The Moth Radio Hour: Live from New York

Episode: Give me Five - Stories of the Senses

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Host: Julian Goldhagen
Location: NYU Scully Center, Greenwich Village, New York City

Introduction

In this evocative episode of The Moth Radio Hour, themed "Give me Five - Stories of the Senses," host Julian Goldhagen invites listeners to explore the profound ways in which our senses shape our memories, emotions, and identities. Through a series of heartfelt and transformative stories, storytellers share how sensory experiences have been pivotal in defining pivotal moments in their lives.

Story 1: Peter Aguero – Touch and Transformation

Timestamp: [04:20]

Peter Aguero opens up about a period of intense personal struggle marked by anxiety and depression. He describes lying on his living room floor, overwhelmed by the weight of his emotions:

“I want to hide. I want to dig in a hole. I want to get my body, my soul, my everything underneath to hide, to get away from everything.”
(04:20)

Peter's wife, Sarah, encourages him to take a pottery class, suggesting it could feel “like a hug” (08:15). Initially skeptical, Peter attends his first class at Brick House in Long Island City. The tactile experience of working with clay becomes a therapeutic avenue for him. He recounts the sensory details vividly:

“I can feel the clay dust. I can feel it gritting in my teeth. I can smell the earth in the air.”
(09:45)

Through the repetitive motions of centering the clay and shaping it into tangible forms, Peter finds a sense of grounding and purpose. The act of creation helps him reconnect with himself, moving from a medium of ephemeral performance to something lasting and real. His newfound appreciation for pottery leads him to commit to weekly classes, symbolizing his journey towards healing and self-discovery.

“All I have to do now is joyfully, mindfully, with intent and with compassion for myself, is to sit still and take a breath and make a move and the shape changes.”
(11:37)

Impact: Peter's story underscores the therapeutic power of touch and creation, illustrating how engaging with our senses can lead to profound personal transformation.

Story 2: Gitsti Amajion – Smell and Survival in War

Timestamp: [21:15]

Gitsti Amajion shares a haunting memoir of her childhood in Asmara, Eritrea, amidst the turmoil of war. At six years old, Gitsti's world is a sensory tapestry of vibrant smells and sights:

“I smell that fresh injera and spicy berbere mixed in with this sweet incense that my mother would burn.”
(22:10)

As conflict escalates, Gitsti and her family embark on a perilous journey to Sudan. The sense of smell becomes a poignant reminder of both the beauty and brutality of her environment. She vividly describes moments of fear and solace:

“I lean in and we begin to walk and walk. And as we pass through the city streets, I see my mother and this man looking around fearfully.”
(29:30)

The tragic loss of her donkey, her “friend,” during their escape intensifies her sensory memories, blending the earthy scent of survival with the sharp sting of loss.

“I can hear the crackle of the gunshots. I can hear the hyenas laughing as if they understand the absurdity of war.”
(30:55)

Ultimately, Gitsti's journey concludes with the reunion with her father in Canada, leaving her with scars that symbolize both the horrors of war and the resilience born from sensory experiences.

Impact: Gitsti's narrative highlights how the sense of smell and sight are deeply intertwined with memory and emotion, especially in contexts of conflict and displacement.

Story 3: Brian Katz – Sight and the Quest for Color

Timestamp: [37:22]

Brian Katz narrates his lifelong experience with colorblindness, specifically strong protan—an impairment that makes distinguishing red hues particularly challenging. From childhood, Brian devises strategies to cope with his condition, hiding his colorblindness to fit in:

“I created a system to help keep it a secret. I learned the colors of common things and how to spell the names of those colors.”
(42:55)

His high school years are marked by social challenges and moments of embarrassment when his colorblindness is unintentionally revealed. Despite these struggles, Brian adapts by accepting his condition and finding humor in it, as illustrated by his friend Eric’s playful remarks:

“If I wasn't careful, how I might become beige with envy.”
(43:30)

In 2015, inspired by a viral video, Brian decides to pursue glasses designed to correct his colorblindness. The emotional anticipation culminates in a poignant moment when he finally tries the glasses:

“I slipped them out of their pouch and I closed my eyes. And then I put the glasses on. And then I opened my eyes and I saw nothing.”
(53:10)

While initially disheartening, Brian's experience deepens his appreciation for his own sensory perception and the support from his friends, who ultimately help him afford the glasses.

“After I called all of us so very early on your drive up today, we all talked and we are all going to chip in and we are going to buy you the glasses.”
(54:05)

Impact: Brian's story delves into the complexities of vision and social perception, illustrating the emotional journey of seeking to change a fundamental aspect of one's identity through sensory experience.

Host Reflections and Conclusion

Julian Goldhagen seamlessly ties together the stories, emphasizing the intricate connections between our senses and our personal narratives. He shares insights on the scientific link between smell and memory, reinforcing the profound impact of sensory experiences on our lives.

“It is a scientific fact that smell is connected to emotional memory, like, directly.”
(33:34)

In closing, Goldhagen expresses gratitude to the storytellers and the audience, celebrating the shared human experience encapsulated through the senses.

“Thank you for being the receiving bodies for these sensational sensory stories.”
(56:56)

Key Takeaways

• Touch: Peter's tactile engagement with clay facilitated his emotional healing and personal growth.
• Smell: Gitsti's sensory memories of her homeland amidst war highlight how smells can anchor us to both joyful and traumatic experiences.
• Sight: Brian's quest to see colors underscores the deep emotional ties we have with our visual perceptions and the lengths we’ll go to alter them.

Overall Impact: This episode of The Moth Radio Hour masterfully illustrates how our senses are not just passive experiences but active participants in shaping our identities, memories, and emotional landscapes. Through personal stories, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the power of sensory experiences in navigating life's challenges and triumphs.

For More Stories: Visit themoth.org to explore additional stories and information about upcoming live events.