The Story Collider

Happy National Honey Month! In honor of Honey Month, we wanted to celebrate beekeepers and the humble honey bees. In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share their adventures with beekeeping.

Part 1: When Julie Carrick Dalton goes to check on her bees one day, she notices something isn’t right.

This story was shared at the Urban Waggle, a live storytelling event in support of the mission and programs at the Urban Bee Lab, in Somerville, MA in November 2023.

Part 2: Jon Schulz thinks rescuing a neglected apiary is the perfect opportunity to e...

We're diving back into our archives to bring you some of our most memorable and impactful stories and episodes we've ever shared on The Story Collider podcast. This week, we're presenting stories about passion for science that keeps us going, even in the face of overwhelming struggle. 

Part 1: When Cailin Gallinger struggles with her gender identity in college, her volunteer position in a plant lab becomes a lifeline.

Part 2: In the midst of homelessness and abuse, Rose DF dreams of a life in science. 

These stories do include mentions of suicide, rape, sexual abu...

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share their experiences with grief and how they chose to say farewell to their dearly departed.

Part 1: When Sanjana Murthy misses her grandfather’s funeral, she struggles with the lack of closure.

Part 2: Paul Barach impulsively decides to walk the Pacific Coast Trail to escape the grief of his girlfriend’s suicide.

This story does include mentions of suicide. In case you’d find them helpful, now or at any point in the future, we have some resources available on our website.

New York...

Fanny, vajayjay, kitty, muff, coochie, hoo ha, lady garden – whatever you call it, in this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share weird and wonderful tales about their vaginas.

Part 1: When Milly McDermott is 15, she finds a grapefruit-sized tumor growing out of her vagina.

Part 2: After a guy she was dating tells Dawn Harris she has two vaginas, she can’t help but wonder what is going on down there.

Milly McDermott is a cartoonist, comedian, and show runner who has ran comedy shows in both the U.S. and in China. Milly be...

Defining yourself as a person or as a scientist is no easy feat. In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers grapple with who they are and how they want to be perceived.

Part 1: After Fernando Cuevas flunks out of college, he’s worried he’s destined to be stuck at his dead end Best Buy job forever.

Part 2: When Sonia Rehal’s sister passes from complications caused by the rare disease lipodystrophy, she doesn’t know how to define herself in the absence of her other half.

Fernando Leonardo Cuevas is a Theoreti...

As The Beatles famously sang: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” And the saying is just as true in life as it is in science. In fact, in this week’s episode, both of our storytellers show just how much they needed the help of their friends to succeed at science.

Part 1: Months into her fly experiment Michaela Agapiou still can’t catch flies efficiently and now she’s faced with the challenge of scaling up her experiment.

Part 2: In order to get a good grade in her biology class, Ashley McKelvy de...

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers discover shocking truths through genetic analysis.

Part 1: When Mackenzie Brown’s adoptive father passes away suddenly from a heart condition, she is determined to find out what genes she did inherit.

Part 2: Martha Buford Reiskind thought the case of her mom’s murder was closed when no DNA match came up for the single piece of hair left at the scene.

Mackenzie Brown grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated with a Masters of Public Health from the Brody School of Medicine at East C...

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers grapple with what they can and can’t eat.

Part 1: Danielle Meinert struggles to eat anything other than cheese pizza, Easy Mac and toast with butter.

Part 2: Ellis Ballard has life-threatening food allergies, which makes eating, drinking and living life challenging.

Danielle Meinert is a writer and recovery advocate for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). She lives with her husband and adopted mini poodles in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves food.

Ellis Ballard is a creative producer, editor, director and prolific maker of cr...

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share their less than straightforward paths to healthier lifestyles.

Part 1: Asthma had always held Tara Turner back, but when the doctor tells her she’s officially “obese,” she decides to make a change. 

Part 2: Paul Aflalo struggles with the decision to get gastric bypass surgery.

Tara Turner began her journey in the fitness industry over 20 years ago. She has dedicated her life to helping people achieve their fitness goals. Tara holds several national certifications including Group Exercise, Personal Training, Spinning, and Zumba. She is also a ma...

In honor of Disability Pride Month, this week’s episode examines personal triumphs and societal challenges of being a person with disabilities in STEM.

Part 1: As a deaf person, Alma Schrage doesn’t see a place for herself in the traditional academic world of science.

Part 2: After a fall leaves Jennifer Piatek paralyzed, she must rethink how she defines herself as a scientist.

Alma Schrage is a bee biologist currently involved in conservation research for the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. Deaf since birth, Alma uses American Sign Language and English. She often uses her fine...