SoundBites

Susanne’s work as a comedic storyteller has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, The Moth, HBO’s Inspiration Room, WGBH Stories from the Stage and Massmouth Suitcase Stories. Sue is a producer for The Moth and Founder of “Say It Forward Productions”, an organization dedicated to helping non-profits, groups, and individuals to use the power of their stories for good. In her other life, she is a Graduate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northern Vermont University, and is the mother of two amazing young men, who would probably prefer that she stop talking about them when she is on stage.

Sandi Marx is a retired talent agent who spends most of her nights storytelling and hosting shows all over the country. She is a seven-time Moth StorySLAM champion. She performed her one-woman show “You'll Be Sorry” at The Tank in Brooklyn, NY. She’s been featured at the Boston Comedy Festival, Cinderblock, and most recently at the “She Makes Me Laugh” festival. This past year, Sandi was featured on nationally televised PBS “Stories For The Stage” and “Women Of Letters” at City Winery and can be heard on several podcasts including RISK!, Hot Mic with Dan Savage, Story Collider, and countless others. She is a fixture on the New York storytelling scene. Sandi is also the subject of an upcoming documentary tentatively titled “The Fableist.”

Caitie is the Founder/Noter-in-Chief of The Lightening Notes, a short daily post to help us move the world forward. Prior to The Lightening Notes, Caitie was a senior foreign policy advisor in Congress. She co-founded a school in India with a community of lower cast musicians and raised pigs in Italy. She is a graduate of Brown University and is a member of the Brown Women’s Leadership Council. She attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies where she co-founded the Salt Alumni Board. She is on the board at the Treehouse Institute, a member of the Portland Parks Commission, and a Truman Scholar from Maine.

Phuc Tran is both a Classicist and a tattooer. He has taught Latin, Greek, German, and Sanskrit at independent schools in New York and Maine and was an instructor at Brooklyn College's Summer Latin Institute. His 2012 TEDx Talk on grammar and identity was featured on NPR’s TED Radio Hour and mentioned in News Week. As a tattooer, Tran owns and operates Tsunami Tattoo in Portland. He has been recognized in several national tattoo publications, he has been quoted in the Christian Science Monitor and Time Magazine. His memoir, Sigh, Gone, was released this year on Flatiron Books.

Phuc Tran is both a Classicist and a tattooer. He has taught Latin, Greek, German, and Sanskrit at independent schools in New York and Maine and was an instructor at Brooklyn College's Summer Latin Institute. His 2012 TEDx Talk on grammar and identity was featured on NPR’s TED Radio Hour and mentioned in News Week. As a tattooer, Tran owns and operates Tsunami Tattoo in Portland. He has been recognized in several national tattoo publications, he has been quoted in the Christian Science Monitor and Time Magazine. His memoir, Sigh, Gone, was released this year on Flatiron Books.

Susanne’s work as a comedic storyteller has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, The Moth, HBO’s Inspiration Room, WGBH Stories from the Stage and Massmouth Suitcase Stories. Sue is a producer for The Moth and Founder of “Say It Forward Productions”, an organization dedicated to helping non-profits, groups, and individuals to use the power of their stories for good. In her other life, she is a Graduate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northern Vermont University, and is the mother of two amazing young men, who would probably prefer that she stop talking about them when she is on stage.

Caitie is the Founder/Noter-in-Chief of The Lightening Notes, a short daily post to help us move the world forward. Prior to The Lightening Notes, Caitie was a senior foreign policy advisor in Congress. She co-founded a school in India with a community of lower cast musicians and raised pigs in Italy. She is a graduate of Brown University and is a member of the Brown Women’s Leadership Council. She attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies where she co-founded the Salt Alumni Board. She is on the board at the Treehouse Institute, a member of the Portland Parks Commission, and a Truman Scholar from Maine.

Sandi Marx is a retired talent agent who spends most of her nights storytelling and hosting shows all over the country. She is a seven-time Moth StorySLAM champion. She performed her one-woman show “You'll Be Sorry” at The Tank in Brooklyn, NY. She’s been featured at the Boston Comedy Festival, Cinderblock, and most recently at the “She Makes Me Laugh” festival. This past year, Sandi was featured on nationally televised PBS “Stories For The Stage” and “Women Of Letters” at City Winery and can be heard on several podcasts including RISK!, Hot Mic with Dan Savage, Story Collider, and countless others. She is a fixture on the New York storytelling scene. Sandi is also the subject of an upcoming documentary tentatively titled “The Fableist.”

Talaya Moore received her BS in Communications and Event Planning from SUNY Oneonta in 2017. She is a stage manager for a performing arts program, a plus-size model, and brand ambassador for numerous online shops. She is also currently enrolled in improv classes at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in New York. Talaya is a YouTube Personality creating content ranging from hair tutorials, storytimes, vlogs and more. Her future goal is to pursue a career in acting, music, and producing.

Talaya Moore received her BS in Communications and Event Planning from SUNY Oneonta in 2017. She is a stage manager for a performing arts program, a plus-size model, and brand ambassador for numerous online shops. She is also currently enrolled in improv classes at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in New York. Talaya is a YouTube Personality creating content ranging from hair tutorials, storytimes, vlogs and more. Her future goal is to pursue a career in acting, music, and producing.

Skylar Bayer is a marine biologist, storyteller who lives in Maine. She completed her Ph.D. in the secret sex lives of scallops, a subject that landed her on The Colbert Report in 2013. She is a producer for the science-storytelling non-profit, The Story Collider, and is active in the science communication and engagement world. She lives with her long-distance and cold-eater swimming husband, Thom, her two dogs, and grumpy cat.

Skylar Bayer is a marine biologist, storyteller who lives in Maine. She completed her Ph.D. in the secret sex lives of scallops, a subject that landed her on The Colbert Report in 2013. She is a producer for the science-storytelling non-profit, The Story Collider, and is active in the science communication and engagement world. She lives with her long-distance and cold-eater swimming husband, Thom, her two dogs, and grumpy cat.

Once described as a “storytelling guru” by the Wall Street Journal, Kate Tellers is a writer, storyteller, and host on staff at The Moth. Her story, “But Also Bring Cheese”, is featured in The Moth’s All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown (Crown Archetype), in bookstores now. She is the co-host of I’m Still Here, a podcast about making art after kids. She lives in Brooklyn with her loud family and dog.

Once described as a “storytelling guru” by the Wall Street Journal, Kate Tellers is a writer, storyteller, and host on staff at The Moth. Her story, “But Also Bring Cheese”, is featured in The Moth’s All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown (Crown Archetype), in bookstores now. She is the co-host of I’m Still Here, a podcast about making art after kids. She lives in Brooklyn with her loud family and dog.

Samaa Abdurraqib was raised in the Land of Buckeyes (Ohio), spent 8 years in the Land of Dairy (Wisconsin), and moved to the Land of Lobsters in August 2010. She spent three years teaching Gender & Women’s Studies at Bowdoin College and transitioned into the non-profit world in 2013 and has been on that grind ever since. Samaa currently works at the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence. She enjoys birding, hiking and being outdoors, facilitating reading groups for the Maine Humanities Council, and coaching leaders of color. Samaa loves Black and Brown and Queer and Trans people. She also loves her adult kitten, Stashiell Hammett, resident charmer and most adorable feline in the world.

Samaa Abdurraqib was raised in the Land of Buckeyes (Ohio), spent 8 years in the Land of Dairy (Wisconsin), and moved to the Land of Lobsters in August 2010. She spent three years teaching Gender & Women’s Studies at Bowdoin College and transitioned into the non-profit world in 2013 and has been on that grind ever since. Samaa currently works at the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence. She enjoys birding, hiking and being outdoors, facilitating reading groups for the Maine Humanities Council, and coaching leaders of color. Samaa loves Black and Brown and Queer and Trans people. She also loves her adult kitten, Stashiell Hammett, resident charmer and most adorable feline in the world.

A native of Auburn, ME, Cheryl Hamilton has devoted her career to advancing refugee protection, immigrant integration, and storytelling. Last year, Cheryl turned her attention and career full time to storytelling and has been having a great time. She directs Massmouth, a Boston-based non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling. In her role, Cheryl is responsible for curating the national television show, “Stories from the Stage”, in partnership with WGBH and The World Channel. She is also the creator and director of the popular “Suitcase Stories” series, a program that honors refugees and immigrants.

A native of Auburn, ME, Cheryl Hamilton has devoted her career to advancing refugee protection, immigrant integration, and storytelling. Last year, Cheryl turned her attention and career full time to storytelling and has been having a great time. She directs Massmouth, a Boston-based non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling. In her role, Cheryl is responsible for curating the national television show, “Stories from the Stage”, in partnership with WGBH and The World Channel. She is also the creator and director of the popular “Suitcase Stories” series, a program that honors refugees and immigrants.

Sofija Stefanovic is a Serbian-Australian writer and storyteller based in Manhattan. Her memoir, Miss Ex-Yugoslavia, is a sometimes funny, sometimes dark story about being an immigrant kid during the Yugoslavian Wars. She hosts This Alien Nation, a monthly celebration of immigration at Joe’s Pub in New York. She’s a regular storyteller with The Moth, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times among others.

Sofija Stefanovic is a Serbian-Australian writer and storyteller based in Manhattan. Her memoir, Miss Ex-Yugoslavia, is a sometimes funny, sometimes dark story about being an immigrant kid during the Yugoslavian Wars. She hosts This Alien Nation, a monthly celebration of immigration at Joe’s Pub in New York. She’s a regular storyteller with The Moth, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times among others.

Shannon Cason has told stories all over the country with The Moth, Snap Judgement, and his own podcasts, Homemade Stories and The Trouble. He is originally from Detroit.

Shannon Cason has told stories all over the country with The Moth, Snap Judgement, and his own podcasts, Homemade Stories and The Trouble. He is originally from Detroit.

Bree Candland is a teacher, traveler, music lover, and animal enthusiast. A proud alumna of Bowdoin College, she has taught social studies at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham since 2001. Bree adores her orange tabby cats, Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher, loves the beach, and will always stop to take pictures in a photobooth.

Bree Candland is a teacher, traveler, music lover, and animal enthusiast. A proud alumna of Bowdoin College, she has taught social studies at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham since 2001. Bree adores her orange tabby cats, Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher, loves the beach, and will always stop to take pictures in a photobooth.

Ethan Minton grew up in Maine and after spending a few years in the southwest returned home and began a 20-year career in broadcasting. Five years ago, he turned his lifelong passion for ending hunger into his profession; first working at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and most recently joining the development team at Good Shepard Food Bank. Much of his free time is spent driving his daughter Sally’s carpool to Maine State Ballet where he also volunteers. Occasionally you’ll even find him on stage as a Party parent in The Nutcracker!

Ethan Minton grew up in Maine and after spending a few years in the southwest returned home and began a 20-year career in broadcasting. Five years ago, he turned his lifelong passion for ending hunger into his profession; first working at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and most recently joining the development team at Good Shepard Food Bank. Much of his free time is spent driving his daughter Sally’s carpool to Maine State Ballet where he also volunteers. Occasionally you’ll even find him on stage as a Party parent in The Nutcracker!

Over the past 15 years, Victoria has advocated for causes and campaigns she believes in. She’s currently Communications Director for Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree–the first woman ever elected to the seat. Her personal essays and opinion pieces have appeared in publications ranging from the Boston Globe and International Herald Tribune to WBUR’s Cognoscenti blog and Maine Women Magazine. Above all, she’s just a humble dog mom to the world’s best canine.

Over the past 15 years, Victoria has advocated for causes and campaigns she believes in. She’s currently Communications Director for Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree–the first woman ever elected to the seat. Her personal essays and opinion pieces have appeared in publications ranging from the Boston Globe and International Herald Tribune to WBUR’s Cognoscenti blog and Maine Women Magazine. Above all, she’s just a humble dog mom to the world’s best canine.

Bridget O’Neill is an essayist and storyteller whose been featured in numerous shows and podcasts including: The Moth, RISK!, How I Learned, Yum’s The Word, The Soundtrack series, and many others. Her first-person, non-fiction essays have been published in Slice Magazine, New York Press, and several blogs. She is working on a memoir highlighting her self-inflicted shenanigans from her youth, told in raw truth.

Bridget O’Neill is an essayist and storyteller whose been featured in numerous shows and podcasts including: The Moth, RISK!, How I Learned, Yum’s The Word, The Soundtrack series, and many others. Her first-person, non-fiction essays have been published in Slice Magazine, New York Press, and several blogs. She is working on a memoir highlighting her self-inflicted shenanigans from her youth, told in raw truth.

Brendyn Schneider has been a professional storyspinner for over 10 years. He’s been featured on Stories for the Stage, the hit national TV storytelling show created by Massmouth and WGBH’s The World Channel. He’s also performed at the Cutler Majestic Theater, Emerson College, the Edith Wharton estate, and other action-packed venues across New England. He’s a winner of multiple Massmouth regional and semifinal slams, a 3-time finalist for Massmouth’s annual BigMouthOff show, a Moth StorySLAM winner, and Moth GrandSLAM finalist.

Brendyn Schneider has been a professional storyspinner for over 10 years. He’s been featured on Stories for the Stage, the hit national TV storytelling show created by Massmouth and WGBH’s The World Channel. He’s also performed at the Cutler Majestic Theater, Emerson College, the Edith Wharton estate, and other action-packed venues across New England. He’s a winner of multiple Massmouth regional and semifinal slams, a 3-time finalist for Massmouth’s annual BigMouthOff show, a Moth StorySLAM winner, and Moth GrandSLAM finalist.

Kerem comes from a line of well-known Artic explorers and treasure seekers, somewhat well-known whirling dervishes and starship captains, and family of little-known (actually fairly unknown…) Monty Python sketch writers. He can’t swim but has a canon for a left foot which has come in handy in soccer. Kerem can be extremely loud and passionate, mostly without prompting. He is known for announcing “Avengers Assemble” in all circumstances and considers himself a lover of Frank Sinatra. If you want to know more about him, Google him, discover him on LinkedIn, read his poems, or chat with him and/or ask him about his favorite movies, books, and bands…and maybe, just maybe, he will be brave enough to tell you what is in his heart.

Kerem comes from a line of well-known Artic explorers and treasure seekers, somewhat well-known whirling dervishes and starship captains, and family of little-known (actually fairly unknown…) Monty Python sketch writers. He can’t swim but has a canon for a left foot which has come in handy in soccer. Kerem can be extremely loud and passionate, mostly without prompting. He is known for announcing “Avengers Assemble” in all circumstances and considers himself a lover of Frank Sinatra. If you want to know more about him, Google him, discover him on LinkedIn, read his poems, or chat with him and/or ask him about his favorite movies, books, and bands…and maybe, just maybe, he will be brave enough to tell you what is in his heart.

Stacey Curry is a NYC-based storyteller, writer, mother, and real estate broker. Stacey has won several Moth StorySLAMs, a GrandSLAM, and regularly performs in shows in New York and beyond. She also teaches a storytelling class for seniors at a local senior center, uses a cast-iron skillet daily, and plays a lot of Words With Friends.

Stacey Curry is a NYC-based storyteller, writer, mother, and real estate broker. Stacey has won several Moth StorySLAMs, a GrandSLAM, and regularly performs in shows in New York and beyond. She also teaches a storytelling class for seniors at a local senior center, uses a cast-iron skillet daily, and plays a lot of Words With Friends.

Michele Carlo has told stories across the U.S. including the Moth’s MainStage, the Clearwater Arts & Music festival, RISK! Live shows and podcast, NPR, and the PBS series “Stories for the Stage.” She is the author of the NYC-set memoir Fish Out of Agua, and hosts a podcast of the same name on Radio Free Brooklyn.

Michele Carlo has told stories across the U.S. including the Moth’s MainStage, the Clearwater Arts & Music festival, RISK! Live shows and podcast, NPR, and the PBS series “Stories for the Stage.” She is the author of the NYC-set memoir Fish Out of Agua, and hosts a podcast of the same name on Radio Free Brooklyn.

Sandi Marx is a retired talent agent who spends most of her nights storytelling and hosting shows all over the country. She is a seven-time Moth StorySLAM champion. She performed her one-woman show “You'll Be Sorry” at The Tank in Brooklyn, NY. She’s been featured at the Boston Comedy Festival, Cinderblock, and most recently at the “She Makes Me Laugh” festival. This past year, Sandi was featured on nationally televised PBS “Stories For The Stage” and “Women Of Letters” at City Winery and can be heard on several podcasts including RISK!, Hot Mic with Dan Savage, Story Collider, and countless others. She is a fixture on the New York storytelling scene. Sandi is also the subject of an upcoming documentary tentatively titled “The Fableist.”

Sandi Marx is a retired talent agent who spends most of her nights storytelling and hosting shows all over the country. She is a seven-time Moth StorySLAM champion. She performed her one-woman show “You'll Be Sorry” at The Tank in Brooklyn, NY. She’s been featured at the Boston Comedy Festival, Cinderblock, and most recently at the “She Makes Me Laugh” festival. This past year, Sandi was featured on nationally televised PBS “Stories For The Stage” and “Women Of Letters” at City Winery and can be heard on several podcasts including RISK!, Hot Mic with Dan Savage, Story Collider, and countless others. She is a fixture on the New York storytelling scene. Sandi is also the subject of an upcoming documentary tentatively titled “The Fableist.”

Skylar Bayer is a marine biologist, a producer for the Story Collider, and a science communicator. Currently, she is completing a fellowship in policy in Washington, D.C., where she is learning how to communicate in Congress. However, her heart, husband, house, and dogs all still reside in Maine. She completed her Ph.D. in the secret sex lives of scallops, a subject that landed her on The Colbert Report in 2013.

Mark Pagán is an award-winning film and podcast producer, storyteller, writer, and former b-boy. A Moth Storyslam winner, Mark's work and performances have been shown at festivals and shows worldwide, including Slamdance Film Festival, Arizona International Film Festival, North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, Charleston Comedy Festival, RISK!, The Moth, Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater, Story Collider, Peoples Improv Theater, and Magnet Theater. He currently produces and hosts the series and live show, "Other Men Need Help."

Gabrielle Melchionda is a hapless entrepreneur who fell into business while working with monkeys and studying anthropology. She began making lip balm when she was 19, selling it out of her car and launching her life’s work and the company Mad Gab’s. A lifelong writer and dinner-party story teller, Gabrielle is a mother to two sons and has lived in and around Portland, Maine for over 20 years.

Danusia Trevino is an actress and storyteller born and raised in Poland. She is a two-time Moth GrandSlam winner and a regular teller at Moth MainStage events. She has been a part of the New York literary salon, Women of Letters; as an actress, she’s written and performed her solo show, Wonder Bread, in New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Danusia lives with her husband Xavier in New York City.

Dame Wilburn is a storyteller, Moth Mainstage host, and host of the her own podcast, Dame's Eclectic Brain. She has completed two residencies for storytellers: one at Serenbe outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and one with AIR Trez in Almont, Michigan. Dame is also a poet, painter, and prolific knitter. She lives in Detroit, Michigan with her partner, four chickens, a peg leg cat, and too many dogs.

Brendyn Schneider is a storyteller, performance instructor, host, and TedX Coach in the Boston area who has been featured at WGBH Studios and other action-packed venues across New England. He is a Moth StorySLAM winner and GrandSlam finalist, winner of multiple Massmouth regional and semifinal slams and a three-time finalist for Massmouth's annual BigMouthOff show. He's been featured as performer and host at the Northeast Storytelling's annual conference, and recently moderated a panel of master storytellers at Juilliard in New York City. He loves performing in Maine because he says our state has the best audiences!

Allan Monga, 19, was born and raised in Zambia, moving to the U.S. in the summer of 2017. He is a junior at Deering High School and hopes to pursue a career as an actor after graduation. He loves to read and memorize poems. Although he’s only been in the U.S. for a little more than a year, he became the State of Maine Poetry Out Loud Champion making his way to the national competition in Washington, D.C. Almost banned from competing, Allan managed to successfully sue the National Endowment for the Arts to win the right to recite poetry in a national contest despite his immigration status. Allan is a strong advocate for immigrants at his school and all over Portland.

Phuc Tran is a classicist and tattooer. He has taught Latin, Greek, German, and Sanskrit at schools in New York and Maine, and he was an instructor at Brooklyn College’s Summer Latin Institute. In 2010, he served on the committee to revise the National Latin Praxis exam. Phuc currently teaches in Portland, Maine. His TEDx talk on grammar and identity was featured on NPR’s TED Radio Hour. As a tattooer, Phuc owns Tsunami Tattoo in Portland. He has been featured in national tattoo publications, and he has been quoted in The Christian Science Monitor and Time Magazine. His memoir, forthcoming on Flatiron Books, is about growing up in a rural town as a nerdy, Asian punk rocker who would eventually become a Latin-teaching tattooer.

Katie Brown is the co-founding director of the Locker Project, a nonprofit based in Portland that manages food pantries and fresh produce distributions in schools for children who are food insecure. She is also a professional mascot. She was born in Houston and raised in Upstate New York. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and moved to Portland 29 years ago.

Gina Alibrio is a New Hampshire native and Musical Theatre graduate of Emerson College. As such, she has been performing regularly in the New England music scene for over a decade. Gina has been a lead and back-up vocalist in several collectives, including The Amorphous Band, The Jackleg Preachers, Richard James & the Namechangers, and John Powhida & the International Airport (the 2011 WBCN Rock N’ Roll Rumble Champions). She spent two years in Seattle, Washington working with producer Gwen Jones of Allikat records, and she formed the band Acadia Slideshow with West Coast singer-songwriter Justin Froese. She has taught vocal instruction at the Midcoast School of Music for three years. Currently, she fronts the Portland funk supergroup The Red Eye Flight Crew, featuring members of the bands Model Airplane, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Rustic Overtones, and Jaw Gems.

Donna Galluzzo began her career as a third grade teacher in the South Bronx, New York City. Since then, she’s lived and worked in Washington, D.C.; Toronto, Canada; and (gratefully) Maine. Donna’s employment history has been as varied as the places she's called home; she’s worked in education, finance, advocacy, media arts, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. In December 2012, she and her wife were one of the first couples to legally marry in the state of Maine after Donna wooed her spouse with a shared love of iceberg lettuce. Donna currently lives in Portland’s Arts District with her wife and their adorable Goldendoodle, Teddy.