In Conversation: Podcasts, Interviews, and Live Events
Appearances
Marilyn F. Moriarty takes the stage and airwaves, sharing her lyrical and evocative storytelling with audiences everywhere. Catch her live at storytelling sessions, podcasts, readings and radio interviews, where she delves into the craft of creative nonfiction and the inspirations behind her work. With warmth, wit, and wisdom, Marilyn regales listeners with stories of love, loss, and transformation.
Marilyn’s essay, “You Are Where You Eat,” appears in The Dirty Spoon Radio Hour episode 4, which aired on August 3, 2018.
Marilyn Moriarty’s interview beautifully intertwines personal history, cultural identity, and the significance of food in defining one’s roots. Through her journey to France in search of her mother’s past, she discovers that being French is not merely about ancestry but about embracing the country’s deep connection to its land and traditions. Her cousins, Annie and Christian, test her Frenchness through food—offering her snails, pigeon, duck, and, most importantly, cheese. The narrative highlights the A.O.C. (appellation d’origine contrôlée) system, which ensures the authenticity of regional products like Roquefort and Camembert, emphasizing the French reverence for terroir. As Moriarty navigates the complex layers of her identity—adopted, yet deeply tied to her French lineage—her acceptance comes not through blood but through taste. Her willingness to embrace the strongest, most pungent cheese solidifies her place at the table, proving that identity can be cultivated through experience as much as inheritance.
In a tale that will have you laughing out loud, Marilyn Moriarty recounts the time—at the tender age of twenty—when her youthful naivety nearly turned her into an unwitting accomplice in a prison break. What began as a harmless pen-pal exchange with Vincent, an inmate at Rayford Prison, spiralled into a full-blown adventure when, during a lunch meet-up, Vincent pulled a knife and forced her into a high-speed getaway. With perfect comedic timing, Moriarty details her confusion and disbelief as she grappled with whether she was a victim, a fool, or, perhaps, a little of both. All the while, her father's deadpan humor—delivered years later—offered a touch of levity: “Next time you’re arrested, do it closer to home.” It’s a story of youthful folly, unexpected danger, and the kind of life lesson that only hindsight (and a good sense of humor) can bring.
Hoot and Holler Comebacks - Marilyn Moriarty
In her signature hilarious style, Marilyn Moriarty turns a ghost story into a comedy of (supernatural) errors. After a late-night encounter with what she swears was a ghost, she blurts out, “I’ve been seeing things,” only to be met with the reassuringly vague, “I believe that you believe you saw something.” Her doctor is less poetic, offering, “That’s normal for your age. They’re called floaters.” Still unconvinced, she schedules an eye exam—seeking clarity and walking away with even more questions. And since she’s adopted, she can’t help but wonder if one of those ghostly visitors was just a long-lost ancestor dropping by uninvited. With pitch-perfect timing and razor-sharp wit, Moriarty proves that even the paranormal isn’t safe from her comedic lens. Watch the performance below to find out what really went bump in the night!
Hike Her Story
Stay tuned for Marilyn F. Moriarty's musings on life, literature, and the power of humor as she scales heights - quite literally.