65 and older? Have a story to tell? Hit 'record' and send NPR your podcast

Education 65 and older? Have a story to tell? Hit 'record' and send NPR your podcast August 16, 20265:00 AM ET By  Steve Drummond ,  Janet W. Lee Tatyana Alanis for NPR Hey, seniors! There are a lot of you out there and the numbers are growing: The roughly 60 million Americans age 65 and older make up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. At this point in life you've clocked a lot of miles and gained some experience along the way. You've probably got some gray hair to show for it, and no doubt some stories to tell. Here at NPR, we'd like to hear those stories. And so this fall, we're asking you to hit "record" and send them to us, in audio form. Stories of love, of family, of finance and health. Memories of the past – or fears and hopes for the future. Sponsor Message Student Podcast Challenge Sound Advice: The NPR guide to student podcasting We're calling it the Senior Podcast Challenge, and our judges will select the best ones and put them on our NPR shows. The grand prize winner? We'll bring you and a guest to NPR headquarters in Washington to watch — and listen — as your story airs live on Weekend Edition Sunday. Stories about … almost anything The competition builds on the NPR Student Podcast Challenge, which, since 2018, has introduced tens of thousands of young people to the world of audio storytelling. And in 2020, we launched the College Podcast Challenge. What kind of stories will our judges be listening for? The simple answer is, almost anything – what we've found over the years is that the podcasts that stand out are entries where students are passionate about the story they're telling. For seniors, podcasts might touch on: Adjusting to retirement or life on a fixed income. Health or the cost of healthcare. The isolation that comes with divorce or the loss of a partner.  Interviews with a friend or family member. Reflections on family history, a long career, or association with historical events.Romance, travel and third (or fourt...