Once a month, at Punchline Philly, ten regular folks get a chance to tell a five-minute, true story on a theme determined in advance: Cheat. Fight or flight. Family Matters. Books. This happens in cities all over the United States and around the world.

 

I've tossed my name in the hat (well, canvas tote bag) many times over the past eight years. Sometimes I get picked. A few times, I've won and gone on to take the stage with nine exceptional storytellers in an annual Moth GrandSlam. I was a winner (tied for first place with Ryan Roe) of the December 2022 GrandSlam at Union Transfer in Philadelphia; the theme was "tipping points." 

 

You can't reproduce the electric, kinetic buzz of a live slam: the ting of forks and glasses, the held-breath pause and the pop of laughter, the deeply felt connection between teller and listeners. But you can try. Grab a snack, pour yourself a cuppa something, sit back and enjoy. Each one's just five minutes.