math and life.
Iris Hernandez takes a trip to Puerto Rico.
The Moth Story Lab is a free workshop program for high-school students grades 10-12. If you’re in NYC it’s in person, and if you’re anywhere else in the country, it’s a virtual workshop. For 8 weeks, participants develop, practice, and share their personal narratives, with coaching, games, and a final telling that can be open to friends and family.
Go to themoth.org/education for more information.. The deadline to signup is September 22nd.
"Girls Will Be Girls" is a new movie opening tomorrow at Film Forum, and tells the story of Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), a 16 year old girl coming of age at an Indian boarding school and pursuing a romantic relationship while also trying to maintain the approval of her mother. Director Shuchi Talati discusses her debut feature film alongside Panigrahi.
short_stories, short_fiction, symphony_space, books, life, meg wolitzer, Carlos Greaves, Santina Fontana, Dylan Marron, Sarah Messanotte, Willa Cather, Patricia Clarkson, humor, cartoons, family
In this hour: win, lose or draw! Stories of competition and play. Family pranks, high school Latin, college track, and the need for approval. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Joey Garfield is invited to play with the cool kids. Tod Kelly seeks justice for a decades-old prank.Romy Negrin and her Latin Club compete in the highest division.Tahmin Ullah risks her relationship with her mom when she takes up running. Abhishek Shah hatches a plan to win over his fiancée's family.
Podcast # 674
Iowa has three million people and a million come to their State Fair, each with their own goals and dreams for the fair. We hang out with some of them, to see if they get what they hoped for.
Prologue: A big bull, a giant slide, and cowboys on horseback shooting balloons are just a few sights you can take in at the Iowa State Fair. Some people come for the spectacle, and some are the spectacle. (8 minutes)Act One: Bailey Leavitt comes from a family of carnies. For her, one of the most thrilling things she looks for at the fair is someone who is really good at luring people into spending money at their stand. She takes Ira on an insider’s search for “an agent.” (16 minutes)Act 2: Motley Crue pledged never to play the fairgrounds. Then they did. We wondered what that had been like for them. They agreed to an interview, but then they flinched. (1 minute)Act Two: What life lessons can kids learn at the 4-H Rabbit Competition? A lot. (11 minutes)Act Three: The Iowa State Fair awarded coveted slots to just nine new food vendors this year. All of them are run by people who already own restaurants or who’ve done other big fairs. All except for an unlikely newcomer: Biscuit Bar. (19 minutes)Act Four: As the ferris wheel goes dark and the fair is closing down, one game is racing to meet their quota. Ira watches until the end. Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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Meg Wolitzer presents a show of stories about our need to have “proof of love”—some demonstration by those nearest and dearest of exactly how much they care. A lot, in Etgar Keret’s sweetly improbable “Almost Everything,” in which a husband looks for the perfect gift for a demanding wife. It’s read by Liev Schreiber. In Jacob Guajardo’s “Conquistadors, on Fairchild,” read by Michael Hartney, old flames reconnect, but it’s not clear where they are headed.And in a classic from our archives, Haruki Murakami’s “Ice Man,” a shy woman marries a man who carries winter within and without. Jane Curtin is the reader.
This week, a special episode of The Moth Radio Hour—featuring a live Mainstage show from Anchorage, Alaska. Family ties, king salmon, and cheese. Hosted by Jacoby Cochran with additional hosting by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
For the first time in his life, Lamar Sloss feels in over his head.
Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, Dasha Kelly Hamilton, makes a move.
Monica Woo contends with the loss of her brother.
Podcast # 883
From the author of Eileen and My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a story about weird people doing weird things. Read by Colby Minifie from The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Fear the Walking Dead. Michael Ian Black hosts this episode, which includes an interview with Moshfegh.
In honor of summer vacation, this episode we’re heeding the advice of innumerable super bowl winners and taking a trip to Disney World, with three stories all about the magic kingdom, and the complex emotions that arise when we visit a place of fantasy and forced wonder.
Host:
Kate Tellers
Storytellers:
Sara Rae Lancaster’s grandfather takes one last trip to Disney World.Michelle Ephraim takes her parents to Disney’s Haunted Mansion, and learns a little something about them.Jessi Klein is reluctant to attend her sister's wedding in Disney World.
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, explores social dynamics and family secrets in a small Irish village. A brief interview with Van Booy is included.
Loading...This month, WQXR released the final episode of its new podcast, If This Hall Could Talk, about the history of Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Broadway actress and singer Jessica Vosk, the podcast dives into different famous nights in Carnegie Hall history, from the opening performance in 1891 to Ella Fitzgerald's performances to a Civil Rights benefit concert. Vosk discusses the podcast alongside Kathleen Sabogal, director of Carnegie Hall's Rose Archives and Museum, and we take your calls.[REBROADCAST FROM JULY 7, 2023] "BAMA RUSH" follows students at the University of Alabama as they rush sororities, a legendary and rigorous process. The film looks at the lengths people will go to fit in, including director Rachel Fleit's own story as a woman with alopecia.
As college students head back to campus, we take some time to revisit a difficult moment in the history of higher education--- COVID-19 and the closure of many college campuses. We're joined by Anthony Abraham Jack, faculty director of the Boston University Newbury Center and associate professor of higher education leadership at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, to discuss his new book Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price. He spoke with former college students about their experience during the pandemic, and how they feel their education was affected by COVID era policies. Plus, we take calls from former students and their parents about their experience of higher education in 2020 and 2021.When Joy Neumeyer was a graduate student at Berkeley, she found herself in a physically abusive romantic relationship with a fellow student. That relationship leads her to leave campus, and attempt to pursue a Title IX case against her ex. But many felt that it was her boyfriend who was the real victim. Neumeyer recounts her experience, and the pitfalls of Title IX, in her new memoir A Survivor's Education: Women, Violence, and the Stories We Don't Tell.
Loading...Grammy award-winning vocalist and native New Yorker Catherine Russell has just released her new album, My Ideal, a duet release with pianist Sean Mason. Ahead of her residency at Birdland next week, Russell joins us for a Listening Party. Author Julia Phillips joins us to discuss her latest novel, Bear, which tells the story of two sisters whose lives are upended by the arrival of a bear on the remote island they call home. Julia will be speaking tonight at MyBiblioteka at 7 pm. Two years ago Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married, more than a decade after dating and splitting up once before. Their smiles and PDA were contagious and rooting for their romance to last. But this week J.Lo filed for divorce, leaving many to wonder, what happened? Atlantic staff writer Faith Hill interviewed couples who reunited a few years ago when "Bennifer" got back together, and she joins to share her reporting on her piece "What Second Chance Couples Can Share about Love." We also take calls from listeners who've rekindled romances. A desperate and damaged woman played by Naomi Harris seeks revenge on her cheating husband by recruiting an old friend (played by Natalie Dormer) in a murder plot. However, things don't turn out as planned. Or do they? Both actors join to discuss the new psychological thriller, "The Wasp."
In this hour, stories of testing one's own limitations and discovering new wells of strength and resolve. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Living on the 44th floor, Lucy Danser has to face her fear of elevators.
Albert Fox Cahn finds unexpected motivation to turn his health crisis around.
Quratulain Fatima grows up refusing to take no for an answer.
Tim FitzHigham takes on 10 world record holders.
Podcast # 679
Loading...In a new dramatic comedy, a cantor, played by Jason Schwartzman, experiences a crisis of faith but finds a new sense of purpose when his grade school music teacher, played by Carol Kane, becomes his adult bat mitzvah student. Schwartzman and Kane join us alongside filmmaker Nathan Silver to discuss the film, "Between the Temples" which is in theaters nationwide this Friday, August 23. In the early days of the COVID lockdown, newly married couple Theo and Darla to get out of the city and take a break from being cooped up in their apartment. However, tragedy strikes during a hike and their lives are forever altered. Author Regina Porter joins to discuss her latest novel, The Rich People Have Gone Away. For our latest installment of our Full Bio series, we speak with Brad Gooch, author of the new book, Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring, a biography about the tragically short life of New York City artist Keith Haring. On today's installment, we learn how Haring's career took off in New York. We only have a few weeks left in our Summer Reading Challenge, so we thought we would give you some inspiration for books to read in the category "a book about or set in New York." Producer Jordan Lauf joins us to recommend some of the best New York books, and we take your calls.
The Germans have a word for second-hand embarrassment -- Fremdschämen! This hour may have you blushing on our storytellers' behalves. Wince-worthy moments from the halls of academia to a foreign train station, and a reminder to ALWAYS check who you're emailing before you hit "send." This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Marissa sees more of her mother than she'd like at her dissertation defense.
Azhar Bawde-Ali creates an embarrassing situation over e-mail.
On his way to a meeting at Warner Bros., Gbenga Akinnagbe ends up stranded on the side of a mountain.
Joanne Richards has trouble saying "no."
Wendy Suzuki describes her relationship to her emotions as "a struggle for control."
When the best—and perhaps only—way to say something is to write it down.
Prologue: Ira goes out with a letter carrier, ‘Grace,’ as she delivers mail on her route. He learns about the people who bring us our mail and also how people treat their mail. (11 minutes)Act One: Writing a letter decades after an event that shaped her life was the only way that Nicole Piasecki could make some sense of it. (18 minutes)Act Two: Yorkshire, 1866. A farmer overcomes his timidity and writes a very important letter to a local beauty. (3 minutes)Act Three: When senior editor David Kestenbaum was still a rookie reporter, he wrote an email to a legend. Then he waited...and waited...for a reply. (6 minutes)Act Four: A woman writes an unusual letter on behalf of her husband. (1 minute)Act Five: Producer Zoe Chace compares the letters a person gets and the letters they wish they got. (12 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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On this episode, we celebrate musicians with two stories about learning to play an instrument. Plus, we feature some music by Mazz Swift, recorded at a recent Moth Mainstage.
Host: Michelle Jalowski
Storytellers:
Alistair Bane learns to play the guitar from a punk musician. Mari Black performs in a fiddle contest as a 6-year-old.
The new short story collection Highway Thirteenfocuses on how one serial killer changes the lives of so many different people, from the families of victims to podcast hosts investigating the crimes, to actors starring in a movie adaptation. Author Fiona McFarlane joins us to discuss.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
In a new cookbook, food writer Kiano Moju fuses both Kenyan and Nigerian culinary traditions with Californian culture to create delicious, unique meals. She has recipes for Peri Peri Butter, Kijani Seafood Pilau, Berbere Braised Short Ribs and a Pili Pili Pineapple Margarita. Moju joins us to discuss her upbringing, love of cooking, and some of the dishes featured in her book, AfriCali: Recipes from My Jikoni.
[REBROADCAST FROM May 16, 2024] Helen Rebanks' new memoir, The Farmer's Wife, discusses modern day life on her farm in pastoral England. She shares the life with her husband, four children and animals. Her sustainable lifestyle has inspired many, including actor and comedian Nick Offerman, who has worked as a farmhand for her. Both join to discuss their experience.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
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.
In this hour, tales that remind us that looks can be deceiving. Disguises, surprises from strangers, and reckoning with one's own identity. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Phill Branch designs his own suit for prom.Raabia Wazir leaves KY to take a job at Muslim Civil Rights Organization in DC.Jean le Bec begins to feel a sense of community at her local pool.Micheal Devlin rescues a sheep in a field in Ireland.Jim Giaccone searches for his brother in the rubble of the Twin Towers.
Podcast: 693
In a crisis, when all logic suggests that you get away from the dangerous thing, how will you respond?
Prologue: Ira talks to two members of a recreational swimming club who intentionally swam straight toward a shark that had just bitten their friend. (9 minutes)Act One: Sarah Polley has always been reluctant to jump into challenging situations. Then something happened that changed all of that – something that also made her think her teeth were going to fall out. (19 minutes)Act Two: Comedian Josh Johnson tells the story of a “trad wife” who stepped into an incendiary situation. And even as the flames consumed her, she kept stepping. (7 minutes)Act Three: This summer, thousands of young people have taken to the streets in Nairobi to protest the Kenyan government. But behind those protestors are thousands of worried parents. Reporter Kimu Elolia talks to a woman whose son keeps lying to her. (17 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
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A new memoir offers readers a front-row seat inside of America's most infamous trials featuring characters such as Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, Stormy Daniels, Steve Bannon, Tom Brady, Robert DeNiro, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein. Jane Rosenberg joins us to talk about her new book, Drawn Testimony: My Four Decades as a Courtroom Sketch Artist.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
Cartoonist, animator, and author Dash Shaw joins us to discuss his new graphic novel, Blurry, which examines the small life choices that lead to bigger life change. Plus, we discuss his film "Cryptozoo," which will be screening at Roxy Cinema on Sunday at 7 pm.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
Loading...A new book from an influential psychologist explains that when it comes to mentoring, educating or parenting teenagers, making them feel respected is key. Dr. David Yeager, Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the cofounder of the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute discusses his new book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Plus, listeners call in to talk about their strategies for motivating the young people in their lives.Sometimes looking in the mirror and trying to psych yourself up just isn't enough. When you need external validation, Josh Gondelman is your man. He's a comedian and writer and the author of a pep talk newsletter titled "That's Marvelous." He joins us to spread enthusiasm -- and give listeners a boost.Cartoonist, animator, and author Dash Shaw joins us to discuss his new graphic novel, Blurry, which examines the small life choices that lead to bigger life change. Plus, we discuss his film "Cryptozoo," which will be screening at Roxy Cinema on Sunday at 7 pm.A new memoir offers readers a front-row seat inside of America's most infamous trials featuring characters such as Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, Stormy Daniels, Steve Bannon, Tom Brady, Robert DeNiro, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein. Jane Rosenberg joins us to talk about her new book, Drawn Testimony: My Four Decades as a Courtroom Sketch Artist.*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works in which characters are out of their element. This is quite literally the case in Robert Coover’s witty reworking of the fable “The Frog Prince,” who finds human life exhausting despite the enthusiasm of his suburban love interest. Parker Posey reads. In Cristina Henríquez’s “Chasing Birds” a married couple share an exotic holiday locale, but not much else. It’s voiced by Maryann Plunkett, who also comments on the story at the end of her read, and introduced by novelist Amy Tan, a bird lover and illustrator.
Hold on to your wallets, SSNs, and test papers. This episode is all about scams, schemes, and con artists. Student hijinx, famous grifts, monkey business, and the word of God. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, producer of this radio show.
Storytellers:
Abigail Ladd runs a con in elementary school.
Tonya Camille and her sister use their physical similarities to their advantage.
Pete Goldfinger experiences a famous scandal firsthand.
Gayliene Omary has a run in with a scammer of the heart.
Maria Corrales confronts a con in the animal kingdom.
Chiwoza Bandawe receives the word of God, courtesy of a shady acquaintance.
Podcast: 879
A new film follows a queer 17-year-old named Sam (Lily Collias), her father, and her father's longtime friend as they head on backpacking trip in the Catskills. However, she starts to see the men in a new light as their resentments about life rise to the surface. Director India Donaldson joins us alongside Collias to discuss the film, "Good One" which is playing at Film at Lincoln Center and Metrograph this weekend.
In this hour, stories live on Moth stages around the Lone Star State - Everything’s Bigger in Texas. This hour is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Alyssa Ladd attempts to be the "best Christian" at her Evangelical summer camp.
Chris Gorman adopts a dog that's been marked "unwanted."
At 12 years old, Robert Holguin infiltrates a NASA press conference.
Christopher Scott's life is changed forever when he answers a friend’s call for help.
We document one day in a Chicago diner called the Golden Apple, starting at 5 a.m. and going until 5 a.m. the next morning. We hear from the waitress who has worked the graveyard shift for over two decades, the regular customers who come every day, the couples working out their problems, assorted drunks, and, of course, cops.
Act One: In this act, we hear several stories that happened during the daylight hours of the diner's operation. The first is from Nancy Updike, who talks with early morning customers, including one guy who comes in mornings to play his accordion, and another who at the age of 8 was the youngest butcher in Illinois. We also hear from several regulars who come to the Golden Apple every day, more than once. Many of them are old and alone. They say they come for the coffee, and to talk to the waitresses. Reporter Susan Burton talks with two friends who used to be a couple. They stopped dating three years ago, but haven't stopped fighting about whose fault it was. An older lady who grew up in the neighborhood explains her neighbors' feelings towards African Americans and gay people. (29 minutes)Act Two: In this act, we hear from the rowdier, drunker late-night patrons of the Golden Apple. A guy walks in with two young women, hoping to go home with one of them. A woman explains the difference between earthly time and other kinds of time. Two teenaged girls, best friends, spend four hours trying to meet a guy named Jeff at the diner. Two cops talk about TV, what they do on their breaks, and how sometimes it's okay to drive around all night on their beat doing nothing. (26 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about change. Yalcin Tosun’s “Muzaffer and Bananas” explores the awkward rites of passage of two teenaged boys. It’s performed by Arian Moayed. In Anya DeNiro’s “Take Pills and Wait for Hips,” performed by Pooya Mohseni, a trans woman reflects on her life before and after the change. And a former couple rehearse the disintegration of their relationship—on a street corner—in A.M. Homes’ “Goodbye to the Road Not Taken” performed by Jane Kaczmarek and Tony Shalhoub.
A new book tells the story of a divorce that made headlines in Gilded Age New York, after a high society woman admitted to her husband she was having an affair with his younger brother, and was possibly pregnant with his child. Author Barbara Weisberg joins us to discuss Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York, as part of our series, "Women Behaving Badly."
In this hour, stories of do-overs, golden years, and new takes. One-more-chance—at work, in love, through art. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Jamal Joseph is tasked with putting on a play in prison.
After not working for almost 2 decades, Neerja Kapoor takes on an unexpected job.
Craig Mangum and his girlfriend have more in common than anticipated.
Rhonda Sternberg describes dating "while old."
After losing her father, Blessing Omakwu has a crisis of faith.
People rethinking some of the most important relationships in their lives — with their sister, their political party, and the nominee for president.
Prologue: Ira observes that we are in a moment of national reconsideration. (2 minutes)Act One: Zoe Chace reports on a surprising guest at the Republican National Convention: Teamsters president Sean O’Brien. (18 minutes)Act Two: Ira talks to Representative Seth Moulton about what it was like to be among the first members of Congress to call for President Joe Biden to step aside. (18 minutes)Act Three: Two adult sisters revisit old rivalries when they compete for a world record in typing with their pinkies. (16 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
In this special episode, we celebrate the 55th anniversary of the moon landing with some of our favorite stories all about space. Hosted by educator, storyteller, and astronaut Leland Melvin, we'll visit NASA training camp, the Hubble telescope, Pluto, and everywhere in between.Host:Leland MelvinStorytellers:Mike Massimino details his high stakes mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.Cathy Olkin must troubleshoot a problem more than 4 billion miles away.Leland Melvin suffers a devastating injury that seemingly cuts short his dream of flying in space.
Podcast: 876
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works in which characters have unusual friends who change their lives—whether they like it nor not. In “Unicorn Me,” by Elizabeth Crane, a magical box delivers a unicorn who offers ambiguous advice. Miriam Shor performs.A sentient cockroach intrigues and alarms a woman in “The Double Life of the Cockroach’s Wife,” by Helen Phillips.It’s performed by Sarah Steele. And the latest iPhone knows everything about you in Weike Wang’s “iPhoneSE,” performed by Dawn Akemi Saito. All three stories were commissions for SELECTED SHORTS’ anthology Small Odysseys.
What's the best book of the 21st century so far? Last week, the New York Times attempted to answer that question, putting together a list of "The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century." This highly debated list has caused a stir among literary lovers, so we've invited Gilbert Cruz, editor of the New York Times Book Review, to discuss the list and defend the rankings. Plus, we take your calls about the best book of the 21st century.We've talked about ice cream, sandwiches and ways to stay cool as this summer has entered with a bang. Today we discuss cocktails to enjoy this summer, from the classics to trending with Carey Jones and John McCarthy, authors of the book, Every Cocktail Has a Twist.While the profiling of serial killers and other violent criminals has been the subject of countless film and TV projects, a new docuseries, "Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer," spotlights the work of Dr. Ann Burgess, the woman who helped pioneer the science of criminal profiling. Burgess and showrunner Dani Sloane join to discuss.As part of our weeklong unveiling of winners of the 2024 Public Song Project, Mal Petty joins us to discuss their song adaptation of Margery Swett's poem "Winter Wife." Plus, WNYC New Sounds and Soundcheck host John Schaefer joins us to discuss takeaways from the 2024 Public Song Project and share some of his personal favorite submissions and runners up.*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
In 19th century Staten Island, a heavily pregnant woman named Polly Bodine was accused of murdering her own sister-in-law, and her baby niece. The crime and subsequent trials set off a media firestorm in New York, with luminaries like Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman covering the case. We speak with author Alex Hortis about his new book, The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice as part of our series, "Women Behaving Badly," a tongue-in-cheek look at unruly women in New York history.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang's latest feature film, "Didi," is a slice of life story about Chris, an impressionable teenager living in Fremont, California. It's summer, and the 13-year-old spends his time aimlessly skateboarding and flirting with his crush on Myspace. Chris often clashes with his immigrant mother, whose rigid expectations for her son clashes with his own desires and ambitions. Wang joins to discuss his feature directorial debut, which is out in theaters on July 26.As part of our weeklong unveiling of winners of the 2024 Public Song Project, we're joined by Ashleigh Prather and Manish Ayachit, a husband-and-wife duo who record and perform as Moontripp. They share their version of Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do."In 19th century Staten Island, a heavily pregnant woman named Polly Bodine was accused of murdering her own sister-in-law, and her baby niece. The crime and subsequent trials set off a media firestorm in New York, with luminaries like Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman covering the case. We speak with author Alex Hortis about his new book, The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice as part of our series, "Women Behaving Badly," a tongue-in-cheek look at unruly women in New York history.After 12 years, New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells is leaving the table and shining a light on the health concerns that face many food critics. He joins us next to reflect on over a decade of reviewing food in New York.
In this hour, tellers who tell the truth and nothing but the truth, even when it's hard. Finding the right words in front of the president, in the face of the patriarchy, during a shocking encounter, and to pass on knowledge. This hour is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
David Litt channels his alter ego, "Lips," while working as a presidential speechwriter.
Nimisha Ladva sees the subtle ways her mother defies the patriarchal structure of her extended family.
Alexis Barton learns nothing good happens after midnight.
Sharon Salzberg's meditation teacher encourages her to use her voice and past experience to help others
Podcast: 657
If you enjoy the stories you hear on The Moth Podcast then come experience the magic of true stories told live in person at a Moth Mainstage show near you! The Moth Mainstage features five storytellers and a notable host who all share true tales–centered on a common theme—live and without notes!
Tickets are on sale now at themoth.org/mainstage
Tour stops include Martha's Vineyard, New York City, Manhattan, Toronto, New Haven, London, Iowa City, Tampa, Boston, Honolulu, Fort Collins, Fargo, Princeton, Austin, Atlanta, Nairobi, Portland, and Chicago with first-time stops in East Hampton, New York and Bismarck, North Dakota!
"When it comes to engaging and brilliant storytelling, The Moth never disappoints." — Forbes
“[The stories] range from touching to just plain hilarious.” — GQ Australia
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works of speculative fiction curated by best-selling author N.K. Jemisin. In John Scalzi’s “When the Yogurt Took Over” a popular breakfast staple decides it’s good for everyone. The reader is Jin Ha. Chatbots and A.I. can be helpful––but sometimes too helpful––as we hear in Alexandra Chang’s “Me and My Algo,” read by Catherine Cohen. And Jemisin herself reworks a classic by Ursula K. Le Guin in “The Ones Who Stay and Fight,” read by Teagle F. Bougere. Excerpts from Jemisin’s onstage remarks are included in this show.
The vast majority of the massive, metallic towers the city commissioned to help low-income neighborhoods access high-speed 5G internet still lack cell signal equipment — more than two years after hundreds of the structures began sprouting across the five boroughs.
Just two of the nearly 200 Link5G towers installed by tech firm CityBridge since 2022 have been fitted with 5G equipment, company officials said. Delayed installations and cooling enthusiasm around 5G technology have discouraged carriers like Verizon from using the towers to build out their networks, experts say. The firm only has an agreement with a single telecommunications carrier to deliver high-speed internet, stymieing its efforts to boost mobile connectivity citywide.
The 32-foot-tall structures, which resemble giant tampon applicators emerging from the sidewalk, offer the same services as the LinkNYC electronic billboards that popped up around the city in 2016. Those were also installed by CityBridge. Both the original Link kiosks and the 5G towers provide free limited-range Wi-Fi, charging outlets and a tablet to connect users to city services. Data shared by the company shows that 16 million people have used the internet at kiosks since 2016, and the attached tablets are used to call for city services thousands of times each month.But unlike the LinkNYC kiosks, each new tower is topped with a 12-foot-tall cylindrical mesh chamber containing five empty shelves reserved for companies like Verizon and T-Mobile to store the equipment they use to transmit high-speed 5G internet service to paying customers.
A new play from actor Marin Ireland tells the story of a woman processing the aftermath of a relationship that ended with domestic violence. The lead role is played in rotation by multiple actors, including Maria Dizzia, who also directs the show. Ireland and Dizzia join us to discuss "Pre-Existing Condition," which is running now at Connely Theater through August 3.The protagonist in Yasmin Zaher's debut novel, The Coin, is a wealthy Palestinian woman with impeccable style and meticulous hygiene. She teaches at a school for underprivileged boys, where her eccentric methods often cross boundaries. The book follows the protagonist's intense unravelling, and her desire to regain control of her life. Zaher joins us in studio to discuss the book, which is out today. Alison has selected The Coin for our Summer Reading Challenge in the category "a book by a debut novelist." Click here to join our Summer Reading Challenge!The new novel from Taffy Brodesser-Akner follows a very wealthy Long Island family coping with the aftermath of a kidnapping scheme. She joins us to discuss the book, Long Island Compromise, which is out today! She will be speaking tonight with the New York Public Library at 7 pm. Alison has selected Long Island Compromise for our Summer Reading Challenge in the category "a book about or set in New York." Click here to join our Summer Reading Challenge!Beatlemania is alive and well at the Brooklyn Museum! A current exhibit, Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, displays Paul McCartney's photographs taken during the height of their newfound fame. Curator Catherine Futter joins us to discuss the exhibit.
In this hour, stories of time—its possibilities and its limitations. A secret room, a final basketball game, and a countdown to marriage—with no suitor in sight. Hosted by Moth director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Otis Gray tries to save his relationship via a grand romantic gesture.
Reina Bolds is in denial about her sister, her partner in basketball, leaving for college.
Anu Senan chronicles her family's many attempts at finding her a husband.
Vivian Yoon feels invisible at home and in school
Podcast: 892
In Gilded Age New York, a Jewish woman named Fredericka Mandelbaum was able to become fantastically wealthy by running a crime syndicate. We learn how "Marm" Mandelbaum became a notorious crime boss from Margalit Fox, author of the new book, The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss. It's the launch of our July series "Women Behaving Badly," a tongue-in-cheek title for our look at unruly women of New York history.
We head to some of the happiest places on earth: amusement parks! Ira Glass takes us behind the scenes at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, where the young staff – coached by a funny, fun-loving boss just a little older than they are – truly seem to love their jobs.
Prologue: Host Ira Glass walks through a Kansas City Missouri amusement park called Worlds of Fun with Cole Lindbergh, who had a season pass to the park as a little kid, starting working there summers at 14, and then just stayed. Now he's a full-time, year-round employee, running the games department. It's possible he does this job better than anyone in the country. It's rare to witness someone so happily great at his job. (9 minutes)Act One: Ira continues with Cole Lindbergh and the hundred teenagers who work for himin the games department at Worlds of Fun. We watch them compete againsteach other to see who can do the most business, in Cole's Sweet Sixteenbracket tournament, which pits all 32 games in the park against each other.We hear about all the things Cole does that other games managers don't. Heinvents games. He directs music videos starring his team. (23 minutes)Act Two: We asked for your stories about amusement parks. Three hundred of youcalled in, with stories of fear, floating carnies and, um, vomit. (9minutes)Act Three: Jonathan Goldstein returns to Wildwood, New Jersey, where he spent one not-fateful summer when he was sixteen. Jonathan's the host of the podcast Heavyweight. (13 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
In this episode, a special collaboration with our friends at Ear Hustle. We invite Ear Hustle's own Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods to help host the show, play an excerpt of one of their episodes, and then share a Moth story about incarceration. Keep an eye out for the second part of our collaboration, that'll be released July 10th on the Ear Hustle feed.
You can listen to Ear Hustle wherever you get your podcasts, or visit earhustlesq.com to learn more information.
Hosts:
Edgar Ruiz, Jr.
Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods from Ear Hustle
Storytellers:
An excerpt of the Ear Hustle podcast episode, Taxx is Tripping.
Derrick Hamilton learns a lesson about the ways people deal with incarceration.
Podcast: 874
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about growth helped along by some sort of fantastical assistance. The characters in these pieces are stuck—and consciously or not, they're looking for something to give them just a little push. And that nudge comes in the form of magic. In “Isabella’s Garden,” by Naomi Kritzer, a backyard nature site presents a young family with a new world of fertility. The reader is Jane Kaczmarek. In “My Dear You,” by Rachel Khong, performed by Annie Q, the afterlife provides a perfect platform for questions about love, commitment, and the meaning of forever. After the reading, Wolitzer talks to Khong about the story and her writing process.
Loading...Humorist and Journalist Mo Rocca's new book is called Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs, which spotlights people like Colonel Sanders, Frank Lloyd Wright and Henri Matisse, whose accomplishments as older folks demonstrate that age is indeed just a number. He joins to share stories and insights from the book, and listeners call in to share their "late in life" triumphs.A new audio play presented by V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against all women, shares the stories of Black women across the diaspora. Playwright, author and V-Day founder V (formerly Eve Ensler) joins us alongside playwright, actress, and producer Hollis Heath to discuss, VOICES: a sacred sisterscape.When documentarian Penny Lane decided to donate her kidney to a complete stranger, her friends and family couldn't understand her decision. So she decided to make a documentary about the process. She joins Alison (a fellow kidney donor!) to discuss the film "Confessions of a Good Samaritan," which is in theaters now.The summer is a great time for a birthday party, especially your kid's birthday. You walk in any New York City park on a given weekend, and you'll see crowds of parents and kids celebrating. Writer Laura Fenton recently wrote the article, "How to Throw a Child’s Park Birthday Party," for New York Magazine, and she gives us party planning recommendations and we take your calls and questions.
The new Broadway revival of the 1979 play"Home" stars Tory Kittles a Cephus Miles, a rural farmer who, after being released from prison for draft-dodging, moves up north to the big city. Kittles and director Kenny Leon join us to discuss the show, which is running at the Todd Haimes Theatre through July 21.
Bobby Finger, author and co-host of the Who? Weekly podcast returns with his second novel, Four Squares. The story is set in the West Village of the 1990s, where Artie, a gay man working a tedious advertising job meets the love of his life, Abraham. The story interweaves through several stages of Art's life, including as an elderly man seeking belonging and connection in New York City. Finger joins in studio to discuss the novel.
Looking for a new podcast to enjoy during your commute, by the pool or on vacation? Lauren Passell, editor of Podcast The Newsletter, joins to recommend her favorites to check out and we take your calls.
Loading...Looking for a new podcast to enjoy during your commute, by the pool or on vacation? Lauren Passell, editor of Podcast The Newsletter, joins to recommend her favorites to check out and we take your calls. Bobby Finger, author and co-host of the Who? Weekly podcast returns with his second novel, Four Squares. The story is set in the West Village of the 1990s, where Artie, a gay man working a tedious advertising job meets the love of his life, Abraham. The story interweaves through several stages of Art's life, including as an elderly man seeking belonging and connection in New York City. Finger joins in studio to discuss the novel. The new Broadway revival of the 1979 play "Home" stars Tory Kittles a Cephus Miles, a rural farmer who, after being released from prison for draft-dodging, moves up north to the big city. Kittles and director Kenny Leon join us to discuss the show, which is running at the Todd Haimes Theatre through July 21. The new documentary, "Farming While Black," explores the triumphs and challenges of being a Black agricultural worker and farm-owner. Director Mark Decena and farmer and subject Karen Washington join us to discuss the film.
A special live edition of The Moth -- with five stories from a night showcasing the graduates of Moth High School storytelling workshops. Join us to celebrate student stories of first kisses, culture shock, finding a niche, and baking apple cake. This hour is hosted by Moth Teaching Artist Julian Goldhagen, with additional hosting by Moth Executive Producer Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:Isobel Connelly grows up feeling like the stupid girl.Saya Shamdasani feels caught between two cultures.David Lepelstat is nervous about his first kiss.Luna Azcurrain and her grandfather create a Thanksgiving tradition.Beth Gebresilasie tries to protect herself from her family's constant moving.
Podcast: 651
Writer Deirdre Coyle’s fiction and essays have appeared in Electric Literature, Lit Hub, The New Republic, The Texas Observer, Hobart Pulp, and elsewhere. This story, "Stakes," was performed at a show at the Getty Center in L.A., at a show produced in conjunction with the online literary collective, Belletrist Book Club. If you don't know Belletrist, it was founded by committed friends and readers Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss. They recommend new works by an incredible collection of writers, host online conversations and foster a community of like-minded readers. Emma Roberts reads this story, and we feature an interview between host Aparna Nancherla and Karah Preiss in this episode.
Boen Wang has a theory that a lot of the misery in his life can be traced to a single moment that happened years before he was born. So he makes a pilgrimage to see if he’s right.
Prologue: Ira talks about what it’s like to go back to 1119 Bayard Street in Baltimore. (6 minutes)Part One: Boen visits Norman, Oklahoma, where he was born, to meet the man he thinks changed his parents’ lives—and his life, too. (31 minutes)Part Two: Boen’s friend, Andrew, and his parents take what he learned in Part One, throw it into a blender, and push puree. (20 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
In this episode, we’ve got two stories of tiny crimes. Nothing horrifying happens, nobody gets hurt… it’s all the rush and mischief of trying to get away with it, without any chance of me (or you!) losing sleep.
Host: Chloe Salmon
Storytellers:
Adriana Eraso learns some lessons about crime and business.
Emily Popper sneaks into Colonial Williamsburg.
If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Podcast: 873
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two imaginative stories about different ways of thinking about coming together and what we celebrate when we do. In “On the Sudden Increase in Changeling Stock: A Report,” Daniel Lavery applies a statistical model where you would not expect to find one, with zany results.It’s read by Jin Ha. In our second work, master storyteller Ray Bradbury wildly reimagines the idea of “Homecoming,” in a story that first captivated reader Neil Gaiman when he was seven years old.
In this hour, stories from The Moth's SLAM Showcase - a night of storytelling do-overs for tales from The Moth's archives that needed slight tweaks or a second chance. Standing out or fading away, chance encounters, and the importance of food. This hour is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:Gabby Shea wants to impress her boyfriend's family with her macaroni and cheese.Jon Novick reveals what his every day existence is like as a Little Person in New York City.Annie Tan has trouble connecting with her father across a language barrier and physical distance.Carl Banks draws upon his past to help a desperate young man on a bridge.Anoush Froundijian is cast in a bit part in the Armenian version of Beauty and the Beast.Wendy Paige encounters a racist classmate in her new school.
Podcast: 662
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three lively stories about the allure—or not—of summer. Italian writer Massimo Bontempeli creates a magical beach inside an apartment in “The Miraculous Beach, or Prize for Modesty.” The work was translated by Jenny McPhee and is read by Hugh Dancy. Humorist Samantha Irby doesn’t get summer, and presents a contrarian’s view in “The Case for Remaining Indoors,” read by Retta. And Denis O’Hare reads a baseball classic—W.P. Kinsella’s “The Thrill of the Grass.”
This week, an episode in honor of Father's Day. Moments of unexpected understanding, confrontations in cars, and a rubber chicken. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Tomas Davila and his father finally connect.
Single father Jeffrey Berke and his daughter tackle a medical issue together.
Jill Chenault gets advice--of all kinds--from her father on car rides.
Stacy Staggs goes on a search for her biological father.
After her father dies, Whitney Gedden memorializes him in a unique manner he would appreciate.
Podcast: 873
In Nicola Yoon's first novel for adults, a woman named Jasmyn and her family move to a wealthy, utopic, all-Black community in Liberty, California. But very quickly, Jasmyn begins to realize that all in Liberty is not as peaceful as it seems. Yoon joins us to discuss her novel, One of Our Kind.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
Pixar's latest movie, "Inside Out 2," was released in theaters over the weekend. The beloved animation studio has been making films for decades that are beloved by adults and children alike. For the latest installment of our Small Stakes, Big Opinions series, we attempt to answer the question: What is the best Pixar movie? Will Leitch, New York Magazine contributing editor, and film critic Tim Grierson have ranked the Pixar films for Vulture, and they give us their thoughts and take your calls.
Disney and Pixar's “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of teenage Riley Andersen just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for new emotions such as envy, embarrassment, boredom, and anxiety. Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who consulted on the film, and co-writer Dave Holstein, join us to discuss the science behind teenage emotions displayed on screen.
Argentinian actor Maia Novi will stop at nothing to be in the American movies, even if it means losing her mind. It's the premise of the off-Broadway play, "Invasive Species," based on Novi's personal experiences navigating drama school. Novi and director Michael Breslin join us to discuss the dark comedy, which is running at the Vineyard's Dimson Theatre until June 30.
In Nicola Yoon's first novel for adults, a woman named Jasmyn and her family move to a wealthy, utopic, all-Black community in Liberty, California. But very quickly, Jasmyn begins to realize that all in Liberty is not as peaceful as it seems. Yoon joins us to discuss her novel, One of Our Kind
This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
Yousef is forced into a move he is not sure he can make.
Prologue: Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Yousef Hammash has decided where to go next and when. In Rafah, he is out of options and faces his toughest move yet. (5 minutes)Act One: Yousef does not even want to think about leaving Gaza. (18 minutes)Act Two: The actual price — in cash — of getting out of Gaza. (31 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, two stories all about summer camp.
Host: Amanda Garcia
Storytellers:
Jean Spindler organizes some pranks at summer camp.
Liz Kreppel has an unfortunate run-in with lice.
If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Podcast: 871
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about fathers and fatherhood. In “Beauty and the Beast” by Simon Rich, a self-absorbed producer gets a little Disney sparkle from his daughter. The reader is Arian Moayed. “Bedtime Story” by Victor LaValle, read by Dion Graham, features a son soothing an anxious father; and a father-daughter hiking trip involves both bonding and danger in Percival Everett’s “Exposure,” read by Denis O’Hare. The show features on-stage remarks by O'Hare about fatherhood and includes comments by Percival Everett and Dion Graham.
The New Jersey Attorney General's office say one person is dead and two officers are injured after an exchange of gunfire at a banquet hall in police shot and killed a homicide suspect at a banquet hall in Woodbridge Township. In other news, more than half a dozen lawsuits are seeking to halt congestion pricing from going forward. But now, advocates and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander say they may sue to force the state to implement the tolls. Also, New York City's effort to shut down unlicensed cannabis stores is being challenged in a new class-action lawsuit alleging that not enough is being done to protect the businesses' constitutional rights to due process. Plus, child care centers around the city say they are having a hard time hiring and retaining teachers and other staff because they can’t compete with the higher wages offered by the New York City public school system. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with reporter Karen Yi, who has followed the story.
Grammy-award winning musician PJ Morton is back with a new album, Cape Town to Cairo, which was fully produced, written and created during his month-long trip around the African content. With collaborations with local artists and using regional sounds, PJ Morton's album is an ode to his motherland, and the cultures and stories he encountered while there. Morton joins us for a live performance and discusses his experience making the record.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
In this hour, stories of childhood, growing up, and growing pains. From hearing your first Bruce Springsteen song, to experiencing a cultural divide to having your heart broken wide open. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Sarfraz Manzoor discovers life lessons in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen.
Oanh Ngo Usadi and her family arrive in Texas from Vietnam with high hopes and an American Dream.
Max García Conover finds faith in an unexpected place.
Podcast: 642
Donald Trump has talked about taking retribution on his enemies since the early days of his 2024 presidential campaign. After his conviction last week in New York, his talk intensified. We try to understand what his retribution might look like by speaking with people who have the most to lose in a second Trump administration: people who believe Trump will be coming for them.
Prologue: Donald Trump has talked about taking revenge on his enemies since the early days of his 2024 presidential campaign. Ira Glass talks to reporter Jonathan Karl about how Trump has placed retribution at the center of his run and what we know about how he’s thinking about it. (16 minutes)Act One: Reporter Alix Spiegel talks to two people with good reason to fear a second Trump administration. Former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham spent six years with the Trumps but resigned after January 6th and wrote a scathing tell-all book about her experience. Fred Wellman worked for The Lincoln Project - a group of high-profile Republicans who pledged to keep Trump out of office during the 2020 campaign. (22 minutes)Act Two: Alex Vindman became the face of the first Trump impeachment after he reported to his superiors that Trump had asked the President of Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of his political opponent. At the time, Vindman believed that his Congressional testimony would not jeopardize him; now, he and his wife Rachel are having second thoughts. (14 minutes)Act Three: After hearing from people who dread a possible second Trump term, we hear from those who are excited about it. Reporter Zoe Chace checks into whether his supporters are excited for retribution. (7 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about idealized lives, and ideas about what constitutes an “ideal” life. “Boy Meets Girl” is Jen Kim’s humorous version of a Hollywood love story. It’s read by Tony Hale. In the John Cheever classic “The Worm in the Apple” a couple have the perfect life—but no one can believe it. It’s read by Anne Meara. And a harried mother fantasizes about a brand new life in Vanessa Cuti’s “Our Children,” performed by Claire Danes, followed by an interview with Danes.
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Movies can serve as a vehicle to broaden our understanding of the world, and find empathy and meaning in our lives. This Pride Month, we ask our listeners: What's a queer film that shaped you? Kyle Turner, freelance journalist and author ofThe Queer Film Guidejoins to help answer that question. This segment is part of "Pride on Screen," our new series this June where we showcase contemporary LGBTQ+ issues through film.
*This segment is guest hosted by Kousha Navidar.
Movies can serve as a vehicle to broaden our understanding of the world, and find empathy and meaning in our lives. This Pride Month, we ask our listeners: What's a queer film that shaped you? Kyle Turner, freelance journalist and author of The Queer Film Guide joins to help answer that question. This segment is part of "Pride on Screen," our new series this June where we showcase contemporary LGBTQ+ issues through film. From Golden Era of the 1980's to present day, jewelry has been a consistent part of hip hop style and fashion. A new exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History pays homage to the unique creativity of the designs, from "dookie chains" to the elaborate, "iced out" pendants worn by current stars like Drake and A$AP Rocky. Curator Vikki Tobak and legendary rapper Roxanne Shante join to discuss Ice Cold and the enduring style of hip hop jewels.Summer in New York is a season made for late nights. If you drink alcohol, perhaps you'll wake up with more than one hangover this summer, in which case you'll probably be craving some food to aid in nursing the typical morning-after headache. Nikita Richardson, New York Times Food editor who also writes the Where To Eat Newsletter, recently wrote about her go-to meals and places around the city for a hangover cure, and she joins us to discuss what makes the perfect hangover food and take your calls.The Northern Irish police procedural, "Blue Lights," has been called "Ireland's answer to the Wire" for its both gritty and compassionate depiction of rookie cops working the hard scrabble streets of Belfast. Season 1 was nominated for 4 IFTAs (Irish Film and Television Awards) including Best New Drama. Season 2 premieres on BritBox June 13 and creators Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson join to discuss the series.*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
In this hour, stories of being gentle and kind—to ourselves and to others. Health scares, sound baths, and friend dates. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Freida Vizel questions a big community tradition for the first time.
Skeptical teen Leela Ting goes to to a sound bath.
Young Marianna is her brother's secret weapon in a high stakes basketball game.
James Petersen's daughter checks in on him weekly, via a dreaded phone call.
When Alyssa Hursh and her boyfriend take some time apart, her friends step in to make her summer magical.
People tethered to one particular other person, whether they want to be or not.
Prologue: Guest host Emmanuel Dzotsi talks to Leroy Smith about how one high school basketball tryout forever changed Leroy’s relationship to a childhood friend. (7 minutes)Act One: A man finds himself sucked into an intense head-to-head running competition against a perfect rival – all for free burritos from Chipotle. (18 minutes)Act Two: Writer Simon Rich grapples with an A.I. chatbot that threatens to make him obsolete. (21 minutes)Act Three: For writer Marie Phillips, moving in with her partner meant finding herself deeply connected to the woman who came before her. (12 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, we share two stories about food and memory.Host: Kate TellersStorytellers:
Terry Wolfisch Cole learns a lesson from her father.
Michael Imber tries to become his grandmother’s “angel boy.”
If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works featuring birds, curated by writer and bird aficionado Amy Tan. Ben Loory’s “The Frog and the Bird,” is a twist the traditional fable genre; it’s performed by Mike Doyle. Teenagers are transformed in “Town of Birds,” by Heather Monley, performed by Yetide Badaki; and an avian love song goes viral in Mikkel Rosengaard’s “The Mating Call,” performed by BD Wong. Tan comments on the program’s theme and the stories and the actors provide backstage commentary.
In this hour, stories from the double helix -- genetic makeup, inherited disease, and family secrets. It's all in the DNA. This hour is hosted by Moth Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Mike Birbiglia works to get healthy and mitigate his bad genes.Carmen Rita Wong uncovers the complicated layers of her family's past.Beth Bucher makes a hard decision to protect her health.When applying for a green card, Paul Nurse discovers a family secret.
Podcast: 649
How they organize the chaos of the world, for good and for bad.
Prologue: Ira interviews David Wallechinsky, who wrote a wildly popular book in the 1970s called The Book of Lists, full of trivia and research, gathered into lists like "18 Brains" and "What They Weighed." The book sold millions of copies and had four sequels and a brief spin-off TV show. The list books were like the internet, before the internet. (12 minutes)Act One: John Fecile talks to his brother, Pat, about a list their other brother made before he died. They each have different ideas about what the list means and how they feel about it. (14 minutes)Act 2: A brief visit with Bobby, who keeps a list in his phone of all the dogs in his neighborhood and their names to save him from the awkwardness of not knowing the name of someone’s dog – because people get upset if you don’t remember their dog’s name. (3 minutes)Act Two: Reporter Masha Gessen talks to Russians living in America and elsewhere, about lists they’ve been put on by the Russian government in the last few years. Masha is also on one of these lists. Each list has its own complex rules and potential consequences, for the people on the lists and for their family members who live in Russia. (28 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about losing something, but finding something revealing to take its place. In “Light,” by Lesley Nkeka Arimah, parents differ about how to raise a strong-willed daughter. The reader is Crystal Dickinson. And in Taryn Bowe’s “Camp Emeline,” performed by Edie Falco, a family struggles after a loss, but grief leads to self-discovery for the determined narrator. This lovely work also introduces Selected Shorts' first-ever on-air book club. Wolitzer joins a lively mother/daughter group to talk about Bowe’s work and how they related to it.
Edy Massih is a trained chef and owner of Edy's Grocer, a Lebanese market and caterer in Greenpoint. Massih moved from his native Lebanon to the U.S at the age of 10, and has just released a new cookbook, Keep It Zesty: A Celebration of Lebanese Flavors & Culture from Edy's Grocer, inspired by the menu of his market and his love for the flavors of Lebanon. Massih tells us more about his story and the book.
This segment is guest hosted by Kousha Navidar
Green Angel Dip (pictured aboved)Makes 4 cups1 (32-ounce) container plain fat-free Greek yogurt2 packed cups fresh basil leaves2 packed cups fresh cilantro leaves5 scallions, chopped1 avocado, pitted and flesh scooped out3 garlic cloves¹⁄₄ cup fresh lemon juice¹⁄₄ cup extra-virgin olive oil1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed.My diet has always been 90 percent yogurt, and I live for a great dip. This recipe scratches that itch and is totally adaptable to whatever herbs you have lying around. (At the height of spring, I might even throw ramps in.) I eat it with everything because its flavors are so adaptable: it’s bright, fresh, super herbaceous, and packs such a punch. I like to add it to canned fish or chopped chicken for sandwiches, toss it as a dressing, or serve it as a dip with salty chips or lots of fresh veggies.Add the yogurt, basil, cilantro, scallions, avocado, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt to a food processor. Process for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth and vibrant green. Taste for seasoning. Transfer to a bowl and serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
In this hour, stories of structures and strictures—and the struggles against them. School assignments, teenage rebellion, and the proper time to eat. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, producer of this show.
Storytellers:
Stephen Michael Carr quietly rebels against his school's reading program.
Gabriela Quiroz doesn't appreciate her school's unofficial year end tradition.
Caroline Connolly attempts to find a way around her lawyer parents' rules.
Saad Sarwana and his fellow "nerds" try to pull off a senior prank.
Beth Ann Fennelly grows up in a heavily structured household.
Podcast: 868
Vulture TV critic Kathryn Van Arendonk joins to preview the slate of summer premieres, including the return of hit series like “The Bear,” “Babylon Berlin” and “Evil.”
A new musical performance from the Greene Space artist-in-residence, singer-songwriter Toshi Reagon adapts Octavia Butler’s 1993 novel, titled Parable of the Sower which is considered the "grand dame" of science fiction and takes place in the year 2024. We’ll preview tomorrow’s show, and find out what Toshi thinks people mean when they say “Octavia Butler Knew.”
An illustrated study of crying provides insights into why humans shed emotional tears and the role they've played throughout our existence. Visual artist and author Pepita Sandwich joins us to discuss her new book, titled The Art of Crying: The Healing Power of Tears.
A new, two-night documentary premiere tells the story of the Memphis-based record label Stax, which produced the sound of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs and more. Not only was Stax trailblazing in terms of sound, but in its progressive approach to racial equality and inclusion. Director Jamila Wignot joins to discuss "Stax: Soulsville U.S.A."
*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
The trial for the men accused of orchestrating the September 11 terrorist attacks still hasn’t started yet. Family members of those who died that day are still hoping for some kind of accountability, more than 22 years later. This week, the story of how one victim’s sister is navigating this historic and twisted trial.
Prologue: Host Ira Glass introduces the new series that Serial is doing about Guantánamo Bay. This is the second of two episodes of theirs that we’re airing. (2 minutes)Act One: We meet Colleen Kelly, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, and learn just how upside down and messed up the trial for the 9/11 accused has been over the past decade. (28 minutes)Act Two: Sarah Koenig explains what’s probably the best possible outcome that everyone can hope for at this point. And why, when it hits the news someday — if it ever happens — it’s sure to be deeply misunderstood by lots of people. Plus a trip to Guantánamo with Colleen. (31 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, we share two stories from Birmingham, Alabama.Host: Suzanne RustStorytellers:
Anne Wheeler tries to get a part in a play.Anthony Underwood figures that the best way to get good banana pudding is to make it himself.If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that contemplate a way out—of our lives, and even of this world. In Joe Meno’s “Books You Read,” performed by Joan Allen, a young boy helps his jaded teacher to love reading again. J. Robert Lennon takes us into deep space and a conversation between a computer and a survivor in “Escape Pod W41,” performed by Stephen Lang. A composition created by Lakecia Benjamin in response to the story, and performed by Junie Mojica, is also featured. And marriage, and a friendship, are tested in Jac Jemc’s “Infidelity,” performed by Kathleen Chalfont. All three stories were commissioned for SELECTED SHORTS’ anthology Small Odysseys.
A special Mother's Day edition of The Moth Radio Hour. A mother helps her daughter get her first contact lenses, an unwanted parental intervention at a school concert, a new mother in Zambia awaits test results, a life or death bee sting and a teenage mother who couldn't be happier to welcome her child to the world. Hosted by The Moth's Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:Chrissie Graham is a nerdy girl who needs contacts and promptly loses one.Catherine Palmer tries to micromanage her son at a school concert.Constance Mudenda is a healthcare worker with a health scare of her own.Matthew Dicks has an allergic reaction to a bee sting and needs his mother.Melissa Rodriguez grew up a foster child and then has a child of her own.
Podcast: 434
Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now, and the author of Big Red’s Mercy: The Shooting of Deborah Cotton and A Story of Race in America (Pegasus, 2024), shares the story of Deborah “Big Red” Cotton, an African American racial justice activist, who forgave the young Black men who shot her when they fired into a second line parade in New Orleans, a shooting in which Hertsgaard himself was injured -- and what that shooting and her response to it taught him about race and violence in America.
For years, Majid believed that if he could testify in court about what happened to him when he was held in a CIA black site, a judge and jury would give him a break. Finally, he got a chance to see if he was right.
Prologue: Ira talks about the exciting new series that Serial is doing about Guantanamo Bay. We’re airing two of those episodes on the show – one this week and one next. (2 minutes)Act One: Majid Khan struggled with his identity when he was young. And then he realized exactly who he wanted to be – a member of Al Qaeda, carrying out orders for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He did bad things. But are the things that the U.S. Government did to him worse than his actual crimes? (38 minutes)Act Two: Majid finally gets his day in court. At his sentencing hearing, he describes to the jury what his interrogators did to him. (20 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works from an evening with author and New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, inspired by Chast’s new book I Must be Dreaming. “The Wife on Ambien,” by Ed Park, is a sort of late-night fever dream. It’s read by John Fugelsang. In Tessa Hadley’s “Bad Dreams,” images that begin in books envelop a family in real life. The reader is Rita Wolf. Tom Barbash’s “Stay Up With Me” charts the rocky path of an old love affair. It’s read by Jason Ralph. And throughout the episode, Chast describes her cartoons based on her own weird and hilarious dreams.
A state judge removed the 'Equal Rights Amendment' from New York's November ballot on Tuesday, citing that the state legislature did not follow proper procedure when it first passed the amendment in 2022. The state attorney general's office is expected to appeal. Also, every couple of weeks, a group of activists in their 60s, 70s, and 80s gather in Albany to advocate for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow certain patients to end their lives under the care of their doctor. WNYC's Jon Campbell reports.
In this hour, a professional impersonator gets an unusual gig, a journalist is befuddled by the facts, and a brother sister duo who really love baseball. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Obama impersonator Dion Flynn gets an unlikely gig.
Carole Radziwill is gifted a watch that belonged to Jackie Kennedy.
Michaela Murphy takes her little brother on a cross-country adventure to see an All-Star Game.
Podcast: 866
This story was read at a Selected Shorts show in L.A., hosted by the Getty Center, and co-produced with the Belletrist Book Club, the online reading community created by longtime friends and readers Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss. Jones-Yelvington is an artist and drag performer who is also a prolific writer. They have written chapbooks, a memoir, a young adult novel and two collections of short fiction, Don't Make Me Do Something We'll Both Regret and This Is a Dance Movie! And the title story of their collection isall about movie cliches, how we might play with them, and the kinds of connection we hope we can achieve in telling our own stories. Writer and actor Ryan O'Connell performs the story. His book I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves was adapted into the Netflix series Special—in which he starred. His novel Just By Looking at Him came out in 2022, and he has appeared in recent series including the reboot of Queer as Folk. Our episode was hosted by comedian Aparna Nancherla.
While the seniors danced at Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas—a town of about 3,000—a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. Plus other stories that happen on Prom Night.
Prologue: A high school boy explains how prom is the culmination of his effort to get in with a cool group of people. (5 minutes)Act One: Susan Burton reports on Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas, a town of about 3,000. While the seniors danced, a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. (25 minutes)Act Two: Host Ira Glass talks with Francine Pascal, who's written or invented the plot lines for over 700 books for teenagers in the various Sweet Valley High series....Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley University, Sweet Valley Senior Year. She explains why a prom story is a must for teen movies and TV shows. (6 minutes)Act Three: For a more typical view of prom night, we hear prom night at Chicago's Taft High School. (9 minutes)Act Four: In this act, we argue that the epicenter of prom genius—the place where America's prom future is being born—is the town of Racine, Wisconsin. In Racine, they've added one ingredient to prom that takes it to a whole new level of intensity. Reported by Wendy Dorr. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, we visit a galaxy far far away, with three stories all about the impact of Star Wars. Plus, a discussion about why Star Wars has resonated for more than 50 years.
Hosts: Brandon Grant-Walker and Edgar Ruiz, Jr.
Storytellers:
Dame Wilburn confuses a man in a costume for the real Darth Vader.Shannan Paul’s mother teaches her that it’s alright to fall in love with science-fiction.Manuelito Wheeler translates Star Wars: A New Hope into Navajo.
Podcast: 865
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that offer unusual perspectives on clothes and fashion—selling, making, and coveting. In Anne Enright’s “(She Owns) Everything,” read by Mary-Louise Parker, a saleswoman becomes a compulsive consumer. In “Clothes on the Ground: A Conversation with Leap,” we hear from a Cambodian garment worker, interviewed by Julia Wallace for the compendium Women in Clothes. Leap is voiced by Jennifer Lim. And shopping is an antidote to aging in Joanne Harris’s “Faith and Hope Go Shopping,” read by Lois Smith.
A new book tells the little-known story of the first principal ballerinas in the Dance Theatre of Harlem. It spotlights five dancers who broke barriers, performing internationally in a world where Black ballerinas were not expected or, in some cases, welcome. We speak to The Swans of Harlem author Karen Valby and one of the subjects, dancer Lydia Abarca Mitchell."I Saw the TV Glow" is a new horror meets sci-fi thriller about a teen who gets drawn into a mysterious TV show and loses his grip on reality. We speak with star Justice Smith and director Jane Schoenbrun about the film, which The Guardian calls "stunning" and "devastating."A financial guide offers readers tips for protecting themselves from financial abuse, setting boundaries, and investing in the future. Writer and business coach Jannese Torres joins us to discuss her new book, Financially Lit!: The Modern Latina’s Guide to Level Up Your Dinero & Become Financially Poderosa. We also take your calls.Jazz at Lincoln Center's 29th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is May 9–11! We receive a preview of the event from JLCO’s longtime sax player, Sherman Irby, Todd Stoll, jazz trumpeter and Vice President of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Paul Corn, the band director at Staten Island’s Susan E. Wagner High School and some of his students for a live performance.*This episode is guest-hosted by Tiffany Hanssen.
Loading...A new dramatic play explores the dynamics Black employees face in white-dominant workplaces through the lens of a creative studio assistant named Jordan (played by Naomi Lorrain) and her new colleague, the "director of culture" who is also named Jordan (played by Toby Onwumere). Playwright Ife Olujobi and director Whitney White joins us to discuss the show, which is running at The Public Theater through Sunday, May 12.
Shana Novak is a photographer who is interested in people's heirlooms. To Novak, an heirloom is any object of significance to a person, that thing you just can't seem to get rid of for some reason. Novak launched a project and popular Instagram called The Heirloomist, where she photographs your heirlooms, and today she's releasing a collection of the photographs, The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell. Novak joins to discuss the book and take your calls.
Dating can be stressful under the best circumstances; if you're over 50 years old, it can be particularly daunting. But there's a lot of reason for optimism. Maggie Jones is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, and she spoke to dozens of people about their experiences for an article called, "Online Dating After 50 Can Be Miserable. But It’s Also Liberating." She joins us to discuss her reporting and take your calls.
Today, the Tony nominations were announced. Jackson McHenry, theater critic from Vulture joins us to talk about the nominations, recapping this year's theater season, and his predictions for the winners!
*This episode is guest-hosted by Tiffany Hanssen.
In this hour, stories of the everyday moments that have lasting impacts. A fast-food chain giveaway, a perilous outing on the high seas and the emotional toll of being a customer care Agent for the USPS. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Angela Dohrmann goes whole-hog during a Wendy's giveaway. Lobsterman Jason Lemos fights for survival in the frigid Atlantic.Zellia Enjoli Tatiana learns something new about herself through her work as a customer care agent.
Gladiators in the Colosseum. Sideshow performers. Reality television. We've always loved to gawk at the misery or majesty of others. But this week, we ask the question: What's it like when the tables are turned and all eyes are on you?
Prologue: Ira talks to Joel Gold, a psychologist and author, about a strangely common delusion known as the "Truman Show Delusion," in which patients believe that they are being filmed, 24/7, for a national reality television program. (6 minutes)Act One: Producer Stephanie Foo speaks to Nasubi, a Japanese comedian who, in the 90s, just wanted a little bit of fame. So he was thrilled when he won an opportunity to have his own segment on a Japanese reality TV show. Until he found out the premise: he had to sit in an empty apartment with no food, clothes or contact with the outside world, enter sweepstakes from magazines… and hope that he won enough sustenance to survive. (23 minutes)Act Two: Writer Ariel Sabar tells the story of Roger Barker, a psychologist who believed that humans should be studied outside the lab. So Barker dispatched an army of graduate students to follow the children of Oskaloosa, Kansas, and write down every single thing they did. Sabar wrote a book - a Kindle Single - about Roger Barker, called "The Outsider." (8 1/2 minutes)Act Three: Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall were a comedy duo back in the mid-1960s, playing clubs around Los Angeles, when their agent called to tell them he'd landed them the gig of a lifetime: They were going to be on The Ed Sullivan Show. The only problem was that their performance was a total fiasco, for a bunch of reasons, including one they never saw coming. David Segal reports. (17 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, we're going to have a little fun with the human body. We’ve got two stories all about bones and funnybones.
Host: Michelle Jalowski
Storytellers:
Jason Schommer takes a sleep study… and dreams of Ricky Martin.Caroline Connolly learns a few unintended lessons from her mother.
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two unconventional love stories, one classic, one contemporary, that avoid the usual tropes of “meet cute,” “opposites attract,” or “happily ever after” but are still engaging. In “Love in the Slump,” by Evelyn Waugh, clueless upper-crust newlyweds are sent on a comic odyssey. The reader is Jane Kaczmarek. And Esther Yi’s “Moon” explores something we often mistake for love—obsession, as a young woman is drawn farther and farther into K-Pop fandom.The story was selected by guest editor Min Jin Lee for Best American Short Stories 2023. It’s read by Hettienne Park. And we hear Lee’s and Park’s thoughts about the story.
In this hour, stories of how we see ourselves, the perceptions of others, and the often gaping chasm in between. The struggle to prove oneself, challenge a stereotype, keep up appearances, and finally discover what really fits. This hour is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, the producer of this show.
Storytellers:Enrique García Naranjo is stopped by border patrol.Aydrea Walden realizes her classmates see her differently.Miles Crabtree tries out for his school's production of "How the West Was Won."Kimberly Rose sees herself disappearing in her marriage.Jessi Klein lands what she thinks is her dream job.
A girl signs up for a class. A couple hires an accountant. A group of co-workers decides to pool their money and buy a couple of lottery tickets. In the beginning, they're full of hope and optimism — and then something turns. Stories of good ideas gone bad.
Prologue: Paul was a cop. One night he was pulling second shift when he had a perfectly good idea: He'd stretch out in the back seat and take a little nap during his break. He fell right asleep, and slept well until he woke up and realized the funny thing about the back seats of cop cars: The doors don't open from the inside. Paul is author of the book Bad Cop: New York's Least Likely Police Officer Tells All. (8 minutes)Act One: It was two months into the tour. Katie Else and the rest of the Riverdance cast had been performing eight shows a week. They decided to pool their money for the Mega-Millions lottery. Lotto fever gripped the cast. They started to genuinely believe they would take home about $2 million each, and quit Riverdance the next day. They took the stage the night of the drawing and pulled off their best performance ever, "For the Lotto!," trying to direct their energy towards the win. An hour later, at the hotel bar, the numbers came in. (17 minutes)Act Two: After years of neglecting their personal finances, Joel and his wife finally decide to sort things out. They hire a tax accountant named Len, whose casual manner is a real comfort, at first. But then, "casual" turns into "drunk" and then it's clear that he's just plain delinquent. Joel tries to take his business elsewhere, but Len refuses to let go of their file. He begs for a second chance, which it seems, came too late. Joel Lovell is executive editor at Pineapple Street Media. (8 minutes)Act Three: Davy Rothbart was on a 136-city tour appearing on morning TV talk shows to promote his book Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World. Just before one appearance he had what seemed like a great idea at the time. Without letting the host know, he tested it out, live, on-air. Davy is the creator of Found Magazine and author of the book of essays My Heart Is An Idiot. (6 minutes)Act Four: When Elspeth was a girl, she wanted nothing more than her father's attention. He was busy, a doctor, and distant. One day he agrees to put on a volunteer seminar for their church, about his area of expertise: "The Function of the Heart." Elspeth and her best friend are the only two kids who show up, and Elspeth is attentive and engaged, the perfect student. It was an incredible experience for her, the best day she's ever spent with her dad...she thinks. That is, until her mother takes her aside and explains her big mistake. (8 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Loading...[REBROADCAST FROM November 16, 2023] In the 1980s and '90s, Alicia Keys was a girl living with her mother in a small apartment off Times Square, with a dream of being a professional musician. Of course, we know how her life turned out. Keys is one of the creators of a new Broadway musical inspired by her early life in Manhattan, featuring original music and lyrics. "Hell's Kitchen" tells the story of Ali (Maleah Joi Moon), a 17-year-old who wants to make it big. To discuss the show, we're joined by director Michael Greif, book writer Kristoffer Diaz, and music supervisor Adam Blackstone. "Hell's Kitchen" is running at Shubert Theatre. "Hell's Kitchen" is nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding musical this year.
[REBROADCAST FROM April 3, 2024] "Dead Outlaw" is a new musical about the real-life American outlaw Elmer McCurdy and the larger-than-life image he gained after his death. The show's band takes center stage in the production, and we're joined for a live in-studio performance by Erik Della Penna, who wrote the show's music and lyrics, as well as music director Rebekah Bruce and musicians Jeb Brown, Chris Smylie, Spencer Cohen, and HANK. Actors Julia Knitel, Thom Sesma, and Allison Kupfer also join to perform their songs. "Dead Outlaw" is nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding musical this year.
This segment was guest-hosted by *Kousha Navidar*
[REBROADCAST FROM February 22, 2024] Every New Yorker has a Veselka story. A new documentary follows second-generation owner Tom Birchard, as he plans to retire from running the beloved Ukrainian restaurant, an East Village staple. The film also follows the day to day of the restaurant in the midst of the war in Ukraine, and how the conflict affected the staff and changed what Veselka represents to New York's Ukrainian community. "Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of The World," is in select theaters tomorrow, and director Michael Fiore joins us alongside owners Tom and his son Jason Birchard to talk about the film, and we take your calls.
This segment was guest-hosted by *David Furst*
[REBROADCAST FROM March 14, 2024] A new book explores the science of food, and explains how concepts from chemistry, biology and psychology can help bring more flavor and flexibility into the kitchen. It's called Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking The Art and Science of Flavor. Arielle Johnson, flavor scientist and co-founder of Noma's 'fermentation lab' shares her insights from a lifetime of studying what makes things taste good.
This segment was guest-hosted by *Kousha Navidar*
[REBROADCAST FROM March 21, 2024] Charcuterie boards and aperitif hour are all the rage these days, but we could all stand to get more creative than putting some crackers and cheese on a board. Anna Francese Gass, author of the new cookbook Italian Snacking: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Hour of the Day, joins us to discuss the best way to snack like an Italian and take calls from listeners.
This segment was guest-hosted by *David Furst*
Guest host Jane Kaczmarek presents two stories from the Best American Short Stories 2021 anthology selected by guest editor Jesmyn Ward. Both involve adolescents facing displacement or rejection, but the stories are set in very different environments: One takes place in a surreal, Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, and one inside a junior high school in Tennessee. First, Leo Solomon reads “Playing Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain,” by Jamil Jan Kochai. Then we hear “Biology,” a beautiful story by Kevin Wilson, performed by Mike Doyle. And Ward comments briefly on her approach to creating this year’s diverse anthology.
Loading...In the new Broadway adaptation of the novel Water for Elephants, the actors and ensemble perform dizzying acrobatics and other tricks onstage to help bring the world of a Depression Era circus to life. Director Jessica Stone joins us to discuss translating this gorgeous love story to the stage, and Shana Carroll, co-choreographer and circus designer, joins to talk about adding acrobatics and circus performances to the show. "Water for Elephants" is running now at the Imperial Theater.
Tunisian-American singer-songwriter EMEL has been called the Voice Of The Tunisian Revolution, after a video of her song became popular during the Arab Spring around the release of her debut album. Just over a decade later, she's releasing a new album, MRA, this Friday. She joins us in the studio to perform songs from it live.
Finding a reliable, trustworthy, and cost-effective nanny or babysitter can be a headache. Even as a job-seeker, some might have trouble finding the right family (and child) to work with. To help us navigate the world of nannying, we're joined by Sarah Davis, who shares best practices for families and job-seekers. Davis is founder of Olive You Nanny, an agency that connects families with quality nannies. Plus, we take your calls.
NPR's Tiny Desk producers called New Zealand born, Australian raised musician and singer Jordan Rakei's sound "easygoing and colorful." However, his latest studio album features a beautiful symphony of bold orchestral and soulful choral arrangements. He joins us to preview his forthcoming fifth studio album, "The Loop" and discuss his career as a musician.
*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
In this hour, stories of diving in—whether we want to or not. In a job, in a relationship, or into the unknown. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Surgeon Anthony Chin-Quee finds himself in over his head during his first day on call.
Despite protests from friends and family, Nancy French marries a man she barely knows.
Wilderness guide Monte Montepare takes inexperienced hikers on a glacier expedition
When is too soon for that celebrity comeback, that joke that is either brilliant or full-on repugnant, that parent-child conversation? Stories about a fallen man trying to kickstart his career with a reality show and an awkward moment between a mom and a daughter.
Prologue: When Jordan was going into his senior year of high school in small town Utah, he and his buddies all lived together in a house, daring each other into Jackass-style pranks and stunts. There's one particular thing Jordan did that he did not want to talk to Ira about. (10 minutes)Act One: Harmon Leon is a writer and comedian whose cocktail party story about “the-weirdest-gig-I-ever-did” is more weird—by a lot—than anyone else’s we’ve heard. He answered an ad several years ago that called for a hilarious sidekick to a celebrity on a hidden camera show. (30 minutes)Act Two: One of the show's producers, Zoe Chace, tells Ira about a joke she made pretty soon after something terrible had happened. Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, two stories from the Louisville StorySLAMs.
Host: Alex Román Peters
Storytellers:
Ethan Sweetland-May learns about hunting from his grandfather
Trevor Nourse gets lost in a cave
If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents four stories in which characters shape their expectations and dreams to a manageable size in collaboration with Belletrist Book Club. So if you’re “Medusa,” as in our first story, by Tania James, you try to figure out how to live in the world instead of turning it to stone. The reader is Constance Zimmer. Parents in our second story, “We Only Wanted Their Happiness,” by Alexander Weinstein, make a tactical choice about technology. It’s performed by Randall Park. The narrator of Honor Levy’s “Good Boys,” read by Annie Hamilton, understands that infatuation is a phase. And a man and a woman sidestep romance in “Arrangements” by Charlie Watts, performed by Laura Harrier and Will Harrison. The show was recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and features commentary by Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss of Belletrist Book Club. Since 2017, Belletrist Book Club has chosen more than 75 titles for the book club and dozens more for myriad content features across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and the newsletter The Belletrist Brief. In 2019, Emma Roberts and Karah Priess spun out Belletrist Book Club into a production company called Belletrist Productions. https://www.belletrist.com/
Loading...Changing attendance patterns, celebrity names, and dynamic pricing are partially behind the rise in ticket prices. Plus, says one academic, "there is no limit to what rich people will pay to see." Ryan Kailath is a culture and arts reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, and he joins us to discuss -- and take your calls.
As we prepare for wedding season, there are bachelorette parties also to be had and enjoyed. According to Brides Magazine, the bachelorette party has been evolving into a bigger and more drawn out event over recent years. Gabby Rello Duffy, Brides Magazine senior editorial director, joins to discuss bachelorette party etiquette, the do's and don'ts of planning this year, and take your calls.
A new book examines the legacy of the late photojournalist, Corky Lee's mission to document Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Historian Mae Ngai edited the book, Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice and join us to discuss.
For National Poetry Month and Jazz Appreciation Month, 2024 Grammy winner Nicole Zuraitis debuts her contribution for this year's Public Song Project, a jazz adaptation of two poems by Pulitzer Prize-winner Edna St Vincent Millay. We also discuss Zuraitis's career and her latest album, How Love Begins, which earned her the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
In this hour, stories of shifting perspectives, new outlooks, and realizations that shake our foundations. A mother receives unexpected news, a teen learns the true power of a word, and a prisoner gets a visit from his father. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Andrea Collier finds out what happens when her life goes off-script.
Damon Young questions his sense of self based on the power of a racial slur.
Huwe Burton relies on his father's support while serving time for a crime he didn't commit.
People taking it upon themselves to solve the tiny, overlooked crimes of the world.
Prologue: Host Ira Glass bikes around Manhattan with Gersh Kuntzman, in search of illegal license plates. (11 minutes)Act One: Writer Michael Harriot reexamines the DIY criminal justice system his mom invented to deal with his bad behavior as a child. (20 minutes)Act Two: Producer Aviva DeKornfeld talks to Caveh Zahedi about a crime he may or may not have committed, depending on who you ask. (7 minutes)Act Three: Micaela Blei accidentally solves a crime that had been going on for a long time, right under her nose, and has to decide what to do next. She told this story onstage at The Moth. (7 minutes)Act Four: Editor Bethel Habte examines video evidence of two parents trying to get to the bottom of a minor crime committed in their own home. (7 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
HostMeg Wolitzer shares three stories about people who put things out of sight—and try to put them out of mind. In Lisa Ko’s “Nightlife,” read by Vanessa Kai, a pair of friends quietly sidestep feelings that might complicate their relationship. A teacher tries to help a parent see who her child really is in “The Hole” by Patrick Cottrell, performed by Becca Blackwell. And Elizabeth Strout brings us a beautiful and devastating story of a woman grappling with whether to put her mother into institutional care in “Home,” performed by Mia Dillon. Strout talks with Wolitzer after the reading. All three works were commissioned for the Selected Shorts’ anthology, Small Odysseys.
Host Meg Wolitzer talks with author Elizabeth Strout about her story “Home” and the fictional family Strout has created.
We air highlights from our March Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Xochitl Gonzalez. We spent the month reading her novel,Anita de Monte Laughs Last, which tells the story of two women, a once-famous artist named Anita de Monte, who died tragically and has been mostly forgotten to history, and Raquel, the student who decides to look into Anita's story for her senior thesis. But the deeper Raquel digs into this story, the more she starts to wonder if her own story is starting to mirror Anita's. Gonzales speaks about the book, and takes questions from our audience. The conversation was hosted by All Of It producer Jordan Lauf.
This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.*
Loading...John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants join to announce their cover of Irving Berlin's "Lazy" for the 2024 Public Song Project. The band will be releasing their song on streaming platforms later this month, and will be putting out limited edition 7" records. They join us with an exclusive preview of the song.
If you'd like to get involved in the Public Song Project -- whether you're a professional musician or a hobbyist, there's still time. Visit our website for more info.
With the deadline for the Public Song Project less than six weeks away, now is the time to get your songs recorded! Submissions can come in all shapes and sizes -- we are more than happy to accept songs recorded entirely on your cell phone or laptop! But if you want to step things up a bit, one great resource is your local public library. Today we're joined by representatives from the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Westport Public Library in Connecticut to hear about free recording studios, an instrument loan program, thousands of sheet music books, and more resources for exploring the public domain and recording your songs. Guests include Christine Schonhart, the director of Brooklyn Public Library's central library; Jenna Li, Lead Media Lab Specialist for New York Public Library; Brendan Toller, Marketing Manager of Verso Studios at the Westport Public Library.
You can find more about these resources on the Public Song Project homepage, as well as more information about how to participate: https://www.wnyc.org/story/public-song-project-2024/.
Yesterday marked the end of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, with Iowa, UCONN, NC State, and South Carolina all advancing to the Final Four. This year's tournament has received more national attention due to Iowa star Caitlin Clark playing in her final March Madness, but also because the competition is packed with stars, including an undefeated South Carolina team. To recap the tournament thus far and preview the Final Four this Friday, we're joined by Carolyn Peck, ESPN commentator, former head coach, and member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Plus, we take your calls.
We air highlights from our March Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Xochitl Gonzales. We spent the month reading her novel, Anita de Monte Laughs Last, which tells the story of two women, a once-famous artist named Anita de Monte, who died tragically and has been mostly forgotten to history, and Raquel, the student who decides to look into Anita's story for her senior thesis. But the deeper Raquel digs into this story, the more she starts to wonder if her own story is starting to mirror Anita's. Gonzales speaks about the book, and takes questions from our audience. The conversation was hosted by All Of It producer Jordan Lauf.
We air highlights from our March Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Xochitl Gonzales. We spent the month reading her novel,Anita de Monte Laughs Last. We were also joined for a special performance from Caridad de la Luz, spoken word poet, singer-songwriter, and executive director of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. The conversation was hosted by All Of It producer Simon Close.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.*
In this hour, stories of the things we hold dear—kitchen staples, family heirlooms, and an important soccer ball. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Mark Lamb loses a beloved skillet that has been seasoned by generations of his family.
Sara Sweet Rabidoux-Kelsey goes to great lengths to obtain a toaster.
Trina Michelle Robinson creates her own family heirlooms.
As a kid, Viviana Infante is determined to find love.
Amana Mbise's life is changed, thanks to a soccer ball.
Mysteries that exist in relationships we thought couldn't possibly surprise us.
Prologue: Ira talks to Rachel Rosenthal, who spent years trying to figure out who had stolen her identity. She was closing bank account after bank account, getting more and more paranoid, until she realized she knew exactly who the thief was. (5 minutes)Act One: Ira’s conversation with Rachel Rosenthal continues. She tells the story of why it took her so long to break up with her boyfriend, even after she figured out that he had stolen from her. We heard about Rachel's story via the podcast Risk! (9 minutes)Act Two: Producer Neil Drumming conducts an experiment to find out: can two adults, both new in town, become friends, with the right help? (16 minutes)Act Three: Comedian Kyle Mizono, in a live performance, tells about the time she met her hero, spent a week working with him every day, and it went really well. And then, she emailed him. (10 minutes)Act Four: A short story by Lydia Davis about trying to calculate the cost of a love affair. The story is read by actor Matt Malloy. (12 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
The crack of the bat! The smell of hot dogs! The towering home runs! In celebration of Opening Day, we've got two stories about America's Past-time.
Host: Larry Rosen
Storytellers:
Joseph Gallo learns about his father, and about baseball.
Muneesh Jain travels to every baseball stadium in the country.
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social occasions for introverts and extroverts alike, curated with the Belletrist Book Club, founded by actor Emma Roberts and producer Karah Preiss. The show was recorded at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Humorist Samantha Irby asks “Please Invite Me to Your Party,” but does she mean it? The reader is Richa Moorjani. Victoria Lancelotta’s “The Anniversary Trip,” performed by Judy Greer, is, and is not, about the married couple making the trip. And Jen Spyra takes it to extremes to get to the altar in perfect shape in “The Bridal Body,” performed by Erinn Hayes.This is Selected Shorts' first collaboration with Belletrist. Since 2017, Belletrist has chosen over 75 books for the book club and dozens more for myriad content features across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and a newsletter: The Belletrist Brief. In 2019, Emma and Karah spun out Belletrist Book Club into a production company called Belletrist Productions. https://www.belletrist.com
Loading...The beloved cooking competition show "Top Chef" is returning for its 21st season today. We are joined by "Top Chef" judge and cookbook author Gail Simmons, who has been with the show since it began in 2006 and can discuss how the series, culinary trends, and qualifications for what makes a "top chef" have changed over the decades. Plus, we take calls from listeners about their favorite "Top Chef" moments. "Top Chef" airs new episodes Thursday nights on Bravo.
With all the options available, it's not always easy to choose a bar to enjoy a libatious night out. Bryan Kim, NYC Senior Staff Writer and resident bar expert at The Infatuation, formerly a bartender himself, shares his favorite watering holes, old and new, around New York City, and his bar etiquette tips. Plus, listeners call in to share their favorite local watering holes.
Today, the Brooklyn Paramount theater is reopening to the public, with acts like Norah Jones, PinkPantheress, and Black Country, New Road all slated to perform in the coming months. The venue first opened in downtown Brooklyn in 1928, as a movie theater and also a stage, featuring acts like Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and early Rock 'n' Roll. But in 1962, the theater closed and was converted into a university basketball gym, that is until now. Ron Schweiger, Brooklyn's official borough historian, joins to recount the history of this important local venue and take listener calls for their memories.
No-No Boy is a folk music project from Julian Saporiti that began as a Brown University PhD researching Asian American history. The stories and figures in Saporiti's songs include a Cambodian American painter, survivors of Japanese internment, and many others from a wide array of Asian American identities. Ahead of a Joe's Pub show on March 29, Saporiti joins us to discuss his work.
This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar*
In this hour, stories of meeting one's idols. A signature turns into a mentorship, a chance to write a song for a revered musician, and heroes within the home. This hour is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, the producer of this show.
Storytellers:
Valerie Walker has a chance encounter with a life long idol.
Songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman makes music with a country music icon.
Danny Artese gets not only a signature but a mentor when he attends a book signing.
Elyse McInerney learns her hero may be a lot closer to her than she realized.
Bassist Christian McBride gets a chance to play with a Jazz legend.
The things we break and the ones we can't fix.
Prologue: Ira tells the stories of three things that broke–two of them in his own family. (8 minutes)Act One: A teenage whiz kid invents a new toy for Milton Bradley. Then the trouble starts. (28 minutes)Act Two: Reporter Dana Ballout sifts through a very long list–the list of journalists killed in the Israel-Hamas war–and comes back with five small fragments of the lives of the people on it. (10 minutes)Act Three: A skateboarding legend makes a final attempt at a high-flying trick. (6 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode of Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about change. A playful fantasy, a domestic dilemma, and a private struggle help us to adjust to the idea of transformation, losses, and gains. In “Sea Monster,” by Seth Fried, performed by Natasha Rothwell, a husband and wife reveal their secret identities to each other. In “Death by Printer,” by Mira Jacob, read by Rita Wolf, a widow learns to cope with loss—and technology. And a mature woman embraces the self she is becoming in Maile Meloy’s “Period Piece,” performed by Kelli O’Hara. The last two stories were commissioned for Selected Shorts’ anthology Small Odysseys.
Loading...Award-winning journalist and media executive Natasha S. Alford explores her multi-ethnic identity as a Black Puerto Rican, recounts her upbringing in Syracuse, New York, and discusses the origins of her career. She joins us to discuss her debut memoir, American Negra.
The 2024 Whitney Biennial has just opened to the public. The biennial is always a must-see exhibition in the New York contemporary art world, and this year it's titled, Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing, featuring work from seventy one artists. Curators Chrissie Iles and Meg Onli joins to discuss the show, which is on view through August 11.
Charcuterie boards and aperitif hour are all the rage these days, but we could all stand to get more creative than putting some crackers and cheese on a board. Anna Francese Gass, author of the new cookbook Italian Snacking: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Hour of the Day, joins us to discuss the best way to snack like an Italian and take calls from listeners.
For March Madness, Serious Eats spotlights 64 signature sandwiches from cities across the U.S. as they go head-to-head in a single-elimination tournament. Sr. Culinary Director Daniel Gritzer joins us to talk about the bracket for this year's competition and talk about some of the most iconic recipes.
*This episode is guest-hosted by David Furst
In this hour, stories of finding hope, grace, and light during unexpected times and in unexpected places. A bookstore, a high school tournament, and death row. This episode is hosted by Moth Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Maniza Naqvi travels across the world to help save a bookstore.
Michael Watson yearns to participate in the sports culture in his high school.
After her wrongful conviction, Sunny Jacobs tries to make a life for herself on death row.
Jitesh Jaggi tries to cure his homesickness with a family recipe.
People waking up to the fact that the world has suddenly changed.
Prologue: Jackson Landers tells the story of a very strange decision he made one summer day. (6 minutes)Act One: Elena Kostyuchenko tells the story of how she was probably poisoned after reporting on Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, and how she kept not believing it was happening. Bela Shayevich translated this story from Russian and reads it for us. (21 minutes)Act Two: A recording of comedian Tig Notaro in the process of trying to catch up to the present and absolutely not being able to. (8 minutes)Act Three: Producer Zoe Chace with a political fable that she noticed playing out last week in North Carolina. (11 minutes)Act Four: Producer Tobin Low finds a group of people with a special relationship with the idea of catching up. (10 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, a story from our new book, A Point of Beauty.
Host: Tiq Milan
Storyteller:
Shaun Leonardo pursues his dream of becoming a luchador.
The Moth’s new book, A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go releases March 19th. Order it here, or wherever you get your books: https://themoth.org/a-point-of-beauty
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about the act of writing and how it can remake us--a prankish skit; a playful and tender investigation of creating with words; and a fraught social encounter between two characters who don’t ‘get’ each other’s stories. B.J. Novak takes on the old saying “Great Writers Steal” in a short piece read by Novak and Aasif Mandvi. In Etgar Keret’s “Creative Writing” a wife writes her way out of grief. It’s read by Alex Karpovsky. A dinner party becomes a scene of personal and political tension in Lorrie Moore’s “Foes,” performed by Joan Allen and Kyle MacLachlan. And Moore joins Wolitzer to talk about the story and creating fiction.
In the film "Problemista" an aspiring toy designer named Alejandro must deal with an eccentric boss to maintain his work visa while living in New York City. Actor and comedian Julio Torres wrote, directed, and starred as the lead in the film which is in theaters now. He joins us to discuss.*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
Born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Gene Wilder became one of the most in demand and beloved comic actors of his generation. A new film uses his own voice and never before seen footage to document his life story and pay tribute to the beloved artist. We speak to Ron Frank, director of "Remembering Gene Wilder," which opens this Friday at the Quad Cinema.*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
In this hour, stories of female strength and empowerment. Independence at any age, refusing to participate in sexist societal conventions, and the complicated layers of motherhood. This hour is hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
95 year old park ranger Betty Reid Soskin squares off with an intruder.
Purity Kagwiria chooses a name for herself.
Timothy Bell discovers that there are more layers to his mother than meets the eye.
Musih Tedji Xaviere attempts to get her first novel published.
Nya Abernathy discovers who gets lied to the most: pregnant women!
The story of Reverend Carlton Pearson. He was a rising star in the evangelical movement when he cast aside the idea of hell and, with it, everything he'd worked for over his entire life.
Carlton Pearson's church, Higher Dimensions, was once one of the biggest in the city, drawing crowds of 5,000 people every Sunday. But several years ago, scandal engulfed the reverend. He didn't have an affair. He didn't embezzle lots of money. His sin was something that to a lot of people is far worse: He stopped believing in hell. (2 minutes)Act One: Reporter Russell Cobb takes us through the remarkable and meteoric rise of Carlton Pearson from a young man to a Pentecostal Bishop: From the moment he first cast the devil out of his 17-year-old girlfriend, to the days when he had a close, personal relationship with Oral Roberts and had appearances on TV and at the White House. Just as Reverend Pearson's career peaked, with more than 5,000 members of his congregation coming every week, he started to think about hell, wondering if a loving God would really condemn most of the human race to burn and writhe in the fire of hell for eternity. (30 minutes)Act Two: Once he starts preaching his own revelation, Carlton Pearson's church falls apart. After all, when there's no hell (as the logic goes), you don't really need to believe in Jesus to be saved from it. What follows are the swift departures of his pastors, and an exodus from his congregation—which quickly dwindled to a few hundred people. Donations drop off too, but just as things start looking bleakest, new kinds of people, curious about his change in beliefs, start showing up on Sunday mornings. (23 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presentsfour works in which nature and the out-of-doors drive both plots and character. Humorist Jenny Allen does battle with her stubborn plants in “Garden Growing Pains,” read by Kirsten Vangsness. The majestic Canadian border separates an Indigenous family in Thomas King’s “Borders,” read by Kimberly Guerrero. A housewife masters one of the elements in “Flying,” by Alyce Miller.The reader is Kirsten Vangness again.And a sudden storm creates a sense of abandon in the Kate Chopin classic “The Storm,” read by Jane Curtin.“Garden Growing Pains,” “Borders,” and “Flying,” were presented in cooperation with CacheArts and Utah Public Radio, KUSU-FM.
Sometimes, a dish needs a little sauce to take it to the next level. But sauce-making can be a finicky art. We hear kitchen tips and tricks from Ashley Boyd, food writer and founder of Pink Owl Kitchen, whose new cookbook is called, 50 Recipes for Drizzly, Dunk-able, Go-To Sauces to Elevate Everyday Meals.
APRICOT MISO GLAZE RECIPE (taken from book):Glaze CHICKEN, SALMON, PORK TENDERLOIN, or PORK CHOPS with this sauce. The sweetness of the apricot and the saltiness of the miso is a match made in heaven!
Ingredients:1⁄2 CUP [150 G] APRICOTPRESERVES1⁄4 CUP [70 G] WHITE MISOPASTE2 TBSP RICE VINEGAR2 TBSP LOW-SODIUM SOYSAUCE1 TBSP SRIRACHA2 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED2 TSP ORANGE ZEST
Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan, stir to combine, and cook the sauce over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or just until it begins to simmer. Remove from the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes before using as a glaze. Apple cider vinegar can be used instead of rice vinegar. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days
*This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar
A new exhibition at the The Museum at FIT (MFIT), Untying the Bow, reviews the origins, function and symbolism of the bow. Hilary Davidson, associate professor and chair of the MA Fashion and Textile Studies at FIT and exhibition designer Isabella Moritz join us to discuss the show which is on display through March 24.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
Divorce may get a bad rap, but in her latest book, author Lyz Lenz writes that it was her liberation, "Do you know I how finally got my husband to do his fair share? Court-ordered fifty-fifty custody, that's how." She joins us to discuss, This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! In this hour, stories of moving through discomfort—grief, revisiting painful history, stepping outside our safe spaces—and how it shapes us. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Stephanie Wittels Wach tries to understand her brother's struggle.
Wes Hazard takes us behind the scenes of Jeopardy!
Introvert Sufian Zhemokov has strict rules about talking to strangers.
Brigette Jones is determined to become a tour guide at Belle Meade Plantation.
This story is by the writer Erin Somers. She has a novel, Stay Up with Hugo Best, and has been published in The Paris Review, The New Yorker and elsewhere. Performing it, we've got two actors who found the funny with both the words and each other. The first, Paget Brewster, is best known for her role on Criminal Minds. Additionally, she has appeared on Friends, Community and Comedy Central’s Another Period. Playing off her is Andy Richter, known for his years on Conan and Late Night with Conan O'Brien; but has also appeared in cult classics like Cabin Boy and done many voiceovers for animated movies like Madagascar. The episode is hosted by Aparna Nancherla. The story was recorded at SketchFest in San Francisco.
A series of phone calls to a man in Gaza named Yousef Hammash, between early December and now. He talks about what he and his family are experiencing, sometimes as they are experiencing it.
Act One: Over the course of one week in December, Yousef tries to get his sisters to safety, in Rafah. (29 minutes)Act Two: Yousef is managing a camp of 60 people in Rafah, including his youngest sister, who is 8 months pregnant. Every day there’s talk that Israel will launch a ground assault in Rafah. Yousef and his sister make a plan for her to give birth safely, but it doesn’t go according to plan. And all 60 people in the family are looking to Yousef to tell them where they should go next and how to stay safe. (27 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
We air highlights from our February Get Lit with All of It book club event with author Tananarive Due. We spent the month reading her novel, The Reformatory, which follows a young Black boy named Robert who's sent to the Gracetown School for Boys and has to learn how to survive such a violent place, as ghosts from the past haunt him. We also feature a conversation and performance by Jake Blount, a singer, fiddler, banjo player, and scholar of old time American music, who was the musical guest.
"Brooklyn Laundry" is a new off-Broadway play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley. The story is set in a Brooklyn laundromat and follows the owner Owen (David Zayas), and his conversations with three sisters, one played by Cecily Strong, who frequent the joint. We learn more about the ups and downs of their lives throughout the play. Shanley, Zayas, and Strong join to discuss "Brooklyn Laundry," which is at New York City Center Stage through March 31.
Tony-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt was dismayed to learn how overwhelmingly white and male his profession has traditionally been... so he decided to start the 1/52 Project, which helps raise money to provide grants to young new design talent. One of those grant recipients was Stefania Bulbarella, who recently made her Broadway debut with "Jaja's African Hair Braiding." Boritt and Bulbarella join us to discuss the project, and the field of set design as a whole.
"Brooklyn Laundry" is a new off-Broadway play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley. The story is set in a Brooklyn laundromat and follows the owner Owen (David Zayas), and his conversations with three sisters, one played by Cecily Strong, who frequent the joint. We learn more about the ups and downs of their lives throughout the play. Shanley, Zayas, and Strong join to discuss "Brooklyn Laundry," which is at New York City Center Stage through April 14.
Tony-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt was dismayed to learn how overwhelmingly white and male his profession has traditionally been... so he decided to start the 1/52 Project, which helps raise money to provide grants to young new design talent. One of those grant recipients was Stefania Bulbarella, who recently made her Broadway debut with "Jaja's African Hair Braiding." Boritt and Bulbarella join us to discuss the project, and the field of set design as a whole.
Folk musician Jake Blount joined us for a special performance at our Get Lit with All Of It book club event. We also speak with Blount about how his music relates to Afrofuturism.
This segment was guest-hosted by our producer Simon Close.
We air highlights from our February Get Lit with All of It book club event with author Tananarive Due. We spent the month reading her novel, The Reformatory, which tells the story of a terrifying segregated reformatory for boys in Jim Crow-era Florida, and a young boy who is sent there. The boy learns he can see the ghosts of boys who died on the property. The superintendent wants Robert to hunt the ghosts, but the ghosts are ready to fight back. Can Robert escape this terrible place with his life?
This segment was guest-hosted by our producer Jordan Lauf.
On this episode, two stories from Melbourne, and we’ll reflect on the legacy of comedian and SLAM host Cal Wilson.
Host: Chloe Salmon
Storytellers:
Elizabeth Gray’s son has an interesting first day of school.
Cal Wilson is inspired by her five year old son to take swimming lessons.
Here’s Cal Wilson’s article about The Moth: https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-lure-of-the-moth-mesmerising-stories-from-people-just-like-you-20180315-h0xhl3.html
If you’d like to share your own story, or would just love to hear some incredible live storytelling, check out a Story Slam near you: https://themoth.org/events
The Moth would like to thank its listeners and supporters. Stories like these are made possible by community giving. If you’re not already a member, please consider becoming one or making a one-time donation today at themoth.org/giveback
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works with unusual family dynamics. In Zadie Smith’s “Grand Union,” the mother-daughter bond transcends death and brings with it a whole family history. The reader is Kaneza Schaal. And Richard Bausch’s “What Feels Like the World,” read by James Naughton, explores the bond between a grandparent and a grandchild.
Much of Samantha Schweblin's writing has a kind of dangerous element to it, and that's in this story, too. It's kind of a nailbiter, but not for the usual reasons. This story was written for McSweeney's and was performed as part of Selected Shorts' celebration of the 25th anniversary of this mighty indie publisher. Performed by Carmen Lynch, a comic who has performed stand-up on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and has appeared on series including Inside Amy Schumer and Life & Beth. And she has just the right touch with the story. After her reading, she talks to host Aparna Nancherla about how she approached such a tricky story.
One call to a very unusual hotline, and everything that followed.
- Prologue: Ira talks about a priest who set up what may have been the first hotline in the United States. It was just him, answering a phone, trying to help strangers who called. (2 minutes)
- Act One: The Never Use Alone hotline was set up so that drug users can call if they are say, using heroin by themselves. Someone will stay on the line with them in case they overdose. We hear the recording of one call, from a woman named Kimber. (13 minutes)
- Act Two: An EMT learns he was connected to the call, in more ways than he realized. (16 minutes)
- Act Three: Jessie, who took the call, explains how she discovered the hotline. She keeps in touch with Kimber. Until one day, Kimber disappears. (16 minutes)
- Act Four: We learn what happened to Kimber after she called the line. (10 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Guest host Roxane Gay (no mean cook herself) presents three stories centered on food. In “Three Great Meals” the late New Yorker humor writer Donald Barthelme tells you how to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner from a terrifying medley of fast food and low-end canned goods. The story is read by Nate Corddry. In "Simple Recipes," author Madeleine Thien weaves together evocative memories of traditional meals prepared by her father, with more complex images of a family in conflict. The reader is Cindy Cheung. And finally, a Roald Dahl classic, “Lamb to the Slaughter.” This tale of a model housewife’s response to a marital crisis will make you view your Sunday roast in a whole new light. She’s embodied by Catherine O'Hara.
Look, the best slice of pizza in New York City is a never-ending debate. Add to the conversation New Jersey pizza, and even Connecticut, and there are too many great slices to count. That doesn't mean it isn't worth exploring the latest of what the tri-state area pizza scene has to offer. Nikita Richardson, Food editor for the New York Times, recently wrote in her Where to Eat: New York City newsletter about, "The State of Pizza in the Pizza State," and she joins us for the next installment of our Small Stakes, Big Opinions series, and we take your calls.
A new slate of television shows and streaming series arrives this fall, even as the SAG and WGA strikes continue. Vulture TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk joins us with recommendations for what to look out for.
Bronx-based artist Laura James' first children's book is a tribute to her mother, an Antiguan immigrant who worked as a nanny, seamstress and office cleaner to make ends meet. She joins to discuss, My Mother Was a Nanny, and we take calls from listeners about being a child of a caregiver.
Beloved actor Julie Andrews has teamed up with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton to write a children's book! Both women join us to discuss, The Enchanted Symphony, which tells the story of a village overcome by a mysterious fog.
Returning to school can be anxiety provoking for students and parents alike, whether it's going to middle school for the first time or dropping your first kid off at college. Here to help our listeners work through their emotions this back-to-school season is Matt Lundquist, founder and clinical director of Tribeca Therapy.
*This episode is guest hosted by David Furst.
Aerial antics, magic tricks, and unwelcome rescue missions. In this hour, stories of momentous decisions, massive undertakings, and opportunities with no second chances. This episode is hosted by Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
In an attempt to be Maverick (from Top Gun), Will Mackin goes to Navy Flight School.
Siegfried Tieber gets hooked on magic.
Samantha Mathis goes on a mission to bring her father home.
Nine radio reporters. Two days. One rest stop on the New York State Thruway. Stories of people who are just passing through, and the ones who can’t leave, because this is where their jobs are.
Act One: Host Ira Glass describes scenes from a rest stop on the New York State Thruway, the Plattekill Travel Plaza, and the kind of people you might meet if you ever stayed long enough to talk with them. These include Robert Woodhill, the general manager, who needs a good sales day so he can beat his friend Andy, who manages a rest stop in Maine, in their weekly competition. Ira hangs out with a group of foreign students who’ve landed in Plattekill on a summer work program, and reporter Lisa Pollak gets travel tips from Lenny Wheat, who works at the rest stop’s information booth. Reporter Jonathan Goldstein spends a few hours in the rest stop parking lot. (30 minutes)Act Two: More stories of travelers and workers at a highway rest stop. The competition between Plattekill and Maine continues. Reporter Sean Cole observes the lunch rush at the rest stop’s busiest restaurant and stumbles into a behind-the-scenes romance. Reporter Gregory Warner watches a cashier at the Travel Mart deal with an angry customer. Reporters Nancy Updike and Jay Allison hang out for the graveyard shift – midnight to 8 a.m. – and find a surprising amount of romance at the rest stop. (26 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Peabody-award winning journalist Chenjerai Kumanyika hosts an episode which explores all the learning that takes place outside the classroom.
Storytellers:
Adrienne Lotson shares the stories her father told her about Harlem
Lopaka Kapanui learns some lessons from his mother about the legacies we leave behind
Host Meg Wolitzer presents perfect mismatches. In “The Man and the Moose” by Ben Loory, performed by Michael Cerveris, a man’s best bud has antlers. In “Red Dirt Don't Wash” by Roger Mais, performed by Brandon J. Dirden, a young man’s courtship is at risk—she doesn’t like his shoes. And a piano lesson is out of tune in “The Piano Teacher’s Pupil” by William Trevor, performed by Kathryn Erbe. Authors Elizabeth Strout and Marlon James present commentary from the stage at Symphony Space.
In this hour, fasting, feasting, and traveling salmon; stories about foods that nourish the body as well as the soul. This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Ritija Gupta follows her grandmother's recommended all-yellow diet in the name of love.
Mercy Lung'aho leads an experiment with beans, designed to combat anemia.
Dihan Hossain dreams of tasting New York City pizza.
Joan Juliet Buck's uncle loses a suitcase of smoked salmon -- and a family member.
The mysterious hold supers have on their buildings, or that their buildings have on them.
- Host Ira Glass visits the Upper East Side building in Manhattan where Peter Roach has been the super for about ten years. Peter has a lot of keys. He doesn't know what most of them unlock. (4 minutes)
- Act One: Reporter Jack Hitt tells the story of how he helped organize tenants and threaten a rent strike in a New York City building back in the 1980s. Before long, Bob, the building super became his enemy. The situation got pretty ugly. Mobster ugly. Bob began to brag about how important he was in his native Brazil, how he could kill a person and be immune from prosecution. Only many years later did Jack find out how dangerous Bob really was. (23 minutes)
- Act Two: The super in Josh Bearman's Los Angeles building was kind of a needy character. He would sometimes ask Josh to come into his apartment and help him out -- check whether his garbage was being moved by a ghost, for example. Then one day he told Josh a story that involved these elements: a gas station, a beautiful woman, an orchid, a snowman, Indonesia, and a check he'd written for $30,000. It was so crazy, that naturally, Josh believed it. (12 minutes)
- Act Three: A man who we're calling "Dennis" inherits his father's job as a landlord of a big apartment building. His dad had warned him that bad tenants could drive even a good man to become heartless, but Dennis vowed that would never happen to him. He's tested on this point when he tries to help a couple that falls behind in their rent. He sets up a payment plan for them, teaches them how to make a budget, helps them with their personal problems. For six years, he stops himself from kicking them out. This story was co-produced by Sonari Glinton. (16 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories from our anthology, Small Odysseys, which features 35 commissioned stories from some of the series’ favorite writers. This week, parents try to help with their daughter’s unusual school science research project. Michael Shannon reads Susan Perabo’s “The Project.” And in Luis Alberto Urrea’s “King of Bread,” a father carves out his own little kingdom in the barrios of San Diego—handing out doughnuts, and hope. The reader is Javier Muñoz.
Onetime Fugees frontwoman Lauryn Hill released her solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, on August 25, 1998. It debuted at number one on the album charts, won the Grammy for album of the year, and is now considered by many to be one of the greatest albums of all time. To date, it remains Hill’s only solo studio album. As part of our 25th-anniversary album series Silver Liner Notes, we’re joined by poet, essayist, and author Hanif Abdurraqib to discuss the album’s legacy and Lauryn Hill’s career. Also joining is Karen Good Marable, who wrote the 1998 Vibe cover story on Hill. And we take your calls.
A new documentary series chronicles the life of saxophonist and jazz legend Wayne Shorter. Director Dorsay Alavi, who was personally close with Shorter, worked on the series for many years and interviewed Shorter for the project before his passing. Alavi joins us to discuss the series, titled "Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity," which begins streaming on Prime Video on August 25.
Edan Lepucki's latest novel, "Time's Mouth," follows a woman who discovers an ability to time travel, which she then hones and transmits to other women. She joins us to discuss her book. Lupucki will be appearing at a book event at Greenlight Bookstore tonight at 7:30pm.
As we head into the weekend, we have some fun with something that has caused a debate thanks to a classification by the NY State tax code which designates a hot dog as a sandwich. Josh Gondelman, who previously was on with strong opinions about Seltzer, joins to moderate and we'll take listener calls.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
A new documentary series chronicles the life of saxophonist and jazz legend Wayne Shorter. Director Dorsay Alavi, who was personally close with Shorter, worked on the series for many years and interviewed Shorter for the project before his passing. Alavi joins us to discuss the series, titled "Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity,"which begins streaming on Prime Video on August 25.
This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar*.
When two blockbuster movies, Barbie and Oppenheimer, premiered in U.S. theaters on the same day in July 2023, they ushered in a renewed enthusiasm for the double feature, and introduced the word "Barbenheimer" to moviegoers' vocabularies. For this midweek podcast, we’re returning to an old OTM piece by David Serchuk about a sound—more specifically, a scream—that's lived an amazingly long and storied life on the silver screen.
One part of living in New York City is finding roommates, particularly around this time of year. Not everyone can count on having a friend or family member around to move into an apartment, so often times a random roommate is the solution. However, how to go about finding a new roommate you don't know as well can be tricky and intimidating. Evelyn Battaglia, contributing writer for Brick Underground, has written a few pieces this summer about the roommate search, and she joins to give some tips on the search process, and take your calls.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
From "Othello" to "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's plays often contain both nuanced and offensive portrayals of race. A new book from author and scholar Farah Karim Cooper examines the role of race in Shakespeare's work. It's titled, The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race. Cooper joins us to discuss.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.
On September 1, the U.S. Department of Education's pandemic student loan relief will expire, meaning millions will need to begin paying their student loans again. Many may have gotten used to not having to worry about student loans, at least temporarily, and the increase in payments may change how you plan your budget, social plans, and financial future. Travis Hornsby, founder of Student Loan Planner, and Lauryn Williams, a consultant for Student Loan Planner, joins to help us think through paying student loans and take your calls.
“Command Z” is a new series from writer Kurt Andersen and director Stephen Soderbergh, released as a surprise last month and available to stream only on Soderbergh’s website. The series follows three people living in a post-apocalyptic near-future, who are recruited by the digital simulacrum of a billionaire CEO played by Michael Cera, to change the events of 2023 and undo the present disaster. Soderbergh and Andersen join us to talk about the series, whose proceeds go to Children’s Aid and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research.
From "Othello" to "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's plays often contain both nuanced and offensive portrayals of race. A new book from author and scholar Farah Karim Cooper examines the role of race in Shakespeare's work. It's titled, The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race. Cooper joins us to discuss.
One part of living in New York City is finding roommates, particularly around this time of year. Not everyone can count on having a friend or family member around to move into an apartment, so often times a random roommate is the solution. However, how to go about finding a new roommate you don't know as well can be tricky and intimidating. Evelyn Battaglia, contributing writer for Brick Underground, has written a few pieces this summer about the roommate search, and she joins to give some tips on the search process, and take your calls. This episode is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar*.
In this hour, we put the adage "older and wiser" to the test with stories of children providing new perspectives and taking charge. In school, in the woods, and on a life or death journey. This episode is hosted by Moth Director and Producer Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
While hiking with his 8-year-old daughter, Dave Stratton realizes he's in over his head.
Carolina Ureña Ruez faces the horrifying prospect of a failing grade.
Amber Wallin desperately wants to be cast as the lead in Cinderella.
Pedro Haro goes on a harrowing journey, guided by his brother, and has a medical emergency.
Nestor Gomez finds a new way to engage a tough audience of kindergarteners.
Legendary radio broadcaster Paul Harvey had a popular show called “The Rest of the Story.” Today on our show, we do just that. We hear from people who, whether they want to or not, find themselves face-to-face with the rest of their stories.
- Prologue: Legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey had one of the most popular radio shows of all time. For 35 years he served up big twists and jaw dropping reveals all with his one-of-a-kind delivery. (7 minutes)
- Act One: Psychiatry used to be all talk. Then came a patient named Ray Osheroff. Producer Chris Benderev tells us what became of the man who changed therapy. (26 minutes)
- Act Two: Contributor Samuel James thought he knew what happened to his mother. But he was wrong. Then he was wrong again. (9 minutes)
- Act Three: A new resident in Berlin is greeted like a minor celebrity wherever she goes. The perks are nice, but does she really want to know why? Producer Bim Adewunmi has the rest of the story. (14 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode, we learn from children. This episode is hosted by Chloe Salmon.
Storytellers:
Madden Mcdonagh gets more than she expected at a book fair.
Nepurko Keiwua leads a rib revolution.
On this Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer offers up stories about limited viewpoints and larger visions. In “You Can Find Love Now" by Ramona Ausubel, performed by Amy Ryan and Martin Short, an unusual character drops into the dating pool; in “The Weave,” by Charles Johnson, performed by Arnell Powell, a heist gets hairy; and in J. Robert Lennon’s “Blue Light, Red Light,” a child's fears find his family seeking tech support. It’s performed by Fred Hechinger.
In response to climate change, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants to offer incentives for consumers to choose electric appliances over natural gas. But New Jersey Republicans like State Senator Holly Schepisi says the governor is going too far. He's also pushing for more wind energy, even as some of his fellow Democratic leaders say they want more answers before moving ahead.
On "Ask Governor Murphy" Tuesday night at 7 p.m., Nancy Solomon will ask the governor about his plans for a greener New Jersey amid resistance from both sides of the political aisle. She'll also ask the governor about his fight over Manhattan's congestion pricing -- and the lawsuit New Jersey officials launched to stop it. We’ll take your calls as well.
Tell us what you'd like us to Ask Gov. Murphy by using this Google form, or tweet during the show using #AskGovMurphy. And you can call (844) 745-TALK -- that's (844) 745-8255 -- during the show to join us live on air.Listen live here on WNYC.org or on the radio at 93.9 FM
In this hour, true stories of taking center stage from a magician, a musician, a member of the underground resistance in Chile and a soldier stationed in Iraq. This hour is hosted by The Moth's Senior Director, Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Notoriously quiet magician Teller (of Penn and Teller) discovers his love of magic.
Musician Gaelynn Lea describes life on the road with a disability.
Daniel Sperling attends Shabbat services while deployed in Iraq.
Carmen Aguirre is a member of the underground resistance in Chile during Pinochet's regime.
It’s the last few weeks of summer, so we’re going to the beach! This week, stories from the surf and sand.
- Prologue: Host Ira Glass reflects on his feelings about going to the beach. (3 minutes)
- Act One: Producer Dana Chivvis explores the case of a 66-year-old working lifeguard who is suing New York State for age discrimination after refusing to wear a Speedo on the job. (15 minutes)
- Act Two: Alex Blumberg talks to Shane Dubow about a time decades ago, when Shane went sea kayaking and camping with his friends on the beach in Baja California, Mexico. When Shane’s neck stiffens up on him, he finds himself looking for an unlikely chiropractor, in the middle of nowhere. (11 minutes)
- Act Three: This clip is from what Ira calls “the beachiest show” public radio ever made. It’s a segment from NPR’s 1970’s show, Ocean Hour. In it we hear from a man who lives on the beach, literally. He explains how it provides him everything he needs to survive. You can hear the original hour of radio, which included The Beachcomber, courtesy of Nation Public Radio, Inc. (3 minutes)
- Act Four: David Sedaris comes from a big family, who for many years growing up, took annual vacations to the same beach house. In this story, David tells us about losing a sister, and how her death prompted a family reunion back at the beach. David is the author of many books, including Calypso. (27 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
In this special episode, we examine the relationship between Swimming and the Black community. And we hear from one of our favorite podcasts, The Stoop. If you’d like to listen to more great stories from The Stoop, subscribe to it wherever you get your podcasts, or visit thestoop.org to learn more.
This episode is hosted by Suzanne Rust and Leila Day.
Storyteller:
While out for a swim, Hasna Muhammad finds a kindred spirit.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories featuring mothers and children, and entertains a special guest—her own mother, Hilma Wolitzer. In Annette Sanford’s “Trip in a Summer Dress,” a young woman is setting out to get married, but leaving her real life—and a hard choice—behind. The reader is Mia Dillon. “Palaver,” by Bryan Washington, offers a playful—but also serious—battle of wits between a strong-willed mother and her grown son, each wanting to know more about the other without giving away too much of themselves. The alternating narratives are performed by Petronia Paley and Michael Potts. And host Wolitzer quizzes her own mother about her writing life, the impact of feminism, and raising a novelist to be.
A new documentary from award winning director Stanley Nelson examines the historical relationship between Black people in America and the police. From the forces formed to keep slaves from escaping to those enforcing Jim Crow laws to today's issues of police brutality--the film explores the "us vs them" tension. Nelson and his co-director, Valerie Scoon, join to discuss the film, "Sound of the Police" which premieres on Hulu tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 11.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Arun Venugopal.
In 2016, a listener we’re calling James sent us a voice memo. He described himself as a recovering porn addict, and was struggling to stay away from it while his wife was away. So we wanted to know more about your relationships with porn, and over 100 of you shared how you first learned about it, your likes and dislikes, and why some of you stopped using it completely.
Some of you are fairly open about how you use porn. Jennifer likes to ask dates about their porn tastes. “You can have a better sex life when all the cards are out on the table,” she said to Anna. Michael has watched it since he was a teenager, and found it a helpful way to learn more about his sexuality. “Why is it not accepted to be attracted to beautiful images?” he asked.
But some of you have had to cut porn out entirely. Daniel* hasn’t watched porn in years, and after seeing how it negatively affected his relationship and mental health, he won’t go back. “It gives me a really intense feeling,” he told Anna. “But it’s also usually followed by a lot of shame too.”
We’re revisiting our most popular episode: featuring your stories about porn.
*Names changed for privacy reasons.
Hot subway cars, icky smells, mysterious drips--these are just some things that can make summer in New York a tad unpleasant. New York Times writer Dodai Stewart, who created the NYT quiz "Pick the Worst New York City Summer Plagues" joins to take listener calls about how they're coping this summer.
*This episode is hosted by Arun Venugopal.
Following the Industrial Revolution, many scientists began sounding the alarm about the possibility of climate change, and were not met with the controversy we see today. So how did so many Americans become convinced that climate change isn't a real concern? AuthorDavid Lipsky investigates that history in his new book, "The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial." He joins us to discuss.
*This episode is hosted by Arun Venugopal.
In this hour, stories of moments of beauty, awe, and clarity uncovered amidst chaos and the quotidian. Hosted by the Moth's Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Edgar Oliver propagates monsters in his backyard.
Chenjerai Kumanyika seeks protection through tradition and faith.
Matt McArthur witnesses rare beauty during an Arctic dive.
Sofija Stefonovic gets her first taste of capitalism.
Nadia's family is split between Russia and Ukraine, which is pretty common. And when Russia invaded Ukraine, it didn’t just start fighting on the battlefield. It sparked family conflict, too. An intimate story of the war from writer Masha Gessen.
- Prologue: An extended family, and eight fights. (1 minutes)
- Fight #1: Luka’s parents – Nadia and Karen – try to figure out where to take him once war breaks out. (6 minutes)
- Fight #2: Nadia and Karen have been arguing over Russian-ness since they needed to pick a school for Luka. (10 minutes)
- Fights #3 and #4: Nadia remembers the times that Luka’s father would suggest going to Crimea for vacation, as if it wasn’t Ukrainian land occupied by Russia. And she remembers a present that Karen once gave Luka––the sort which had to be smuggled into the country. (6 minutes)
- Fight #5: Nadia tells the story of her father, Alex, who lives near Bucha, and how differently he and she view the Russian atrocities there. (10 minutes)
- Fight #6: Nadia tells the story of her mother, who lives in Russia, and how she won’t do the one thing Nadia keeps asking her to do. (2 minutes)
- Fight #7: Karen sends Nadia a photo which drives them to a final showdown. (12 minutes)
- Fight #8: Nadia’s step-father works for the Russian government. How to manage that? (4 minutes)
- Epilogue: Nadia and Karen’s son, Luka, who most of these fights are about, gets the last word. (3 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about tangled lives; those situations; those people that pull you in and won’t let you go. These works focus on encounters that affect a character's life in some unusual or enduring way. “Missed Connection—M4W,” by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, takes the idea of “chance encounter” to its limits. It’s performed by Richard Kind. “My Years of Living Dangerously,” by Danielle Henderson, explores the idea of sin and redemption. It’s performed by Karen Pittman. And in Melissa’ Banks’ ruefully comic “Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Away,” performed by Julianna Margulies, one sibling makes a bad choice the other has to live with. Both Julianna Margulies and Karen Pittman talk about their readings backstage at the live show, which was hosted and curated by Meg Wolitzer.
A new play centers five seniors on a girls high school basketball team in rural Arkansas. It’s titled, “Flex.” Playwright Candrice Jones join us alongside actors Erica Matthews (Starra Jones) and Brittany Bellizeare (April Jenkins) to talk about the show, which is running at Lincoln Center Theater through Aug. 20.
Many women who experienced an egg retrieval at the Yale Fertility Clinic reported excruciating pain, as if they had not been given any pain medication at all. Nurses and doctors insisted that all was fine, but it later was revealed that a nurse at the clinic had been replacing fentanyl with saline solution. Reporter and host Susan Burton joins us to discuss her podcast on the subject, The Retrievals, from The New York Timesand Serial Productions.
This segment is hosted byBrigid Bergin.*
A new podcast explores the history of Fire Island, and how the vacation spot became a haven for the queer community. Reporter and host Jess Rothschild joins us to discuss the podcast, Finding Fire Island, and take calls from our listeners.
Our friends over at "More Perfect," release the finale episode of the fourth season of their series tomorrow, Aug. 3. It investigates how Supreme Court case determined that the Andy Warhol Foundation infringed on copyright laws after licensing the use of "Orange Prince" to Condé Nast in 2016. Senior producer Whitney Jones and producer Alyssa Edes discuss the episode.
Many women who experienced an egg retrieval at the Yale Fertility Clinic reported excruciating pain, as if they had not been given any pain medication at all. Nurses and doctors insisted that all was fine, but it later was revealed that a nurse at the clinic had been replacing fentanyl with saline solution. Reporter and host Susan Burton joins us to discuss her podcast on the subject, The Retrievals, from The New York Times and Serial Productions.
Great Scott! "Back to the Future" is now a Broadway musical! After opening on the West End two years ago and earning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1985 blockbuster opens in New York tomorrow (August 3). To discuss the show, we're joined by Bob Gale, who co-wrote the films and wrote the book of the musical. Also joining are the duo responsible for the music and lyrics, songwriter Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, the original composer of the music for the films.
This episode is hosted by Brigid Bergin*.
It's summer, and we all know it's broiling. And for people who live in New York City and its surrounding area, especially in Newark, the temperature is an extra eight degrees hotter. That's according to a new study investigating the impact of heat islands. WNYC/Gothamist reporters Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky and Rosemary Misdary wrote about the study's findings for Gothamist. Jeffrey-Wilensky joins us to discuss. Plus, we take your calls.
This segment is hosted by Brigid Bergin.
In another installment of our "Summer in the City" series, we go to the Borough of Parks... Staten Island! We look to Pamela Silvestri, food editor for the Staten Island Advance, who gives us a rundown of the top things to do, see and eat in the borough. Plus, we take your calls.
In another installment of our "Summer in the City" series, we go to the Borough of Parks... Staten Island! We look to Pamela Silvestri, food editor for the Staten Island Advance, who gives us a rundown of the top things to do, see and eat in the borough. Plus, we take your calls.
Many of us would agree that local non-profit arts organizations are key to a healthy and vibrant community, like local theater companies. According to reporting in a new piece from Michael Paulson of the New York Times, the costs of producing regional theater has never been higher, causing many beloved institutions around the country to go dark. Paulson joins us to discuss his piece, "A Crisis in America’s Theaters Leaves Prestigious Stages Dark," and break down the struggles that arts non-profits are facing right now. We also take your calls.
Who? Weekly is a popular podcast that describes itself as telling you "everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." The podcast is hosted by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber, who are hosting a live show in Brooklyn tomorrow, kicking off their nationwide tour. Before the two hit the road, Finger and Lindsey join us to preview the tour and dish on the latest in celebrity gossip. Who? Weekly will also be back for a live show in New York on November 16 at The Palladium.
It's summer, and we all know it's broiling. And for people who live in New York City and its surrounding area, especially in Newark, the temperature is an extra eight degrees hotter. That's according to a new study investigating the impact of heat islands. WNYC/Gothamist reporters Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky and Rosemary Misdary wrote about the study's findings for Gothamist, and they join us to discuss and take your calls.
This episode is hosted by Brigid Bergin.
Who? Weekly is a popular podcast that describes itself as telling you "everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." The podcast is hosted by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber, who are hosting a live show in Brooklyn tomorrow, kicking off their nationwide tour. Before the two hit the road, Finger and Lindsey join us to preview the tour and dish on the latest in celebrity gossip. Who? Weekly will also be back for a live show in New York on November 16 at The Palladium.
*This segment is hosted by Brigid Bergin.
In this hour, stories of journeys—from far-flung to just down the street. Rediscovered roots, recess field trips, and birthday outings. This episode is hosted by Moth Director and Producer, Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Gina Granter has a fateful encounter on an Amtrak train.
Teacher James Hamilton finds a way around his school's no recess policy.
Helen Cooper spends a special birthday at Coney Island.
A friend from her cancer support group makes a lasting impression on Emma Gordon.
Mary Blair travels to the Arctic tundra to reconnect with her heritage.
People on the verge of a big change, not wanting to let go. And the people who give them the final push.
- Prologue: Guest Host Sean Cole gets some scary news about his health, and decides to quit smoking. (5 minutes)
- Act One: Sean Cole attempts to kick his 35 year-long smoking habit, using a book that’s said to have helped millions of people to quit. (33 minutes)
- Act Two: Someone writes into the advice column Dear Sugar to ask whether or not they should quit a relationship, and gets a strange but very persuasive response. (9 minutes)
- Act Three: Even people who vehemently disagreed with Heider Garcia wanted him to stay in his job. But then something happened that made staying impossible. Zoe Chace reports. (9 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
We air highlights from our May Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Victor LaValle. Our musical guest was Grenadian-Canadian banjo player Kaia Kater, who will release a new album later this year.Kater joined us at the event to perform live.
On this episode of the Moth podcast, we examine the relationship between cars and families. This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Storytellers:
Mary Ann Ludwig’s teenagers decide to get up to some trouble with the family car
Melanie Kostrzewa redefines her relationship with her minivan
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social masks and what might lie beneath. Truman Capote’s “A Lamp in a Window” introduces an eccentric character with a secret. It’s performed by Arian Moayed. In Molly Giles’ “What Do You Say?” a mother and daughter lunch at a diner, where the mother encounters a bit of her past. The reader is Parker Posey. And novelist Zadie Smith channels the legendary singer Billie Holiday in “Crazy They Call Me,” performed by Karen Pittman.
With airplane fares being high and cancellations rampant, we look at ways to escape the city for a day, either by train or car this summer. Lonely Planet executive editor Nitya Chambers returns to discuss her picks for some of the best day trips to take this summer, and we take listener calls.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Brigid Bergin.
A new city measure allows property owners and managers to register their buildings on a "Prohibited Building List," banning short term rentals in their properties. WNYC/Gothamist'shousing reporter David Brand, and data reporter Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilenskyrecently published a story on the new "anti-Airbnb" measure. Brand and Jeffrey-Wilensky join us to talk about their story, and what it means for city dwellers and visitors.
This segment is hosted by Brigid Bergin.
In this hour, stories of fear. From daily anxieties to earth-shattering moments of life-or-death terror. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Jessica Pan attempts to cure her social anxiety.
Nick Revell takes a nerve wracking drive down a British motorway.
Single mom, Katie Houghton-Ward, fears for her family's safety.
Sudhesh Dahad deals with the aftermath of a near-death experience.
The true story of an abandoned house, discovered by a young boy in the 1970s, and the mysterious family who disappeared without a trace.
- Ira introduces this week's story. (1 minute)
- Act One: Adam Beckman tells the first part of his story, about how, back in the 70s, he and his friends broke into an abandoned house in the small town of Freedom, New Hampshire. The home turned out to be a perfect time capsule, containing the furniture, letters and personal effects of an entire family — abandoned for decades. It seemed like the family just vanished one day, leaving salt and pepper shakers on the table, notes on the bedroom mirror, and a wallet with money still inside. Adam and his friends read the letters, saving some as clues, and never forgot. (30 minutes.)
- Act Two: Adam Beckman continues his story. He returns to the town in New Hampshire where he discovered the abandoned house as a kid and tries to find out what happened there. It turns out he's not the only one looking for an answer to that question. (25 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
On this episode of the Moth Podcast, Catherine Burns, our former artistic director, shares the very first story she ever directed, and the last. This episode is hosted by Catherine Burns.
Storytellers:
Woniya Thibeault survives in the wilderness
Mike Birbiglia gets his heart broken
In this hour, ballet "late in life," an unusual pet, drag queens and divorce. Stories to show us a new perspective. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Val Rigodon attempts to become a ballerina.
Lincoln Bonner has an unlikely childhood companion.
James Braly and his wife finally agree on something.
Robert Sherer tries to distract his grandmother.
Brian Belovitch is welcomed by the Rhode Island drag community.
Ten years ago, Netflix released one of their first-ever streaming shows, "Orange Is the New Black," a frank look at life in a women's prison. The show put Netflix, and streaming, on the map, and introduced audiences to new themes of queerness and gender, as well as stars like Laverne Cox, Danielle Brooks, and Natasha Lyonne. Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture's TV critic, joins us to discuss the show's legacy. Then, we speak with Piper Kerman, whose life story and memoir Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison inspired the television series.
Ani DiFranco released her album Little Plastic Castle in February 1998. The album became her highest-charting, and NPR has ranked it among the 25 greatest albums made by women. Last month, DiFranco released a 25th anniversary remastered edition. She joins us to discuss the legacy of the album as part of our series Silver Liner Notes.
Governor Ron DeSantis is running for president on the argument that he'll do for America what he's done for Florida. So what's it like in Florida?
- Prologue: Florida is now the fastest growing state, and DeSantis says people are moving there from all over because of him. We speak to people who did make the move, at least in part, for DeSantis’s policies. (6 minutes)
- Act One: Among the big items in DeSantis's run for president is medical freedom. Producer Zoe Chace wanted to understand its appeal and its growing popularity. So she spent some time in Sarasota County, where one man — at the side of former Trump appointee Mike Flynn — is creating a sort of little parallel universe for this very thing. (33 minutes)
- Act Two: DeSantis has passed law after law about what can and can’t be taught in Florida classrooms, starting as early as elementary school. And last spring, Florida Republicans introduced a bill initially proposing to ban things like critical race theory and identity politics, or students majoring in things like gender studies in Florida universities. Reporter Emmanuel Dzotsi followed how things unfolded at one of the biggest universities there, Florida State, from the bill’s introduction all the way to its passage. He explains how professors and students have been preparing. (25 minutes)
- Act Three: Among the legislation introduced by DeSantis that has passed is a ban on minors receiving transition care. The bill passed into law a few months ago. We speak with a teen whose family has since had to flee the state in order to access the care they needed. (2 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Lloyd Cole's career began with the Commotions and over the last four decades has traversed the worlds of rock, pop, and ambient and electronic music--places from which Cole draws for his latest album, On Pain. Cole joins us to discuss the album and perform a live acoustic set in our studio.
The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he has to team up with an art critic to investigate. Part 3 of 3.
Written by Davy Gardner.
Performed by Federico Rodriguez, Liz Leimkuhler, Ann Carr, Dmitry Shein, Amy Warren, Margaret Burrus, Woody Fu, and Hunter Nelson.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
RapperMcKinley Dixon,from Chicago by way of Virginia,joins for a Listening Party for his album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? inspired by writer Toni Morrison,who he believes is the “greatest rapper ever.”
British comedian Liz Kingsman's hit show "One Woman Show" has come across the pond. Kingsman deftly and hilariously skewers one woman shows like "Fleabag" and the new trend of spotlighting messy female protagonists. She joins us to discuss the show, which is running now at the Greenwich House Theater.
In this hour, stories of the most inevitable part of life: death—with a positive twist. Opportunities for connection, moments of healing, and unique ways of moving through grief. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Bruce McCulloch masquerades as a familiar creature.
Lori Syverson takes a job as a deathwalker.
Jerrianne Boggis reconnects with her Jamaican roots when her beloved Aunt dies.
Many Americans have dreamy and romantic ideas about Paris, notions which probably trace back to the 1920s vision of Paris created by the expatriate Americans there. But what's it actually like in Paris if you're an American, without rose-colored glasses?
- Host Ira Glass talks with writer David Sedaris at the Louvre in Paris. David's never set foot inside, though he lives just a few minutes away. He says most people go to the Louvre because they think they should. Where he would take them if they wanted to see the city where he's lived for two years is very different. (6 minutes)
- Act One: David Sedaris takes Ira on a tour of his favorite spots in Paris. He moved to France with no special feelings for the place. His head wasn't full of Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein and Sartre and Proust; he was a blank slate. And so the places he's found as his favorites tend to be places where the people aren't mean to him when he speaks French, or places where very unusual and fascinating objects are sold, or place that are unlike anywhere in the States. (27 minutes)
- Act Two: We hear from two Americans who live in Paris about what it is that draws the people who love France so much. (6 minutes)
- Act Three: Is Paris still the racially tolerant place that Richard Wright and James Baldwin discovered in the 1940s? Janet McDonald talks about whether African-Americans are still welcomed in Paris so warmly, even after a half century of African migration to the city. Also: Why it's sometimes better for her to put on a bad American accent. Janet wrote the book Project Girl. (16 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
We take a look at the meaning of Independence Day through story. This episode is hosted by Larry Rosen.
Storyteller:
Juan Rodriguez recounts his American journey.
Two scrappy teens and BFFs from suburban London took the pop music world by storm in the 1980's as a duo called Wham!. That group's success would also introduce the world to a singular talent named George Michael. A new documentary tracks their rise and ultimate end with never before heard interviews from both members, Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael. Director Chris Smith joins to talk "Wham!"
Writing a will can be hard. There are difficult legal and financial decisions, as well as the experience of facing our own mortality. Many of us may have friends or elderly family members who don't have a Will, and are stubborn about making one. How do we have that tough conversation? Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut, recently wrote about this topic in her article, "My Elderly Parents Refuse to Make a Will," and she joins us alongside Katrina Robinson, lawyer and CEO of Teton Trust Company, to give advice. Plus, we take your calls.
In this hour, stories of the struggles, support, and safety the bounds of family provide. Hosted by The Moth's Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Sharif El-Mekki wants to follow in the footsteps of his Black Panther father.
NeShaune Lasley receives unwanted encouragement from her father.
Caitlin McNaughton's feminist parents don't want to get her a Barbie.
Rebecca Barry frets over her mother's health.
Warren Holleman must unlearn his family's lessons when he has a baby.
At a Yale fertility clinic, dozens of women began their I.V.F. cycles full of expectation and hope. Then a surgical procedure caused them excruciating pain. In the hours that followed, some of the women called the clinic to report their pain — but most of the staff members who fielded the patients’ reports did not know the real reason for the pain, which was that a nurse at the clinic was stealing fentanyl and replacing it with saline. What happened at that clinic? What are the stories we tell about women's pain and what happens when we minimize or dismiss it?
The Retrievals, a new five-part series from Serial Productions, is hosted and reported by longtime This American Life producer and editor Susan Burton. We're excited to bring you the first episode today.
- Prologue: Ira Glass introduces the first episode of a brand new podcast from longtime This American Life producer and editor Susan Burton. (1 minute)
- Act One: Susan Burton introduces some of the many women who went to a Yale fertility clinic for IVF treatment, and charts their experience from hopeful beginning to excruciatingly painful egg retrieval. (27 minutes)
- Act Two: Often bypassing logic, the women go to great lengths to construct elaborate stories to make sense of their inexplicable pain. And then, a letter arrives. (25 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
The largest irrigated crop in the united states isn't corn or soy or potatoes. It's lawns. All those little private patches of greenery amount to about 40 million acres, and our lawncare can have massive environmental impacts, from local drainage to the global ecosystem of migrating pollinators like bees and butterflies. Coming up, Michele Bakacs and Amy Rowe, Rutgers associate professors and extension agents, explain sustainable lawncare tips, tricks and techniques.
[REBROADCAST FROM July 5, 2022] If you were educated in a U.S elementary school, you may have heard the story of how "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written. At a battle in Baltimore during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key watched the British bomb American forts, and decided to write patriotic lyrics that eventually became the country's national anthem. But the story of the lyrics, how Key's words became the anthem, and how its role in our culture has changed throughout the last two hundred years, is much more complex. Today, you can hear the national anthem in many aspects of life, be it a high school football game, a concert, or a graduation. Ahead of July 4 celebrations, Mark Clague, professor of musicology at the University of Michigan, joins to discuss his new book, O Say Can You Hear?: A Cultural Biography of "The Star-Spangled Banner.
A recent episode of WNYC's Radiolab, called Family People, follows the story of editor Alex Neason and her efforts to find the truth behind how she got her last name. Because Alex's father served in the military, her family was constantly traveling. As a result, her name became the most important part of her identity. However, in 2021, after her grandfather passed away, she noticed that her great-grandfather had a different last name, and wanted to get to the bottom of her family history. Neason joins us alongside genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith, who helped Alex during the reporting process, to talk about how they got to the bottom of the Neason name, and take your calls.
Summer is BBQ season. North Carolina-based father and son duoEd and Ryan Mitchell, who are legendary pitmasters, released their latest cookbook "Ed Mitchell's Barbeque" which includes best techniques for roasting meat and recipes for sides and appetizers. Ryan joins us to discuss.
The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he has to team up with an art critic to investigate. Part 2 of 3.
Written by Davy Gardner.
Performed by Federico Rodriguez, Liz Leimkuhler, Ann Carr, Amy Warren, Margaret Burrus, Dmitry Shein, Marisa Brau, Brian Morabito, Davy Gardner, Woody Fu, Zuri Washington, Mary McDonnell, and Louis Kornfeld.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
Oscar yi Hou's exhibition at Brooklyn Museum questions what it means to be “Asian American” and who is considered “American.” Oscar yi Hou: East of sun, west of moon features eleven of his recent figurative paintings, casting his friends and himself as East Asian figures to Son Goku of the popular media franchise Dragon Ball. Hou and curator Eugenie Tsai join us to discuss the show which is on display until Sept. 17.
Until December, Madison Square Park will be host to the crochet sculptures of Brooklyn based artist Sheila Pepe, the artist's first outdoor exhibition. Pepe first learned to crochet in the 1960's from her mother, and has used the technique to form her sculptural practice. There will be 15,000 yards of crocheted material in the park, and the sculptures will wind through vines, passageways, and light poles. Sheila Pepe: My Neighbor’s Garden is on view at Madison Square Park through December 10, and Pepe alongside curator Brooke Kamin Rapaport are with us to preview the work and take your calls.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the siege at Waco, Texas, which led to the death of 76 people who were part of a group known as the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh. Author Stephen Talty joins us to discuss this anniversary and his new book, Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco.
Everyone's favorite fedora-wearing songsmith Jason Mraz is back with his eighth album. On Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, Mraz incorporates disco-inspired beats for an especially dance-friendly album. Mraz joins us live in the studio to discuss the album and perform some stripped-back tunes.
In this hour, kismet encounters, nosy-but-nice neighbors, and unexpectedly helpful contacts—at home and abroad. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Nathan Englander's lifetime of stress catches up to him.
Elana Duffy attempts to reclaim her teddy bear from a strict customs office.
While renovating his house, Alistair Bane unearths a child's toy and his own memories.
Humans encounter non-human intelligences of various kinds and try to make sense of them.
- Prologue: Ira has some thoughts about our country’s long history of alien invasion movies. (2 minutes)
- Act One: In this past year we’ve witnessed a revolution in A.I. since the public rollout of ChatGPT. Our Senior Editor David Kestenbaum thinks that even though there’s been a ton of coverage, there’s one thing people haven’t talked much about: have these machines gotten to the point that they’re starting to have something like human intelligence? Where they actually understand language and concepts, and can reason? He talks with scientists at Microsoft who’ve been trying to figure that out. (30 minutes)
- Act Two: A short piece of fiction from the perspective of aliens who’ve been scouting Earth, from writer Terry Bisson. It’s called “They're Made Out of Meat.” It’s performed by actors Maeve Higgins and H Jon Benjamin. (5 minutes)
- Act Three: A species of massive, mysterious, highly intelligent beings have recently been making contact with humanity. Or our boats, anyway. Many people seem convinced they are seeking revenge for past injustices. Producer Chris Benderev wondered if that was true. (7 minutes)
- Act Four: Many of us, especially when we’re young, feel like we’re the alien, trying to understand and fit in with the humans on this planet. Producer Diane Wu spent some time recently with a teenage humanoid who feels that way.
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
If you're a kid and a terrible thing happens, what do you do to feel safe? If you're an adult, how do you offer guidance to the kids when you can't even make sense of what's happened—and when it's your job to act as a shield to the children? Those are some of the questions that animate Buffalo Extreme, a new series from NPR's Embedded. Buffalo Extreme follows a group of Black cheerleaders, their coaches and their mothers in the year after a racist mass shooting at a supermarket just three blocks away from their gym. Several former Invisibilia staff worked on this documentary series, and we're bringing you the first of three episodes. You can listen to the rest of the series in NPR's Embedded podcast.
We find our pride through stories. This episode is hosted by Travis Coxson.
If you’d like to see a photo of Tomas Davila looking fabulous as he told his story at the Moth Ball, check out themoth.org/extras
Storytellers:
Tomas Davila and his father finally connect.
Ingrid Ebbesen goes dancing and finds herself.
English singer-songwriter Billie Marten is only 24 and already touring her fourth album, Drop Cherries. Last night she played Rough Trade and tonight she's at Bowery Ballroom. But first, she joins us live in our studio to perform and discuss her latest work. Aisha Harris, co-host of the NPR podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, is a 90s girl. Her new book, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me, is a collection of nine essays about the pop culture she grew up with, how it shaped her, and how some cultural tropes were maybe more problematic than they seemed at the time. Harris joins us to reflect on how pop culture can influence how we see the world. Aisha Harris will also be in conversation with Jourdain Searles tonight for a book event at The Strand at 7:00.
Our June Full Bio selection is King: A Life, the first comprehensive account of Martin Luther King Jr. in three decades, written by Jonathan Eig. In this installment, we discuss MLK's advisors, such as Bayard Rustin, Ralph Abernathy, and Stanley Levison. We also discuss some of MLK's lesser known protests.
Yesterday marked the first official day of summer, which means it's time for summer reading! All Of It and Get Lit producer Jordan Lauf joins us to recommend some of the best new and upcoming summer reads, plus we take listener calls and suggestions!
In this special episode of The Moth, we listen to five stories about fathers — from embarrassing jokes to tender moments shared on the road. The Moth’s Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness, also interviews the fathers in her own family. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media
Storytellers:
Adrianne McGillis’ father's favorite joke lands him in the hospital.
CJ Hunt reflects on mix-tapes and memories from his past.
Blessing Digha fears she has fallen short of her father’s expectations.
Lauren Thurman navigates life with her many iterations of dads.
Harwood Taylor reaches for a father who is out of touch.
Ira's own father, Barry Glass, co-hosts this special Father's Day show.
- Prologue: Ira talks with his father and co-host for this show, Barry Glass, about his own early days working in radio. (3 minutes)
- Act One: LA writer/performer Sandra Tsing Loh discovers that a local rock band has recorded a song about her own father, wildly misinterpreting who he is. They think he’s a free spirit; she believes he’s a worried, miserly grump. She invites the band and her father into the studio to discuss it. (10 minutes)
- Act Two: Ian Brown explains the lengths a normal dad will go to give his daughter a memorable birthday party, including a birthday stunt so crass that he and his wife shocked all of their friends. (12 minutes)
- Act Three: Audio artist Jay Allison and writer Dan Robb present an audio montage on the moment Robb’s parents divorced. (11 minutes)
- Act Four: Chicago playwright Beau O’Reilly talks about how he reconciled with his estranged father years ago by becoming an alcoholic just like him. (14 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories by the incomparable Margaret Atwood, drawn from our archives and a live performance evening hosted by the author. “There Was Once” is a brief satire about the art of writing and the importance of free speech. It’s performed by René Auberjonois, Zach Grenier, and Jane Kaczmarek. “Widows,” performed by Ellen Burstyn, is a delicate and ironic tale in which a recently widowed woman becomes accustomed to her new role. And Atwood is in full dystopian throttle in “Freeforall” where reproductive rights have become a matter of life and death. The reader is Becky Ann Baker. Both “Widows” and “Freeforall” have been published in Atwood’s new collection Old Babes in the Wood: Stories. Portions of Atwood’s onstage talk with fellow writer A.M. Homes are also featured.
In this bonus conversation, writers Margaret Atwood and A.M. Homes discuss everything from feminism, time, writing and dystopian fiction, to Atwood’s new short story collection “Old Babes in the Wood.” The interview was recorded in front of a live audience at Symphony Space.
The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he has to team up with an art critic to investigate.
Written by Davy Gardner.
Performed by Federico Rodriguez, Liz Leimkuhler, Ann Carr, Amy Warren, Margaret Burrus, Dmitry Shein, Marisa Brau, Brian Morabito, Davy Gardner, Hunter Nelson, and Woody Fu.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this hour, stories of lessons for real life. Navigating young love, learning to live in the moment, and how to drive stick shift. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, producer of The Moth Radio Hour.
Storytellers:
Sam Bolen works on Broadway during the "season of the understudy."
Meg Ferrill uses her skills as a project manager in the lead up to the birth of her son.
Grace Topinka tries to learn stick shift.
Michael Maina has no idea how to handle his first crush.
Anh Vu Sawyer challenges the youth she works with to apply to college—but they in turn challenge her right back.
The one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to.
- Prologue: At this spring’s announcement of New York City’s inaugural rat czar, we meet Darneice Foster, who despises the rats outside her apartment. And host Ira Glass introduces two special co-hosts for today’s show. (11 minutes)
- Act One: Producer Elna Baker meets Todd Sklar, a man who can’t quit rats. (22 minutes)
- Act Two: Fifty years ago, New York City started to put garbage out in plastic bags. This has become the number one food source for rats. Producer Ike Sriskandarajah investigates the decision that led to the city’s rat baby boom. (10 minutes)
- Act Three: How did Alberta Canada pull off a feat that has eluded the rest of human civilization? Ira visits the largest rat-less land in the world. (15 minutes)
- Act Four: We drop a hot mic into a hot mess of a rats’ nest. You’ll never believe what happens next. (3 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
In this episode, we’ll be playing an episode all about secrets from the Moth’s very first spinoff podcast, Grown!
Subscribe to Grown wherever you get your podcasts, or check out its website for more information: www.grownpod.com
This episode is hosted by Marc Sollinger.
Host Meg Wolitzer partnered with WNYC’s Alison Stewart on this program featuring tales of love and haunting by new and established writers who have been featured on her show All of It. In Hilary Leichter’s “Doggy-Dog World,” family life takes an unexpected turn. It’s read by Sarah Mezzanotte. Is “Horror Story” a series of hauntings, or is it the form that love takes when it’s not working? Carmen Maria Machado’s story is read by Molly Bernard. And the masterful Louise Erdrich gives us an old story—falling in love with your teacher—in a new guise; she happens to be a nun. Cynthia Nixon is the reader of “Sister Godzilla.”
In this bonus conversation, host and best-selling author, Meg Wolitzer, talks to host of WNYC’s All of It, Alison Stewart. Wolitzer reveals some of the secrets to great writing and the two share their own reading habits and thoughts about the importance of fiction.
Acclaimed writer Brandon Taylor is back with a new novel. In The Late Americans, a group of artists and friends in Iowa City head to a cabin to celebrate their last days all living in the same city... where a revelation might change their relationships forever. Taylor joins us to discuss the novel.
Peak growing season is upon us, both for outdoor plants and our indoor ones. Christopher Satch, aka The Plant Doctor, takes your calls and questions on how to keep your green companions happy and healthy.
What should we do with great art made by bad people? That's the central question of the latest book from author and critic Claire Dederer. She joins us to discuss, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, and take calls from listeners about the moral distinctions they've made when it comes to their consumption of art.
In "King James," Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti star as two men who become best friends through their shared fanaticism for the Cavaliers, specifically LeBron James. The play by Rajiv Joseph traces the ups and downs of their relationship from James' first NBA season in 2003-2004, through the 2016 finals. Davis, Perfetti, and Joseph join us. "King James" is running at Manhattan Theatre Club through June 18.
In this hour, stories of finding inner strength in the face of unimaginable odds. The courage to make life or death choices, stick to one's guns, and not only survive, but thrive. This hour is hosted by Moth Radio Hour Producer, Jay Allison. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Storytellers:
Les Strayhorn heeds his father's advice.
District Fire Chief Michael McNamee confronts his worst fear.
Robin Utz comes to face the hardships of pregnancy and love.
Micah Loewinger, a reporter for On the Media, began monitoring militia conversations in early 2020. The potential for violence was immediately clear. And so when they staged an insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Micah was listening and recording. But when his reporting became part of the FBI’s case against the Oath Keepers, it raised difficult questions about his role as a journalist.
Tell us what you think. Instagram and Twitter: @noteswithkai. Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or going to Instagram and clicking on the link in our bio.
“Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. Tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC’s YouTube channel.
In these dark, combative times, we attempt the most radical counterprogramming we could imagine: a show made up entirely of stories about delight.
Prologue: Ira Glass talks to Bim Adewunmi about her understanding of delight through American pop culture and the summer she spent in the US as a 19-year-old. Ira then hands the show over to Bim as guest host. (10 minutes)Act One: Bim talks to poet Ross Gay, whose book inspired today’s show, about the discipline and rigor of seeking and holding onto delight. (8 minutes)Act Two: Producer Robyn Semien captures a special morning for her five-year-old son, Cole, who is doing something delightful for the very first time: he’s getting to ride the school bus. (4 minutes)Act Three: Producer Miki Meek speaks to Noriko Meek, her 72-year-old mother, about discovering delight late in life. (8 minutes)Act Four: Producer Dana Chivvis follows the night zookeeper at the Denver Zoo as she doles out snacks and tucks the animals in. (9 minutes)Act Five: What happens when a dealer of delight gets depressed? Podcast host Tracy Clayton talks to Bim Adewunmi about the road back. (17 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
A new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum organized in part by Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, looks at Pablo Picasso's complicated legacy--exploring his creative brilliance as well as his misogynist tendencies. We'll speak to curators Lisa Small and Catherine Morris about It's Pablo-matic.
Women so often don't get enough spotlight when it comes to art history. Art historian, author & podcast host Katy Hessel seeks to change that. Hessel is the host of The Great Women Artists Podcast and author of the new book, The Story of Art Without Men. She joins us all week to take us on a journey through art history to learn about the trailblazing female artists who don't get enough attention. Today, in our final conversation, we discuss how female artists organized and came together to fight the patriarchy.
Actor Nick Mohammed is most familiar to American audiences for playing the kit man-turned villain Nate in the hit Apple TV + series "Ted Lasso." Now, he is bringing his beloved comedy alter ego Mr. Swallow to U.S. audiences with the American premiere of his show "Nick Mohammed is Mr. Swallow," which is playing at the Town Hall tonight at 7:30. Mohammed joins us to discuss the show and the latest season of "Ted Lasso."
The work and life of artist Darrel Ellis was unfinished. Ellis died of AIDS related complications in 1992 at the age of 33. He grew up in the South Bronx, and spent his childhood without knowing his father. Ellis later became a key figure in the 80s downtown art scene, and was heavily inspired by his discovery of a series of his father's photographs. However, for many years after his death, his work went unstudied. A new exhibition at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, in partnership with The Baltimore Museum of Art, is one of the first major examinations of Ellis' life and work. Curators Leslie Cozzi and Sergio Bessa join us to commemorate Darrel Ellis. Darrel Ellis: Regeneration is on view until September 10.
Women so often don't get enough spotlight when it comes to art history. Art historian, author & podcast host Katy Hessel seeks to change that. Hessel is the host of The Great Women Artists Podcast and author of the new book, The Story of Art Without Men. She joins us all week to take us on a journey through art history to learn about the trailblazing female artists who don't get enough attention. Today, in our final conversation, we discuss how female artists organized and came together to fight the patriarchy.
A new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum organized in part by Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, looks at Pablo Picasso's complicated legacy--exploring his creative brilliance as well as his misogynist tendencies. We'll speak to curators Lisa Small and Catherine Morris about It's Pablo-matic.
It’s June, time to celebrate Pride privately and publicly. Host Meg Wolitzer presents four works that delve into the complexities of love, family and belonging. Ivan E. Coyote’s “No Bikini,” read by Becca Blackwell, offers one child’s act of quiet rebellion. Lovers drift together, and apart, in Michael Cunningham’s “Sleepless,” read by Mike Doyle. A newish couple faces harsh weather in Deesha Philyaw’s “Snowfall,” read by Michelle Beck, and poet Kay Ulanday Barrett shares their “Song for the Kicked Out.”
When Jen gets an instruction manual specifically written for her boyfriend, she uses it to help both him … and herself.
Written by Mary McDonnell.
Performed by James Dwyer, Erin Bartley, John Trowbridge, Makena Miller, Cherie McMaster, and Sadie Mitchell.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
Today kicks off the annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival! We get a festival preview from festival director John Biaggi, and then we deep dive into the film kicking off the Festival with director Steffi Niederzoll. She'll discuss her documentary "Seven Winters in Tehran," about capital punishment against women in Iran. The festival runs through June 11th.
In 1998, the electronic music duo Boards Of Canada released their breakout album, Music Has the Right to Children. Twenty-five years later, as part of our Silver Liner Notes series, music writer Mark Richardson discusses the role of memory and public broadcasting in the group's sample-heavy, synth driven tracks and interludes, how 'misusing' analog technologies like tape machines led them to innovative techniques, and how the record helped launch a sub genre known as "hauntology."
Women so often don't get enough spotlight when it comes to art history. Art historian, author and podcast host Katy Hessel seeks to change that. Hessel is the host of The Great Women Artists Podcast and author of the new book The Story of Art Without Men. She joins us all week to take us on a journey through art history to learn about the trailblazing female artists who don't get enough attention. Today, we focus on the Impressionists and the Harlem Renaissance.
For the past month, The Public Theater's Mobile Unit has been performing a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" in community spaces around New York City, from parks, to correctional facilities, to community centers. The show, a bilingual and musical adaptation set in the streets New York, is now running at The Public, and all tickets are free. Director Rebecca Martínez and composer Julián Mesri join to discuss their modern retelling and the importance of accessible theater. "The Comedy of Errors" is showing through June 11.
Today kicks off the annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival! We get a festival preview from festival director John Biaggi, and then we deep dive into the film kicking off the Festival with director Steffi Niederzoll. She'll discuss her documentary "Seven Winters in Tehran," about capital punishment against women in Iran. The festival runs through June 11th.
Hold your horses! In this hour, stories of slowing down, holding off, or taking a pause. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media
Storytellers:
Theresa Thames officiates a wedding in Hawaii.
Ryan Roe contends with having Tourette Syndrome in school.
Linda Grosser loses faith in online dating as she approaches a milestone birthday.
AJ Jacobs, an inexperienced jigsaw puzzler, finds himself at the world championships.
Five years after the #MeToo explosion, what’s happened in the lives of the women who stepped forward and went public with their stories? We tell the story of a teenager who spoke out against one of the most powerful people in her state, and what happened next.
Prologue: Some powerful and well known men lost their jobs after #MeToo. But what about the women at the center of all this who’ve been way less visible after they told what happened to them? We hear about big and small ways the aftermath of coming forward continues to pop up in their daily lives. (10 minutes)Act One: Back in 2021, a 19-year-old intern at the Idaho state legislature reported that a state Representative named Aaron von Ehlinger raped her. She went by the name Jane Doe. There was a public ethics hearing and Ehlinger resigned. State legislators talked about how proud they were of their ability to do the right thing so quickly. But the story that the public knows is very different from what actually happened to Jane. She talks about it in-depth for the first time. (25 minutes)Act Two: Jane Doe walks into a public ethics hearing at the Idaho state capitol and navigates the aftermath. (23 minutes)Act Three: Jane Doe sent some questions for us to ask Chanel Miller. For years, Chanel was known as Emily Doe. She wrote a victim impact statement that millions of people read. (A swimmer at Stanford University named Brock Turner sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious.) She talks about how she decided to come out with her real name and who Emily Doe is to her now. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
A new musical adapts JP Miller's 1962 film, "Days of Wine and Roses," for the off-Broadway stage. Set in 1950s New York, the musical tells the story of Joe Clay (Brian d’Arcy James) and Kristen Arnesen (Kelli O'Hara), a couple who fall in love, but also both struggle with alcoholism. d’Arcy James, O'Hara, and director Michael Greif ("Dear Evan Hansen") join to discuss their adaptation. "Days of Wine and Roses" is running at Linda Gross Theater through July 9.
A new Museum of the City of New York exhibition features depictions of New York in film and television, visual and performing arts, music, poetry and literature, and even fashion to celebrate the museum's centennial. Sarah Henry, the museum's chief curator and interim director, joins us to talk about the show, which opens today.
We air highlights from our June Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Victor LaValle. We spent the month reading his novel,Lone Women.It tells the story of a Black female homesteader in 1915 Montana who arrives in the state with a massive steamer trunk, holding a terrible secret. LaValle joined us in-person for our Get Lit event and answered audience questions.
We air highlights from our June Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Victor LaValle. Our musical guest was Grenadian-Canadian banjo player Kaia Kater, who will release a new album later this year. Kater joined us at the event to perform live.
On this episode, stories all about birthdays - and the importance we place on them. This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Storytellers:
Sheila Cavanaugh accidentally steals someone else’s birthday.
Sandra Kwawu finds comfort in a celebration with her friends and family.
On this SELECTED SHORTS, we celebrate Memorial Day. Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that feature men in uniform, codes of honor, and how conflicts can sometime lead to connection. Maile Meloy’s “Red,” performed by Keith Szarabajka, takes place in London during the Blitz, where a man and woman find a rare moment of peace. In Kurt Vonnegut’s “The Cruise of the Jolly Roger,” a retired army man searches for the next chapter in his life. The reader is Teagle F. Bougere. We also hear Vonnegut’s “Letter Home,” written to his family after being a prisoner-of-war. It’s read by Jordan Klepper.
We continue our Producer Appreciation Weeks with Host Melissa Harris-Perry, who peels back the curtain and speaks with the talented folks that make The Takeaway every day.
Producer Ryan Wilde got his first taste of radio in an unlikely place: 104.5 Ice Radio in Antarctica. After beginning his public radio career as an intern, and then producer for The Brian Lehrer Show, he also had a stop in Illinois to produce The 21st, a daily, statewide show produced by Illinois Public Media. After returning to New York City, he joined The Takeaway team in 2022.
Ryan revisits some of his favorite segments, and shares highlights from two series he's spearheaded, from his past year producing for The Takeaway:
"Downballot" Series"23 Mayors in 2023" SeriesMason, Tennessee is Fighting for its FutureA Fight For Survival: The "Salmon People" of the Columbia RiverRyans Only at the Ryan Meetup (and Definitely No Bryans)
Find Ryan on Twitter at @RyanAndrewWilde
In this hour, an ancient instrument, a life-changing disaster, and survival in the face of genocide. People who experienced history, and its artifacts, firsthand. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Musician Frank Almond makes a historic discovery.
Sivad Johnson takes us behind the scenes of the Detroit Fire Department.
Henny Lewin, a young Jewish girl, is smuggled out of a Lithuanian ghetto during WWII.
We answer the following questions about superpowers: Can superheroes be real people? (No.) Can real people become superheroes? (Maybe.) And which is better: flight or invisibility? (Depends who you ask.)
Host Ira Glass talks to comic artist Chris Ware, who thought about superheroes a lot of the time as a kid. He invented his own character and made a superhero costume, which he wore to school under his regular clothes. Which went fine until he realized he would have to change for gym class. (6 minutes)Act One: John Hodgman conducts an informal survey in which he asks the age-old question: Which is better: The power of flight or the power of invisibility? (14 minutes)Act Two: Kelly McEvers with the story of Zora, a self-made superhero. From the time she was five years old, Zora had recurring dreams in which she was a 6'5" warrior queen, who could fly and shoot lightning from her hands. She made a list, pages and pages long, of all the things she could accomplish to actually become that superhero: martial arts, evasive driving, bomb defusing. By the time she was 30, most of her list had been checked off. She was as close to a superhero as any mortal could hope to come. But her dream had changed. (17 minutes)Act Three: Ira talks with Jonathan Morris, the amazingly funny and charming editor of the website "Gone and Forgotten," an internet archive of failed comic book characters. Jonathan explains what makes a new superhero succeed, and what makes him tank. (9 minutes)Act Four: Of course you can’t be a superhero without a supervillain trying to destroy you. And the most interesting supervillains, of course, are the ones who think that they're the real heroes, not the guys in the capes. Glynn Washington tells the story of Evil D. (9 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
Host Meg Wolitzer presents four stories in which characters give, and get, a little assistance, from friends, strangers and family. A daughter copes with a cantankerous parent in “How to Take Dad to the Doctor,” by Jenny Allen, performed by Jennifer Mudge. A woman moves to a new town and makes a strange new friend in Laura van den Berg’s “Friends,” performed by Roberta Colindrez. A Tyrolean café improbably situated in South America is home to mysterious strangers and new and old romances, in Isabel Allende’s “The Little Heidelberg.” It’s performed by Kathleen Turner. And a budding singer and socialist gets unwelcome help from Mom in Grace Paley’s “Injustice,” performed by Jackie Hoffman.
On Friday, June 2, we will broadcast our final episode.
As we head into these final days, we are taking the time to pause and show a little gratitude for the extraordinary team of producers who make The Takeaway every day.
Today, we are hailing our Senior Producer: Shanta Covington. Shanta and Takeaway host Melissa Harris-Perry have been working on media projects together for over a decade now.
They first met when Melissa worked as a tv host on MSNBC's MHP Show (2012-2016). Shanta was a guest booking producer for the network with a profound impact. On the MHP show, she helped shape critically momentous coverage of things like the 2012 murder of Trayvon Martin and unrest in Ferguson following the police killing of Michael Brown.
WATCH: A Decade of Racial Violence | Melissa Harris-Perry
On The Takeaway, she co-produced award-winning segments, like our interview with feminist hip hop journalist and filmmaker of "Surviving R. Kelly," dreamhampton.
"She is a passionate content creator and storyteller with more than 20 years in television/digital/film production as well as photography. She loves great movies, great stories and of course great content. In addition to her work for the Takeaway at WNYC, she owns and operates her own photography and video company."
In less than a year of producing radio for the very first time, she went from a temporary producer to the show’s sole senior producer and has led the show's team of associate producers and temporary producers tirelessly.
That's why Team Takeaway is sending her all the love and gratitude in this Producer Appreciation segment.
A mechanic with a gambling problem has a chance to get out of debt by restoring his bookie’s vintage car. But first he has to deal with Ro.
Written by Louis Kornfeld
Performed by Jamie Rivera, Phoebe Tyers, Michael Cullen, Louis Kornfeld, and Hunter Nelson.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
Oh, mother! In this episode, stories celebrating birth givers, mother figures, and the many ways in which one can show up as a mom. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer and Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media
Storytellers:
Marya Morris is in over her head as a new stay-at-home stepmom.
Pamela Covington cooks a difficult holiday meal for her family.
Annie Share and her mom become business women on the cat show circuit.
Amanda Johnston is inspired by a vulnerable conversation with her daughter.
Looping thoughts about people you barely know, or don't know at all.
Prologue: We get a tip that an entire town is consumed by a huge, elementary-school-style crush on a local veterinarian. Guest host Lilly Sullivan goes to Utah to investigate the mystery of the hot vet. (8 minutes)Act One: We do the thing the people in town would rather die than do – spill the crush to the legendary Dr. Artz himself. Lilly Sullivan reports. (8 minutes)Act Two: Producer Alix Spiegel talks to one of her closest friends, Sarah Blust, about the time Sarah met a stranger who, unbeknownst to her, had already spent years thinking about her. (29 minutes)Act Three: There are certain jobs where thinking about someone else’s life is just built into it. Aviva DeKornfeld has a theory that petsitting is a job like that. She talks to a couple of pet sitters to find out. (14 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
We’ve got two SLIGTHLY spicy stories. Don’t worry nothing untowards happens, but if you’re listening with kids, you might want to wait on this one. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
Storytellers:
Whitney Connolly shares a photo without realizing what else is in the background.
A trip to Brazil provides a great teaching moment for both Caroline Woodward and her 3 year daughter.
American guest editor Andrew Sean Greer, “The Little Widow from the Capital,” by Yohanca Delgado, performed by Krystina Alabado. And our second story was selected by John Updike for the volume Best American Stories of the Century. It’s Grace Stone Coates’ “Wild Plums,” read by Mia Dillon. This episode features on-stage commentary by Greer. It's dedicated to mix engineer Dennis Jacobsen.
In this hour, stories dealing with all things family: from sibling hi-jinx, to the difficulties of having children (and parents). Hosted by Moth Radio Hour Producer Jay Allison. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Kay Elmsley Weeden and her siblings have adventures on the Wisconsin River.
Marjace Miles searches for meaning amidst an unexpected pregnancy.
Bob Baril gets a once in a lifetime experience with his son.
Jahvannia Darling keeps a secret from her mother.
Qing Zhao must choose between love and her career.
Carmen Putnam experiences the hope of a new pregnancy while mourning her stillborn child.
David Hammons' art makes bold, provocative statements that feel current today. A new film, "The Melt Goes On Forever: The Art and Times of David Hammons" looks at his life and career. We speak to co-directors Judd Tully and Harold Crooks about it.
A week after Jerry Springer’s death, we go back to a story we first broadcast years ago, about a side of Springer most people don’t know and can’t imagine: his years as an idealistic politician in the mold of Bobby Kennedy. Plus other stories of people who try to leave some moment in their life behind, which can be hard.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about selves obscured and revealed, by characters whose own identities are mysteries to them.In Aimee Bender’s “Un-Selfie, a woman reveals her extraordinary past to a stranger. The story was a commission for our 2022 Small Odysseys anthology, and is read by Alysia Reiner. In our second story, “Best Western” by Louise Erdrich, a young wife struggles to maintain a romantic fiction, until the real world crashes in on her. It’s read by Patricia Kalember.
Welcome to the 18th Annual Heat Meet, where hot sauce enthusiasts from all over the world gather to talk shop, sample new sauces, and—maybe, just maybe—see the face of God.
Written by Hunter Nelson
Performed by James Coker, Brandon Zelman, James Urbaniak, Dan Chamberlain, Marina Gasparyan, Geoff Ross, Abby Royle, Tallie Medel, Lida Darmian, Sharon Spell, Bill Rohlfing, Hunter Nelson, Mary McDonnell, Davy Gardner, and Louis Kornfeld.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this hour, stories of strength of will, crystallizing under pressure, and the power of intentionally directed anger. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
As he raises his strong-willed daughter, R.A. Villanueva remembers the other powerful women in his life.
Mary Ann Ludwig reaches her potential during a funerary mishap.
Self-described unathletic man, Steve Clark, signs up for the Philadelphia marathon.
Amber Phillips learns the art of tension.
A story with double timelines that depart and converge about marriage, love and the path not taken. Read by Holly Hunter (The Paino, Succession and Mr. Mayor). The story was written by Erin Somers. She has a novel, Stay Up with Hugo Best, and has been published in The Paris Review, The New Yorker and elsewhere. This particular story, "Ten Year Affair," was chosen for the Best American Short Stories collection of 2022. Too Hot is hosted by Aparna Nancerla. This episode includes a conversation between Aparna Nancherla and Erin Somers.
In 1912 a four-year-old boy named Bobby Dunbar went missing in a swamp in Louisiana. Eight months later, he was found in the hands of a wandering handyman in Mississippi. In 2004, Bobby Dunbar's granddaughter discovered a secret beneath the legend of her grandfather's kidnapping, a secret whose revelation would divide her own family, bring redemption to another, and become the answer to a third family's century-old prayer.
Rickie Lee Jones dives into the American Songbook on her new album, Pieces of Treasure, out today. The album, a collection of jazz vocal standards, is Jones' first since publishing her memoir, Last Chance Texaco, and saw Jones reuniting with Russ Titelman, who produced her first two albums. Jones joins us for a release day Listening Party.
The Heavy Heavy are a UK band based in Brighton, led by Will Turner and Georgie Fuller. Last year they released their first EP, Life and Life Only, and before they release their debut album next year, the band is hitting the road for an extensive tour around the U.S. Turner, Fuller, and the rest of The Heavy Heavy join us in studio for a live performance as well as a discussion about their sound and to preview the new album.
A new album celebrates the life and work of celebrated guitarist and singer Doc Watson. I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 features Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Valerie June and more musicians taking on songs by and associated with Watson. Producer Matthew Stevens and guitarists Chris Eldridge and Corey Harris join us for a Listening Party.
A new documentary explores the power of sound in various aspects of our lives, and provides a unique theater viewing experience complete with personal sets of headphones. Director Sam Green and sound mixer Mark Mangini join us to discuss their film, "32 Sounds," which opens in New York theaters today.
In honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet day on April 30th, we’re sharing two Moth stories all about the special role pets play in our lives. This episode is hosted by the Moth’s Social Media Coordinator, Estee Daveed.
Storytellers:
Scott Sanders deals with jealousy as his dog becomes a more successful actor than he is.
Noriko Rosted must find a pet sitter for her beloved cat before her trip to Italy.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories chosen by On the Media’s Brooke Gladstone. Gladstone was our guest for a live Selected Shorts event in which all the stories explore the theme of tales we tell ourselves—and others. The title says it all in Mary Gordon’s “My Podiatrist Tells Me a Story about a Boy and a Dog” read by Bebe Neuwirth and Richard Masur. Two imaginative cooks reinvent themselves in a new country in Meron Hadero’s “A Down Home Meal for These Difficult Times” read by Chinasa Ogbuagu. And a child imagines an absent parent through her postcards in “Love, Your Only Mother” by David Michael Kaplan, read by Bebe Neuwirth. In addition to Gladstone’s on-stage remarks, this episode features backstage interviews with actors Masur, Neuwirth and Ogbuagu.
A small fraction of New Yorkers who are 16 and 17 years old have completed the process to preregister and automatically be added to voting rolls when they turn 18, according to a new report. WNYC's Brigid Bergin has the story.
Author and comedian Lane Moore wrote the book she needed: a roadmap to making and keeping friends, deepen bonds with them, and find her chosen family. It's called, You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Relationships as an Adult, and Moore joins us to discuss the book. Tonight, she will be in conversation with Amber Tamblyn at The Strand at 7pm.
Author and comedian Lane Moore wrote the book she needed: a roadmap to making and keeping friends, deepen bonds with them, and find her chosen family. It's called,You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Relationships as an Adult, and Moore joins us to discuss the book.
It took years for Emilio Estevez to regain the rights to "The Way," a 2010 film he directed. The project is especially personal because it stars his father, Martin Sheen. Now, "The Way" is being re-released, and Estevez is considering a sequel. Emilio Estevez joins us to discuss.
In honor of National Poetry Month, our Full Bio selection is the new biography of famous Revolutionary Era poet Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved woman who nevertheless became one of the most celebrated poets of her day. Author David Waldstreicher joins us to discuss his new book, The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet's Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence.
Ivorian singer/songwriter Peter One released his first album, Our Garden Needs Its Flowers, with Jess Sah Bi in 1985. A 2018 reissue in the U.S turned it into something of a country-folk classic, and now the Nashville-based artist is out with his major label solo debut, Come Back To Me. One joins us to discuss the album and perform in the studio
In this hour, stories about seeing and witnessing. This episode is hosted by Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Alice Schaffer, a preacher's daughter, grows up in fear of the lessons learned in Sunday school.
Dawn Ross tries to adjust to life in rural Arkansas.
D. Parvaz, a journalist covering the uprising in Syria, is arrested and imprisoned.
Leland Melvin suffers a devastating injury that cuts short his dream of flying in space.
The first Record Store Day was held in 2008 to celebrate independent brick-and-mortar music shops. Now in its 16th year, the organization has put together a new list of exclusive releases from Taylor Swift, Wilco, Miles Davis, Brian Eno, Bjork, and many more artists. Cofounders Michael Kurtz and Carrie Colliton join us to talk about this year's Record Store Day, on April 22, and take calls from listeners to shout out their favorite local shops.
Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about secret spaces, and what they represent. In N.K. Jemisin’s speculative fantasy “Elevator Dancer” a security guard in a totalitarian regime is beguiled by an act of freedom. The reader is Laura Gomez. And Hugh Dancy reads Greg Jackson’s “The Hollow,” about a secret room, a purposeless life, and a guy who can’t stop talking about Vincent Van Gogh.
After 35 years, the curtain closed on "Phantom of the Opera," Broadway's longest running show. New York Times theater writer Michael Paulson joins to talk about its legacy and impact on New York's creative community and we take listener calls.
Adi Oasis' new album, Lotus Glow, is her most political and personal body of work to date. The French-Caribbean, Brooklyn based artist joins us for a listening party ahead of her show at Brooklyn Made tomorrow night.
These days, being a bridesmaid or a groomsman can be more costly and time-consuming than ever, with elaborate parties and showers, expensive attire, and costly gifts. With wedding season coming up, the honor of being included in a bridal party can start to feel like a burden. But it doesn't have to be that way! Gabriella Rello Duffy, editorial director of Brides, joins us discuss how to be a good bridesmaid/groomsman without breaking the bank, and what couples can do to be considerate of their friends' time and money. Plus, we take your calls.
Jaune Quick-To-See Smith is an artist and citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, who for over five decades has made work that explores indigenous ideology within American culture through abstraction and Pop art. A new major retrospective at the Whitney, her first in New York, opens today, and curator Laura Phipps is with us to talk about the importance of Smith and her art. Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map is on view until August 13.
In this hour, stories of finding one's way—through heartbreak, adolescence, times of crisis, and public nudity. This episode is hosted by Moth storyteller Samuel James. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Samuel James
Storytellers:
Kristin Lee tries to make friends at genetics camp.
8-year-old Maura Schneider and her friend hatch a revenge plan after experiencing their first rejection.
Kaya Jarvis gets the help she needs from an unexpected source.
Samuel Blackman contends with the realities of working in pediatric oncology.
Annie Linn navigates having her mother as her high school English teacher.
Evie O'Reilly goes on her first naked bike ride.
We hear stories about poetry and how it can bring people together. This episode is hosted by Keighly Baron.
Storytellers:
Natalie Bell - Orthodontia and a high school poetry reading lead to awkwardness.
Glenn North - Feeling despondent about moving back to his hometown of Oklahoma City to take care of a sick parent, a young poet decides to rejuvenate the arts scene with a poetry night.
Meg Wolitzer presents three provocative works about rituals that reshape and define their characters. In “oh she gotta head fulla hair,” by Ntozake Shange, a woman’s attention to her hair consumes her life. The reader is Tamara Tunie. In “Half a Day,” by Naguib Mahfouz, performed by Bruce Altman, time collapses and a lifetime goes by in a flash. And in Charles Baxter’s “Fenstad’s Mother,” a mother and son rehearse old patterns and find new ones. The reader is Edie Falco.
A new docuseries explores the bond between Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur and her son Tupac, a relationship that was fraught at times but also inspired some of his greatest work. Director Allen Hughes and writer/activist Jamal Joseph join to discuss "Dear Mama.”
A new docuseries explores the bond between Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur and her son Tupac, a relationship that was fraught at times but also inspired some of his greatest work. Director Allen Hughes and writer/activist Jamal Joseph join to discuss "Dear Mama.”
LAMBDA Literary Award-winning poet Eileen Myles joins us to discuss their latest collection, a "Working Life," as part of our National Poetry Month coverage.
In a new play, the tension simmers between two Puerto Rican sisters over a hot pot of sancocho. Playwright Christin Eve Cato, director Rebecca Martinez and actress Shirley Rumierk, who plays Renata, the younger sister, joins us to talk about the show, “Sancocho,” which runs through April 23.
After a winter's worth of indoor time, the changing season means it's time for some spring cleaning. Amy Panos, editor of the Better Homes And Gardens 'Home' section and Amanda Wiss, founder of the Brooklyn-based home organizing service Urban Clarity bring us their tips, tricks and advice for your home's once-a-year, top-to-bottom deep cleaning.
Takeaway producer Ryan Andrew Wilde recently came across a flier that said "Is your name Ryan? Wanna meet other Ryans? Join the Ryan Meetup!" At the bottom of the flier, it laid out some strict rules: "First name must be Ryan" and "No Bryans Allowed."
A few weeks later, intrigued but unsure of what to expect, Ryan headed to Ryan Maguire's, a lower Manhattan bar and restaurant, with a microphone and some questions.
Ryan Andrew Wilde, associate producer for The Takeaway, shares the story. We hear all about some of the Ryans he encountered, the history of the name "Ryan," and what's behind the Ryan/Bryan rivalry.
In this hour, Motown, hip hop, folk and pop. Stories of the indelible impact of music on both its creators and listeners. This hour is hosted by The Moth's Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixon
Storytellers:
David Montgomery gets immersed in Spice World.
Cal Street describes her time as part of The Velvelettes.
Dawn Smith grows up in a cult that forbids music.
Jin Au-Yeung's lyricism connects him to Barack Obama.
It’s been nine months since Roe v. Wade was overturned. We talk to people who wanted abortions right when the laws were changing in their states. They had to wait for appointments, for money to travel or abortion pills. And during that waiting, a lot of interesting things happened. We see how much life has changed, nine months later.
Host Meg Wolitzer shares our tribute to the influential and outspoken New Yorker Grace Paley, who would have turned 100 in 2022. Her emphasis on friends, family, and doing the right thing are evident in the three stories on this show. In “Wants,” a woman has a chance encounter while returning a lot of overdue library books. It’s read by Adina Verson. Two old friends work their way from childhood to middle age in “Ruthy and Edie,” read by Rita Wolf. And we meet a woman with a wonderfully checkered past in “Goodbye and Good Luck,” read by Joanna Gleason. Backstage interviews with Wolf and Gleason are featured.
We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that you may not have heard.
For this episode, we’re re-releasing a story from 2013 called The Talk by Louis Kornfeld. A father comes to the rescue when three teenagers take things a little too far.
Performed by Christian Paluck, Dmitry Shein, Willy Appelman, and Elana Fishbein.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
Evan Gershkovich is a 31-year-old American journalist who works as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Russia. Last week, he was arrested by Russian officials and accused of espionage, the first time Russia has accused a foreign journalist of spying since the Cold War. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
First, we hear from Pjotr Sauer, a former colleague and friend of Evan Gershovich. Then, we speak with Dr. Dani Gilbert, Fellow at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College, about Russia’s increasingly hostile behavior towards American citizens and journalists, and their willingness to engage in “hostage diplomacy.”
In this episode, stories about finding, keeping, and losing love. Hosted by Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Kristy Hawkins
Kemp Powers
Niall Ashdown
Esther McManus
Three people, and one animal, who know the path their lives will take until, suddenly, they don’t.
In this episode, we’ll be playing an episode from the Moth’s very first spinoff podcast, Grown!
Subscribe to Grown wherever you get your podcasts, or check out its website for more information: www.grownpod.com
This episode is hosted by Sarah Jane Johnson.
On this show, host Meg Wolitzer gets friendly, and shares three stories about friendships of all kinds. Kelly Stout’s zinger “Let’s Get Drinks,” offers up the perils of conducting a social life via hyperbolic texts, which are hilariously performed by Jane Curtin and Jane Kaczmarek. Next, “True Friendship,” by Jorge Hernandez describes a life-long friend who’s almost too good to be—true. The reader is Michael Urie. And three misfits fit together in Anthony Marra’s “The Last Words of Benito Picone,” performed by John Turturro. A brief interview with Turturro follows the story.
In this hour: stories of the power of sound -- and the newness we find through listening, and trusting our ears. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Stanley Alpert relies on his hearing when he is kidnapped.
Faith Ekienabor finds a brand new way to her college class.
T Dixon discovers the power of her own voice.
Anna Schuleit builds an unconventional instrument.
People so close to each other, in extremely intimate situations, who are also a million miles apart.
On this show, Meg Wolitzer hands things off to guest host Hope Davis, who presents three stories about finding some kind of peace and stability in a variety of challenging circumstances. In Rabih Alameddine’s “Break” a trans woman reconnects with a sibling. The reader is Pooya Mohseni. Dave Eggers imagines a world changed by determined parents in “Your Mother And I,” performed by the late David Rakoff. And love triumphs over illness in Amy Bloom’s “Silver Water,” performed by Linda Lavin.
Spring break is here! Whether you waited until the last minute to plan or you're on a budget, there's a lot of places to enjoy spring weather right in the tri-state area. Travel + Leisure's editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford shares her picks for the best staycations in New Jersey and we also take your calls to hear yours.
[REBROADCAST FROM March 8, 2023] Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Makkai is our March Get Lit with All Of It book club author. She joins us to give a preview of her new novel, I Have Some Questions For You, which follows a podcast host as she begins to look into the murder of her old boarding school roommate in the 1990s.An exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art features pieces of interactive design -- pieces which strongly resemble, and in some cases simply are, video games. The exhibit is called "Never Alone," and its curators Paola Antonelli and Paul Galloway join us to discuss computer-based art, interactivity and designing works for players who expect to do more than spectate.
Over 120 works at The Jewish Museum—paintings, Chinese art, illuminated manuscripts, and Judaica unveil the story of a Jewish family's pioneering role in trade, art collecting, architectural patronage, and civic engagement from the early 19th century through World War II. The new exhibition is titled, 'The Sassoons." Co-curators Claudia Nahson and Esther da Costa Meyer join us to talk about the show on display through Aug. 13.
[REBROADCAST FROM July 7, 2022] According to the Ringer, FX's "The Bear" is "the surprise hit of the summer." The show stars Jeremy Allen White as a chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to take over his family's sandwich shop. White, who is also known for his role in Showtime's "Shameless," joins us.
*This episode is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
In this episode, stories of stepping up, taking charge, and taking chances. Hosted by The Moth’s Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Suzanne Rust
Storytellers:
Aleta Myles goes camping for the first time in a desert in Israel.
In a dark place, Sean Wellington finds comfort in dance class.
Newly licensed James Fitzgerald's first road trip goes awry.
Amber Jo Hatt attempts to take her friends on a big adventure.
Despite the potential consequences, Air Force officer Rachel Pomeroy reports an inappropriate incident.5 year old Mohammed Zeeshan Nayeemuddin has an adventure on his way home from school.
A flute player breaks into a British museum and makes off with a million dollars worth of dead birds.
We hear stories about books and reading can foster connection. This episode is hosted by Emily Couch
Storytellers:
Kashyap Raja finds beauty in reading the Gruffalo to a young child.
Errol McLendon receives some heartfelt gifts.
It’s been two years since eight people were killed when a man opened fire in three different Atlanta-area massage businesses. Six of the eight victims were Asian women.
The discourse surrounding the mass shooting, from government officials to mainstream media outlets, claimed the motive of the shooting was unknown. But many people in the AAPI community scoffed. Pointing out that this hate crime didn’t happen in a vacuum– but within the context of a long and racist history. So, in the last two years, has anything changed?
We spoke with Phi Nguyen, Executive Director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, and Georgia House State Rep. Dr. Michelle Au, representing the Georgia House 50th district
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories in which some things are saved and some are left behind. Both stories also have a connection to the German language. In Haruki Murakami’s “Lederhosen,” performed by Aasif Mandvi, the traditional German shorts become a singular obsession for one half of a married couple. In Elizabeth McCracken’s “Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark,” a couple and their son find themselves in over their heads. Mike Doyle is the reader.
The COVID pandemic is relatively recent but there is a rich tradition of films about viruses. "Viruses on Film," held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from March 15 - March 23, will screen a range of films covering outbreaks both imaginary and all too real. We'll discuss it with Steven Thrasher, who co-curated the series for BAM and is the author of "The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide."
After the release of their third album, Cocoa Sugar in 2018, Young Fathers have returned with their fourth studio album, Heavy Heavy. Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and Graham "G" Hastings, members of the Scottish trio formed in Edinburgh in 2008, join us for a listening party.
This month, a number of high profile TV series like “Succession,” “Ted Lasso” and “Yellowjackets" return with new seasons. Vulture TV critic and friend of the show Kathryn Van Arendonk joins to discuss these marquee titles as well as share her recommendations for some under the radar shows you should be watching. We’ll also take listener calls.
The COVID pandemic is relatively recent but there is a rich tradition of films about viruses. "Viruses on Film," held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from March 15 - March 23, will screen a range of films covering outbreaks both imaginary and all too real. We'll discuss it with Steven Thrasher, who co-curated the series for BAM and is the author of "The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide."
For our Full Bio selection this Women's History Month, we're learning about political trailblazer, New York congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm. Today, we learn about her family connection to Barbados, moving to Brooklyn and how Chisholm's childhood heroes shaped her worldview and self-image. We're speaking all week with Anastasia C. Curwood, director of the Commonwealth Institute for Black Studies and Interim Chair and Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, who authored the new biography Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics.
After the release of their third album, Cocoa Sugar in 2018, Young Fathers have returned with their fourth studio album, Heavy Heavy. Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and Graham "G" Hastings, members of the Scottish trio formed in Edinburgh in 2008, join us for a listening party.
For our Full Bio selection this Women's History Month, we're learning about political trailblazer, New York congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm. Today, we learn about her family connection to Barbados, moving to Brooklyn and how Chisholm's childhood heroes shaped her worldview and self-image. We're speaking all week with Anastasia C. Curwood, director of the Commonwealth Institute for Black Studies and Interim Chair and Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, who authored the new biography Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics.
In this hour, five stories of picking our battles. The internal and external pressures that guide how we speak up, speak out, or stay silent. Hosted by The Moth's Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
Hillary Boone and her mother scheme to save Vermont from hate.
Maria Hodermarska fights for services for her son.
Ed Mabaya finds himself in danger while visiting his girlfriend.
Brad Lawrence and his sister work their mom's last nerve with their brawling.
Angela Lush struggles to speak up.
The post-apocalyptic drama, “The Last of Us” just wrapped on its first season. Actress Merle Dandridge, also known for starring in “Rent” on Broadway, OWN's “Greenleaf” and ABC's “Station 19,” joins us to discuss portraying the role of Marlene in both the video games and television adaptation on HBO.
[Rebroadcast from 4/5/2022] "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a mind-bending action comedy movie from music video-turned-feature film directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert that has swept awards season this year. It follows Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who must finish her taxes and also save the multiverse. Ke Huy Quan plays her kindhearted husband, Waymond, and James Hong plays her not-so-supportive father. They both join us to discuss the film.
Who swept, who was snubbed, what were some of the best–and weirdest moments from Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony? We recap with Gothamist Arts & Culture Editor Ben Yakas and take listener calls.
In continuing our Women's History month programming looking at female trailblazers, we turn our attention to female philosophers! Author Regan Penaluma joins us to discuss her new book How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind, which explores the life and careers of Damaris Cudworth Masham, Mary Astell, Catharine Cockburn and Mary Wollstonecraft.
The post-apocalyptic drama, “The Last of Us” just wrapped on its first season. Actress Merle Dandridge, also known for starring in “Rent” on Broadway, OWN's “Greenleaf” and ABC's “Station 19,” joins us to discuss portraying the role of Marlene in both the video games and television adaptation on HBO.
In continuing our Women's History month programming looking at female trailblazers, we turn our attention to female philosophers! Author Regan Penaluna joins us to discuss her new book How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind, which explores the life and careers of Damaris Cudworth Masham, Mary Astell, Catharine Cockburn and Mary Wollstonecraft.
Who swept, who was snubbed, what were some of the best–and weirdest moments from Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony? We recap with Gothamist Arts & Culture Editor Ben Yakas and take listener calls.
[Rebroadcast from 4/5/2022] "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a mind-bending action comedy movie from music video-turned-feature film directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert that has swept awards season this year. It follows Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who must finish her taxes and also save the multiverse. Ke Huy Quan plays her kindhearted husband, Waymond, and James Hong plays her not-so-supportive father. They both join us to discuss the film.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories by Kurt Vonnegut in which the Slaughterhouse Five author somehow managed to make a bleak dystopia funny and a high school band teacher a hero. The stories explore the darkly absurd side he’s known for—“Harrison Bergeron” performed by Becky Ann Baker––and a softer, touching side in “The Kid Nobody Could Handle” performed by Dylan Baker. The show features commentary from The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper and backstage interviews with the Bakers, a husband-and-wife duo.
Preeminent author Margaret Atwood joins us to discuss her latest short story collection, Old Babes in the Woods, containing fifteen works of short fiction.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 7, 2022] A new film from an adapted screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro, titled "Living," finds Bill Nighy as a 1950s civil servant who, after a fatal cancer diagnosis, endeavors to give his tedious life meaning. Nighy and Ishiguro join us to discuss the movie.
In continuing our Big Picture series celebrating the nominees who work behind the camera, we speak with Shirley Kurata, the Oscar nominated costume designer behind the memorable looks from Best Picture nominee, "Everything Everywhere All At Once."
[REBROADCAST FROM December 1, 2022] The film "Everything Everywhere All At Once" has become one of the highest grossing indie films of all time, attracting a dedicated fan base due to its inventive storytelling, excellent action sequences, and a grounding lead performance from Michelle Yeoh. But it is Stephanie Hsu who is the true scene stealer as Yeoh's daughter (and foe). Hsu joins us to discuss her breakout role and her career on screen and stage, and take calls from "Everything Everywhere All At Once" fans! The film has 11 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Makkai is our March Get Lit with All Of It book club author. She joins us to give a preview of her new novel, I Have Some Questions For You, which follows a podcast host as she begins to look into the murder of her old boarding school roommate in the 1990s.
In continuing our Big Picture series celebrating the nominees who work behind the camera, we speak with Shirley Kurata, the Oscar nominated costume designer behind the memorable looks from Best Picture nominee, "Everything Everywhere All At Once."
In this hour, stories of the places that leave a lasting impression. A skating rink, a golf course, a restaurant, and a cemetery. This episode is hosted by Moth director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Chloe Salmon
Storytellers:
Jacoby Cochran and his family build a home at Rich City Skate.
Holly Thompson and her grandfather share a love of golf.
After a turbulent history in online dating, Leah Haydock finds solace in pasta.
Marguerite Maria Rivas searches for her daughter's grave.
Roxane Gay's story was published in an issue of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern in which all the authors "covered" a story, in the way a musician might cover a famous song. Gay took a famous Margaret Atwood story, titled "Rape Fantasies," as her inspiration. Both "Rape Fantasies" and "Men on Bikes" are about imagination, revenge and joking about subjects that make people uneasy. It's read by actress Jane Kaczmarek.
Comedian Alison Leiby knows how to make us laugh about a subject people aren't prepared to laugh about. Her solo show "Oh God, a Show About Abortion," had a sold-out run in New York and has been touring the U.S. She and host Aparna Nancherla discuss how she approached finding the funny in a hot button topic.
This week, we're running an episode from our friends at It's Been a Minute that digs into the cultural phenomenon that is Real Housewives...and why so many of us can't look away.
Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain stars in the new Broadway adaptation of the classic feminist play, "A Doll's House." Chastain and plawright Amy Herzog join us to discuss the new, incredibly pared back production which is now running through June 4th.
In late 2020, The Frick Collection decided to take up residence in the Whitney’s former Madison Avenue home and The Frick Madison was born. Now, the local arts museum is shaking things up a bit. We receive updates from Aimee Ng, curator at The Frick Collection, about current exhibitions, changes to their programming and their expansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
For over thirty years, the work of the Booker Prize winning British-Nigerian author Ben Okri, known for his 1991 novel, The Famished Road, has gone unpublished in the U.S. Recently, two of Okri's works have been published in this country, including his latest poetry collection, A Fire in My Head. The collection includes poems about 2020's racial justice protests, the Grenfell Tower disaster, and the pandemic. Okri joins to discuss and read from the collection.
When the Oneida Community was first formed in upstate New York, it was intended as liberating utopia. But from that community came a man who would go on to assassinate President James Garfield. Author Susan Wels joins us to discuss her new book, An Assassin in Utopia: The True Story of a Nineteenth-Century Sex Cult and a President's Murder.
We hear a story from someone searching for their family’s history. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
If you’d like to see photos of Jean-Michele and her grandmother, go to themoth.org/extras
Storyteller: Jean-Michele Gregory
On this Selected Shorts program, host Meg Wolitzer presents stories about journeys—physical and emotional—that end in unexpected places. In “A Woman Driving Alone,” by Marie-Helene Bertino, the main character travels s long way to see a friend, but seems also to be escaping a challenging moment in her life. The piece was commissioned for Selected Shorts’ anthology Small Odysseys, and is read by Amber Tamblyn. In Tom Perrotta’s “Nine Inches”, a teacher drives only across town, to chaperone a middle school dance, but almost gets into trouble himself. The story is performed by Santino Fontana.
We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that you may not have heard.
For this episode, we’re re-releasing a story from 2013 called Keep Running, based an interview with listener Brian Foy. Brian donated money to our show (thank you so much Brian!), and in return, we took details from his life, and changed them to make a fictional story. It’s about a man running from Wisconsin to Indiana, and where his mind goes along the way.
Performed by Peter McNerney, with Elana Fishbein, Louis Kornfeld, Julia Hynes, and Teddy Shivers.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this hour, stories of heroes, mentors, and our greatest supporters. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer considers his career, a lawyer learns the meaning of justice, and a songstress pens lyrics for her loved one. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Rob Simpson takes us behind the scenes of life as a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer.
Sheila Calloway searches for fairness and empathy in the justice system.
Beth Nielsen Chapman finds magic in the writing of a song.
Nitehawk Shorts Festival runs March 1-5, featuring dozens of shorts spread between seven categories. Director of programming Cristina Cacioppo joins us alongside filmmakers Leah Shore and Jude Dry to preview the festival.
Comedian Paula Poundstone is back on the road, with shows at Sacred Heart Community Theatre in Fairfield, CT on March 9, and Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ on March 10. She returns to the show to take listener calls and talk cats.
Exactly how much are the animals that live in our homes caught up in our everyday family dynamics?
As part of Princeton's slate of programming celebrating Toni Morrison, the Princeton University Art Museum will launch the exhibition, Cycle of Creativity: Alison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers, which pairs select writings from Morrison with work by artist Alison Saar. Saar joins us to discuss.
Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory, is a new exhibition at Princeton that includes over 100 never-before-seen objects from Morrison's career and time teaching at Princeton, including drafts of Song of Solomon and hand-drawn maps of Beloved. Autumn Womack, lead curator and associate professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton, joins us to discuss.As part of Princeton's slate of programming celebrating Toni Morrison, the Princeton University Art Museum will launch the exhibition, Cycle of Creativity: Alison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers, which pairs select writings from Morrison with work by artist Alison Saar. Saar joins us to discuss. To round out our celebration of Toni Morrison, we talk to Michael Santangelo, deputy director for collection management at the New York Public Library, about the best Morrison works. Plus, we take your calls.We continue our series The Big Picture, celebrating the work of Oscar nominees working behind the camera. Today, we speak with the Oscar nominated duo who brought Old Hollywood to life in the film, "Babylon." Florencia Martin, set designer, and Anthony Carlino, set decorator, join us to discuss why getting all the details right matters when staging a period piece, and how they pulled off that giant party scene![REBROADCAST FROM October 18, 2022] In the summer of 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was brutally murdered while visiting his cousins in Mississippi for allegedly offending a white woman. A new film, "Till," focuses on his mother Mamie Till-Mobley's dogged pursuit for justice for her son and for the country to reckon with its racism. Director Chinonye Chukwu joins to discuss the film.
Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory, is a new exhibition at Princeton that includes over 100 never-before-seen objects from Morrison's career and time teaching at Princeton, including drafts of Song of Solomon and hand-drawn maps of Beloved. Autumn Womack, lead curator and associate professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton, joins us to discuss.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories of inspirations small and large. In these tales, writers investigate moments in which art inspires life, or life inspires art, especially in a visual medium. In Elizabeth Crane’s “Blue Girl,” read by Valorie Curry, a young woman's secret life is given an unusual public forum. In Jai Chakrabarti’s “Lessons with Father,” commissioned for our Small Odysseys anthology, a middle-aged child tries to connect with her late father through brushstrokes. The reader is Purva Bedi. And in William Boyd’s “Varengeville” read by Dan Stevens, a young man strays from his famous family as he discovers himself on canvas.
This week, stories all about the in-between. This episode is hosted by Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo, the hosts of the Moth’s new spinoff podcast, Grown! If you’re at all a fan of Moth storytelling, subscribe to Grown wherever you get your podcasts, or check out its website for more information: www.grownpod.com
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers:
Military policeman Carl Cannon is assigned duty in one of the most dangerous prisons on the planet
James Han Mattson moves to Korea to meet his birth family and connect with his Korean heritage.
First time pageant contestant Nicole Kelly enters the Miss Iowa competition.
Celebrities like Harry Styles and Bad Bunny have come under fire for "queerbaiting," the act of posing as potentially queer in order to appeal to an LGBTQ audience. But culture writer Mark Harris asks in his latest article for T Magazine, "Is Celebrity ‘Queer Baiting’ Really Such a Crime?" He joins us to discuss and to take calls from listeners.
A new twisty thriller seduces audiences into a world where no is who they seem to be on the surface and everyone cares about money. 'Sharper' tells the story of New York City con artists and the people getting conned. Director Benjamin Caron joins us to discuss the film, now streaming on Apple TV+.
The Hudson Jazz Festival will run for two weekends between February 16 and 26. Among the performers is bassist Endea Owens, a bandleader and member of The Late Show house band Stay Human. On February 26, her band The Cookout will perform at Hudson Hall for the festival's closing show. Owens joins us to preview the festival.
Celebrities like Harry Styles and Bad Bunny have come under fire for "queerbaiting," the act of posing as potentially queer in order to appeal to an LGBTQ audience. But culture writer Mark Harris asks in his latest article for T Magazine, "Is Celebrity ‘Queer Baiting’ Really Such a Crime?" He joins us to discuss and to take calls from listeners.
Here’s a taste of The Moth’s very first spinoff, Grown!
Subscribe to Grown wherever you get your podcasts, or check out its website for more information: www.grownpod.com
This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
On this week’s SELECTED SHORTS, Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about love, or the next best thing. In Pam Houston’s “How to Talk to a Hunter” a smart woman can’t get enough of what her man can’t offer. The reader is Mia Dillon. And a widow and a lonely man make an odd couple in Lisa Ko’s “Pat + Sam,” performed by Jennifer Ikeda.
Jane's Walk is an annual volunteer, community-led walking event inspired by journalist Jane Jacobs and organized by The Municipal Art Society. Every year, New Yorkers are invited to propose their favorite walks exploring a unique lens of New York City culture, nature, or history, and the winners are included as part of Jane's Walk, which is taking place this year from May 5-7. Elizabeth Goldstein, president of Municipal Art Society and Tom Devaney, senior director of Land Use and Planning at Municipal Art Society, join to tell us about their favorite New York City walks, how to submit your own walk, and take your calls.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 10, 2022] Just Above Midtown (JAM) was an art gallery opened in 1974 on west 57th Street that spotlighted the work of Black artists who had yet to receive mainstream recognition, like David Hammons, Lorraine O'Grady, and Howardena Pindell. The gallery was opened by Linda Goode Bryant and closed in 1986. Now, a new exhibition at MOMA, Just Above Midtown: Changing Spaces, showcases some of the work that was once displayed at the original gallery. Head curator Thomas Jean Lax joins to speak to the importance of preserving the memory of JAM. Just Above Midtown: Changing Spaces is on view until February 18, 2023.
Recovering from a brain injury can be a challenging experience, and often the social supports required simply do not exist. David Putrino, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System, Jenny Clarke, co-founder and CEO at the advocacy organization SameYou, and Clemency Burton-Hill, a former classical music broadcaster at WQXR who suffered a brain injury in 2020, discuss the recovery process, and what systemic changes could help patients who survived brain injuries.
In continuing our series The Big Picture, celebrating Oscar nominees working behind the camera, we speak to the Oscar nominated hair and makeup team behind the great looks in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Hair Department Head Camille Friend joins us to discuss their work on the film, and the new research they did into Mayan culture and fashion for some of the new characters in the film.
Jane's Walk is an annual volunteer, community-led walking event inspired by journalist Jane Jacobs and organized by The Municipal Art Society. Every year, New Yorkers are invited to propose their favorite walks exploring a unique lens of New York City culture, nature, or history, and the winners are included as part of Jane's Walk, which is taking place this year from May 5-7. Elizabeth Goldstein, president of Municipal Art Society and Tom Devaney, senior director of Land Use and Planning at Municipal Art Society, join to tell us about their favorite New York City walks, how to submit your own walk, and take your calls.
NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t on the ballot until 2024, but she’s already launched her re-election campaign. WNYC’s Brigid Bergin sat down with her for a wide-ranging conversation last week and joined Morning Edition's Michael Hill to talk about the highlights. Gillibrand touted her achievements and offered a hawkish view of US-China relations.
In honor of Valentine's Day, let The Moth whisper sweet somethings in your ear(buds). Stories of falling in love, enduring devotion, and romance that blooms in the most unlikely places—or between the most unlikely people. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Inclement weather threatens David Greco's romantic plans for Jazz Fest.
Eva Santiago reconnects with an old friend who is now in prison.
Paola Ayala is worried that her mother found a private letter.
Auburn Shaeffer and her husband share an unlikely first home.
Matthew Mercier uncovers his parents' love story.
When it comes to finding love, there seems to be two schools of thought on the best way to go about it. One says, wait for that lightning-strike magic. The other says, make a calculation and choose the best option available. Who has it right?
If you love listening to Moth stories on our podcast and radio show, then come experience them live, in-person at our Mainstage events. In this super quick episode, host Sarah Austin Jenness brings you updates on our Winter & Spring Moth Mainstage tour. Visit themoth.org/events to find a Moth event near you!
On this week’s SELECTED SHORTS, we're going to hear stories about students and schools that abandon the usual rules to follow their own, unusual, codes of behavior. In "Singin' in the Acid Rain," by Patricia Marx, performed by Katrina Lenk, it’s recess at a post-apocalyptic school. Marx talks with Meg Wolitzer about the story and her unique brand of humor after the read, and check your feed for our bonus segment featuring the full interview. The class in “The School,” by Donald Barthelme, performed by Laura Esterman, is facing a difficult test; and young love is framed by larger issues in "Melvin in the Sixth Grade," by Dana Johnson, performed by Nikki M. James. We hear from James about this nuanced rite-of-passage story.On this week’s SELECTED SHORTS, we're going to hear stories about students and schools that abandon the usual rules to follow their own, unusual, codes of behavior. In "Singin' in the Acid Rain," by Patricia Marx, performed by Katrina Lenk, it’s recess at a post-apocalyptic school. Marx talks with Meg Wolitzer about the story and her unique brand of humor after the read, and check your feed for our bonus segment featuring the full interview. The class in “The School,” by Donald Barthelme, performed by Laura Esterman, is facing a difficult test; and young love is framed by larger issues in "Melvin in the Sixth Grade," by Dana Johnson, performed by Nikki M. James. We hear from James about this nuanced rite-of-passage story.
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and New Yorker humorist Patricia Marx about her story “Singin’ in the Acid Rain,” and writing funny.
Regina Twala was one of southern Africa’s most important intellectuals: a pioneering writer, academic, political activist and feminist. Why, then, has she been all but forgotten? That’s the question Written Out: The silencing of Regina Gelana Twala by Joel Cabrita looks to answer.
Dr. Joel Cabrita, Associate Professor of History at Stanford University argues that editors, white academics, apartheid officials, and politicians whose politics were at odds with Regina’s – conspired to erase her literary legacy.
This week, a special episode in honor of Black History Month, with stories that celebrate the diversity of the Black experience. Dye jobs, dream jobs, and swimming pools. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Suzanne Rust
Storytellers:
Harold Cox brings his Texas roots--and speech patterns-- to his first Boston radio gig.
Danyel Smith follows the music and finds a place for herself in the world of journalism.
CJ Hunt grows up trying to "adjust the thermostat" of his racial identity.
While out for a swim, Hasna Muhammad finds a kindred spirit.
A new exhibition at MoMA, in partnership with The Studio Museum, is dedicated to the photography of Ming Smith. Smith arrived in New York City in the early 1970s fresh out of Howard University with degrees in microbiology and chemistry, but instead decided to pursue her passion for taking photos on the streets. What followed was an extensive career, including becoming the first black woman to have her work acquired by MoMA. Projects: Ming Smith, examines the unique methods in which Smith approaches her photography, and runs through May 29. Ming Smith, alongside Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of The Studio Museum, and Oluremi C. Onabanjo, MoMA associate curator, join us to preview the exhibition, which opens tomorrow.The Manhattan Vintage Show is happening today and tomorrow. Manhattan Vintage Show founder and Artist and Fleas co-owner Amy Abrams will give us a preview, plus discuss what to look for when thrifting, where to go in NYC, and how to care for your pre-loved finds.[REBROADCAST FROM June 30, 2021] Country music legend Willie Nelson joins us to discuss his new book, Willie Nelson's Letters to America, a collection of messages, stories, and ruminations on America, family, music, and more. The 89-year-old received four nominations for the 65th annual Grammy awards.[REBROADCAST FROM April 13, 2022] Maren Morris has dominated pop charts and been a member of the country supergroup The Highwomen. Pitchfork describes her latest solo album, Humble Quest, as "matter-of-factly masterful." Morris, who is nominated for three Grammy awards, joins us for a Listening Party.TV writer and now novelist Kashana Cauley joins us to discuss her debut, The Survivalists, which tells the story of a Black lawyer who becomes involved with a group of doomsday conspiracy theorists living in Brooklyn.
We hear two stories about growing up, as well as listen to a preview of The Moth’s spinoff podcast: Grown.
Subscribe to Grown wherever you get your podcasts, or check out its website for more information: www.grownpod.com
If you’re a student and want to bring Moth programming to your school, visit our website themoth.org/students. If you’re a teacher, visit themoth.org/education/teachers
Hosted by: Devin Elise Wilson
Storytellers:
Mariama Diallo learns to stand up for herself, and her brother.
PT Smith discovers the magic of reading
A routine that never changes can get old. So this week on Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that shake up domestic life, teaching the characters something new about themselves and their circumstances. In “Scaffolding Man,” by Jenny Allen, performed by Patricia Kalember, a woman in a drab marriage is intrigued by a “hot” stranger. In "Myrna's Dad," by Cyn Vargas, a father’s changing occupations hide a family secret. The reader is Krystina Alabado. And in “Overtime,” by Hilma Wolitzer (Meg’s mom), read by Becky Ann Baker, a happy couple gets a jolt when the man’s ex moves into their apartment. After the story, Meg interviews Hilma about what gave her the idea and her writing in general.
For this episode, we’re re-releasing a story from 2013 called Tough Crowd, about a stand-up comic competing with a speed-date event—based on a true story!
Performed by Alejandro Kolleeny, Annemarie Cullen, Devin O'Neill, Megan Gray, Noel Dineen, Maddy Mako, Matt Shafeek, Shacottha Fields, Louis Kornfeld, and Elana Fishbein.
Written by Louis Kornfeld, inspired by storyteller Adam Wade.
We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that you may not have heard.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
Last week, New Zealand singer-songwriter Kimbra released her latest album, A Reckoning, a deeply self-reflective record with features from Pink Siifu and Erick The Architect. Kimbra joins us for a Listening Party, and will also be playing a show in New York at Webster Hall on February 16. Finding the right spot for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner can be overwhelming and stressful. Luckily, Eater NY senior critic Robert Sietsema joins us to talk about his selections for the best Valentine's dinner spots in the city. Plus, we take your calls and suggestions! An exhibit on the High Line pays tribute to the role Black newspapers have played in the U.S. It's artist, educator and curator Faheem Majeed's first public artwork in New York City, and he joins us to discuss Freedom's Stand.[REBROADCAST FROM January 27, 2022] Singer-songwriter Janis Ian released her self-titled debut album in 1967. Its single, "Society's Child," written by Ian when she was fourteen, would be one of her most lasting. In the next decade, she released the hit song, "At Seventeen." Now, she has said that her latest album, The Light at the End of the Line, will be her last. Ian joins us for a Listening Party, and we open the lines up for listeners to share their experiences with her music.
In this hour, we present four stories of getting another shot. Tales of tenacity, unexpected fortune, and redemption in moments both great and small. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Joshua Blau loses his wallet on the FDR drive.
Navrioska Mateo puts her dream job in peril.
Faith Salie has a fashion crisis on a momentous day.
Sherman "OT" Powell attempts to reconnect with his family after 34 years.
New Orleans launched their bike share program, Blue Bikes, in 2017 in partnership with a for-profit bike share company called Social Bicycles, beginning with 700 pedal bicycles. Geoff Coats was hired to run the program.
Soon after, Uber bought out Social Bicycles (which by then had changed its name to Jump) and Blue Bikes flourished: by 2020, the fleet size was upgraded and almost doubled to 1,350 pedal assist e-bikes. But then, the pandemic hit. Uber paused the program, and then spun it off to Lime, a scooter company and competitor. Lime, using the bikes as leverage, approached the city and asked to replace the bikes with electric scooters. The city balked, and almost overnight, the bikes disappeared from the city streets, and the bike share program was defunct by June 2020. While this could have been the end of bike sharing in NOLA, Geoff Coats devised a plan to resurrect the program. He organized with community leaders, organizations, and sponsors and eventually developed a non-profit entity, Blue Krewe to operate Blue Bikes, eventually receiving approval from the city to relaunch as a community-based bike sharing program. In September 2021, after over a year of New Orleans not having a bike sharing program, Blue Bikes went back online.
Since relaunch, Blue Krewe has overseen over 300-thousand trips, and have refocused the mission of NOLA's bike share program to be more aligned with the city’s mission of providing an affordable and equitable transportation alternative.
We speak with Geoff Coats, CEO of Blue Krewe, about reviving the city's bike share program.
We reprise a recent favorite this week: Guest host Jane Curtin presents a cornucopia of jokes, poems, and stories from a live program with comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet J. Hope Stein. The couple shares material from their book, The New One, about the birth of their daughter, as well as works from some of their favorite writers. Among the featured works are stories and poetry by Joy Harjo, Paige Lewis, Ada Limón, Simon Rich, David Sedaris, Maggie Smith, and Zadie Smith. With performances by Mike Birbiglia, Jane Kaczmarek, Carmen Lynch, Andrea Martin, Kaneza Schaal, and J. Hope Stein
Start your engines! In this hour, stories of being driven -- bound, determined, or literally in the passenger seat of a car. This episode is hosted by Moth Director, Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Juliette Holmes experiences segregation first hand as a child in Georgia.
Tracey Crosier interviews for a radio job and gets more than she bargained for.
Jennifer Leahy deals with the death of a patient for the first time.
Omar Qureshi tries to show his cousin a good time when he visits the US.
This weekend, Brooklyn-based choral group Choral Chameleon will perform a "rave style remix" concert featuring pop songs performed by a choral ensemble. Founder and Artistic Director Vince Peterson joins to discuss.
On this episode, we talk to Mojdeh Rezaeipour about the situation in Iran, and hear a story from her. This episode is hosted by Jenifer Hixson.
If you want to learn more about the ongoing revolutionary movement in Iran, Mojdeh recommends following the Instagram accounts @from____Iran and @collectiveforblackiranians for information on what's happening in English.
Storyteller: Mojdeh Rezaeipour
Jesse Eisenberg joins us to discuss his feature film directorial debut, "When You Finish Saving the World," which stars Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard as a mother and son with a complex and contentious relationship. The film premieres in theaters on Friday.
As we continue our celebration of Broadway Week, we talk to Bonnie Milligan and Alli Mauzey, who play sisters in the heartwarming musical "Kimberly Akimbo," which tells the story of a young woman with a rare condition which makes her appear much older than she is. Milligan and Mauzey play Kimberly's aunts.
Late last year, ChatGPT, a new platform from the San Francisco-based company Open AI, received a lot of attention for its powerful algorithm. Users can input any question or task, and the algorithm could respond in seconds with results that stunned many. There are lots questions to ask about this technology and how it will shape our world in the years to come. Kevin Roose, technology columnist for the New York Times and host of the podcast, Hard Fork, tells us more about ChatGPT and what it means for our future.
The Broadway musical "A Beautiful Noise" finds a present-day, post-retirement Neil Diamond in therapy, tackling the dark clouds that have followed him throughout his career. Broadway star Will Swenson plays then-Neil Diamond, in flashbacks and memories, performing the singer's greatest hits and always chasing the high of being onstage. Swenson joins us to discuss the show.
Late last year, ChatGPT, a new platform from the San Francisco-based company Open AI, received a lot of attention for its powerful algorithm. Users can input any question or task, and the algorithm could respond in seconds with results that stunned many. There are lots questions to ask about this technology and how it will shape our world in the years to come. Kevin Roose, technology columnist for the New York Times and host of the podcast, Hard Fork, tells us more about ChatGPT and what it means for our future.
In this hour, stories about guts and courage. This episode is hosted by The Moth’s Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
AJ Jacobs
Aleathia Brown
Kwong Yue Yang
Nisha Coleman
Leonard Lee Smith
This year marks 4 decades since the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was approved as a federal holiday, but celebration was not how the federal government responded to the work of Dr. King during his lifetime.
Beginning in 1955 until his death, King was targeted by repeated, invasive, covert surveillance operations by the FBI. According to internal FBI documents the goal of these operations was to quote “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize” Dr. King and others in the movement for Black Liberation.
Wiretapping was the primary technology of surveillance in the 1950s and 60s. Today, those technologies of surveillance are everywhere. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in our daily lives, so do the racial biases embedded in AI.
We talked with Tawana Petty, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Algorithmic Justice League, about the racialized legacies that inform today’s AI-powered surveillance and the pathway forward to equitable AI use.
[REBROADCAST FROM JANUARY 21, 2019] Lynda Blackmon Lowery joins us to discuss her book, Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, which has been adapted into a play of the same name. The book and play detail what it was like to be the youngest person to participate in the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March.
[REBROADCAST FROM JANUARY 14, 2021] For years, the FBI had Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. under surveillance. Award-winning director Sam Pollard discusses how newly discovered and declassified files reveal just how extensive the harassment and surveillance directed at Dr. King and other Black activists was. His documentary, “MLK/FBI,” is now streaming on Hulu.
[REBROADCAST FROM JANUARY 18, 2021] NPR music critic and correspondent Ann Powers joins us for our ongoing "Review/Preview" series with a rundown of music for racial justice, from the Civil Rights Movement, to today.
[REBROADCAST FROM DECEMBER 6, 2022] Rev. Al Sharpton has spent his life saying things people did not want to hear. The new documentary "Loudmouth" chronicles his path from a teenage preacher to a racial justice firebrand on the streets of 1980s New York to becoming a presidential adviser and media elder statesman. Sharpton and director Josh Alexander joins us to discuss. "Loudmouth" closed out last year's Tribeca Film Festival, and is now streaming on Amazon and Apple TV.
[REBROADCAST FROM MARCH 30, 2022] We share the third part of our March 2022 installment of Full Bio. Today, we learn more about Constance Baker Motley's legal career, as well as her entrance into politics, which would lead her to become a New York State Senator and Manhattan Borough President. Historian Tomiko Brown-Nagin, author of, Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, joins us again.
Fresh off of releasing her memoir last fall, Maybe We'll Make It, musician Margo Price has released her fourth studio album, Strays. She also announced a nationwide tour of the album, and will play in New York at Webster Hall on March 4. Price joins us for a release day Listening Party.
Local author Bushra Rehman's latest book, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, follows Razia, a Pakistani-American girl from Corona, Queens, who's rebellious nature with her friends leads to a growing rift between her and her family. When she is accepted to Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, she meets a girl named Angela, and she begins to feel an attraction that was once unfamiliar, potentially making her relationship with her family and community more complicated. Rehman joins us to discuss the novel.
In 2021, comedian Sam Morrison lost his partner to COVID-19. From that grief emerged his new comedy show, "Sugar Daddy," which explores that tragic loss, his recent Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis, and more. Morrison joins us to discuss the show, which runs at the SoHo Playhouse through February 17th.
National Bagel Day is this Sunday, and we've got CEO and founder of Bagelfest Sam Silverman here to talk all things bagels and preview the first-ever Bagelfest Winter Games. We will also take your calls.
National Bagel Day is this Sunday, and we've got CEO and founder of Bagelfest Sam Silverman here to talk all things bagels and preview the first-ever Bagelfest Winter Games. We will also take your calls.
In 2021, comedian Sam Morrison lost his partner to COVID-19. From that grief emerged his new comedy show, "Sugar Daddy," which explores that tragic loss, his recent Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis, and more. Morrison joins us to discuss the show, which runs at the SoHo Playhouse through February 17th.
The new year is a time to be reflective and make changes - maybe to yourself or how you relate to others. With resolutions in mind, we bring you this NPR Life Kit episode exploring what attachment styles reveal about your relationships. Reported and guest hosted by our own Kia Miakka Natisse.
On this Selected Shorts we turn the show over to universally beloved author George Saunders. Saunders somehow finds the good, or at any rate the imperfectly human, in his characters. The result is a catalog as funny as it is moving, as devastating as it is hopeful. On this program, two stories that perfectly illustrate this. “Love Letter” is from Saunders’ latest collection Liberation Day. In it, an anxious grandfather who is ambivalent about the state of the world counsels an older grandchild. “Love Letter” is read by Stephen Colbert. And a favorite from our archives, “The Falls,” shows us two flawed men given a chance to do the right thing. Rene Auberjonois reads. Meg Wolitzer interviews Saunders at the end of the show.
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders about crafting short stories, where ideas come from, and how his work has evolved over the years.
In this hour, stories of diving in head first and putting it all on the line. Unconventional gifts, apex predators, and stock car racing. This episode is hosted by Moth producer and director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jodi Powell
Storytellers:
Andrew McGill learns more about his father than he bargained for.
Aspiring primate veterinarian Estella Z Jones has a shift in perspective about her own life after seeing animals in the wild.
Ashamed of not knowing how to ride a bike, Francesca Hays attempts to learn in secret.
Michael Corso enters a stock car race for blind drivers.
Our new Too Hot episode features a story about memory, fantasy, and a realm somewhere between the two—a place to which we might escape, for a price (calling all Black Mirror and Westworld fans). It's dark, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny. It was written by author Kim Fu, and is part of her 2022 debut story collection, Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, which among other honors was picked as a TIME Top 10 Fiction Book of 2022. Performed by actors Kirsten Vangsness, beloved for her long-running role on Criminal Minds, and Justin Kirk, known for series including Weeds, You’re the Worst,and Modern Family. The episode is hosted by Aparna Nancherla.
Writer Etgar Keret tries to come up with the stories that capture his late mother, but it’s hard, he says, because she’s like Maria in West Side Story and she’s also like Thanos from the Avengers. He ends up with a series of very short stories — most just a few paragraphs long — that give glimpses of different sides of her. These written stories are interspersed with off-the-cuff stories he tells host Ira Glass.
On this episode, we hear two stories about new years and new beginnings. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
Storytellers:
Dan Kennedy tries to make his new years’… explosive.
Ophira Eisenberg has a magical new years in a magical city.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two gripping stories about people in flight. In Rebecca Makkai’s “The Briefcase,” performed by Victor Garber, an escaped prisoner assumes another man’s identity. In “Paradise,” by Yxta Maya Murray, a young widow and mother runs from a fire, but can’t escape the challenges of her family life. Tanis Parenteau is the reader.
We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that you may not have heard.
For this episode, we’re re-releasing a story that we made back in 2013 called The Mutiny, about the power dynamics between two children and their mother, and what happens when the tables get turned.
Performed by Melanie Hoopes. Asher Herbstman, and Bea Herbstman. With Blanche Ames, Ed Herbstman, Shacottha Fields, and Noel Dinneen.
Written by Elana Fishbein.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
This episode, we revisit our 20th anniversary special, playing some of our favorite stories from The Moth’s history. This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Richie DiSalvo
Jessi Klein
Sisonke Msimang
San Francisco’s Spider-Man burglar was remarkable. He dropped into buildings from skylights, leapt 10 feet from one roof to another. But mostly, his talent got him into trouble. This week, his story, and stories of other undesirable talents.
Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about quests and travel, which pose the question “How far do we need to go to find what we want, whether that something be an ephemeral pleasure, a lasting relationship, or a symbolic object?” In Margaret Atwood’s playful origin story “The Martians Claim Canada,” extraterrestrials invade—in search of a good musical. Jane Kaczmarek reads. In Lesley Nneka Arimah’s powerful “Options,” performed by Zainab Jah, a discarded daughter seeks love. And in the third, “Chivalry,” master fantasist Neil Gaiman finds the Holy Grail—in the most unlikely hands. Christina Pickles reads.
This week, we bear witness. From a Soviet labor camp, to a school desegregation, to a fight over books. This episode is hosted by Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Toby Price
Sybil Jordan Hampton
Victor Levenstein
Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays’ associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways. Amy Krouse Rosenthal presents a playful encounter with the Almighty in “Interview with God,” performed by Jayne Atkinson and James Naughton. In Sherrie Flick’s “Heidi is Dead,” read by Adina Verson, a second wife tries to tune in with her in-laws. And John Cheever’s “Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor” is a richly comic and warmhearted look at giving and receiving. Teagle F. Bougere reads.
Before his passing, French designer Thierry Mugler received acclaim for his interpretation of chic, modern and haute couture. Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Kim Kardashian have all worn some of his classic gowns. Brooklyn Museum's new exhibition, Thierry Mugler: Couturissime, is the first retrospective of the designer. Exhibition curators Thierry-Maxime Loriot and Matthew Yokobosky join us to talk about the show, now on display through May 7. A new exhibition at MoMA PS1 commemorates the 2021-22 artists in residence at The Studio Museum in Harlem. It's Time For Me To Go: Studio Museum Artists in Residence 2021–22, features the work of three artists: Cameron Granger, Jacob Mason-Macklin, and Qualeasha Wood. All three join us to reflect on their year of work. It's Time For Me To Go: Studio Museum Artists in Residence 2021–22 is on view until February 27. For this month's Full Bio, we're discussing the life of J. Edgar Hoover with biographer Beverly Gage. She is the author of the new book G-Man:J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century. Today we discuss how Hoover came to lead the FBI, and the questions surrounding his sexuality. As we reach the end of one year and look forward to another, a lot of fuss is made about making resolutions. But what about making time to reflect? So much can happen in a year, personally and professionally, and it can be helpful to look back in order to grow. Chris Duffy, comedian and host of the TED podcast, How To Be A Better Human, joins to help us think about reflecting on the year we've all lived and take your calls on how you are reflecting on your 2022.
Don your finest duds! This week, The Moth Radio Hour is all about clothes -- from DIY threads to silk blouses, from a prison visiting room to a runway in France. This episode is hosted by Moth producer and director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Chloe Salmon
Tween Horace Sanders creates a homemade Halloween costume.
Deepa Ambekar is caught off guard by a prison's dress code for visitors.
Zakiya Minifee fails to heed her mother's fashion advice.
Adrienne Burris is certain that her new husband has ruined her favorite blouse.
Graham Shelby joins the football team as a gentle teenager.
Model Norma Jean Darden participates in a historic catwalk battle.
A disenchanted mall Santa gets a surprise gift from SantaCon.
This story was originally released in 2017. It was written by Louis Kornfeld, and performed by Tom Ligon, Chris Dwane, Anna Neu, Bianca Casusol, Jimmy O’Connell, Kevin Cobbs, Louis Kornfeld, Kerry Kastin, and Becca Schall.
Casper Kelly’s Adult Swim Yule Log: https://www.adultswim.com/videos/specials/adult-swim-yule-log
Radiotopia’s fall fundraiser is here! Donate today to support The Truth and help us reach our goal of 1,000 supporters. Thank you! https://on.prx.org/3hrARzw
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
There are classic New York City holiday traditions, from the Rockefeller Christmas Tree to seeing the "Nutcracker." Then there are smaller, more local-centric traditions like checking out the Dyker Heights Christmas lights or going to look at the Macy's window displays afterhours. New York Magazine editor Chris Bonanos joins to talk about both and we take your calls about your favorite NYC holiday traditions.
Hanukkah begins this weekend! Rabbi Matthew Green from Congregation Elohim in Brooklyn joins us to talk about the history of the holiday and why it especially resonates this year. And we’ll take your calls about what Hannukkah means to you and what your favorite traditions are.
The annual "Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes" runs all through this month. Two Rockettes, Jaclyn di Nicola and Mia Wilson, join us to talk about this year's show.
It's gift-buying season, and a good time to shop local. Jenna Milliner-Waddell, associate editor at The Strategist, recommends some holiday pop-ups and markets around New York City.
As we approach the holidays, we discuss tips to make the season easier for those who plan on hosting family and friends over for a meal. Foodie and content creator Xenia Zayas, also known as Chef Zee, joins us to discuss tips for cooking for large groups of people, share a few recipes and appliances that have made life easier.
There are classic New York City holiday traditions, from the Rockefeller Christmas Tree to seeing the "Nutcracker." Then there are smaller, more local-centric traditions like checking out the Dyker Heights Christmas lights or going to look at the Macy's window displays afterhours. New York Magazine editor Chris Bonanos joins to talk about both and we take your calls about your favorite NYC holiday traditions.
It's gift-buying season, and a good time to shop local. Jenna Milliner-Waddell, associate editor at The Strategist, recommends some holiday pop-ups and markets around New York City.
The annual "Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes" runs all through this month. Two Rockettes, Jaclyn di Nicola and Mia Wilson, join us to talk about this year's show.
On this episode, we take a look back at the beginning of The Moth, and hear a story from our founder - George Dawes Green. This episode is hosted by Melvin Estrella and Pegi Vail.
Storyteller
George Dawes Green describes his encounters with the many characters of Surrency, Georgia while working on a crisis hotline.
If you’d like to listen to the stories Pegi and Melvin mentioned, here are links:
Reflections From Space by Frederick Hauck
Merci by Candido Tirado and Carmen Rivera
Sometimes the holidays are filled with the people you love. Other times, they're marked by an absence. In this special holiday episode, new Code Switch co-host and former Invisibilia producer B.A. Parker tells a story about family, loss and preserving memories before it's too late. Then Parker joins Kia and Yowei to reflect on the making of this story, and what it means to her now.
Meg Wolitzer presents a show of stories about replacements and stand-ins. While we tend to crave the original, sometimes a substitute can bring more happiness. In Steve Almond’s “A Happy Dream,” read by Phil LaMarr, a young man assumes a new identity in pursuit of love. In “A Brief Note on the Translation of Winter Women, Written by the Collective Dead, Translated by Amal Ruth,” a writer speaks for those who have passed. The “real” author is Rivers Solomon, and the reader is TL Thompson. In “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” by Alexander Weinstein a robot child and its human family learn about love all at once. The reader is Tony Hale.
A special Holiday Hour from The Moth. The unexpected gifts of December: holiday customs, brand new traditions, flying cows, fruit, luminaries and a magical forest. Hosted by The Moth’s Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Adam Ruben is at a loss when it comes to buying Christmas gifts.
Pierre Epstein is a little boy tracking the progress of his Uncle Igor's escape from Nazi-occupied France.
Ed McCarthy break sinto the house he grew up in to rescue a precious box of Christmas decorations.
Katie Fales grandfather is a rancher who was to rescue a bunch of stranded steer.
Catherine McCarthy finally admits she's homesick during Christmas in Thailand.
David Frieberg and his son are amazed by an accidental forest during a blizzard in NYC.
Denise Scheurmann has a terminally ill father but her neighbors don't forget to light her Christmas luminaries.
[REBROADCAST FROM May 6, 2022] We air highlights from our Get Lit with All Of It April book club event with Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan, which took place in the Greene Space on May 2! Egan joined us to discuss her latest novel and our book club selection, The Candy House,and to take questions from the audience. [REBROADCAST FROM June 3, 2022] We air highlights from our May Get Lit with All Of It virtual book club event with author Hernan Diaz. We spent the month reading his novel Trust, which tells the story of one fabulously man in early 20th century New York... and the story of his brilliant wife, who died young. [REBROADCAST FROM October 5, 2022] Bestselling author Celeste Ng is back with her latest novel after the tremendous success of Little Fires Everywhere. In Our Missing Hearts, Ng creates a future America in which laws have been created to "preserve American culture" and children of dissidents can be sent away. One of those children is Bird, whose mother is a Chinese American poet deemed unpatriotic by the government. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother, but when he receives a mysterious note, he begins a journey to find her. Ng join us to discuss. [REBROADCAST FROM September 12, 2022] Abdulrazak Gurnah is the latest Nobel Prize recipient in literature, receiving the award for his decades of writing about colonialism, refugees, and family. Gurnah joins us to discuss his career and his latest novel, Afterlives, a story of characters living under German colonial rule in East Africa. [REBROADCAST FROM October 27, 2022] Acclaimed author and short story master George Saunders joins us to discuss his new collection, Liberation Day.
Meg Wolitzer presents a show of stories about our need to have “proof of love”—some demonstration by those nearest and dearest of exactly how much they care. A lot, in Etgar Keret’s sweetly improbable “Almost Everything,” in which a husband looks for the perfect gift for a demanding wife. It’s read by Liev Schreiber. In Jacob Guajardo’s “Conquistadors, on Fairchild,” read by Michael Hartney, old flames reconnect, but it’s not clear where they are headed.And in a classic from our archives, Haruki Murakami’s “Ice Man,” a shy woman marries a man who carries winter within and without. Jane Curtin is the reader.
In this episode, stories of who we are and what we present to the world. White lies, falsified documents, playing dress up, and big transformations. This show is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, producer of The Moth Radio Hour.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Judit Samper Albero uses her artistic talent to save money.
Shaun Gohel accidentally manifests a girlfriend.
Dave Moran prepares to argue in front of the Supreme Court.
Camille Qurban almost has her cover blown at a child's birthday party.
Ishmael Beah describes his transformation from innocent child to cold-hearted soldier.
In the 1990s, an Israeli graduate student conducted research into a massacre of Palestinian civilians in 1948, the year of Israel's establishment as a nation. That research led the student to be discredited, and labeled a traitor. A new documentary from Israeli producer Alon Schwartz, "Tantura," revisits that research, the violence it documented, and the efforts to gloss over some of the darker parts of Israel's fight for independence.
On November 17, the District Court of the Hague handed down a verdict from their years-long criminal investigation into the people responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over a field in eastern Ukraine. The passenger plane was shot down in 2014 by a surface-to-air Buk missile, killing the 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. The Dutch court found two Russians and one Ukrainian guilty.
Investigative journalists played a crucial role in identifying the parties responsible. The journalists and researchers at Bellingcat, an investigative news outlet that specializes in collaborative reporting using open source materials, teamed up with Roman Dobrokhotov, an investigative reporter and Editor-in-Chief of The Insider, to identify the Russian military commanders who ordered the firing of the missile that killed 298 people. Using a combination of voice analysis, caller ID apps, and a package delivered to a fake address, they identified the commanders and handed this information to the Dutch court. In the process, they also revealed secret Russian intelligence operations behind Russia's so-called "separatist movements" in Ukraine and Georgia. Aric Toler, the director of research and training at Bellingcat, explains the open source methods used to crack the case, and Brooke speaks with Dobrokhotov about how investigative journalism has led to a greater understanding of Putin's government and how it operates.
This is a segment from our December 2, 2022, The Oldest Trick.
On this episode, we get in the holiday spirit with a tale about a very special Xmas. Then, we discuss how directors can shape Moth stories. This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Storyteller:
Peter Aguero
Meg Wolitzer presents a show about the theater, and those who love it. Rachel Klein’s “Audience Instructions for Our Immersive/Experimental Theatre Production In An Abandoned Middle School In Bushwick,” read by Santino Fontana, sends up the avant-garde. In “Our Mutual (Theater) Friend,” by Amber Sparks, A retired diva just can’t fit into ordinary life—and then, she’s given an extraordinary gift. Krystina Alabado reads. Ann Petry’s “Solo on the Drums,” read by Peter Francis James, captures a passionate performance. And Anton Chekhov offers up a theatrical power couple and their puzzling marriage in “He and She,” read by present-day theatrical power couple Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes.
In this hour, stories from the Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Hosted by Dame Wilburn, with additional hosting from Jay Allison. A woman says goodbye to her childhood ranch; a young girl finally gets her wish to own a pet; a Guatemalan teenager goes on a silent and stealthy mission; and a Dakota man tries to track down someone he has not seen in years. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Storytellers:
Teresa Jordan returns home to a parched and cracked land.
Dame Wilburn visits Macon, Georgia for a summer and gets an unconventional pet.
Nestor Gomez flees the Guatemalan Civil War to the safety of his mother’s home.
Bobby Wilson hears of a Dakota man he desperately tries to meet.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about fathers and fatherhood. In “Beauty and the Beast” by Simon Rich, a self-absorbed producer gets a little Disney sparkle from his daughter. The reader is Arian Moayed. “Bedtime Story” by Victor LaValle, read by Dion Graham, features a son soothing an anxious father; and a father-daughter hiking trip involves both bonding and danger in Percival Everett’s “Exposure,” read by Denis O’Hare. The show includes comments by Dion Graham and Percival Everett.
In this episode, bold attempts to revisit the past. A quarterback makes a trip back home, a wife attempts to understand her husband's past, a young man discovers the rodeo, and an adult is cast in a high school play. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Ivan McClellan discovers the Black Rodeo.
Rachel McCormick attempts to understand her immigrant husband's past.
Steve Peebles is offered a role in a high school play, despite being an adult.
Kimberly Reed confronts her past, and future, when she is forced to make a trip to her hometown.
Starting tomorrow, MacArthur Genius award-winning pianist Jason Moran will be playing a string of shows through the week at Village Vanguard alongside his band The Bandwagon, featuring Tarus Mateen (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums). Moran joins to preview the residency as well as tell us what else he's got going on. If you live in New York City, it can be easy to pay attention to just what is showing at the major museums. However, there are plenty of great institutions in our listening area, from New Jersey, to Westchester, to the Hudson Valley. A new exhibition at Hudson River Museum focuses on prints made by female artists in the U.S from the years 1960 to 1990, a period of change in the art world for female artists when it comes to recognition. Curator Laura Vookles joins to talk about the exhibition, Matrix: Prints by Women Artists, 1960–1990, which is on view until April 2. As holiday shopping season approaches, we receive advice from personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, also known as "The Money Coach" on how to take stock of your finances, deal with debt and prepare for tax season. We also take your calls. The documentary, “Good Night Oppy,” narrated by Angela Bassett, recreates the journey of the Opportunity rover, which explored Mars sending signals and findings back to Earth from 2004 to 2018. Director Ryan White joins us alongside Bekah Sosland Siegfriedt, engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The documentary arrives on Amazon Prime this Wednesday.
Last week, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," the second film in the franchise, was released to positive reviews. The first Black Panther broke records at the box office in 2018, and the sequel has been highly anticipated, especially after the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman, who played T'Challa, in 2020. William Evans and Omar Holmon, co-founders of the website Black Nerd Problems, are with us to give their thoughts on the new movie.
[REBROADCAST FROM MARCH 22, 2022] Multitude is Belgian musician Stromae's first studio album in eight years, following a hiatus imposed by physical and mental health struggles. The album explores many of those experiences and others from that period, through music that dances between hip-hop, europop, cumbia and more. Stromae joined us for a Listening Party.
The Indian made, Telugu language epic film "RRR" was released on Netflix in the United States months ago, but since then, the movie has only gained steam at the box office and internationally, winning over incredibly devoted fans around the globe. Director S.S. Rajamouli joins us to discuss the film, which tells the story of two freedom fighters in Indian in the 1920s... who are turned into almost super-human action figures. "RRR" dubbed in Hinid is on Netflix now, and "RRR" is Telugu is in select theaters now.
The 2022 Men's World Cup kicks off this Sunday in Qatar, with the host nation facing off against Ecuador. This iteration of the tournament has not been without controversy, whether it's briberies, FIFA corruption, and Qatar's human rights violations, including the deaths of over 6,500 migrant workers while the stadiums were being built. But, at the same time, the World Cup is a spectacle, with more than a billion people around the world watching, including at the many beloved local soccer bars around New York City. Roger Bennett, founder of the Men In Blazers Media Network, and co-author of the new book, Gods of Soccer: The Pantheon of the 100 Greatest Soccer Players (According to Us), joins for the first installment of our month of World Cup coverage to help preview the tournament and take your calls for your predictions and questions.
The Indian made, Telugu language epic film "RRR" was released on Netflix in the United States months ago, but since then, the movie has only gained steam at the box office and internationally, winning over incredibly devoted fans around the globe. Director S.S. Rajamouli joins us to discuss the film, which tells the story of two freedom fighters in Indian in the 1920s... who are turned into almost super-human action figures. "RRR" dubbed in Hinid is on Netflix now, and "RRR" is Telugu is in select theaters now.
On this week’s episode, we take a look back at 1999, to the origins of the Moth’s community program. We’ll have a story about The Mets, and one about life after prison. This episode is hosted by Larry Rosen.
Storytellers:
Marie Hershkowitz
David Gaskin
Meg Wolitzer presents three stories in which plans go awry, or alter completely. In Ben Loory’s “Dandelions,” read by Wyatt Cenac, a suburb is invaded, and experiences a change of heart. Edwidge Danticat imagines an ultimate act and its consequences in “Cane and Roses,” read by Anika Noni Rose. And a romance with comic underpinnings changes course in Ray Bradbury’s “The Laurel and Hardy Love Affair,” read by Tate Donovan.
In this special hour, three stories from the Vietnam War Era. A troop comes under attack deep in the Vietnamese jungle; a triage nurse does her best to save the lives of soldiers; and a young man tries to save his little brothers as Saigon falls. Hosted by The Moth’s Senior Director, Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Dave Dillard and his company are trekking through the Vietnamese jungle when they hear an unusual sound.
Edie Meeks comes to face the carnage of war.
Jason Trieu tries to save his family as the U.S. Army retreats and Saigon falls.
On this week’s episode, we take a look back at 2000, the origin of the Moth StorySLAMs. In lieu of bringing you to an actual show, we’ll be playing ten abbreviated versions of GrandSLAM-winning stories. This episode is hosted by Jenifer Hixson.
Storytellers:
Donna Otter
Tere Negrete
Vivienne Anderson
Pam Burrell
Juliette Holmes
Craig Mangum
Ruby Cooper
Phyllis Bowdwin
Wilson Seely and
Ray Christian
For more information on all of our storytellers, go to the moth.org/extras.
Meg Wolitzer hands off to guest host Roxane Gay in this rebroadcast of a show about considering people and feelings at a distance. Italian fabulist Italo Calvino observes young love on the slopes in “The Adventure of a Skier,” performed by James Naughton. In Edwidge Danticat’s “New York Day Women” a daughter watches her mother walking through Manhattan. The reader is Laurine Towler. And the James Baldwin grapples with what it means to be an American in "Notes for a Hypothetical Novel," performed by Brandon J. Dirden.
This week, stories about adventures and thrills. Hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Mack Dryden
Janice Bartley
Brian Gavagan
Lex Jade
Lucy Hayward
In 2015, voters in Ohio approved a Republican constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering in the state—one of the first of its kind. And then Ohio Republicans drew electoral maps that violated their own constitutional amendment, and those are the ones they’re using in this year’s elections.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works in which characters are out of their element. Literally, in the case of Robert Coover’s witty reworking of the fable “The Frog Prince,” who finds human life exhausting. Parker Posey reads the story. In Cristina Henriquez’s “Chasing Birds” a married couple share an exotic holiday locale, but not much else. It’s voiced by Maryann Plunkett, who also comments on the story at the end of her read. The story is introduced by writer and bird aficionado Amy Tan.
In this episode, stories of the voices that inspire us, comfort us, and help us navigate the world--sometimes in defiance of science or logic. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
André De Shields is inspired by his sister and muse, Iris.
Bud Trillin and a Chinatown chicken play tic-tac-toe.
In the wake of an unfathomable loss, Francine Lobis Wheeler must navigate grieving in the public eye.
We hear from kids who are dealing with some of the country’s most contentious debates. Debates that are supposedly about them.
New York Magazine writer Justin Davidson joins to talk about New York City's structural changes ten years after Hurricane Sandy, and how the city might look in the future as a result of future storms.
Election Day is November 8, and early voting in New York and New Jersey begins tomorrow. Brigid Bergen, WNYC reporter and host of our Sunday call-in show The People's Guide to Power, joins to give us all the information about what you need to know about voting early, and what's at stake this election season.
The debut novel from Sarah Thankam Mathews is a National Book Award finalist. All This Could Be Different tells the story of a young woman trying to make ends meet during the 2008 recession in Milwaukee. Mathews joins us to discuss as part of our series, 2022 Debuts.
It's the last weekend to watch the 80's horror movies available through the Criterion Channel. Series curator Clyde Folley joins us again to talk about more of the great 80's horror you can stream during Halloweekend, and take calls from listeners about their favorite 80's horror movies.
We get a preview of the popular Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest in Fort Greene Park, which takes place tomorrow. Amy Hecht, founding board member of Fort Greene PUPS, joins us to talk about the event and we take your calls about what you're dressing your pets as this Halloween.
On this week’s episode, we take a look back at 2001. We’ll hear a story from a firefighter who worked on 9/11, and we’ll explore how stories helped people connect to each other in the weeks after the tragedy. This episode is hosted by George Green and Meg Bowles.
Storyteller: Keith Young
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about change. Yalcin Tosun’s “Muzaffer and Bananas” explores the awkward rites of passage of two teenaged boys. It’s performed by Arian Moayed. In Anya DeNiro’s “Take Pills and Wait for Hips,” performed by Pooya Mohseni, a trans woman reflects on her life before and after the change. And a former couple rehearse the disintegration of their relationship—on a street corner—in A.M. Homes’ “Goodbye to the Road Not Taken’ performed by Jane Kaczmarek and Tony Shaloub.
Writer, actor, and comedian Bashir Salahuddin is co-creator and star of the variety show Sherman’s Showcase and the HBO Max sitcom South Side.
We talk to Bashir about how his career in Hollywood has taken him back to the South Side of Chicago, his inspirations for writing television, and his words of wisdom for young creators who want to get a start in the industry.
In the game of life, every species is like an action figure. You got your dogs and your dung beetles, your bald eagles and your blueberries. And for a long time scientists believed it was pretty much impossible for those action figures to mix and make a new kind of action figure that was able to have its own babies (dog beetles? Baldberries? Nah). But, today we tell the story of a four-legged beast in Kentucky whose existence is upending scientific beliefs. If you want a big fat SPOILER, here it is: the creature in question is a mule! After almost 20 years of living her life as a hybrid (a mix between a horse and a donkey), believed to be incapable of having babies, Peanut the mule shocked the world by doing the impossible. Peanut’s owners, Teresa and Jerry Smothers, tell us the story of her life. Evolutionary biologist Dr. Molly Schumer explains how scientists’ understanding of hybrids has changed dramatically over the course of Peanut’s lifetime. And no mule episode would be complete without a cowboy-hatted mule packer leading us deep into the rocky trails of the American West on muleback to explain why mules are the best of both worlds of their parents.
Learn about the storytellers, listen to music, and dig deeper into the stories you hear on Terrestrials with activities you can do at home or in the classroom on our website, Terrestrialspodcast.org.
Watch a hybrid gameshow and find even MORE original Terrestrials fun on our Youtube.
Badger us on Social Media: @radiolab and #TerrestrialsPodcast
More from Terrestrials The Shovels: Dig Deeper
For each episode of Terrestrials, we provide a selection of activity sheets, drawing prompts, musical lessons, and more. We call them “shovels” because we hope they will help you (and your friends, family, students, neighbors, etc) dig more deeply into the world! You can do them at home, in the classroom, outside, or in the privacy of your own mind. We hope you enjoy!
If you want to share what you’ve made, ask an adult share it on social media using #TerrestrialsPodcast and make sure to tag @Radiolab
Draw - Get creative with a special listen from our friends from DrawTogether
Do - We've put a bunch of concrete - and even kinda fun - things we can all do to help protect the nonhuman life on this planet IN BINGO form!
This week’s storytellersare Jerry and Teresa Smothers, Dr. Molly Schumer and mule packer James Reeves.
Want to keep learning? Check out these resources to learn about the sure-footed, stubborn hybrid helper that is the MULE:
Watch a TV news report about Peanut and Miracle
Ligers and Zonkeys and Narlugas, Oh my! Read an article about hybrids in nature and whether being a hybrid helps or hurts your genetic success.
Learn the story of the first narluga (narwhal and beluga) spotting.
Learn more about James Reeves, Mule Packer to the stars! Or, rather, to the mountains.
Follow Mule Packer James Reeves’ instagram, full of videos of him and mules!
Is breeding hybrids (like Ligers) unethical?
Did you know mules are STILL used in the military? Check out Susan Orlean’s wonderful article about that.
A video about the myth of Pegasus vs. The Chimera
“Mules and More” Magazine
Detailed list of reports of fertile mules over history
Terrestrials is a production of WNYC Studios, created by Lulu Miller. This episode is produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski and Lulu Miller. Original Music by Alan Goffinski. Help from Suzie Lechtenberg, Sarah Sandbach, Natalia Ramirez, and Sarita Bhatt. Fact-check by Natalie Meade. Sound design by Phoebe Wang with additional engineering by Joe Plourde and Andrew Dunn. Our storytellers this week are Jerry and Teresa Smothers, Dr. Molly Schumer, and mulepacker James Reeves. Special thanks to the punks at the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville, Virginia: Riles, Susie, Jack, Tate, Tiny, Cheyenne, Zina, Bray, Jordan and Orion
Our advisors are Theanne Griffith, Aliyah Elijah, Dominique Shabazz, Liza Steinberg-Demby, and Tara Welty.
Terrestrials is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
Have questions for us, badgers? Badger us away! Your parent/guardian should write to us along with you, so we know you have their permission, and for maybe even having your ideas mentioned on the show. Email terrestrials@wnyc.org
This week, we take a look at how we make our families, from a foster family to finding a family in prison. Hosted by Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Gina Sampaio
Angaha Mahajan
Maxie Jones
Matti Strutski
Tony Cyprien
Stories about birds and the hearts they sway, the havoc they wreak, the lives they change.
Last Friday, streaming service Amazon Freevee premiered the TV series, "High School," based on the memoir of the same name by pop musicians and twins Tegan and Sara. Today, the duo drops their 10th album, Crybaby. They join us to discuss both projects. Crafting Change is a new book on handmade art and activism geared towards young adults looking to get involved with crafting and activism, aka "craftivism." We're joined by its author, Jessica Vitkus.
Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade has won more Latin Grammy's than any other female artist. Her most recent release, Un Canto por México, is nominated for Best Folk Album at next month's Latin Grammy Awards. And on October 28, she'll release a new album, called De Todas las Flores, which is her first album of all new music in 7 years. Lafourcade joins us for a Listening Party, and she previews her October 27 concert at Carnegie Hall. Comedian Paula Poundstone is a regular panelist on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! and was the first woman to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner. She's on tour now with a show at Tarrytown Music Hall tonight (10/21). She joins us and takes listeners' calls.
Crafting Change is a new book on handmade art and activism geared towards young adults looking to get involved with crafting and activism, aka "craftivism." We're joined by its author, Jessica Vitkus.
Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade has won more Latin Grammy's than any other female artist. Her most recent release, Un Canto por México, is nominated for Best Folk Album at next month's Latin Grammy Awards. And on October 28, she'll release a new album, called De Todas las Flores, which is her first album of all new music in 7 years. Lafourcade joins us for a Listening Party, and she previews her October 27 concert at Carnegie Hall.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works in which characters have unusual friends who change their lives—whether they like it or not. In “Unicorn Me” by Elizabeth Crane, a magical box delivers a unicorn who offers ambiguous advice. Miriam Shor performs the story followed by a musical piece "Breathe," inspired by the story which was composed by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler. Singer Maddie Corman, bassist Matt Scharfglass, and Zina Goldrich perform. A sentient cockroach intrigues and alarms a woman in “The Double Life of the Cockroach’s Wife” by Helen Phillips. It’s performed by Sarah Steele. And the latest iPhone knows everything about you in Weike Wang’s “iPhoneSE,” performed by Dawn Akemi Saito. All three stories were commissions for Selected Shorts’ anthology Small Odysseys.
The ocean can be a scary place: the waves are so strong, the water so deep. But surfer and illustrator AJ Dungo tells the story of an earthling who figured out how to walk on water and literally defy the rules of gravity. If you want a big SPOILER, here it is: It’s only human for the season, the grandfather of modern-day surfing, Duke Kahanamoku. Duke’s great grandniece, Heather Kina’u Paoa tells us about what Duke’s life was really like. We learn about the physics of surfing, and how surfing is an escape, not just on a spiritual level, but a physical one too. Finally, we learn how Duke’s story of learning to conquer the waves while remaining true to his Hawaiian heritage inspired AJ to get through one of the hardest times of his life.
TW: this episode deals with the loss of a loved one and grief.
Learn about the storytellers, listen to music, and dig deeper into the stories you hear on Terrestrials with activities you can do at home or in the classroom on our website, Terrestrialspodcast.org.
Watch a music video for “It Comes in Waves” and find even MORE original Terrestrials fun on our Youtube.
Badger us on Social Media: @radiolab and #TerrestrialsPodcast
More from Terrestrials The Shovels: Dig Deeper For each episode of Terrestrials, we provide a selection of activity sheets, drawing prompts, musical lessons, and more. We call them “shovels” because we hope they will help you (and your friends, family, students, neighbors, etc) dig more deeply into the world! You can do them at home, in the classroom, outside, or in the privacy of your own mind. We hope you enjoy!
If you want to share what you’ve made, ask an adult share it on social media using #TerrestrialsPodcast and make sure to tag @Radiolab
Draw - Got the big feelings? Drawing can help. This week's drawing prompt from Wendy Mac at the DrawTogether podcast is a three part series called Emotional Doodles all about how to translate feelings into art (and, in turn, maybe even help you move through the hard feelings).
Play 🎶 - Learn how to playthe chords to the song “IT COMES IN WAVES”
Do - Get crafty with a fun activity sheet!
This week’s storytellers are AJ Dungo and Heather Kina’u Paoa.
Want to keep learning? Check out these resources to learn about the gravity-defying history-maker, Duke Kahanamoku:
Check out Makani Tabura's Culturised podcast (about Hawaiian culture and history!)
Check out AJ Dungo’s comic book (aka graphic novel), In WavesWatch the new documentary about Duke, WatermanResources on Grief:
Guide to Helping Children Cope with Grief from the Child Mind Institute is a resource available for families navigating the loss of a loved one.
When a Loved One Dies: How to Help Your Child (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth
I Cannot Heal My Children’s Grief, but I Can Help Them Name It
“Do Animals Experience Grief?” from Smithsonian Magazine
A Guide for Grown-Ups Helping Children Through the Toughest Times from Sesame Street in Communities
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, self-harm, or harm to others, please get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988. If you’re outside the U.S., you can visit findahelpline.com to find resources for your country.
Terrestrials is a production of WNYC Studios, created by Lulu Miller. This episode is produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski and Lulu Miller. Original Music by Alan Goffinski. Help from Suzie Lechtenberg, Sarah Sandbach, Natalia Ramirez, and Sarita Bhatt. Fact-check by Natalie Meade. Sound design by Mira Burt-Wintonick with additional engineering by Joe Plourde. Our storytellers this week are AJ Dungo and Heather Kina’u Paoa. Transcription by Russell Gragg.
Our advisors are Theanne Griffith, Aliyah Elijah, Dominique Shabazz, John Green, Liza Steinberg-Demby, and Tara Welty.
Terrestrials is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
Have questions for us, badgers? Badger us away! Your parent/guardian should write to us along with you, so we know you have their permission, and for maybe even having your ideas mentioned on the show. Email terrestrials@wnyc.org
This week, an episode in honor of the International Day of the Girl Child, observed October 11. Stories from across continents and across generations -- about the challenges, the adventures, and the joys of girlhood. Hosted and produced by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
10-year-old Briony Chappell and her father search for each other after being separated on a ski trip.
Dia's mother surprises her in a moment of need.
Primah Kwagala recounts the night her father brought home a second wife.
Masooma Ranalvi decides to break her silence.
Eve Engel hopes to get her first kiss.
Juliette Holmes and her mother go shopping in 1940s segregated Georgia.
Two people go on excavations of their families’ pasts. Including the first episode of the new podcast, “We Were Three,” hosted by our longtime producer, Nancy Updike, and from Serial Productions and The New York Times.
In the new Broadway revival of "1776," the Founding Fathers are all played by female, trans, and non-binary actors, putting the people who were left out of the original Declaration of Independence back into the narrative. Directors Diane Paulus and Jeffrey L. Page join us to discuss the show, which is running now at the American Airlines Theater. We are also joined by actor Sara Porkalob, who plays South Carolina Congressman Edward Rutledge.
The Manhattan Vintage show is this weekend. We will get a preview with the host of the podcast "PRE-LOVED" Emily Stochl, who has been a stylist at The Manhattan Vintage show. We will take your calls on your favorite vintage store and vintage store find.
leana Cabra, who performs as iLe, is a singer and former member of the award-winning hip hop group, Calle 13. Next Friday, she'll drop her third solo album, Nacarile, featuring artists from across the Spanish-speaking world, including Ivy Queen, Natalia Lafourcade, and Mon Laferte. She'll also celebrate the album's release with a show in Brooklyn at Public Records. iLe joins for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST FROM June 25, 2021] Musician Jill Sobule joins us to discuss "FCK7THGRADE*," a concert film based on stories from Sobule’s childhood and music career. She first told us about the show at our January 2020 Get Lit.
As we get deeper into spooky season, we check in with Matt Barone, the Director of Programming for the Brooklyn Horror Festival, who will walk us through this year's slate of scary films.
In the new Broadway revival of "1776," the Founding Fathers are all played by female, trans, and non-binary actors, putting the people who were left out of the original Declaration of Independence back into the narrative. Directors Diane Paulus and Jeffrey L. Page join us to discuss the show, which is running now at the American Airlines Theater. We are also joined by actor Sara Porkalob, who plays South Carolina Congressman Edward Rutledge.
On this week’s episode, we hear a story from a Ukranian refugee. And we take a look at one of the coolest programs at The Moth... MothWorks. This episode is hosted by Anna Roberts and Amanda Garcia.
Storyteller: Katerina Lyublin
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that explore the many-layered lives of women. Edwidge Danticat’s essay “Women Like Us” honors the long line of strong women in her family, but also recognizes her need to distance herself in order to become a writer. The reader is the late Lynne Thigpen. In an excerpt from Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, performed by Joan Allen, a philandering husband gets just what he deserves. And an order of nuns has hidden strengths—and comic timing—in Claire Luchette’s “New Bees,” performed by Joanna Gleason.
Over a billion lightyears ago, in the darkness of outer space, a collision of black holes sent out a fleet of invisible waves that were headed right toward planet Earth. The waves were so powerful they could ripple spacetime but most people on Earth didn't believe the waves were real. SPOILER ALERT: The waves are called gravitational waves and…they are real! Astrophysicist Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced tells the story of what happened when they hit Earth in 2015 and how scientists came to learn to use senses beyond eyesight to detect the waves. We also learn from Dr. Stavros Katsanevas about the building of a giant gravitational wave catcher called “The Interferometer.” This episode also explores how to persist in the face of doubt as we learn Wanda's tale of going blind and learning how to listen to the stars.
Learn about the storytellers, listen to music, and dig deeper into the stories you hear on Terrestrials with activities you can do at home or in the classroom on our website, Terrestrialspodcast.org.
Watch the interferometer come to life, disco style, and find even MORE original Terrestrials fun on our Youtube.
Badger us on Social Media: @radiolab and #TerrestrialsPodcast
More from Terrestrials
The Shovels: Dig Deeper
For each episode of Terrestrials, we provide a selection of activity sheets, drawing prompts, musical lessons, and more. We call them “shovels” because we hope they will help you (and your friends, family, students, neighbors, etc) dig more deeply into the world! You can do them at home, in the classroom, outside, or in the privacy of your own mind. We hope you enjoy!
If you want to share what you’ve made, ask an adult share it on social media using #TerrestrialsPodcast and make sure to tag @Radiolab
Draw - Use your ears to draw! In this very special drawing prompt, Wendy Mac and the DrawTogether team pull in an actual rockstar to play you various favorite sounds to draw. It's a feast for the mind, ears, and hands. Grab a pencil, pen, crayon, marker, anything, and check it out here!
Play 🎶 - Learn how to playthe chords to the song “UNIMAGINABLE”
Do - Get crafty with a fun activity sheet!
This week’s storyteller is Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced.
Want to keep learning? Check out these resources to learn about the time-bending power that is the gravitational wave:
Get to Wanda a little better; watch her TED talk!
Take a tour of the world’s first interferometer! (Free monthly tours in person in Richland, WA)
Train yourself to use sound for signal detection in astronomy.
Learn more about asteroseismology with the wonderful Hank Green!
Spooked by the idea of the infinite universe? Listen to John Green’s “Against Nihilism” (probably best for 13 and up)!
Terrestrials is a production of WNYC Studios, created by Lulu Miller. This episode is produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski and Lulu Miller. Original Music by Alan Goffinski. Help from Suzie Lechtenberg, Sarah Sandbach, Natalia Ramirez, and Sarita Bhatt. Fact-check by Natalie Meade. Sound design by Phoebe Wang with additional engineering by Joe Plourde. Our storytellers this week are Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced and Dr. Stavros Katsanevas. Transcription by Caleb Codding.
Our advisors are Theanne Griffith, Aliyah Elijah, Dominique Shabazz, John Green, Liza Steinberg-Demby, Alice Wong, and Tara Welty.
Terrestrials is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
Have questions for us, badgers? Badger us away! Your parent/guardian should write to us along with you, so we know you have their permission, and for maybe even having your ideas mentioned on the show. Email terrestrials@wnyc.org
You know the story: back in high school, a jock and a nerd switched bodies. Except now it's ten years later... and they still haven't switched back.
Written by Matthew Brian Cohen
Performed by Seth Lind, Jeremy Bent, Betsy Kenney, Randy McKay, Drew Reilly, Joel Bernstein, Zuri Washington, Amy Warren, Matthew Brian Cohen, and Bill Rohlfing.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this episode, we present four stories all about coming to the precipice of catastrophe. A vicious rumor shakes the foundations of family and home, a potential romance takes a dark turn, and a woman’s heritage dangles over oblivion by a thread. Hosted by Tara Clancy in front of a live audience in Jackson, Wyoming, with additional hosting by Jay Allison.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Live Host: Tara Clancy
Tara Clancy is unprepared for a conversation around sexuality with her son.
Cristina Briones faces down a housing crisis.
Terrance Flynn attempts to catch the romantic-interest of an enigmatic stranger.
Nina McConigley clings to her heritage with a safety pin and a sari.
Bad bosses. Obnoxious coworkers. Unfair compensation. There are so many reasons people feel disempowered in the workplace. But how can our feelings about power enable or disrupt the larger dynamics we hate at work? This week, Yowei Shaw seeks answers from a power researcher and a union organizer.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two works about growth helped along by some sort of fantastical assistance. The characters in these pieces are stuck; consciously or not, they're looking for something to give them just a little push. And that nudge comes in the form of magic. In “Isabella’s Garden” by Naomi Kritzer, a backyard nature site presents a young family with a new world of fertility. The reader is Jane Kaczmarek. In “My Dear You” by Rachel Khong, performed by Annie Q., the afterlife provides a perfect platform for questions about love, commitment, and the meaning of forever. After the reading, Wolitzer talks to Khong about the story and her writing process.
High above the banks of the Mississippi river, a nest holds the secret life of one of America’s most patriotic creatures. Their story puzzles scientists, reinforces indigenous wisdom, and wows audiences, all thanks to a park ranger named Ed, and a well-placed webcam. If you want to spoil the mystery, here ya go: it’s a bald eagle. Actually, it’s three bald eagles. A mama bird and daddies make a home together for over a decade and give new meaning to our national symbol.
Learn about the storytellers, listen to music, and dig deeper into the stories you hear on Terrestrials with activities you can do at home or in the classroom on our website, Terrestrialspodcast.org.
Watch “I Wanna Hear the Eagle” and find even MORE original Terrestrials fun on our Youtube.
And badger us on Social Media: @radiolab and #TerrestrialsPodcast
More from Terrestrials The Shovels: Dig Deeper For each episode of Terrestrials, we provide a selection of activity sheets, drawing prompts, musical lessons, and more. We call them “shovels” because we hope they will help you (and your friends, family, students, neighbors, etc) dig more deeply into the world! You can do them at home, in the classroom, outside, or in the privacy of your own mind. We hope you enjoy!
If you want to share what you’ve made, ask an adult share it on social media using #TerrestrialsPodcast and make sure to tag @Radiolab
Draw - Journey up into the clouds like an eagle with a special drawing prompt made by artist Wendy Mac and the DrawTogether team that will get you thinking about the weather (both inside and out).
Play 🎶 - Learn how to playthe chords to the song “I WANT TO HEAR THE EAGLE.”
Do - Get crafty with a fun activity sheet!
This week’s storytellers are Ed Britton and Nataanii Means.
Want to keep learning? Check out these resources to learn about the complex lives of the bald eagle:
Check out The Trio Bald Eagle Nest Cam yourself!
An interview with Nataanii Means in Native Maxx Magazine
The funny history of how the bald eagle became America’s national symbol
An article called “Dirty Birds” about what it’s actually like to live with America’s national symbol.
Did you know it’s illegal to keep a bald eagle feather? Learn more in this AWESOME short video about the National Eagle Repository.
Terrestrials is a production of WNYC Studios, created by Lulu Miller. This episode is produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski and Lulu Miller. Original Music by Alan Goffinski. Help from Suzie Lechtenberg, Sarah Sandbach, Natalia Ramirez, and Sarita Bhatt. Fact-check by Diane Kelley. Sound design by Mira Burt-Wintonick with additional engineering by Joe Plourde. Our storytellers this week are Ed Britton and Nataanii Means. Transcription by Caleb Codding.
Our advisors are Theanne Griffith, Aliyah Elijah, Dominique Shabazz, Liza Steinberg-Demby, and Tara Welty.
Terrestrials is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
Have questions for us, badgers? Badger us away! Your parent/guardian should write to us along with you, so we know you have their permission, and for maybe even having your ideas mentioned on the show. Email terrestrials@wnyc.org
In this hour, stories of exposure to unexpected worlds, new traditions, and traversing boundaries. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, producer of this show.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Jason Kordelos goes on a cruise to nowhere.
Cheech Marin tries to make sense of his new life in a new place.
Prachi Mehta is shocked by America's obsession with pets.
Marne Litfin finds that they have unexpected responsibilities while working at a Quaker camp.
In 1965, novelist James Baldwin and conservative thinker William F. Buckley Jr. debated this topic at Cambridge University: "The American Dream is at the expense of the American Negro." The resulting discussion was an inflection point in the fight for racial justice in America. That debate has been dramatized for the stage in the new production, "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge," running at The Public Theater. We're joined by Greig Sargeant, who conceived of the show and stars as James Baldwin, and director John Collins, to discuss. "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge" runs at The Public through October 23.
After months of working from home and retreating from the world, Kia Miakka Natisse is stuck - in her house, and in her head. In an attempt to break out of the funk, she's searching for wisdom at the bottom of the ocean with South Africa's first Black freediving instructor, Zandile Ndhlovu.
This week, we hear standup and a story from Meg Ferrill. Plus, we examine the links between comedy and storytelling. If you want to learn more about storytelling, pick up our book “How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth.” This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Storytellers:
Meg Ferrill
Interviewed Comedians:
Meg Ferrill
Ophira Eisenberg
Hari Kondabolu
Mike Birbiglia
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works featuring birds, curated by writer and bird aficionado Amy Tan. Ben Loory’s “The Frog and the Bird,” is a twist the traditional fable genre; it’s performed by Mike Doyle. Teenagers are transformed in “Town of Birds,” by Heather Monley, performed by Yetide Badaki; and an avian love song goes viral in Mikkel Rosengaard’s “The Mating Call,” performed by BD Wong. Tan comments on the program’s theme and the stories.
Mark thinks he's unworthy of his wife's affection. At least, that's what the voices in his head keep saying....
Written by Louis Kornfeld
Performed by Andy Bustillos, Julia Meinwald, Lila Newman, Tessa Hersh, and Tony Chen
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
This week on The Moth Radio Hour, stories about being young. Hosted by Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Muthoni Garland
Joann Kielar
Moses Storm
Laura Gilbert
Diamante Ortiz
Christine Gentry
Javier Morillo
Puerto Rico is still reeling from Hurricane Fiona, which has brought widespread flooding, damage, and power outages across the island.
We speak with Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of the La Brega podcast, about what she's been hearing from Puerto Ricans following Hurricane Fiona, and hear "desahogos," or "vents" from the Puerto Rican diaspora that La Brega has been collecting.
La Brega invites Puerto Ricans to share audio memos about how they are feeling following Hurricane Fiona at http://labregapodcast.com/buzon.
In San Jose, California, a community clinic was stumped as to why their clients were seeing ghosts. This week, a story about grappling with ghosts of our past and one clinic's attempt to heal intergenerational trauma.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that contemplate a way out—of our lives, and even of this world. In Joe Meno’s “Books You Read,” performed by Joan Allen, a young boy helps his jaded teacher to love reading again. J. Robert Lennon takes us into deep space and a conversation between a computer and a survivor in “Escape Pod W41,” performed by Stephen Lang. And marriage, and a friendship, are tested in Jac Jemc’s “Infidelity,” performed by Kathleen Chalfant. All three stories were commissioned for SELECTED SHORTS’ anthology Small Odysseys.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that contemplate a way out—of our lives, and even of this world. In Joe Meno’s “Books You Read,” performed by Joan Allen, a young boy helps his jaded teacher to love reading again. J. Robert Lennon takes us into deep space and a conversation between a computer and a survivor in “Escape Pod W41,” performed by Stephen Lang. And marriage, and a friendship, are tested in Jac Jemc’s “Infidelity,” performed by Kathleen Chalfant. All three stories were commissioned for SELECTED SHORTS’ anthology Small Odysseys.
In this hour, stories about our fuzzy little friends. Hosted by Alastair Bane. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Hosted by: Alistair Bane
Storytellers:
Catherine Palmer
Jitesh Jaggi
Beth Bradley
Lisa Schuldt
Katie Vaca
Patrick Cleary
Linda Fontanilla
Tomorrow, the Montclair Art Museum hosts the debut of a sight and sound piece created by two Indigenous artists. The work titled, From My Home to Yours. Experimental violinist, Brooklyn Resident and member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Laura Ortman joins us to discuss the piece.
A new novel follows the story of a young graduate student caught in a toxic affair with an older artist named Paul in the south of France. Author Daisy Lafarge based the story on Paul Gauguin's time in Tahiti. She joins us to discuss the novel, titled Paul, as part of our series spotlighting debut novelists, 2022 Debuts.
Born in Bologna Italy and now based in Brooklyn, multimedia artist Federico Solmi's show "Joie de Vire" opens Friday September 16th at the Morris Museum in NJ, the state's second largest museum. The show features traditional art practices like drawing as well as digital technologies like VR and digital painting. Solmi joins us to talk about the show alongside curator Michelle Graves.
This week on Invisibilia, could the rebrand of a familiar pill open up a new way to control fertility in a post-Roe America?
This week, we play a story from Salman Rushdie, a treasured member of The Moth family. This episode is hosted by Jon Goode.
Host: Jon Goode
Storyteller: Salman Rushdie
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that offer unusual perspectives on clothes and fashion—selling, making, and coveting. In Anne Enright’s “(She Owns) Everything,” read by Mary-Louise Parker, a saleswoman becomes a compulsive consumer; In “Clothes on the Ground: A Conversation with Leap,” we hear from a Cambodian garment worker, interviewed by Julia Wallace for the compendium Women in Clothes, edited by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, and Leanne Shapton. Leap is voiced by Jennifer Lim. And shopping is an antidote to aging in Joanne Harris’s “Faith and Hope Go Shopping,” read by Lois Smith.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that offer unusual perspectives on clothes and fashion—selling, making, and coveting. In Anne Enright’s “(She Owns) Everything,” read by Mary-Louise Parker, a saleswoman becomes a compulsive consumer; In “Clothes on the Ground: A Conversation with Leap,” we hear from a Cambodian garment worker, interviewed by Julia Wallace for the compendium Women in Clothes, edited by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, and Leanne Shapton. Leap is voiced by Jennifer Lim. And shopping is an antidote to aging in Joanne Harris’s “Faith and Hope Go Shopping,” read by Lois Smith.
On a theme park ride dedicated to a sci-fi mega-franchise, a man meets a superfan whose love of fantasy is about to put them both in real danger.
Written by Hunter Nelson.
Performed by Peter Grosz, Alex Dickson, Billy Bob Thompson, Erica Schroeder, Zuri Washington, Jake Hart, Nathan Crisci, Erik Ghalib, Liz Leimkuhler, Anthony Franqui, Erin Bartley, and Hunter Nelson.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
On a theme park ride dedicated to a sci-fi mega-franchise, a man meets a superfan whose love of fantasy is about to put them both in real danger.
Written by Hunter Nelson.
Performed by Peter Grosz, Alex Dickson, Billy Bob Thompson, Erica Schroeder, Zuri Washington, Jake Hart, Nathan Crisci, Erik Ghalib, Liz Leimkuhler, Anthony Franqui, Erin Bartley, and Hunter Nelson.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
There are over 11,000 bird species globally. Mike Unwin takes us on a tour of 80 of them, from birds who fly over the Himalaya Mountains to birds who dive 600 meters below the surface of the sea.
This year "The Wendy Williams Show" aired its final episode, amidst rumors and speculation about the health and well-being of host Wendy Williams. But as the show shuts down, we take a moment to reflect on how Williams, with her brash hot takes, bedazzled microphone, and endlessly memeable monologues, changed daytime TV forever. Coleman Spilde, entertainment critic for the Daily Beast and author of the piece "The Messy and Fabulous Legacy of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’" joins us to discuss, alongside Shamira Ibrahim, culture writer and author of the piece "The Misrepresentations of Wendy Williams’ Undeniable Legacy." Plus, we take listener calls.
When photographer William Klein passed away on September 10, a major exhibition of his work was showing at International Center for Photography. "William Klein: YES Photographs, Paintings, Films 1948-2013," was set to close Monday but was extended through tomorrow night as a tribute to the artist. We speak to ICP Executive Director David Little about the show and Klein's legacy.
WOOLPUNK is an aritst that uses fiber, found cloth, embrodiery and quilting to create pieces that amplify social change. Her work "Sunflowers & Graffiti'd Sky in the Garden State" is currently installed at the Montclair Art Museum.
Violinist Ezinma has contributed an original piece for a new film called "Stranger At the Gate" which premieres at the New Yorker Documentary Film Festival September 14th. She joins to talk about that experience, as well as other projects she's currently working on.
There are over 11,000 bird species globally. Mike Unwin takes us on a tour of 80 of them, from birds who fly over the Himalaya Mountains to birds who dive 600 meters below the surface of the sea.
In this hour, four stories on saying farewell to family, the past, or sometimes the very earth we stand on. Hosted by Meg Bowles, The Moth’s Senior Director. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Ash Bhardwaj is tasked with bringing his father’s remains back home to India.
Courtney Antonioli questions her marriage, but not her love.
Becca Stevens loses her son’s childhood and childhood pet to time.
Michael Such plans for his last moment.
News anchor Katie Couric is used to being the one asking the probing questions. But in her new memoir, Going There, Couric turns her gaze inward, chronicling her childhood, the difficult early days of her career in journalism, and the tragic death of her husband, which left her widowed with two young children. Couric joins us to discuss Going There. Fresh off being namedropped in Beyonce's "Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)," pioneering musician Santigold is out with her fourth studio album, Spirituals. She joins us for a Listening Party. Abdulrazak Gurnah is the latest Nobel Prize recipient in literature, receiving the award for his decades of writing about colonialism, refugees, and family. Gurnah joins us to discuss his career and his latest novel, Afterlives, a story of characters living under German colonial rule in East Africa. The Montclair Art Museum has a new fall slate of shows opening this week. Every day we will speak with curators and artists about the shows. Today, executive director Ira Wagner and chief curator Gail Stavitsky join us to discuss the exhibits "George Inness: Visionary Landscapes" and "Life and Landscape: Inspired by George Inness" which is a juried exhibition of works done in collaboration with Studio Montclair, an organization supporting emerging artists. The playwrighting debut from actor Daniel K. Isaac is an ambitious tale of family and grief, using Korean fairytales to tell the story of how one family passes down trauma and resilience in the wake of conflict and war. The play is titled, "Once Upon A (korean) Time" and is playing at La MaMa through September 18. Isaac joins us to discuss.
There’s a program that brings together kids from two schools. One school is public and in the country’s poorest congressional district. The other is private and costs $43,000/year. They are three miles apart. The hope is that kids connect, but some of the public school kids just can’t get over the divide. We hear what happens when you get to see the other side and it looks a lot better.
Alex is a comic who feels perfectly comfortable commanding a packed, rowdy audience, but consistently submits to what other people want in everyday life. This week, a look at how uncomfortable feelings about power can backfire on ourselves and the people we love. We get the help of a power expert - a dominatrix - to untangle Alex's power dynamics, and find out what it takes to treat a power allergy.
Host Meg Wolitzer shares three stories about people who put things out of sight—and try to put them out of mind. In Lisa Ko’s “Nightlife,” read by Vanessa Kai, a pair of friends quietly sidestep feelings that might complicate their relationship. A teacher tries to help a parent see who her child really is in “The Hole” by Patrick Cottrell, performed by Becca Blackwell. And Elizabeth Strout brings us a beautiful and devastating story of a woman grappling with whether to put her mother into institutional care in “Home,” performed by Mia Dillon. Strout talks with Wolitzer after the reading. All three works were commissioned for the Selected Shorts’ anthology, Small Odysseys.
Host Meg Wolitzer shares three stories about people who put things out of sight—and try to put them out of mind. In Lisa Ko’s “Nightlife,” read by Vanessa Kai, a pair of friends quietly sidestep feelings that might complicate their relationship. A teacher tries to help a parent see who her child really is in “The Hole” by Patrick Cottrell, performed by Becca Blackwell. And Elizabeth Strout brings us a beautiful and devastating story of a woman grappling with whether to put her mother into institutional care in “Home,” performed by Mia Dillon. Strout talks with Wolitzer after the reading. All three works were commissioned for the Selected Shorts’ anthology, Small Odysseys.
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout about writing, short stories, and the use of recurring characters in her work.
In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout about writing, short stories, and the use of recurring characters in her work.
As we look towards the beginning of New York Fashion week, we sit down with someone who has been changing conceptions of what the face of fashion can look like. Edward Enninful, the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue, recounts his rise to that position, his childhood in Ghana and experiences as a refugee in Britain in his new memoir, A Visible Man. Enninful will be speaking tonight at the Apollo Theater at 7:30 and tomorrow at The Strand at 7:00.
The final show at the storied Knitting Factory in Brooklyn started like any other night.
The lights dimmed, the drinks flowed, and music blared over the speakers. But when the house lights went out, this time, it was for good.
The venue is moving to Manhattan next year. And regulars of the Williamsburg comedy and music locale said it will be sorely missed.
Comedian-turned-musician Hannibal Buress hosted and performed at the last show when the venue closed on Sunday, August 21st. It was the final chapter after 13 years at the Metropolitan Avenue location, putting both comedy and music under the same spotlight.
Buress performed stand-up, and later took the stage under his musician stage name, Eshu Tune. The merging of the two worlds was fitting for the Knitting Factory’s farewell show, as it had become a refuge to both artforms. Buress himself was also a part of the space’s history.
Coming home CEO of Knitting Factory Entertainment Morgan Margolis told Gothamist that a nearly 100% rent increase, paired with revenue loss during the pandemic, forced the venue to explore other options. The brand, which grew out of the original venue’s location in Manhattan 1987, now runs several venues across the country, managing musicians as well as producing and distributing music.
After looking all over the city, Margolis eventually landed on returning it to Manhattan, where it all started. He said it was somewhat of a coming home for the Knitting Factory, which had to leave the borough after similar circumstances relating to a rent increase back in 2009.
“I think it's time to get back into Manhattan,” he said. “I'm excited to be back into the East Village. I think it's kind of a trip for me, having grown up there, to have a space back there.”
‘Tight-knit Knit fam’ But in Williamsburg, the Knitting Factory was a mainstay for the city’s comedy and music scenes, itself a capsule of memories for the staff that ran it, and the artists and regulars who frequented it for more than a decade.
“The fact that it's closing, it's like a chapter of my life is ending, which is kind of sad,” said Jane August, holding back tears on her last night as a bartender at the Brooklyn venue. “I'm not gonna be able to see everyone every week anymore. I get weepy, I'm a weepy person. We've all been into each other's lives, because that's just what a venue is and that's how tight-knit our Knit fam is.”
After getting their IDs checked at the door, patrons would walk through a hallway wallpapered with old band posters leading to two separate spaces. The largest was a 300-person capacity concert space in the back, where local and smaller traveling bands performed throughout the week. It’s also where the final curtain call took place.
“I always appreciated how intimate the space was, because it wasn't that big, but this last show at Knitting Factory was powerful,” said Haile Supreme, a musician who frequented the venue and performed at that last night. “The energy in the room was beautiful. The crowd was really ready to engage.”
Standing room only Music has been the Knitting Factory’s specialty from the start. But, in Brooklyn, it wasn’t the only draw.
At the bar in the front of the venue, the weekly stand up show, “Comedy at the Knitting Factory,” took the stage right next to the door. It wasn’t an ideal set up, but it was still a favorite for comics like Jon Laster, who performed at the last rendition of the series in July.
“When I first got there, before I went on stage, I thought it was horrible. I was like, ‘Why would he do something with people walking in and out of the door right there by the stage?’” Laster told Gothamist. “And then once you walked on stage, you were like, ‘Oh my God, these people are locked in.’”
Buress started the show in 2009 when the venue was new to Brooklyn. He was also the first person ever to perform at the venue. It soon became a staple in the New York comedy scene, known for its lineups of diverse, sharp, up-and-coming comics intermingled with industry veterans.
“For me particularly, it was very cool to see that many young, black comics just killing it,” comedian Will Miles, one of the hosts who took over the show after Buress, told Gothamist. “It was great to have that little safe haven where, if you're a young up-and-coming black comic, you knew you would see other young up-and-coming black comics there.”
Fans would pack the room every Sunday. A lucky few sat in one of the three rows of folding chairs, or at booths in the back of the room. But most would stand for the two-hour-long show.
“I'd never get here in time to get a seat, so I'd stand normally by the bar,” said Gregory Greene, a former regular who went to the final show. “And I'd see a lot of people. I've seen big names. I've seen Dimitri Martin. I was here when Robin Williams came.”
‘Lightning can’t strike twice’
Organizers of the comedy series said it, too, would be shutting down – a natural conclusion as its hometown Brooklyn venue closes its doors for good.
While it lasted, performing at the venue was a milestone for many local artists. Comic Caitlin Peluffo told Gothamist that a set she recorded at “Comedy at the Knit” landed her a spot on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
“They cultivated such an atmosphere and such a vibe and such a fan base that really don't think it's going to … lightning can't strike twice, you know?” Peluffo said. “So I think it's a shame that it's ending. But you know, it's nice for something else to develop.”
For fans of the Knitting Factory, those new developments will come sometime in 2023, Margolis said, adding that it would be designed as a throwback to the original space and include a partnership with another company that will run the day-to-day operations, and potentially food service.
2022 feels like walking a tightrope. We're grappling with control of our bodies, our time, the direction of our country - while trying to not spin out and just doomscroll. So this season, Invisibilia takes on control. The narratives we have about what's in or out of our control. Invisible tools of control. The crutches we use to FEEL in control but that might not be helping.
In this hour, stories of curiosity and the unfamiliar: sharing food, the art of tattoo, rebellion on wheels, and Puff Daddy. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Mercia Tapping experiences a clash between her British upbringing and US food culture.
Serious journalist Michael Specter has a wild night in Paris with Puff Daddy.
Marjorie Tahbone reconnects to her culture and her ancestors.
Bushra Al-Fusail begins a Yemeni revolution on two wheels.
Our most ambitious live show ever! We pulled together a massive team of theater pros at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Opera House—nearly 50 singers, actors, dancers and musicians. The result? Journalism turned into a Broadway musical, into opera. Mike Birbiglia, Sasheer Zamata, Stephin Merritt, Josh Hamilton, Lindsay Mendez, Lin-Manuel Miranda and others.
As we head into Labor Day weekend, It's time for a whole hour dedicated to gardening, both in your apartment or your yard. Jessica Walliser, horticulturalist and author of the book Container Gardening Complete, and Joel Flagler, Professor at the Rutgers University School of Environmental & Biological Sciences and Rutgers Agricultural Extension Agent for Bergen County, join us again to give us some ripe gardening tips, and to take listener calls. For Friday's installment of our August Full Bio series, we speak with Gene Jarrett, dean of the faculty and English professor at Princeton, and author of a new biography about the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, called, Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Life and Times of a Caged Bird. On fourth and final day, we learn about Dunbar's relationship with Booker T. Washington, as well as his struggles with illness and his early death at the age of thirty-three. Plus, we hear WNYC's Michael Hill read a selection of Dunbar's poetry. "Funny Pages” is an off-beat new movie, currently in theaters and on demand, about an aspiring illustrator who drops out of high school to pursue a career in comics in Trenton, New Jersey. Indiewire calls it “the year’s wildest comedy.” Its director Owen Kline and star Daniel Zolghadri join us. WNYC/ WQXR news host Sean Carlson breaks down some of the most recent news headlines this week including back-to-school COVID protocols, monkeypox and New York gun law enforcement. This episode is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan*.
This week, we play a story about motherhood from Joyce Maynard. This episode is hosted by Jodi Powell.
Host: Jodi Powell
Storyteller: Joyce Maynard
Guest host David Sedaris offers three stories that question social rites. “Cultural Relativity” is Charles Johnson’s witty retelling of a classic fairy tale; it’s read by Regina King. Zadie Smith reads her own “Lazy River”—ostensibly about a failed holiday in Spain, but also a deft satire about Brexit, class, and exploitation. And the cantankerous spinster In Jean Stafford’s “The Hope Chest” has a Dickensian moment of grace. Dana Ivey is the reader.
For our ongoing back-to-school week series, we talk about parenting and race. Helena Andrews-Dyer, senior culture writer for The Washington Post, has a new book called, The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class, and Race from Moms Not Like Me. The book is about her experience as a black mom in a group called "The Mamas," a group of neighborhood moms who live in a rapidly gentrifying D.C neighborhood. After the protests for racial justice in 2020, Andrews-Dyer found her relationship to "The Mamas" change, and wanted to understand why. She joins us to discuss, and take calls from parents. Oscar-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie is best known as one half of the New Zealand comedy duo, Flight of the Conchords and as the songwriter for multiple Muppets films. His new album, which is also his solo debut, is a serious effort called "Songs Without Jokes." McKenzie joins us for a Listening Party. For Thursday's installment of our August Full Bio series, we speak with Gene Jarrett, dean of the faculty and English professor at Princeton, and author of a new biography about the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, called, Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Life and Times of a Caged Bird. On day three, we learn about the women in Dunbar's life, like how he met his wife, Alice Nelson Dunbar. But we also speak about Dunbar's own demons, and his struggles with depression and alcohol abuse throughout his life. Plus, we hear WNYC's Michael Hill read a selection of Dunbar's poetry. Serena Williams extends her farewell tour after another win at the U.S. Open. We discuss the athlete's retirement announcement, career and legacy as one of the greatest tennis players in the world with New York Times assistant sports editor Elena Bergeron. Ora Washington was a star athlete in a time when sports was segregated and black women were not encouraged to be athletes. She dominated Black tennis and basketball for over two decades, but her story is not widely known. A new podcast from the BBC, called Untold Legends: Ora, tells her story. Former WNBA player and co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, and host of the podcast Renee Montgomery joins to discuss. This episode is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.***
Serena Williams extends her farewell tour after another win at the U.S. Open. We discuss the athlete's retirement announcement, career and legacy as one of the greatest tennis players in the world with New York Times assistant sports editor Elena Bergeron.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
For Thursday's installment of our August Full Bio series, we speak with Gene Jarrett, dean of the faculty and English professor at Princeton, and author of a new biography about the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, called, Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Life and Times of a Caged Bird. On day three, we learn about the women in Dunbar's life, like how he met his wife, Alice Nelson Dunbar. But we also speak about Dunbar's own demons, and his struggles with depression and alcohol abuse throughout his life. Plus, we hear WNYC's Michael Hill read a selection of Dunbar's poetry.
In this hour, we present audio from a great live show. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, and the live event was hosted by CJ Hunt. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Storytellers:
Micaela Blei
Nathan Englander
Barbara Bowie
Since its founding in 1910, more than 130 million youth have participated in scouting with The Boy Scouts of America. Today it remains one of the largest youth organizations in the U.S., with more than 2 million members and nearly 900,000 adult volunteers.
But the Boy Scouts of America find themselves in financial straits. After mounting lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, the BSA filed for bankruptcy in February of 2020. More than 82,000 survivors of alleged abuse have filed claims against The Boy Scouts. In order to fund whatever claims are ruled payable, the BSA has proposed to federal judges the creation of a $2.7 billion dollar trust to compensate the claimants. In order to create the fund, the BSA has called on local Boy Scout chapters to make contributions to the national organization. If the plan goes through, no further claims of past sexual abuse can be brought against the Boy Scouts of America or its chapters.
One of the Boy Scouts largest assets is land. In order to pay their contributions, local Boy Scout chapters have been selling their land, or announcing intentions to do so across the country. Much of this land is preserved, pristine land, and is a hot commodity for the interests of both developers and conservationists.
We explore what is being described as "The Great Boy Scout Land Sell-Off" and the legal and ethical questions of how, and to who, the land is being sold.
We first hear from Molly Osberg, freelancewriter and reporter and author of the recent Curbed piece "The Great Boy Scout Land Sell-Off."
Then we hear from Keith Ainsworth, an environmental lawyer based in New Haven, Connecticut, and Tim Kosnoff, anattorney representing victims of sexual abuse from the Boy Scouts.
On this episode of Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about change. A playful fantasy, a domestic dilemma, and a private struggle help us to adjust to the idea of transformation, losses, and gains. In “Sea Monster,” by Seth Fried, performed by Natasha Rothwell, a husband and wife reveal their secret identities to each other. In “Death by Printer,” by Mira Jacob, a widow learns to cope with loss—and technology. And a mature woman embraces the self she is becoming in Maile Meloy’s “Period Piece,” performed by Kelli O’Hara. The last two stories were commissioned for Selected Shorts’ anthology Small Odysseys.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
[REBROADCAST FROM January 25, 2022] Writer Ricky Tucker’s new book, And the Category Is...: Inside New York's Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community,takes readers behind the curtain into the ballroom community spotlighting its icons, values and history. Tucker joins us to talk the book.
[REBROADCAST FROM July 11, 2022] A new book explores experimental collaborations in hip hop cultural production in New York City from the 1970s through the early twenty-first century. St. John’s University associate professor Shanté Paradigm Smalls joins us to discuss their research and book, Hip Hop Heresies: Queer Aesthetics in New York City. [REBROADCAST FROM February 2, 2022] South London musician Samm Henshaw broke into the music industry with an EP called The Sound Experiment in 2015. He's since supported musicians like James Bay, Tori Kelly, and Chance the Rapper on their tours. Now he's out with his debut full-length album, Untidy Soul. Henshaw joins us for a Listening Party. [REBROADCAST FROM May 25, 2022] The meta musical, "A Strange Loop," is up for 11 Tony Awards this year. We speak with creator Michael R. Jackson and director Stephen Brackett about the show that has been called "dazzling," "thrilling" and "one of a kind." [REBROADCAST FROM July 6, 2022] R&B singer/songwriter Ravyn Lenae has been one-to-watch since dropping her first EP in 2015. This month, she released her official debut album, HYPNOS, which has been named one of the best of the year so far by NPR, Billboard, the AV Club, and more. As part of an hour dedicated to new debut albums, Lenae joins us for a Listening Party. [REBROADCAST FROM April 8, 2022] A lot of people know Syd as the lead vocalist for Los Angeles-based band The Internet or as a former member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, however, the singer-songwriter's new album Broken Hearts Club captures the artist's unique alternative R&B sound. This album comes out five years after she released her debut solo album Fin. Syd joins us for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST FROM April 8, 2022] A lot of people know Syd as the lead vocalist for Los Angeles-based band The Internet or as a former member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, however, the singer-songwriter's new album Broken Hearts Club captures the artist's unique alternative R&B sound. This album comes out five years after she released her debut solo album Fin. Syd joins us for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST FROM May 25, 2022] The meta musical, "A Strange Loop," was nominated for 11 Tony Awards this year. We speak with creator Michael R. Jackson and director Stephen Brackett about the show that has been called "dazzling," "thrilling" and "one of a kind."
[REBROADCAST FROM APRIL 25TH, 2022] A new documentary chronicles the unlikely transformation of beloved stage musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," to beloved film. Director Daniel Raim joins us to discuss his film, "Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen," which revisits the adaptation and filming process.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
This segment was selected by producer Jordan Lauf for her Producer Picks show.
In this hour, stories about standing up for yourself. This episode is hosted by Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jodi Powell
Storytellers:
Harjas Singh
Antoinette Marie Williams
Rachel Cain
Michael Donovan
Eddy Laughter
This week, we take a look back at a magical Moth live show. This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
Host: Sarah Austin Jenness
Live Host: Andy Borowitz
Storytellers:
Zeroboy explores gluttony in audio.
Erica Jong gets a meat and fish delivery from an ex.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Katie Sanderson, who ran The Young Lions program in 2006, and later came to work with us at The Moth.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about the act of writing and how it can remake us--a prankish skit; a playful and tender investigation of creating with words; and a fraught social encounter between two characters who don’t ‘get’ each other’s stories. B.J. Novak takes the old saying “Great Writers Steal” literally in a short piece read by Novak and Aasif Mandvi. In Etgar Keret’s “Creative Writing” a wife writes her way out of grief. It’s read by Alex Karpovsky. A dinner party becomes a scene of personal and political tension in Lorrie Moore’s “Foes,” performed by Joan Allen and Kyle MacLachlan. And Moore joins Wolitzer to talk about the story and creating fiction.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Justin Hicks: Outside at The Shed
Aug. 18-20. 7:30PM. Free
Justin Hicks sings and composes, but to call him a singer or even a composer seems to miss the mark. Hicks is a sound artist, who often works with installations and employs storytelling as his primary means of communication. His new project, Outside, uses stories and images from hikes he took through the city and beyond, to create what he describes as “A music performance using song to reflect on the ways urbanites encounter nature.” An earlier piece, called “Another time, this time, one time,” draws on the rich history of Black American music. That’s a bit of Another time, this time, one time, by Justin Hicks. His new piece, Outside, is being performed Aug. 18-20 at The Shed, and all performances are free.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three diverse stories that look at what gets left behind when life changes, gradually or suddenly. Restless retirees try on the ultimate next step in Greg Ames’ funny “Funeral Platter,” performed by Michael McKean and Annette O’Toole. The family in Julia Alvarez’s “Liberty” are on their way to a new life in America, but it’s difficult leaving the old one behind. The reader is Laura Gómez. And a trainer of guide dogs for the blind learns how to let go, in Amy Hempel's “The Dog of the Marriage,” performed by Joan Allen.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this hour, storytellers have to face the music. This episode is hosted by Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Suzanne Rust
Storytellers:
EJR David
Mary Furlong Coomer
Karen Kibaara
Colin Channer
In 1967, the first two Black students were enrolled at an all-white private boarding school in Virginia. The main reason they were there? To benefit the white kids.
This week, we take a look back at our Detroit and Chicago StorySLAMs, and play two of our favorite stories from those events. This episode is hosted by Dame Wilburn.
Host: Dame Wilburn
Storytellers:
Grace Topinka tries to learn stick shift.
Jeni De La O remembers her grandmother.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three pieces about marriages that outlive the romance. In Etgar Keret’s “A World without Selfie Sticks,” performed by Tate Donovan, a man meets the woman of his dreams; but she’s from an alternate universe. “On the Honeymoon,” by Javier Marias, a husband has a strange encounter with a woman in the street. It’s read by Ivan Hernandez. And in Duncan Birmingham’s “The Cult In My Garage,” performed by Michaela Watkins, an old college buddy turns up, and he’s got a mission.
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In this hour, six stories about finding kindness from an unexpected source. This episode is hosted by Moth’s Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
Laura Zimmermann loses herself . . . and her stuff in Portugal.
David Cole does all that he can to return to sender.
Niccolo Aeed faces scrutiny at the airport.
Denise Scheuermann shares a ritual of good hope.
Caroline Abilat struggles to show herself kindness after the birth of her first child.
Ed Gavagan is called upon to show grace to the boys who stabbed him.
An FBI probe into potential terrorists at a prom is the perfect setup for this high-paced satire that covers youth, sex, politics, religion, education, and the government. Written by the award-winning author of Wrong End of the Telescope, and read by Raffi Barsoumian (DC's Legends of Tomorrow and The Vampire Diaries). It was one of the pieces commissioned by Selected Shorts for its new anthology, Small Odysseys.
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This past Friday, Beyoncé released her latest album, Renaissance, her first solo album in six years. Her lead single for the album, "BREAK MY SOUL," was heavily influenced by dance beats that have caused many to talk about the return of dance-type music into the mainstream. Complex's Alana Yzola joins us to dig into the album and listen to some tracks.
"Danceteria Rewind" is a show on TWITCH that recalls & remixes the halcyon days of one of NYC's edgiest dance clubs, the place where Madonna got her start, Basquiat showed his art and the Beastie Boys dropped beats. DJ Rafe Gomez is bringing back the essence of the place for a new generation and the generation that experienced it the first go around.
Singer-songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires calls her seventh album, "Take It Like A Man," her best work yet. It's also her first solo release since co-founding the country supergroup The Highwomen, with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby. Shires joins us for a Listening Party.
In 1993, a new student enrolled in Jono McLeod's class at Bearsden Academy -- Brandon Lee, a 16-year-old junior. Except that wasn't his real name, and he wasn't a teenager. Decades later, Jono McLeod unravels the story in his new documentary, "My Old School."
[REBROADCAST FROM October 26, 2021] Actor and Club Cumming owner Alan Cumming joins us to discuss his new memoir, Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life, which touches on Cumming’s divorce from his ex-wife, childhood abuse at the hands of his father, his career, and his current marriage to his husband.
Road trips, train rides and long flights are some of the best times to kickback and check out a new podcast. Vulture podcast critic Nick Quah checks in for a Review/Preview to give us his picks for what podcasts to listen to this summer and what he's looking forward to.
In 1993, a new student enrolled in Jono McLeod's class at Bearsden Academy -- Brandon Lee, a 16-year-old junior. Except that wasn't his real name, and he wasn't a teenager. Decades later, Jono McLeod unravels the story in his new documentary, "My Old School."
[REBROADCAST FROM APRIL 4, 2022] In a thrilling new novel, a young woman named Ruby stands accused for the murder of her husband... and the deaths of three other people. Ruby maintains that she is innocent in her husband's death, but she has a secret: she is guilty of the other three murders. How can she prove she loved her husband and would never hurt him? And what drove her to kill three other people? All is revealed in the debut novel from Emmy-nominated screenwriter Sascha Rothchild, titled, Blood Sugar. She joins us to discuss as part of our series, "2022 Debuts."
[REBROADCAST FROM FEB. 4, 2022] A new debut novel tells a story of lust and obsession on a college campus... among the professors. When a popular English professor finds out her husband is under investigation for his behavior with former students, she turns her attention to a man named Vladimir, a young, married, novelist who has just come to campus. Her infatuation quickly turns to potentially dangerous obsession. Author Julia May Jonas joins us to discuss her novel, Vladimir, as part of our series '2022 Debuts.'
Last week, a dozen Black girls and women gathered at Melissa's home for the Black Land Use and Food Supply Summer, an immersive one week living and learning project organized by the New Jersey based Grassroots Community Foundation in collaboration with the Anna Julia Cooper Center.
We hear from the participants:
Amina Anekwe (17) from New Jersey
Nyasah Simmons (11) from New Jersey
Farida Odumosu (17) from New Jersey
Ain Dantzler (14) from Philadelphia
Diya Dantzler (20) from Philadelphia
Leinad Ra (14) from Philadelphia
Zolah Ramsey-Francis (13) from Maryland
Alana Travitt (16) from New Jersey
And we take a tour with the participants of Green Heffa Farms, in Liberty, North Carolina with owner and operator Farmer Ceeabout regenerative farming and connections to Black land.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three pieces about losing things: objects, opportunities, a primary sense, a new friendship. In “Any Other” by Jac Jemc, performed by Helen Hong, a woman rejects an offer without knowing the consequences. Namwali Serpell’s “Noseless” is about a loss many experienced during the pandemic; it’s performed by Kyrstina Alabado, Deborah S. Craig, Zach Grenier, and Calvin Leon Smith. And Lauren Groff’s “Such Small Islands” charts the perilous course of a childhood infatuation and betrayal that ends with figurative loss and a literal disappearance. It’s performed by Crystal Dickinson. In a special bonus: multi-instrumentalist Laura Gibson performs a song inspired by Groff’s story.
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With the summer time comes the opportunity to get outside and get your gardening on! But not everyone has the same amount of space in their home or apartment, and trying to know everything about soil, watering, and the right amount of sunlight for plants can be intimidating. With us to talk about getting started in gardening and take your gardening related calls is horticulturist Jessica Walliser, author of the book, Container Gardening Complete: Creative Projects for Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Small Spaces, and co-founder of Savvy Gardening, who can speak to apartment gardening, as well as Joel Flagler, Professor at the Rutgers University School of Environmental & Biological Sciences and Rutgers Agricultural Extension Agent for Bergen County..
After years of dominating pop culture with its immense catalog and acclaimed original programming, Netflix seems to be going through a rough patch. It's begun losing subscribers for the first time in its history, losing a million just in 2022's second quarter. With competition ramping up from other streaming services and a number of expensive original movies and series failing to gain much attention, what is the future for Netflix? David Sims, staff writer covering culture for The Atlantic, joins us to discuss the issues with Netflix, and what the company's plans are for the future.
Get Lit with All Of It is on the radio this summer! This month, we've been reading, The Summer Place, by bestselling author Jennifer Weiner. The novel tells the story of a family full of secrets... secrets that are forced to the surface when 22-year-old Ruby decides to get married to her pandemic boyfriend at the family's vacation home in Cape Cod. Jennifer Weiner joins us to discuss, and take calls from our readers!
In continuing our Get Lit celebration, we welcome Tony Award winner Sutton Foster to the party! Foster read the audiobook of The Summer Place, and is currently starring in "The Music Man" on Broadway opposite Hugh Jackman. She joins us, and Jennifer Weiner, to discuss both projects.
Pianist Lara Downes joins as the musical guest at our July Get Lit radio special! Named 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by American Public Media's Performance Today, Downes discusses her career and shares two exclusive performances.
In this hour, four storytellers attempt to control the outcome. (As the universe laughs!) This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Dame Wilburn fakes her college graduation to avoid her mother's wrath.
Gabriel Woods Lamanuzzi tries to wrangle a room of 2nd graders.
Tod Kelly gets carried away and confronts a bad driver.
Nimisha Ladva appreciates her father's calm command in troubling times.
This week, we learn about how this podcast got started, and play one of our favorite stories from our early days. This episode is hosted by Dan Kennedy.
Host: Dan Kennedy.
Storytellers: Dan Kennedy.
On this day in 1853, the New York State Legislature approved the establishment of Central Park. At that time, the land was home to a dairy, a number of farms, several cemeteries, two bone boiling factories, a couple of gunpowder storage sites -- and about a thousand people. Sara Cedar Miller joins us to talk about this history. She is the historian emerita of the Central Park Conservancy, and the author of Before Central Park.
Sara Cedar Miller is giving a virtual talk about Central Park on Tuesday, July 26 at 6pm. For details, go here.
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about the course of true love, from two very different perspectives. Sigrid Nunez explores a roller-coaster romance in a small town in “This Is It,” performed by Christina Pickles, and Simon Rich offers up Stone-Age love in a small cave in “I Love Girl.” It’s performed by Michael Ian Black, who also chats with Wolitzer about what he’s been reading and the tricky business of being funny.
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In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to comedian and writer Michael Ian Black about what he’s been reading and the tricky business of being funny.
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago have a new album out, their 38th according to the band, titled Born For This Moment. Founding member and trumpet player Lee Loughnane joins us for a Listening Party.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
There are a million things rock star Melanie Miles would like to have done differently. And a visit to a mysterious bar trapped in the '90s finally gives her the chance.
Written by Lana Schwartz
Performed by Erin Harland, Jon Cook, Anna Suzuki, Maya Deshmukh, Alex Song-Xia, Ryan Leach, Evan Barden, and Stefan Schuette.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this hour, we lean into the moments of rejection, failure, embarrassment, and other stories of the human soul. Hosted by The Moth’s Senior Director, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Cynthia Shelby Lane sets her sights on a job that’s out of this world.
Lemn Sissay attempts to uncover a hidden past.
Natasha Guynes desperately tries to hide her past from co-workers on The Hill.
Matt Brown confronts his insecurities in an unconventional way
Daniel Turpin deals with the aftermath of a split second decision.
We try something harder than anything we've ever tried before, by taking the random ideas that members of our own families have told us would be "perfect for the show," and turning them into actual stories.
This week we reprise a great show from our archives: guest host Cynthia Nixon presents stories from New York Magazine’s online portal “The Cut,” which combines art, journalism, and the kind of fresh contemporary fiction that speaks to us. On this program, a woman tries on different identities, as well as clothes, in a dress shop fitting room, in “Fully Zipped” by Shelly Oria, performed by Katja Blichfeld. A new mother can’t seem to get the hang of breastfeeding in Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Bad Latch,” performed by Justine Lupe. And Parker Posey tackles mail order—and time travel—in Xuan Juliana Wang’s “Future Cat.”
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For the latest installment of our ongoing Full Bio series, we speak with journalist Joshua Prager, author of the biography about the story of Roe v. Wade, called The Family Roe: An American Story. On day two, we discuss the life of the lawyers who would represent Norma McCorvey in front of the Supreme Court, and how McCorvey came to be the woman the lawyers chose as the plaintiff to attempt to legalize abortion.
The House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol resumes hearings today at 1 pm. We'll review what we've learned so far, preview what we might hear today, and take your questions with Karen Greenberg, the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, as well as WNYC's own Brian Lehrer.
In this episode, stories about the pains of growing up. Hosted by Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Chloe Salmon
Storytellers:
Jennifer Lubin competes for her mother's affection with an unlikely foe.
Anne Stuart spends her summer break delivering the news as the switchboard operator at her local paper.
After hitting a baseball for the first time, 10 year old Stephen Ferrell hopes for another miracle.
Esther Ngumbi's mother catches her in a lie.
Ernesto Quiñonez tries to encourage his 9-year-old daughter to be his traveling companion to Graceland.
A new novel tells the story of a woman who begins running into all of her ex boyfriends on the streets of Chinatown. Newly engaged, our protagonist suspects that something bigger than coincidence is going on... and it might even involve some magic. Author Sloane Crosley joins us to discuss her latest novel, Cult Classic.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
This Sunday, July 10, is the tenth anniversary of Frank Ocean's debut studio album, channel ORANGE. The Grammy award-winning album can be found on many lists recapping the best projects of the 2010's and is highly influential in modern R&B today, on top of Ocean also being a popular, yet simultaneously mysterious celebrity figure. With us to talk about the music on the album, its initial popularity, and how its influence can continue to be seen today, is Jason King, chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, and Ryan Dombal, features editor for Pitchfork who wrote the review of channel ORANGE back in 2012. Plus, we take your calls.
Believe it or not, 2022 is already more than halfway over. As a result, many are reflecting on the best albums that have already been released this year, what sounds and trends have been popular, as well as look forward to what projects we should expect to hear throughout the rest of the year. Plus, as we reach the peak of the heat of summer, everyone's clamoring for that summer anthem you hear everywhere you go. Joining us for a music Review/Preview is WNYC's own John Schaefer.
The summer is in full swing, and chances are you're attending or hosting parties with family and friends and you'll want to do some baking. Jessie Sheehan, recipe developer and author of the cookbook, Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes for Exceptionally Scrumptious Sweets and Treats, is here to help. Sheehan joins us to share some easy recipes for baking small bite-sized treats that are great for entertaining, and take your calls.
Today is WNYC's 98th birthday! We take a trip through the archives and hear a recreation, from 1948, of the station's very first broadcast, as well as some summer safety tips from a former mayor.
A new novel tells the story of a woman who keeps running into her ex boyfriends on the streets of Chinatown. Newly engaged, our protagonist suspects that something bigger than coincidence is going on... and it might even involve some magic. Author Sloane Crosley joins us to discuss her latest novel, Cult Classic.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
Today is WNYC's 98th birthday! We take a trip through the archives and hear a recreation, from 1948, of the station's very first broadcast, as well as some summer safety tips from a former mayor.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
This Sunday, July 10, is the tenth anniversary of Frank Ocean's debut studio album, channel ORANGE. The Grammy award-winning album can be found on many lists recapping the best projects of the 2010's and is highly influential in modern R&B today, on top of Ocean also being a popular, yet simultaneously mysterious celebrity figure. With us to talk about the music on the album, its initial popularity, and how its influence can continue to be seen today, is Jason King, chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, and Ryan Dombal, features editor for Pitchfork who wrote the review of channel ORANGE back in 2012. Plus, we take your calls.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan.
This week, we take a look at the origins of The Moth Radio Hour. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison and Viki Merrick.
Host: Jay Allison and Viki Merrick
Storytellers: Michaela Murphy and Buddy Vanderhoop
Host Meg Wolitzer presents four stories about journeys, both physical and emotional. Strangers size one another up on a busy city bus in Kurt Vonnegut’s “City,” performed by Bhavesh Patel and Sarah Steele. An excerpt from James Baldwin’s Another Country takes us on a frantic subway ride toward an ultimate moment. It is performed by Nathan Hinton. Hopeful immigrants try to reach America in a dubious boat in “The Long Voyage” by Leonardo Sciascia, performed by John Turturro. And a man in transit takes the opportunity to try to recover a bit of his past, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Three Hours Between Planes,” performed by Stephen Colbert.
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While housesitting for her crush, Sienna finds his journal. But reading it uncovers a little more than she—or her best friend Monica—was expecting.
Written by Mary McDonnell
Performed by Kimberly Chatterjee, Julia Kelly, and Yoni Lotan.
Find The Truth at thetruthpodcast.com and @thetruthfiction on Twitter and Instagram.
In this episode, we have stories about people fighting for what they believe in, and finding their inner compass. Hosted by Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers:
Phyllis Bowdoin fights back against a mime.
Sue Steinacher goes dogsledding.
Gautam Narula keeps a memory alive.
After the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act and even Loving v. Virginia, one major issue around the racial justice movement remained unaddressed: fair housing.
On April 11, 1968 President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Fair Housing Act into law. Because of this, April is National Fair Housing Month. All month, advocates, organizers, and communities commemorate this landmark piece of Civil Rights legislation which outlawed discrimination in housing.
On this episode of The Takeaway, Melissa Harris-Perry and Dorian Warren take a Deep Dive into the history and current state of fair housing in America, 54 years after the passage of the National Fair Housing Act.
Guests:
Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance
Jim McCarthy, President/CEO of Miami Valley Fair Housing Center
Michael Allen, Attorney and Partner at Relman Colfax
Ava Deakin, lead plaintiff in Deakin v. Old Town Triangle Association
Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia
The Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade began with a lawsuit filed by a Mississippi abortion clinic. On the day Roe was overturned, we were there. Stories from the center of this moment of history, the day it happened.
This week, we feature two stories about people finding power within themselves. This episode is hosted by Sarah Haberman.
Host: Sarah Haberman
Storytellers:
Sheila Calloway
Susanne Schmidt
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories that ask the big, basic questions: Who? What? Where? The characters resonate, the situations are intriguing, and each offers a fully realized world. In “What Animal Are You?,” by Etgar Keret, performed by Willem Dafoe, a celebrity writer and his son play themselves for the media. In Rumaan Alam’s “Nothing Can Come Between Us,” performed by Nathan Hinton, a man goes into sensory overdrive. And a fierce and traditional grandmother tries to find her place in a new world and a new family in Gish Jen’s “Who’s Irish?” performed by Frieda Foh Shen.
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This week, we celebrate Pride. This episode is hosted by Larry Rosen.
Host: Larry Rosen
Storytellers: Donald Harrison, Tara Clancy
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about indomitable women. A mother grieves a loss fiercely in Carribean Fragoza’s “Lumberjack Mom,” performed by Roberta Colindrez. And Richard Yates’ classic “Fun with a Stranger” offers a portrait of an unforgettable teacher. It’s performed by Marian Seldes.
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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, a law that forbids discrimination based on sex in any school or educational program accepting federal funding, and a law that fundamentally changed women's sports forever. Directors Dawn Porter and Nicole Newnham join us to kick off our hour-long celebration of Title IX, and to discuss their new ESPN documentary, "37 Words," which tells the story of the fight to pass the law. The first two episodes premiered on June 21, and the second half will air on ESPN on June 28 at 8 pm.
Today is the 50th anniversary of Title IX, one of the educational amendments of 1972, being signed into law. The beginning of the amendment declares, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The law fundamentally changed gender equality in education in the United States. The New York Historical Society is commemorating the 50th anniversary with an exhibition, titled, Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field, on view until September 4. Curator Anna Danziger Halperin joins to speak about what the NY Historical Society has in its archives regarding Title IX, what the amendment meant for the country's education system, and how New York City schools and athletics changed as a result.
Martha Mitchell was the outspoken wife of Nixon’s attorney general John Mitchell. The press called her “Mighty Mouth.” She was one of the first people to realize Nixon was connected to Watergate and she told anyone who would listen. Some believed her, others called her crazy and a drunk. And when she went missing for a few days, she claimed The Whitehouse was behind it. Director/Editor Anne Alvergue and Co-director Debra McClutchy join us to talk about about their new film called "The Martha Mitchell Effect" that tells her story.
[REBROADCAST FROM MARCH 30, 2022] It has been 50 years since five men broke into the Watergate office complex and attempted to bug and burgle the Democratic National Committee Offices. Now, author Garrett M. Graff has published a comprehensive history of the scandal and subsequent fallout, titled, Watergate: A New History. Kirkus calls it, "The best and fullest account of the crisis, one unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon." Graff joins us to discuss, and to take calls from listeners with their comments and questions about Watergate fifty years later.
Today marks 40 years since the death of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American draftsman who was fatally beaten with a baseball bat in a racially motivated crime on June 19, 1982. He died of his injuries in the hospital days later. To discuss the legacy of his death, we're joined by Christine Choy, a professor at New York University and co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" Also joining is David Shih, a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and author of the recent New York Times op-ed, "How I Became an Asian American."
Today marks 40 years since the death of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American draftsman who was fatally beaten with a baseball bat in a racially motivated crime on June 19, 1982. He died of his injuries in the hospital days later. To discuss the legacy of his death, we're joined by Christine Choy, a professor at New York University and co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"Also joining is David Shih, a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and author of the recent New York Times op-ed, "How I Became an Asian American."
Ottessa Moshfegh has made a name for herself as a daring novelist not afraid to be grotesque, off-beat, and disturbing. Her latest novel, Lapvona, takes readers back in time to a small feudal village, and tells the story of young boy who becomes entangled in conflict with the lord's family, and with the spiritual world. Moshfegh joins us to discuss.
In this special episode celebrating fathers, a man embraces his father's music; a new dad has a breakdown in the grocery store; a young father struggles with his emotions; a son flies to Ghana for his father's funeral, a daughter reveals an embarrassing truth, and an uncle steps in to play an important role. Hosted by The Moth’s Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
David Kendall inherits his love of music from his father.
Chris Myers rides out his emotions after the birth of his daughter.
Nestor Gomez struggles to pick out his baby among a group of newborns.
Karan Chopra learns to live his life by his father's example.
Amanda Hamilton Roos confesses her sins to her father, literally.
Jack Marmorstein realizes the role he must play in his nephew's life.
In honor of Juneteenth, we are spotlighting underreported Black history and culture. Author Eric K. Washington will join to talk about his quest to get official landmark status for a building in Chelsea in which Black children were educated in the years following the Civil War, known as "Former Colored School Number 4."
This week, a special Juneteenth episode. This episode is hosted by Suzanne Rust.
Host: Suzanne Rust
Storyteller: Alvin Hall
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works about women who defy the status quo and might therefore be perceived as “dangerous.” In Margaret Atwood’s “Unpopular Gals,” fairy-tale archetypes reclaim their power. The reader is Ann Harada. A boisterous and brilliant student threatens to upend the order of her high school in Shanteka Sigers’ “A Way with Bea,” performed by Pascale Armand. And a Victorian-era wife fights for her sanity in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic “The Yellow Wallpaper,” performed by Carrie Coon. The show also includes commentary by the Egyptian-American journalist and activist Mona Eltahawy.
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In this bonus conversation, host Meg Wolitzer talks to journalist, activist and feminist writer Mona Eltahawy about her life, literature and what it means to be a "dangerous woman."
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"Macbeth" is back on Broadway, with star Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga taking the stage under the direction of Sam Gold. Gold joins us to discuss his unconventional staging of the show. We're also joined by composer Gaelynn Lea, who was selected by Gold to create the score for the show after he saw her on NPR's Tiny Desk. "Macbeth" runs at the Longacre theater through July 10.
The 75th Tony Awards took place this past Sunday. We recap who took home the most awards, listen to a performance from Joaquina Kalukongo from "Paradise Square," and revisit a conversation with Best Musical Winner "A Strange Loop" creator Michael R. Jackson and director Stephen Brackett.
Since releasing her album, Punisher, in 2020, Phoebe Bridgers has started her own label, received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, appeared on releases from Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, and Lorde, and gone on tour. This week her tour stops in Asbury Park, Prospect Park, and Forest Hills. She joins us to preview those shows.
Early on in the pandemic, economists thought the public health crisis would contribute to a wave of early retirements. However, today, many workers at retirement age have returned to work. Lindsey Pollak joins NYT writer Ben Casselman to take listener calls about getting back into the workforce in middle age.
There are few things that unite New Yorkers more than the city's subway system, both as a means of travel and as something on which to commiserate. The documentary, "End of the Line," explores how a transportation system already suffering from deteriorating infrastructure and leadership issues has also navigated a global pandemic. Director Emmett Adler joins us on the day of the film's on-demand release.
In this hour, we focus on the uncommon denominators and wildly unexpected situations of life. Hosted by Jenifer Hixson, The Moth’s Senior Director. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Omar Qureshi tries to find acceptance in a home that hates him.
Kari Adams faces up a storm of trouble when an uncontrollable force comes crashing into her wedding.
Donna Otter attends a tantric body painting party on the heels of her divorce.
Trystan Reese must deal with the world’s reaction when he goes viral for becoming a pregnant trans man.
This week, we hear a discussion about truth in storytelling. This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Host: Kate Tellers
Storyteller: Dorothy Storck
Discussion: Kate Tellers, Sarah Austin Jenness, Jenifer Hixson
Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about close—but complex—ties of family and friendship. Jamaica Kincaid offers up a lyrical, dreamlike account of the mother/daughter bond in “My Mother,” performed by Laurine Towler. In Laura van den Berg’s “Lessons” a quartet of youthful bank robbers faces hard questions about love and loyalty. The story is read by Emily Skeggs.
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The Land Back movement to return ancestral lands back to Indigenous tribes has gained momentum lately. However, the efforts of tribal native reclamation are not new. For decades, Indigenous peoples and allies have been working to restore land to Indigenous tribes through the courts, through protest, and through policy. Some tribes, such as the Kaw Nation in 2002, have even purchased parts of their ancestral lands back.
First, we hear from Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective and a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, about the origins of the Land Back movement and what it means to different Indigenous communities.
Then, We speak with James Pepper Henry, Kaw Nation vice chairman and executive director of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who was instrumental in the Kaw Nation purchasing 160 acres of their ancestral homeland in Kansas back in 2002.
A special episode in honor of The Moth's 25th Anniversary! Five stories spanning a quarter century, each focusing on landmark moments -- from Moth history to global events. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Purity Kagwiria chooses a name for herself.
Nestor Gomez tries to learn English by watching television.
Tony Hendra gets inspiration from a surprising source.
Jeffery Rudell's honesty with his parents fails to yield the love, compassion and forgiveness they taught him to value.
Wanda Bullard's father trusts a prisoner, with surprising results.
This week, we feature two stories about women forced to make tough choices about their health. This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
Host: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Robin Utz
Jill Chenault
If you are interested in more stories that spotlight these issues – through the experiences of those who lived them – visit themoth.org for an extended playlist.
On this SELECTED SHORTS, bad guys. Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories featuring famous villains, real and fictional. A woman writes a letter to a former president—now residing in Hell, in “Thank You, Mr. Nixon,” by Gish Jen, performed by Cindy Cheung. And a man in recovery faces off against a former Roman leader with a really bad rep in "Playing Ping-Pong with Pontius Pilate" by Greg Ames, performed by Nate Corddry. Finally, Moby Dick has a say in its own epic in “Captain Ahab, A Novel by the White Whale,” by Paul West, performed by Diane Venora.
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The 5 borough, outdoor photography festival, Photoville opens Saturday and we'll get a preview of this summer's exhibit from co-Founder Laura Roumanos plus meet one of the featured photographers Jeffrey Henson Scales.
This segment is guest-hosted by Matt Katz
The summer is here, which means more opportunities for outdoor gatherings, picnics, and vacation cooking projects. But also, because of the heat, you may not to want to have that oven or stove on as long...Emily Weinstein, food and cooking editor for the New York Times, joins to talk all things summer cooking, and take your cooking questions and calls.
Paintings and sculptures from Henri Matisse's Red Studio are reunited for the first time in this new exhibition of works at MoMa. Organizer Ann Temkin joins to discuss.
May was National Bicycle Month, tomorrow is World Bicycle Day, and the warm weather has gotten more and more New Yorkers out for a spin. Jody Rosen, author of, Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle, joins us to discuss his new book and take calls from our cycling-enthusiastic listeners.
The 5 borough, outdoor photography festival, Photoville opens Saturday and we'll get a preview of this summer's exhibit from co-Founder Laura Roumanos plus meet one of the featured photographers Jeffrey Henson Scales.
*This episode is guest-hosted by Matt Katz.
May was National Bicycle Month, tomorrow is World Bicycle Day, and the warm weather has gotten more and more New Yorkers out for a spin. Jody Rosen, author of, Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle, joins us to discuss his new book and take calls from our cycling-enthusiastic listeners.
This segment is guest-hosted by Matt Katz
Paintings and sculptures from Henri Matisse's Red Studio are reunited for the first time in this new exhibition of works at MoMa. Organizer Ann Temkin joins to discuss.
This segment is guest-hosted by Matt Katz
The summer is here, which means more opportunities for outdoor gatherings, picnics, and vacation cooking projects. But also, because of the heat, you may not to want to have that oven or stove on as long...Emily Weinstein, food and cooking editor for the New York Times, joins to talk all things summer cooking, and take your cooking questions and calls.
This segment is guest-hosted by Matt Katz
As we head into summer, and as many of us start getting out of the house more, we face the start of un-cuffing season, when couples everywhere are breaking up. Date/able podcast hosts Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick join us to discuss tips for getting over a breakup, how to dump someone with dignity, and putting yourself back out there after a relationship ends. Plus, we take your calls.
The Cannes Film Festival is glamorous and often the harbinger of what movies will rise to prominence in the next year. New York Times awards show columnist and friend of the show Kyle Buchanan was in Cannes, and will share his reporting of what films made a splash and what didn't go over as well this year.
Our Laundry, Our Town is playwright and educator Alvin Eng's new memoir about growing up as a first generation Chinese-American in Flushing, Queens in the 1970's, before the neighborhood was a center of Chinese cultural life in New York. Eng joins to discuss the book and his journey.
As we head into summer, and as many of us start getting out of the house more, we face the start of un-cuffing season, when couples everywhere are breaking up. Date/able podcast hosts Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick join us to discuss tips for getting over a breakup, how to dump someone with dignity, and putting yourself back out there after a relationship ends. Plus, we take your calls.
Fashion editor Susan Kaufman has released a lush book of photographs taken on her walks around New York City, called, Walk With Me: New York. She stops by to talk about her book, give some of her favorite walking routes in the city, and take listener calls.
Fashion editor Susan Kaufman has released a lush book of photographs taken on her walks around New York City, called, Walk With Me: New York. She stops by to talk about her book, give some of her favorite walking routes in the city, and take listener calls.
Our Laundry, Our Town is playwright and educator Alvin Eng's new memoir about growing up as a first generation Chinese-American in Flushing, Queens in the 1970's, before the neighborhood was a center of Chinese cultural life in New York. Eng joins to discuss the book and his journey.
The Cannes Film Festival is glamorous and often the harbinger of what movies will rise to prominence in the next year. New York Times awards show columnist and friend of the show Kyle Buchanan was in Cannes, and will share his reporting of what films made a splash and what didn't go over as well this year.
In this episode, we take a look into the people and things that flash into our lives, and the indelible mark they leave behind. Hosted by Jenifer Hixson, The Moth’s Senior Director. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
R. Eric Thomas pens a satire for his college paper with unintended consequences.
Annie Tan stokes the fire of her curiosity, but uncovers a dark moment in her family’s history.
Morely McBride comes across a stroke of luck when wandering the streets of New York City.
Warren Dahlin makes a friend who stays with him in life and in death.
For Memorial Day, host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that feature men in uniform, codes of honor, and how conflicts can sometime lead to connection. Maile Meloy’s “Red,” performed by Keith Szarabajka, takes place in London during the Blitz, where a man and woman find a rare moment of peace. In Kurt Vonnegut’s “The Cruise of the Jolly Roger,” a retired army man searches for the next chapter in his life. The reader is Teagle F. Bougere. And we feature Vonnegut’s candid and affecting “Letter Home,” about his experience as a prisoner of war. It’s read by Jordan Klepper.
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The meta musical, "A Strange Loop," is up for 11 Tony Awards this year. We speak with creator Michael R. Jackson and director Stephen Brackett about the show that has been called "dazzling," "thrilling" and "one of a kind."
Jay Walker, co-founder of Gays Against Guns, joins us to discuss gun policies after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 19 students and 2 adults dead.
We talk about navigating feelings of anger, grief and despair after the shootings in Texas and Buffalo. Tribeca Therapy founder and clinical director Matt Lundquist joins us to help us process our emotions. We also take listener calls.
Luis Jonathan Hernandez, co-founder and executive director of Youth Over Guns, the youth arm of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, joins us to discuss his activism in the local community and steps he and the young people of New York are taking to prevent gun violence.
Author and former Dear Sugars host Steve Almond has written non-fiction and short stories, but never a novel... until now. His debut, All the Secrets of the World, tells the story of two best friends who are torn apart when one's father is accused of killing the other's brother. Almond joins us to discuss the novel as part of our series, 2022 Debuts.
The meta musical, "A Strange Loop," is up for 11 Tony Awards this year. We speak with creator Michael R. Jackson and director Stephen Brackett about the show that has been called "dazzling," "thrilling" and "one of a kind."
Jay Walker, co-founder of Gays Against Guns, joins us to discuss gun policies after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 19 students and 2 adults dead.
We wrap up our coverage of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival by speaking with Dina Amer, director of the new film, "You Resemble Me." The film is inspired by the true story of Hasna Aït Boulahcen, a survivor of abuse in France who sought help and support before becoming radicalized, and ultimately dying at the age of 26. "You Resemble Me" is available to stream as part of the Festival through May 26, and is screening in person tonight at 6:15.
In this hour, stories of seismic changes and subtle shifts—and the aftershocks left in their path. New perspectives on faith, family, and one's self. This episode is hosted by Brandon Grant, Director of Marketing at The Moth. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Brandon Grant
Marlon James discovers his talent as a junior exorcist.
Hannah Brennan learns there is wisdom in her body.
While going through a divorce, Tricia Rose Burt finds comfort in her art.
Kim Sykes recalls growing up in New Orleans with a complicated father.
Rapper, songwriter and producer Kendrick Lamar recently released his latest studio album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Complex anchor and producer Alana Yzola joins us to analyze the album's themes and the artist's career.
Showtime's hit docuseries, "Couples Therapy," returns for its 3rd season this month. We speak to therapist and the show's relationship counselor Orna Guralnik about this season's couples and take listener calls.
The Rain City Superhero Movement was a vigilante organization led by Ben Fodor, an MMA fighter-turned-crime fighter who sought to thwart wrongdoers in Seattle while wearing a yellow and black bulletproof suit, under the name Phoenix Jones. A new podcast, "The Superhero Complex," explores Jones's rise to (and fall from) fame alongside the phenomenon of real-life superheroism. Host David Weinberg joins us.
A new book tells the inside story of the culture of Apple and its trajectory after the passing of the company's co-founder and CEO, Steve Jobs. Author Tripp Mickle, technology reporter for the New York Times, interviewed more than 200 Apple employees to uncover how the company tried to reimagine itself after the death of Jobs, the power struggle between Tim Cook and Jony Ive for control, and where Apple sees itself in the future of big tech. Mickle joins us to discuss his reporting and his book, After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul.
Rapper, songwriter and producer Kendrick Lamar recently released his latest studio album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Complex anchor and producer Alana Yzola joins us to analyze the album's themes and the artist's career.
Recently, we were joined by Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslein, authors of a new book, Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay. We enjoyed the conversation so much, and had so much more to talk about from the book, that we decided to invite Liz and Mollie back for every show this week to take on one big feeling a day, and take your calls as part of our ongoing series, "Taking Care Of You in 2022" and for Mental Health Awareness month. Today, Liz will join us. The specific feeling for this day is comparison.
The Rain City Superhero Movement was a vigilante organization led by Ben Fodor, an MMA fighter-turned-crime fighter who sought to thwart wrongdoers in Seattle while wearing a yellow and black bulletproof suit, under the name Phoenix Jones. A new podcast, "The Superhero Complex," explores Jones' rise to (and fall from) fame alongside the phenomenon of real-life superheroism. Host David Weinberg joins us.
A new book tells the inside story of the culture of Apple and its trajectory after the passing of the company's co-founder and CEO, Steve Jobs. Author Tripp Mickle, technology reporter for the New York Times, interviewed more than 200 Apple employees to uncover how the company tried to reimagine itself after the death of Jobs, the power struggle between Tim Cook and Jony Ive for control, and where Apple sees itself in the future of big tech. Mickle joins us to discuss his reporting and his book, After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul.
Showtime's hit docuseries 'Couples Therapy' returns for its 3rd season this month. We'll speak to therapist Orna Guralnik about this season's couples and will take listener calls.
This week, we learn about storytelling from Neil Gaiman. This episode is hosted by Michelle Jalowski.
Host: Michelle Jalowski
Storyteller: Neil Gaiman
Interviewer: Catherine Burns
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about profound and unexpected connections between people—territory she herself covers a lot as a writer. Old enemies meet in Lauren Groff’s “Once,” performed by Cynthia Nixon. Old friends come together and wonder what might have been in Rachel Khong’s “Slow and Steady,” performed by Hettienne Park. And an artistic collaboration takes a bizarre turn in Elizabeth Crane’s “Something Shiny,” performed by Kate Walsh.
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In this hour we explore stories relating to STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering and MATH): we travel from the laboratories of the Antarctic to the icy seas of Saturn’s moon Titan - we learn that predisposition does not mean predestined and sometimes A is larger than C. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media, the producer of this show.
Hosted by: Jay Allison
Storytellers:
James McClintock a scientist researching at McMurdo Station, Antartica makes an interesting discovery.
Lone Frank deep dives into personal genomics
Dhaya Lakshminarayanan gets entangled in the language of math.
Ellen Stofan sets her sights on exploring an alien sea.
Black Atlantic is a new exhibition from the Public Art Fund, exploring how the African diaspora and history of transatlantic slave network have influenced cultures around the world, from Europe to the Americas. The show features work from black artists born in Africa, the U.S, and Canada. Curators Hugh Hayden and Daniel S. Palmer join to discuss the exhibition, which is on view until November 27.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz join to talk about their new podcast, Will Be Wild, from Pineapple Media, which investigates the preludes to, and the aftermath of, the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
Note: one of our guestsmisidentified the state that Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy represents. She is from Florida, where she represents the 7th district, not California.
Recently, we were joined by Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslien, authors of a new book, Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay. We enjoyed the conversation so much, and had so much more to talk about from the book, that we decided to invite Liz and Mollie back for every show this week to take on one big feeling a day, and take your calls as part of our ongoing series, "Taking Care Of You in 2022" and for Mental Health Awareness month. Today, Liz will join us to discuss the dangers of perfectionism.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
New Wave band DEVO will be performing their hits at Pier 17 on May 18. Founding membersMark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale join us with a preview.
Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz join to talk about their new podcast, Will Be Wild, from Pineapple Media, which investigates the preludes to, and the aftermath of, the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In 1970, 21-year-old millionaire Michael Brody Jr. announced that he would give away his 25-million-dollar fortune to anyone in need. A new documentary, "Dear Mr. Brody," traces Brody's story and the frenzied fallout from his announcement. We speak to the film's director, Keith Maitland.
Black Atlantic is a new exhibition from the Public Art Fund, exploring how the African diaspora and history of transatlantic slave network have influenced cultures around the world, from Europe to the Americas. The show features work from black artists born in Africa, the U.S, and Canada. Curators Hugh Hayden and Daniel S. Palmer join to discuss the exhibition, which is on view until November 27.
Recently, we were joined by Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslein, authors of a new book, Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay. We enjoyed the conversation so much, and had so much more to talk about from the book, that we decided to invite Liz and Mollie back for every show this week to take on one big feeling a day, and take your calls as part of our ongoing series, "Taking Care Of You in 2022" and for Mental Health Awareness month. Today, Liz will join us to discuss the dangers of perfectionism.
This episode is guest-hosted by David Furst*.
In 1970, 21-year-old millionaire Michael Brody Jr. announced that he would give away his 25-million-dollar fortune to anyone in need. A new documentary, "Dear Mr. Brody," traces Brody's story and the frenzied fallout from his announcement. We speak to the film's director, Keith Maitland.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
New Wave band DEVO will be performing their hits at Pier 17 on May 18. Founding membersMark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale join us with a preview.
On this SELECTED SHORTS, host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories from our recently published anthology, Small Odysseys, which features 35 commissioned stories from some of the series’ favorite writers. This week, parents try to help with their daughter’s unusual school science research project. Michael Shannon reads Susan Perabo’s “The Project.” And in Luis Alberto Urrea’s “King of Bread,” a father carves out his own little kingdom in the barrios of San Diego—handing out doughnuts, and hope. The reader is Javier Muñoz.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
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A new art exhibition, I Can Show You the Way Out, depicts the torment of solitary confinement. The art show, curated by Gregory Thornbury, features several abstract paintings created by formerly incarcerated activist, artist and author Chris Wilson. He joins us to talk about his collaboration with House of Puff and Etain to raise awareness about solitary confinement. The exhibition opens on May 12 and will remain on view until June 10 at Etain located at 242 E. 58th Street.
A new book tells the story of the Women's House of Detention, a prison that operated in Greenwich Village from 1929 until 1971, before being demolished in 1974. The facility, which today is the Jefferson Market Library, was a women's prison that held women, transgender, and gender non-conforming people, often for just being poor or not compliant with gender standards of the time. Author Hugh Ryan joins to discuss this history and his book, called, The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison.
A new art exhibition, I Can Show You the Way Out, depicts the torment of solitary confinement. The art show, curated by Gregory Thornbury, features several abstract paintings created by formerly incarcerated activist, artist and author Chris Wilson. He joins us to talk about his collaboration with House of Puff and Etain to raise awareness about solitary confinement. The exhibition opens on May 12 and will remain on view until June 10 at Etain located at 242 E. 58th Street.
The Tony Nominations were announced Monday. NPR editor Jay Vanasco talks about what stood out to her.
On Sunday, Trombone Shorty closed out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's main stage, as he and his band have been doing since 2013. Fresh off winning his first Grammy for his contribution to Jon Batiste's We Are, Trombone Shorty is now out with a new album of his own, titled Lifted. Trombone Shorty joins us for a Listening Party.
On Sunday, Trombone Shorty closed out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's main stage, as he and his band have been doing since 2013. Fresh off winning his first Grammy for his contribution to Jon Batiste's We Are, Trombone Shorty is now out with a new album of his own, titled Lifted. Trombone Shorty joins us for a Listening Party.
A new book tells the story of the Women's House of Detention, a prison that operated in Greenwich Village from 1929 until 1971, before being demolished in 1974. The facility, which today is the Jefferson Market Library, was a women's prison that held women, transgender, and gender non-conforming people, often for just being poor or not compliant with gender standards of the time. Author Hugh Ryan joins to discuss this history and his book, called, The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison.
In this hour, stories of education, illumination, or just being schooled. The lessons learned from communities new and old, on top of a glacier, and from children. This episode is hosted by Moth host Jon Goode. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jon Goode
Storytellers:
Dan Souza teaches English and learns about Hungarian karaoke.
Jen Rubin plans to be spontaneous.
Matty Struski learns about resiliency, and slides.
Diane Harari learns that piano recitals are child's play.
Burnell Cotlon returns to the Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina to rebuild the community he loves.
Stephanie Foo’s memoir What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma tells her story of her childhood, where she suffered abuse and abandonment from her parents, and how those experiences led her to suffer from complex PTSD. Complex PTSD differs from regular PTSD, as it is caused when someone is exposed to a traumatic event repeatedly, over the course of years. Complex PTSD also doesn’t officially exist in the DSM-5, and so there is relatively little literature on the issue.
We speak with Stephanie Foo about her childhood trauma, her coming to terms with her Complex PTSD diagnoses, and how she’s worked to overcome it.
We air highlights from our Get Lit with All Of It April book club event with Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan, which took place in the Greene Space on May 2! Egan joined us to discuss her latest novel and our book club selection, The Candy House,and to take questions from the audience. We were also joined by the Grammy award-winning Steve Earle, who just finished with the hit off-Broadway show, "Coal Country," and is looking forward to his new album out this month, Jerry Jeff. Earle also provided us with a special performance.
For the latest installment of our ongoing Full Bio series, we speak with Kostya Kennedy, author of a new biography about Jackie Robinson, called, True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson. The book comes almost 75 years after Robinson made his professional baseball debut. On day four, we talk about Robinson's family and their time spent in Stamford, Connecticut, his activism, and how Robinson should be remembered today. With Mother's Day this weekend, we speak with Food & Wine Editor Ray Isleabout the best wines to toast mom with, some great new wines to check out and get to the bottom of the new trend of "orange" wines.
For the last few years, Rick Martinez, food writer and host of multiple food shows on YouTube, lived in Mexico, travelling around the country trying different dishes and experimenting with Mexican ingredients in his home kitchen. Now, his new cookbook, called Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico: A Cookbook, summarizes his favorite dishes from his adventures, from Oaxaca, to Sinaloa, to Mexico City. Martinez joins us to discuss Mexican cooking.
For the latest installment of our ongoing Full Bio series, we speak with Kostya Kennedy, author of a new biography about Jackie Robinson, called, True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson. The book comes almost 75 years after Robinson made his professional baseball debut. On day four, we talk about Robinson's family and their time spent in Stamford, Connecticut, his activism, and how Robinson should be remembered today.
We air highlights from the musical portion our Get Lit with All Of It April book club event with Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan, which took place in the Greene Space on May 2! We were also joined by the Grammy award-winning Steve Earle, who just finished with the hit off-Broadway show, "Coal Country," and is looking forward to his new album out this month, Jerry Jeff. Earle also provided us with a special performance.
We air highlights from our Get Lit with All Of It April book club event with Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan, which took place in the Greene Space on May 2! Egan joined us to discuss her latest novel and our book club selection, The Candy House,and to take questions from the audience.
This week, we celebrate The Moth’s launch in the UK and Ireland with stories about an eventful vacation in Greece and a positive pregnancy test. This episode is hosted by Sara Barron.
Host: Sara Barron
Storytellers:
Catherine Brophy
Charlotte Mooney
The story Sara Barron mentioned in the intro was Michael Such’s “Waiting To Go“: https://themoth.org/stories/waiting-to-go
On this SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories featuring mothers and children, and entertains a special guest—her own mother, Hilma Wolitzer. In Annette Sanford’s “Trip in a Summer Dress,” a young woman is setting out to get married, but leaving her real life—and a hard choice—behind. The reader is Mia Dillon. “Palaver,” by Bryan Washington, offers a playful—but also serious—battle of wits between a strong-willed mother and her grown son, each wanting to know more about the other without giving away too much of themselves. The alternating narratives are performed by Petronia Paley and Michael Potts. And host Wolitzer quizzes her own mother about her writing life, the impact of feminism, and raising a novelist to be.
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The fate of the state's primary elections are still up in the air. WNYC's Brigid Bergin reports on Wednesday's federal court battle.
In this hour, four stories about secret identities and true selves. A secular man immerses himself in a Christian world; a young woman pledges herself to a humble life of joy; a father writes in his son’s voice; and a young man from Sierra Leone is enlisted to serve in war. Hosted by The Moth’s Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers:
Kevin Rose goes undercover at a Evangelical Christian university.
Sister Carolyn Martin commits herself to a love greater than any other.
Boris Timanovsky has a transatlantic pen pal adventure.
Abraham Leno has a dream of college are threatened when war breaks out in his country.
A story by the Columbian-born author, set in the turbulent 70’s as a group of would-be radicals devises a plan that quickly goes awry (the narrator might be the most pathetic revolutionary ever). The story is read by Peter Jay Fernandez, translated by Beatriz Teleki. Too Hot is hosted by Aparna Nancherla.
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Host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social masks and what might lie beneath. Truman Capote’s “A Lamp in a Window” introduces an eccentric character with a secret. It’s performed by Arian Moayed. In Molly Giles’ “What Do You Say?” a mother and daughter lunch at a diner, where the mother encounters a bit of her past. The reader is Parker Posey. And novelist Zadie Smith channels the legendary singer Billie Holiday in “Crazy They Call Me,” performed by Karen Pittman.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
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On this SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about social masks and what might lie beneath. Truman Capote’s gentle “A Lamp in a Window” introduces an eccentric character with a secret. It’s performed by Arian Moayed. In Molly Giles’ “What Do You Say?” a mother and daughter lunch at a diner, where the mother encounters a bit of her past. The reader is Parker Posey. And novelist Zadie Smith channels the legendary singer Billie Holiday in “Crazy They Call Me,” performed by Karen Pittman.
Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this hour, the people we've loved and lost, their memories preserved in these stories. Mothers, partners, and the colorful residents of a nursing home, with special excerpts from the Moth's new audio book. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
Sharon D'Orsie goes on adventures with her aging mother.
Adrienne Lotson worries she's not cut out to be a chaplain.
Writer Elizabeth Gilbert shares her struggle in dealing with her partner’s terminal illness and what it taught her about living.
A new podcast from WNYC, hosted by senior reporter Nancy Solomon, tells the story of the 2014 unsolved deaths of New Jersey political couple John and Joyce Sheridan. The show examines the lackluster police investigation that followed, new evidence that has arisen since 2014, and what it all means for the state of politics in New Jersey. Solomon joins us to discuss the seven-part podcast, which is called, DEAD END: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery. Episode one debuts tomorrow.
This segment is guest-hosted by WNYC's David Furst.
A new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum showcases the work of multidisciplinary artist Guadalupe Maravilla, the first contemporary Central American artist to have a solo show at the Museum. Guadalupe Maravilla: Tierra Blanca Joven, draws from Maravilla's experience of leaving his native El Salvador at 8 years old, living undocumented in the United States, and also his recovery later in life from stage-three cancer. Maravilla and Eugenie Tsai, senior curator of contemporary art at the Brooklyn Museum, join us to discuss the show, which is on view until September 18.
This segment is guest-hosted by WNYC's David Furst.
Two weeks ago, heavy, sustained rains in the area around the port city of Durban, in the KwaZulu-Nata province of South Africa, triggered major flooding and mudslides. More than 400 are confirmed dead, dozens are still missing, and over 40,000 people displaced. Amongst those most affected are vulnerable communities, some of whom were already displaced by the government during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. President Cyril Ramphosa said after the tragedy that “these floods are a tragic reminder of the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions as a result of climate change.”
The Takeaway talked with John EligonJohannesburg bureau chief at The New York Times.
A new podcast from WNYC, hosted by senior reporter Nancy Solomon, tells the story of the 2014 unsolved deaths of New Jersey political couple John and Joyce Sheridan. The show examines the lackluster police investigation that followed, new evidence that has arisen since 2014, and what it all means for the state of politics in New Jersey. Solomon joins us to discuss the seven-part podcast, which is called, DEAD END: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery. Episode one debuts tomorrow.
WNYC's transportation reporter Stephen Nessen joins with the latest news about the city's subways. A new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum showcases the work of multidisciplinary artist Guadalupe Maravilla, the first contemporary Central American artist to have a solo show at the Museum. Guadalupe Maravilla: Tierra Blanca Joven, draws from Maravilla's experience of leaving his native El Salvador at 8 years old, living undocumented in the United States, and also his recovery later in life from stage-three cancer. Maravilla and Eugenie Tsai, senior curator of contemporary art at the Brooklyn Museum, join us to discuss the show, which is on view until September 18.
A new documentary chronicles the unlikely transformation of beloved stage musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," to beloved film. Director Daniel Raim joins us to discuss his film, "Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen," which revisits the adaptation and filming process. The documentary premieres on April 29 at the Angelika.
This episode is guest-hosted by WNYC's David Furst.
WNYC's transportation reporter Stephen Nessen joins with the latest news about the city's subways.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
A new documentary chronicles the unlikely transformation of beloved stage musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," to beloved film. Director Daniel Raim joins us to discuss his film, "Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen," which revisits the adaptation and filming process. The documentary premieres on April 29 at the Angelika.
*This segment is guest-hosted by David Furst.
Climate change is already here in America’s first suburbs — Long Island. Higher Ground tells the stories of communities on Long Island preparing and adapting to extreme weather and rising tides. WSHU's J.D. Allen and Sabrina Garone venture across the region to explore the solutions that might give people the best chance at survival and help save the places millions of people call home. These perspectives from Long Island have implications far beyond the region in the search for solutions to survive climate change.
This week, we feature a story about an eventful party conference in Australia. Plus, we take a look at our new book: “How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth.“ This episode is hosted by Kate Tellers.
Host: Kate Tellers
Storytellers: Kathryn Bendall
On this SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents two works by the dazzling writer Joan Didion, whose essays, novels, and memoirs have been beloved by generations of readers. This sophisticated, knowing artist placed herself squarely in her reportage, telling her own story vividly and courageously. We’ll hear excepts from two of her best-known works, The White Album, in which she reports on her own mental collapse in the madness of California in the 1960s, and Goodbye to All That, in which her youthful self falls in, and out of, love with New York City. Jill Eikenberry performs The White Album and Mia Dillon shares Goodbye to All That.
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Brooklyn Poetry Slam, a monthly poetry competition and open mic night hosted by writer and community organizer Mahogany L. Browne and author and DJ Jive Poetic, returns to BRIC House on April 26. Browne joins us to talk about the event and being the first poet-in-residence at Lincoln Center.
"The Daily Show" correspondent Jordan Klepper's new special, "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Into the MAGAverse," features him going to Hungary to explore why some U.S conservatives think of the European country as a far-right utopia. Klepper joins us to preview the special, which premieres on Comedy Central tonight.
The American Composers Orchestra and The Apollo have collaborated to revive the ritual of the "Ring Shout" and bring it to a new generation. We speak with Melissa Ngan, American Composers President/ CEO and Leatrice Ellzy, Apollo's Senior Director of Programming.
The latest play from writer and actor Tracy Letts follows a small-town city council meeting that begins to reveal that all might not be well in the town of Big Cherry. Letts joins us to discuss his show, "The Minutes," which is on Broadway through July 24.
Brooklyn Poetry Slam, a monthly poetry competition and open mic night hosted by writer and community organizer Mahogany L. Browne and author and DJ Jive Poetic, returns to BRIC House on April 26. Browne joins us to talk about the event and being the first poet-in-residence at Lincoln Center.
In a thrilling new novel, a young woman named Ruby stands accused for the murder of her husband... and the deaths of three other people. Ruby maintains that she is innocent in her husband's death, but she has a secret: she is guilty of the other three murders. How can she prove she loved her husband and would never hurt him? And what drove her to kill three other people? All is revealed in the debut novel from Emmy-nominated screenwriter Sascha Rothchild, titled, Blood Sugar. She joins us to discuss as part of our series, "2022 Debuts."
Mason, Tennessee is a small, predominantly Black town of approximately 1,300 residents situated about 40 miles northeast of Memphis in West Tennessee. The city has struggled with financial mismanagement in the past, but is expected to benefit from a major new economic investment, an electric vehicle plant being built by Ford Motor Company just a few miles away. Recently the Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, tried to forcibly take control over the town's finances. We explore the fight Mason is taking on for its financial autonomy.
We speak with:
*Virginia Rivers,* Vice-Mayor of Mason, Tennessee
Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP
John Marshall, judicial magistrate in Memphis, Tennessee, amateur historian, and sixth generation Mason native
Otis Sanford, political columnist for The Daily Memphian and a journalism professor at the University of Memphis
Music from this episode by: The Memphis Jug Band Milton Ruiz, J. Cowit (https://jcowit.bandcamp.com/), I Think Like Midnight (http://www.ithinklikemidnight.com/) Hannis Brown (https://www.hannisbrown.com/) The Sometime Boys (https://www.thesometimeboys.com/)
The American Composers Orchestra and The Apollo have collaborated to revive the ritual of the "Ring Shout" and bring it to a new generation. We speak with Melissa Ngan, American Composers President/ CEO and Leatrice Ellzy, Apollo's Senior Director of Programming.
"The Daily Show" correspondent Jordan Klepper's new special, "Jordan KlepperFingers the Pulse: Into the MAGAverse," features him going to Hungary to explore why some U.S conservatives think of the European country as a far-right utopia. Klepper joins us to preview the special, which premieres on Comedy Central tonight.
In a thrilling new novel, a young woman named Ruby stands accused for the murder of her husband... and the deaths of three other people. Ruby maintains that she is innocent in her husband's death, but she has a secret: she is guilty of the other three murders. How can she prove she loved her husband and would never hurt him? And what drove her to kill three other people? All is revealed in the debut novel from Emmy-nominated screenwriter Sascha Rothchild, titled, Blood Sugar. She joins us to discuss as part of our series, "2022 Debuts."
In this hour, three stories about times we come across guns in our lives. An aspiring writer tries to land a job with Hunter S. Thompson; a dental student travels to a dangerous Colombian town to finish her residency; and a music artist comes face to face with military police. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
Cheryl Della Pietra gets acquainted with gun-toting Hunter S. Thompson.
Martha Ruiz Perilla is asked to save a life or lose her own.
Boots Riley is trying to get home, but runs into problems on a naval base in San Francisco.
Vulturepodcast critic Nick Quah checks in for a Review/Preview to give us his picks for what podcasts to listen to now, and a few he’s looking forward to.
Janelle Monáe needs no introduction. Amongst all of her creative endeavors, now she's the author of a new collection of short fiction stories called, The Memory Librarian. Monáe wrote the book in collaboration with female and nonbinary writers based on her 2018 album, Dirty Computer. She joins us to discuss the book, which touches on themes of Afrofuturism, identity, oppression, and more. The Memory Librarian is out on April 19. Tonight, Monáe will be in conversation about the book at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
After buying the largest share in Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX chair Elon Musk made a hostile bid to take over the tech giant. Sarah Frier explains what it means for free speech, business, and politics.
It's Tax Day in the United States, and we speak to former tax attorney and professor of law at Emory University Dorothy A. Brown, who's alsoauthor of the book, The Whiteness of Wealth. The book touches on how racial biases in the tax code can often limit people of color from building generational wealth.
Last week it was announced that twenty-five new works of audio have been added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, including albums by Tribe Called Quest and Alicia Keys, as well as reporting from WNYC News during 9/11. We'll speak to the Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden about what was added to the Registry this year and why.
Vulture podcast critic Nick Quah checks in for a Review/Preview to give us his picks for what podcasts to listen to now, and a few he’s looking forward to.
After buying the largest share in Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX chair Elon Musk made a hostile bid to take over the tech giant. Sarah Frier explains what it means for free speech, business, and politics.
Janelle Monáe needs no introduction. Amongst all of her creative endeavors, now she's the author of a new collection of short fiction stories called, The Memory Librarian. Monáe wrote the book in collaboration with female and nonbinary writers based on her 2018 album, Dirty Computer. She joins us to discuss the book, which touches on themes of Afrofuturism, identity, oppression, and more. The Memory Librarian is out on April 19. Tonight, Monáe will be in conversation about the book at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Information to attend the event can be found here.
Actor James McAvoy stars as Cyrano in the U.S premiere of the Martin Crimp adaptation, "Cyrano de Bergerac," using spoken word, rap, rhymes, and poetry to seduce his one true love. We are joined by Evelyn Miller who stars as Roxane. The show runs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music through May 22.
Chag sameach, it’s the first night of pesach. Jewish Food Society program director and “Schmaltzy” podcast host Amanda Dell joins us. She'll help us take a look at seder tables around the world, and at Listeners' seder tables. Listeners call in with their favorite Passover dinner recipes from all over the Jewish diaspora.
In January, Cat Power released Covers, her third record of tribute songs. The artists covered include Iggy Pop, Jackson Browne, Nick Cave, The Replacements, and more. Power joins us for a Listening Party and to preview her April 18 show at Brooklyn Steel.
Easter is around the corner and a lot of our listeners will be boiling--and dyeing--eggs. What to do with all the hardboiled eggs afterwards? We'll hear some tips plus recipes for all year round from Lisa Steele, chicken farmer and author of the book, The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes to Use Eggs in Unexpected Ways.
We partnered with WNYC’s Alison Stewart on this program featuring tales of love and haunting by new and established writers who have been featured on her show All of It. In Hilary Leichter’s “Doggy-Dog World” family life takes an unexpected turn. It’s read by Sarah Mezzanotte. Is “Horror Story” a series of hauntings, or is it the form that love takes when it’s not working? Carmen Maria Machado’s story is read by Molly Bernard. And the masterful Louise Erdrich gives us an old story—falling in love with your teacher—in a new guise; she happens to be a nun. Cynthia Nixon is the reader of “Sister Godzilla.”
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Selected Shorts presents a bonus interview between our host and best-selling author, Meg Wolitzer, and the host of WNYC’s All of It, Alison Stewart. Wolitzer reveals some of the secrets to great writing and the two women share their own reading habits and thoughts about the importance of fiction.
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In this hour, stories of learning from our elders. A mechanic, a teacher, a patriarchy-busting grandmother, and Star Wars in translation. This hour is hosted by regular Moth host Angelica Lindsey-Ali. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Angelica Lindsey-Ali
Storytellers:
Ishmael Beah is separated from his beloved grandmother during the war in Sierra Leone.
Rose Saia feels understood by her new 4th grade eacher.
Charlotte Mooney helps a man wandering on the highway.
Manuelito Wheeler wants to help preserve the Navajo language by dubbing Star Wars.
Media executive Michelle D. Hord endured one of the most painful losses one could experience--the death of her daughter at the hands of her ex husband. Her memoir, The Other Side of Yet details how she found the strength to continue and thrive.
Yesterday, April 7th, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States, making her the first Black woman to serve as a justice on the nation's highest court. Building off the confirmation of Justice Brown Jackson, we took a Deep Dive into the life and legacy of Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to serve on the federal judiciary.
Constance Baker Motley was a civil rights lawyer, NY state politician, and the first Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary. Before finishing law school at Columbia University in 1945, Motley served as a law clerk in the office of Thurgood Marshall, the well known civil rights leader who was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.
In 1946, Motley joined the NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund where she served as a civil rights lawyer for nearly two decades. She represented well known civil rights leaders like MLK and Medgar Evans whose constitutional rights were often under siege by the American government during that time. She also represented those who took part in civil rights activism such as the Freedom Fighters and the Birmingham Children Marchers. She was considered a key legal and political strategist of the movement.
In 1950, Motley was the legal mind behind the original complaint in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the landmark case that ended school segregation in the U.S. in the mid 20th century. The complaint in Brown v. BOE (1954) argued that under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, racial separation under the guise of "separate but equal," was in-fact unequal therefore unconstitutional. This historical case set the legal stage for desegregation in the U.S.
In 1964, Motley became the first Black woman elected to the NY State Senate, and she eventually became the first Black woman elected to serve as Borough President of Manhattan. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, making her the first Black woman to be appointed to the federal bench.
Today, we took a deep dive into her life and legacy with Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and Professor Law and History at Harvard University. She's author of Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, “A must-read for anyone who dares to believe that equal justice under the law is possible and is in search of a model for how to make it a reality,” said Professor Anita Hill. Anita Hill is the legal scholar and professor who captivated the American public in 1991 during her testimony before the Senate judiciary committee in the vetting process for then-nominee Clarence Thomas. Thomas is the only other African American to sit on the Supreme Court; he was appointed by George H. W. Bush to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall. He's married to Virginia Thomas who sent a great deal of text messages begging former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to push to overturn the fairly drawn results of the 2020 presidential election.
We also spoke with President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Janai Nelson, about the legacy Motley left and the pivotal cases she worked on during her time there.
Simone Yhap, the immediate past president of the National Chair of the National Black Law Students Association also joined us. Yhap spoke to us about the obstacles Black law students continue to face, citing a recent incident from law student Brooklyn Crockton. Crockton posted a TikTok back in March about what happened when she arrived at court to serve as a Rule 9 attorney representing an indigent client. She says a court officer blocked her entry into the courtroom and asked if she was the defendant on trial. Simone speaks to this incident with her own story of racial discrimination during law school and reflects on how the historical confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will inspirethe next generation of U.S. attorneys.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gestures as she speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
A lot of people know Syd as the lead vocalist for Los Angeles-based band The Internet or as a former member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, however, the singer-songwriter's new album Broken Hearts Club captures the artist's unique alternative R&B sound. This album comes out five years after she released her debut solo album Fin. Syd joins us for a Listening Party.
April is National Poetry Month! This year's theme is Normalcy. New York Public Radio is observing the month by asking listeners to share their poems with us so we're taking the time to share a few with you. First up is WNYC listener Patricia Starek from Brooklyn who sent in a poem called "Spring This Year."
Media executive Michelle D. Hord endured one of the most painful losses one could experience--the death of her daughter at the hands of her ex husband. Her memoir, The Other Side of Yet details how she found the strength to continue and thrive.
To celebrate National Poetry Month, NYPL senior librarians Leanna Frankland and Grace Yamada recommend some of their favorite poetry collections of the last year. And we take listeners' calls.
What's in a name? We take some time to examine the importance of names with Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and author of the book iGEN: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us. We also discuss the phenomenon of "name doppelgangers"-- someone who shares your exact same name and take calls about name twins!
A lot of people know Syd as the lead vocalist for Los Angeles-based band The Internet or as a former member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, however, the singer-songwriter's new album Broken Hearts Club captures the artist's unique alternative R&B sound. This album comes out five years after she released her debut solo album Fin. Syd joins us for a Listening Party.
To celebrate National Poetry Month, NYPL senior librarians Leanna Frankland and Grace Yamada recommend some of their favorite poetry collections of the last year. And we take listeners' calls.
This week, we feature two stories about love. This episode is hosted by Dame Wilburn.
Host: Dame Wilburn
Storytellers: Kimberly Gotches, Alex Campbell
On the next Selected Shorts, it's all about the Slaughterhouse Five author who somehow managed to make a bleak dystopia funny, and a high school band teacher a hero. With host Meg Wolitzer we celebrate 100 years of Vonnegut with stories that explore the darkly absurd side he’s known for—“Harrison Bergeron” performed by Becky Ann Baker--and a softer, touching side in “The Kid Nobody Could Handle,” performed by Dylan Baker.
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Amid the ongoing exodus of Ukrainians fleeing their country due to the Russian invasion, members of the country’s LGBTQ community find themselves in a particularly precarious position. Some of the countries that they are fleeing to, including Poland, have had vocal anti-LGBTQ movements in recent years. LGBTQ+ Ukrainian refugees also face obstacles towards receiving proper medical care, and at times, issues with their identifying documents.
We hear from Edward Reese, a non-binary, queer Ukrainian about his experience fleeing Ukraine. We also speak with two activists working to help LGBTQ Ukrainian refugees, Olena Shevchenko, Head of Insight Ukraine, an LGBTQ advocacy group based in Ukraine, and Miroslawa “Mirka” Makuchowska, Deputy CEO of Campaign Against Homophobia, a Polish LGBTQ+ rights organization.
"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a mind-bending action comedy movie from music video-turned-feature film directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. It follows Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who must finish her taxes and also save the multiverse. Ke Huy Quan plays her kindhearted husband, Waymond, and he joins us to discuss the film alongside actor James Hong.
In their new feature film, "Everything Everywhere All At Once," former music video directors the Daniels recruited the experimental band Son Lux to compose the score. Their soundtrack also features David Byrne, Mitski, Andre 3000, Randy Newman, and more. Son Lux join us for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST from May 20, 2020] Steve Earle discusses his album Ghosts of West Virginia, including songs he wrote for the play"Coal Country." The interview featured an exclusive premiere of Earle's song "The Mine," as well as the North American debut of an acoustic version of "It's About Blood."
The weather is getting warmer and the birds are chirping. We solve some of your bird mysteries with naturalist Gabriel Willow and All Of It senior producer Kate Hinds.
In this hour, a woman gets a call in the middle of the night; a young boy discovers the truth about his idol; a girl does her best to prepare for a big moment; and a family camps out in hopes of seeing the Kennedy family. Hosted by The Moth’s Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers:
Teri Garr bonds with friends over justice and revenge.
Liel Leibowitz learns the identity of a real-life anti-hero from his childhood.
Nasrin Marzban gets ready to meet the Shah of Iran.
Micaela Murphy endures a family beach vacation.
[REBROADCAST FROM September 28, 2021] Esperanza Spalding’s new album, Songwrights Apothecary Lab, is named after the roaming creative workshop into which she invited musicians, neuroscientists, ethnomusicologists, and other specialists. Six of the twelve songs on the resulting LP were recorded during a session of live sets in New York this summer. Spalding joins us for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST FROM July 29, 2021] The title of Leon Bridges' third album, Gold-Digger’s Sound, comes from the Los Angeles hotel and studio where the Grammy winner wrote and recorded it. Bridges joins us for a Listening Party.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 1, 2020] Robin Pecknold, singer-songwriter, guitarist and frontman of Fleet Foxes, joins us to talk about their album, Shore, which was released on September 22. The album serves as a bright counterpart to the band's last critically acclaimed album, Crack-Up.
We air highlights from our interview with Harvey Fierstein as part of our March "Get Lit with All Of It" book club event. It's our first in-person event in over two years! We spent the month reading Fierstein's new memoir, I Was Better Last Night. The memoir details Fierstein's life and career, his activism, and his struggles with addiction. Kirkus says of the book, "A poignant, clever, and entertaining look at an impressive, unique career."
We also air highlights from the audience Q & A portion of our interview.
We air highlights from the interview and performance portion of our March "Get Lit with All Of It" book club event. It's our first in-person event in over two years! After Harvey Fierstein, we're joined for a performance by actor Tituss Burgess, whose Broadway credits include, "Guys and Dolls," "The Little Mermaid," and "Jersey Boys." You also know him as Titus Andromedon from "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and a regular on the animated musical series, "Central Park."
[REBROADCAST FROM October 1, 2020] Robin Pecknold, singer-songwriter, guitarist and frontman of Fleet Foxes, joins us to talk about their album, Shore. The album serves as a bright counterpart to the band's last critically acclaimed album, Crack-Up.
[REBROADCAST FROM September 28, 2021] Esperanza Spalding’s new album, Songwrights Apothecary Lab, is named after the roaming creative workshop into which she invited musicians, neuroscientists, ethnomusicologists, and other specialists. Six of the twelve songs on the resulting LP were recorded during a session of live sets in New York this summer. Spalding joins us for a Listening Party. [REBROADCAST FROM July 29, 2021] The title of Leon Bridges's third album, Gold-Digger’s Sound, comes from the Los Angeles hotel and studio where the Grammy winner wrote and recorded it. Bridges joins us for a Listening Party.
We air highlights from our interview with Harvey Fierstein as part of our March "Get Lit with All Of It" book club event. It's our first in-person event in over two years! We spent the month reading Fierstein's new memoir, I Was Better Last Night. The memoir details Fierstein's life and career, his activism, and his struggles with addiction. Kirkus says of the book, "A poignant, clever, and entertaining look at an impressive, unique career."
WNYC has removed 41 articles from WNYC.org and four stories from Gothamist.com due to violations of our editorial standards. Forty-two of the stories that were removed were found to contain unattributed passages from other sources. The other three stories were published on other websites by the author. No fabricated facts were found in the stories, which were by a single author and published between 2010 and 2021.
WNYC takes its editorial standards very seriously and is committed to providing audiences with the highest quality news and analysis.
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents three provocative works about rituals that reshape and define their characters. In “oh she gotta head fulla hair,” by Ntozake Shange, a woman’s attention to her hair consumes her life. The reader is Tamara Tunie. In “Half a Day,” by Naguib Mahfouz, performed by Bruce Altman, time collapses and a lifetime goes by in a flash. And in Charles Baxter’s “Fenstad’s Mother,” a mother and son rehearse old patterns and find new ones. The reader is Edie Falco.
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In this hour, challenges that reveal one's truest self. The insatiable needs of an electronic pet, being forced to face one's fears, and the dogged pursuit of one's dreams. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers:
8-year-old Sara Jonsson realizes her new toy is more responsibility than she bargained for.
Mike Maloch has to face his fears on the job.
Samira Sahebi has an unexpected visit to the ER.
Beth Bradley inches toward a breaking point near the end a 14k hike up a mountain in Colorado.
Shaun Leonardo pursues his dream of becoming a luchador.
The midterm election season is heating up across New York City with candidates going door-to-door to collect petitions for the primary contests set for June.
But remnants of last year’s November election still linger and could be a prelude to the coming months. One sign in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is just such a harbinger.
WNYC's Brigid Bergin has this report.
A haunting story from one of the major figures in modern speculative fiction, short story- and novel-writer N.K. Jemisin.The New York Times called her “The Most Celebrated Science Fiction And Fantasy Writer of Her Generation," with good reason. Beautifully read by Purva Bedi, "The Storyteller's Replacement" is about a king on the hunt to secure and eat a dragon’s heart to ensure his own virility. Host Aparna Nancherla discusses the story and more with Jemisin after the reading.
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First:[REBROADCAST FROM March 9, 2022] Actress Aunjanue Ellis, well known for her acting career on stage as well as critically acclaimed performances in HBO's recent series, "Lovecraft Country" and Netflix's "When They See Us," joins us to talk her first Oscar nomination. Ellis received a Best Supporting Actress nod this year for her performance as Oracene "Brandy" Price, mother to Venus and Serena Williams, in "King Richard," in which she starred opposite to Will Smith's Richard Williams.
Then:[REBROADCAST FROM December 16, 2021] “King Richard” received six academy award nominations including including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song and an Oscar nomination for Will Smith’s performance as Richard Williams, the father and first coach of Venus and Serena Williams. Screenwriter Zach Baylin joins us to discuss the film, his first feature, which was featured in the second slot in the 2018 Black List.
[REBROADCAST FROM November 4, 2021] Pablo Larraín's new film, "Spencer," documents three days of the late Princess Diana's life, ten years into her marriage, as she spends the Christmas holidays with the royal family. Starring Oscar nominee Kristen Stewart as a haunted Diana, the film unfolds as a speculative drama, attempting to showcase how Diana might have felt, surrounded by a disintegrating marriage and a suffocating royal family, but still grounded by her love for her children. Director Larraín joins us to discuss his film.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 15, 2021] Writer and director Aaron Sorkin joins us to discuss his film, “Being the Ricardos.” The movie stars Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz and follows the tabloid dramas that threatened to take down their relationship. “Being the Ricardos"garnered nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 9, 2021] When actor, writer and director Kenneth Branagh was only 9 years old, his community in Belfast erupted in violence. Now, over 50 years later, Branagh has brought this story of his childhood to life in his new film "Belfast," which follows a young boy named Buddy as his family struggles to decide whether to stay in Northern Ireland. The film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Sound, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor. Branagh joins us to discuss the film, which he wrote and directed.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 21, 2021] Paul Thomas Anderson's film, "Licorice Pizza," tells the tale of the tumultuous relationship between Alana Kane and Gary Valentine, played by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, as they grow up in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. "Licorice Pizza" marks the acting debut for both leads, with Alana Haim bridging the gap between her music career, as part of the band Haim, to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Alana Haim joins to talk her acting debut.
[REBROADCAST FROM March 9, 2022] Actress Aunjanue Ellis, well known for her acting career on stage as well as critically acclaimed performances in HBO's recent series, "Lovecraft Country" and Netflix's "When They See Us," joins us to talk her first Oscar nomination. Ellis received a Best Supporting Actress nod this year for her performance as Oracene "Brandy" Price, mother to Venus and Serena Williams, in "King Richard," in which she starred opposite to Will Smith's Richard Williams.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 16, 2021] “King Richard” received six academy award nominations including including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song and an Oscar nomination for Will Smith’s performance as Richard Williams, the father and first coach of Venus and Serena Williams. Screenwriter Zach Baylin joins us to discuss the film, his first feature, which was featured in the second slot in the 2018 Black List.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 9, 2021] When actor, writer and director Kenneth Branagh was only 9 years old, his community in Belfast erupted in violence. Now, over 50 years later, Branagh has brought this story of his childhood to life in his new film "Belfast," which follows a young boy named Buddy as his family struggles to decide whether to stay in Northern Ireland. The film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Sound, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor. Branagh joins us to discuss the film, which he wrote and directed.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 15, 2021] Writer and director Aaron Sorkin joins us to discuss his film, “Being the Ricardos.” The movie stars Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz and follows the tabloid dramas that threatened to take down their relationship. “Being the Ricardos" garnered nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
[REBROADCAST FROM November 4, 2021] Pablo Larraín's new film, "Spencer," documents three days of the late Princess Diana's life, ten years into her marriage, as she spends the Christmas holidays with the royal family. Starring Oscar nominee Kristen Stewart as a haunted Diana, the film unfolds as a speculative drama, attempting to showcase how Diana might have felt, surrounded by a disintegrating marriage and a suffocating royal family, but still grounded by her love for her children. Director Larraín joins us to discuss his film.
[REBROADCAST FROM February 2, 2022] "The Worst Person in the World" has made the Oscar's shortlist for Best International Feature Film, as Norway's official submission for this year's competition. The movie follows four years in the life of Julie, a young woman struggling to navigate her dating life and figure out the right career path. The Guardian calls it "an instant classic." Writer and director Joachim Trier and star Renate Reinsve join us to discuss the film.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 21, 2021] Paul Thomas Anderson's film, "Licorice Pizza," tells the tale of the tumultuous relationship between Alana Kane and Gary Valentine, played by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, as they grow up in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director."Licorice Pizza" marks the acting debut for both leads, with Alana Haim bridging the gap between her music career, as part of the band Haim, to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Alana Haim joins to talk her acting debut.
This week, we feature two stories about power - who gets it, who wields it, and what it takes to find it. This episode is hosted by Jodi Powell.
Host: Jodi Powell
Storytellers: Lyralen Kaye, Phyllis Omido
To find out more about Phyllis Omido’s work, check out her NGO The Center for Justice, Governance, and Environmental Action - centerforjgea.com
To find out more about Lyralen Kaye's social justice theater and film go to anothercountryproductions.com
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories about love, or the next best thing. In Pam Houston’s “How to Talk to a Hunter” a smart woman can’t get enough of what her man can’t offer. The reader is Mia Dillon. And a widowed mother and a lonely man make an odd couple in Lisa Ko’s “Pat + Sam,” performed by Jennifer Ikeda.
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We continue our series "The Big Picture," highlighting Oscar nominees who aren't directors or actors. Today, we speak with Jon Spaihts, who had the monumental task of adapting Frank Herbert's "Dune" for the big screen. He is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and he joins us to discuss the film, as well as the forthcoming second installment of "Dune."
A new book tells the history of New York City through the story of one city block, from Twenty-third Street to the south, Twenty-fourth Street to the north, Fifth Avenue and Broadway to the east, and Sixth Avenue to the west. Christiane Bird's book A Block in Time: A New York City History at the Corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-Third Street, tells the story of this neighborhood from the original Lenape inhabitants through the life of a formerly enslaved person turned-property owner, through the Gilded Age construction, and all the way to present day. Bird joins us to discuss.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 28, 2021] A Showtime documentary, "Attica," recounts the 1971 uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility fifty years later, investigating the enduring racism of the American prison system, as well as the urgent need for prison reform. Emmy Award-winning director Stanley Nelson, and co-director Traci A. Curry, discuss the film.
When author Amy Bloom's husband learned that he had early onset Alzheimer's, he made a difficult decision--- to end his own life through Dignitas, an organization in Switzerland. Amy chronicles the difficult road to this decision, and her final days with her husband, in her new book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss.
Over the past 40 years, the US prison population has increased 500%, making it the world’s leading jailer. Music producer Ryan Burvick runs a rejuvenation program on Rikers Island, America's most notorious jail. Those who have been through the prison system open up to him about their experiences, and their views on issues like cash for bail, the plea bargain, and why Black Americans are five times more likely to be incarcerated than White Americans.
We continue our series "The Big Picture," highlighting Oscar nominees who aren't directors or actors. Today, we speak with Jon Spaihts, who had the monumental task of adapting Frank Herbert's "Dune" for the big screen. He is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and he joins us to discuss the film, as well as the forthcoming second installment of "Dune."
When author Amy Bloom's husband learned that he had early onset Alzheimer's, he made a difficult decision--- to end his own life through Dignitas, an organization in Switzerland. Amy chronicles the difficult road to this decision, and her final days with her husband, in her new book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss.
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents two gripping stories about people in flight. In Rebecca Makkai’s “The Suitcase,” performed by Victor Garber, an escaped prisoner assumes another man’s identity. In “Paradise,” by Yxta Maya Murray, a young widow and mother runs from a fire, but can’t escape the challenges of her family life. Tanis Parenteau is the reader.
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In honor of pi day earlier this week, here on All Of It we're celebrating PIE day. Food writer and author of The Book on Pie Erin McDowell joins to share her picks for pies to try now and takes your pie baking calls.
WNYC's news editor Kate Hinds joins to discuss the stories and top headlines the newsroom is following this week.
A new Oscar-nominated short film sees documentarian Jay Rosenblatt investigating a bullying incident he was a part of as a fifth grader at a Sheepshead Bay public school. Rosenblatt combines archival footage, animation, and interviews with former classmates and teachers to reexamine the incident, and how kids relate to one another. Rosenblatt joins us to discuss the film, titled "When We Were Bullies," which is nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Oscars and will premiere on HBO Max on March 30.
When Rachel Krantz, a founding editor of Bustle, fell in love with a man named Adam, he suggested they explore an open relationship. So Krantz decided to dip her toe into the world of non-monogamy. But while she found some aspects of polyamory exciting, other experiences led to miscommunication and jealousy. Krantz explores the world of non-monogamy in New York City in her first book, a memoir titled, Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. She joins us as part of our series, "2022 Debuts."
In today's dating world, more and more people are exploring non-monogamy as an alternative to traditional monogamous relationships. But non-monogamy brings up its own tricky questions and concerns. Dedeker Winston, relationship coach and author of the book, The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory, joins us to discuss approaching non-monogamy in an ethical way, and takes calls from listeners.
This episode is guest-hosted by Kerry Nolan
In this hour, new purposes, shifting perspectives, and fresh takes. At work, at home, and on the streets of Harlem. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Suzanne Rust
Storytellers:
Frank O'Keefe takes us inside the world of the New York City Sanitation Department.
Julia Bucci can't use her usual academic approach when confronted with a matter of the heart.
Ayisha Irfan finds herself in the awkward role of the "office Muslim."
On the night of Obama's election, Maxie Jones witnesses change on the streets of Harlem.
A special edition of Witness from the BBC World Service presenting remarkable stories of women's history, told by the women who were there. Featuring the first female Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, stories of northern English women who protested against a serial killer in the 1970s, China's 'Kingdom of Women,' and more.
This week, remembering a very special storyteller. This episode is hosted by Sarah Austin Jenness.
Host: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storyteller: T. Dixon
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents a show about the theater, and those who love it. Rachel Klein’s “Audience Instructions for Our Immersive/Experimental Theatre Production In An Abandoned Middle School In Bushwick,” read by Santino Fontana, sends up the avant-garde. In “Our Mutual (Theater) Friend,” by Amber Sparks, A retired diva just can’t fit into ordinary life—and then, she’s given an extraordinary gift. Krystina Alabado reads. Ann Petry’s “Solo on the Drums,” read by Peter Francis James, captures a passionate performance. And Anton Chekhov offers up a theatrical power couple and their puzzling marriage in “He and She,” read by present-day theatrical power couple Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes.
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In this hour, Global Stories of Women and Girls -- hosted by Moth Storyteller, Fatou Wurie. A Kenyan student aspires to be beautiful while her mother has bigger ideas; a teenager's failing sight is revealed during a game of kickball; and a woman smites down her enemies. Those stories and more. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Fatou Wurie.
Storytellers:
Mary Hamilton gets married to an unconventional man.
Esther Ngumbi hides an act of defiance from her mother.
Jon Howe re-commits to his ailing wife.
Emely Recinos struggles with her diminishing eye-sight.
Anne Moraa reveals her true self during a traffic jam in Nairobi.
Fatou Wurie recognizes her grandmother’s impact on her life during a trip to Sierra Leone.
[REBROADCAST FROM December 9, 2022] The latest film from writer-director Sean Baker (“The Florida Project”) tells the story of a former pornographic star who returns to his hometown in Texas. It stars Simon Rex, actor and former MTV video DJ, who also has some personal experience with the adult film industry. Baker and Rex join us to discuss their film, “Red Rocket.”
[REBROADCAST FROM July 1, 2022] Writer and director Janicza Bravo joins us to discuss her acclaimed film, "Zola," co-written by playwright Jeremy O’Harris. Zola is a Detroit waitress who befriends one of her customers, Stefani, who convinces her to join a weekend of dancing and partying in Florida.
The novel Hell of a Book won the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction. Author Jason Mott joins us to discuss the novel, which was our February Get Lit with All Of It book club selection. The story follows a troubled author on book tour, haunted by a ghostly presence called The Kid, and by his own traumatic past.
We air highlights from Gangstagrass's interview and performance during our February "Get Lit with All Of It" book club event.
Invisibilia is seeking stories about discomfort with power. Stories about leaders denying their power, organizations with supposedly flat power structures and invisible hierarchies, or personal relationships with difficult power dynamics. If you have a story about power – at a workplace, in a band, on a high school basketball team, etc... – send a short summary with the subject line – POWER – to invisibiliamail@npr.org. The deadline is March 11th.
SELECTED SHORTS host Meg Wolitzer presents three works that explore the complicated lives of women. Edwidge Danticat’s essay “Women Like Us” honors the long line of strong women in her family, but also recognizes her need to distance herself in order to become a writer. The reader is the late Lynne Thigpen. In an excerpt from Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, performed by Joan Allen, a philandering husband gets just what he deserves. And an order of nuns has hidden strengths—and comic timing—in Claire Luchette’s “New Bees,” performed by Joanna Gleason.
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Beginning with their 1990 self-titled debut album, Superchunk helped define the indie rock sound of 90's Chapel Hill, and they've continued releasing acclaimed albums over the next two decades. Their latest is Wild Loneliness. Singer and guitarist Mac McCaughan joins us for a Listening Party.
The 1990s are suddenly back in style... at least, when it comes to fashion and music. But how did that decade change American culture and politics forever? Author Chuck Klosterman joins us to discuss his latest book, The Nineties, which Kirkus calls "a multifaceted portrait that’s both fun and insightful."
The new film "After Yang" tells the story of a father (Colin Ferrell) reconnecting with his wife (Jodie Turner-Smith) and daughter after his daughter's closest companion, an android named Yang, malfunctions. "After Yang" comes from South Korean director Kogonada, known for his previous film "Columbus," a similarly complicated, but heartfelt story, though not with the sci-fi twist. Kogonada also directed episodes of the upcoming "Pachinko" TV series adaptation of Min Jin Lee's critically acclaimed book of the same name. He joins us to discuss the film and his current projects.
James Beard Award-winning mixologist Dave Wondrich explores exotic spirits and cocktails around the globe, and discusses his comprehensive book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails. Plus, listeners call in to talk about their favorite libations.
The new film "After Yang" tells the story of a father (Colin Ferrell) reconnecting with his wife (Jodie Turner-Smith) and daughter after his daughter's closest companion, an android named Yang, malfunctions. "After Yang" comes from South Korean director Kogonada, known for his previous film "Columbus," a similarly complicated, but heartfelt story, though not with the sci-fi twist. Kogonada also directed episodes of the upcoming "Pachinko" TV series adaptation of Min Jin Lee's critically acclaimed book of the same name. He joins us to discuss the film and his current projects.
The 1990s are suddenly back in style... at least, when it comes to fashion and music. But how did that decade change American culture and politics forever? Author Chuck Klosterman joins us to discuss his latest book, The Nineties, which Kirkus calls "a multifaceted portrait that’s both fun and insightful."
Beginning with their 1990 self-titled debut album, Superchunk helped define the indie rock sound of 90's Chapel Hill, and they've continued releasing acclaimed albums over the next two decades. Their latest is Wild Loneliness. Singer and guitarist Mac McCaughan joins us for a Listening Party.
In this hour devoted to stories about footwear, walk a mile in another person's shoes. Every journey begins with a single step, and hopefully, some comfortable kicks. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixon.
Storytellers:
Edgar Ruiz Jr. needs new sneakers while visiting his father in Puerto Rico.
Satori Shakoor dresses up for a job interview but doesn't really want the job.
Isabelle Raphael finds herself in a pinch when she drops her keys down the elevator shaft.
Sufian Zhemetov is pulled into a discussion on religion while shoe shopping.
Stacy Miller's new daughter needs new shoes.
Munjen Ng and his classmate pursue careers in design.
In the wake of Russia's Ukraine invasion, many people have shown their support for Ukraine and its citizens.
Pamela Adlon is the creator, writer, director and star of "Better Things," which tells the story of Sam Fox (played by Adlon), a single mother and working actress, as she raises her three daughters Max, Frankie, and Duke. Adlon joins us to discuss the fifth and final season of the much-loved comedy series, IndieWire dubbed the last season "an experience like nothing else on television," which premieres tonight, February 28. A new memoir Black American Refugee: Escaping the Narcissism of the American Dreamtells the story of an immigrant child coming to the United States. Based on a piece published in The New York Times, author Tiffanie Drayton explains why she fled racial prejudice in the U.S. She joins us to talk about the book. Spellbound is Judy Collins' 29th studio album, but first album of all original material. Collins joins us for a Listening Party.
In the wake of Russia's Ukraine invasion, many people have shown their support for Ukraine and its citizens.
A new exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum uses sound and the unique architecture of the Guggenheim to create an engaging aural experience. The artist Jennie C. Jones uses both paint and recorded sound for the show, which is titled Dynamics. She joins us to discuss what it's like to create an exhibition inspired by a museum's space, and the influence of jazz and 20th century radical Black sonic practitioners in her work. Dynamics is on view until May 2.
This week, discovering your inner beauty. Plus, a conversation with some very special guests This episode is hosted by Devan Sandiford.
Host: Devan Sandiford
Storyteller: Devan Sandiford
Guest host David Sedaris presents three stories about recollection and redemption. In “Sibyl,” by Carys Davies, read by Jane Kaczmarek, two lonely vacationers are brought together. Andre Braugher performs an excerpt from Toni Morrison’s master work Beloved. And a daughter returns home to help her aging father in an excerpt from Rachel Khong’s bittersweet novel Goodbye, Vitamin, performed by Jennifer Ikeda.
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A special episode live from Portsmouth. This episode is hosted by Dame Wilburn, with additional hosting by Jay Allison, producer of The Moth Radio Hour.
Hosted by: Dame Wilburn and Jay Allison
Storytellers: Catherine Palmer, Joe Lentini, Elizabeth Browning
Today's show:
Susan Glasser, staff writer for The New Yorker, CNN global affairs analyst and co-author, with Peter Baker, of The Man Who Ran Washington: the Life and Times of Jim Baker III (Doubleday, 2020), talks about the latest national political news. Michael Elsen-Rooney, education reporter for the New York Daily News, discusses the latest news in NYC schools including mask mandates, graduation rates, and more. Kellie Carter Jackson, historian, associate professor of Africana studies at Wellesley College and the author of Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019), and co-host of "This Day In Esoteric Political History" podcast, talks about the new docu-series in which she appears, "Lincoln's Dilemma," which examines Lincoln's role in ending slavery during the Civil War. Listeners discuss their relationships to punctuality, whether they're always a few minutes late or sure to arrive early.
Transcripts are posted to each segment page as soon as they are available.
Kellie Carter Jackson, historian, associate professor of Africana studies at Wellesley College and the author of Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019) and co-host of "This Day In Esoteric Political History" podcast, talks about the new docu-series in which she appears, "Lincoln's Dilemma", which examines Lincoln's role in ending slavery during the Civil War.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live In Colorado is the first vinyl collection from Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir and his band, formed in 2018, of Don Was and Jay Lane. Weir joins us for a Listening Party.
The painter, educator, and organizer Faith Ringgold was born into the Harlem Renaissance in 1930. After getting her degrees in visual arts at the City College of New York, she made a career of working with paint, sculptures, and quilts to question our conceptions of race, gender, and history. Now, the most comprehensive exhibition of her work is on display at The New Museum, called 'Faith Ringgold: American People.' Curator Massimilliano Gioni and contributing artist Tschabalala Self are with us to speak about the exhibition. 'Faith Ringgold: American People' is on display until June 5.
The new docuseries "Lincoln’s Dilemma," based on David S. Reynolds’ book Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times, shines a new light on the 16th president and his decisions during the Civil War. Executive producers Jelani Cobb and Jacqueline Olive join us to discuss."Lincoln's Dilemma" premieres on February 18 on Apple TV+.
[REBROADCAST FROM OCTOBER 18, 2021] We reair our conversation about the sprawling, glittery exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams. The exhibition chronicles the designer's glamorous works as well as his relationship with America and American fashion. Senior curator of fashion and material culture Matthew Yokobosky joins us to discuss. The exhibit will be on display through February 20th 2022 at the Brooklyn Museum.
Lower Manhattan's African Burial Ground is the largest and oldest known burial ground for free or enslaved Africans in the United States. Last year, the poet David Mills released a poetry collection centered around the burial ground, called 'Boneyarn'. Mills is with us to discuss his interest in the space, how he wrote poems with both empathy and outrage inspired by the African Burial Ground, and do some readings.
The new docuseries "Lincoln’s Dilemma," based on David S. Reynolds’ book Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times, shines a new light on the 16th president and his decisions during the Civil War. Executive producers Jelani Cobb and Jacqueline Olive join us to discuss."Lincoln's Dilemma" premieres on February 18 on Apple TV+.
This week, we’re going to keep pretty quiet about the theme. This episode is hosted by Phyllis Bowdwin.
Host: Phyllis Bowdwin
Storytellers: Cathy Gasiorowicz, Janet Clarke:
Guest host Tayari Jones presents stories about rites of passage between childhood and adulthood. In Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector’s lyrical “The First Kiss,” a young boy has his first brush with the sensual. Pepe Nufrio is the reader. A fiery country girl shows a cool city boy the ropes—and a gator—in “Hellion,” written by Julia Elliott, and read by Donna Lynne Champlin.
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In this hour, stories about everyone’s favorite subject - love. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Producer, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Host: Meg Bowles
Storytellers: Suzie Afridi, Dan Larsen, Gabrielle Shea, Jim Obergefell
It is officially Valentine's Day! Maybe that statement scared you because you have yet to make any plans for yourself and your significant other. Not to worry though, we have you covered here on All Of It. Ryan Sutton, chief restaurant critic at Eater, joins us to talk where to dine-out for Valentine's Day, including any special deals, and anywhere with particularly good takeout, in case you feel like staying in.
On our "Good Vibes" segments , we like to spotlight a little something that’s out there in the world to help you get your week started with a bit of positivity. This week, we have a special Valentine's Day edition of "Good Vibes" featuring the Lincoln High School Romance Book Club in Portland, Oregon. We hear from librarian Lori Lieberman, as well as some of her students, who helped start the one of a kind high school book club, dedicated to all things romance.
It's Valentine's Day, so let's talk about love! A new book explores the joys and challenges of romance in the later years of one’s life. Journalist Francine Russo returns to the show to dive deeper into her book Love After 50: How to Find It, Enjoy It, and Keep It and take calls from listeners about their experience dating after 50.
It's Valentine's Day, and nothing says love like a J-Dilla produced beat on loop. The producer, born and raised in Detroit, was widely considered to be a musical genius. He popularized off-beat drum rhythms thought of as "drunk drumming", and produced for the likes of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Tribe Called Quest. But J Dilla was also notoriously quiet, so we don't know much about the full story of his life. Dan Charnas, author, journalist, and arts professor at NYU, has told the complete story of J Dilla in the first biography of the producer, called, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm. Charnas is with us to discuss the book.
Since their 2020 debut album, Brooklyn-based Nation of Language have carried the banner for a kind of synth-pop and revivalist new wave sound to critical acclaim. Their second album, A Way Forward, was released in late 2021. Bandmembers and spouses Ian Richard Devaney and Aidan Noell join us. On March 3, the band will perform at Webster Hall.
This episode is guest-hosted by Matt Katz.
It's Valentine's Day, and nothing says love like a J-Dilla produced beat on loop. The producer, born and raised in Detroit, was widely considered to be a musical genius. He popularized off-beat drum rhythms thought of as "drunk drumming", and produced for the likes of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Tribe Called Quest. But J Dilla was also notoriously quiet, so we don't know much about the full story of his life. Dan Charnas, author, journalist, and arts professor at NYU, has told the complete story of J Dilla in the first biography of the producer, called, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm. Charnas is with us to discuss the book.
It's Valentine's Day, so let's talk about love! A new book explores the joys and challenges of romance in the later years of one’s life. Journalist Francine Russo returns to the show to dive deeper into her book Love After 50: How to Find It, Enjoy It, and Keep It and take calls from listeners about their experience dating after 50.
On our "Good Vibes" segments , we like to spotlight a little something that’s out there in the world to help you get your week started with a bit of positivity. This week, we have a special Valentine's Day edition of "Good Vibes" featuring the Lincoln High School Romance Book Club in Portland, Oregon. We hear from librarian Lori Lieberman, as well as some of her students, who helped start the one of a kind high school book club, dedicated to all things romance.
A woman wakes up and discovers her backyard has disappeared, and other stories from places slowly coming apart.
The Truth is 10 years old today! And to celebrate, we’re talking to a few of our listeners about their favorite episodes. If you’re new to the show, this is a good place to start!
The recommended episodes are: Tape Delay Possible Side Effects Rideshare Fish Girl You’re Not Alone
Help us choose the BEST TRUTH STORY OF ALL TIME! Go to radiotopia.fm/truth10 to vote.
Voting is open now but you don't have long, The final round of the bracket will close on February 17th.
We will announce the winner on our next episode of The Truth. Go to radiotopia.fm/truth10 to vote.
Guest host Kirsten Vangsness presents three stories about hard choices. In Jac Jemc’s “Trivial Pursuit,” a husband and wife run the gamut of odd couples while trying to construct a social life. Jordan Klepper kills it. Renee Jessica Tan offers a thought-provoking response to racial stereotyping, and a great father/daughter story, in “Baghead,” performed by Karen Chee. And a recent divorcee has nothing to lose in her “Spanish Winter.” But what does she have to gain? Melora Hardin performs this strong piece by Jennifer Egan.
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In this hour, stories of disappearance and reappearance. Losing and finding home, family, and sacred objects -- or making space for something new. This episode is hosted by Moth Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Host: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers -
Ross Jessop searches Montana's Lolo National Forest for a missing baby.
Christine Gentry hides a secret from significant others.
Gregory Pereira finds family in an unexpected place.
New Yorker Aaron Wolfe's wife gets a job in Boston.
Joseph Gallo receives a gift from a dying friend.
Few Good Things is Chicago rapper and producer Saba's follow-up to 2018's widely acclaimed CARE FOR ME. In between, he's worked on projects with his collective Pivot Gang, J Cole's Dreamville, and the supergroup Ghetto Sage. On the new album, he's joined by heavy hitters like Black Thought, Krayzie Bone, and G Herbo. Saba stops by for a release day Listening Party.
A new debut novel tells a story of lust and obsession on a college campus... among the professors. When a popular English professor finds out her husband is under investigation for his behavior with former students, she turns her attention to a man named Vladimir, a young, married, novelist who has just come to campus. Her infatuation quickly turns to potentially dangerous obsession. Author Julia May Jonas joins us to discuss her novel, Vladimir, as part of our series '2022 Debuts.'
We air our conversation with author Gary Shteyngart from our January Get Lit with All Of It virtual book club event. We spent the month reading his novel Our Country Friends, which tells the story of a group of friends in lockdown together in the Hudson Valley... quarantined with a famous actor. The novel was named one of the best of 2021 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and Kirkus, among many more.
Few Good Things is Chicago rapper and producer Saba's follow-up to 2018's widely acclaimed CARE FOR ME. In between, he's worked on projects with his collective Pivot Gang, J Cole's Dreamville, and the supergroup Ghetto Sage. On the new album, he's joined by heavy hitters like Black Thought, Krayzie Bone, and G Herbo. Saba stops by for a release day Listening Party.
A new debut novel tells a story of lust and obsession on a college campus... among the professors. When a popular English professor finds out her husband is under investigation for his behavior with former students, she turns her attention to a man named Vladimir, a young, married, novelist who has just come to campus. Her infatuation quickly turns to potentially dangerous obsession. Author Julia May Jonas joins us to discuss her novel, Vladimir, as part of our series '2022 Debuts.'
The subject of book banning has been in the news after a Tennessee school board voted to remove the graphic book Maus from the curriculum. The discussion has shed new light on the kinds of books being banned from schools around the country. One of the novels that has often been cited on the American Library Associations list of Top 10 Most Challenged books is Laurie Halse Anderson's 1999 novel Speak, which tells the story of a high school girl dealing with trauma after she is sexually assaulted. Halse Anderson has been an outspoken advocate for intellectual freedom, and has been honored for her work by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English. She joins us to discuss this new wave of book banning.
We air our conversation with author Gary Shteyngart from our January Get Lit with All Of It virtual book club event. We spent the month reading his novel Our Country Friends, which tells the story of a group of friends in lockdown together in the Hudson Valley... quarantined with a famous actor. The novel was named one of the best of 2021 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and Kirkus, among many more.
The Lumineers recorded their most recent album, BRIGHTSIDE, in the Hudson Valley. They joined us for our January Get Lit with All Of It virtual book club event, providing two special performances, and an interview with bandmember Wesley Shultz.
Guest host Maulik Pancholy presents two favorite stories from our archives about childhood dreams and desires. In “The Mathematician.” by Daniel Kehlmann, a mature genius is trapped in a child’s body. It’s performed by BD Wong. In Randall Kenan’s “Hobbits and Hobgoblins,” performed by Jeffrey Wright, a child living in a raucous household escapes into a dream world in which his house is filled with fabulous creatures.
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In this hour, finding one's place among family. Caregivers, care recipients, and stewards of cremains. This episode is hosted by Moth Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Host: Catherine Burns
Storytellers: Swapna Kakani, Roz Chast, Zellia Enjoli Tatiana, Adam Wade
On this episode, a story about sexual encounters between the seventy-year-old narrator, voiced by Kathleen Chalfant, and her thirty-two-year-old neighbor Richard. Plus host Aparna Nancherla chats with the author about her inspiration for this story, and more.
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This week, connecting with your faith, and going to prom. This episode is hosted by Jon Goode.
Host: Jon Goode
Storytellers: Tia Valeria, Eddy Laughter
Guest host David Sedaris presents three stories about love and constraints. Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl" conjures up a tough but loving mother in a humorous laundry list of dos and don'ts. She's brought to life by Hattie Winston. George Saunders' story title says it all: "Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Husband and Father" takes protectiveness to hilarious extremes. The reader is James Naughton. And in Carson McCullers' "A Domestic Dilemma," read by Joanna Gleason, a Southern family has a secret.
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In this hour, stories of doing the seemingly impossible; taking a risk for a chance at love, trusting a gut instinct, believing in a message from beyond and shooting (literally) for the stars. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Producer, Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Host: Meg Bowles
Storytellers: Daniel Heuman, Navreet Chawla, Ashok Ramasubramanian, Cathy Olkin
Guest host Jane Curtin presents a cornucopia of jokes, poems, and stories from a live program with comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet J. Hope Stein. The couple shares material from their book The New One, about the birth of their daughter, and Stein’s poems reflecting on the experience of motherhood, as well as works by other favorite writers, including poetry and short stories from David Sedaris, Simon Rich, Zadie Smith, Jo Harjo, and Maggie Smith. Performers include Jane Kaczmarek, Carmen Lynch, Andrea Martin and Kaneza Schaal.
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New York City's business landscape is always in a state of flux, with or without a global pandemic, and New Yorkers tend to be opinionated and sentimental about their neighborhood favorites. Gothamist Arts & Culture Editor Ben Yakas join us as we ask listeners about which shuttered New York City businesses would they bring back.
[REBROADCAST FROM MAY 26, 2020] Former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley discusses his memoir, The Chiffon Trenches. Talley passed away this week at age 73.
Karen Brooks Hopkins joined the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1979 and became its president in 1999, until 2015. She reflects on her tenure in the memoir BAM. . . and Then It Hit Me. Hopkins joins us to discuss the institutions and her career.
Many recent films have sought to document and explore our current global pandemic, both through fiction and real life events. The 2021 documentary 'In The Same Breath' takes us back to the very beginning of the outbreak, in Wuhan, China. Director Nanfu Wang, known for her 2019 documentary 'One Child Nation,' returns with another deeply personal take, this time bridging her background in China and her current residency in the United States, where she is based. The film looks at the misinformation and coverups around the coronavirus outbreak, while also highlighting those who were, and are still, on the ground, from healthcare workers to distraught family members. Wang joins us to talk the film, which recently made the Oscar's shortlist for Best Documentary Feature.
Frida is a dedicated mother who had one very, very bad day. And that one day leads to the removal of her child and Frida's induction into a new government reform program for "bad mothers." This is the plot of a new debut novel from Jessamine Chan, titled The School for Good Mothers. We speak with Chan as part of our new series highlighting first-time authors, '2022 Debuts.'
Karen Brooks Hopkins joined the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1979 and became its president in 1999, until 2015. She reflects on her tenure in the memoir BAM. . . and Then It Hit Me. Hopkins joins us to discuss the institutions and her career.
Many recent films have sought to document and explore our current global pandemic, both through fiction and real life events. The 2021 documentary 'In The Same Breath' takes us back to the very beginning of the outbreak, in Wuhan, China. Director Nanfu Wang, known for her 2019 documentary 'One Child Nation,' returns with another deeply personal take, this time bridging her background in China and her current residency in the United States, where she is based. The film looks at the misinformation and coverups around the coronavirus outbreak, while also highlighting those who were, and are still, on the ground, from healthcare workers to distraught family members. Wang joins us to talk the film, which recently made the Oscar's shortlist for Best Documentary Feature.
The Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30. Festival director Tabitha Jackson joins us to preview this year's festival and the films that will be shown.
WNYC news editor Kate Hinds joins us as we take calls from listeners about the top headlines of this week.
"The Matrix Resurrections" is the fourth installment in the 'Matrix' film series, seeing Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss return to the screen as Neo and Trinity for the first time since 2003's "The Matrix Revolutions." Critic at large for Vox, Emily VanDerWerff, joins us to talk the legacy of the Wachowski sisters' film franchise, which she has discussed in multiple articles, including, "Why The Matrix never stopped being relevant" and "How The Matrix universalized a trans experience — and helped me accept my own."
The producer and rapper Mac Miller, born Malcolm McCormick, tragically died on September 7, 2018. Now, the first extensive biography of Mac Miller's life is set to be released. The book is called, MOST DOPE: The Extraordinary Life of Mac Miller, and it's written by music journalist Paul Cantor, featuring interviews with Miller's closest friends and collaborators. Cantor is with us to discuss the book and listen to some music.
A new film profiles a classical music and spoken tour featuring actor Bill Murray, cellist Jan Vogler and friends as they tour the world taking the show on the road.
The producer and rapper Mac Miller, born Malcolm McCormick, tragically died on September 7, 2018. Now, the first extensive biography of Mac Miller's life is set to be released. The book is called, MOST DOPE: The Extraordinary Life of Mac Miller, and it's written by music journalist Paul Cantor, featuring interviews with Miller's closest friends and collaborators. Cantor is with us to discuss the book and listen to some music. He will also be in conversation in-person with Joel Leon about his new book on February 16 at Rizzoli bookstore at 6pm. Information about the event can be found here.
In this hour, stories about places frozen in time, memories preserved, and seemingly interminable moments. A small town, public transportation, an archeological site, and a car with character. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer and Director Jodi Powell. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Host: Jodi Powell
Storytellers: Scott Gravatt, Nimisha Ladva, Norman Lear, Dylon Killian, Hannah Morris
This week, finding yourself in a CATastrophic situation. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Chloe Salmon.
Hosted by: Chloe Salmon
Storyteller: Sarah Bunger
Guest host Hope Davis presents two stories in which strong bonds between women are evoked, by authors reflecting very different worlds. In Youmna Chlala’s “Nayla,” read by Rita Wolf, two young women in a traditional community form a friendship. In Susan Perabo’s “Life Off My E,” the relationship between sisters is reflected through their shared love of Scrabble. Hope Davis is the reader.
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Actor and SNL star Cecily Strong is starring in a new performance of the acclaimed one-woman show by Jane Wagner, "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." Strong joins us to discuss her performance. "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" is running at The Shed through February 6.
New York Times digital puzzles editor Sam Ezersky joins us to talk about the "Spelling Bee." We also ask callers about their feelings about the bee.
We are joined by New York Times reporter Daniel Victor, whose recent article, “Wordle Is a Love Story,” explores the creator and story behind the newest word-game sensation.
Clarinetist, vocalist and composer Angel Bat Dawid released a breakthrough album in 2019 and has since been an exciting jazz artist to watch. The Chicago Tribune recently named her "Chicagoan of the Year for Jazz." Starting Friday, she'll be the artist-in-residence at NYC Winter JazzFest. Originally scheduled for in-person events, the festival will now stream online through January 22. On Monday, January 17, Dawid will premiere her new work, "Afro-Town Topics: A Mythological Afrofuturist Revue." She joins us for a preview and to reflect on her career so far.
[REBROADCAST FROM APRIL 2, 2019] Producers Alan Elliott and Terrell Whitley join us to discuss the documentary, “Amazing Grace,” which made its theatrical release on April 5, 2019. This never-before-seen documentary follows Aretha Franklin while she recorded her live double-record of the same name in 1972. Today, January 13th, is the 50th anniversary of the recording of the album, Amazing Grace, at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
Condé Nast Traveler articles director Lale Arikoglu helps us explore options for a weekend road trip. We also take listener suggestions.
[REBROADCAST FROM APRIL 2, 2019] Producers Alan Elliott and Terrell Whitley join us to discuss the documentary, “Amazing Grace,” which made its theatrical release on April 5, 2019. This never-before-seen documentary follows Aretha Franklin while she recorded her live double-record of the same name in 1972. Today, January 13th, is the 50th anniversary of the recording of the album, Amazing Grace, at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
We are joined byNew York Times reporter Daniel Victor, whose recent article, “Wordle Is a Love Story,” explores the creator and story behind the newest word-game sensation.
Last week, we invited the co-authors of the book, Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, to help give us some personal finance advice for the New Year. The segment proved so popular, that we decided to organize a part two! Returning to take your finance-related calls is Joe Saul-Sehy, one of the co-authors, and former financial advisor and creator and host of the Stacking Benjamins Podcast.
WNYC news editor Kate Hinds joins us as we take calls from listeners about the top headlines of this week.
A debut collection from author Jean Chen Ho traces the lives and friendship of two Asian American women throughout the years. Kirkus says of 'Fiona and Jane' "Readers will wish for a Fiona or Jane in their own lives." Ho joins us to discuss as part of our series spotlighting debut authors in the month of January.
The final season of the genre-defying series "Search Party" has been released on HBO Max. The series began with a group of millennials, led by Dory (Alia Shawkat), searching for a woman they went to college with after she had gone missing. But in the seasons since, the satirical takedown of New York millennials has turned into a real comedic thriller, as Dory herself becomes a famous accused murderer, and eventually finds herself imprisoned by an obsessive fan. In this final season, Dory starts a cult as she searches to provide "enlightenment" to the masses. Co-creators, executive producers, writers and directors Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers join us to discuss the final season and the series as a whole. We are also joined by actor John Reynolds, who stars as Dory's hapless boyfriend Drew.
Ground-breaking actor Sidney Poitier died last week at the age of 94. He was the first Black performer to win the Oscar for Best Actor in 1964. Author Mark Harris joins us to discuss Poitier's life, legacy, and performances, which he wrote about in his book Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood. We will also take calls from listeners about their favorite Poitier performances.
Ground-breaking actor Sidney Poitier died last week at the age of 94. He was the first Black performer to win the Oscar for Best Actor in 1964. Author Mark Harris joins us to discuss Poitier's life, legacy, and performances, which he wrote about in his book Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood. We will also take calls from listeners about their favorite Poitier performances.
In this hour, stories about looking for home. A homeless child lives under a tree; a woman finds her birth mother; an activist fights against home foreclosures; a science project goes haywire; and finding peace at a silent retreat. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director, Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers: Lauren Weedman, Vin Shambry, Flora Diaz, Jon Jay Read, Michelle Oberholzter
Guest host Jane Curtin presents two stories from the influential literary journal Ploughshares. “y = mx+b,” by Andrew Altschul uses an algebraic formula to explore the act of storytelling and the shape of life itself. It’s performed by Peter Mark Kendall. In our second story, Jamel Brinkley’s “I Happy Am,” a boy who usually imagines himself as a robot begins to imagine his own, real life. It also reflects on the way issues of race and class can effect a child’s imagination. The reader is Karen Pittman.
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In this hour, stories of tradition, codes, regulations — and breaking them wide open. A foul-mouthed boater, a long-forgotten toy car, and a foray to Florida. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers: Michael Steinberg, Sam James, Frimet Goldberger
[REBROADCAST FROM March 1, 2021] The musical, "Rent," was first performed in January of 1996 at the New York Theater Workshop in the East Village. This year marks the production's 25th anniversary and the New York Theatre Workshop is honoring the musical by making it the centerpiece of its annual gala -- 25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love. Original cast members Daphne Rubin-Vega and Adam Pascal and New York Theatre Workshop artistic director, Jim Nicola, join us to talk about the gala as well as the musical's legacy.
Today we air our "Host Picks" for 2021. Our wonderful host Alison Stewart has selected a few of her favorite segments of the year and tells us why they made her list.
[REBROADCAST FROM November 18, 2021] Lin-Manuel Miranda has made his directorial debut with the big screen adaptation of Jonathan Larsen's musical "Tick, Tick... Boom!" He joins us to discuss the film, which stars Andrew Garfield as Jon.
[REBROADCAST FROM March 1, 2021] The musical, "Rent," was first performed in January of 1996 at the New York Theater Workshop in the East Village. This year marks the production's 25th anniversary and the New York Theatre Workshop is honoring the musical by making it the centerpiece of its annual gala -- 25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love. Original cast members Daphne Rubin-Vega and Adam Pascal and New York Theatre Workshop artistic director, Jim Nicola, join us to talk about the gala as well as the musical's legacy.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 5, 2021] After two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and playwright Sarah Ruhl successfully gives birth after a high-risk pregnancy, she thinks the worst of her health crises are behind her. Then, the left side of her face becomes paralyzed, due to Bell’s palsy. She is assured that in 90% of cases, the condition begins to improve, and eventually recovers fully. But that doesn’t happen. Ruhl chronicles her struggles with Bell’s palsy, and with post-partum depression, in her new memoir, Smile: The Story of a Face.
[REBROADCAST FROM November 5, 2021] Canadian roots musician Allison Russell has been a member of several bands, including Po’ Girls, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, and Leyla McCalla. Earlier this year, she released her debut solo album, Outside Child, an autobiographical record of childhood abuse and survival. Russell joins us for a Listening Party, and we end on a special performance of "Hy-Brasil" featuring Sista Strings.
[REBROADCAST FROM November 5, 2021] Canadian roots musician Allison Russell has been a member of several bands, including Po’ Girls, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, and Leyla McCalla. Earlier this year, she released her debut solo album, Outside Child, an autobiographical record of childhood abuse and survival. Russell joins us for a Listening Party, and we end on a special performance of "Hy-Brasil" featuring Sista Strings.
[REBROADCAST FROM October 5, 2021] After two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and playwright Sarah Ruhl successfully gives birth after a high-risk pregnancy, she thinks the worst of her health crises are behind her. Then, the left side of her face becomes paralyzed, due to Bell’s palsy. She is assured that in 90% of cases, the condition begins to improve, and eventually recovers fully. But that doesn’t happen. Ruhl chronicles her struggles with Bell’s palsy, and with post-partum depression, in her new memoir, Smile: The Story of a Face.
This week, two stories about searching and finding. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Jodi Powell.
Hosted by: Jodi Powell
Storytellers: Jessica Ribera, Dean Rudoy
Guest host Cynthia Nixon presents two stories about unusual family members. In Alix Ohlin’s “The Cruise,” a heartsick divorcee travels with her unconventional aunt. Laura Benanti reads. An elderly dog is “A Permanent Member of the Family,” and a bone of contention, in this Russell Banks story performed by Zach Grenier.
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Ben Zimmer, linguist, a lexicographer, the language columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, co-host of the Slate podcast ‘Spectacular Vernacular,’ and chair of the American Dialect Society New Words Committee and oversees their word-of-the-year selection process, talks about some of the words with special significance in 2021. Merriam-Webster picked “Vaccine”, Oxford Languages picked “Vax” and dictionary.com went with “Allyship."
What's yours?
@BrianLehrer Insurrection
— Tee (@uforje) December 28, 2021 It's unprecedented that it isn't "unprecedented"
— catolean (@catolean) December 28, 2021 Surreal 🤯
— Annie Gross (@GreasepaintAnni) December 28, 2021 I could do without ‘Bespoke’
— bopper (@bopper_10) December 28, 2021 I could do without ‘Bespoke’
— bopper (@bopper_10) December 28, 2021 @BrianLehrer My WOTY "manipulated" - sports outcomes that are impacted by intrusive officiating. Re: 2021 Formula 1 Driving championship.
— Jack Jackson (@jack_jackson) December 28, 2021
A special holiday edition of The Moth Radio Hour: Simon Doonan encounters challenges when called on to decorate the White House for Christmas, a man is hesitant to work with a ‘Hollywood’ style church in his neighborhood, a Jewish girl meets Santa, and a boy thinks his dreams have finally come true when he gets an exotic pet. This hour is hosted by The Moth’s Artistic Director, Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Hosted by: Catherine Burns
Storytellers: Taylor Negron, Simon Doonan, Ophira Eisenberg, Mark Redmond
Recently, both Nnenna Freelon and her son, Pierce Freelon, were nominated for a Grammy for their respective projects. Nnenna's project, Time Traveler, is a love letter to her late husband, Philip Freelon, who passed away in 2019. Pierce's project, Black to the Future, is a children's album featuring the voices of over four generations of his family. They both speak with us about the music, their careers, and their relationship.
Guest host Meg Wolitzer presents our holiday show--two stories about being home for the holidays and how you can count on your Mom to be there for you—and possibly to complicate things. First, memoirist Augusten Burroughs recalls a disastrous—and hilarious—childhood cooking project. Reader Michael Cerveris relishes every bite. And in “Live Wires” by Thomas Beller, a young man invites his girlfriend to his mother’s annual Hanukkah party. The reader is Jane Curtin.
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A public radio holiday tradition - stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk--these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season.
In this hour, stories of reflection and recognition. The army, dance class, and family reunions. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Director Jenifer Hixson. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Jenifer Hixson
Storytellers: Ray Christian, Martha Wegner, Laura Gilbert, Trevor Nourse, Sejal Pachisia
This week, a story for everyone who might feel just a little grinchy around the holidays. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer Michelle Jalowski.
Hosted by: Michelle Jalowski
Storyteller: Mary Gaitskill
Guest host Jane Kaczmarek presents two stories from the Best American Short Stories 2021 anthology selected by guest editor Jesmyn Ward. Both involve adolescents facing displacement or rejection, but the stories are set in very different environments: One takes place in a surreal, Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, and one inside a junior high school in Tennessee. First, Leo Solomon reads “Playing Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain,” by Jamil Jan Kochai. Then we hear “Biology,” by Kevin Wilson, performed by Mike Doyle. And Ward comments briefly on her approach to creating this year’s diverse anthology.
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In this hour we’ll travel around the country to hear stories from our live open mic StorySLAM events: Louisville, Kentucky; San Francisco; Burlington, Vermont; Portland, Oregon; as well as the birthplace of the Moth StorySlam, New York City. Hosted by The Moth's Senior Director Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Meg Bowles
Storytellers: John Dubuc, Leah Benson, Kathi Kinnear Hill, Tom Herndon, Caitlin Myer, David Sampliner, Tara Clancy
Guest host Hope Davis presents three uncanny stories featuring children. In Simon Rich’s hilarious “The Baby,” a novelist faces competition from his unborn son. Jason Mantzoukas is the reader. A children’s game takes a strange turn in Fiona McFarlane’s “Buttony,” read by Jin Ha. And Etgar Keret offers up an unusual mother-son story—and lots of calories--in “Crumb Cake,” performed by Andy Richter.
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This week at Invisibilia, we're bringing you an episode from NPR's Throughline about an emotion you might be feeling a lot these days: nostalgia. Longing for 'simpler times' and 'better days', many of us have been turning to 90s dance playlists, TV sitcoms, and sports highlights. We're looking for comfort and safety in the permanence of the past, or at least, what we think the past was. But, when it first appeared, nostalgia itself wasn't considered a feeling; it was a deadly disease. This episode traces the history of nostalgia from its origins as an illness to the dominating emotion of our time.
In this hour, courage, tenacity, spunk! New opportunities, self-confidence, and parents going the extra mile (or rollercoaster) for their kids. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Suzanne Rust
Storytellers: Pamela Mitchell, Javier Morillo, David Levy, Annalise Raziq
This week, two stories about holding onto departed family members. This episode is hosted by Director of MothWorks Kate Tellers. To see the extras for this episode, visit our website: themoth.org/extras
Hosted by: Kate Tellers
Storytellers: Iman Ahmed & William Nour
Guest host Roxane Gay (no mean cook herself) presents three stories centered on food. In “Three Great Meals” the late New Yorker humor writer Donald Barthelme tells you how to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner from a terrifying medley of fast food and low-end canned goods. The story is read by Nate Corddry. In "Simple Recipes," author Madeleine Thien weaves together evocative memories of traditional meals prepared by her father, with more complex images of a family in conflict. The reader is Cindy Cheung. And finally, a Roald Dahl classic, “Lamb to the Slaughter.” This tale of a model housewife’s response to a marital crisis will make you view your Sunday roast in a whole new light. She’s embodied by Catherine O'Hara.
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A mother struggles with her son's choice to have a religious wedding, a high schooler with a funny name becomes a pole vaulter, a social scientist commutes to war torn countries for work, and a comedian confronts a heckler. Hosted by The Moth's Producing Director, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Hosted by: Sarah Austin Jenness
Storytellers: Annie Korzen, Richard Matthew, Matthew Dicks, Hari Kondabolu
Guest host LeVar Burton presents three stories in which fantasies and memories are both near and far. In “The Elevator Dancer,” by N.K. Jemisin, a guard is obsessed by a woman who spins when no one is looking. Laura Gomez is the reader. A woman remembers a transforming moment in her Depression-era childhood in “Marigolds,” by Eugenia W. Collier. The story is performed by Sharon Washington. Ursula K. Le Guin moves and surprises us in “The Wife’s Story,” performed by Joanna Gleason.
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