StoryCorps Oklahoma

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Terri Angier and Emily Friedman.

They discuss how their mothers were influential to them. And Emily asks Terri about being away from her parents in Iran during the Iranian Revolution.

Oklahoma City became one of four StoryCorps anchoring their One Small Step initiative for 2022. In this episode of StoryCorps Oklahoma, KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills speak with StoryCorps field manager Bess Ser about what that means and how Oklahomans can participate.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Kristi Koures- a high school teacher - and Tristen Lee- a PhD student.

Koures and Lee were KOSU's first in-person One Small Step conversation to be recorded. In their conversation, they talked at length about education, individualism, grief and loss of a loved one - and their separate political journeys.

KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills walk you through the conversation ground rules that participants read before the conversation begins.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation features Kristin McAtee, an associate pastor who describes herself as moderate, but typically left leaning, and Marc Dreyer, a former Baptist pastor of 39 years, who describes himself as conservative with some moderate tendencies. The two met virtually to discuss if they think churches should do a better job of healing political divides. 

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. In this conversation, Kelli Dickerson and Carol Hilborn talk about the lessons they've learned from children and how they view themselves as voters. 

KOSU has been hosting personal conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds. In this StoryCorps One Small Step conversation, John - a Libertarian from Stillwater, and Olive, a Democratic trans-woman from OKC, discuss her fears coming out and John’s feelings as a parent.

One Small Step participants Nick Zoller and Karen McBee were not only one of the first sign-ups here in Oklahoma in 2021, but were also the first conversation KOSU recorded.

Both Nick and Karen have experiences as educators in higher education. We paired them not only because of their similarities in careers, but because both of them were looking to gain understanding from someone they knew was politically different from them.

Some of their differences included their views on economics and their relationship and journeys with religion. In the audio above, you'll hear just a snippet of their conversation about what led Karen to identify with agnosticism and what Nick's journey has been like, too.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise.

Take a listen to what we've heard people say on why they wanted to do this, what lessons they've learned from people in their lives, and what they hope for in their future discussions about politics.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise.

So far, KOSU has been able to host 20 One Small Step Conversations. KOSU facilitators Kateleigh Mills and Matthew Viriyapah have paired nearly 40 Oklahomans with differing viewpoints for a personal, 50-minute conversation.

"My observations from a facilitator's standpoint is that people want to work together," Mills said. "We've been told by several participants how happy they've been to participate in a project like this, that they've felt they did something meaningful towards healing the divisions within our society — even if it is just a small step."