“Story in the Public Square” to Premiere 17th National Season July 6, 2026
The 13-time Telly Award–winning series is set to launch its new season on public television stations nationwide beginning July 6.
“Story in the Public Square” is set to launch its 17th season on public television stations nationwide beginning July 6. The 13-time Telly Award–winning series is produced by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University.
The new season boasts 24 new episodes that advance the series’ mission to use storytelling as a means to shape public understanding of important issues. Each 30-minute program features substantive conversations with diverse and distinguished guests, including leading authors, scientists, scholars, journalists, artists, filmmakers and more. Together, they explore the most pertinent issues of our day, offering fresh perspectives that help audiences interpret and engage with these defining narratives of contemporary life.
Produced at the program’s home studio at Ocean State Media, “Story in the Public Square” continues to provide viewers with thoughtful, in-depth dialogue on the stories influencing modern American life with guests joining the program both remotely and in person.
“By expanding our reach beyond geographic boundaries, we’re able to bring a broader range of expertise into the conversation.”
“I’ve spent much of my career focused on how narrative shapes public life, and one of the most exciting developments for this series is our growing ability to engage voices from around the world,” said host Dr. Jim Ludes, show host and Vice President at Salve Regina University. “By expanding our reach beyond geographic boundaries, we’re able to bring a broader range of expertise into the conversation.”
The series has been in production at Rhode Island PBS since January 2017 and is currently seen in 85 percent of the nation’s television markets with nearly 500 weekly broadcasts nationally. It has won Telly Awards for excellence in several categories, including politics and commentary, history, biography, and social impact in 2025 (four), 2024 (two) 2022, 2021, 2020 (two); 2019, and 2018. The show is produced by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and presented by Rhode Island PBS via NETA, the National Educational Telecommunications Association.