Kriti Sarav, a 16-year-old from Chicago, won the high school prize for NPR's Student Podcast Challenge in 2021. Her winning podcast, which she created all by herself, discusses her life growing up Indian American. She recalls some of the many messages she has received that she is different and explains their impact on her over time. Listen to hear Sarav tell her story and find out how she helps herself and others feel proud and strong.
Story Length: 4:03
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January 13, 2022
6:31
Eighth grade students from Sayre School in Lexington, Ky. won the middle school prize for NPR's Student Podcast Challenge in 2021. Their podcast celebrates their school’s small maintenance crew, who work hard to take care of the buildings and grounds where students learn each day, despite little recognition. This story includes the student podcasters’ interviews with members of the maintenance crew and other students and features their carefully chosen sound effects and tales of memorable maintenance feats. Listen to hear more about the school’s hardworking maintenance crew and learn how the young podcasters hope to impact listeners.
Read MoreJune 10, 2021
7:45
Outdoor recreation is enjoyed around the world. The U.S. has its own particular set of traditions, which, for a variety of reasons, have not always been inclusive of all Americans. Ambreen Tariq, an immigrant from India, explores the meaning of camping for immigrants and people of color in her children’s book, Fatima’s Great Outdoors. She argues that the urge to connect with nature is universal, and camping offers immigrants the chance to participate in a fun, quintessentially American activity while maintaining their own cultural identities and traditions. Listen to the author describe her own experiences camping as a child and why she begged her parents to serve bacon for breakfast.
Read MoreJune 11, 2019
6:36
The middle school winners of this year’s NPR Podcast Challenge chose a topic that few of their classmates or teachers felt comfortable discussing. This group of girls from a school in the Bronx,New York chose to focus their podcast on menstruation and periods. They investigated the stigma of talking about periods and associated feminine hygiene products and discussed changes they would like to see. Listen to hear more about the team’s winning podcast and why they decided to take on the taboo topic of periods.
Read MoreNovember 17, 2015
2:39
Oil lamps light up hundreds of millions of Indian homes during Diwali, a festival celebrating the victory of good over evil and “finding the light within.” This religious celebration is a public holiday in many countries. There are prayers invoking the Hindu goddesses and stories are told of Hindu gods fighting between good and evil, symbolizing every person's struggle. Families decorate with colorful decorations and lights, and perform ritual prayers. Listen to learn more about this holiday from a family that celebrates this tradition in the United States.
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