A Syrian refugee's mother joined Scottish country dancing after fleeing war and losing her architecture practice to a bomb — and never missed a Thursday session.
The Moth
A Syrian refugee's mother joined Scottish country dancing after fleeing war and losing her architecture practice to a bomb — and never missed a Thursday session.
TL;DR
Dan Kennedy hosts two moving first-person stories about stepping out of your comfort zone. Diana Thompson recounts accompanying her Syrian mother — a war survivor who lost her architectural practice to a bomb — to a Scottish country dancing group in suburban London, watching her thrive with unstoppable courage [1] — Diana Thompson "Diana's mother lost her architectural practice to a bomb, lost family members, and was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spo…" 06:37 . Karen Crowley tells how a grocery store cashier with no college degree stumbled into a residential youth treatment program, only to prove her worth when a college-educated intern froze while a troubled teen held a knife [2] — Karen Crowley "A 17-year-old with a history of violent crime stands on a dining table slashing at himself with a stolen steak knife. Karen's master's-degr…" 17:55 . The key takeaway: credentials don't determine capability — connection does.
Two first-time Moth storytellers explore stepping out of your comfort zone. Diana Thompson watches her Syrian mother — a war survivor — thrive at Scottish country dancing in suburban London. Karen Crowley discovers her calling as a youth counselor despite having no college degree, then proves her worth when a knife-wielding teen tests her and her master's-level intern.
The episode opens with a promotional message from Chaz Giovanni, a longtime storytelling instructor with The Moth. She announces a free summer workshop designed to help students find, shape, and tell their own true personal stories, emphasizing that participants don't need to be performers or extroverts. The workshop is available in person in New York City and virtually for students across the United States, with applications open until July 3. Listeners are directed to themoth.org/edu for more information.
The first sponsor block features Children's Miracle Network, a leading charity that raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across the US and Canada, with a call to donate at cmn.org. This is followed by a Mint Mobile advertisement promising premium wireless service for $15 a month on the nation's largest 5G network, with listeners directed to mintmobile.com/moth. The block closes with detailed terms and conditions for the Mint Mobile offer, including upfront payment requirements and data limits.
Dan Kennedy opens the episode with a warm and reflective introduction, acknowledging that anxiety is nearly universal and that life can feel overwhelming. But he offers a simple counterpoint: when you stand up straight, you often realize the water isn't that deep. He previews two stories from first-time Moth storytellers, noting the first comes from a slam held in London with the theme 'Mama Rules.' The tone is immediately warm and inclusive, priming listeners for emotionally resonant personal narratives.
Diana Thompson steps onto the Moth stage for her first time, recounting a Thursday evening in a church hall in Surbiton, southwest London. The room is overwhelmingly white, elderly, and visibly surprised by Diana and her mother's arrival. Diana's mother — who barely speaks English and had never done Scottish country dancing — proceeds to disrupt every single dance she joins. During the tea break, the inevitable questions come: Where are you from? How long? How did you get here? Diana calmly explains her family's asylum journey, noting that her brother was a student in the UK before the war, and they were able to bring her mother over. The backdrop is staggering: her mother lost her architectural practice to a bomb, lost family members, and was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language at age 56 [1] — Diana Thompson "Mother displaced at age 56: Diana's mother was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language at the age of 56, follow…" 06:37 . At the end of the evening, Diana reaches for the flyer thinking they might consider it later. Her mother grabs her hand: 'We're signing up now.' Four months later, her mother hasn't missed a Thursday. Then comes the news: her mother has been nominated for best improving student at her English college [2] — Diana Thompson "Mother nominated for best improving English student: Diana's mother was nominated for best improving student in her English class and was t…" 08:55 . Diana, 31 and uncertain whether she'll ever be a parent, describes feeling the pride people talk about when they have children — given to her by her mother.
Dan Kennedy closes Diana's story with warmth and a telling detail: Diana reports that she's now the one who trembles through the dances when she joins her mother about twice a month. The host expresses genuine affection for the story before transitioning to two sponsor messages. Square promotes its payments and POS platform, offering listeners up to $200 off hardware at square.com/go/moth. Quince follows with a pitch for its European linen and organic cotton wardrobe essentials, priced 50 to 80 percent below comparable brands, with free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/moth.
Karen Crowley grew up in a college town where her family did the blue-collar work — pouring foundations, fixing cars — while the professors' families occupied a different world entirely. At 19, she graduated high school, married, and became a grocery store cashier, living the life everyone expected of her. A housing move forced a job change, and she ended up in a clerical role at a residential treatment program for troubled adolescents in Brockton, Massachusetts — simply because it was on her husband's commute. She fell head over heels for the work [1] — Karen Crowley "Karen Crowley took a clerical job at a youth residential treatment program simply because it was on her husband's commute route. Within mon…" 12:24 , gravitating naturally toward the kids, eventually counseling them, running groups, and becoming an informal staff fixture. Yet the nagging fear never left: she hadn't gone to college, and someday someone would call her on it. That day appeared to have arrived when she was assigned to supervise Brian — a master's-level intern with a BMW, educated parents, and generational professional pedigree. Karen barely spoke to him for the first two weeks. Then came the crisis: 17-year-old Jimmy, large, volatile, and with a documented propensity toward violent crime, standing on the dining room table with a stolen steak knife, slashing at himself [2] — Karen Crowley "A 17-year-old with a history of violent crime stands on a dining table slashing at himself with a stolen steak knife. Karen's master's-degr…" 17:55 . Brian stepped up and began citing Jimmy's abandonment issues. Karen watched — certain Brian had it handled — until she realized: Brian knows what's going on, but he has no idea what to do. She stepped forward, told Jimmy what the hell he was doing, demanded the knife, and Jimmy handed it over and sat down like a sulky kid whose toy had been taken away. In that moment, she understood she had always had the right to be there.
Dan Kennedy provides a moving coda to Karen's story: the events she described took place only three years into what is now a forty-year career, and Karen says the passion has never faded. He closes with warmth, encouraging listeners to share their own experiences of feeling in over their heads on social media or by pitching their own story at themoth.org. The Moth is on Instagram at moth stories. Kennedy wishes listeners a 'story worthy week' before crediting podcast producer Julia Pursell and noting his own authorship of Loser Goes First, Rock On, and American Spirit.
The episode closes with two brief sponsor spots. NOS Energy runs an adrenaline-fueled ad encouraging listeners to 'go hard, go fast' and grab a can. Sock Doc follows with a gamified pitch for its doctor-booking app, comparing the frustrating experience of navigating insurance portals and hold times to losing at a video game, and positioning Sock Doc as a solution that lets you search by specialty, insurance, and availability and book instantly.
Chapter 3 · 02:34
Dan Kennedy opens the episode with a warm and reflective introduction, acknowledging that anxiety is nearly universal and that life can feel overwhelming. But he offers a simple counterpoint: when you stand up straight, you often realize the water isn't that deep. He previews two stories from first-time Moth storytellers, noting the first comes from a slam held in London with the theme 'Mama Rules.' The tone is immediately warm and inclusive, priming listeners for emotionally resonant personal narratives.
Host Dan Kennedy opens with a meditation on anxiety, comfort zones, and the surprising discovery that when you stand up straight, the water isn't as deep as you feared. Two first-time Moth storytellers are about to prove it.
Chapter 4 · 03:26
Diana Thompson steps onto the Moth stage for her first time, recounting a Thursday evening in a church hall in Surbiton, southwest London. The room is overwhelmingly white, elderly, and visibly surprised by Diana and her mother's arrival. Diana's mother — who barely speaks English and had never done Scottish country dancing — proceeds to disrupt every single dance she joins. During the tea break, the inevitable questions come: Where are you from? How long? How did you get here? Diana calmly explains her family's asylum journey, noting that her brother was a student in the UK before the war, and they were able to bring her mother over. The backdrop is staggering: her mother lost her architectural practice to a bomb, lost family members, and was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language at age 56 [1] — Diana Thompson "Mother displaced at age 56: Diana's mother was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language at the age of 56, follow…" 06:37 . At the end of the evening, Diana reaches for the flyer thinking they might consider it later. Her mother grabs her hand: 'We're signing up now.' Four months later, her mother hasn't missed a Thursday. Then comes the news: her mother has been nominated for best improving student at her English college [2] — Diana Thompson "Mother nominated for best improving English student: Diana's mother was nominated for best improving student in her English class and was t…" 08:55 . Diana, 31 and uncertain whether she'll ever be a parent, describes feeling the pride people talk about when they have children — given to her by her mother.
Claims made here
Diana Thompson had lived in London for eight years as a Syrian immigrant at the time of her story.
Diana Thompson's mother was forcibly displaced to the UK at the age of 56.
Diana Thompson's mother lost her architectural practice when it was blown up by a bomb during the Syrian war.
Diana Thompson's mother was nominated for best improving student in her English language class and was to be awarded at a town hall ceremony.
Diana Thompson's mother insisted on attending the open evening of a Scottish Country Dance Society in suburban London. Neither of them could follow the steps, and every dance they joined fell apart — but mom signed up on the spot anyway.
When Diana and her mother walked into the Scottish country dancing open evening, the average age of attendees was about 65.
At the tea break, strangers approach Diana's mother. Diana braces for the inevitable: three-part interrogation that follows every Syrian in post-war London. She describes the shift from blank stares to loaded questions after the war made Syria a household name.
Diana had lived in London for eight years as a Syrian, while her mother had been there for about five years.
Diana's mother lost her architectural practice to a bomb, lost family members, and was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language — all at age 56. Yet here she is, dancing with her head held high in suburban London.
Diana's mother was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language at the age of 56, following the destruction of her architectural practice and loss of family members.
Diana's mother lost her architectural practice when it was destroyed by a bomb during the Syrian war.
After a chaotic evening of ruined dances, Diana reaches for the flyer thinking they might think about it. Her mother grabs her hand and says: 'We're signing up now.' No debate. No hesitation. Pure determination.
Diana Thompson's mother attended Scottish country dancing every Thursday for four months without missing a session, despite language barriers and unfamiliarity with the dance.
Diana's mother is nominated for best improving student at her English college and recognized at a town hall ceremony. Diana, 31 and unsure about parenthood, discovers that parental pride isn't only for parents.
Diana's mother was nominated for best improving student in her English class and was to be awarded at a ceremony in the town hall.
Chapter 5 · 09:33
Dan Kennedy closes Diana's story with warmth and a telling detail: Diana reports that she's now the one who trembles through the dances when she joins her mother about twice a month. The host expresses genuine affection for the story before transitioning to two sponsor messages. Square promotes its payments and POS platform, offering listeners up to $200 off hardware at square.com/go/moth. Quince follows with a pitch for its European linen and organic cotton wardrobe essentials, priced 50 to 80 percent below comparable brands, with free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/moth.
Claims made here
Diana Thompson's mother has continued dancing weekly for over a year and joined an additional beginner class.
Square offers up to $200 off hardware for new sign-ups at square.com/go/moth.
Quince prices its products 50 to 80% less than similar brands by cutting out the middleman and partnering directly with ethical factories.
After her mother joined the Scottish country dancing society, Diana began attending with her about twice a month, reversing roles so that Diana is now the one who trembles through the dances.
Chapter 6 · 12:01
Karen Crowley grew up in a college town where her family did the blue-collar work — pouring foundations, fixing cars — while the professors' families occupied a different world entirely. At 19, she graduated high school, married, and became a grocery store cashier, living the life everyone expected of her. A housing move forced a job change, and she ended up in a clerical role at a residential treatment program for troubled adolescents in Brockton, Massachusetts — simply because it was on her husband's commute. She fell head over heels for the work [1] — Karen Crowley "Karen Crowley took a clerical job at a youth residential treatment program simply because it was on her husband's commute route. Within mon…" 12:24 , gravitating naturally toward the kids, eventually counseling them, running groups, and becoming an informal staff fixture. Yet the nagging fear never left: she hadn't gone to college, and someday someone would call her on it. That day appeared to have arrived when she was assigned to supervise Brian — a master's-level intern with a BMW, educated parents, and generational professional pedigree. Karen barely spoke to him for the first two weeks. Then came the crisis: 17-year-old Jimmy, large, volatile, and with a documented propensity toward violent crime, standing on the dining room table with a stolen steak knife, slashing at himself [2] — Karen Crowley "A 17-year-old with a history of violent crime stands on a dining table slashing at himself with a stolen steak knife. Karen's master's-degr…" 17:55 . Brian stepped up and began citing Jimmy's abandonment issues. Karen watched — certain Brian had it handled — until she realized: Brian knows what's going on, but he has no idea what to do. She stepped forward, told Jimmy what the hell he was doing, demanded the knife, and Jimmy handed it over and sat down like a sulky kid whose toy had been taken away. In that moment, she understood she had always had the right to be there.
Claims made here
Karen Crowley had no college degree when she worked as a counselor and supervisor at a residential treatment program for adolescents.
Karen Crowley took a clerical job at a youth residential treatment program simply because it was on her husband's commute route. Within months, she had volunteered her way into counseling sessions with troubled teens — and loved every second of it.
Karen followed expected life milestones at 19 — graduating high school, getting married, and working as a grocery store cashier.
Karen was just 22 years old when she began working at the residential treatment program for adolescents in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Karen always feared someone would eventually wake up and realize she had no college degree. When she was assigned to supervise a master's-level clinical intern named Brian who drove a BMW and came from generations of educated professionals, she was certain the jig was finally up.
A master's-level clinical intern froze while a teen with a knife stood on a table; Karen — with no degree — stepped in and resolved the crisis with two direct sentences.
A 17-year-old with a history of violent crime stands on a dining table slashing at himself with a stolen steak knife. Karen's master's-degree intern steps up and begins analyzing the boy's abandonment issues. Karen realizes the intern knows what's going on — but not what to do.
The teen at the center of the knife crisis — Jimmy — was described as a 17-year-old with a documented propensity toward violent crime.
When Brian's clinical framing fails to reach Jimmy, Karen steps forward and simply says what she knows to be true: 'Jimmy, what the hell are you doing?' Jimmy stops, hands over the knife, and sits down. Karen realizes she has always had the right to be there.
Chapter 7 · 20:30
Dan Kennedy provides a moving coda to Karen's story: the events she described took place only three years into what is now a forty-year career, and Karen says the passion has never faded. He closes with warmth, encouraging listeners to share their own experiences of feeling in over their heads on social media or by pitching their own story at themoth.org. The Moth is on Instagram at moth stories. Kennedy wishes listeners a 'story worthy week' before crediting podcast producer Julia Pursell and noting his own authorship of Loser Goes First, Rock On, and American Spirit.
Claims made here
Karen Crowley has had a forty-year career in the helping profession, beginning with the events described in her story.
Karen Crowley's story took place just three years into what became a forty-year career in the helping profession.
No indexed bits in this chapter.
Diana's mother lost her architectural practice to a bomb, lost family members, and was forcibly displaced to a country where she barely spoke the language — all at age 56. Yet here she is, dancing with her head held high in suburban London.
A 17-year-old with a history of violent crime stands on a dining table slashing at himself with a stolen steak knife. Karen's master's-degree intern steps up and begins analyzing the boy's abandonment issues. Karen realizes the intern knows what's going on — but not what to do.
This episode
Host of The Moth Podcast for this episode; also an author and regular Moth storyteller.
The nonprofit storytelling organization that hosts the podcast and live slam events featured in this episode.
The dance society in suburban southwest London whose open evening Diana attended with her mother, and which her mother subsequently joined.
Charity that raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across the US and Canada, featured as a pre-roll sponsor.
Podcast sponsor offering premium wireless plans for $15 per month on the nation's largest 5G network.
Podcast sponsor offering premium sustainable clothing and home goods at 50–80% less than similar brands.
Podcast sponsor offering payments and point-of-sale software, with up to $200 off hardware for new sign-ups.
The city where Diana Thompson's Moth story was told and where she and her mother have been living.
Diana Thompson's country of origin; the Syrian war is central to her mother's backstory of displacement and survival.
The city in Massachusetts where Karen Crowley worked at the residential treatment program for adolescents.
The city where Karen Crowley told her story at a Moth slam with the theme 'Schooled'.
Stats
This episode
Factual claims made this episode, and whether a source was named.
Children's Miracle Network raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across the United States and Canada.
Mint Mobile offers premium wireless service for $15 a month on the nation's largest 5G network.
Diana Thompson's mother lost her architectural practice when it was blown up by a bomb during the Syrian war.
Diana Thompson had lived in London for eight years as a Syrian immigrant at the time of her story.
Diana Thompson's mother was forcibly displaced to the UK at the age of 56.
Diana Thompson's mother was nominated for best improving student in her English language class and was to be awarded at a town hall ceremony.
Karen Crowley has had a forty-year career in the helping profession, beginning with the events described in her story.
Karen Crowley had no college degree when she worked as a counselor and supervisor at a residential treatment program for adolescents.
Square offers up to $200 off hardware for new sign-ups at square.com/go/moth.
Quince prices its products 50 to 80% less than similar brands by cutting out the middleman and partnering directly with ethical factories.
Diana Thompson's mother has continued dancing weekly for over a year and joined an additional beginner class.
Dan Kennedy is the author of Loser Goes First, Rock On, and American Spirit.
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