Hey there, it’s Janet Woojeong Lee, producer on NPR’s education team.
It’s official: The 2026 Student Podcast Challenge for fourth graders, middle and high school students is now open – this year, with the special prize for America’s 250th birthday.
Our team has already been getting questions from teachers all over the country who are eager to get things moving, so I thought I’d share a few questions that keep coming up:
Q: I don’t think I have any big, important stories to tell. What should I podcast about?
A: No story is too small for a winning podcast. In fact, a story that’s meaningful to you, your friends at school, your family or community – something from your backyard as we like to say – can make a perfect 8-minute audio story.
Or if you have absolutely no idea, a few prompts to help get you thinking:
Tell us a story about your school or community: about something that happened there — recently or in the past — that we should know about.
What is a moment in history that other students should learn about?
Show us both sides of a debate about an issue that's important to you.
What do you want to change about the world?
What's a big change that students today will make in the future?
Explain something to us that kids understand and grown-ups don't.
And don’t forget! For our special thematic prize for America 250, you can tell us a story about what it means to be an American. Stories of innovation, of rights and protest, arts and culture, civic engagement and governance, or personal narratives or beliefs. So really, the full range of the American experience. 😉
Q: I haven’t done this before! Where can I get started?
For teachers – check out our teaching curriculum guide with resources on how to teach podcasting. We have links and examples on everything from writing for audio to best recording practices.
For students – check out this guide for student podcasters to get started! Of course there are so many ways to put together a podcast, but if it’s your first time, it may be helpful to follow the list of research, outlining and planning to do before you hit the record button.
I share these to say: Any student can make a podcast and any adult can bring audio storytelling into the classroom. We’ve seen it over and over: First-time entrants taking home the grand prize or teachers and librarians incorporating podcasting, falling in love with it, and coming back the next contest cycle.
So YOU CAN DO IT TOO! Take a close look at our Sound Advice guide, read our announcements and other resource pages we made for you over the years – and if you have any questions or concerns, I’m here to guide you. Drop me a note at studentpodcastchallenge@npr.org.
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear from you all.
Warmly,
Janet Woojeong Lee
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