All Sides with Ann Fisher Podcast

Information about your ancestors, who they were, and where they came from, can be a mystery for many people. However, with the accessibility and affordability of DNA testing, and genealogy archives, almost anyone can learn about their family roots. Today on All Sides, how to start building your family tree and how technology can make your history search better.

In a city the size of Columbus, there just have to be a few good ghost stories. With many haunted houses and spooky legends, the capital city has a creepy history that’s waiting for anyone daring enough to explore it.

Fans and critics alike regard Otis Redding as one of the greatest musical artists of all time. The "Sittin' On the Dock Of the Bay" singer died in 1967 at the age of 26 when a private plane he was on crashed in Wisconsin. However, his legacy as a passionate African American performer during the civil rights movement continues to have relevance in the age of Black Lives Matter. On today's show we speak with Jonathan Gould, who wrote an extensively researched biography on the soul singer. Join us

Bird migration is beginning as late summer turns into fall. This is a great opportunity to see purple martins, barn swallows, and warblers as they make their trek south. Julie Zickefoose, our resident naturalist and bird expert, joins us to talk about what flying beauties she's seen thus far. She’ll also tell us about her rescue of a baby bluebird. Coming up on All Sides, late summer birding, gardening, and more. Guests: Julie Zickefoose , naturalist, artist and author

Teachers in Ohio often spend their own money to outfit classrooms. As costs rise and budgets shrink, many teachers have turned to online fundraising, or crowdfunding, attracting outside support for education. The popular DonorsChoose.org crowdfunding website, for example, has raised funds for more than a million projects since 2000 and currently hosts more than 2,000 initiatives for Ohio alone. A new report from the Ohio Auditor's office, however, recommends school districts adopt policies that

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the United State are at an all-time high. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, 2.3 million cases of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea were reported in 2017, marking the fourth straight year STD rates have risen in the U.S. Today on Wellness Wednesday, surging STD rates and more.

Controversy has surrounded a Cuyahoga Falls middle school after students were given an assignment last month ranking individuals based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation and other labels. The school district has since apologized, but questions remain on how, and when, we should be teaching diversity to children. Today on All Sides, we’ll look at how young is too young to teach about diversity and implicit bias.

Old electrical, gas, and water meters are being replaced by smart meters. They’re quicker than traditional meters, using radio frequency signals to send meter readings back to the service provider. While 132,000 meters have already been installed this year in Ohio alone, not everyone’s thrilled. Homeowners in Illinois have already taken the meter companies to court, preferring traditional meter options. Today on Tech Tuesday, the future of smart meters. And, Russell Holly joins us again.

The Greater Columbus Arts Council wants a 7 percent tax placed on tickets or admission to all events in the city. The ticket-tax, which would raise money for the arts and bankroll upgrades to Nationwide Arena, includes sports games, concerts, performances, movies and events. Today on All Sides we discuss the pros and cons of a ticket-tax in Columbus.

Join guest host Christopher Purdy as we discuss the Columbus library's latest "Quick Picks" and more. Guest: Kassie Rose, WOSU book critic Robin Nesbitt, manager, Hilliard Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library Mark Maxwell, Assistant District manager, Half Price Books

Last month, a list of new words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary. The list included nouns such as billywitch, scrum-down and lezzo. Today we discuss these new words and more from the world of grammar.

Columbus has become one of many cities from around the country that have seen an influx in motorized scooters in recent months. The Department of Public Service rolled out a new set of regulations this week for the scooters that seemingly appeared overnight on city sidewalks this summer. Today on All Sides, we discuss those new rules and how the city plans to regulate the motorized scooters.

Lyme disease has tripled in the last two decades, according to the CDC. This insect-carried disease can cause symptoms like rashes, joint pain and headaches. There used to be a vaccine for Lyme disease, but it was taken off the market because of low sales. Now, some doctors are calling for a change. Today on Wellness Wednesday, we’ll talk about the future of treating Lyme disease, the antidote for opioid overdoses and more. Guests: Dennis Cauchon, former USA Today reporter, Executive Director of

As the U.S. continues to wage a trade war with China, the Trump Administration is turning its attention to trade policy with Mexico.

Natural gas production in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania exceeded total production in Texas for the first time. The region, dubbed the "Shale Crescent" and rust belt, is being considered for a new name: The plastic belt. Today, we consider what impact this new industry can have on the jobs sector and local environment.