Dave Isay, the founder of StoryCorps, said his dream for One Small Step, an initiative that pairs politically divided strangers for one-on-one conversations, is to “convince the country it’s our patriotic duty to see the humanity in the people with whom you disagree.”

Speaking with Editor in Chief Sara Custer in a recent episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed’s news and analysis podcast, Isay said, “I think people are scared because, you know, democracy can’t survive in a swamp of mutual contempt, and everybody understands that, so they’re open to doing this.” 

StoryCorps is now taking the dialogue project to college campuses in an effort to bridge political divides. 

After One Small Step launched nationwide in 2024, Isay said, college leaders approached the nonprofit about bringing the project to their campuses. “It’s just about creating proximity and connection, and there’s a massive, exhausted majority of kids and faculty and staff and people who just want to learn,” he said. So far, Dartmouth College and Vanderbilt University have launched One Small Step on Campus programs in partnership with StoryCorps.  

The conversations can also help promote belonging among students and the campus community, Isay said. “We’ve been led to believe the other side is crazy and evil and completely different than us. And when you realize they’re actually not, you’re so relieved, right?” he said. “These interviews make people more hopeful and less fearful, which is what you want.”

Listen to the full episode of The Key.