The story behind the stories

The Moth is a global storytelling nonprofit. Our mission is to inspire people to listen and share openly, think and feel deeply, and expand their understanding of one another.

Founded in 1997 by novelist George Dawes Green, The Moth was inspired by sultry evenings of storytelling in Green’s native Georgia– nights when moths were drawn to the porch light as friends gathered to share true stories. What began in George’s NYC living room quickly grew into a phenomenon, spreading to larger venues throughout the city.

Today, The Moth has presented more than 70,000 true stories — told live and without notes — across 11 countries and 4 continents, in grand theaters, cozy community spaces, prisons, hospitals, and even a graveyard. Through workshops for students, educators, adults, advocates, and professionals, we guide thousands of new storytellers each year in finding and crafting their own stories.

Live shows are at the heart of The Moth. With over 600 shows annually, ranging from open-mic StorySLAMS to curated Mainstage touring shows, we’ve featured stories by Salman Rushdie, Elizabeth Gilbert, Hanif Abdurraqib, Rachel Dratch, Padma Lakshmi, Mike Birbiglia, Brittney Cooper, Tig Notaro, an astronaut, a pickpocket, a voodoo priestess, a hotdog eating champion, and thousands more.

Most people first encounter our stories through our Peabody Award-winning show, The Moth Radio Hour, which airs on over 540 public radio stations nationwide, and The Moth Podcast, which is downloaded by tens of millions of listeners annually.

The Moth is also a publishing home for stories. We’ve published five critically acclaimed books — four best-of anthologies and the New York Times bestseller How to Tell a Story — as well as a storytelling card deck, and most recently our first guided journal, My Life in Stories (Clarkson Potter, 2026).