The Moth Embraces and Egg Timers: The Moth Podcast
Oct 3, 2025
Gabe Woods-Lamanuzzi, an educator and storyteller known for his personal essays, shares his anxiety-filled encounter meeting his girlfriend's intimidating father. Between awkward hugs and sweaty handshakes, Gabe humorously navigates the world of parental approval. April Gallaty follows, tackling the societal pressures of motherhood with her own egg timer metaphor, reflecting on her choice to remain childfree and the impact of her hysterectomy. Both stories delve into the nerves surrounding family expectations and personal choices.
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Winning Over A Stern Father With Persistence
- Gabe desperately fears meeting girlfriends' fathers but keeps trying to connect through humor and hugs.
- A risky prank-hug plan paid off and turned an initially stiff father into a regular hugger over years.
Redefining Male Bonding On Personal Terms
- Gabe links traditional male bonding expectations to his own discomfort with handshakes and 'masculine' rituals.
- He leans into hugging and emotional expression instead of stereotypical male behaviors.
The Trojan-Horse Hug That Changed Everything
- Gabe engineered a playful workaround by asking his girlfriend to deliver a hug on his behalf.
- The gesture broke the ice and became the start of an eleven-year warm relationship leading to marriage.