The Moth Wants to Hear Your "Only in Miami" Stories

A Pitbull sighting at Publix. A road rage incident on the 836 involving a BMW and a chicken. Falling iguanas in lieu of falling snow. Some things can only happen in Miami, and we all have the stories to prove it.

The Moth wants to hear those stories at its "Only in Miami" StorySlam, part of the nonprofit's monthly open-mic series. The Miami organization is an offshoot of NPR's wildly popular storytelling platform and podcast, with local chapters active in more than 30 cities.

Attendees can show up just to listen, but if they're feeling inspired by the month's theme, they can put their name in a hat for the chance to get called up on stage to tell a true, five-minute story about their life. After everyone shares their stories, judges (audience members selected at the beginning of the show) choose their favorite storyteller of the night. At the end of the year, each month's winner competes in the organization's GrandSlam for the ultimate bragging rights. Some stories even get picked up for the national podcast.

"There are a lot of open mic opportunities in Miami," says longtime host Gaby Fernandez. "The Moth has a greater goal: to connect with each other. We're here to create community. The hope is that through sharing our stories, we see that we have much in common."

While some storytellers are regulars, many are first-timers without much experience speaking publicly to a room full of strangers. Many are moved by the theme or others' vulnerability and decide to give it a shot. The organizers realize this can be nerve-racking, so they prioritize creating a safe space for participants.

"The audience is always so receptive and supportive," says producer Virginia Lora. "They come to see a community storytelling show, and the tone from the beginning is that we're all human beings sharing together."

"It's like I'm standing up there holding a ball," says Fernandez. "I don't want to just play by myself; I'm inviting you to come play with me. There's a structure and rules so that everyone feels safe and welcome to come back, but there's so much room to play."

The rules are simple: All stories must be under five minutes long, relevant to the month's theme, and entirely true. Storytellers are encouraged to speak from the heart rather than from prepared notes or routines.

"We love mistakes, we love stuttering, we love insecurities," says Fernandez. "We just want to hear you. It's such a privilege to be able to share these stories, from life-changing moments, doctors saving lives, mundane family disagreements — we're witnessing the gamut of human emotions right within our reach."

Other host cities like Seattle, Portland, and Atlanta get their own "Only in..." theme nights, too, but with Miami's colorful reputation, organizers expect to hear about everything from customer service nightmares to chancleta-throwing tales to cafecito diplomacy, hurricane parties, and more.

"This is such an international city with so many perspectives. Whether you were born and raised here or moved from somewhere else, if you live here, you know this city in a particular way," says Lora. "It's somehow also very siloed, so it's great to be able to hear about and discover parts of the city you never even knew existed."

"It won't be tame," adds Fernandez confidently. "It definitely will not be demure."

In recent years, the StorySlam, which used to be held at the mostly shuttered Olympia Theatre (the venue reopened briefly for this year's Miami Film Festival), has endured a lack of access to venues with the right capacities, availability, and technical logistics. The Moth records and uploads its showcases online, so it can be hard to make outdoor venues work, too.

"It unfortunately says a lot about our city's commitment to theatre and community partnerships that we've had a difficult time finding spaces that are able to host us," says Fernandez.

Fortunately, the organization has found a home at Liberty City's Sandrell Rivers Theatre, the primary location for this year's showcases. To make the Moth more accessible across South Florida, the team has also hosted a very well-received recent stint in Miramar. As popularity grows, fans are coming down from as far as Broward and Palm Beach counties.

"While many people come because they hear the show on NPR, we're seeing more and more people coming because of word of mouth. Past attendees bring their friends, dates, coworkers, or classmates," says Lora. "All these interactions and connections are happening both on stage and off. We need more of that in Miami."