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Dispatches from the Moth · Posted On: Jul 01, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: The Moth Podcast's First-Ever Fan-Hosted Episode Hits On July 13

by The Moth Staff

The Moth Caroline Lacey For Social 3

Photo credit: The Moth

NEW YORK, NY and MONTGOMERY, AL (July 2018) – Beloved storytelling nonprofit The Moth today announced that, after a nationwide search, Alabama-based author and small business owner Tonya Scott Williams was selected as the first fan to host a special episode of its ultra popular podcast in honor of the show’s 10th anniversary. Slated for release on Friday, July 13th, the special show features three stories hand-picked by Williams—one previously aired on The Moth Radio Hour plus two that have never been heard before— along with snippets from other pitches to host the podcast.

“We didn’t know what to expect when we put out the call for a fan to host an episode of our podcast. There was an incredible range of entries from people around the world, but the common element in all was how passionate our listeners are -- and how these stories help them connect with and understand others,” says Sarah Austin Jenness, Executive Producer of The Moth and a regular host of The Moth Radio Hour. “We ultimately selected Tonya -- a warm, straight-shooting über fan, who has been convincing friends throughout the years to tune in.”

“What I like about The Moth is that these are regular people—just like me— who are stepping up to the mic and putting themselves on the line. The Moth gives them a platform and it gives me a front row seat to listen,” explains Williams. “Hosting this podcast is an opportunity that arrived at a moment in my life when I decided to start dreaming again, and this is truly a dream come true.”

The Moth Podcast re-airs of all new episodes of The Moth Radio Hour, plus additional stories from its vast archive amassed over the past two decades. Episodes are released every Tuesday and special episodes--such as the fan- hosted one— are shared on select Fridays. Listeners can subscribe for free via iTunes, RSS, RadioPublic, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, GooglePodcasts and other podcast servicing apps.

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ABOUT THE MOTH
The Moth, now in its 21st year, is an acclaimed non-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since launching in 1997, The Moth has presented over 30,000 stories, told live and without notes to standing-room- only crowds worldwide. The Moth conducts seven ongoing programs: The Moth Mainstage, which tours internationally, has featured stories by Malcolm Gladwell, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, John Turturro, Molly Ringwald, and Tig Notaro, as well as an astronaut, a pickpocket, a hotdog eating champion and hundreds more. The Moth StorySLAM program, conducts open mic storytelling competitions in 29 cities; 26 in the U.S. plus Sydney and Melbourne, AU and London, UK. The Moth Community Program, offers storytelling workshops and performance opportunities to adults who are too often overlooked by the traditional media outlets; The Moth High School StorySLAMs, which bring the thrill of personal storytelling to high schools in New York and educators around the world, The Moth Podcast which is downloaded more than 47 million times a year; The Moth Corporate Program provides industry-specific storytelling solutions. Finally, the Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour airs weekly on 470+ public radio stations nationwide.

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