The Moth refers to a not-for-profit organization based in New York City that is dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It is not an individual author but rather a group that encourages people to share their personal stories in front of a live audience. The Moth was founded in 1997 by the novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his home state of Georgia, where he and friends would gather on the porch to share stories while moths fluttered in the night air.
The Moth hosts live storytelling events across the United States and around the world, where individuals tell true stories without notes to a live audience. The name "The Moth" is symbolic of the draw to storytelling, just as moths are drawn to a flame. The Moth has also produced a popular podcast and a radio show called The Moth Radio Hour, which shares a curated selection of storytelling performances. Additionally, they have published collections of stories in book form.