The lineup for the April 10, 2025, performance of “The Moth Mainstage” is set, and WYSO is thrilled to welcome the following amazing folks—including a WYSO music host and a Dayton-area storyteller! Tickets are available now.
Originally from West Milton and its surrounding suburbs, Lauren Karch works in local government. She is a Lore Storytelling graduate and regular audience member at Dayton Story Slam and Cincinnati True Theatre.
Esmond Fountain is a Brooklyn-based storyteller and comedian and a military brat. This April, Esmond will debut his solo show, “Desperate: A Beverly Hills Manny,” at the Wild Project Theater during the NYC Fringe Festival.
Peter Aguero, born and raised in South Jersey, has been working with The Moth since 2007 as a storyteller, instructor, and host. His solo show “Daddy Issues” has played the far reaches and middle grounds of North America. He makes his home with Dr. Fine in Queens.
Tiq Milan, a thought leader, storyteller, and media maker, specializes in equity and inclusion. For over a decade, he has lectured at universities like Harvard and Stanford, exploring intersectional leadership and inclusive innovation. A TED speaker with 3M+ views, he moderates global discussions and recently executive produced “Beyond the Aggressives,” a documentary debuting on Showtime this fall.
Jonna Hiestand Mendez is a retired CIA intelligence officer with 27 years of undercover service across Europe, Asia, and the Subcontinent. As Chief of Disguise, she led global efforts in identity transformation and espionage technology. She has briefed presidents, taught at top institutions, and co-authored several books, including “Argo,” “Spy Dust,” and “The Moscow Rules.” Her memoir, “In True Face,” was published in 2024. A founding board member of the International Spy Museum, she continues to speak worldwide on intelligence and security.
The evening will be helmed by Ophira Eisenberg, a comedian, writer, and host of the “Parenting Is A Joke” podcast. She also hosted NPR's “Ask Me Another,” has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, appeared on “The Late Late Show,” Comedy Central, and HBO, at SXSW, and more. Her memoir, “Screw Everyone,” was optioned for TV.
You’ll also hear music from Linzay Young, who hosts "Louisiana Byways" on WYSO, on Sundays from noon to 1 p.m. He is from Southwest Louisiana, where he grew up steeped in homegrown Cajun music and culture. With the Red Stick Ramblers he appeared at folk music festivals and concert venues around the Americas and Europe in the 2000s, while appearing on programs like HBO’s “Treme,” and with the late Chef Anthony Bourdain.
ABOUT WYSO
WYSO is a nonprofit, community-owned public radio station serving Southwest Ohio with news, music and storytelling. We are the area’s only NPR station, carrying flagship programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
WYSO’s news team provides local news and public affairs programming and is a founding member of The Ohio Newsroom, a formal collaboration of Ohio’s existing network of public radio newsrooms that creates a sustainable model for news coverage. WYSO’s music department produces unique music programs featuring hand-selected music from songwriters and bands that reach across genres. WYSO’s Eichelberger Center for Community Voices provides hands-on audio production and digital storytelling training and producers make stories that address the most pressing issues in our community including race relations, immigration, veterans affairs and more.