Rephonic
Artwork for The Story Collider

The Story Collider

Story Collider, Inc.
Science
Mental Health
Friendship
Neuroscience
Climate Change
STEM
Motherhood
Education
Science Communication
Identity
New York City
Family Dynamics
Resilience
Parenting
Personal Growth
Cancer
Grief
Storytelling
Biology
Wildfires

Whether we wear a lab coat or haven't seen a test tube since grade school, science is shaping all of our lives. And that means we all have science stories to tell. Every year, we host dozens of live shows all over the country, featuring all kinds of storytellers - researchers, doctors, and engineers of course, but also patients, poets, comedians, cops, and more. Some of our stories are heartbreaki... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes740Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceArtsPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Story Collider

Latest Episodes

In honour of National Coming Out Day on October 11, we're sharing two stories about queer journeys, self-discovery, and what it means to finally become your authentic self.

Part 1: Every time Billie Sainwood is intimate with a partner, she loses con... more

YouTube

Every family has secrets. But some secrets have the power to completely reshape who you think you are. In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers uncover revelations that change everything they thought they knew about themselves.

Part 1: When ... more

YouTube

This week we present two classic stories of people struggling with what the “right” thing to do is.

Part 1: Catherine Macdonald always wanted to study sharks, but her first time tagging them in the field doesn't go as planned.

Part 2: When Michell... more

YouTube

This week’s episode — produced in partnership with Boise State University’s “AWESOME” Center — features two stories from The AWESOME Center’s research team.

Part 1: Physicist Leslie Atkins has spent her life trusting evidence over intuition.

Par... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Moth
The MothThe Moth
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
RISK!
RISK!RISK!
Snap Judgment
Snap JudgmentSnap Judgment and PRX
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Catherine Macdonald
Co-founder and director of Field School, marine scientist
Field School / University of Miami
Episode: Best of Story Collider: Code of Ethics
Michelle Tong
Medical student and storyteller
University of Miami / Mount Sinai?
Episode: Best of Story Collider: Code of Ethics
Leslie Atkins
Professor at Boise State University
Boise State University
Episode: Do-over: Stories from Boise State University
Eric Jankowski
Leads the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University; PI of AWESOME Center
Boise State University
Episode: Do-over: Stories from Boise State University
Weiji Ma
New York University Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology
New York University
Episode: Chasing Perfect: Stories about the pursuit of perfection
Chia Lin
Research scientist at the Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Research Lab
Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Lab, Columbus, OH
Episode: Chasing Perfect: Stories about the pursuit of perfection
Kim Babiarz
Research director of the Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab
Stanford University
Episode: Taking Back Power: Stories about reclaiming control
Denise Cai
Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Mount Sinai
Episode: Taking Back Power: Stories about reclaiming control
Jenice Matias
Dancer, singer, actress, and storyteller performing in New York City
Independent artist
Episode: Best of Story Collider: Revelations

Hosts

Misha Gajasky
Host of Story Collider; frequent interviewer and storyteller, with a focus on human-centered science narratives.
Michelle Gajewski
Co-host and Story Collider contributor with background in science storytelling and outreach.
Erin Barker
Host and storyteller; contributed to shaping the podcast's narrative voice and narrative science communication.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Please fix volume issues

    I’ve been listening to The Story Collider for years and I really enjoy the storytelling. However, I have noticed that in the past couple of years, they must be having trouble mixing the audio because the intros and stories are often very quite, so I turn up the volume and then when we hit an ad brake the ad is absolutely blaring in my ears. It seems like it should be a relatively easy fix. I would really appreciate your attention to this detail.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bangell14
    United Statesa month ago
  • At the top of the list —A terrific storytelling program

    Each week the link between science and story is fascinated as people share personal and professional accounts that inspire and educate. I love this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SunRa Rebel
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic Stories

    The stories is this show involve humanity. Touching, funny and real. Always about connections

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KLW,III
    United States2 years ago
  • Lots of promotion, some stories

    It’s a mixed bag. Some topics and stories are compelling enough to overlook the time spent in ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wide Awake and Dreaming
    United States2 years ago
  • Science?

    Really not sure how social justice equals science but however, you can push your narrative to indoctrinate the minds of the masses. So please by all means wrap your social justice in a scientific bow so our youth can continue to be victims and oppressed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BCHOWN13
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback ranges from high praise for personal stories to critiques about formatting and focus on science.
Listeners appreciate the intimate science storytelling and the human-centered approach to research and education.
Some reviews note host dynamics and pacing; others praise production quality and storytelling strength.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#188
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#171
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#132
Singapore/Science
Apple Podcasts
#140
Hong Kong/Science
Apple Podcasts
#154
Brazil/Science
Apple Podcasts
#184
Ireland/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cures: Stories about getting better
Q: How did Nick cope with the impact of his father's Lewy Body Dementia on his family?
Nick reflected on his father's decline, expressively detailing the emotional toll it took on him and his decision to seek new forms of treatment for his own mental health following his father's passing.
Cures: Stories about getting better
Q: What challenges did Deandra face regarding her mental health during her education?
Deandra struggled with identifying her mental health issues, particularly ADHD and trichotillomania, while facing the stigma of her family's financial constraints and the fear of deportation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Story Collider

What is The Story Collider about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Stories blend personal narrative with science, highlighting how real-life experiences— from classrooms and research labs to families and communities— illuminate larger scientific and societal themes. Episodes frequently center on education, healthcare, technology, and courage under uncertainty, often weaving data, policy, and mentorship into intimate first-person tales. The format tends to reward vulnerability, clarity, and memorable moments that connect complex ideas to everyday life, sometimes mixing humor with serious reflection. A standout is the consistent focus on humanizing science through individual journeys, making it a strong fit for listeners who want science to feel personal and relevant while also offering rich opportunities fo... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Story Collider?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Story Collider. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Story Collider and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Story Collider get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Story Collider, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Story Collider?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Story Collider, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Story Collider have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Story Collider has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Story Collider?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Story Collider:

1. The Moth
2. This American Life
3. RISK!
4. Snap Judgment
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of The Story Collider are there?

The Story Collider launched 16 years ago and published 740 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Story Collider?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Story Collider?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Story Collider from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Story Collider?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Story Collider. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Story Collider?

Recent guests on The Story Collider include:

1. Catherine Macdonald
2. Michelle Tong
3. Leslie Atkins
4. Eric Jankowski
5. Weiji Ma
6. Chia Lin
7. Kim Babiarz
8. Denise Cai

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days