The Moth Radio Hour

The Moth—a new kind of radio storytelling
   This month, KRCB-FM is pleased to introduce The Moth Radio Hour. This new program features true stories told live on stage, humorous, heartbreaking, and poignant tales that captivate, surprise, and delight audiences with their honesty, bravery, and humor.
   The Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Individuals, without the comfort of fame, instrument, script or props engage in the world’s oldest art form—stories that will make you laugh, cry, think.
   Originally formed by writer George Dawes Green as an intimate gathering of friends on a porch in Georgia (where moths would flutter in through a hole in the screen), and then recreated in a New York City living room, The Moth quickly grew to produce immensely popular events at theaters and clubs around New York City and later around the country. These five broadcasts are drawn from some of the most memorable Moth performances collected since the series began in 1997. Such as:
August 11
A batboy for the New York Yankees goes on a wild goose chase for a left-handed bat-stretcher; an Irish-catholic family obsessed with the Kennedys dedicates a summer to spying on their idols; a comedian experiences the ultimate heartbreak; and a drill sergeant faints at the sight of blood.
August 18
A severely stuttering child finds solace in speaking to animals and vows to speak for them if he grows up to find his voice. Years later we find him as the world’s premier jaguar expert, having a face to face with an animal in the jungle of Belize. Also, a Texas tale about moon pies and bedazzlers, and the surprising story of a Harlem man who ends up at a rodeo in Oregon.
August 25
Hear how celebrated author and writer Adam Gopnik (Paris to the Moon, The New Yorker) embarrasses his son and offends other loved ones by getting lost in the new world of Instant Message abbreviations. Also, stories of first love and unlikely pen pals, and the sad tale of a gay man who comes out to his parents with dramatic consequences.
September 8
This episode of The Moth Radio Hour includes stories from author Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers, Blink, The Tipping Point) about a wedding prank gone horribly wrong; an African-American home care attendant caring for a dying Klansman; and a miracle survivor of a gang initiation.
September 15
A man is instructed not to fall in love with his monkey, but fails; renowned performer Sarah Jones (Bridge and Tunnel) finds herself the subject of racial profiling; and the inventor of the Baby Calzone runs into trouble with the Mob.

Tuesdays at 7 pm