National Day of Listening

     The day after Thanksgiving is the National Day of Listening. According to Wikipedia, this day "was first launched by the national oral history project StoryCorps in 2008 and now recurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, when families are more likely to spend time together. It was proposed as an alternative to 'Black Friday'." Personally, I think it's a great idea.

     If you're not familiar with StoryCorps, check out their website. Their "mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives." At their locations (Atlanta, New York and San Francisco) and mobile booths (currently Las Angeles and Austin, TX), participants have the opportunity to conduct a 40 minute interview in a professional sound booth. The recordings are stored at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and participants receive a copy for themselves.

     For those who prefer to conduct interviews on their own, StoryCorps offers a DIY guide and question generator. They also have a YouTube account with how-to videos, as well as excerpts of interview they've conducted.