The Moth Podcast — "Finding Soul"

Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Suzanne Rust

Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode of The Moth explores the deeper meaning of “soul” through true stories about authenticity, resilience, and being there for loved ones. Moving from the surface—the “sole” of shoes—into the inner “soul” that defines us, two storytellers, Heather McGee and Ashley McElvey, share deeply personal and transformative experiences. Each story illuminates how connections, trials, and unusual circumstances help reveal who we truly are.

Key Discussion Points & Story Summaries

1. Introduction: From Shoes to Soul

[01:56]

• Host Suzanne Rust sets the thematic stage, explaining the episode’s departure from stories about the “sole” of shoes to those about the “soul” within.
• Main focus: Connections, bonds, overcoming hardship, and the things that make us uniquely ourselves.

2. Story One: Heather McGee — "The Pink Suitcase"

[02:34] – [07:43]

Overview

Heather recounts her journey from shy, homeschooled teenager to an empowered young woman, thanks to an unforgettable suitcase from her flamboyant grandmother. Her story unfolds at a Chicago Story Slam with the theme "baggage."

Key Points

• Isolation and Anxiety:

  • Heather grows up in a large, fundamentalist family, homeschooled and isolated (“I lived out with the cows in corn fields” [02:41]).
  • She faces huge anxiety when transitioning to traditional high school, feeling desperate to be invisible:

    “Going to the lunchroom and figuring out where to sit was the most horrifying thing to me. Every day. I spent the entirety of my high school experience being scared to be seen or heard or have to interact with anyone while getting an A in every class.” [03:12]

• The Senior Trip Dilemma:

  • A 10-day trip to Spain is both thrilling and terrifying—especially when Heather doesn't own a proper suitcase.
  • Asks Granny for help. Granny (a loud, joyful presence, starkly different from Heather’s family) offers a huge, bright pink tie-dye hard suitcase:

    “She pulled out the loudest, hugest pink tie-dye hard-side suitcase that anyone has ever seen in their life. And it wasn’t just pink on the outside, it was pink on the inside… loud in an actual way.” [04:11]

    • Granny is described as: “She wore Betty Boop sweatshirts, she wore cheetah print, she wore a T-shirt that said ‘I’m sexy’. And she was in her 70s.” [03:59]

• Learning to Stand Out:

  • Mortified but unable to refuse, Heather travels to Spain with the suitcase, fearing ridicule.
  • To her surprise, classmates are amused and impressed:

    “It turns out my classmates thought my suitcase was cool. They liked the color because it stood out. They thought that clicky, loud locks were hilarious.” [05:36]

  • Embracing her suitcase, Heather begins embracing herself.

• Reflection & Granny’s Legacy:

  • The suitcase becomes a metaphor for living boldly, channeling her grandmother’s resilience:

    “Don’t let the bad things in life keep you from being your wildest, boldest, pinkest self.” [07:30]

• Granny’s Backstory:

  • Her grandmother’s exuberance is a form of rebirth after enduring years of domestic abuse:

    “I think the day that my grandpa died is the day that her life really started.” [06:58]

Notable Quotes

• “My entire mission in life at that time was to blend in with the wallpaper. And I knew me and that bright pink suitcase were going to Spain whether I liked it or not.” [05:18]
• “It was a lesson that my granny taught me that I pull into my own life… how don’t let the bad things in life keep you from being your wildest, boldest, pinkest self.” [07:37]

Memorable Moment

• The suitcase’s transformation from a source of shame to a symbol of pride at baggage claim:

  “Instead of being embarrassed, I picked it up proudly.” [07:13]

3. Mini-Interview: Heather’s Reflections on Granny

[07:43]

• Heather shares gratitude for witnessing her grandmother’s transformation and resilience, learning “the worst thing that happens to you doesn’t have to define you.”

4. Story Two: Ashley McElvey — "Micro Weddings & Motivation"

[11:00] – [15:52]

Overview

Ashley describes planning a whirlwind wedding under the pressure of her mother’s uncertain health, only to discover the true soul of celebration and love.

Key Points

• Chronic Procrastination & Unexpected Urgency:

  • After a decade together, Ashley is slow to plan her wedding (“I could not think about it at all” [12:00]) until her parents visit, bearing possible bad news: her mom may be dying.
  • Parents urge her to set a date soon—“October would be a really good time…” [11:44]

• Panic & Solutions:

  • Ashley stumbles upon the “micro wedding” concept online and quickly outsources most decisions to Sweetgrass Weddings to minimize overwhelm.

• False Alarm & Relief:

  • Right after plans are set in motion, Mom calls with good news: “They think it’s going to be scar tissue and they think that I’m going to be okay.” [14:06]
  • Emotional exchange:

    “Always tell me when you’re not dying. Like I always, I always have time for it.” [14:31]

• The Perfect Day:

  • The wedding, organized with minimal involvement, turns out vibrant and authentic, feeling just right:

    “It was vibrant and colorful and lively and a little weird and a little irreverent and it was just great.” [15:06]

  • Guests remark: “Oh my God, it just felt so much like you and Eric.” [15:28]

• Gratitude and Togetherness:

  • Family and friends attend, including her healthy mother. Ashley recognizes the true meaning behind the gathering—love, support, and the drive to make beautiful things happen when it matters most.

Notable Quotes

• “Do you really not care?… If it is a good, nice time and a lovely wedding, that’s great. And if it’s a shit show, Eric and I will tell stories about that for the rest of our lives.” [13:13]
• “I could have never planned it, but I could make it happen once I had the right motivation.” [15:52]

Memorable Moment

• The realization Ashley didn’t have to personally plan the wedding for it to be meaningful, and the joy of seeing her mother healthy on her big day.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:56] – Suzanne Rust: Introduction & theme explanation
• [02:34] – Heather McGee: Story begins
• [07:43] – Host’s reflection & mini-interview with Heather
• [10:39] – Host: Introduction to the next story
• [11:00] – Ashley McElvey: Story begins
• [15:52] – Ashley’s emotional conclusion

Notable Quotes

• Heather McGee:

  “Don’t let the bad things in life keep you from being your wildest, boldest, pinkest self.” [07:37]

• Ashley McElvey:

  “Always tell me when you’re not dying. Like I always, I always have time for it.” [14:31]
  “I could have never planned it, but I could make it happen once I had the right motivation.” [15:52]

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is intimate, warm, and affirming—blending laughter, vulnerability, and celebration. The storytellers and host speak in a conversational and candid manner, inviting listeners to reflect on what really gives life its flavor and meaning.

Summary

"Finding Soul" is an episode that champions authenticity, courage, and the bonds that make us feel truly alive. By sharing two distinct but soul-stirring journeys—one about embracing individuality through an unwelcome but symbolic pink suitcase, the other about orchestrating a meaningful event in the face of uncertainty—the episode reminds us that soul is found both in bold acts of self-acceptance and in the act of showing up for those we love, even (and especially) when life doesn’t go according to plan.