Leadership is more than just a title—it’s about influence, impact, and the ability to drive meaningful change. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kate Bauer, the new Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, to discuss the launch of this year’s Signature Program and the vision for the future of leadership in our city. We explored what makes t…

Daisy Perkins was Ohio’s first Black woman lawyer, a trailblazer who defied expectations and carved out a career in criminal defense at a time when both her race and gender made that nearly impossible. But her story is not one of simple triumph—it’s one of controversy, resilience, and ultimately, downfall. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Je…

Cities don’t run on autopilot. Every decision—every budget, every policy, every vote—is shaped by the people who step up to lead. A few months ago, I decided to see what it would take to be one of those people, and I wasn’t alone. Densil Porteous and I were two of the many candidates who applied for an open Columbus City Council seat. The process w…

The results are in, and the people of Columbus have spoken! In this week’s episode, I sat down with Walker Evans, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Columbus Underground, to dive into the highlights of the Best of Columbus 2024 Readers’ Poll. From the city’s favorite new restaurants and bars to its most beloved cultural institutions and neighborhood…

Transitions can be transformative, but they’re often filled with uncertainty. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Matt Slaybaugh, an achievement skills coach, playwright, and former artistic director of Available Light Theatre. We explored Matt’s journey from leading a theater company to becoming a coach, helping people navigate change and purs…

Holden Ellis, a creative studio in Columbus, just celebrated its 10-year anniversary—a milestone that founder and CEO Josh Fitzwater describes as a testament to resilience, creativity, and teamwork. I sat down with Fitzwater to discuss the journey of Holden Ellis, from its humble beginnings to becoming a sought-after agency specializing in healthca…

Disparate problems can sometimes be addressed with common solutions. Like affordable housing and climate change. In this week’s episode, Columbus Underground co-founder and editor Walker Evans sat down with Robert Williams, the Senior Director of Residential Services at MORPC. Together, they unpack the organization’s grassroots efforts to keep fami…

The future of Central Ohio is coming at us fast. But not too fast to manage. In this week’s episode, Columbus Underground co-founder and editor Walker Evans sat down with Jessica Kuenzli, the Chief Regional Planning Officer at MORPC, to explore how her team is tackling the region’s explosive growth, sustainability needs, and the big picture of comm…

We’re diving into the transit transformations shaping our city’s future. In this week’s episode, Columbus Underground co-founder and editor Walker Evans sat down with Parag Agrawal, the Chief Mobility and Infrastructure Officer and Senior Director of Programming at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. With a rich background in planning, land …

In July, the City of Columbus experienced a massive data breach, which officials at the time referred to as “some type of incident.” Months later, the scope, damage, and cost of the incident are still coming into focus. I sat down with Connor Goodwolf, a cybersecurity engineer, to discuss the data breach and his role in the ongoing efforts to under…

We are diving into the most read stories shaping the landscape of the city. These are the top stories that have captured the attention of our community—not necessarily the most important or significant, but the ones that people just couldn’t stop reading. We’ll be counting down the top 15 stories from the past quarter, ranging from local business c…

Good comedy is a reflection of society. Next month, for five days, over 150 comedians will grace ten stages throughout the city for the inaugural Columbus Comedy Festival. On the occasion of the upcoming event, I sat down with Walker Evans, co-founder of Columbus Underground and the Comedy Festival, and Hannah Romes, co-owner of Hashtag Comedy. We …

Every piece is important. For Tom Krouse, the outgoing CEO of Donatos Pizza, this tagline is more than just a catchphrase. With his departure this fall, we sat down to discuss his journey at Donatos. We’ll explore the key strategies behind their expansion, including the decision to focus on franchising and the early adoption of online ordering tech…

Passions can take you on different paths. That’s true for Carolyn Farkas who transformed her passion for teaching into a successful series on PBS. We sat down to discuss the future of education, the need for engaging and relevant learning experiences, and the importance of better communication and collaboration between parents, teachers, and the co…

Personal struggles can open our eyes to the needs of others. That is true for Tammy Adler Foeller, the co-founder of OpenDoor Women’s Recovery Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women transitioning out of incarceration or drug treatment. Tammy and I discuss her personal journey navigating her daughter’s battle with addictio…

Not all art is created for an audience. Sometimes, it’s made for the artist. That’s true for William Mount, the host and producer of the music podcast The Sounds of Bustown. Today, we’re unpacking a decade of stories, sounds, and the shifting sands of the Columbus music and podcast scenes. We’ll explore the challenges of keeping a podcast fresh and…

With spring upon us in the capital city, we’re all about change. There’s a vibrancy in the air and that’s apparent in our latest roundup of the biggest stories on Columbus Underground. Co-founder and editor Walker Evans sat down to discuss everything from Liz Lessner’s influential legacy to the latest murmurs about when we’ll get passenger rail. Th…

As Columbusites, we examine the evolution and identity of the city from a singular point of view. That’s not a bad thing, but an outsider’s perspective is always helpful. Today, we hear from Mark Snyder, a former Columbus resident whose journey through writing and theater has woven a rich tapestry of experiences both in and out of Ohio’s capital ci…

The city’s transit system is going through a transformation. At least that’s the intention. On the occasion of an impending transfer of power and a sales tax issue on the ballot this fall to bulk up services, Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren sat down with both the outgoing and incoming CEOs of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (or COTA) …

We’re exploring the evolution of Downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city’s development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground Co-Founder Walker Evans and Brown delve into the city’s challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between ico…

There is often a complex interplay between preservation and progress. A year into his exploration, Columbus Underground reporter Jesse Bethea continues to sift through the story of how the removal of remains from what was once the North Market parking lot unfolded. From the contentious removal of centuries-old graves to the forensic analysis of une…

The capital city’s food scene is often heralded. However, its taco truck scene has been often overlooked. Elwood Ellis, a freelance writer for Columbus Underground and self-proclaimed Taco Connoisseur, is trying to change that. Listen in as Elwood shares his journey and criteria for evaluating the diverse and authentic taco scene, emphasizing the i…

This podcast was not generated by AI. But it may have been influenced by it. As all industries consider how to use artificial intelligence in their work, Walker Evans, Susan Post, and I discuss how it relates to journalism, disclosure, and transparency. We cover Columbus Underground’s updated policy on the matter, how content generation should and …

Big cities have big city problems. Columbus’s newest school board member argues that the inequity of our schools shows that we certainly are a big city. Brandon Simmons, also the youngest school board member ever elected, is on a mission to face the challenges of the district head-on. In an interview two days after his first board meeting, we discu…

As we ease into 2024, we’re taking a quick look back into some happenings that you may have missed as the year turned over. Columbus Underground co-founder and editor Walker Evans discusses a myriad of stories, including the latest in transportation, climate change, local politics, and a dash of comedy here in the capital city. Shownotes Hyperloop …