The Moth 3x Storytelling Champion

1st — July 26, 2023

I’ve always been good at crafting a story, but delivering it is another thing. In looking for ways to challenge myself in this area, I entered my name in a local Moth event, where the theme of the night was Envy.

Me speaking into a microphone on stage, with my right hand up

All the stories were good-to-great and I ended up getting picked last, which was pretty nerve-racking. But I won (even got a perfect 10 from a judge), and it feels good.

Me standing on a stage, pointing at a scoreboard with my name circled with the highest score

Congratulations Moth StorySLAM Champion! You won! You beat nine other storytellers tonight! The judges loved you! The audience went wild! You were a hit. Let this certificate serve as evidence to friends, colleagues, your mama, your children, lovers, haters, believers and skeptics alike, YOU WON! Thank you for bringing your story to our stage. You are now, and will forever after be, a Moth StorySLAM winner!

2nd — September 20, 2023

I won a second StorySLAM, where the theme of the night was Luck. Feels good.

Me speaking into a microphone on stage, with one finger up on both hands

I again enjoyed all the stories, and again got picked last. It was less nerve-racking this time, even with a bigger crowd (~300 vs. ~200).

Me standing on a stage, pointing at a scoreboard with my name circled with the highest score

Congratulations Moth StorySLAM Champion! You won! You beat nine other storytellers tonight! The judges loved you! The audience went wild! You were a hit. Let this certificate serve as evidence to friends, colleagues, your mama, your children, lovers, haters, believers and skeptics alike, YOU WON! Thank you for bringing your story to our stage. You are now, and will forever after be, a Moth StorySLAM winner!

3rd — December 18, 2024

I won a third, where the theme of the night was Reunion. This story was hard-ish to tell, and on a heavy, serious subject (Veterans & P.T.S.D.). I didn’t expect it to be a feel-good crowd-pleaser—and except for some laughs in my setup, it wasn’t—but it was brutally honest, and that was good enough for a 0.1 point win.

Me standing on a stage with a certificate and book, next to a scoreboard with my name circled with the highest score

Congratulations Moth StorySLAM Champion! You won! You beat nine other storytellers tonight! The judges loved you! The audience went wild! You were a hit. Let this certificate serve as evidence to friends, colleagues, your mama, your children, lovers, haters, believers and skeptics alike, YOU WON! Thank you for bringing your story to our stage. You are now, and will forever after be, a Moth StorySLAM winner!