Sex ed instructor Charlie Blake fields an unexpected question from a student.

This story originally aired on The Story Collider’s podcast on December 10th, 2021 in an episode titled “Human Reproduction: Stories about how we learn about sex”. Find the transcript and other information: https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2021/11/10/human-reproduction-stories-about-how-we-learn-about-sex

Charlie Blake: First Date

As Zuri pursues her dream of becoming an immunologist at Harvard, she begins to worry that she’s being “weeded out.”

Zuri is an immunologist and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, where she studies how the immune system influences animal behavior. She hails from the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) and is fascinated by how the immune system helps animals adapt to different environments. Outside the lab, Zuri is passionate about increasing access to STEM careers for folks of all genders and ethnic backgrounds and sharing her science with the public. She loves spin class, sparkling rosé, and bragging about the fact that she shares a birthday with Beyoncé.

This story originally aired on The Story Collider’s podcast on December 31st, 2021 in an episode titled “A Magical Night: Stories about moments when science was magic”. Find the transcript and other information: https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2021/11/10/a-magical-night-stories-about-when-science-was-magic

Zuri: Black Girl Magic

When his mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, Ian has to take care of her, even though she didn't always do the best job of taking care of him.

This story originally aired on The Story Collider’s podcast on 9th July, 2020 in an episode titled “Help from Family Part 1: Stories about complicated relationships”. Find the transcript and other information: https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2020/7/7/help-from-family-part-1-stories-about-complicated-relationships

Ian: Waiting For Something

Riley Blevins went to work for Cure HHT in hopes of helping his son. But turns out, he wouldn't be the one doing the saving.

"Thankful," by Riley Blevins

Elizabeth Ann has trouble adjusting to a career at a non-profit, until something clicks about what it means to advocate for rare disease.

"Finding My Community," by Elizabeth Ann

Devotion

"Mad Libs" By Barabara Goodman

A chemistry set is the perfect opportunity for Nate Charles Troisi to connect with his engineer father.

Nate Charles Karagiannis-Troisi is an award-winning, multifaceted theatre maker and performer whose work spans decades, genres, mediums, and continents. He has studied, created, and performed extensively across Australia, The Netherlands, and the USA. His current focus lies in autobiographical explorations of multiculturalism, intergenerational trauma, sex, relationships, and contemporary Australia through a CALD and queer lens.

Trained at the Victorian College of the Arts in Naarm and currently residing and creating work in Tarntanya, Nate has worked as a facilitator for SAYArts Youth Theatre, Riverland Youth Theatre and a story-collector for Open Space Contemporary Arts (OSCA).. Most recently he performed the role of Freidrich von Schoen in the upcoming Asylum Studios film The Land That Time Forgot, and featured in the subsequent making-of documentary Mockbuster by Anthony Frith, and has received funding through Carclew to mentor young indigenous playwright Mali Harkin-Noack as she writes her first play Burn Your House to the Ground. In his spare time, he performs as keyboardist Howlin’ J. Weatherill in satirical country band Brad Chicken and the Bootstraps, and functions as half of theatre-trash duo Muse of Fire.

Nate Charles Troisi: Family Chemistry

A young neuroscientist seeks control through an eating disorder.

Kia is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, where she majored in neuroscience and mathematics. For two years after graduation she worked as the lab manager for a neuroscience lab at Brown University in Providence, RI. For the past six months she has been traveling and working on organic farms in New Zealand with her girlfriend. She recently returned to the US and is pausing in Providence to reunite with her cats and friends before moving to San Francisco to work in the tech industry.

Kia: Control

Ecologist Thom Young-Bayer makes the unthinkable decision to leave science after his life changes course.

Thom Young-Bayer’s affinity for the outdoors developed into a brief career as an ecologist, during which he worked as a tropical forest guide, studied coral reef fish and kelp forests, and traveled to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Since then, he has managed two organic farms, worked on a commercial fishing vessel, sailed across the Pacific using celestial navigation, and worked as the First Mate of a Maine windjammer. He maintains his tenuous grip on sanity with open water swimming, ultra-marathon running, and classical piano. He lives with his wife, Skylar, and their two dogs in Maine.

This story originally aired on The Story Collider's podcast on March 3, 2017, in an episode titled "Natural Habitats." Find the transcript and other information here: https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2017/3/3/natural-habitats-helen-cheng-thom-young-bayer

Thom Young-Bayer: The Rough Draft

At 22 years old, Jenn M is accepted to graduate school just as she discovers she's pregnant.

Jenn received her master’s in public history from UMBC where she focused on the Black Power movement. Her articles on the Black Power movement and the history of abortion rights have been featured in the Washington Post. Most importantly, Jenn loves storytelling and is thrilled to be part of the Story Collider family. She is the executive producer of the live storytelling show Health’s Angels: Personal Stories about Women’s Health, where women can share their mental, physical, and emotional health stories. You can find more at healthsangelsdc.com. Say hi to her on Twitter @jenn_montooth.

This story originally aired on The Story Collider’s podcast on September 13, 2019, in an episode titled “Secrets: Stories about the things we keep to ourselves”. Find the transcript and other information here:
https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2019/9/9/secret-stories-about-the-things-we-keep-to-ourselves

Devotion

Orgone Generator