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One Small Step
One Small Step
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  • Thank you for your interest in participating in StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative. One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us—even those with whom we disagree. The initiative brings strangers with different views together to record a 50-minute conversation, not to debate politics, but to get to know each other as people.

    We use this questionnaire to get to know you so that we can match you with the perfect conversation partner—someone we think you’ll connect with, even though you may share different political beliefs. The questionnaire typically takes applicants only about 5 minutes to complete.

    Once you submit the form, our team will begin looking for your match. We are thoughtful in this process and it can take some time to find the right partner for everyone. If we are able to match you, a StoryCorps team member will reach out to schedule your interview and prepare you for the conversation.

    Let’s get started.

    Please note that the questions highlighted with an asterisk are mandatory.

    First, some basics:
  • Please check all that apply.
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    If you have a conversation partner in mind, we will get in touch with you for further details.
    If not, don't worry! We want to make this opportunity available to everyone, so we will work with you to find another way to participate.
  • Now, help us understand your political beliefs:
  • Hidden
    If not, don't worry! We want to make this opportunity available to everyone, so we will work with you to find another way to participate.
  • Drag the slider to where you see yourself on the scale, with the left being the most liberal and the right the most conservative.
  • Drag the slider to where you see yourself on the scale, with the left being the most liberal and the right the most conservative.
  • Drag the slider to where your feelings on religion fit best on the scale, with the left being not at all important and the right extremely important.
  • Help us get to know you better:

  • Provide a short biography below (a maximum of 500 characters). We’ll send this to your conversation partner a few days before you meet. You might want to share basic information about who you are and where you’re from, the big life events that have shaped you, and any issues that are especially important to you.

    Here’s an example to guide you.

    "I am a Christian who is interested in education, lean conservative, believe in public service, and enjoy farming. Am a third and fourth generation, lifelong resident of a rural community and grew up on a farm. I’ve worked in the timber industry starting at age 13. Hunting and fishing are important to me, and I do a lot of work with—and support—public land multiple use and conservation. Married and have adult children and my first grandchildren. I lost one of my children a few years ago."


  • WHILE ONE SMALL STEP PAIRS STRANGERS WITH DIFFERENT BELIEFS, THE GOAL IS TO REMIND US THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN AND THAT WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE THINK. THE BEST INTERVIEW PARTNERS OFTEN SHARE A PASSION OR SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES. THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WILL HELP US IN THE PAIRING PROCESS.
  • Please select as many as you like.
  • Please select as many as you like.
  • PROVIDING STORYCORPS WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WE ASK FOR BELOW IS OPTIONAL. HAVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU WILL HELP US MATCH YOU WITH AN INTERVIEW PARTNER, SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE.
  • THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. OUR TEAM WILL NOW BEGIN LOOKING FOR YOUR MATCH. IF WE ARE ABLE TO MATCH YOU, A STORYCORPS TEAM MEMBER WILL REACH OUT TO SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW AND PREPARE YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
  • Please note the information you share in this application will be used only to match you with a conversation partner and to share email updates about One Small Step. We will not use your information for any other purpose.

Copyright © 2023 StoryCorps, Inc. All rights reserved.

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