The Moth The Moth Radio Hour: To Thine Own Self Be True
24 snips
Sep 2, 2025 Join Eric Thomas, a Baltimore writer, as he hilariously navigates self-acceptance in a gay softball league. Poet Renita Walls shares her heart through a powerful anti-'Soul Plane' poem, exploring love and personal loss. Heidi Stuber faces difficult choices between her husband and child, revealing deep maternal strength. Finally, musician Joe Jackson reminisces about his early gigs at the Admiral Drake pub in England, blending humor with resilience in pursuit of his dreams. Each story celebrates the beauty of being unapologetically yourself.
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Softball, Masculinity, And Self-Acceptance
- R. Eric Thomas joined a gay softball league to prove his masculinity and found it both anxiety-inducing and revealing.
- A coach's blunt comment helped him accept identity and simply learn to hit the ball.
Authenticity Beats Performance Anxiety
- Trying to perform an identity can increase anxiety rather than reduce stigma.
- Authentic self-acceptance often resolves external mockery more effectively than a constructed persona.
Take Simple Coaching To Improve Fast
- Practice and accept coaching: R. Eric Thomas hit the ball after following a simple technique correction.
- Apply specific, actionable tips instead of performance anxiety to improve quickly.
