The Students' Podcast

NPR's Student Podcast Challenge has become one of the most exciting programs in student media, and The Students' Podcast is where the best work ends up. The show serves a dual purpose — it teaches students how to make their own podcasts, with practical guidance on sound quality, interview techniques, and storytelling, while also showcasing the winning entries from NPR's annual competition. The results are genuinely impressive. Past episodes include a college student's deeply personal exploration of living with schizoaffective disorder, a physics-focused piece on the fluid dynamics of coffee, and an emotional story about sisterhood and military service. Hosts Lauren Migaki, Elissa Nadworny, and Jeffrey Pierre guide listeners through the craft while letting student voices take center stage. With 34 episodes across four seasons, it is a focused collection rather than a massive archive, but every episode demonstrates what students are capable of when given the tools and platform. If you are a student interested in podcasting, journalism, or storytelling, this is both an education and an inspiration. And if you are a teacher looking for a way to bring audio projects into your classroom, NPR has essentially built the curriculum for you.