Overview of Taking Risks: The Moth Radio Hour
This episode of The Moth Radio Hour, hosted by Jodi Powell, explores what it means to step into the unknown—whether that means trusting a parent, crossing the world for a dream, learning a skill in secret, or driving a race car blind. Across four true stories, the storytellers show how risk can lead to surprise, freedom, confidence, and a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
Key Stories
Andrew McGill: A taxi ride reveals his father
- Andrew grew up with an absent father who worked as a New York City taxi driver and seemed to show up only with gifts.
- As a child, he idolized those gifts and defended his dad despite hearing others call him a deadbeat.
- After receiving what turned out to be someone else’s wallet, he panicked and began to suspect his father’s “gifts” were found in the back seat of the cab.
- Years later, a ride to the airport gave him a real conversation with his dad.
- His father admitted he had wanted to be a musician, then a tailor, and only became a cab driver after those dreams failed.
- Andrew realized his father’s gifts were not just random objects—they were a quiet way of saying “I love you” and “I’m sorry.”
An unnamed storyteller: Hitchhiking to the Apollo 11 launch
- As a 14-year-old in 1969, he became obsessed with the Apollo 11 moon launch.
- He planned a risky solo trip from Orlando to Titusville by hitchhiking, sleeping on the beach, and watching the launch in person.
- While traveling through JFK with a sign that said “To the moon, Cape Kennedy or bust,” he met Arthur C. Johnson, a Titusville resident working on the Apollo program.
- That chance encounter led to an invitation to stay with Johnson’s family for several days.
- The trip resulted in a front-page newspaper story and a once-in-a-lifetime view of history in the making.
Dr. Estella Jones: From poverty to African wildlife medicine
- Estella grew up in poverty, with parents who could not vote, but her mother worked hard so she could study piano and her father served as an aide to a general.
- She always dreamed of becoming an animal doctor, and a teacher helped steer her back on course when she started drifting in the wrong direction as a child.
- She earned a scholarship to Emma Willard and later worked multiple jobs to support herself through school.
- While in veterinary school, she became fascinated by exotic animals and decided she wanted to study primates in Africa.
- Despite being in a dangerous marriage and raising a young daughter, she managed to travel to Kenya for primate research using airline miles.
- Her time in Africa transformed her: she saw animals in their natural environment, gained perspective on freedom and fear, and returned home more determined and less intimidated by her abuser.
- She later became the first Black female veterinarian in the U.S. Public Health Service to reach the rank of Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General.
Francesca Hayes: Learning to ride a bike at 22
- Francesca secretly didn’t know how to ride a bicycle well into adulthood and felt deep shame about it.
- She began studying bike mechanics through observation, simulation, and visualization, and found support online from other adult bike learners.
- A trusted friend named Carol showed up with a tiny bike and a huge purple helmet.
- One night, Francesca practiced on a slope and suddenly realized she was riding.
- A passing stranger assumed she was drunk and insulted her, but his comment accidentally confirmed her success—she was, in fact, riding a bike.
- That moment gave her confidence and set her on a path toward teaching other adults to ride.
Michael Corso: Blind, daring, and driving a race car
- Michael lost his sight at 12 due to retinoschisis, but he remained active and fearless.
- As a kid, he jumped bicycles over ramps like Evel Knievel; later he learned skiing, tandem bike riding, and golf.
- At 40, he heard about a fundraiser stock-car race for blind drivers and called in to join.
- He was paired with a professional driver, but quickly took charge, even kicking a block of wood out from under the gas pedal to go faster.
- He learned the track by listening closely and trusted his guide’s directions as he accelerated.
- He thought he had won—only to realize he had stopped 50 feet short of the finish line.
- Even so, the experience fulfilled a lifelong dream: he got to race a stock car.
Main Themes and Takeaways
Risk often leads to self-discovery
- Each storyteller takes a leap that changes how they see themselves:
- Andrew sees his father as a real person, not just a mystery.
- Estella reclaims her freedom and professional identity.
- Francesca turns embarrassment into mastery.
- Michael turns disability into an opportunity for adventure.
Courage can be quiet, practical, or accidental
- Risk here isn’t always dramatic heroism.
- Sometimes it looks like:
- getting in the cab and finally asking a hard question,
- buying a bike and trying again,
- boarding a plane to Africa,
- or calling a radio station on a whim.
Support from others matters
- These stories repeatedly show the importance of:
- a teacher who believes in you,
- a friend who shows up,
- a stranger who opens a door,
- or a family member who helps you take the next step.
Freedom is a recurring reward
- Several stories frame risk as a path to freedom:
- freedom from shame,
- freedom from fear,
- freedom from limiting assumptions,
- and freedom to pursue a fuller life.
Notable Closing Message
The episode ends on a reflective note: taking chances can be scary, but it can also reveal hidden strength, restore connection, and make dreams feel real. The stories collectively suggest that risk is not just about danger—it’s often the price of becoming who you’re meant to be.