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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
Grief
Parenting
Personal Growth
Cancer
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes744Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceArtsPerforming Arts

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Artwork for The Story Collider

Latest Episodes

The world has become increasingly divided, and more and more of us find ourselves navigating relationships with people whose views don’t align with our own. This mini-series explores the challenges, humor, and humanity of finding common ground—or lea... more

This week, we’re presenting two stories about incarceration, and its intersections with science.

Part 1: Looking to make an impact with science, Beverly Naigles and her fellow graduate students decide to teach a science class for incarcerated men at... more

YouTube

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers experience something that that defy scientific explanation.

Part 1: After ACL surgery leaves Valarie Walker unable to walk, she can't make it to her dying mother's bedside to say goodbye.

Part 2: W... more

YouTube

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers struggle to live up to the expectations their parents set for them.

Part 1: Growing up, Kat Arney was always told by her mom that she wasn't creative—that she was destined to be a scientist instead. more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Beverly Naigles
PhD student in quantitative biology at UC San Diego researching how cells respond to external signals
UC San Diego
Episode: Best of Story Collider: Incarceration
Khalil Cumberbatch
Formerly incarcerated criminal justice advocate and director of strategic partnerships at the Council on Criminal Justice
Council on Criminal Justice
Episode: Best of Story Collider: Incarceration
Valarie Walker
Published writer and award-winning storyteller whose stories have appeared on The Moth Radio Hour and the Volume Knob podcast
Episode: Supernatural: Stories about things that science can't explain
Robyn Jay
College English professor, storyteller, stage hypnotist, and former Montreal Improv player
Episode: Supernatural: Stories about things that science can't explain
Kat Arney
Science writer, broadcaster, public speaker and founder of a life science communications agency
First Create The Media
Episode: Living Up To It: Stories about parental expectations
Kevin McNulty
New York-based comedian who writes and performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade
Upright Citizens Brigade
Episode: Living Up To It: Stories about parental expectations
Billie Sainwood
Poet and performer whose work has appeared in Had Magazine and the Atlanta Fringe Festival
Episode: Seen: Stories about becoming yourself
Kelsea Best
Assistant professor researching climate justice and equitable climate adaptation
The Ohio State University
Episode: Seen: Stories about becoming yourself
Ryan Jones
Award-winning spoken word artist, environmental engineer, lawyer, and founder of Black Empowerment for Environmental Sustainability
Black Empowerment for Environmental Sustainability
Episode: Skeletons in the Closet: Stories about family secrets

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
  • Loud Comericals

    Title says it all. Please broadcast commercials at the same level as stories. At the moment they come across significantly louder.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Vurwefo333
    United States19 days ago
  • 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 States2 months 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

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
#105
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#130
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#177
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#51
Israel/Science
Apple Podcasts
#147
South Africa/Science
Apple Podcasts
#148
China/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?

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What are the audience demographics for The Story Collider?

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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. Snap Judgment
4. StoryCorps
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of The Story Collider are there?

The Story Collider launched 16 years ago and published 744 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. Beverly Naigles
2. Khalil Cumberbatch
3. Valarie Walker
4. Robyn Jay
5. Kat Arney
6. Kevin McNulty
7. Billie Sainwood
8. Kelsea Best

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.

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