Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm your host for this week, Chloe Samen. Today we're

talking about a true cultural icon, an object of obsession for many, immortalized in countless

movies and songs, and the ultimate symbol of freedom. Any guesses? This episode is all about

cars. Whether it's your pride and joy or a hunk of junk that gets you where you need to go,

or maybe it's both, the cars we spend our time in are filled with stories of close calls,

sing-alongs, and road trip realizations. My first car was a used green old

smokey-all that I got when I was a teenager. I was really grateful for the freedom it offered me,

but it definitely wasn't winning any awards for the coolest car on the road. It was a tank. I'd

grit my teeth every cans of summer when the AC blew out only hot air, and roll my eyes every time I

pulled up to a drive-through, only for the driver's side window to not budge down an inch. One stormy night,

driving home from my job at the grocery store, I found myself in the middle of a flash flood on a

pitch black back road. My car started to a halt and died and I was just completely filled with panic.

I called my dad for help and sat and watched the water inch further and further up, hoping that my car

would stay on the road. Not only did it stay firmly put until my dad arrived in his truck so I could

jump to safety, the next day to all of our amazement, it started right back up again when I put the

key in the ignition. My tank of an old mobile had kept me safe and we cruised together for many more

years, with much more respect on my end. Our first story this week is from Oscar Sivadra. He

told it at a DC Story slam where the theme of the night was intentions. Here's Oscar, live at the

office. How's everybody doing today? I'm here because of you. You convinced me to do this. This is my

first time here so I'm a little nervous. So as everybody knows and as he mentioned, my name is

Oscar, I am 100% Mexican born and raised there. So as a teenager growing up, we all did things

of which we remember hiding from our parents. We all have those times where we slip up. I'm 15 years old,

...