Podcast Summary: The Moth – "Arthur Bradford & Laura Gershman: StorySLAM Favorites"

Introduction

In the August 11, 2015 episode of The Moth podcast titled "Arthur Bradford & Laura Gershman: StorySLAM Favorites," host Dan Kennedy presents two compelling true stories from standout storytellers Arthur Bradford and Laura Gershman. This episode, part of The Moth’s renowned storytelling tradition, showcases personal anecdotes that delve into themes of growth and deception, providing listeners with rich narratives filled with humor, tension, and poignant insights.

Sponsor Messages

Before diving into the stories, the episode features brief sponsor messages from Intuit’s TurboTax and Squarespace, offering listeners discounts and promotions. These segments are succinctly placed to set the stage for the storytelling without overshadowing the content.

Dan Kennedy’s Opening Remarks [02:44]

Dan Kennedy sets the tone by highlighting the prevalence of cat-related stories on the podcast but shifts focus to celebrate dogs. He introduces the theme of the episode, “Outgrown,” and previews the first story from Arthur Bradford, expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming narrative.

Arthur Bradford: "Outgrown" [04:51 – 11:37]

Story Overview: Arthur Bradford recounts a humorous yet harrowing experience surrounding his second wedding anniversary and the birth of his child. Planning a mature dinner celebration, Arthur decides to take his dog for a walk in Brooklyn’s waterfront park. The encounter with the police over an old warrant for having his dog off-leash leads to an unexpected night in Central Booking, filled with quirky inmates and absurd circumstances.

Key Highlights and Quotes:

• Anniversary Plans and Encounter with Police: Arthur begins by setting the scene:

  “It’s the evening of my wife and I's second anniversary and we had just had a newborn baby...” ([04:51])

• Interacting with the Police: The surprise twist occurs when Arthur is singled out by the police:

  “We were like, good thing we didn't smoke that joint, right?” ([04:51])

• Central Booking Chaos: Arthur describes the confusing environment of Central Booking:

  “Every room has a payphone, but it's always broken... I keep wanting to find a payphone because I gotta call my wife.” ([07:30])

• Miscommunication and Redemption: The culmination of his ordeal reveals the initial misunderstanding:

  “The judge is like, dog off leash. And everybody who's with me is like, what the fuck?” ([10:15])

Insights and Conclusion: Arthur reflects on the misadventure, highlighting the importance of handling responsibilities:

“I did learn from that experience to always pay my bills.” ([11:25])

He humorously admits that despite his claim to have outgrown smoking weed, he continues to indulge, adding depth to his character and the story’s authenticity.

About Arthur Bradford: Arthur is a writer and filmmaker residing in Portland, Oregon. His latest book, Turtle Face, was published in spring 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Arthur also works part-time at a juvenile detention facility, enriching his storytelling with real-world experiences.

Laura Gershman: "Duped" [12:14 – 18:46]

Story Overview: Laura Gershman shares a childhood experience from the early '90s when her mother orchestrated a deceptive scenario to test her and her sister's vulnerability to strangers. Dropped off alone with her sister at a suburban shopping area, Laura confronts an unsettling encounter with a man posing as a local newspaper reporter, leading to an emergency intervention by a teacher and the police.

Key Highlights and Quotes:

• Setting the Scene: Laura describes the unusual request from her mother:

  “My mom says... I have an older sister. She’s three years older than me... you guys are going to have a night just to hang out and shop by yourselves.” ([12:14])

• Approach by the Stranger: The tension builds as a man approaches them:

  “He starts interviewing us... you have to go home with them. And my sister's like, yes, okay, where's it?” ([15:00])

• Conflict and Fear: Laura details the emotional turmoil and her sister’s insistence:

  “I'm getting more and more worked up and upset and scared...” ([16:45])

• Resolution and Revelation: The story concludes with the revelation of her mother's ploy:

  “There are all these cameras and I'm like, what's going on? And my mom's kind of like smirking. She’s like, I set you up.” ([18:30])

Insights and Conclusion: Laura reflects on her mother's actions and the lessons learned:

“I was so livid at my mother... but the only good thing I could take out of it was that I got pretty much anything I wanted for the next week or so from her act.” ([18:25])

She acknowledges the emotional impact while humorously noting the long-term benefits of her mother’s manipulative setup.

About Laura Gershman: Laura is a classically trained oboe player based in Pittsburgh. Her diverse career includes roles as a barista, freelance musician, adjunct college professor, receptionist, line cook, personal chef, and she is currently navigating her next career move.

Dan Kennedy’s Closing Remarks [18:46 – 20:12]

Dan highlights the origin of both stories from The Moth’s Open Mic Story Slam series, where audience members share personal tales. He announces the expansion of Story Slams to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, encouraging listeners from these regions to participate in upcoming events centered around the theme “Firsts.” Kennedy concludes by directing listeners to The Moth’s website for more information and expressing hope that everyone has a story-worthy week.

Final Credits

The episode wraps up with acknowledgments to Dan Kennedy, producer Whitney Jones, recording by Argo Studios, and presentation by PRX, ensuring listeners are aware of the collaborative efforts behind the podcast.

Conclusion

This episode of The Moth elegantly intertwines humor with life lessons through Arthur Bradford's misadventure with law enforcement and Laura Gershman’s childhood deception. Both stories resonate with themes of growth and the complexities of human interactions, offering listeners relatable and entertaining narratives. By incorporating notable quotes and timestamps, the episode provides an engaging and comprehensive listening experience that captures the essence of The Moth’s storytelling prowess.