PITCH YOUR STORY!

The Story Collider is always on the lookout for true, personal, ten-minute stories about science! If you would like to tell a story at one of shows, we would love to hear from you. You can fill out the form to the right (recommended) or email all of that information to stories@storycollider.org.

Right now, Story Collider is on the lookout for compelling, personal stories for two upcoming podcast series! We’re looking for storytellers with unique perspectives and lived experiences related to the following themes:

Urban Climate Change: As we’ve seen with the recent wildfires in LA, cities are on the frontlines of climate change—whether it’s rising temperatures, innovative green infrastructure, or surprising moments of resilience in urban settings. We’re looking for stories about how this global challenge intersects with your personal journey in the urban world. Have you experienced extreme weather in your city? Played a part in an urban sustainability project? Or found unexpected connections between city living and the natural world? Tell us about it!

Bridging Beliefs: Have you navigated relationships with people whose beliefs about science differ from your own? Whether it’s climate change, vaccines, evolution, or other controversial scientific topics, we’re looking for stories that explore the challenges, humor, and humanity of these conversations. Have you found common ground with someone who sees science differently? Had a personal turning point that changed your own perspective? Or struggled to connect with loved ones because of differing views on science? Or maybe you study how people deal with conflict and have the secret answer to how we can all learn to get along in this increasingly divided world. Either way we want to hear about how you’ve dealt with being at odds.

Please note that we are only remote recording a few stories a year now; the majority of our stories must be performed in front of an audience at one of our shows in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, D.C., or London in the U.K.

Some tips for a great Story Collider story:

  1. It must NOT be a lecture. Though we are a science storytelling show, our goal is not to educate our audience, but to build an emotional connection between science and the public. So while each story must contain a significant science element, we ask that you use only as much science as needed for the audience to understand and follow your story. Oh, and no PowerPoint slides!

  2. The story must be about YOU. True, personal stories have the most power when they are about the person telling them! Let us in on your thoughts and feelings so we can go on the journey with you.

  3. The story must have an arc. This means that you, the storyteller, change from the beginning to the end of the story. This change can be big or small -- as momentous as becoming a father or as small as learning to ask for help -- but it has to be there in order for the audience to feel that the story is going somewhere.

  4. Keep in mind that there is a small time commitment involved. Every storyteller works one on one with a Story Collider producer to brainstorm and shape their story, and then we typically hold a group rehearsal one to three days before the show.

  5. For examples of stories that our producers have loved, check out our podcast page!

For advice on writing your story, see our tips here.

Note: The Story Collider does not accept pre-recorded submissions for its podcast.