Toronto / New York — Wildfires threatening neighbourhoods. Air pollution choking major cities. Flood risks rising in places once thought safe. As climate change increasingly reshapes urban life, a new podcast series from The Story Collider explores what those changes look like through the people experiencing them firsthand.

 

The award-winning storytelling podcast is launching a special series focused on urban climate change, with each episode exploring a different element — fire, air, water, and earth — through powerful, true personal stories.

 

While climate change is often discussed through scientific reports and policy debates, the series focuses on the moments when global forces become deeply personal: a researcher discovering how vulnerable communities are to flooding, a filmmaker witnessing how human activity is altering animal behaviour, a scientist confronting extreme air pollution, and survivors reflecting on the growing threat of wildfires.

 

“Climate change can feel abstract or distant until it suddenly shows up in your life,” said Misha Gajewski, host of The Story Collider podcast. “These stories capture those moments — when something people thought was theoretical becomes immediate and real.”

 

Across the series, storytellers include scientists, engineers, researchers, and community advocates who share how environmental changes are shaping their work, their communities, and their understanding of the world around them.

 

The stories reveal the complex ways climate change intersects with everyday life in cities — affecting public health, infrastructure, housing, and even the air we breathe.

 

Founded in 2010, The Story Collider is an award-winning storytelling organization dedicated to sharing true, personal stories about science. Through its live shows and podcast, the organization has featured hundreds of storytellers from around the world, offering audiences a deeply human perspective on scientific issues.

 

The Urban Climate Change series launches April 3 on The Story Collider podcast, wherever podcasts are available.