The Story Collider: True, Personal Stories About Science
CIRCUMSTANCES

Join us for an evening of true personal stories about science that explore how circumstances shape our future. Sometimes we end up in situations we can’t control. How we react and adapt helps us shape our future. Story Collider is proud to partner with the ASU Kerr’s Gather Storytelling series, featuring five amazing stories about making the best of our circumstances.

Hosted by Saad Sarwana and Raj Sivaraman.

Phoenix’s Story Collider programs are hosted by storytelling scientists Raj Sivaraman and Saad Sarwana. Sivaraman is a writer, comedian and research scientist, while Sarwana is a physicist, engineer and award-winning storyteller. They’re passionate about sharing science through humor and heart.

Storytellers

Diva Danielle
Danielle is a former broadcast journalist with over 20 years of experience in television, radio and print media. Danielle is passionate about her community, the art of conversation through storytelling and engaging others through humor.

Danielle enjoys performing as a stand-up comedian and working her business Diva Strong Media LLC as an entrepreneur. She enjoys volunteering in the community, working with nonprofit organizations. Danielle’s community involvement and positive, infectious personality have earned her special awards and recognition for her ability to inspire others going through difficult life challenges.

Dr. Joe Roselle
Dr. Joe Roselle is an educator, climate activist, and Chief Operating Officer of Urban Farming Education (UFE), where he leads initiatives to bridge the gap between information and action through climate-smart education. With a doctorate in education, Dr. Roselle is passionate about hands-on, problem-based learning that empowers individuals to become environmental stewards. His leadership at UFE focuses on developing regenerative agriculture programs, strengthening community collaboration and fostering educational partnerships that align with global sustainability goals.

An advocate for holistic land stewardship, Dr. Roselle champions composting, soil health and waste-to-resource initiatives, helping communities transition toward sustainable systems. His vision is to inspire a new generation of changemakers who recognize the value of environmental responsibility and collective action in addressing global climate challenges.

Dr. Saira Hamid
Dr. Saira Hamid is a Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. She earned her doctoral degree in geological and planetary sciences in the Fall 2024. As a planetary scientist, she investigates phenomena such as volcanism, climate and the biosphere to better understand the evolution of Earth and other worlds. Above all, she loves to learn, constantly seeking that exhilarating moment when something suddenly makes sense.

Russell Kinner PE
Russell Kinner is a retired Industrial Controls Engineer. In his work, he designed equipment to produce consumer goods and pharmaceutical drugs. Originally from Ohio, he moved to the Valley of the Sun a little over 20 years ago. Married in 1974, Russ has three kids and eight grandchildren “who all know that he’s a nerd.”

Mary Jo Pollack
Mary Jo Pollack lives life out loud, not only as an award-winning storyteller but also as a general life philosophy. She has appeared at Odyssey Storytelling, Female Storytelling (FST!), Tellers of Tales Tucson, Phoenix Moth StorySLAM, which she won twice, and numerous virtual shows, including the 2022 Toronto Storytelling Festival. Mary Jo loves the 99-second storytelling format.

About Story Collider
Across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and beyond, Story Collider helps scientists and non-scientists alike craft and share powerful, personal narratives about how science has shaped their lives. From scientists and doctors to comedians, artists, firefighters and bartenders, storytellers from all backgrounds take the stage to share unforgettable moments of discovery, curiosity, and transformation.

Founded in 2010, Story Collider is known for its acclaimed weekly podcast—hailed by The Washington Post as “delightful, devastating, and endlessly listenable.” By blending oral storytelling with science, Story Collider reveals the deep and often surprising ways science impacts everyday life.

Don’t miss this unforgettable night of storytelling and science!

For more information, visit storycollider.org/phoenix.