Overview of My Unsung Hero — Joann Moschella's Story
This episode of Hidden Brain’s series My Unsung Hero features Joann Moschella recounting a near-accident on her daily bike commute in San Francisco and the unexpected kindness of a stranger who helped her. After a car clipped her rear tire and she landed with a gash above her eye, a young man in a furry lavender bunny suit on an electric unicycle came to her aid, retrieved her broken glasses, carried her backpack, and escorted her to the BART station. The story highlights spontaneous community care and the city’s tolerance for eccentricity.
Key moments / timeline
- Joann (a longtime San Francisco cyclist) was biking a mile from work to the BART station.
- A car abruptly veered from the left into the right lane and clipped her rear tire, causing her to fall and scrape her face (gash above one eye).
- She remained conscious, checked herself for broken bones, and looked for her glasses.
- A slim young man in a lavender bunny suit on an electric unicycle approached and offered help.
- He attempted to retrieve her glasses from the intersection; a truck ran over them, but he gathered the shattered pieces and handed them back.
- He picked up Joann’s backpack and helped her limp to the station.
- Joann later learned there had been an animal-rights rally nearby—likely explaining the outfit.
Themes and main takeaways
- Spontaneous kindness: A stranger stepped in without hesitation and provided practical, compassionate help.
- Community spirit: The encounter underscores a neighborhood culture where people look out for one another.
- Tolerance and individuality: The bunny suit becomes a symbol of San Francisco’s acceptance of unusual self-expression.
- Small acts matter: Even an awkward or imperfect attempt to help (retrieving broken glasses) has emotional significance and is remembered as heroism.
Notable quote
- Joann: “When you die in San Francisco, you’re greeted by a spirit animal.”
(A wry line reflecting her surprise and warm appreciation for the rescuer’s costume and presence.)
Practical details & call to action
- Host: Shankar Vedantam (Hidden Brain Media).
- Hidden Brain invites listeners to submit their own unsung-hero stories:
- Record a quiet 3-minute (or less) account on your phone.
- Email the audio file to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
Who this is for
- Listeners who want short, human-centered stories of everyday compassion.
- People interested in civic kindness, urban culture, or first-person anecdotal storytelling.