The Moth Podcast: Women Up

Date: March 6, 2026
Host: Kate Tellers

Overview of the Episode

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode, titled "Women Up," spotlights two stories of women who faced and overcame unique personal challenges. Hosted by Kate Tellers, the stories traverse themes of resilience, leadership, vulnerability, and the sometimes absurd realities of adulthood and responsibility. The episode features live storytelling from Alison Stewart and Tess Burch, each sharing an experience that demanded they “woman up”—to persist, adapt, and lead, even when faced with daunting odds.

Segment 1: Introduction and Honor to Women’s History Month

[02:16 - 03:01]

• Host Kate Tellers sets the Women’s History Month context by celebrating women's contributions to American history, culture, and society.
  • Quote: “Of course, these contributions are too numerous to be uniquely celebrated in one month and certainly not on one podcast. So let's take one moment for the U.S. olympic women's hockey team, shall we? Phenomenal women.” — Kate Tellers [02:23]
• She introduces the two upcoming stories as examples of women who “womaned up.”

Segment 2: Story #1 — Alison Stewart: Finding Her Voice Again

[03:01 - 08:42]

Storyteller: Alison Stewart
Event: NYC Main Stage, "Only in New York" Theme

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• A Routine Day Unravels:

  • Alison begins by describing a "fancy day" in February 2024 with breakfast at the Brooklyn Museum, but notes something is off as speaking becomes increasingly difficult.
  • Her text messages and cognitive abilities deteriorate, prompting her coworkers to insist she call her doctor.
  • Notable Quote: “I figured I'm just fritzing out. I just need somebody to unplug me and plug me back in. It works with my computer.” — Alison Stewart [03:43]

• Medical Crisis and New York Grit:

  • Following her doctor’s advice, Alison makes the quintessential New York decision to take the subway to the ER.
  • After an examination, she learns she has a mass on her brain and surgery is required.
  • In classic New York style, her ambulance is delayed by a protest, leading to a humorous moment:
    • Notable Quote: “I noticed we hadn't moved, and I thought, oh, my God, I died in an ambulance. But I realized I was in traffic. There was a protest.” — Alison Stewart [04:38]
  • Her neurosurgeon is described as “doc Hollywood McDreamy” — young, attractive, from Brooklyn, son of a single immigrant mother, and a former punk band member.

• The Challenge of Recovery:

  • The tumor is located at her speech center—a cruel twist for a broadcaster.
  • She's told she must be awake for her brain surgery:
    • Memorable Moment: “I have two words for you about awake during your brain surgery. Cold breeze.” — Alison Stewart [06:04]
  • Post-surgery, Alison endures weeks of speech and cognitive rehabilitation, gradually relearning how to talk, walk, and navigate the city.

• Resilience and Humor in the Everyday:

  • A pivotal milestone is ordering coffee at Starbucks—a mundane task turned gladiatorial feat.
    • Quote: “I looked like I had been in a car accident, but I'm supposed to order a latte to get out of the hospital.” — Alison Stewart [07:10]
  • Alison finds humor and determination as she reclaims her place in New York City life, including awkward moments at the Met and enduring social gaffes.
  • On why she persists:
    • Quote: “Well, why do you do this?... Well, I'm a New Yorker.” — Alison Stewart [08:30]

Memorable Moments

• The medical staff’s nickname for her handsome surgeon.
• The “cold breeze” during awake surgery—a detail that stuck with the audience.
• Her humorous anecdotes about ordering at Starbucks and run-ins with rude strangers.

Segment 3: Host Reflection and Context

[08:42 - 09:44]

• Kate Tellers reflects on Alison’s story, drawing parallels with New York’s resilience and everyday absurdities (rats, rain in the subway, high rent).
• Announces a main stage event and reiterates the theme of women’s resilience.

Segment 4: Story #2 — Tess Burch: Herding Brownies

[12:03 - 17:16]

Storyteller: Tess Burch
Event: Melbourne Story Slam, "Control" Theme

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Taking the Lead:

  • Tess becomes a Brownie (Girl Guides) leader at 18, inspired by the example of leaders in her own childhood.
  • She humorously clarifies: “...when I say Brownies I mean Girl Guides and when I say Girl Guides, I mean the girl version of Boy Scouts. Except we're trying to move away from that...no one wants to be in the anti space.” — Tess Burch [12:10]

• Good Cop, Bad Cop Leadership:

  • Tess sees herself as the “good cop” while her sister Emma is the “bad cop”—the enforcer, especially at camp.
  • They organize a trip to the zoo, aiming for teamwork and letting the girls take the lead, but stealthily nudge them toward seeing a baby hippo.

• Control Lost and Found:

  • Her plan falls apart as the girls choose less exciting animals, and Tess must confront her fear of birds, forced into a bird aviary by the kids.
  • The outing culminates in a playground break and escalates when Tess uses her “bad cop” card—threatening to call Emma to regain control.
  • “If you don't get off that giant roll of toilet paper, I'm calling Emma my sister. And they all just got off straight away.” — Tess Burch [14:12]
  • Pushing to reach the hippo, Tess realizes a girl—Jamie—is missing, sparking panic.

• Crisis Management:

  • With one child missing, Tess alerts a zookeeper and must confess to Emma that she’s lost a child.
  • Relief—and gentle humiliation—comes when Jamie is found calmly in the lemur enclosure, telling her sister simply, “Lost.”
    • Quote: “She was totally fine. She just stayed there with the lemurs.” — Tess Burch [15:52]

• Reflection and Adaptation:

  • The group gets home safely, and Tess learns the importance of physical boundaries on outings (choosing a zoo with locked buses next time).
  • Notable Quote: “It doesn't matter if you're a good cop or a bad cop. When all the kids are locked in a bus, you have total control of them.” — Tess Burch [16:55]

Memorable Moments

• The bird aviary ordeal and kids’ glee at her discomfort.
• Her wry humor about “locking kids in a bus” for complete control.
• The lost child incident, managed with a mix of panic, resourcefulness, and sisterly support.

Segment 5: Storyteller Updates and Reflections

[17:16 - 18:37]

• Kate Tellers updates listeners: Tess Burch is now a corporate lawyer and still active in Girl Guides; some of her former charges are now volunteers.
  • Quote from Tess: “It's a huge privilege to be a part of a movement for women and girls that fosters collaboration, confidence and community. My role now is focused on supporting the adult volunteers who I tell not to put too much pressure on themselves. I find the adults slightly easier to keep track of and so far I haven't left anyone else in the lemur enclosure.”
• Kate humorously shares she’s never been a Girl Scout, but feels she does her part by buying Girl Scout cookies every year.

Notable Quotes

• Alison Stewart [03:43]: "I figured I'm just fritzing out. I just need somebody to unplug me and plug me back in. It works with my computer."
• Alison Stewart [06:04]: "I have two words for you about awake during your brain surgery. Cold breeze. That's all I'm going to say."
• Tess Burch [12:10]: “...when I say Brownies I mean Girl Guides and when I say Girl Guides, I mean the girl version of Boy Scouts. Except we're trying to move away from that...no one wants to be in the anti space.”
• Tess Burch [14:12]: “If you don't get off that giant roll of toilet paper, I'm calling Emma my sister. And they all just got off straight away.”
• Tess Burch [15:52]: “She was totally fine. She just stayed there with the lemurs.”
• Tess Burch [16:55]: “It doesn't matter if you're a good cop or a bad cop. When all the kids are locked in a bus, you have total control of them.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:16] — Host's introduction and Women's History Month context
• [03:01 - 08:42] — Alison Stewart’s story: brain surgery and recovery, New York resilience
• [12:03 - 17:16] — Tess Burch’s story: leading Girl Guides, losing a child, and lessons in leadership
• [17:16 - 18:37] — Reflections, updates, and ending notes

Episode Themes & Takeaways

• Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Whether it’s brain surgery or the chaos of leading children, both storytellers show humor, vulnerability, and grit.
• Women’s Leadership: Both stories highlight women making decisions under pressure and supporting others.
• Humor as Survival: Each woman's journey is punctuated by levity, even in moments of fear or crisis.
• Intergenerational Impact: Mentorship, both seen and unseen, shapes the next cohort of women and girls.

This episode offers listeners heartfelt, honest storytelling about the unpredictable ways women step into leadership and courage—even when their voices shake or a lemur enclosure swallows the afternoon.