Podcast Summary: The Moth – “Ijeoma Oluo & April Salazar: StorySLAM Favorites”

Release Date: April 14, 2015

In this engaging episode of The Moth podcast, host Dan Kennedy presents two captivating stories from recent StorySLAM events, featuring storytellers Ijeoma Oluo and April Salazar. Both narratives delve deep into personal experiences, reflecting themes of wanderlust and finding silver linings amid life's challenges. This summary captures the essence of each storyteller's journey, highlighting key discussions, insights, and memorable moments.

Ijeoma Oluo: Embracing Adventure Through Adversity

Theme: Wanderlust

Ijeoma Oluo opens her story by painting a vivid picture of her mother's unfulfilled dreams and relentless spirit. Growing up in a small Kansas town, her mother aspired to explore the world with her acoustic guitar, singing about the magic of Jesus Christ. This dream took an unexpected turn when her mother fell in love with a Nigerian man studying political science.

Key Highlights:

• Dreams Dashed and Reborn: Her mother's promise to return to Nigeria with her lover led to heartbreak when he did not bring her along. Left to raise two young children without a college degree, her mother redefined adventure to suit their limited circumstances. “She just changed the definition of adventure. And for my mom, adventure was everywhere.” ([02:34])

• Everyday Adventures: Despite financial hardships, her mother found excitement in daily routines, transforming power outages into camping trips and spontaneous car rides into explorations of new parks and stores. “We were adventurers. If we got lost, that was the best opportunity.” ([05:45])

• Childhood Struggles: Ijeoma candidly shares her childhood frustrations, feeling neglected and confined during her mother's unconventional adventures. The pivotal moment arrives when her mother brings the family to a soup kitchen, forcing Ijeoma to confront their financial struggles. “We’re not these people. We’re not. There’s homeless people here.” ([07:30])

• A Transformative Experience: The story culminates in a pro-choice march where Ijeoma, accompanied by her stepfather, finds empowerment and connection to a larger movement. “If not for my mom's breast implants, I never would have had this amazing feminist experience.” ([17:00])

Notable Quote: “We're explorers. If we got lost, that was the best opportunity. Because who knows? Maybe we'd find a whole new city that we didn't even know existed before.” – Ijeoma Oluo ([04:20])

April Salazar: Finding Strength and Purpose

Theme: Silver Lining

April Salazar shares a poignant tale about her mother's decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery and its unexpected ripple effects on April's own journey towards activism and self-discovery.

Key Highlights:

• Mother’s Surgery Decision: The story begins with April's surprise at her mother's announcement of getting breast implants, a decision influenced by her stepfather’s support. “I'm using my teaching discount to pay for them.” ([10:55])

• Navigating Recovery: April details the challenges of her mother's postoperative period, emphasizing the strain it placed on their relationship and her own desires to attend a pro-choice march with her mother. “That's like our little gauge. And every day she can do a little bit more.” ([14:30])

• March to Empowerment: Unable to attend the march with her mother, April joins her stepfather instead. The experience becomes a defining moment as she immerses herself in the vibrant and passionate protest movement. “I end up holding the sign and I'm looking out over it, about 600,000 people. It's just absolutely amazing.” ([16:10])

• Personal Connection: Through the march, April connects deeply with the cause, especially after learning about Becky Bell, a teenager who tragically died due to restrictive parental consent laws. “This girl is Becky Bell, and she was 16 or 17, and she had died just a few months before.” ([15:45])

• Empowerment and Realization: Holding her sign and witnessing the collective energy of the march solidifies April's commitment to activism, underscoring the unintended positive outcomes of her mother's decision. “If not for my mom's breast implants, I never would have had this amazing feminist experience.” ([17:40])

Notable Quote: “There are thousands and thousands of people, and the mood is just exuberant.” – April Salazar ([12:05])

Concluding Insights

Both storytellers, Ijeoma Oluo and April Salazar, illuminate how personal and familial struggles can morph into profound sources of strength and purpose. Ijeoma's narrative showcases resilience in the face of abandonment and financial hardship, while April's story highlights how unexpected life events can lead to meaningful activism and self-discovery.

Getting Involved with The Moth:

Dan Kennedy encourages listeners to share their own stories by participating in The Moth StorySLAM events, which are held in 21 cities across the country. Interested individuals can find upcoming dates and locations by visiting themoth.org.

About the Storytellers:

• Ijeoma Oluo: A Seattle-based writer, blogger, and commentator, Ijeoma's work on race, feminism, and parenthood has been featured in prominent publications such as The Guardian, New York Magazine, and Huffington Post. More of her work can be found at ijeomaluo.com.

• April Salazar: A writer and storyteller, April has contributed to The New York Times and NPR's Latino USA. She balances her storytelling with a career in technology at an educational nonprofit, continuing to inspire others with her experiences and insights.

This episode exemplifies The Moth's mission to share authentic, real-life stories that resonate with listeners, fostering a sense of shared human experience through the art of storytelling.