Scott Mathis and Laura found common ground right away when they sat down for a One Small Step conversation at KSUT in August 2022.
Laura, who asked us not to include her last name in this story, works as an optometrist on the Navajo reservation. Scott is a retired medical equipment salesman, and it turns out they have colleagues in common.
But they also explore their differences–both their politics and exploring the definitions of liberal and conservative.
"A conservative tends to want things to stay the way they are if they’re working,” Scott told Laura. “It doesn’t mean that you can’t change.”
One Small Step pairs strangers with opposing beliefs for a conversation focused not on politics but on getting to know one another.
“I would say I’m liberal because when I hear conservative viewpoints, I generally disagree with them,” Laura said with a laugh.
As they went deeper into the conversation, Scott shared a personal story about growing up and being involved in a nearby church. Scott’s older sister was often in trouble with their parents. He viewed his sister as an example of what not to do, and his experience observing her formed some of the basis of his conservatism.
By the end of their conversation, they’ve established enough of a connection that Laura feels comfortable asking Scott to be her advisor when it comes to navigating interactions with other conservatives on school board matters.
Editor's note: Scott and Laura's conversation has been edited for broadcast.
KSUT is one of six public radio stations partnering with StoryCorps hosting the One Small Step project in communities across the U.S.
StoryCorps’ One Small Step Radio Station Hubs is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.