The Moth

The Moth Podcast: A Place at the Family Table

13 snips
Aug 5, 2025
Swapna Kakani, an advocate for patients with rare diseases, shares her journey through short bowel syndrome and the challenges of organ transplant. Roz Chast, a renowned cartoonist, reflects on the emotional struggle of laying her parents to rest. Adam Wade, a talented storyteller, reminisces about his close-knit relationships with his grandmother and great aunt, revealing the warmth and awkwardness of growing up. Together, their stories weave a tapestry of family ties, loss, and the discovery of one's place amidst it all.
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ANECDOTE

Sari Ceremony as Coming of Age

  • Swapna Kakani shares her coming-of-age sari ceremony marked by cultural tradition and family love.
  • She battled a rare intestinal disorder, making ceremonies deeply meaningful amidst medical challenges.
ANECDOTE

Debutante Ball and Family Strength

  • Swapna reluctantly accepts her debutante ball as a fulfillment of immigrant parental pride.
  • The moment her mother broke her leg before the event shifted Swapna's view on familial strength and coming of age.
ANECDOTE

Roz Chast's Journey with Parental Ashes

  • Roz Chast shares the challenge of caring for parents who avoided discussing death.
  • She kept her parents' cremains in her closet until a stranger helped her locate a family burial site to give them a resting place.
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