David Cole is a writer, artist, editor, audio/video producer, and content creator.
David was born in southeastern Kentucky, in at foothills of Appalachia. He grew up enamored with the ways people told stories, gravitating toward artists with distinct narrative voices: Kurt Vonnegut, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens. The oral traditions of his grandfather, along with archived recordings of radio dramas, helped shape how David sees and thinks about the stories we tell.
Writer
In 2012, David attended the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts as a creative writer. Grateful for his first real exposure to the wideness of the world outside of his holler home, David continued his relationship with GSA for many years. He worked at the program itself during its 2015-2017 classes, progressing to Head Residential Assistant. Outside of the summer program, David also worked as a recruiter traveling throughout Kentucky to offer information and exposure to some of the less-represented counties of the Commonwealth.
Audio Producer
At the University of Kentucky, David continued to pursue his myriad interests with fervor. He volunteered for years as part of the college radio station’s community of djs and aids. He was invited to join the 2016-2017 cohort of the Gaines Fellowship for the Humanities, where he produced a podcast about the history of video games and later a memoir-and-a-show in the vein of Spalding Gray that explored grief and games. As a student, David maintained employment with College of Arts & Sciences HIVE team, producing podcasts for the university and its partners.
Traveler
From 2016 to 2018, David was able to travel to different parts of the world thanks to generous scholarships offered by the University of Kentucky, the Zolondek family, the Rowland family, and the Confucius Institute. This included time in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, England, and China. During this time, David’s work as a poet, content creator, and education advocate began to solidify. In 2016, David was honored as part of the Confucius Institute’s first People-to-People cohort.
Video Producer
In 2017, David began work at the University of Kentucky’s International Center as a video producer, creating and editing content that furthered the universities partnerships with other countries. He also worked within the UK Healthcare system, creating podcasts that educated clinicians about policy changes within the state of Kentucky. David also began working with the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching as their multimedia producer, a position he maintained and advanced for seven years. While at CELT, David produced content that both proliferated the knowledge of experts in niche subjects and advanced the causes of accessibility, reactivity, and innovation in education.
Content Creator
In 2024, David focused on producing content of his own, building his own brand that allowed for the kinds of flexibility he has been so proud of in his professional and personal life. Coled One qualified for the YouTube Partnership program in 2024, accruing over 400,000 views and 32,000 hours of watchtime. He also spent significant time on his writing, pushing his education and capabilities further through a set of personal and professional development workshops. David’s publications can be seen on this page.
