Are you on an adventure?

I love love love podcasts.

I devour them.

There is NEVER an episode of This American Life that my husband has listened to first. He just can’t do it. And I think it’s adorable when people ask me NOW, in May 2015, if I’ve “heard of Serial.” I have heard it, developed my own theory, watched the SNL parody and followed the reddit train all the way home. I’m pretty sure I deserve a medal for patiently waiting for the rest of my circle to catch up so that we can talk about it.

The Moth is one of my favorite storytelling podcasts because it showcases a beautiful variety of people and ideas. Each week, three storytellers share something that centers around a specific theme. I log so many podcast hours because I listen to them while driving, thinking about washing the floor and folding endless loads of laundry. What I mean to say, is that for the most part, I’m going about my day.  

Once and a while though, a story is so compelling that it makes me stand still and concentrate. SOAK EVERY WORD IN.  Ijeoma Oluo told one of those stories.   

Ijeoma Oluo telling her story at the Moth

Her recent story, “The Explorers,” was about her childhood and more specifically how it was shaped by her mothers outlook and optimism. In a very significant way, her mother took her own disappointments, hopes and sorrow, tucked them away in a little drawer so that she could concentrate on giving her children a glass half full life.  It’s the story behind these:

I just love this phrase that came out of her story. It should really be attributed to, “Ijeoma’s Mama.”

We are adventurers. Handwriting Draft font from the talented fontscafe.

I can’t begin to do it justice, (refer to why I won’t get a cookbook deal) and even if I could, we all hear our own unique message when we listen to someone speak, read a story, watch a movie.

So I beg you – listen – and then come back and tell me what you thought.

Go on, I can be patient.

But I swear this Christmas I’m giving everyone the gift of telling them how Serial ends.