You guys, I love this show. It's basically semi-famous intelligentsia figures going up to a microphone and telling embarrassing stories about themselves in front of a live audience! YES! I first heard about it when Ira Glass used one of these monologues on an segment of "This American Life." Ira Glass played Malcolm Gladwell (of "Tipping Point" and "Blink" fame) talking about his first job at the Washington Post and how he would just f*** around trying to get weird phrases into the newspaper as opposed to being a serious journalist, like he is now. And I was like, a.) I love you so much Malcolm Gladwell I want to be in your fanclub and wear a pin with your name on it and b.) what the hell is this Moth podcast and is it as funny/good as this TAL segment was?It is, you guys it is. From Adam Gopnik (of New Yorker fame) talking about online miscommunications with his teenage son to Mormon (Latter Day Saint, whatever) comedienne Elna Baker talking about falling in love with an atheist, the Moth brings you smart, funny people who tell you fifteen-minute rockstar anecdotes about their lives.
So, the Moth is based in New York, and I'm like "Of course it is." Everything good is always in New York, all the boroughs are always mocking me, like "Oh Kit, would you like to come see all the cool off-Broadway shows that are going on right now? Oh that's right, I forgot, you can't you have to live in LA forever." "Oh Kit, everyone's meeting in Central Park to have a water-gun fight and eat ice cream and maybe after we'll go to the Met and discuss post-modern art, do you maybe---Oh, Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I forgot. Have fun spending all your money on gasoline in LA" And I'm like, whatever New York, you're spending all your money on rent, and besides, I drive a hybrid, so I'm only really spending most of my money on gas. But I do have big NYC envy. Big time.
Which is why I was SO, SO, SO excited to find out they do Moth events the first Tuesday of every month at the Tangier restaurant in Silverlake! I'm totally going the first Tuesday I have free, and I'm also really excited because the LA events are hosted by Brian Finklestein, who has a really hilarious episode on the podcast called "How I Earned my Bitter Badge." Believe me, you guys, he really, really did. You can actually submit to go up and tell your story at the LA/NYC events. I would do this except my organs would disintegrate inside my body if I had to speak in public and also I don't really have an interesting enough life. Like it's all entertainment-industry-y stuff, and no one wants to hear that, boring snoring.
This is a picture of various "Moth" people telling there stories. I just felt like this post needed another picture.
The Moth. Fun 15 minute podcasts once a week for everyone, AND performances for people that are "lucky" enough to live in LA and NYC. Website is themoth.org. Podcast are available on ITunes- yeah they are!
So, despite my lack of interesting anecdotes, know that I am full-on, hardcore--
Affectionately Yours,
Kit Steinkellner
