The Moth brings its storytelling magic to SF

Axios

29-04-2025

The Moth, an open-mic storytelling platform known for its deeply personal, humorous and emotional stories, rolls out the red carpet in San Francisco Tuesday.
State of play: This particular rendition of the well-known event is called a Story Slam, where attendees are chosen at random to participate in a competition where they share a true, personal, 5-minute story on that evening's theme.
The theme is "All Nighter," where participants will get to tell stories about an evening where they stayed up until dawn.
How it works: 10 people from the audience will be chosen at random and the winner will get the opportunity to participate in The Moth's "Grand Slam" performance, or what the organization dubs its "ultimate storytelling competition."
The big picture: The tone of each story can range widely from being hilarious and cringy to heartbreaking or surprising. The goal is to inspire human connection through sharing personal, vulnerable and authentic moments.
Catch up quick: The Moth was created by the novelist George Dawes Green who wanted to recreate the hot summer evening storytelling sessions of his youth in Georgia, where moths attracted to the porch light would flutter around them.
Since its launch in 1997, about 60,000 stories have been told at more than 6,000 live performances.
The show is broadcast on public radio stations across the U.S. as The Moth Radio Hour and is also available via podcast.
Pro tip: Get there at least 10 minutes early since seating is only available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you go: Doors open at 6:30pm. The show starts at 7:30pm at Public Works, a 21+ venue at 161 Erie St. Purchase tickets for $17 here.