All Sides with Ann Fisher Podcast - All Sides with Ann Fisher

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Central Ohio Transit Authority President and CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

The Columbus metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority, better known as COTA, has many projects underway to make getting around the area easier.

We're talking with COTA President and CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler to find out about those initiatives on this hour of All Sides.

Guest:

Monica Tellez-Fowler, president and chief executive officer, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Columbus Landmark's 2026 Most Endangered Sites list Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

Columbus Landmark has released its 2026 Most Endangered Sites list.

Included are the Fairwood Elementary School on Columbus’ east side and the Beacon Building downtown.

The buildings are a connection to the city’s past, provide character, and attract development and tourism.

However, while they may appear solidly built, letting them sit abandoned leaves them vulnerable to vandalism, declining property values, and loss of revenue for the city.

Coming up, we’re talking about the most endangered sites in the city and what can be done to save them.

Guests:

Chris Hune, CEO of Columbus Landmarks Foundation
Dale Ward, construction manager with Small Nation
Frank Quinn, director of preservation for Heritage Ohio

Weekly reporter roundtable: FBI raids offices of Ohio voter rights group Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

The FBI searched the Cleveland offices of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group that organizes political and voter engagement activities for left-leaning and progressive causes.

Before Ohio lawmakers left for their summer recess, they made a big push to try to crack down on types of welfare fraud, with new restrictions on both Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

However, their efforts to eliminate tax credits for data centers were hampered by a 40-year, 100% sales tax credit agreed to by then-Gov. John Kasich’s administration during his second term. That tax break to Google, Amazon and Meta and other companies has cost the state an estimated $2.3 billion.

We'll discuss this and more on the Weekly Reporter Roundtable show.

Guests:

Karen Kasler, bureau chief of the Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau
Andrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter for Signal Ohio
Megan Henry, reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal

(Photo: Samantha Hendrickson/AP)

All Sides Weekend: Books Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

The heat is on here in central Ohio. As the temperatures rise, many people are seeking relief. Part of the plan can include a good book, whether you read outdoors by the pool or inside under a fan or central air.

All Sides Weekend Host Christopher Purdy and his guests will share some book suggestions you might want to consider adding to your stack of must-read titles.

Host:

Christopher Purdy, Classical 101 Morning Host

Guests:

Kassie Rose, WOSU Book Critic
Kris Hickey, youth services coordinator, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Michelle Hermann, author and Ohio State professor of English emerita

Weekly Reporter Roundtable: Ohio property tax amendment petitioners lack needed signatures Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

An effort to abolish property taxes in Ohio runs out of time — for now. The group collecting signatures to put an amendment on the November ballot to eliminate property taxes in Ohio says it has fallen short of the number needed to qualify.

How big a problem is fraud in Ohio? It depends on who you ask. Trump administration officials traveled to Columbus last week to say it's widespread and significant.

For years, Ohio State has fought hard to limit the financial damage of the sex abuse committed by former OSU team doctor Richard Strauss. Last week, came word that the fight is nearing its end.

We're talking about all of these topics on this week's reporter roundtable with guest host, WOSU Public Media's Director of Radio Mike Thompson.

Guest Host:

Mike Thompson, host of the Snollygoster podcast and Columbus on the Record

Guests:

Jo Ingles, senior reporter, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau
Jessie Balmert, state government and politics reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
Shane Stegmiller, reporter, Hannah News Service

Recovery journey from drug addiction: Eric Zimmer discusses his new book Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

From heroin to healing to hosting.

In 1994, Eric Zimmer walked through the doors of Maryhaven, an addiction treatment center in central Ohio, as a client seeking help for heroin addiction. Today, he is an author, teacher, speaker and the creator of "The One You Feed" podcast.

Fifty million podcast downloads later, Zimmer shares what recovery really teaches.

Zimmer has a new book called How A Little Becomes A Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life.

He joins All Sides to talk about his new book. He will also discuss his journey from being a client at Maryhaven to returning decades later in recovery and now partnering with them around his new book.

Guests:

Eric Zimmer, author, How a Little Becomes a Lot/host of "The One You Feed" podcast

Weekly Reporter Roundtable: Will school voucher bill proceed before Ohio lawmakers' summer recess? Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

"Take the Dough, We Gotta Know" is the name of a bipartisan bill requiring more oversight into the controversial EdChoice voucher program. But will it go anywhere with mere days until summer recess?

Ohio doesn’t have enough oversight into EdChoice, the state-funded program giving families vouchers for their kids to go to private K-12 schools, according to two state lawmakers who say they want to change that.

Senate Bill 443, introduced last Wednesday by Sen. Bill Blessing (R-Colerain Twp.) and Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), would establish a dozen new accountability measures.

Data centers in Ohio will no longer enjoy a key tax break at least for now.

The pause, announced by Gov. Mike DeWine comes as lawmakers discuss the industry’s future here.

As resident anger over data centers builds and lost revenue from combined incentives tops $1 billion, which is far more than was previously known.

A pastor turned Ohio lawmaker pushes a bill named for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The Ohio Supreme Court weighs in on a massive solar project in Madison County on land partially owned by Bill Gates.

Calling all STEM students: the state has $26 million in college scholarships for you.

We're digging into all of these topics on this week's Reporter Roundtable.

Guests:

Sarah Donaldson, reporter, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau
Laura Hancock, politics and policy reporter, Cleveland.com
Jake Zuckerman, reporter, Signal Ohio

Fascinating Ohio: a jazz nonprofit leader, a radiologist, an anti-poverty program leader May 28, 2026

Show notes

People have said “jazz is dead” for decades now, but Columbus is proof against that assertion.

A Tribe for Jazz, a nonprofit organization, is on a mission to preserve the music's legacy and advance the future of jazz through visual storytelling, performances, education and community engagement.

After his wife was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, a Columbus radiologist found himself in need of help and information.

His experience led him to create EnergizeCare, an organization offering support for caregivers and individuals living with early-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Since its creation in 2011, Marion Matters has helped more than 300 people out of poverty. The organization provides individuals with skills and training through educational programs and coaching. We will learn more about what the work they do.

It's all part of this week's Fascinating Ohio.

Guests:

Stephanie Matthews, executive director, A Tribe for Jazz
Dr. Ken Vitellas, founder, EnergizeCare
Natalie Longmeier, executive director, Marion Matters

Is enough being done to prevent serious traffic crashes in central Ohio? May 28, 2026

Show notes

According to Ohio State Highway Patrol's crash database, since Jan. 1, there have already been more than 8,000 traffic crashes in Franklin County. Officials say that's a decrease from last year.

In 2021, the City of Columbus launched its multi-year Vision Zero Action Plan, an initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030.

The results might be promising for highway traffic, however Columbus streets remain a significant risk for pedestrians and cyclists, especially on wide, high traffic roads like Morse Road and High Street.

We will learn more about what changes the city is trying to make to improve traffic safety on this hour of All Sides.

Guests:

Katherine Swidarski, Vision Zero coordinator
Angela Harden, research and assistant professor, Ohio State University's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Ginger Tornes, founder, Friends and Families for Safe Streets Columbus

What's Columbus' connection with this year's World Cup? May 27, 2026

Show notes

World Cup Soccer 2026: We look at the hype and the money behind this super-sized sports event.

How has the United States' management failed/succeeded compared to past years, and why issues like ticket and hotel prices are driving tourists away.

Although Columbus is not hosting official tournament matches, the city is heavily involved in World Cup festivities, featuring a pre-tournament friendly match, international base camps and city-wide watch parties. The Ecuador national team is also training in Columbus.

And Columbus Crew midfielder Max Arfsten has been selected for the United States men’s team for this year's World Cup. Also, former Crew star Cucho Hernandez will suit up for Columbia.

We're talking about it all on this hour of All Sides.

Guests:

Michael Arace, sports journalist and founder, Disrespected Media
Ryan Chen, assistant professor, sports leadership and management, Miami University

(Amanda Loman / AP)

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