The Moth

What's the Moth? Fancy telling us a bit more, JenMac? It sounds very cool

Yeah, what is the Moth? As for favorite thing to do in NYC, I really don't have any. I work constantly. I guess going out of the city to shop is one favorite thing.

The Moth is a weekly story telling show. Every week there is a different theme and 10 people tell a story according to the theme. There's about 200 people that go and it has the biggest podcast in the world. It's a really incredible thing to do.

Wow, fantastic! How do the speakers get chosen?

It's random. You put your name in a hat and they draw 10. But, it's a lot of the same great story tellers and not a whole lot of pedestrians in the mix.

@JenMac: Wow, I think I'll go. I love storytelling.

I've heard about it for years but never went. They used to have a TV show which I didn't think was especially good.

@DBlack: Storytelling is a great art. You have to be creative, imaginative, and love telling stories. I used to work at parties as a storyteller, until the recession hit. Now I don't get them anymore.

Really? The world's biggest podcast? Feel kinda left out that I haven't heard of it before. Do people prepare stories on the topic at hand before putting their name in the hat?

As for things that people probably don't know about, I'm not sure really sure I participate in many. I wanted to check out the steampunk haunted house last Halloween, but never had the chance...

To answer the original question: I do crossfit, a really intense way to work out with a growing community in New York. It's no secret, but I don't think you could call it mainstream by any means. And the workouts really kick a--.

I occasionally go to events held by the Bruce High Quality Foundation:

http://www.thebrucehighqualityfoundation.com/Site/home.html

It's hard to explain exactly what they do. A kind of performance art group. I doubt too many people know about them, though they're known in the "community."

So ten people tell the same story (ie, like rigmarole) or ten different stories?

@Ajadedidealist: I would think it would be ten different stories. I mean if each person told the same story, it would get boring after a while. Know what I mean?

But isn't each podcast just one story? Is the show different from the podcast?

You tell real stories about your life. They just have to fit the theme. They're all really different. Some are really sad, some hysterical, some kinda eh. But, overall, it's a great experience.

Interesting. I bet many people have interesting stories to tell about their lives.

Oh...man. I just saw that there was a Moth storytelling event in my neighborhood tonight and I just missed it!

Oh, well. Maybe that is why you have to record the event on your calendar so you will be reminded about it.

There's one next week! The topic is "rules."

I wonder if it'll be massively crowded since it's at Housing Works?

@BroadwayBK: Oh, oh. You better find out so you can be prepared. This way if you have to leave earlier you can get a good seat, or at least get there before the crowd arrives.

It's always insanely crowded. If you don't get there like an hour before the doors open . . .you will be standing. There are between 2 and 300 people at any given Moth.

@JenMac @BroadwayBK I can't even imagine fitting that many people into Housing Works... think I'll pass on that one.

So... are these storytelling events the same ones heard on the podcasts? I'm still not really clear on how they're related.