Best Friends Day with The Moth

Summary

Office Ladies Podcast – Best Friends Day with The Moth

Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey | Date: June 10, 2026
Special Guests: Lauren Karch, Valerie Walker, Matthew Dix (stories from The Moth, with host Chloe Salmon)

---

Episode Overview

In celebration of Best Friends Day, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey partner with The Moth podcast to spotlight the complexity, humor, and deep meaning of friendship. The episode weaves together listener letters, personal reflections from Jenna and Angela, and three heartfelt, funny, and poignant stories from The Moth. The core theme: the transformative and steady power of friendship, explored through lived experience, laughter, and vulnerability.

---

Key Segments & Insights

1. Listener Chit Chat & Reflections on Friendship

• [03:12 – 08:24]
• Listener Letter: Sienna, an 18-year-old osteopathy student from Australia, shares her struggles with bullying, personal setbacks, and how the Office Ladies podcast provided comfort and a model for genuine friendship.
  • “Your friendship has helped me know what I would like in a friendship and has helped me to build the confidence to make lots of new friends at university with you behind me.” (Sienna’s letter, [03:43])
• Hosts’ Reflections:
  • Jenna recounts experiences of “hills and valleys” in her own journey with friendship, from mean-girl middle school years to finding lasting adult best-friendship with Angela.
    • “It really wasn’t until Angela and I met in my 30s that I experienced that kind of best friendship bond that I had with my high school friends.” (Jenna, [05:56])
  • Angela shares her mother’s wisdom:
    • “Invest in those that invest in you.” (Angela, [06:29])
  • Both empathize with listeners experiencing friendship “droughts,” underlining that relationships evolve and support can arrive at any age.

2. BOOK RECOMMENDATION

• [07:22 – 08:28]
• Jenna recommends The Correspondent, a novel told through letters, celebrating long-term, unconditional female friendship.
  • “If anyone out there is looking for a really good example of a great female friendship, you can find it in this book.” (Jenna, [08:19])

3. Introduction to The Moth and Friendship Stories

• [08:35 – 09:46]
• Jenna and Angela introduce The Moth, explaining its live storytelling format and how this episode will feature “three stories all about friendship.”

4. The Moth: Three Friendship Stories

Story 1: “Playlist Bucket List” – Lauren Karch

• [13:21 – 24:07]
• Summary:
  • Lauren recounts being diagnosed with hearing loss in her right ear and facing the possibility of future deafness. Inspired by another’s reflections, she creates a “playlist bucket list”: meaningful sounds to experience while she still can.
  • Her friends Stacy and Katie step up—accompanying her to concerts, operas, and even a Post Malone show, embracing each experience.
  • Through vulnerability, Lauren shares her fears and is met with unwavering support—especially from Katie who quips, “Should we try to learn ASL? Because then we could talk about people in the same room.” ([20:38])
  • The story is full of humor (her “grumpy cat” named Pterodactyl), grit, and an evolving sense of agency in both her life and friendships.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I realized, like, I could knock off a ton of kinds of music if I started going to the free concerts... I got really into it.” (Lauren, [17:46])
• Memorable Moment:
  • Laughter and adventure at the orchestra—with a “hot cellist” nearly run over (“Don’t hit him!” Katie’s mom, [23:21])—underscoring how friendship transforms every experience.

Story 2: “A Blinding, Furious, Beautiful Love” – Valerie Walker

• [25:36 – 31:21]
• Summary:
  • Valerie reunites with a cherished college friend after 34 years. The two, an unlikely pair in youth, shared deep affection and ritual—even through Valerie’s journey of coming out and the fear that her friendship might be misunderstood.
  • Their reunion is emotional, reaffirming that their bond was, and remains, a cornerstone of both their lives.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “A blinding, furious, and beautiful love that it was absolutely okay to have.” (Valerie, [30:47])
  • “If anyone ever asks me about the great loves of my life, she will be one that I talk about.” ([31:14])
• Memorable Moment:
  • Valerie’s friend tells her she isn’t nostalgic but keeps a single college photo: “But she has two that she's printed out, and one of them is of me.” (Valerie, [30:53])

Story 3: “Gummy Bears in the Break Room” – Matthew Dix

• [31:49 – 39:04]
• Summary:
  • Teenage Matt, working at McDonald’s in a new town, hears constant comparisons to “Benji,” the legendary best bin cook. They become rivals—until they bond over their shared love for the cartoon Gummy Bears, singing the theme song together.
  • That moment cracks the facade and develops a friendship that endures 37 years, surviving through crisis, generosity, and mutual support.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “A single theme song to a cartoon melts all the ice between us. And 37 years later, he is still my best friend.” (Matthew, [37:59])
  • “I’m reminded how little it takes to sort of reach out to someone… just open the crack of a window and you just get the window open and then it becomes a door and it becomes a lifetime.” ([38:23])
• Memorable Moment:
  • Matt and Benji sing the Gummy Bears song together in the middle of their McDonald’s shift, sealing their bond with humor and shared nostalgia.

---

Office Ladies’ Reflections on The Moth Stories

• [43:25 – 45:54]
• Jenna: Relates Lauren’s story to The Correspondent and the impact of making bucket lists for sensory experience, tying it back to her own health journey.
  • “As we're getting older and after all my health stuff in recent years, I'm very aware of the things that I wanna do in my life. And like that gal in the story, I know, lady, you will be right by my side, making sure I check everything off my list.” (Jenna, [44:17])
• Angela: Highlights Matthew’s lesson on the power of small gestures to form life-changing friendships.
  • “When he said he was reminded of how little it takes to reach out to someone, that just really hit me because you never know where people are at in life. And those small moments of kindness have a huge impact.” (Angela, [45:13])
  • Relates this to her first “tissue offering” to Jenna on The Office set, the small gesture that led to their remarkable friendship.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jenna on adult best-friendship:
  "It really wasn’t until Angela and I met in my 30s that I experienced that kind of best friendship bond that I had with my high school friends." [05:56]

• Angela on being present:
  "Invest in those that invest in you." [06:29]

• Lauren Karch on resilience:
  "You're being a really good friend. ... Katie said, 'I think you're a lot more resilient than you're giving yourself credit for. Also, I'd like to see you try to get rid of me or any of your friends.'" [20:20]

• Valerie Walker on friendship as love:
  "A blinding, furious, and beautiful love that it was absolutely okay to have." [30:47]

• Matthew Dix on how friendship begins:
  "A single theme song to a cartoon melts all the ice between us. ... Just open the crack of a window and you just get the window open and then it becomes a door and it becomes a lifetime." [37:59], [38:23]

---

Episode Structure and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|--------------| | Chit Chat & Listener Letter | 03:12 – 08:24| | Book Recommendation | 07:22 – 08:28| | Intro to The Moth | 08:35 – 09:46| | Moth Story: Lauren Karch | 13:21 – 24:07| | Moth Story: Valerie Walker | 25:36 – 31:21| | Moth Story: Matthew Dix | 31:49 – 39:04| | Reflections on Friendship | 43:25 – 45:54| | Closing Remarks & Well Wishes | 45:57 – 46:03|

---

Final Thoughts

The episode paints a picture of friendship that is multifaceted: sometimes unexpected, sometimes weathered by time and challenge, frequently hilarious, and always vital. Whether it's reconnecting after 34 years without losing the thread, turning mutual rivalry into a lifelong bond, or simply showing up for someone as they confront uncertainty, the stories and reflections from Jenna, Angela, and The Moth narrators remind listeners that best friendship is a practice—made up of small kindnesses, shared history, and the courage to open up—even in, or perhaps especially in, adulthood.

Happy Best Friends Day from the Office Ladies!

Transcript

[Angela Kinsey]

Having the right people in your corner. It just makes all the difference, lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

Having you in my corner.

[Angela Kinsey]

Aw. Well, right back at you. Well, we are working with State Farm and one of the things I like about State Farm is knowing that you have that support. Because like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Whether you need coverage for your car or your home, you can choose the right amount of coverage for you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Boats, motorcycles, RVs. An agent can help you. And when that part's handled, you can focus on the best part. Like taking your new car out on the road.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right. You can go [e-mail] or use the award winning app to get help from one of their local agents.

[Jenna Fischer]

The State Farm Personal price Plan can help you create an affordable price. When you choose to bundle home and

[Angela Kinsey]

auto insurance, you have options to choose from to help best fit your needs. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with their personal price plan.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Angela Kinsey]

Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. If you've been listening for a while, you'll know how much goes into making this show run smoothly. And if I had to hire someone tomorrow, I'd want someone who understands our workflow, knows the tools we use, and can jump in without missing a beat.

[Jenna Fischer]

And when you need help finding someone who can really make an impact on your team, this is a job for Indeed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Indeed Sponsored Jobs is a boost whenever you need to find quality talent. It helps your job post stand out in search results so you can reach candidates who meet your specific criteria by like the right skills, certifications or location. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for Sponsored Jobs

[Jenna Fischer]

and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it

[Angela Kinsey]

deserves@ Indeed.com podcast just go to Indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast.

[Jenna Fischer]

Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply.

[Angela Kinsey]

Need the right hire fast? Then this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm Jenna Fisher.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

We were on the Office together and we're best friends and now we're doing the Ultimate Office Lovers podcast just for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details and lots of BFF stories.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're the Office Lady 6.0. Hi there, Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hey, good morning.

[Jenna Fischer]

Good morning.

[Angela Kinsey]

We have a really fun friendship episode for you today. In honor of Best Friends Day coming up, we teamed up with the folks at the podcast the Moth to help us share some stories about the power of friendship.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, last year for Best Friends Day, we shared our own stories of friendship as well as some of yours. It was such a lovely episode. So. So I'm excited to dive into the theme of friendship again this year. So big thanks to the Moth.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

But first let's start with our chit chat suggestion from Sienna in Australia. Sienna says hi Angela and Jenna. My name is Sienna and I'm an 18 year old osteopathy student from Australia. I've had a rough couple of years as I was severely bullied by my so called friends. Found out my mother has a luckily benign vasovagal tumor as well as being diagnosed all within my final year of schooling. I was aiming for a career in medicine and fell short, which was honestly devastating for me as it felt like I had failed my one and only lifelong dream. However, then I found your podcast and having struggled with friendships recently and always being told I was born 40, it was so comforting to find my two new best friends that I could listen to anywhere. The show is honestly just so comforting to me and has helped me to feel supported, less alone and like I can continue to strive for dreams, even setbacks. Your friendship has helped me know what I would like in a friendship and has helped me to build the confidence to make lots of new friends at university with you behind me. So I just wanted to say thank you for the comfort that this podcast brings me. It always helps me to calm down and feels like I'm having a chat with old friends. Love you guys. P.S. i've also started a crochet business at Yanarosecrochets and love to make wacky little decorations that are perfect for a podcasting closet. Or that's what she shed. Oh Sienna, thank you for your really touching and vulnerable letter. And she included a photo of her with her friends. That is just amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Just such a lovely group. You know Sienna, you are a bright spot in the world. I loved your letter. I also went and checked out your crochet business. You are so talented and I just wanna thank you for writing in. I wanna thank you for sharing your journey with friendships. I'm just sending you a big hug.

[Jenna Fischer]

I also wanna say to Sienna, and anyone else out there that might be experiencing a rough patch in friendship is that I've had ebbs and flows of friendship bonds in my life, too. I had a really tough middle school experience. It was that kind of subtle, mean girl energy, but coming from people who were my friends, and it was just such a heavy load. And I actually ended up leaving that school. And I found a wonderful friend group at my new high school. But then in college, I had a hard time making really good friends again. Like, I had the theater folks, but I didn't have, like, that really great bond. So, like, middle school was rough, high school was great, college was meh. And I know I've shared this before, but it really wasn't until Angela and I met in my 30s that I experienced that kind of best friendship bond that I had felt with my high school friends. So I had droughts too. I related to that.

[Angela Kinsey]

There's definitely hills and valleys in the course of your life when it comes to friendships. You know, my mom gave me advice years ago. I was in my late 20s and struggling with some friendships. You know, it's hard when you move away or if your life takes you in new directions. I was feeling a little lost, and my mom said, ang, you have so many amazing people in your life. I encourage you to invest in those that invest in you. That has stuck with me. I remember it like the day she said it. And something just clicked for me. And I looked around at the people in my life, at my friends at that time, and there were always people that I was chasing after to be my friend. And then there were these core people who were there for me no matter what, and they offered me this unconditional love and friendship and support. And so I made the decision right then and there. I'm going to choose to invest in this group of people who builds me right back up. And that really was a turning point for me in how I look at friendships.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's great advice.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this is a little bit of a tangent, but I just read the book the Correspondent.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, you said you loved it.

[Jenna Fischer]

I loved it. It lived up to all the hype. People have been talking about this book. This is like a late to the party moment. Like in the book world, everyone's like, yeah, we read the Correspondent already. But I just read it. It's great. It's told all through letters. So it's just a series of letters. And the main protagonist is this woman. She's in her 70s, and you're seeing her write to all kinds of people, and then you see their responses. But I was particularly taken with the letters between her and her best. It was such a wonderful friendship, Angela. It reminded me of our friendship. Cause there was just this unconditional love between these two women who had known each other for a very, very long time. And I just loved it. And I think if anyone out there is looking for, like, a really good example of a great female friendship, you can find it in this book.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I've got to read it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, it's so good.

[Valerie Walker]

So good.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, listen, why don't we take a break and when we come back, we will hear three wonderful stories from the folks at the Moth.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. The Moth is hosted by Chloe Salmon, and it features true stories told live. It's real people. Anyone from like an astronaut to an actor, a teacher, a truck driver, scientists, singers, people who are getting up on stage and then they tell a story about their own lives in their own words.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love nights like this. I did some of this back in my theater improv days.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did it too.

[Angela Kinsey]

Open mic nights where they'd have a monologist.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

They're so great.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, the stories featured on the Moth are really funny, sometimes enlightening, heartbreaking, sometimes all three at the same time. And we think that if you like the sense of connection and fun that is Office Ladies or that feeling where you're getting a new perspective on someone's life, that the Moth has a lot of those same vibes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Absolutely. And the episode we're sharing today, BFFs, is about something we explore quite a bit on Office Ladies, and that is friendship.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then later, we will be back with some final thoughts on friendship. This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because we love Squarespace, we have been

[Jenna Fischer]

tooling around with OfficeLadies.com. if you haven't been to our website in a little while, will you please go and see the new stuff we have? We have organization.

[Angela Kinsey]

Some of you guys were like, we want the episodes in folders. Season one, season two, season three. Not just chronologically. I know we did that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thanks to Squarespace.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

They have cutting edge design tools anyone can use.

[Valerie Walker]

Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Are you ready for this? Squarespace also makes it easy to showcase your expertise and engage clients with video content.

[Jenna Fischer]

And, you know, to get started, you need a domain. Squarespace Domains makes it easy to find the best name for your business at one fair, all inclusive price, no hidden fees or add ons required.

[Angela Kinsey]

So go to squarespace.com officeladies for a free trial and when you're ready to launch. Use offer code officeladies to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

[Matthew Dix]

The Second World War is the largest event in human history.

[Lauren Karch]

A 20 part series with Tom Hanks.

[Jenna Fischer]

No part of the globe was untouched, no life unchanged.

[Matthew Dix]

Experience the ultimate account of World War II.

[Jenna Fischer]

Every single person had a story. These are the stories that make us who we are.

[Angela Kinsey]

Listen to World War II with Tom

[Matthew Dix]

Hanks on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, we need to talk about cat litter smell. Because if you have cats, or in my case, if you're fostering cats, I always have that fear that someone's going to walk into my house and immediately be like, oh, multiple cats live here, lady.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our litter box is off the nook by our kitchen and I really worry about that, but it's the only place where it can fit.

[Jenna Fischer]

What has changed my life is Catalyst. Catalyst Pet Litter is totally different.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's made from soft wood fiber so it naturally controls odor without covering it up with like a fake perfumey smell. There's no smells that linger because it absorbs so fast. And bonus, there's way less dust so you're not breathing in those weird clay particles.

[Jenna Fischer]

So if you love your cats, but you would also like to live in a nice smelling home, Catalyst Pet is the move. Give Catalyst a try. You can pick up a bag at Walmart [e-mail].

[Chloe Salmon]

Welcome to the Moth. I'm Chloe Salmon. There are so many stories about romantic love, which is fair, I guess. But I take your romantic love and raise you a different relationship, one that can be just as fulfilling and honestly, sometimes even more so. Friendship. I'm grateful for my friends every day because each and every one of them is a perfect, beautiful angel who supports me fiercely but is also willing to give me an honest opinion about the new haircut I want to try out. Without them, I would be a lonely girl with a bowl cut I thought would look French, probably. In this episode, three stories all about friendship. From how they can be there for you during challenging times to a friend's unconditional love to the gummy bears. Don't worry, we'll get there. First up is Lauren Karch, who told this story at a main stage in Dayton, Ohio, where the theme was More Than Meets the Eye. Here's Lauren light at the mop.

[Lauren Karch]

So a couple years ago I started to notice that people were sounding quieter to me, which did not track with world events, but only when I was on the phone and only when I had the Phone to the right side of my head. And it wasn't like just that. I also noticed, like, I would get dizzy sometimes, and sometimes I kind of felt like my head was underwater. So I held off. But eventually I made an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist and got my hearing tested. And I found out exactly what I did not want to know, which was that at like, 32, I was losing my hearing, but only on one side. And he sort of. My doctor started going through a list of, like, other tests I could try and possible diagnoses. And I interrupted him and said, did I tell you my dad has Meniere's disease? And he looked at me, you know, like how you do when you're looking at the answer to a trivia question. My dad lost his hearing completely within, like, 10 years of being diagnosed. So I knew that if I had the same deal, the same thing could happen to me. I'd probably lose the rest of my hearing on my right side and maybe both ears within a few years or sooner or later, or not at all. And usually I'm not the kind of person who's like, oh, I gotta know what's gonna happen, because I'm not picking the restaurant. Okay? I'm not like a type A person. I do not have what the teens call main character energy. But in this moment, I wish that I did, because there's not really a treatment for Meniere's. You can take symptom stuff. So I could do short term steroids to ward off the vertigo. And my doctor told me to avoid caffeine and salt, which are my two favorite food groups. So that weekend I visited my parents. And it's never nice to start a conversation with, what if I end up like you? But that's basically what I did to my dad. And he told me a few things. He was like, there's all this assistive technology and supportive community for people with hearing loss. And frankly, it's not a huge tragedy not hear everybody all the time in this economy. My dad's a very Zen, believes in a higher path kind of person. So that kind of brought me out of my basement of depression. But a few months later, I was back at the same doctor's office because I kept getting these episodes of room spinning vertigo, and my hearing was worse. So they retested me, and I was up to 80 decibels of loss in my right ear, which they have the little, like, dumb layman's term chart in the soundproof booth. So that means that on my right side, I can hear things that are louder than, quote, a lawnmower at close range, which is awesome. And so I went home and I got on Reddit like you do when you're looking up rare diseases. And I found this interview with an artist who also had Meniere's disease. And the interviewer had asked him, I thought it was such a good question, what sound do you miss the most? And he was like a poet or something. So he said, I most miss the soft sound of a cat laughing water, because it sounds so satisfying for the cat. So I found myself then sitting on my living room floor, sort of like sloshing a water bowl towards my increasingly disgruntled cat. And Pterodactyl. That's my cat's name. She was not satisfied. She just looked at me like, I don't get paid enough for this. But the question had given me kind of an idea of something I could do to feel a little bit more in control. I thought I should make a list of everything I want to hear before I go deaf, in case I go deaf. Like a playlist bucket list, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Lauren Karch]

I probably can't afford to go to the Amazon rainforest right now, but I could leave the window open when it rains, and I didn't want the last thing I heard to be a spam call or myself repeating gossip. So when I saw a few days later that my favorite band was going to be in Cincinnati, I bought tickets right away. I did not think about who I was going to take with me. But then I happened to go to Warehouse 4, my favorite coffee shop, later. And, yeah, and my friend Stacy was working, and Stacy is, like, the kind of person who is up for anything. Plus, it was really swamped in there. So it was the perfect time to entrap her with an invitation. And she agreed to go. And, like, yeah, were we a little old to be at Bogarts under, like, the no moshing sign? Yeah. So were the Mountain Goats, my favorite band from 2005?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Lauren Karch]

Yeah. And Stacy used to be a youth choir director, so in exchange for me taking her to see a sad dad band, she went. She asked me if I would want to go with her to see a children's production of Cats, which. Yeah, like, I don't have time to wait for professionals to put on Cats for me. And I realized, like, I could knock off a ton of. Of kinds of music if I started going to, like, the free concerts put on by, like, the Library and yso. So, like, jazz in the Park, Jazz at the Culture Center, Jazz at the Library. There's a lot of jazz. I got really into it. I accompanied my boyfriend, who was on his own journey of trying to see every Boston sports team play in the Midwest. And I don't really like sports, but I did want to hear his accent being used for its intended purpose, which is cursing the Red Sox. And I started listening to my mom's favorite true crime podcast because I wanted to see if I, like her, could learn to discern who was guilty based on the guilt in the murderer's voice. And kind of, yeah. But the biggest victim in all this was my best friend, Katie. I told her about my hearing problems, but I didn't tell her about the playlist because it's insane. But the problem is she's, like, the perfect person, perfect man for the job because she is a theater person. We actually know each other from the theater because we came close. Like, we became close in our rural high school's production of the soul musical the Wiz, which is because it was from the before times. And. And so we'd always kind of dreamed of aging into being those costume jewelry ladies who have season tickets to the ballet. So I texted her and I said, remember how we were going to become theater ladies? What if we just do that now? And she just said, I thought you'd never ask. So we went to the opera, we went to all the Dayton Playhouse shows, and the Broadway series. When it came to town, the poetry slam, we went and saw that band that dresses like vampires. You guys, they just got a hearse, and it was great. Her younger co workers wanted to go see Post Malone, and I was so into it that I not only got a ticket to Post Malone, I bought us, like, wide leg jeans so we wouldn't stand out among, like, the youths. And it was a great time, but I wanted to see this one really artsy play that was out of town, so we decided to go to that. And, like, what I learned is there's a level of artsiness that I do not get, but that's okay. Like, I still heard it. And we had a great hotel that I had booked for a great price because I did not notice that it was a micro hotel with bunk beds. So I'm laying in the top bunk. And I've realized, like, I've brought Katie on so many goofy situations. Now I have to tell her what I'm thinking. So I leaned over, like, I'm at camp, and I said, you're being a really good friend. And I spilled, like, everything. I told her about how I was Worried that I would go deaf and maybe I wouldn't be able to communicate with people that I care about and what about my job? And would I still be able to enjoy the things I enjoy now? And at that time, Taylor Swift had only put out the first Taylor's version album and do I look like I want to miss that? And she said, ok, ok, I think you're a lot more resilient than you're giving yourself credit for. Also, I'd like to see you try to get rid of me or any of your friends. And then she got like deadly serious and said, should we try to learn asl? Because then we could talk about people in the same room. And I am trying to learn asl. I have made it through Sodapop. But a couple weeks later, Katie texted me because her mom had tickets to the Dayton Philharmonic and like, would I want to go with them? Of course. Because the orchestra is classic theater lady, because it's fancy. So we got dressed up, you guys. We went to the Spaghetti Warehouse and yeah, and we came down and it was at the Schuster. So beautiful theater. Like the whole orchestra, it was so great. But there was this one player in the orchestra, this cello player that I noticed because like, if I had to describe him, unfortunately, hunky, like just very tall, very good looking. And he was, he had those protagonist vibes that I've always wanted. Like, he wasn't just playing, he was performing. And I pointed him out to Katie and she said, oh, he's on the COVID of the program. And he was. It wasn't the whole orchestra, it was just like him and his cello and a fog machine. Like, he's the front man for the Dayton Philharmonic. So we're like kind of laughing about this, but the music's like really enthralling. It's really cool. It's a nice experience and I'm having fun with my two friends. And then it's over. We walk back to the, to the arts garage where we were all parked and get in our car. Katie's driving. We get to the garage exit and we're just hooting and hollering about how funny we are and should we wait by the stage door and all this. And the garage, the arm thing lifts and she kind of guns it to pull out of the parking garage and then slams on her brakes because they're in the middle of North Ludlow and we're barreling right at him. It's the hot cellist and he's got his cello on his back. He's Got his headphones in his ears. He's on his own audio journey, clearly. And Katie's mom points straight through the windshield and screams, don't hit him. And at that moment, I realized this is something of a universal experience, really. Whether I go deaf or not, everyone's going to hear their last thing. And so now I get my hearing tested annually. And the last few times, like, yeah, I am pretty deaf in my right ear. But I always ask the tech, like, ooh, is there any change? And she usually tells me no before the doctor even comes in, at least the last two times, which is such a relief. So I might still get to hear Reputation Taylor's version with my own natural ears. But I learned about a new way to connect with people, and I supported the out of the arts. And I learned that Dayton is, like, full of these big, bold main characters and there's still time to be one. So thank you, guys.

[Chloe Salmon]

That was Lauren Karch. Lauren is a writer and local government employee. And she says, yes, it is just like Parks and Rec in the happiest place on earth, the greater Dayton area. She tells stories in Dayton and encourages you to check out your local arts scene. Also, if you were wondering, the hot cello player who Lauren talked about in her story heard through the grapevine that he was mentioned on stage. We hope you're listening, hot cello player. The summer before my last semester of college, I had an internship in New York City. I knew it was going to feel very different from my Kansas college town, and I was scared. Enter Sean, a friend of a friend who had just graduated and was moving to NYC to start a new job. We made plans for a polite, lonely desperation meetup, which turned into us hitting it off in a real way and spending almost every free minute together. That summer, we got our bearings, stayed out late, bar hopping and eating cheap food, and screeched in panic as his toilet overflowed and flooded his tiny studio while I shouted, how do you turn off water? At my dad over the phone. A real bonding kind of summer. Almost 15 years later, I am no better at troubleshooting plumbing issues, and he is still one of my closest friends. Our next story is from Valerie Walker, who told it at a story slam where the theme was chemistry. Here's Valerie live at the Moth.

[Valerie Walker]

So on Sunday, I had a reunion with a woman that I went to college with. I hadn't seen her for 34 years. I know I look good. And the thing you probably are wondering after 34 years, like, what do you care? I had actually been carrying her in my heart for the intervening time. And we were an odd pair for sure. We met in college, a very impressionable time. She was from a small town in Arkansas. I started. I still had the grit from New York City in my pockets. She was artful with her makeup and painted on a natural looking face and smelled like beautiful perfume. And I smelled like a mix of soap and whatever moisturizer I was using. And so looking at us, you would think, like, what do they have in common? And I wondered that myself. But there was such. She was so kind. There was such a space that we created that was just joyful and very, very loving and super duper fun. And then I came out as a lesbian. And one of the ways that I processed my internalized homophobia was I was suddenly scared that my really rich friendship with women were going to be called into question, that she would no longer be as affectionate or wonder what was my motive for being affectionate back. And we had such a great relationship. Like, I don't know that song. I love you. A bushel on the peck. A bushel on a peck. I don't know all the words, but one day she wrote that entire lyric on my door, like as a note. Yeah, it was just adorable and very, very dope. And we had this ritual where, like, when we would go to dinner, I would go to her room, she would change out of her fabulously stylish outfit. But she was shy, so she'd go into her walk in closet and then we would continue to talk while she changed. And when she was in the closet, her voice would be muffled like this. And then when she came out, it would be really clear. And so one day I'm in a room and waiting for her to change and I am playing with the stuff on her dresser, so I'm not really paying attention. Her voice went from muscle, muscle muffle back to clear. And so I look up, except she had changed the routine and had come out of the closet not completely dressed in her sweatshirt, sweatpants and bra. And she was very easy on the eyes. Okay, so now in that moment, I'm saying to myself, don't stare, you're staring. Oh my God, look at her eyes, they're higher. And so I'm, you know, having a little bit of gay freak out. And so, but we regulated, went to dinner and everything got normal once everybody had their clothes back on. So, you know, super cool. And.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I.

[Valerie Walker]

She was just really just a great person. Our friendship was so enjoyable, and yet that's the casualty of Being a lesbian, right, is the chemistry. Women are so cool and dope. It's really. It's really easy to fall for you guys. It's just the hard part is finding out the appropriate person to fall in love with. And I'm not gonna lie, I slept with a few varying genders in college, meaning straight women, but she was not one of them. And then after college, we lost touch. And recently, she started following me on Instagram. And then more recently, DMed me that she was coming into New York and wanted to meet up. And I went to the place at the appointed time, and I was super curious about how it would feel to see. See her again. I knew that she meant so much to me, but I also understand that what means something to you doesn't mean the same to somebody else. And then suddenly she was in front of me, and then she was in my arms and I was in hers. And it was a great hug, long hug, a strong hug, one of those hugs where you just rock side to side, side. And then we stopped and we sat down and we caught up. We cried and we laughed and we held hands when it was super hard to say. And it was really beautiful. I could recognize it for what it was. A blinding, furious, and beautiful love that it was absolutely okay to have. And that was not in any way base. And we're sitting there and I'm telling her how much her friendship has meant to me. And then she flipped it and told me how much my friendship had meant to her and that she's not nostalgic and she doesn't even have any pictures from college, but she has two that she's printed out, and one of them is of me. Yeah, I know, right? And so it was just so affirming in that moment to know that she was mine and I was hers. And if anyone ever asks me about the great loves of my life, she will be one that I talk about. Thank you.

[Chloe Salmon]

That was Valerie Walker. She is an activist, artist, and storyteller whose stories challenge perceptions and. And build community through shared feelings. Survival as triumph and vulnerability as strength are key themes in her work. Our final story is from Matthew Dix, who told this at one of our open mic story slams in Boston. Here's Matthew live at the Moth.

[Matthew Dix]

I'm sitting in the break room of a McDonald's restaurant in Milford, Massachusetts. I'm eating an egg McMuffin, and I am not happy. It is the spring of 1987. I'm 16 years old, and it's not the Egg McMuffin. That's causing me to be unhappy, because an Egg McMuffin is the most guaranteed source of joy in my entire day. But not on this day. I'm upset because I'm about to meet my mortal enemy for the first time. And I know it's not gonna go well. I've been working at this restaurant for two months now. I actually live three towns away in Blackstone, Massachusetts. But I found out that this place pays $4.65 an hour, and that's 20 cents more than the White Hen Pantry, five minutes from my house. And I figured even though it's a 30 minute drive, the 20 cents will absolutely make up for the time and the gas, which it does not. But it changes my life in a really significant way, because when I arrive here, I discover the joy of a clean slate. I'm growing up in a tiny town. 82 kids are in my class. They're the same 82 kids I knew in kindergarten, and they remember everything. And so when you want to be something different or you decide you could be something better, no one lets you because they remember everything. They still talk about the time in sixth grade when I exposed myself to class because my gym shorts were a little too short and my underwear was a little too big and it was a little too much manspreading. They talk about it to this day, and they remember the braces and the buck teeth and the bad haircuts and the free and reduced lunches, and all of that has prevented me from becoming something that I think I could be and being trapped in what they think I should be. But I've arrived in this new town, nobody knows me. And on the first day of work, Erin Duran comes and asks me if I have a girlfriend in the way she's hoping. I say no. And that's never happened to me before. So this is something. And it turns out that because they don't know me, I can be the thing I think I can be. And suddenly I have more friends than I've ever had in my life. And I'm good at my job. Shockingly good. In 1980s, the job at the McDonald's that is the hardest is running the bin. I have been a public school teacher for 24 years and I can tell you that I have not had a day in my classroom as taxing as a day running the bin at McDonald's during rush hour. In 1987. It is coordinating a kitchen full of 16 year olds and 60 year olds and convincing them all to do work for you at the same Time and watching a drive through screen and listening to cash registers and figuring out how much food needs to be here at any moment without causing waste and making sure profit. It's really hard. And for some reason, I can hold all this information right here. And I'm good at it and people respect me for it. But as soon as I got good at it, all I heard was one word. Benji, you're great. But Benji's better. Benji's the best bin person in this restaurant. Actually, he's the best person in this restaurant. He is fantastic. And everyone loves him and everyone respects him. And I hate Benji. All they do is tell me how great he is. And with every single word they say, I hate him more. And then I discover they're telling him about me. And they're saying how this. This guy came in and he might be better than you. They're spreading gossip about me to him. And so we have never met each other, but we hate each other. And so this day, we're coming together for the first time. Our shifts are crossing and I'm going to meet him. And so I go out into the dining room at the end of my break just to see him. Cause he's already working. And I see him. There's nothing to this guy. Like, he's not that good looking, he's not an athlete. He's got the body of a bass player in a failing high school rock band. He is nothing but. I watch, and a couple minutes later, I realize I'm wrong. Cause he's funny, effortlessly funny, and he's endearing to everyone. He makes the older customers who are waiting for Big Macs actually happy to be waiting for their Big Mac. And the managers love him. And he's good at the bin. Like, he is really good at calling bin. I hate him so much. And because he's doing my job, I have to run for drive thru today, which is the second hardest job in the restaurant. 80% of the orders go through the window, so 80% of the food will pass through my hands. But that means I need to work with the bin guy the whole time to coordinate and negotiate and make sure everything runs. Which means I have to work with Benji. And so for the first hour, we don't talk to each other unless it's about work. And we clearly hate each other. We're not hiding it in any way whatsoever. But unless it has to do with work, I don't say a word. And then after an hour, it gets like, awkward. And I start to think maybe he thinks I'M afraid to say something to him. So I'm like, no, I'm gonna do something here. And so I go up to him and I say, why are you coming in at 10:30 on a Saturday? What's 10:30? And he says, I watch Saturday morning cartoons, which in 1986 is a thing. All the new cartoons, the Smurfs and the Snorks and Super Friends, they're all out in the morning. And we eat sugar disguised as cereal and we watch these things. And he says, the gummy bears start at 9:30 and they end at 10. And then I come to work. And he says it without irony or embarrassment. I can't believe it. And so I walk over to the drive through, I drop a bag off and when I come back to the bin, I say, listen, I'm to going dashing and daring, courageous and caring, faithful and friendly with stories to share. And I take some food and I walk back to the drive thru. And as I come back over, he is singing. Before I get to the bin, he says, all through the forest they sing out in chorus, marching along as their songs fill the air. And standing next to the bin with Benji, we sing together. Gummy bears bouncing here and there and everywhere High adventure that's beyond compare. They are the gummy bears. There's a second verse, a bridge and another chorus. I will not share them with you. But we sing them that day because I watch the gummy bears too. And to this day I can sing that song. And that's it. A single theme song to a cartoon melts all the ice between us. And 37 years later, he is still my best friend. It is the most significant relationship in my life, with the exception of my marriage. When I get thrown out of my house when I'm 17, Benji takes me in and lets me live in his college apartment. And when I'm 21 and I need a credit card and can't get one, he gives me his extra card and says, just use it and pay me when you can. He saves my life again and again and again. And this day we live in Connecticut, two miles from each other. And when I think back on that day that I stood at that bin and sang a cartoon song to him, I'm reminded how little it takes to sort of reach out to someone and like, just open the crack of a window and you just get the window open and then it becomes a door and it becomes a lifetime. Thank you.

[Chloe Salmon]

That was Matthew Dix. He's an elementary school teacher and novelist whose books include memoirs of an imaginary friend, something missing and unexpectedly Milo. He's the founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford based storytelling organization. Matt loves ice cream cake, tickling his children, staring at his wife and not sleeping. That brings us to the end of our episode. Thank you to our storytellers for sharing with us and to you for listening. We hope that this week and every week, your friends are there for you.

[Matthew Dix]

Chloe Salmon is a director director at the Moth. Her favorite Moth moments come on show days when the cardio is done, the house lights go down and the magic settles in. Lauren Karch's story was directed by Sarah Austin Janess. This episode of the Moth podcast was produced by Sarah Austin Jeuness, Sarah Jane Johnson and me, Mark Salinger. The rest of the Moth's leadership team includes Gina Duncan, Christina Norman, Marina Clouche, Jennifer Hickson, Jordan Cardinale, Caledonia Cairns, Kate Tellers, Suzanne Rust and Patricia Urenia. The Moth Podcast is presented by Odyssey. Special thanks to their executive producer, Leah Rees Dennis. All Moth stories are true, as remembered by their storytellers. For more about our podcast, information on pitching your own story and everything else, go to our website themoth.org.

[Jenna Fischer]

Lady I love my dad with all my heart. I don't think he would be offended to hear me say he's not a fashionista. Oh yeah, he could use a level up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, here's the thing. Most dads, they're very famously loyal to their stuff. You know, they've got the same wallet, they've had forever, the same sneakers, the same cologne, you know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I'm gonna help my dad level up with some really good options from Macy's. I've done this in past years and they are always a hit. I got him a really great shirt from Tommy Hilfiger, something he would not buy himself.

[Angela Kinsey]

And you know, Macy's also has that great gift guide. I find it so helpful. They have these categories and so you can go and look so you're not just like doing some huge hunt and peck. They've got a great list for you. For every dad out there in every

[Jenna Fischer]

price range and category, check out Macy's online Gift guide for even more ideas.

[Angela Kinsey]

Shop now@macy's.com giftguide to find the perfect gifts this Father's Day.

[Jenna Fischer]

Before we get back to the podcast, we have a message from Ashley the Mosquito about Orkin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hey besties. Hope all of you are high key. So excited for summer. It's literally giving all of us mosquitoes life. So we thought we'd help everybody make the most of it. Before Orkin pros try to ruin our fun. Remember, if you have standing water on your lawn from the pool or the sprinkler, let it sit there. The more the merrier. And when there's standing water, there'll be plenty more mosquitoes. Next up is a bit of a hot take, but we're so hype on it. Let mosquitoes inside. What could go wrong? Just let us inside, please. Thanks. Love ya. Finally, the number one rule this summer is do not under any circumstances speak to anybody from Orkin. That's literally so cringe and will ruin the vibe of any get together we might be having. Take it from a mosquito. Orkin pros know literally everything about us, period. Don't visit orken.com for a free estimate today.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, lady. I did it. I did it. And you were right. I now also own a pair of Archie's art support flip flops.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have been wearing them, like, so faithfully for years. I have the flip flops, I have the slides because, you know, I have high arches and my feet hurt. Until I started wearing these.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I am now wearing them constantly.

[Angela Kinsey]

They really make a big difference. And, you know, summer's coming, you want to run errands, you want a cute pair of flip flops, you're not going to lose that arch support with Archies, y'.

[Jenna Fischer]

All. I also found out that they were designed by a physical therapist, and the goal was to find something that felt great but still looked good. And they have achieved their goal.

[Angela Kinsey]

You can really feel the difference. So take it from us, you guys are going to love them. Shop Archie's Footwear.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we are back. I loved all the stories.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

I thought they were all so thought provoking. I mean, they're really great storytellers.

[Matthew Dix]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love as, you know, getting to know people. And I felt like this podcast was just like a window into people's lives. I absolutely love it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, when I was listening to that first story about the young woman who's losing her hearing, Remember when I was talking about that book, the Correspondent?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

In that book, the main woman is slowly going blind, and she talks all about the things that she wants to see before she can't see anymore. So it was really interesting to me to then hear this story about someone who wants to hear all the things that you wanna hear before you lose your hearing. Anyway, it resonated with me because I think ang, you know, as we're getting older and after all my health stuff in recent years, I'm very aware of the things that I wanna do in my life. And like that gal in the story. I know, lady, you will be right by my side, making sure I check everything off my list.

[Angela Kinsey]

I absolutely will.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know it.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I know there's going to be times where there are things that you're going to want to do that aren't with me, because that's the nature of life. There's going to be some things on your list that are with Lee are with your kids or with your mom, your sister, your friends from home, or just a solo adventure. Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

But you will make sure I get all those things done.

[Angela Kinsey]

I want to ensure it. And then I want to hear all about it.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

I want every detail. Well, I loved this episode of the Moth. I loved the stories as well. But wow, Matthew and Benji really got me bonding over that gummy bear theme song. Come on. And then there was something Matthew said that I just thought was beautiful. When he said he was reminded of how little it takes to reach out to someone, that just really hit me because you never know where people are at in life. And those small moments of kindness have a huge impact. And look now, Matthew and Benji have been friends for 37 years. Yeah, lady, it made me think of that day you sneezed and I reached over with a box of tissues at the set of the Office.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know, it's true.

[Angela Kinsey]

Your allergies plus my proximity to you and to Kleenex.

[Jenna Fischer]

Here we are. Best friendship. Well, we hope that you enjoyed this episode contribution from the Moth to access a whole bunch of episodes just like it along with two new episodes a week. Subscribe to the Moth wherever you get your podcasts.

[Angela Kinsey]

We hope you have a great week

[Jenna Fischer]

and happy Best Friends Day.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Office Ladies is a presentation of Office and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

Our senior producer is Matt Beagle and our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer.

[Angela Kinsey]

Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese. Dennis.

[Jenna Fischer]

Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratt.

[Lauren Karch]

Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho. Look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you and hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Spring's calling.

[Lauren Karch]

Ross.

[Jenna Fischer]

Work your magic

[Chloe Salmon]

this Father's Day.

[Valerie Walker]

When you ship UPS air at the

[Chloe Salmon]

UPS store, your items arrive on time or your money back guaranteed at no extra cost. It's like the father of all shipping services.

[Jenna Fischer]

It shows up to the airport way

[Chloe Salmon]

too early just to play it safe. It's overprotective about all the things that truly matter. And it's always prompt, especially to be with family. Make it your first choice to celebrate your dad. Ship UPS Air with our money back guarantee, exclusively at the UPS Store US retail locations. Visit the upsstore.com airshipping for full details. Terms and conditions apply.