Summary of "Catherine Smyka & Sasha Chanoff" Episode from The Moth

Release Date: June 28, 2016

The Moth podcast episode featuring Catherine Smyka and Sasha Chanoff presents two powerful true stories that delve into personal and humanitarian challenges. This summary captures the essence of both narratives, highlighting key moments, discussions, and emotional insights shared by the storytellers.

1. Catherine Smyka: "Detours in Coming Out"

Theme: Detours
Original Performance: Seattle, 2013
Speaker: Catherine Smyka
Timestamp: 1:36 - 7:24

Story Overview

Catherine Smyka recounts her emotional journey of coming out as a lesbian to her father, a man who is typically reserved and communicates sparingly. The narrative explores the complexities of conveying one's true identity to a parent who primarily engages in mundane conversations about construction zones, traffic jams, and the Detroit Red Wings.

Key Points and Insights

• Limited Communication with Father: Catherine describes a minimalistic relationship with her father, where conversations were often one-sided. "He would ask how things are going. And then I just list off everything in my life... and he'd listen quietly until he thought I was probably done" (01:36).

• Preparing to Come Out: Anticipating the challenge, Catherine devises a "sneaky plan" to reveal her sexual orientation during a car ride home from college. She intended to create a diversion by shifting the conversation to a topic her father was comfortable with—hockey. "I was the day that I moved home from college, and my dad drove the two hours to come pick me up... I was preparing to tell him all about being gay" (01:36).

• Unexpected Silence and Panic: When Catherine begins to broach the subject, she finds herself at a loss for words. "I couldn't think of another thing to say... I started panicking" (02:30).

• The Detour Strategy: In an attempt to redirect the conversation, Catherine references the Detroit Red Wings, expecting to discuss hockey. Instead, her father navigates into unrelated topics like traffic and construction. "We successfully detoured from gay stuff right over to hockey stuff and right into construction stuff and traffic stuff" (06:00).

• Emotional Realization: The story concludes with a poignant moment where Catherine realizes her father's silent support. As they approach home amidst unexpected traffic, her father reveals his excitement about their child returning home. "I looked up and saw the one thing that every person in the Midwest associates with. Summertime orange construction cones... he has this big smile on his face" (06:45).

Notable Quote

"I was planning to wait until we were, like, 10 minutes from the house, and then I was going to tell him all about being gay. And I never shut up. So that would take at least 10 minutes." – Catherine Smyka (02:50)

2. Sasha Chanoff: "From Crisis to Calling"

Theme: Coming Home
Original Performance: Not specified
Speaker: Sasha Chanoff
Timestamp: 7:48 - 20:37

Story Overview

Sasha Chanoff shares his harrowing experience as a humanitarian worker tasked with evacuating 112 massacre survivors from the war-torn Congo. The story delves into the moral dilemmas, ethical challenges, and personal transformations that Sasha undergoes while navigating the complexities of life-and-death decisions in a conflict zone.

Key Points and Insights

• Mission Briefing: Sasha is assigned a critical rescue mission by his boss, David, at the International Organization for Migration. He is instructed to evacuate exactly 112 individuals, with strict orders to avoid including anyone else. "David... told me I couldn't trust her, that she always tried to include additional people, and I had to stop her from doing that" (09:30).

• Encounter with Sheikha: Upon arrival in Congo, Sasha partners with Sheikha, a morally driven colleague from Kenya. Sheikha urges him to include additional widows and orphans in the evacuation, presenting a significant ethical conflict. "Sheikha and I left. And that night... I held the list of 112 and I said, we can't. But could I live with myself if we tried to take them and we failed?" (14:00).

• Moral Dilemma: Sasha grapples with the decision to adhere to orders or follow his conscience. The emotional weight of potentially leaving vulnerable individuals behind forces him to reconsider his responsibilities. "I thought about who Sheikha was... Who am I?" (17:00).

• Sheikha's Influence: Inspired by Sheikha's unwavering moral compass, Sasha decides to include the additional refugees, defying official instructions. "Sasha, we're humanitarians. We're here on the ground now... This is up to us" (18:30).

• Consequences and Sacrifice: The decision leads to immediate conflict with Congolese immigration officials, who attempt to thwart the evacuation. Despite the chaos and opposition, Sasha and Sheikha manage to transport the refugees safely, though not without heartbreak as many are left behind. "It was the most joyous and heartbreaking moment" (19:45).

• Personal Transformation: The experience profoundly impacts Sasha, instilling a deep sense of connection and humanity that continues to drive his humanitarian efforts. "That feeling has motivated and inspired me ever since" (20:15).

Notable Quote

"We're humanitarians. We're here on the ground now. If we don't do this, these people will be forgotten and they'll die here... This is up to us." – Sheikha (18:35)

Conclusion

This episode of The Moth poignantly illustrates the intersections of personal identity and global humanitarianism. Catherine Smyka's story emphasizes the delicate navigation required in familial relationships, especially when revealing one's true self. In contrast, Sasha Chanoff's narrative underscores the profound ethical challenges faced in crisis situations, highlighting the enduring impact of compassionate decision-making. Both stories, rich with emotional depth and moral complexity, offer listeners a glimpse into the transformative power of sharing genuine human experiences.

Additional Information:

• Catherine Smyka: A freelance writer based in Chicago, Catherine advocates humorously for The Moth to run for President in 2016, reflecting her appreciation for storytelling and its impact.

• Sasha Chanoff: Founder and Executive Director of RefugePoint, a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing lasting solutions for refugees in life-threatening situations. He is also the author of From Crisis to Calling.

For more stories and live events, visit themoth.org.

Timestamps Reference:

• 01:36 - Introduction to Catherine Smyka's story.
• 02:30 - Catherine begins her narrative about coming out.
• 02:50 - Notable Quote by Catherine.
• 06:00 - Discussion of the detour strategy.
• 06:45 - Emotional realization moment.
• 07:48 - Introduction to Sasha Chanoff's story.
• 09:30 - Description of the mission briefing.
• 14:00 - Sasha's moral dilemma begins.
• 17:00 - Sasha contemplates his identity.
• 18:30 - Sheikha's pivotal influence.
• 19:45 - Consequences of their decision.
• 20:15 - Sasha reflects on personal transformation.
• 20:37 - Introduction to Sasha Chanoff's credentials.
• 21:03 - Outro and production credits.

Note: Timestamps are indicative and correspond to key points within the provided transcript.