These are the most frequently asked questions we receive about conducting a StoryCorps interview. You may also want to see our StoryCorps FAQ, which has answers to questions about StoryCorps as an organization.

What is StoryCorps?
We are an independent nonprofit whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share. A second copy is archived at the Library of Congress. Selected stories are broadcast via NPR’s Morning Edition and News & Notes, podcasts, and on our website. StoryCorps is the largest oral history project of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are as Americans.

What is the Memory Loss Initiative?
Due to the growing number of Americans who are living with some form of memory loss, StoryCorps launched an initiative in 2006 to reach out to people affected by memory loss. Our aim is to support and encourage people with memory loss to share their stories.

Where and When?
StoryCorps regularly conducts interview sessions at our four soundproof StoryBooths: two in New York City, one in Milwaukee, and one in Nashville. We also have two MobileBooths that travel the country. To see locations, or if you prefer to make a reservation online, click here.

As part of the Memory Loss Initiative, StoryCorps also records on-site at locations all over the country. StoryKits are also available for participants involved in the Memory Loss Initiative and are free of charge. These kits are designed for interviews much like those that take place in our booths and on-site locations: meaningful conversations between two or three people.

Whom should I bring to the interview?
The Memory Loss Initiative supports participants who are experiencing memory loss. Participants experiencing memory loss may be interviewed by anyone: a family member, a friend, or a caregiver.

What will happen to my recording after my interview session?
You will receive a CD copy of your interview to share with your friends and family. With your permission, a copy of your interview will be sent to The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

How long is the interview?
The interview process takes about an hour. Recording time is 40 minutes.

How can I prepare for my interview?
StoryCorps does not have a mission for how interviews should be conducted, but supports conversation between people who care for each other. We understand that the nature of memory loss makes it difficult at times to remember moments in a person’s life, but the purpose of the interview is not to capture the specifics. Rather, we encourage people to think of the interview as a celebration of a person’s life. StoryCorps sessions are designed to be natural conversations, not a test of a person’s memory. A supportive question list and interview tips are posted on this website.

What does the facilitator do during the session?
The Facilitator is present with you and your partner throughout the entire interview process and handles all technical aspects of the recording.

Who are the facilitators?
Facilitators come from a variety of backgrounds and are good, thoughtful listeners. They are present to help you have a comfortable and meaningful experience.

How can I share the recording with others?
Please feel free to make copies of your interview for your friends and family. If you need assistance, most office supply stores can provide copies of your CD for a modest price.

Will my story be excerpted for the public to hear?
With permission from the participants, a few of the thousands of stories we collect are excerpted for posting on our website or broadcast on NPR (Fridays, on Morning Edition). We are a small, nonprofit organization and do not have the capacity to edit all of the interviews we record. The most important aspect of the project is the interview experience itself.

How much does it cost to participate?
The Memory Loss Initiative is generously funded by supporters Joseph and Carol Reich and therefore, free to all participants.

What happens if I don’t want my CD to go to the archive?
If you do not wish to have the CD archived, you should not sign the release form. In turn, we will not keep a copy of your interview CD.