The Moth Radio Hour: Texas Hold'Em, Kin, and Cloistered Nuns

Release Date: August 21, 2018

The Moth’s episode titled “Texas Hold'Em, Kin, and Cloistered Nuns” features four compelling true stories that delve into themes of risk, family, resilience, and survival. Hosted by Sarah Austin Janess, the episode weaves together narratives that transport listeners into the harrowing and exhilarating experiences of the storytellers. Below is a detailed summary capturing the essence of each story, complete with notable quotes and timestamps for a richer understanding.

1. Annie Duke: Texas Hold'Em – The High Stakes of Self-Doubt

Timestamp: [03:21] - [18:59]

Annie Duke, a professional poker player, recounts her nerve-wracking experience in the 2004 Tournament of Champions, a high-stakes Texas Hold'Em event with a $2 million winner-take-all prize. As the only female player among nine seasoned competitors, Duke grapples with immense pressure exacerbated by the tournament’s televised format, where her decisions and mistakes are under public scrutiny.

Key Points:

• High Pressure Environment: Duke describes the challenge of making split-second decisions under intense pressure, “In poker, you make these very complex mathematical calculations... and you have to do it all very quickly because there's 10 people at this table” ([03:21]).
• Imposter Syndrome: She opens up about feeling like she didn’t deserve her spot, believing she was placed at the table more for novelty than merit, which fueled her self-doubt.
• Critical Hand Decision: Faced with a crucial decision to either risk her remaining chips with two tens or fold, Duke’s hesitation stems from both the monetary stakes and fear of proving her critics right.
  • Notable Quote: “I'm just in this moment trying to decide whether I'm just making a decision about trying not to lose so I can last with my little bit of chips and not be the first one out” ([12:45]).
• Turning Point: Observing her competitor Greg Ramer’s tell—a subtle movement indicating a strong hand—empowers her to make the right fold, preserving her chips and restoring her confidence.
• Triumphant Victory: Ultimately, Duke not only advances but triumphs over Ramer, who acknowledges her correct decision by gifting her a fossil, symbolizing the restoration of her self-assurance.
  • Notable Quote: “So in that moment, Greg Ramer gave me not just the gift of the fossil, but the gift of my confidence back” ([16:30]).
• Reflection: Duke concludes by emphasizing the significance of her difficult fold, stating, “Sometimes it's not the really big things that you do that get you the win. It's the really big things that you don't do” ([18:59]).

Insights: Duke’s story highlights the psychological battles that often accompany high-stakes environments. Her journey underscores the importance of self-belief and the impact of external perceptions on personal performance. The narrative serves as a testament to overcoming internal doubts to achieve success.

2. Stacy Keen: Giving Birth in the Shadow of War

Timestamp: [23:30] - [35:48]

Stacy Keen shares a poignant story from her adulthood, intertwining the arrival of her first child with the legacy of her grandfather, who survived World War II under extraordinary circumstances.

Key Points:

• Grandfather’s Influence: Keen describes her grandfather as her “first true love,” a man of modesty and bravery whose resilience set the foundation for her own strength.
  • Notable Quote: “My first true love was my grandpapa. And, you know, he really set the precedent for every other man I ever considered loving” ([23:30]).
• Prenatal Connection: Learning she was pregnant ignites a series of nightly phone calls to her ailing grandfather, maintaining a vital connection during his final weeks.
• Premature Birth and Sacrifice: During a premature labor on June 29, 1997, Keen sneaks her newborn son to visit her grandpapa in the hospital, defying medical protocols to grant her grandfather precious moments with his great-grandchild.
  • Notable Quote: “They said, we have to leave very quickly... I started to scream, and they got very angry at me because it was very dangerous” ([37:11]).
• Emotional Farewell: The day after the birth, both Keen and her grandfather are discharged from the hospital; he passes away, leaving behind a legacy of love and sacrifice.
  • Notable Quote: “I was completely meaningless. Years passed...” ([37:31]).
• Legacy and Memory: Keen reflects on the profound connection she feels with her grandfather, emphasizing the enduring impact of his support and love.
  • Notable Quote: “Now I know that he loves me as much as I loved him” ([35:48]).

Insights: Keen’s narrative intertwines personal milestones with historical tragedy, illustrating how love and resilience can transcend even the most challenging circumstances. Her story is a tribute to familial bonds and the enduring strength drawn from loved ones.

3. Adam Faure: The Arrested Wife’s Assertive Stand

Timestamp: [29:16] - [35:48]

Adam Faure narrates a tense and humorous incident involving his wife’s confrontation over a car mirror, leading to her unexpected arrest and his frantic efforts to bail her out.

Key Points:

• Marital Tensions: Faure sets the scene of a strained relationship, exacerbated by sleep deprivation from their young children.
  • Notable Quote: “She has this crazy temper. And I know she loves me. And she says, and I love you, and that means I only hate you 17% of the time” ([29:16]).
• Conflict Over Car Mirror: A minor dispute escalates when a truck damages his wife's side mirror. Her adamant refusal to accept a simple replacement leads her to retaliate by damaging his car, resulting in her arrest.
• Desperate Bail Efforts: Faced with exorbitant bail amounts, Faure navigates a precarious web of legal contacts, balancing urgency with limited time before his wife must return to her teaching responsibilities.
  • Notable Quote: “You haven't lived until you've brought your wife a breast pump and seen her led by you by two female cops in handcuffs” ([35:48]).
• Humorous Resolution: In a twist of events, Faure successfully bails out his wife with the assistance of his breasts pump, easing the tension with a blend of frustration and relief.
  • Notable Quote: “And she looks at me and she's like, I could have done the time” ([35:48]).

Insights: Faure’s story underscores the complexities of marital relationships, especially under the strain of parenting and external pressures. It highlights the fine line between minor conflicts and their potential to spiral out of control, all wrapped in a narrative that balances tension with humor.

4. Flora Hogman: Surviving as a Hidden Child During the Holocaust

Timestamp: [37:11] - [52:18]

Flora Hogman provides a deeply moving account of her survival as a hidden child during World War II, navigating life under false identities and reconciling with her traumatic past decades later.

Key Points:

• Early Life and Hiding: Born Jewish in Nice, France, Hogman was handed over to a stranger—a man named Musa Abadie—by her mother to save her from Nazi persecution.
  • Notable Quote: “We don't talk to each other, but mostly I discovered the roof of the convent” ([37:35]).
• Life in the Convent: Raised under the name Marie Amon, Hogman lived among other hidden children in a convent, enduring the loss of her identity as orders were given to erase personal connections to ensure safety.
• Post-War Discovery: Decades later, Hogman reconnects with her biological family, uncovering letters and memories that reshape her understanding of her mother and her own identity.
  • Notable Quote: “Suddenly I found myself. I was a person with a family, a father and a mother” ([51:12]).
• Reconciliation with the Past: Returning to the convent as an adult, Hogman experiences a profound moment of connection and gratitude with the Mother Superior, acknowledging the role the convent played in saving her life.
  • Notable Quote: “She said, Flora, but I remember you. She said, you had such a beautiful name” ([52:18]).
• Legacy of Survival: Hogman’s journey reflects the enduring scars of war and the complex process of healing and identity reconstruction long after the conflict has ended.

Insights: Hogman’s story is a testament to resilience and the human spirit’s capacity to survive unimaginable circumstances. It explores themes of memory, identity, and the enduring impact of traumatic experiences, offering a poignant reflection on loss and the quest for belonging.

Conclusion

This episode of The Moth Radio Hour masterfully intertwines stories that explore the depths of human emotion and experience. From the high-stakes decisions in poker games, the delicate balance of family bonds amidst war, the frantic yet humorous efforts to resolve marital conflicts, to the harrowing survival of a hidden child during the Holocaust, each narrative offers unique insights into resilience, love, and the complexities of human relationships.

Listeners are invited to visit themoth.org to explore more stories from this episode and to share their own personal tales.