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Storytelling. The Moth Style: Truth, Experience, and Transformation
Discover how The Moth's revolutionary approach to live storytelling transforms personal truth into collective experience, creating moments of profound connection and human understanding. Unscripted, first-person storytelling.
The Power of True Stories Told Live
The Moth is a nonprofit storytelling organization founded in 1997, dedicated to sharing real, personal stories told live without notes. Stories are always true as remembered by the storyteller, creating an intimate connection between speaker and audience.
The Moth's format emphasizes authenticity and vulnerability, inviting storytellers from all walks of life—from astronauts to everyday people—to share transformative experiences. This raw honesty fosters empathy and reveals universal truths through individual journeys.
No Notes
Stories told from memory create authentic, spontaneous moments
True Stories
Every narrative is grounded in lived experience and personal truth
Universal Connection
Individual journeys reveal shared human experiences
Crafting Stories That Transform: The Moth's Approach
Moth stories are concise, typically 5-10 minutes, focusing on a clear narrative arc with rising action, conflict, and resolution. Unlike written essays, Moth storytelling relies on conversational language, pacing, and physical presence to engage listeners.
01
Find Your Arc
Identify the clear beginning, conflict, and transformative resolution in your experience
02
Show and Tell
Balance vivid moments with reflection, guiding audiences through emotional turning points
03
Embrace Presence
Use eye contact, voice modulation, and gestures to create intimacy with your audience
04
Reveal Growth
Demonstrate how personal challenges led to new understanding or transformation
Truth as Transformation
The Moth's storytelling creates a shared space where truth is not just recounted but felt, making stories catalysts for empathy and change. Listeners experience transformation vicariously, connecting deeply with stories of loss, hope, courage, and resilience.
This style encourages storytellers to mine their memories for moments of vulnerability and revelation, crafting narratives that resonate beyond the individual experience.
The Moth's success—evidenced by its Peabody Award-winning radio hour, bestselling books, and global live events—shows the enduring human need for truthful, transformative storytelling. Whether for personal growth, community building, or professional communication, The Moth's storytelling principles offer a powerful model for authentic connection.
Half-Day Training: Mastering Moth-Style Storytelling
This immersive half-day workshop distills the essence of The Moth's acclaimed storytelling methodology. Participants will learn to craft and deliver compelling personal narratives that resonate deeply with any audience, fostering connection and inspiring transformation.
Learning Objectives & Outcomes
Uncover Your Core Story
Learn techniques to identify and select personal experiences rich with emotional depth and universal themes, ideal for live storytelling.
Structure Your Narrative
Master the art of building a clear narrative arc with compelling rising action, conflict, and a transformative resolution in a concise format.
Deliver with Impact
Practice engaging delivery, using vocal variety, pacing, and authentic presence to captivate listeners and create intimate connection.
Inspire & Connect
Develop the confidence to share your truth vulnerably, fostering empathy and inspiring your audience through your unique lived experience.
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