Shows
Moral of the StoryWhat the f*ck are we doing: Gabrielle Darbyshire's leap of faith on Ecuador's CotopaxiGabrielle Darbyshire's life is a whirlwind of daring ventures and groundbreaking achievements. Picture this: at just 15, Gabby built an electric car, setting the stage for a career that would straddle media, technology, and law with aplomb. From co-founding Gawker Media to producing a documentary on Steve Jobs, Gabby's journey is a tapestry of audacious pursuits. Embark on a global adventure with her as she recounts the thrill of climbing Cotopaxi volcano, and find out how such experiences echo the entrepreneurial spirit.Join us as Gabby unravels the threads of fear, courage, and trust, seen through her icy...2024-10-2948 min
Moral of the StoryCoke, booze, and swingers: Comedian Ahmed Al-Kadri's wild night out in Dallas"Hey, this random dude I just met in the bathroom invited us to their table in the VIP section. Free drinks." Ahmed Al-khadri didn't have to say much more to his two female companions. As 20-somethings, they were ready to party and this was a shortcut. Little did they know that accepting the offer would lead them on the wildest night they had ever experienced.Ahmed recounts the story.MoSpod.org2024-08-0846 min
Moral of the StoryI'm not going to finish this book unless I see those letters: bestselling author Jonathan Eig on writing Lou Gehrig's bioWhat if the secrets to crafting unforgettable stories lie in the hidden letters of a baseball legend? Join us on "Moral of the Story" as we sit down with bestselling author Jonathan Icke, who takes us on an enthralling journey from his early days as a newspaper writer to his celebrated career as a book author. Drawing inspiration from comics and sports, Jonathan shares how his love for storytelling was ignited and reveals the pivotal moment spurred by Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" that set him on his path to authoring.In an emotional recount, Jonathan delves into the...2024-07-0252 min
Moral of the StoryI could hear a million voices but nothing made sense: Leadership coach David Kitchen on the day he realized he needed helpWhat if the obstacles you've faced could become the foundation of your greatest achievements? Join us as we uncover the compelling life story of David Kitchen, founder and president of Edge Leadership Academy. Growing up in Pennsylvania with no male role model and financial instability, David found his sanctuary in sports and weightlifting. Despite a knee injury that derailed his college football dreams, his perseverance led him to a successful coaching career at Robert Morris University, UNLV, and Georgia Southern. From the football field to founding a leadership academy during a pandemic, David's journey is a testament to resilience...2024-06-1345 min
Moral of the StoryHe went to shoot and the gun didn't work: Ear Hustle host Earlonne Woods on accidentally preventing a murderLong before his 27-year prison term and the creation of the award-winning Ear Hustle podcast, Earlonne Woods was a teenage gang member trying to survive the 1980s LA crack epidemic. One day, Earlonne's brother brought home two new guns. After shooting the weapons, Earlonne, unbeknownst to his brother, decided to clean one of the weapons. There was only one problem: he had no idea what he was doing. He did his best and returned the gun to his brother, who left the house with the weapon.It would prove to be a fateful action in b...2024-04-0449 min
Moral of the StoryI've just bought a monkey: Chef Rick Bayless on his most rebellious childhood actLong before the sprawling culinary empire, the Emmy nominated TV shows, the award-winning cookbooks and the White House invitations, Rick Bayless was just a regular kid growing up in Oklahoma City and working at his parents' BBQ restaurant. He played by the rules and wasn't the rebellious type.Until, one day, on his way home from work, he bought a pet monkey. It was an unprecedented act of rebellion that would forever change his family and teach him an indelible lesson on actions and consequences.MoSpod.org2024-03-2154 min
Moral of the StoryGoing meta: Professional storyteller Terence Mickey on the shocking tale that connected all the dotsWhile at the Moth, Terence Mickey split his time between teaching storytelling to Fortune 500 executives through the corporate program and helping at risk-youth and recovering addicts through the outreach program.At first glance, the two programs were worlds apart. But one day, they would collide in spectacular fashion through a Vietnam vet's shockingly graphic recollection of a jungle encounter with the Viet kong. Terence had no idea just how much this collision would light up both programs, but, as he came to learn, the stories most difficult to tell are often the ones that truly c...2024-02-2850 min
Moral of the StoryMafia memories: Creative guru Scott Donaton on his childhood in mob-controlled South BrooklynGrowing up in 1970s South Brooklyn (now Carol Gardens), Scott was surrounded by the mob. Wiseguys named Fat Freddie and Big Red drank their espressos and smoked their cigars at the social clubs on the corner. It was idyllic in its own way and he was safe as long as he didn't stray too far.His uncle Frankie, a tough guy's tough guy, was like a father to Scott. Later in life, Frankie had a quadruple bypass surgery and Scott came to visit. Frankie was frail and almost unrecognizable.As Scott stood there taking it i...2024-02-2238 min
Moral of the StorySo I signed up: Singer-songwriter Danielle Juhre on her pivotal decision to perform at Berklee's freshman jam sessionDanielle Juhre was in her first semester at Berklee College of Music. Her parents were in town for freshman orientation week.After the orientation, a jam session was held at Cafe 939. New students had the option to sign up and perform with a band of legendary teachers of legacy.Danielle's parents asked her if she would go up. Terrified of performing with world-renowned musicians in front of her peers, she emphatically declined.But then, thinking of her parents' sacrifices to get her to Berklee, she put her name on the sign up sheet. It...2024-02-0844 min
Moral of the StoryTerror on the water: Grammy nominee Peter Himmelman's childhood encounter with the feared Lakota SiouxGrammy-nominated recording artist Peter Himmelman was just a young boy when his father decided to take him on a canoeing trip. It was an early autumn day on Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. Hearing a party across the water, they approached to explore. It turned out to be a rowdy affair on Indian beach, named after the feared Lakota Sioux who would frequent the spot.Suddenly, a muscular shirtless Lakota man dove into the water and began to swim furiously toward the canoe. Peter was terrified. His dad was smiling. The ensuing moments would be...2024-01-251h 17
Moral of the StoryExcuse me, I hate to interrupt: Bestselling author Adam Rubin on the bold move that changed his lifeLong before writing children's classics like Dragons Love Tacos and Those Darn Squirrels, Adam Rubin was living the bachelor life in New York City. Life was full of possibilities.One night, Adam and a friend were enjoying a bottle of sake at the bar of a small Japanese restaurant in Williamsburg when a group of women walked in and grabbed a table. Every time Adam looked over, one of the women caught his gaze.Brave from the sake, he decided to say hello. It would be one of the most consequential decisions of his life. 2024-01-1150 min
Moral of the StoryFormer Protein Bar CEO Samir Wagle on how a walk with his son pulled him out of the darknessSamir Wagle had just filed for divorce, resigned from his job as CEO of Protein Bar, and quit drinking. It was long overdue but that didn't make it any easier.On a particularly dark day, Samir got home and decided to take his five year old son on a walk. He was lost, disoriented, and hopeless. And then his son picked up a stick. What followed was a series of revelations that would begin Samir's journey out of the darkness.MoSpod.org2023-12-2831 min
Moral of the StoryCentral Park, 2:30 am. Porsche 911 vs. Corvette C6: Car journalist Eddie Alterman on the story of a lifetimeLong before his time as the Editor in Chief of Car and Driver, Eddie Alterman helmed a small startup magazine called MPH, the Maxim of car magazines. Imagine that.In late 2004, when the highly anticipated Porsche 911 and Corvette C6 were on the verge of release, Eddie and his team scored a couple of specimens and decided that the best photo op would be in the middle of the night in front of Central Park, followed, naturally, by a head to head race in the park itself.What could possibly go wrong?MoSpod...2023-12-1451 min
Moral of the StoryThe Accidental (Bestselling) Author: Award-Winning Professor Linda Ginzel's journey into writingWhen Clinical Professor of Managerial Psychology Linda Ginzel put together a set of handouts for her capstone leadership class at the University of Chicago Booth School of business, students started to ask for extra copies for bosses, spouses and neighbors.She said no. These were just class handouts for her students, after all.One day, a student asked for a copy for his school age children. And before she could stop herself, she agreed.This exchange began her journey into becoming an (accidental) author.MoSpod.org2023-11-3052 min
Moral of the StoryFraud, pimps, and prostitutes: VC Mark Achler on the wild story of the publishing of his first bookMark Achler had just finished writing his first book when the CEO of the publisher suggested he find a sponsor. A novel idea, but if it could offset costs and raise visibility, why not?Although unorthodox, it worked. But little did Mark know that the publisher's CEO had an unbelievable past and it was all about to catch up to them both.MoSpod.org2023-11-1641 min
Moral of the StoryEnlightened Conversations Behind Bars: Delia Cohen on organizing TEDx in prisonsDelia Cohen was an organizer of TED talks when she learned that a few countries had done TED talks in prisons. Why on earth, she wondered, would anyone do that? Who would speak? Who would attend?So she decided to do some homework and as it turned out, not only was the demand there, this would be an opportunity to drive positive change for the incarcerated and could even lead to justice reform.MoSpod.org2023-11-0248 min
Moral of the StoryAuthor and food show co-host Kevin Pang on how one email forever changed his relationship with his fatherJames Beard award-winning food writer Kevin Pang did not have a good relationship with his father. They would speak occasionally, but exchange only the most superficial of pleasantries. Then, one day in 2012, Kevin got an email. The subject: "Jeffrey Pang wants you to check out this YouTube video."What followed was a journey of reconnection and rediscovery between father and son on a scale that neither could have ever imagined.Kevin tells the story of how the email sparked a previously unfathomable reconciliation.MoSpod.org2023-10-1952 min
Moral of the StorySian Morson on the time her aging mom went MIA and the resulting epiphany about her own lifeSian Morson is close with her mom. Although the two live hundreds of miles apart, they speak every day.After her mom had a stroke, the family decided to have a camera system installed in her house to keep an eye on her. One day, Sian's mom stopped answering her phone and when Sian checked the cameras, they were all offline.Sian shares the story of the terrifying ordeal and the resulting surprise epiphany about her own life.MoSpod.org2023-10-0538 min
Moral of the StoryAnthropologist and author Josh Berson on his multi-content early-pandemic quest to get marriedJosh and Jesse were planning to get married. It should have been a breeze. Except it was the spring of 2020, she was in Germany and he was in NY, and the EU had just closed its borders.With the constantly shifting regulatory and travel restrictions, not to mention the difficulty of securing the required documentation, most people would have put it off.But not these two.What ensued was an adventure spanning three countries on two continents, clandestine visits with cash payments, and a tense standoff at a registrar in a London suburb.2023-09-2145 min
Moral of the StoryUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business professor Nick Epley on a train ride conversation that influenced a decade of research on human connectionNick Epley's train ride to his University of Chicago office used to be a predictably uneventful affair: 45 minutes of people looking out the window or staring at their phones, oblivious to the world around them. But one morning, the behavioral scientist decided to try something different. When a woman sat down next to him, he complimented her on her hat. That compliment began a conversation that would change the trajectory of Nick's research over the ensuing decade, and it would change the way Nick approached his life.MoSpod.org2023-09-071h 08
Moral of the StoryMarques Ogden was a rising star with the Jacksonville Jaguars when he asked them to release himEver wonder how an NFL champion regroups and rebuilds after hitting rock bottom post-retirement? Meet Marques Ogden, former NFL player turned inspirational keynote speaker, bestselling author, business coach, consultant, and podcast host, as he narrates his journey of rising from the ashes. In the first segment, Marques highlights the importance of communication for success, drawing from his own stories of missed opportunities. He also shares invaluable advice for young players on effective communication with their coaches, a skill he believes is crucial for a successful career in sports.In the next part of our discussion, Marques delves...2023-08-1023 min
Moral of the StorySonny Garg on the the six words that made him re-think his approach to lifeSonny Garg was having lunch with a friend. He had just been named to the executive committee at Exelon, a Fortune 125 company. His long-term goal accomplished, with a wonderful family and a great life, he should have been happy. Instead, over greek food, he suddenly blurted out to his friend, "my life sucks." His friend then said six words that would make Sonny re-think his approach to life and remember what really matters.MoSpod.org2023-08-031h 01
Moral of the StoryEmmy award winning showrunner Brett Baer on an early stunt audition that went terribly wrongEmmy award-winning writer and producer Brett Baer was only 24 when he got the opportunity to audition for the Universal Studios stunt show. Inexperienced and terrified, Brett invoked his time at Deerfield High School, where his attempt to change the narrative of his bullying instilled in him a sense of control. Little did he know that a CNN crew would arrive at the worst possible time and capture one of the most memorable flops of his career.MoSpod.org2023-07-2759 min
Moral of the StoryChef and Fitness Coach Dustin Hogue on an embarrassing accident from his first day of Army basic trainingDustin Hogue had just arrived at his first day of Army basic training when, after being forced by their drill sergeant to drink copious amounts of water to stay hydrated in the South Carolina summer heat, he had to pee -- badly. But with bathroom breaks out of the question and no end in sight, Dustin had to make an uncomfortable choice.MoSpod.org2023-07-2035 min
Moral of the StoryEx-NFL player Reggie Walker on a comment from his daughter that helped to pull him out of depressionReggie Walker had walked away from what he thought was his dream: playing in the NFL. Unbeknownst to anyone, he was broken and hurting from the abuse he experienced as a child. He recalls a pivotal moment during a particularly dark time in his life, when, after going to his daughter's soccer game, she made a comment that pushed him take the first steps to recovery.MoSpod.org2023-07-1339 min