1. What is the National Day of Listening?
2. Whom should I interview for the National Day of Listening?
3. How should I prepare for my interview?
4. Can I do my National Day of Listening interview on another day?
5. What kind of equipment should I use?
6. How can I preserve my interview?
7. Will National Day of Listening and other Do-It-Yourself interviews be archived at the Library of Congress?
8. Where can I share my interviews?
9. Will StoryCorps provide technical support for Do-It-Yourself recordings?
10. What other organizations are involved in the National Day of Listening?
11. Can I make a contribution to support StoryCorps’ National Day of Listening?
12. Where can I find more stories?

1. What is the National Day of Listening?

NPR joins StoryCorps in declaring Friday, November 27th the National Day of Listening. On this day, Americans are encouraged to record and share an interview with a loved one and to preserve that conversation for future generations. The National Day of Listening falls on the day after Thanksgiving, when friends and family are likely to be together and able to spend an hour honoring one another by listening. StoryCorps provides a Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide and special toolkits to assist people in recording an interview and other National Day of Listening activities.

2. Whom should I interview for the National Day of Listening?

The National Day of Listening is a time to tell people that their lives matter and that they won’t ever be forgotten. Interview a loved one or a community member whom you would like to honor—your grandfather, your aunt, a neighbor, a mentor, a veteran, or an old friend.

3. How should I prepare for my interview?

Before you get started, speak with your interview partner about what to expect. It’s also a good idea to create a list of interview questions. StoryCorps’ Question Generator suggests a variety of questions.

It’s helpful to practice with your recording equipment and to prepare a quiet, comfortable recording space. We suggest you spend about 30 minutes getting ready and about 40 minutes conducting your interview. If you wish to spend more time recording, be sure to take breaks and make sure your recording equipment is still working.

4. Can I do my National Day of Listening interview on another day?

Yes! Every day can be your own Day of Listening. We hope that our free materials will inspire you to conduct interviews throughout the year.

5. What kind of equipment should I use?

There is recording equipment to fit all kinds of budgets and levels of technical proficiency. Even iPhones and handheld devices come with options that make it possible to record interviews. Other common home electronics, such as a computer, a video camera, or a basic digital or cassette recorder are great tools for recording. Equipment recommendations are included in the Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide, Education Toolkit, and the Community Service Toolkit.

If you don’t have access to recording equipment, you can use pen and paper to document your interview. You can also borrow recording equipment from a friend or a community organization, school, or library.

6. How can I preserve my interview?

No matter what recording device you choose, StoryCorps suggests that you handle your interview recordings with care. Label your recordings clearly and completely, including the names of all participants, the date, and interview location. Make multiple copies of your interviews and store them in a safe place that’s easy to remember – among scrapbooks or other mementos, in a filing cabinet, or in a safe deposit box.

7. Will National Day of Listening and other Do-It-Yourself interviews be archived at the Library of Congress?

There will be no central archive of National Day of Listening interviews. Only interviews that are recorded using StoryCorps’ professional equipment are permitted to be archived in the StoryCorps collection at the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress.

8. Where can I share my interviews?

You can post reflections and information about your interview experience on the share page. You can also upload and distribute your interviews via email or social networks. Also, National Day of Listening interviews make great gifts! This year StoryCorps suggests you visit Entertonement’s National Day of Listening page to share and listen to other DIY interviews.

9. Will StoryCorps provide technical support for Do-It-Yourself recordings?

StoryCorps does not have the capacity to provide technical support for DIY recordings. We do provide tips for recording interviews in the Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide, Education Toolkit, and the Community Service Toolkit.

10. What other organizations are involved in the National Day of Listening?

StoryCorps’ partnerships for the National Day of Listening include NPR, the American Library Association, and the Corporation for National and Community Service/Americorps, and local public radio stations across the country. StoryCorps is also grateful for the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

11. Can I make a contribution to support StoryCorps’ National Day of Listening?

StoryCorps is an independent non-profit organization and all contributions are 100% tax-deductible. StoryCorps relies on support from participants and listeners nationwide. Your donation helps StoryCorps record, preserve, and share even more stories from communities like yours throughout the United States. Make a secure online donation at storycorps.org/donate.

12. Where can I find more stories?

In addition to the full archive of our broadcast stories on the StoryCorps website, you can find even more stories from StoryCorps in our New York Times bestselling book, Listening Is an Act of Love. It includes 50 heart-warming stories from our first four years, and it can be found at your local bookstore or online bookseller. 100% of the royalties from the sales of Listening Is an Act of Love go directly to supporting StoryCorps as we work to record, preserve, and share the stories of everyday people.