The moment you've been waiting for: America's best student podcasts
What do Americans really know about their country?
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Americans → wait → country
What do we mean when we think of "home"?
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we → mean → home
When a father dies, what lessons does he leave for his son?
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he → die → son
And, was Andy Warhol a woman named Patricia?
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Warhol → name → ?
These topics – from fifth graders in Hewlett, N.Y., a high school student in Ann Arbor, Mich., an 11th grader in Cicero, Ill., and a middle schooler in Brooklyn – make up just a few of the many questions that students around the country turned into audio stories and sent us this year.
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students → make → us
In its eighth year, the NPR Student Podcast Challenge received nearly 1,500 podcasts from students in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
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Challenge → receive → Columbia
Our education team spent the summer listening to each of them, and from all those entries we've chosen the very best.
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we → spend → best
We'll send these finalists to our team of judges, and in the coming weeks we'll announce our grand prize winners.
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we → send → winners
Those podcasts will air on Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other NPR programs.
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podcasts → air → Edition
Among the big themes this year was our special challenge to students: In this year marking the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, explore what it means to be an American.
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it → mark → what
We also heard a lot about technology in school – AI, cell phone bans, and concerns about screen time.
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We → hear → time
Why do some memories stick and others don't?
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others → stick → ?
How do you process the loss of memory?
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you → process → memory
And can you keep a memory alive?
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you → keep → memory
And, a consistent thread over the years, many students were interested in learning from their elders – everything from family histories to intergenerational advice and tough conversations about grief.
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students → learn → grief
Thanks again to the thousands of students, and their teachers, parents and sponsors, who participated, and congratulations to our finalists and honorable mentions!
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who → participate → finalists
Here are the middle and high school finalists of the 2026 NPR Student Podcast Challenge, listed in alphabetical order.
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finalists → list → order
You can find the list of honorable mentions here.
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You → find → mentions
Winners and honorable mentions in the fourth grade category will be announced at a later date.
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Middle School Finalists
Andy Warhol Was a Woman Named Patricia
Student: Ike Anolik
Teacher/Sponsor: David Khoury, Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, N.Y.
NPR Member Stations: WNYC, WFUV, WBGO and WNYE
What started as a walk in the park led Ike to make an unexpected friend: Andy Warhol.
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started → name → friend
In his podcast, Ike interviews writer Pat Hackett about her time working for the famous artist.
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Ike → work → artist
NPR Member Stations: WNYC, WFUV, WBGO, WNYE and WSHU
For America's 250th birthday, this group of fifth graders asked each other: "What do you really know about our country?"
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you → ask → country
In their podcast, they talk to their classmates and teachers about the importance of civics, and learn from an expert how they can help get people engaged.
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people → talk → expert
"Words couldn't even describe how much he meant to me."
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he → describe → me
Middle schooler Kate grew up writing letters to her grandpa in between visits when they played games and he'd tell her stories of his life.
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he → grow → life
In her podcast, she pays homage to her Grandpa Ted, and seeks to understand the disease – dementia – that took him from her.
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that → pay → her
Cora has always had a hard time reading, but she says her dyslexia isn't all bad.
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dyslexia → have → time
She talks to her mom and her tutor to learn more about her diagnosis and explores what it's like to be an adult with dyslexia.
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it → talk → dyslexia
NPR Member Station: KPBS
Increased I.C.E. activity in 2026 got middle schoolers from California wondering why the agency was created.
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agency → get → California
They research its history and conduct interviews to learn more.
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They → research → more
Leaving Greece
Student: Livie Courser
Teacher/Sponsor: Shelly Hughes, Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio
NPR Member Stations: WOSU and WCBE
Middle Schooler
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Leaving → leave → Arlington
Livie grew up hearing stories of Greece from her grandpa, who emigrated to the United States.
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who → grow → States
"It was very difficult for him and his family, and he had many chores after school."
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he → have → school
In her podcast, Livie interviews her grandpa about what it was like to leave his small village on Crete for America.
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it → interview → America
"People often think they understand Down syndrome, but a lot of times, they really don't."
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they → think → times
Lucas' brother Jacob has Down syndrome, and he wants people to know that it's about so much more than a diagnosis – it's a differability.
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it → have → diagnosis
NPR Member Stations: WABE, GPB and WCLK
Why do some teachers feel like they belong in the classroom?
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they → feel → classroom
These five middle schoolers say their teacher "really does."
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teacher → say → ?
In their podcast, they talk to one of their favorite teachers and some of her former students to figure out what makes her so special.
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her → talk → students
The Careers Kids Consider
Students: Zoey Nolan and Abigail Stettler
Teacher/Sponsor: Catherine Rinko-Gay, Barrington Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio
NPR Member Stations: WOSU and WCBE
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
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you → consider → What
…and 40 more, not listed.
The Aporia
