Berry College recently welcomed acclaimed storytellers from the renowned storytelling organization The Moth, as part of the Conson C. Wilson Lectureship Program.
The Moth Radio Hour airs on more than 500 radio stations around the country, reaching over one million listeners every week. The Moth Podcast is downloaded tens of millions of times per year. Ivan McClellan, Oanh Ngo Usadi and Edgar Ruiz Jr., storytellers featured in their New York Times best-selling book, “The Moth Presents: A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go,” captivated freshmen students during a performance in the Krannert Ballroom on Nov. 3.
The storytellers brought unique perspectives and narratives to life for Berry students who have been studying the book, “A Point of Beauty.” McClellan, Usadi and Ruiz each shared stories that exemplify The Moth’s tradition of true stories told live.
“As a BCC mentor, I’ve watched my freshmen grapple with these Moth stories all semester, and seeing them experience the storytellers live was incredible,” said Emily Conaway, a senior at Berry. “These stories are all about navigating life’s unexpected turns and finding your voice through vulnerability. That’s exactly what I try to help my freshmen do as they transition to college. Watching them connect those themes from the page to real people on stage reminded me why this work matters.”
Sophia Satterfield, a freshman, said “reading these stories in class was powerful, but hearing the authors tell them in person made them come alive in a completely different way. It reminded me why storytelling matters and how our own experiences can connect us to others.”
The performance was made possible through the Conson C. Wilson Lectureship Program, which brings scholars and artists of national and international acclaim to Berry. The program was established by the late Col. Conson Cummins Wilson, who shared founder Martha Berry’s vision of educational opportunity for motivated young people.
Written by Student Public Relations Associate Emma-Louise Ramus
