StorySLAMs and The Moth

My friend, Laura, is OBSESSED with the NPR's podcast 'The Moth'. OBSESSED. Delusional almost. Delusional meaning she thinks everyone is also listening to it, right along side with her. Conversations with Laura typically go like this these days:

(any given day, at any given time)
L: You listen to the newest moth yet?
W: No, I don't listen to the moth - hardly ever. You know this.
L: OHMYGOSH!!! It's SO good! Oh, it's killing me! I sorta want to make you listen to it right now!
W: (changes the subject, if she's lucky)


(driving in a car with multiple people)
L: You guys listen to this weeks' moth?
P1: I don't think so, why?
P2: What's moth?
P3: Yeah, what's the moth?
P1: What's the motha with you? HAHAHAHA!
P2: That was lame.
L: OOOHHHH!!! IT WAS SO GOOD!!! YOU HAVE TO HEAR IT!!! I wish we could listen to it right now!!
P2: What is the moth?
L: Seriously, The Moth is my only friend and it it's saving my life!!!
P2: I guess that's cool.
P3: Who is this girl? Who invited her? What is she talking about?
L: The Moth is an NPR podcast about true stories! YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT!!! YOU WILL DIE IT'S SO GOOD!!!
P3: What's a podcast?
(further in the drive)
P3: You guys watch Ellen yesterday?
P2 & P1: YEAH! IT WAS SO FUNNY! HAHAHA!

(Laura walking down the road)
L: (sees random stranger) Did you hear the one about the giant bats?
Random Stranger: You talking to me?
L: ...on The Moth?
Random Stranger: What's The Moth?
L: YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MOTH IS???!!

Laura. Bless her heart. She literally is ALWAYS surprised when people don't know what she's talking about. It never fails to amaze me.

But maybe you are hip, and already know what The Moth is. Maybe you already subscribe to it. Please leave your number in the comment section below, so Laura can give you a call. For those of you who don't know (most normal people), it really is a cool podcast featuring true stories told live during storyslams.

Laura has been so inspired by them that she has started a storySLAM festival of her own, which she holds once a month. I think they are great. The rules are the story must be true (from your own life) and you must follow the theme of the month. The winners of each month (April - July) have a chance to compete in the August smack-down - and the winner of that will get featured on the Laura & Whitney podcast - which we will start airing at the end of the summer. Yes, I know, get excited.

Today I have been listening to The Moth. One of them even made me cry. After participating in our small scale storySLAMS - I am super impressed with the skill involved in telling a good story. It's harder than I thought it was going to be. And most of the time I feel like I can spin some good yarn... but I must work best off the cuff. Somehow in front of an official gathering of people, and with a particular theme involved for the stories - I don't feel like I have any good ideas, or can spit out the right words.

I hope to improve.

For now I am just loving stories. And the idea of stories. Perhaps if I see you in the next few days I'll ask you if you've heard any of The Moth recently...