The Story Collider

The Story Collider sits at the intersection of science and personal storytelling, and it makes that crossroads more interesting than you might expect. The show features live performances where scientists, patients, teachers, and others share true stories about how science has shaped their lives. These are not lectures or explainers — they are narratives about human experience that happen to involve science, told by people who are genuinely affected by the subject. Hosted by Erin Barker and Misha Gajewski, the podcast draws from dozens of live events held across the country each year. A cancer researcher talks about the moment she found a lump on her own body. An astronomer describes losing his eyesight. A patient shares what it felt like to be misdiagnosed for years. The stories are personal and specific, which is what gives them their power. You do not need a science background to connect with them. With over 700 episodes in the archive, The Story Collider is one of the most prolific storytelling podcasts around. New episodes drop weekly, running about 20 to 40 minutes. The show holds a 4.4 star rating from nearly 800 Apple reviews. If you like the live-storytelling format of The Moth but wish more stories engaged with science, medicine, and discovery, The Story Collider fills that space with real emotional depth.