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Columbus Metropolitan Club
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Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For nearly 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of Congress, college presidents, UN ambassadors, artists, and other changemakers — sharing insights and discussion. Together, we examine issues that matter, exchange diverse perspectives, and forge connections that create a better Columbus. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.

  1. Who Holds the Keys to Economic Mobility?

    1D AGO

    Who Holds the Keys to Economic Mobility?

    As Central Ohio grows, the question isn't just how fast—but who benefits. In this timely conversation, leaders from economics, community development, and education explore what truly drives economic mobility, why generational poverty persists, and what it will take to create more equitable pathways to opportunity. From systemic barriers to promising solutions, we examine how Columbus can ensure prosperity is shared more broadly across the region. Featuring: Dr. Joyce J. Chen, Professor of Economics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University Will Crossley, Executive Vice President, The Woodson Center and President, The Piney Woods School Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO, The Columbus Urban League, and Co-Chair, The Equity Now Coalition The host is Rodney Dunigan, Evening Manager and Anchor, WSYX ABC6. This forum was sponsored by The Oakwood Management Company and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc., The National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and by Tom Bolon and Keith Jones.  If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Poverty, by America," written by Matthew Desmond (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on May 6, 2026.

    55 min
  2. Life After Cars: Redesigning Cities for People

    APR 29

    Life After Cars: Redesigning Cities for People

    What if the way we move is shaping the way we live — but not for the better? Join us with the authors of the new national bestselling book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, and the hosts of the acclaimed podcast "The War on Cars" for a bold conversation about how automobiles have transformed cities, communities, and the climate — and what it might take to imagine a future beyond car dependency. Drawing on decades of advocacy, journalism, and urbanist insight, Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon unpack the costs of car culture — from divided neighborhoods and environmental impacts to public health and social inequity. We'll explore how transportation reform is central to building a more connected and livable society, and share stories of communities already leading the way. Featuring: Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, Co-Hosts, "The War on Cars" Podcast and Co-Authors, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile (Published 2025 by Thesis, An Imprint of Penguin Random House) Devayani Puranik, Mobility Development Program Director, Central Ohio Transit Authority The host is D'Laveance Bert-Sims, Board Member, Transit Columbus. This forum was sponsored by Burgess and Niple, COSI, COTA, Ian Alexander Photography, and REALM Collaborative.  CMC's forum partners were The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at The Ohio State University, Columbus Underground, and the 2026 COSI Science Festival. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you finish Sarah and Doug's book Life After Cars, and you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, by Henry Grabar (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 29, 2026.

    53 min
  3. Ohio's Data Center Debate

    APR 22

    Ohio's Data Center Debate

    Central Ohio has become a magnet for data center development, drawing global tech companies and fueling economic growth. But as these massive facilities expand, communities are grappling with big questions about energy demand, land use, infrastructure strain, and environmental impact. Leaders from industry, government, and academia explore the real trade-offs—and what it will take to balance growth with sustainability in one of the region's fastest-growing sectors. Featuring: Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Dr. Jeffrey Bielicki, Associate Faculty Director of Research, The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute Timothy Chadwick, Area Operations Manager for Ohio, Google Christopher Wyche, Columbus City Councilmember The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau. This forum was sponsored by The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Manufacturers' Association. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The Dark Cloud: The Hidden Costs of the Digital World by Guillaume Pitron (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 22, 2026.

    55 min
  4. Older Adults Are Aging Right Into Homelessness

    APR 15

    Older Adults Are Aging Right Into Homelessness

    Across Central Ohio, more older adults are facing housing instability as rents outpace fixed incomes and affordable housing falls short. A local experimental program offering just $330 a month in rental support showed striking results—improved financial stability, health, and overall well-being. Can simple, cost-effective solutions like this scale up to prevent homelessness and strengthen Central Ohio communities? Featuring: Shannon Isom, President and CEO, The Community Shelter Board Tiara Ross, Columbus City Councilmember Marisa Sheldon, Director, Age-Friendly Innovation Center, The Ohio State University College of Social Work The host is Katie White, Director, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. This forum was sponsored by Community Shelter Board. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "And Housing for All The Fight to End Homelessness in America," by Maria Foscarinis (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 15, 2026.

    55 min
  5. The Race for Ohio's Economic Future

    APR 8

    The Race for Ohio's Economic Future

    It's no secret that Ohio is a fierce—and successful—economic competitor. But the state now faces pressing questions about its ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing national and global landscape.  With slowing population growth, workforce shortages, trade and tariff uncertainty, and the added strain of constricted international immigration, Ohio's economic trajectory is at a crossroads.  We'll unpack the powerful forces shaping the state's economic future—from talent pipelines and demographic shifts to infrastructure demands and the race to secure high‑growth industries—as we take on a trillion‑dollar question: can Ohio stay ahead of the economic pack? Featuring: J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO, JobsOhio Steve Stivers, President and CEO, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Your host is Angela An, News Anchor and "Boomtown" Series Host, WBNS 10TV. The presenting sponsor of this forum was Huntington Bank. This forum was also sponsored by JPMorganChase, KeyBank, Public Sector Consulting, and Roetzel & Andress. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Abundance" by Ezra Klein (2025).

    50 min
  6. Primal Intelligence: The Human Edge in an AI World

    APR 1

    Primal Intelligence: The Human Edge in an AI World

    AI is getting smarter. But are we? What if the future doesn't belong to people who can out-calculate machines—but to people who can out-imagine them? In a world dominated by algorithms and automation, what makes us irreplaceably human?  According to this week's special forum guest, the answer isn't logic—it's something more powerful: imagination, intuition, and emotional resilience. Featuring: Angus Fletcher, Professor, Department of English and Story Science, The Ohio State University, and Author, "Primal Intelligence" (Penguin Random House, 2025) Your host is Suraj Hinduja, Managing Director, RTRX. This forum's promotional partner was The Columbus Futurists. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you finish Angus Fletcher's "Primal Intelligence," and you'd like to keep exploring this week's topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading "The Atomic Human What Makes Us Unique in the Age of AI," by Neil Lawrence (2024).  This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 1, 2026.

    52 min
  7. The War Within a War: Wil Haygood on Race, Vietnam, and America's Reckoning

    MAR 25

    The War Within a War: Wil Haygood on Race, Vietnam, and America's Reckoning

    What did the Vietnam War reveal about race, democracy, and the unfinished struggle for equality in America? In this powerful Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, acclaimed journalist, professor, author, and Columbus native Wil Haygood discusses his new best-selling book, The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home, and examines the experiences of Black Americans who fought for freedom overseas while demanding justice at home. Through vivid storytelling and deep historical insight, this conversation connects the legacy of Vietnam to the racial and political reckonings that continue to shape our country today.  Featuring:  Wil Haygood, Journalist, Professor, and Author, The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home (Penguin Random House, 2026) The host is Algenon L. Marbley, U. S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio.  This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon Wyatt, Larry and Donna James, and The Robert Weiler Company.  The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.  This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.  If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic (and you've already finished Wil Haygood's new book), our friends at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading Until the Last Gun is Silent: A Story of Love, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America's Soul, by Matthew F. Delmont (2026).  This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on March 25, 2026.

    52 min
  8. The Power of the Arts in a Changing City: A Conversation with GCAC's Mitch Menchaca

    MAR 18

    The Power of the Arts in a Changing City: A Conversation with GCAC's Mitch Menchaca

    This candid 1:1 conversation features Mitch Menchaca, the newly appointed CEO of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, as he shares his unexpected journey from the stages of Arizona to leading arts policy in Phoenix—to now shaping the creative future of Columbus. Once a visitor who thought there might be "nothing to do" in Columbus, Mitch returns to a transformed city he's fallen in love with, ready to build on GCAC's momentum at a time of challenge and opportunity. With decades of national leadership experience, a passion for public art, and a vision for equitable cultural investment in every neighborhood, we'll explore how the arts can drive Columbus' economic vitality, create community identity, and deepen everyday civic life. Featuring: Mitch Menchaca, President and CEO, The Greater Columbus Arts Council The host is Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club. This forum was made possible by Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund — Celebrating Arts and Culture. It was sponsored by CK Construction and The Columbus Museum of Art. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory," by Brian Eno (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on March 18, 2026.

    52 min
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About

Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For nearly 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of Congress, college presidents, UN ambassadors, artists, and other changemakers — sharing insights and discussion. Together, we examine issues that matter, exchange diverse perspectives, and forge connections that create a better Columbus. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.

Information

  • Creator
    Columbus Metropolitan Club
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2025 Columbus Metropolitan Club. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Community's Conversation

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