"Every year, when NPR opens up our Student Podcast Challenge, thousands of young people send us their stories. We get investigative journalism, heartfelt family interviews, and deeply personal stories. Our judges hear podcasts about sports, and music, and life at school. And, inevitably, we get some absolute gems. Like this one: "Monster Madness, it's the podcast that we need," 11-year-old Ryan Betts-Ng sings cheerfully in his entry this year, Monster Madness."
""It tells tales of monsters and how they came to be." Ryan is a sixth grader at Redwood Day School in Oakland, Calif. With the help of his younger brother, Marshall, he devoted his submission to their favorite monster, Bigfoot. On top of his thorough research and creative writing, Ryan used original sound effects, and he and his brother brought a joyful, sometimes hilarious enthusiasm to their story. Our judges found it charming."
NPR's Student Podcast Challenge receives thousands of entries each year from young people. Submissions range from investigative journalism and heartfelt family interviews to deeply personal stories, sports, music, and school-life podcasts. Eleven-year-old Ryan Betts-Ng, a sixth grader at Redwood Day School in Oakland, created 'Monster Madness' with his younger brother Marshall, focusing on Bigfoot. The entry combined thorough research, creative writing, original sound effects, and joyful, sometimes hilarious enthusiasm. Judges found the podcast charming and named Ryan and Dylan Betts-Ng middle school finalists in the 2025 NPR Student Podcast Challenge. The submission showcased creativity and strong audio production skills.
Read at www.npr.org
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