I have never been a fan of doing interviews, but I had a good time doing this one. Before we started the recording section of this project, my partner and I talked for a while about which questions we were going to ask each other and gave each other a chance to formulate a response, so we were not putting the other on the spot during the interview. We also went over the questions we had in mind to make sure we weren’t going to be asking about something that would make the other uncomfortable talking about. My favorite question that I got asked that stood out to me was, “what big existential or philosophical or life question are you least sure about?” For least sure about, I didn’t know what my answer would be because when thinking about concepts such as those, I usually stick to the ones I am confident about and can talk for a while on. So, to answer this question, I talked about life other than here on planet Earth. We have such an extensive solar system that there must be other life forms out there. This question stood out to me because I think it made both of us more comfortable with the interview, and it opened us up more. As I mentioned before, the fact that I had a good time doing this project surprised me. In social settings where I don’t know anyone well enough, I tend to be reserved and anxious, and although I was still feeling anxious while recording, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think I would do this again with someone in my life, and I think it would be better if it were a close friend or someone in my family.

Oral history is an essential aspect of history. Many stories and traditions are passed down from generation to generation through oral history and storytelling. Unfortunately, much of oral history is lost to time and/or is altered as time goes on. By this, I mean that details are forgotten or are over/under exaggerated. With technology and websites such as Storycorps, stories that may be passed down over generations can actually be saved so that many others can hear about them. For example, before we recorded our own interviews, I listened to a story about a wife and a husband who lost their son on September 11th, 2001. In April of 2020, the husband ended up dying of COVID-19. The story was a remembrance the couple recorded before the husband died but was reposted in an attempt to remember both the son and the husband. Without a website like Storycorps, not as many people would have been able to listen to their story. One aspect of Storycorps that makes the website unique is that you can upload something of any time length, meaning you could tell a story that’s been passed down and you want others to hear it, or you can share a conversation that you and others would like to remember for a long time.

Personally, I like the way that Storycorps is set up. I think it is easy to navigate and use. Exploring the different stories they had was what I was drawn to at first because it’s one of the first things to pop up, so it is easy to scroll and see what options they have to listen to. It is almost the same thing with the “Discover” option right next to the stories options. It also seems easy to get involved with bigger Storycorps projects with the “Participate” option, so I could easily browse through to see what they have if I was ever interested in doing so. As for posting the interview, I thought that to be pretty easy as well. When going through the motions and answering/filling out the required sections, Storycorps made it clear what they wanted you to do. The animation aspect on Storycorps was pretty cool as well. The guidance I would give to someone who is learning how to use Storycorps would be to make an account on the website because it opens up a couple of more options for you to explore. I learned a few things about using Storycorps and doing this project. I was able to learn more about other people through the stories they have shared and the conversations they have had with friends and family. About myself, I have learned that through planning, it is easier to be more open to any questions you are asked. I have also learned that planning helps to answer those questions as well. Asking questions that can be considered “ice breakers” is also a great way to make the interview flow better and make participants feel more comfortable. Overall, I think this project had many positive aspects to it.