Ask questions, and listen.
It may sound simple, but it’s actually a very difficult thing to do.
Michael Ashford, a Colorado resident with family ties in Iola, started a podcast in the summer of 2020 in an effort to find common ground with those with different viewpoints, perspectives and experiences.
“Think about all that was happening in the world at that time,” he said.
That summer, the nation grappled with racial and social justice issues sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police.
The presidential election was bitterly dividing the country.
And on top of all that, the world was attempting to deal with a once-in-a-century pandemic.
Ashford wondered: “What can I do to effect any sort of change? Is there a way we can find commonality that makes us understand we are more connected than we appear to be?”
So, he returned to his journalism roots.
And “The Follow-Up Question” was born.
It’s a podcast that interviews people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, and encourages listeners to ask questions rather than make assumptions.
ASHFORD keeps a special place in his heart for Iola, especially at Christmastime.
As a child, he spent the holiday at the home of his paternal grandparents, Kendall and Shirley Ashford. Kendall has since passed; Shirley still lives in Iola.
His father is David Ashford, who grew up in Iola.
He also has a connection to Colony, where his mother, Marcia, grew up. His grandparents are Wayne and Twila Luedke, both deceased.
Michael Ashford grew up in the Kansas City area. He graduated from Kansas State University with a journalism degree, and worked as a sports editor for the Emporia Gazette before transitioning to a marketing career about 13 years ago.
He and his wife, Kimberly, live in Denver with their children, Luke and Alexandra.
Having grown up in a “red” state with a very conservative family, Ashford — who is politically independent — knows how a family can disagree yet still come together through love and compassion.
“I know my views don’t exactly align with my family. At the end of the day, we’re family. We’re humans living in this country. That’s as much common ground as I need.”
