Welcome to the Moth.
I'm Suzanne Rust.
America at 250.
250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
250 years of starting anew, yearning for freedom.
250 years of the American Dream.
But what is the American Dream?
Who exactly is allowed to have one?
And what happens when the idea of America meets the reality of what it is?
As America approaches this anniversary, we've decided to explore the American Dream.
Not just the singular American Dream, but all of them, because our dreams contain multitudes.
We're dedicating our spring mainstage season,
as well as some special podcast episodes, to exploring that theme.
To kick it off, on this episode we have two stories about American iconography, but with a twist.
First up, every culture has its folklore, and America is no exception.
John Garcia told this at a Denver Grand Slam where the theme was comfort zone.
Here's John, live from him.
My parents told me the worst part was when they drove around it.
How its body stayed completely still, but its gaze followed them into the switchback.
And it was dark.