The Moth Podcast: Embraces and Egg Timers

Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Emily Couch
Stories by: Gabe Woods Laminuzzi & April Gallutti
Episode Theme: Navigating nerves and pressure—whether meeting a partner’s family or resisting societal expectations about womanhood and motherhood.

Episode Overview

In this edition of The Moth Podcast, host Emily Couch presents two live stories that explore what it means to feel pressure—either from within or from society at large. The episode begins with a humorous recollection of meeting a partner’s intimidating father and ends with a candid, witty meditation on the social scrutiny women face for choosing not to have children.

Key Stories, Insights, and Memorable Moments

1. Gabe Woods Laminuzzi: “The Guts to Hug”

[02:34 – 08:39]

Story Summary

Gabe shares his lifelong anxiety surrounding that classic rite of passage: meeting his girlfriend’s father. Despite being someone who’s tackled extreme sports like skydiving and bungee jumping, Gabe finds nothing more terrifying than this social ritual—especially with his self-identification as a “hugger” rather than a handshaker.

Discussion Points & Insights

• Awkwardness of Male Bonding:

  • Gabe confesses to struggling with traditionally masculine social skills.
    “Handshakes, utterly petrifying to me… I will find some way to just turn it into calamity.” [03:22]
  • Emphasizes a love of hugs and difficulty with expected gestures.

• The Terrifying Father Stereotype:

  • Recounts a high school relationship where his girlfriend’s father’s sole legacy was a menacing, unblinking stare.
  • Jumps to college, where he hopes for “chill Cali parents” but instead meets a “solidly constructed” New Yorker father—Sydney’s dad.

• Meeting Sydney’s Parents:

  • The initial dinner is tense, with an imposing father who boasts about “knowing his way around the law.”
  • Humorous relief comes from Sydney’s entertaining friend, recruited to deflect attention.
  • Noteworthy story from Sydney’s father:
    “…he chases away a home intruder with a baseball bat.” [05:35]

• The Hug Handshake Showdown:

  • Gabe instinctively goes for a hug; the father steps back for a handshake:
    “Let’s keep it here for now.” – Sydney’s Dad [06:55]
  • Gabe delivers “the sweatiest handshake of his life” and is rescued by Sydney’s mom offering a hug.
  • In a comedic bid, tries for a hug from Sydney's brother, who flees to his car to avoid him.

• Redemption & Acceptance:

  • On a later trip, Gabe sends a “hug by proxy” to Sydney’s father, who finds it hilarious.
  • With time, “he has hugged me every time we’ve hung out”.
  • Culminates in the heartwarming full-circle moment:
    “Now, 11 years later this August, I will be marrying Sydney Murth. And I can hardly wait to hug my future father-in-law on that day.” [08:36]

Notable Quote

• “There’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity. And I’m wondering which side of it I’ve sort of stumbled into.” — Gabe [07:37]

2. April Gallutti: “Tinnitus of the Vagina”

[11:00 – 16:33]

Story Summary

April Gallutti delivers a comic yet poignant monologue about the unseen timer women receive with their first period, chronicling the constant ticking of societal expectations to have children—despite choosing otherwise.

Discussion Points & Insights

• Puberty as a Horror Story:

  • At age 10, April wakes “covered in hair and blood” and asks her mom:
    “Are we werewolves? Did I kill someone last night?”
  • Compares puberty to a supernatural transformation:
    “Becoming a werewolf and becoming a woman is the same…hair everywhere...hungry, angry, bite people…blood, so much blood.” [11:13]

• The Unmentioned “Egg Timer”:

  • With her first period comes an “invisible egg timer” she doesn’t hear at first.
  • As she settles into a committed relationship, a relentless societal clock emerges—“tinnitus of the vagina”—amplifying family and cultural pressure to have babies.

• Relentless Expectation and Judgment:

  • Describes how people, especially her husband’s family, accosted her about having kids.
  • Critiques common arguments:
    • “You're being selfish because you’re not allowing your husband’s name to be carried on…” [14:06]
    • “Who’s going to take care of you when you’re older?”
    • Lampoons the idea of “maternal instincts will kick in,” wryly asking if she can “send it back” if they don’t.

• Liberation & Devaluation:

  • After a hysterectomy at age 28, the “egg timer” and accompanying pressure finally stops.
  • The searing realization:
    “The expiration of my value as a woman and as a person died with a lot of people.” [15:43]
  • Acknowledges the pain but champions women who are child-free by choice.

• Inspiration and Defiance:

  • Salutes Dolly Parton and Betty White, both child-free icons.
  • Concludes with a punchy comedic resolve: “Now I am no Dolly Parton and I am no Betty White, but I can fix that. Thank you. My name is April.” [16:25]

Notable Quotes

• “Did I kill someone last night? Like what’s going on?” – April [11:04]
• “People's need to be in our bedroom was wild.” – April [14:17]
• “If I were to stand here and tell you that didn’t hurt, I’d be lying.” – April [15:46]

Additional Host Reflections

Emily Couch [08:39, 10:47, 16:33]:

• Recounts her own tense experience with a new boyfriend meeting her parents, resulting in a happy marriage six years later.
• Introduces and contextualizes each story; shares fun fact about Gabe’s “10 great hugs per week” quest.
• Profiles April’s blend of Southern gentleness and biting humor.

[Notable Host Quote]

• “I think I was more nervous than he was. And six years later, dear listener, I married him.” – Emily [09:21]

Quick Reference Timestamps

• [02:34 – 08:39]: Gabe Woods Laminuzzi – Facing the intimidating parent and finding real acceptance
• [11:00 – 16:33]: April Gallutti – Rejecting expectations, claiming worth beyond motherhood

Tone & Style

• Warm, humorous, self-deprecating, and candid storytelling.
• Speakers use vivid imagery, playful analogies, and direct honesty.
• Each narrative balances vulnerability with laugh-out-loud comedic beats.

For More Information

• Photos of Gabe and his (now affectionate) father-in-law at themoth.org/extras.
• More stories and information about storytelling events at The Moth’s website.

In Summary:
This episode beautifully explores the nerves and comedy of confronting others’ expectations—whether seeking a father’s approval or contending with society’s definitions of womanhood. Both stories remind listeners of the universal desire to be seen and accepted for who we are, and leave us smiling at the messiness of it all.