PODCAST · news
The Community's Conversation
by Columbus Metropolitan Club
Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For over 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of Congress, college presidents, UN ambassadors, artists, and other changemakers — sharing insights and discussion. Together, we examine issues that matter, exchange diverse perspectives, and forge connections that create a better Columbus. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.
Episodes
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Ohio's Future: A Conversation with Vivek Ramaswamy
Ohio will elect a new governor this November at a consequential moment for the state and the nation. From jobs, affordability, education, healthcare, and housing, to the relationship between state and local government, Ohio's next governor will face decisions that will shape the state and our...
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Can Columbus Become a City of Service?
What would it take for Columbus to truly become known as a city of service? In a city of service, individuals show up. They take the initiative to improve their communities. They readily find allies in other like-minded individuals and organizations ready to lend a hand to help a great idea scale...
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A Conversation with "Atomic Habits" Author James Clear
James Clear has helped millions of people rethink how meaningful change happens—not through dramatic transformations, but through small choices, better systems, and habits that compound over time. In this Columbus Metropolitan Club conversation, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atomic...
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More Than a Meal: The Future of Fighting Hunger in Central Ohio
Hunger in Central Ohio isn't a problem at the margins of our communities. It's a workforce issue, a health issue, an education issue, and a test of whether our growing region can take care of the people who make it work (and the families who depend on them). As Matt Habash prepares to retire…
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Building the Workforce Behind the American Dream
Central Ohio is attracting historic levels of investment in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, bioscience, and other rapidly expanding industries. But landing new facilities is just the beginning. Our region's economic future depends on its ability to build and sustain the right workforce.…
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A 50th Anniversary Conversation: The Future of Civic Dialogue
For 50 years, the Columbus Metropolitan Club has brought Central Ohio together through moments of crisis and celebration, disagreement and discovery, grounded in the belief that dialogue matters. As CMC marks its 50th anniversary with this special forum, social psychologist Dr. Kurt Gray turns…
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Raising the Curtain on Columbus' Cultural Future
For 100 years, the Palace Theatre has evolved alongside Columbus, bringing generations of performers and audiences together in the heart of downtown. As the city continues to grow, what will it take to sustain a thriving performing arts ecosystem? Leaders from the Lincoln Theatre, Opera Columbus,...
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Who's Watching? The Fight Over Flock Cameras
Flock Safety's automated license plate readers are becoming a common sight across Central Ohio, helping police locate missing children, recover stolen vehicles, and solve crimes. But when does a public-safety tool become mass surveillance? With millions of ordinary drivers captured in these...
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From Long Lines to Logins: What Happens When Government Works Better for Everyone?
People can order groceries, deposit checks, and manage their healthcare from a smartphone. So why does dealing with government still sometimes require paperwork, phone trees, waits, and multiple websites? Across Ohio and Central Ohio, that's changing. From the Ohio BMV's digital upgrades to…
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Designing a Democracy for the Next 250 Years
America's experiment in democracy was designed and launched 250 years ago—and it hasn't stopped evolving since. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we reframe America's semiquincentennial not as a momentary celebration, but as a democratic handoff with a commitment to the future. Can...
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Written in Stone: Ohio Women, Public Memory, and the New Statehouse Monument
Public monuments tell us what a community chooses to remember — and who it chooses to see. For generations, the Ohio Statehouse grounds have honored presidents, governors, astronauts, and statesmen — but not actual women. That will change this fall, when the new Ohio Women's Monument is unveiled…
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Racing to Build a New Midwest
For generations, the Midwest built the products, industries, and institutions that powered America. Now we're racing to build what comes next: AI companies, advanced manufacturing ventures, health innovations, and more, all with new models of work and ownership. Across the region, founders are...
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The Power of Showing Up: A New Case for Engagement
Community need is growing while many people feel increasingly disconnected—from their neighbors, their workplaces, and even their sense of purpose. What if one solution could begin to address all three? In this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders from philanthropy, business, and the…
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The Airport Advantage: Building Central Ohio's Next Economy
Columbus' major airports are much more than places to catch a flight. John Glenn International, Rickenbacker International, and Bolton Field are the region's front doors — a first impression for visitors, a critical link for global businesses, and a major piece of the critical infrastructure…
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A Bigger Central Ohio Will Need a Bigger Safety Net
Central Ohio's future promises growth, momentum, and opportunity. But as the region adds more people and faces mounting pressure on housing, health care, and human services, a challenging question is emerging: will the systems we rely on be able to keep up? In this forum, we take one of the first...
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There's No Casserole for That: Mental Health, Loneliness, and the Courage to Show Up
There might be more public resources for mental health than ever before — awareness months, crisis lines, wellness apps, and hashtags. But when someone's real life falls apart, many of us still don't know what to say, what to do, or how to show up. In a deeply personal essay recently published in...
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Annual State of Nonprofits: The Future of Funding Good Work
When communities face urgent challenges—from housing instability and food insecurity to family crisis—nonprofits often respond first and stay the longest. Yet many organizations are being asked to do more while navigating outdated funding systems, delayed reimbursements, and growing financial...
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What Women's Pro Soccer Means for Columbus
Columbus is getting a National Women's Soccer League team—and with it, a powerful new chapter in the region's sports story is beginning. Set to begin play in 2028, the franchise brings major-league momentum, prominent ownership, and growing excitement around the future of women's sports in…
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How Ohio's Medicaid Squeeze Could Impact Families
Ohio's Medicaid program covers more than three million people, but major policy and funding changes now underway could reshape how care is delivered across the state. This week, healthcare leaders, policy experts, and lawmakers examine what proposed Medicaid changes could mean for hospitals,...
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A Conversation with Governor Mike DeWine
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine returns to the Columbus Metropolitan Club for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, policy, and Ohio's future. In discussion with veteran Statehouse News Bureau journalist Jo Ingles, Governor DeWine reflects on his long career in public service while exploring…
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Turning AI Success into Columbus' Next Advantage
The AI economy in Central Ohio is creating entirely new businesses. At the same time, it's reshaping nearly every existing business. The key to both these upheavals? Visionary leadership of the human kind. Will Columbus lead, follow, or just watch the AI revolution from the sidelines? Innovative...
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Who Holds the Keys to Economic Mobility?
As Central Ohio grows, the question isn't just how fast—but who benefits. In this timely conversation, leaders from economics, community development, and education explore what truly drives economic mobility, why generational poverty persists, and what it will take to create more equitable…
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Life After Cars: Redesigning Cities for People
What if the way we move is shaping the way we live — but not for the better? Join us with the authors of the new national bestselling book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, and the hosts of the acclaimed podcast "The War on Cars" for a bold conversation about...
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Ohio's Data Center Debate
Central Ohio has become a magnet for data center development, drawing global tech companies and fueling economic growth. But as these massive facilities expand, communities are grappling with big questions about energy demand, land use, infrastructure strain, and environmental impact. Leaders…
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Older Adults Are Aging Right Into Homelessness
Across Central Ohio, more older adults are facing housing instability as rents outpace fixed incomes and affordable housing falls short. A local experimental program offering just $330 a month in rental support showed striking results—improved financial stability, health, and overall well-being....
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The Race for Ohio's Economic Future
It's no secret that Ohio is a fierce—and successful—economic competitor. But the state now faces pressing questions about its ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing national and global landscape. With slowing population growth, workforce shortages, trade and tariff uncertainty, and…
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Primal Intelligence: The Human Edge in an AI World
AI is getting smarter. But are we? What if the future doesn't belong to people who can out-calculate machines—but to people who can out-imagine them? In a world dominated by algorithms and automation, what makes us irreplaceably human? According to this week's special forum guest, the answer…
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The War Within a War: Wil Haygood on Race, Vietnam, and America's Reckoning
What did the Vietnam War reveal about race, democracy, and the unfinished struggle for equality in America? In this powerful Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, acclaimed journalist, professor, author, and Columbus native Wil Haygood discusses his new best-selling book, The War Within a War: The...
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The Power of the Arts in a Changing City: A Conversation with GCAC's Mitch Menchaca
This candid 1:1 conversation features Mitch Menchaca, the newly appointed CEO of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, as he shares his unexpected journey from the stages of Arizona to leading arts policy in Phoenix—to now shaping the creative future of Columbus. Once a visitor who thought there…
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When Staying in School Takes More Than School
Behind every report card is a bigger story. For many Central Ohio students, poverty, trauma, food insecurity, housing instability, and citizenship status create barriers to learning that schools can't solve alone. In this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders in education and student support...
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The Ambition Gap: Why Women Are Advancing Less—And What Leaders Can Do About It
A new study, Women in the Workplace 2025, reports a troubling reversal: stalled early advancement, declining company commitment, and a new ambition gap as fewer women aspire to promotion than men for the first time in a decade. In a fast growing Central Ohio economy, this Columbus Metropolitan…
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Braids, Business, and Belonging: Black Hair and Identity in Columbus
Hair is never just hair—it's history, artistry, and identity woven together. Inspired by the upcoming production of Jaja's African Hair Braiding (at the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, March 5–22, 2026), this forum invites you into a conversation about the cultural, economic, and social…
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What We Get Right - and Wrong - About Women's Health
Women's health is at a pivotal moment in Ohio. From maternal care deserts and rising maternal mortality, to oncology advances and long-overdue conversations about menopause and postpartum mental health, this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum explores what our region is getting right—and where the...
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The State of Child Care
The state of Central Ohio's childcare industry impacts parents, employers, the region's overall economy, and of course, the children who depend on quality childcare facilities and professionals. With so much riding on the state of childcare, we unpack the new 2025 Action for Children's Central…
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Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity at unprecedented speed. From state government to public transit to global business, leaders are confronting new risks while deploying new tools to defend critical systems. This forum examines how AI is changing cyber threats, what…
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Haitian Refugees and the Future of Immigration in Central Ohio
Tucked into neighborhoods across Central Ohio are thousands of Haitian refugees and their families who've built lives, businesses, and communities—many under a federal designation called Temporary Protected Status (TPS). With that protection set to expire on February 3, their futures hang in the...
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Black Men in Central Ohio: Realities, Resilience, and the Road Ahead
What does it mean to be a Black man in Central Ohio in 2026? In Central Ohio, Black men face a unique and often underexamined set of challenges — and opportunities — shaped by generations of systemic inequities and the evolving dynamics of a rapidly growing region. Black men continue to be...
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Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast
What will power Central Ohio's economy in 2026—and what's keeping business leaders up at night? With changing tariffs, reduced immigration, and transformative tech like AI reshaping industries, the economic road ahead is anything but clear. Yet Central Ohio continues to outperform much of the...
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Annual State of Downtown: Building a Safer, Stronger Downtown
Downtown Columbus is changing rapidly, and local leaders are working to build a safer, more vibrant, and more connected urban core. We bring together experts from public safety, urban development, and community strategy to explore what it will take to strengthen the heart of the city. From new...
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Urban Power: How Cities Are Driving Ohio's Growth
In a rare joint appearance, the mayors of Columbus, Findlay, Lima, and Toledo—Andrew J. Ginther, Christina Muryn, Sharetta Smith, and Wade Kapszukiewicz—take the stage for a powerful conversation on the future of urban leadership in Ohio. Together, these four leaders represent more than a million...
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Creative Capital: How the Arts Power Community Infrastructure
The arts are more than inspiration—they're critical infrastructure. Across Central Ohio, cultural organizations are using shared data and collaborative evaluation to show how the arts drive workforce readiness, economic development, public health, and community well-being. This forum spotlights…
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Why Children's Mental Health Is a Workforce Issue
Children's mental health isn't just a family issue—it's a workplace issue. When kids struggle, parents and caregivers face missed work and mounting stress, creating ripple effects across their lives. This week we explore the link between children's mental health and workplace performance, and the...
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The State of Small Business
Small businesses are the backbone of Central Ohio's economy—creating jobs, fueling innovation, and shaping the future of our communities. Despite inflation, labor shortages, and tariffs, many small business owners report feeling optimistic about the future. This week we explore why. Featuring:...
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Amped Up: Columbus Wants Its Music Moment
Columbus has rhythm, talent, and venues—but can it build a music industry that rivals Nashville, Austin, or Chicago? We explore Columbus' $1.3 BILLION local music economy and what it'll take to elevate it to national prominence. From local legends to industry insiders, we stagedive into strategy,...
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Will Nonprofits Lead or Be Led?
In a time marked by policy uncertainty, economic volatility, and social fragmentation, the nonprofit sector faces a critical strategic question: will it lead systemic change, or be passively led by external forces? This forum invites a candid, future-focused conversation about the role of...
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Who Owns the News? Rebuilding Trust and Local Voices in a Fractured Media Landscape
In an era of media consolidation, vanishing local newsrooms, and viral misinformation, the future of trusted journalism is at a crossroads. What happens to a community when its news megaphone splinters—when public media fights for survival, editorial independence is under pressure, and social…
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Downstream Decisions: Is Ohio's Water Future at Risk?
Ohio's water is one of its most valuable resources—critical for the state's health, environment, and economy. From reducing toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie to improving aging sewer and pipe systems and addressing polluted runoff, the stakes are immense. H2Ohio—a bipartisan clean water initiative...
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Joy Is Resistance: Queer Power in an Unequal World
Queer joy—the radical act of celebrating identity, love, and community—is powerful and political. In the face of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, joy becomes both a lifeline and a form of resistance. For some, queer joy is possible through financial stability, civic recognition, the support…
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How a Billion-Dollar Ballot Will Reshape Columbus
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Columbus voters will weigh in on the largest bond package in city history—$1.9 billion to fund neighborhood investments, infrastructure, affordable housing, public safety, and more. At stake is $250 million for safety, health and infrastructure, $250 million for...
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Money Movers: The Bankers Fueling Columbus' Future
Rates, regulation, and rapid innovation are reshaping banking—and Columbus is at the center of it. This week, regional banking leaders discuss lending trends, financial inclusion, and how Central Ohio's banks fuel growth from small businesses to major projects. They also share what they're…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For over 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of Congress, college presidents, UN ambassadors, artists, and other changemakers — sharing insights and discussion. Together, we examine issues that matter, exchange diverse perspectives, and forge connections that create a better Columbus. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.
HOSTED BY
Columbus Metropolitan Club
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Community's Conversation have?
The Community's Conversation currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Community's Conversation about?
Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For over 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of...
How often does The Community's Conversation release new episodes?
The Community's Conversation has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Community's Conversation?
You can listen to The Community's Conversation on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Community's Conversation?
The Community's Conversation is created and hosted by Columbus Metropolitan Club.
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