Currently, there are more than 500,000 active podcasts on Apple Podcasts, including content in more than 100 languages. 😳 People love listening. From Serial and S-Town, to This American Life and The Moth: There’s one major theme. Storytelling. 🎧
The good news? The trend has moved to the streets of Asheville. Here are 8 ways you can sit back and listen. Whether it’s straight-up true stories or informational TED-like talks, we’re allll for learning and being inspired by our fellow Ashevillians.
The Moth: True Stories Told Live
The Mothlight | 📍701 Haywood Rd. | 📅 3rd Thursday of the month | 🕗 7 p.m. ( 6 p.m. doors) | 💸 $10 | Come to listen or tell a polished, five-minute story at this themed story slam. Tickets go on sale one week before the show. If you want to share your story, put your name in a hat when the doors open. Tellers are picked at random 30 minutes later. Bonus: You could end up on NPR.
Next event: March 15 Theme: Tests
Asheville Storytelling Circle
Asheville Terrace Community Room | 📍200 Tunnel Rd. | 📅 3rd Monday of the month | 🕗 7 p.m. | 💸 Free | This organization welcomes new members + meets monthly to share news and swap stories. Their website also highlights regional storytelling events.
Next event: March 19 Monthly Meeting
PechaKucha Night Asheville
The Grove House | 📍11 Grove St. | 💸 $9 | 🕗 7 p.m. | 📅 4 times a year, storytellers at this event present 20 slides that are displayed for 20 seconds each. It feels like a TED Talk, but twice as fast. Subjects are anything under the sun, including sustainable building, Ikebana floral design + personal memoirs. PechaKucha means “chit chat” in Japanese.
Next event: June 1
Listen to This
35below | 📍35 E. Walnut St. | 💸 $15 | 🕗 7:30 p.m. | Last Thursday of the month | Local comedian Tom Chalmers hosts a night of stories + song. Expect themes like “regrettable returns,” “the end of the world,” and “lucky shots.”
Next event: March 29
Hatch Pitch Party
Hatch Building | Anthroware Lounge | 📍45 S. French Broad St. | 📅 Last Wednesday of the month | 🕗 6 p.m. | 💸 Free | Got a big idea for a new business venture? You’ve got one minute to present it here and get feedback + questions. The winning pitch gets a guaranteed slot at the next 1 Million Cups Asheville event.
Next event: Wednesday, March 28
Blanket Fort & Storytelling Night
The Crow & Quill | 📍106 N. Lexington Ave. | 📅 2nd or 3rd Sunday of the month during wintertime | 🕗 8 p.m. | 💸 $5 for non-members, free for members | Listen to stories focused on a theme (like “Cats” and “Mortification”) while nestled in your very own pile of blankets. BYOP (Bring Your Own Pillow).
Next event: November
Want even more stories? We’ve got a few full- or multi-day events devoted to storytelling nearby as well…
Woods & Wilds Storytelling Festival
📅 September 8 | The Grey Eagle | 📍185 Clingman Ave. Ext. | 💸 $10 donation | 🕗 5:30 p.m. | This annual fest is also a fundraiser for local non-profit Dogwood Alliance, which works on forest conservation efforts in the South. Past tellers have included Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley, Lianna Costantino + Kiran Singh Sirah. This year’s lineup will be announced in the spring.
National Storytelling Festival
📅 October 5 – 7 | 📍Jonesborough, TN | 💸 $155+ | Now in its 46th year, this internationally-acclaimed weekend of storytelling brings in talent from all over the world, including Appalachia’s own Sheila Kay Adams, humorist Bil Lepp, and indigenous storyteller Gene Tagaban.
