The National Day of Listening is a new national holiday started by StoryCorps in 2008. On the day after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks all Americans to take an hour to record an interview with a loved one, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes, such as computers, iPhones, and tape recorders, along with StoryCorps’ free Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide.

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.

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.

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.

There is recording equipment to fit all kinds of budgets and levels of technical proficiency. Download the Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide for equipment recommendations and tips.

You can also use pen and paper to document your interview, or borrow recording equipment from a friend, community organization, school, or library.

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.

No. Only interviews recorded with StoryCorps’ professional equipment will be archived in the StoryCorps collection at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. To make a reservation to record your story with StoryCorps, visit storycorps.org.

Tell us about your experience on the Wall of Listening. You can also upload and distribute your interviews via email or social networks, or give copies of the interview to your friends and family as gifts.

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit organization and all contributions are 100% tax-deductible. 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.

Listen to stories at storycorps.org, subscribe to our free podcast, sign-up for our newsletter, and tune into our weekly broadcast every Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition.

You can also read our New York Times bestselling books, Listening Is an Act of Love and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps.