Frequently Asked Questions

One Small Step (OSS) brings strangers with different beliefs and backgrounds together to record a 50-minute conversation — not to debate politics — simply to get to know each other as people. Rooted in contact theory, the goal of OSS is to reduce affective polarization by making these kinds of conversations across the divide normal again. We are currently focused in one Model Community (Columbus, GA) and we partner with a handful of public radio stations each year that implement their own OSS initiatives. In 2024, we expanded OSS nationwide with the launch of a public service campaign and the public rollout of our new digital platform, OSS Connect, which allows anyone, anywhere to participate in a conversation. To date, thousands of people in all 50 U.S. states have taken part.

StoryCorps piloted the OSS initiative in 2017 and launched it in 2021. For over 20 years StoryCorps’ tested and trusted methods have encouraged meaningful conversations and sharing individual stories that empower everyday people to bridge divides. OSS is one of StoryCorps’ most important initiatives. It builds on StoryCorps’ legacy and is integral to our mission: StoryCorps helps us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all — one story at a time.

Enter your zip code and click the “Sign up for a conversation” button which will take you to our matching questionnaire — it only takes 10 minutes to complete the form and then we’ll begin the process of finding a conversation partner for you. You’ll have differences for sure, but also some things in common.

You will receive an email with several potential matches to review. You can choose to accept and schedule as many conversations as you like on our digital platform. If you’re in a Radio Station Hub community, we will reach out to you by phone and/or email to schedule a conversation once we have a match for you. 

You will access our digital platform (OSS Connect) to participate in a virtual conversation, with support from One Small Step along the way. If you live in a Radio Station Hubs community, your conversation will take place either in person or virtually with a One Small Step-trained facilitator on hand to help guide the experience.

Model Communities have played a vital role in shaping OSS. Insights from these select regions have directly informed our national expansion in 2024, including the launch of our online platform, OSS Connect. While the initiative is now national, we continue to work deeply in our current Model Community, Columbus, GA, and remain grateful to our former Model Communities for laying the foundation.

Each year, we partner with a handful of public radio stations that implement OSS in their communities and help expand access to the program nationwide. The stations recruit participants, facilitate conversations, and air stories locally. 

A “facilitated” conversation means a trained facilitator is on hand to guide you through the conversation process.

A “self-directed” conversation means you and your partner are directing your own experience through our OSS Connect platform. This virtual experience is supported by a robust set of resources to help you have a rewarding and meaningful conversation experience.

A “facilitated” conversation means a StoryCorps trained facilitator is on hand to guide you through the conversation process.

A “self-directed” conversation means you and your partner are directing your own experience through our OSS Connect platform. This virtual experience is supported by a robust set of resources to help you have a rewarding and meaningful conversation experience.

You can be a part of OSS from anywhere in the U.S. Click here, enter your zip code, and complete the questionnaire to be matched. We provide you with matches, and then you choose your partner(s) and schedule a conversation with recommendations and support along the way from us. Those who live near a Radio Station Hubs community may have the opportunity to be paired with a local conversation partner. 

For those who are participating in the OSS Connect experience and have misplaced information on partner matches, you can check the status of your matches. Simply submit your email here, and you will receive a link to view all of your matches.

An audio recording of your conversation will be uploaded to the Library of Congress and to the StoryCorps Archive if you choose to sign a release. You and your conversation partner can decide together if you want to make your conversation public or private. If you choose to make your conversation public, we may decide to use snippets from your conversation in short animations that we share broadly through social media, on our website, and on our partners’ digital outlets. Showcasing participants having these kinds of conversations across the divide helps others feel more hopeful and more willing to engage people with different beliefs. Learn more about privacy/visibility settings on the Archive.

Your privacy matters. Your data helps us to match you with the right partner so you have a meaningful conversation, but we are careful to limit the amount of information we share on your behalf. What we share will vary according to which experience you sign up for. Read the information on your matching questionnaire carefully and verify that you are comfortable with what information is shared with potential conversation partners (this includes a short biography you provide about yourself). We encourage you to be thoughtful about sharing any personally identifiable information publicly. Read more in our privacy policy.

To learn more about partnership opportunities, visit our partners page. You can also bring OSS to your community by using our DIY tools to create your own OSS-inspired program.

OSS doesn’t offer volunteer roles, however, we welcome you to create your own StoryCorps-inspired project using our DIY tools.