The Storytellers Trust
Uncovering stories for a lifetime
Stories are not just vehicles for providing information — they call us to action, appeal to our humanity and better connect us to places and people across our region, nation and world. The Storyteller’s Trust is powered by community members who believe in the power of stories, and so they invest in the sustainability of amplifying local voices and uncovering stories that would otherwise go untold.
For more than a century WOSU has with engaged people and places to tell the stories of our Central Ohio community for local impact and national awareness.
Sharing the richness of our diverse community and connecting people to experiences is at the core of our storytelling across all our platforms.
Sharing the richness of our diverse community and connecting people to experiences is at the core of our storytelling across all our platforms.
Integrity, independence, and civil discourse ground our identity and have earned us trust with YOU, our viewers, listeners and partners.
Our commitment to collaboration, community engagement and mission-driven programming is what distinguishes WOSU as a non-profit public service organization.
You’re part of our story.
Our commitment to collaboration, community engagement and mission-driven programming is what distinguishes WOSU as a non-profit public service organization.
You’re part of our story.
Your potential investment is just the beginning. As The Storytellers Trust grows, so does the capacity of WOSU to tell illuminating and informative stories of our community with breadth and depth.
The Storytellers Trust Portfolio
The Storytellers Trust has already provided funding for three key WOSU initiatives.
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Inside: Caregiving
WOSU hosted the Inside: Caregiving Townhall on Feb. 26, 2025. The gathering was the culmination of an organizational-wide storytelling project that included news reports, All Sides shows and videos focused on caregiving.
WOSU hosted the Inside: Caregiving Townhall on Feb. 26, 2025. The gathering was the culmination of an organizational-wide storytelling project that included news reports, All Sides shows and videos focused on caregiving.
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Earthworks Digital Video Series
WOSU is producing a digital video series focused on Ohio's Native American Earthworks which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023. The series will premiere on WOSU's YouTube channel in the fall of 2025.
WOSU is producing a digital video series focused on Ohio's Native American Earthworks which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023. The series will premiere on WOSU's YouTube channel in the fall of 2025.
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New Perspectives: From Bach to Biggie
Classical 101's series offers a different context for music that many listeners may already know. Host Stephen Spottswood, the founder of the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, presents standard classical music repertoire through the prism of gospel, rap and hip-hop. Spottswood brings his unique perspective to the music of Chopin, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Haydn.
Stephen Spottswood plays a hip-hop medley on his violin on WOSU's roof terrace.
Classical 101's series offers a different context for music that many listeners may already know. Host Stephen Spottswood, the founder of the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, presents standard classical music repertoire through the prism of gospel, rap and hip-hop. Spottswood brings his unique perspective to the music of Chopin, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Haydn.
Stephen Spottswood plays a hip-hop medley on his violin on WOSU's roof terrace.
Ryan Aills / WOSU