Take One Small Step with StoryCorps

Is there someone with whom you disagree but still respect? Was there a moment, event, or person in your life who shaped your political views? Do you feel misunderstood by people who have different beliefs than you?

One Small Step is an effort to connect people so they can remember that people with whom they disagree are human beings. In doing this, we can begin to mend the fraying fabric of our nation – one conversation at a time.

Help us spark a movement to counter contempt and dehumanization with acts of listening and engagement. Are you interested in recording or partnering with StoryCorps on this effort? Sign up to receive email and be the first to hear about our 2020 tour stops, partner stations and more. You’ll also get tips on how to identify someone in your life to interview, plus recommended questions for conducting a One Small Step conversation.

About the Initiative

Over the last 16 years, StoryCorps has perfected a method for helping people feel more connected and for reminding us of the inherent worth of every person and every story. People come together to have otherwise impossible conversations, using our tools and questions. The microphone gives them license to talk about things they otherwise might not discuss.

Now, we are doing something different. We are asking people with different political views to record a StoryCorps interview with each other. Why? To break down boundaries created by politics and remember our shared humanity. To remind us that we have more in common than divides us and that treating those with whom we disagree with decency and respect is essential to a functioning democracy.

We believe that if you want to make a society work, you can’t just reinforce our differences—you also have to uncover our shared humanity. Since 2018, more than 800 people across the country have taken part in our pilot phase.

Listen to voices from One Small Step participants

Participate in One Small Step

Are you ready to get started today? If there is someone you know with whom you want to have a One Small Step conversation:

Use the StoryCorps App

Anyone with a smartphone can record an interview with the StoryCorps App. We recommend use of the app in conversations with someone you know—it is not suited for conversations between strangers. The StoryCorps App is available on iOS, Android devices and for Kindle.

Questions are built into the app to guide a conversation with someone in your life you may want to get to know better, including:

Can you tell me a little bit about your parents and where you grew up?
Can you tell me about an event or person in your life that shaped your political views?
Can you tell me about one or two people who have been been kindest to you in your life?
Can you think of any traits you admire in people on the other side of the political divide?

Download (PDF): Tips for Your One Small Step Conversation Using the StoryCorps App

Sign up to be matched with a partner

In 2020, we may be coming to your community! We are now seeking people of all backgrounds and beliefs to join us in taking one small step toward each other. If you want to be paired up with someone you do not know for a One Small Step conversation, please sign up for our email list to be contacted.

Partner with Us

We want to activate local communities around this project. To achieve this, StoryCorps is seeking partners that represent various political backgrounds and that can recruit, orient, then enlist their constituents in recording interviews. If you are interested in working side-by-side with StoryCorps to make these exciting and enriching conversations come to life, please contact us at onesmallstep@storycorps.org