Moth
I thrive in possibly inappropriately competitive situations.
Next month I will be teaching storytelling at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. This will be my second year teaching at Kripalu and I’m already scheduled to teach there in 2017 as well. The fact that I teach at Kripalu astounds many. Though my students at Kripalu have assured me that my teaching and…
Read MoreThe Moth: Two Little Jewish Dicks
In April of this year, I told this story about my Elysha, my kids, my last name, and Judaism at a Moth GrandSLAM at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The theme of the night was Crash Course. I finished in second place.
Read MoreThe Moth: A Mop Sink and Maybe God
In March of 2016 I told the story of my interrogation and arrest for a crime I did not commit at a Moth GrandSLAM at The Somerville Theater. The theme of the night was Now or Never. I won the GrandSLAM that night. I’ve since told this story for Speak Up and other shows…
Read MoreThe Moth: She Held My Hand
In August of 2015 I told the story of my first date with my wife at a Moth StorySLAM at The Bitter End. The theme of the night was Guts. I won the slam that night, but being the hyper-critical person that I am, I hear a lot of room for improvement in the story.…
Read MoreFive years ago, I took the stage and told my first story. The most important thing about that night: I was afraid.
Yesterday marked my five year anniversary in storytelling. On July 12, 2011, I went to New York to tell a story on a Moth stage. I went there mostly because I told my friends that I would, and I had avoided it so long that I began to feel ashamed of myself. My friends pointed…
Read MoreGo to The Moth and tell a story. And not “someday.” Go soon.
Just this past week I heard from listeners who heard one or more of my stories on The Moth’s podcast, The Moth Radio Hour, and/or The Moth’s website in: Cape Town, South AfricaLondon, UKColumbus, OHHartford, CTWestern AustraliaHong KongNew HampshireNew York CitySao Paulo, BrazilBlackstone, Massachusetts The idea that people across the globe are listening to me tell…
Read MoreMy first comic books. Too bad I can’t show my kids. Or my students. Or anyone squeamish.
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Double Take comics on their new comic book series based upon the original Night of the Living Dead film. Double Take asked a handful of Moth storytellers to consider writing stories for their zombie-filled universe, and I decided to give it a shot. The result was two…
Read MoreMy former students discover that their teacher is still alive (and maybe doing cool things) thanks to The Moth
In the last two days, The Moth – the preeminent storytelling organization in the world – has oddly brought me in contact with two of my former students in fairly bizarre ways. Yesterday, a former student who was in my class 15 years ago texted me this photo, which was sent to her by another…
Read MoreA not-so-disappointing disappointing night at The Moth
It’s always disappointing to drive almost three hours to a Moth StorySLAM and have your name remain in the hat for the duration of the night. I went to The Moth StorySLAM at Housing Works in New York on Tuesday, and sadly, this happened, I had a good story, too. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen too…
Read MoreMy son, the storyteller. I had no idea.
My three year-old son made up a story about traveling to New York to visit his cousins Ari and Zoe. If you listen closely, it actually many of the all of the elements of an excellent story. The story is concise. The story is simple,. It contains mystery and genuine surprise (critical for creating an…
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