Suzanne Rust

You'll hear that the recording quality back then isn't quite up to today's standards, but we think you'll be fine with it.

Here's Pauline.

That was Pauline Nguyen.

Pauline is an award-winning author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of the renowned Vietnamese restaurant Red Lantern in Sydney, Australia.

Her book, Secrets of the Red Lantern, Stories and Vietnamese Recipes from the Heart, is about her family's journey from their native Vietnam to Australia.

Our final story was told by Denise Bledsoe Slaughter at a story slam in Washington, D.C., where we partnered with public radio station WAMU.

Here's Denise.

Denise Bledsoe Slaughter is a self-described workaholic who looks forward to resting when she retires.

But for now, she's a special assistant at the University of the District of Columbia.

She also works with a nonprofit that provides education and career skills to low-income residents in the DC metro area.

She says that helping people realize their ambitions is what keeps her going.

I followed up with Denise to see how she was doing these days, and she joked that except for the vagaries of aging, she's doing just fine.

And while her brother still has his struggles, she is proud of his accomplishments and is still there for him 100%.

To see a poem that Denise wrote about Pearl but never got to deliver, go to themoth.org.

Pearl is no longer with us, but all these years later, Denise says that she is forever grateful for the friendship, tough love and guidance she provided, and the belly laughs that they shared.

And I heartily agree with Denise.

Everyone should have a black mother and a Jewish mother.

I was so lucky to have had the amazing Edna Rust as my mother, and fortunate to have a few Jewish mothers of my own.

Sarah B. and Susie S., thanks for being there.

Well, that's it for this episode of the Moth Radio Hour.