So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos

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On this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, host Michael Wilkos sits down with NBC4 anchor and three-time Emmy Award winner Kerry Charles. Kerry grew up in Linden, and he’s been an anchor since he was 9, starting with a kids’ radio show on WCBE. He talks about the neighbors who looked out for him, the stories that stay with him long after the newscast ends and his work on the board of Greater Columbus Community House, a longtime United Way of Central Ohio partner. Kerry also shares his favorite Columbus spots and why he calls himself a “bothist,” both realist and optimist, about the city’s future.

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What do libraries and voting have in common? More than you might think! Join Kristin Sutton, board president of the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus AND the government relations manager at Columbus Metropolitan Library, on So, Let’s Talk Columbus for an energizing conversation about the power of information, community and making your voice heard. From recognizing the important role of your neighborhood library to knowing the difference we can make when we show up, this episode will leave you inspired to help shape our community’s future.

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In this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, Michael chats with Guadalupe Velasquez, a longtime advocate whose work has helped make Columbus a place where newcomers can put down roots, contribute their talents and build brighter futures. In this timely conversation, Guadalupe shares powerful stories of resilience, opportunity and the everyday choices that make a community truly welcoming, reminding us that our newest neighbors are an essential part of who we are and who we can become.

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In this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Garth Weithman, deputy CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and a familiar face from his own days at United Way of Central Ohio, about how getting people where they need to go is really about access to opportunity. Together they explore LinkUS, the historic community investment now bringing 45% more service, bus rapid transit, and what it means for working families, from fare capping to free rides on extreme-weather days. Whether you ride the bus every day or haven't stepped on one in years, this conversation connects transportation to the bigger picture: Success by Third Grade, the ALICE household and the kind of Columbus we're building together.

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Michael Wilkos takes listeners on a powerful journey through the history of redlining and zoning in Franklin County, the evolution of Columbus’ neighborhoods, including the remarkable story of Hanford Village — revealing how these forces have shaped the identity of our community today. In this episode, Michael uncovers surprising facts about Columbus you’ve likely never heard before, providing a deeper understanding of the policies, decisions and people that built the city you call home. It’s an eye‑opening, inspiring conversation that will leave you eager to learn more.

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New episode alert. On the latest So, Let's Talk Columbus, host Michael Wilkos sits down with Adero Robinson, CEO of Communities In Schools of Ohio, a nonprofit that's been placing caring adults inside school buildings since 1993. They dig into the real story behind student absenteeism: one in four Ohio students is chronically absent, and as Adero explains, the reasons behind absenteeism are complicated. Families care about their kids but are often stretched impossibly thin. It's a candid conversation about what's actually going on in our local schools and what's working that we don't talk about enough.

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The first five years of a child’s life can shape everything that follows. Yet 72% of preschoolers living in low-income households in Franklin County begin school without the necessary kindergarten readiness skills. And for too many families, high-quality, affordable child care remains out of reach. Join Michael and his guest, Dr. Gina Ginn, CEO of Columbus Early Learning Centers, for a powerful conversation about early learning, working families and why child care is essential infrastructure for a thriving community.

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Don't miss this timely conversation with Lisa Patt McDaniel, CEO of Aspyr Workforce Innovation, as Michael digs into the big question of our moment: why are so many hardworking people still struggling to get ahead? From wages and workforce pipelines to practical solutions for building more pathways to stability, this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus is packed with insight, urgency and hope for central Ohio’s future.

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Stuff the Backpack, a partnership between NBC4 and United Way of Central Ohio, celebrates the power of our central Ohio community that shows up for kids in a big way. In this episode, host Michael Wilkos talks with Jenn Kiser of NBC4 about the importance of volunteers, partners and neighbors coming together to provide backpacks and school supplies for more than 240,000 students over the years. Tune in to find out why this simple act makes such a meaningful difference on the first day of school and how you can get involved.

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More than one in three households in Franklin County is working hard but still struggling to cover the basics. In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Melanie Hill of United Way of Central Ohio helps unpack the ALICE data and what it reveals about the hidden financial hardship shaping our community. It’s a powerful conversation about the real cost of living, the people behind the numbers, and what it will take to make Columbus a place where more families can thrive.

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This is the second half of this important conversation. If you missed part one, be sure to go back and listen first.

In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Shannon Isom, President and CEO of Community Shelter Board. Shannon Isom brings a powerful mix of candor, compassion and deep expertise to a conversation that cuts to the heart of what Columbus is facing. Shannon helps Michael unpack the real drivers behind homelessness, the strain on our shelter system, and why this issue is about more than individual circumstances. It’s about housing, systems and the kind of community we choose to build. Join Michael and Shannon for part one of a thoughtful, eye-opening discussion that will challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding of what it will take to move forward.

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In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Shannon Isom, President and CEO of Community Shelter Board. Shannon Isom brings a powerful mix of candor, compassion and deep expertise to a conversation that cuts to the heart of what Columbus is facing. Shannon helps Michael unpack the real drivers behind homelessness, the strain on our shelter system, and why this issue is about more than individual circumstances. It’s about housing, systems and the kind of community we choose to build. Join Michael and Shannon for part one of a thoughtful, eye-opening discussion that will challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding of what it will take to move forward.

Stay tuned for part two of this conversation on June 16.

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In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Dr. Cheryl Wyatt of Success by Third Grade about how early literacy is about more than reading. It’s about the community coming together to strengthen the systems, supports and partnerships that help children thrive. Whether you’re new to Success by Third Grade or a longtime champion of the movement, this conversation offers fresh insight into the exciting work happening across Franklin County to create stronger futures for our students.

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On this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, Michael explores how housing stability shapes a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive, through a powerful conversation with Samantha Stewart of the YMCA of Central Ohio. It’s a human-centered look at the families doing everything they can to stay afloat, and the community partnership that is helping stabilize families, and keeping kids in school and hope within reach.

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Don't miss this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos! Michael sits down with Erin Prosser, Deputy Director of Housing Strategies for the City of Columbus, to move beyond the problem and into the solutions. Together, they explore the strategies the city is using right now to expand housing access, preserve affordability and ensure Columbus remains a place where opportunity is within reach for everyone.

Tune in to hear from someone working on the front lines of one of our region's most pressing challenges and to understand what it will actually take to make sure a growing Columbus is a Columbus that works for all its residents.

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In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, Michael takes you inside one of the most important issues shaping our region’s future: housing. He explores why Columbus is growing faster than its housing supply, what that means for affordability and stability, and why housing is about much more than buildings. It’s about whether the people who make our community work can afford to stay here.

Tune in to better understand the forces behind Columbus’s housing challenges and what it will take to keep our city vibrant and accessible for every resident.

**Bonus story at the end of the podcast!

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Don’t miss this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos! Michael sits down with Emelia Sheeley, executive director of Riverview International Center, a nonprofit partner of United Way of Central Ohio. Together, they move from data to lived experience, exploring what it looks like on the ground to welcome and support New American neighbors in our community.

Tune in to hear how one small but mighty organization is helping translate demographic change into opportunity, connection and community resilience. Whether you listened to the last episode or are just joining the conversation, you’ll come away with a more human, hopeful understanding of what it means to build a stronger Columbus.

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In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, Michael explores how New Americans are driving the population and economic growth that is reshaping Columbus and Franklin County. He unpacks the data behind recent trends, showing that nearly all net growth in the city is coming from diverse communities, with international migration now the primary engine of change.

Tune in to better understand how global stories are becoming Columbus stories. Whether you’re a civic leader, a person of faith or simply curious about where Columbus is headed, this episode offers a clear, compelling look at the people shaping our next chapter.

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In this debut episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, United Way of Central Ohio President & CEO Lisa S. Courtice, Ph.D., sits down with Michael to find out what makes him one of Columbus’ most trusted voices on where our community has been and where it’s headed.

As United Way’s vice president of community engagement, Michael is a sought-after speaker across central Ohio, known for blending data, storytelling and deep local insight in ways that resonate with leaders across sectors.

Tune in now to learn about Michael’s enthusiastic passion for the people, places and possibilities that shape Columbus. The conversation dives into connection, civic pride and seeing our community through the eyes of someone who truly knows and loves it. Whether you’re new to Columbus or a lifelong resident, you are certain to gain a fresh perspective and learn something unexpected about our community.