Colby McCaskill, a senior at Fordham University, won the NPR College Podcast Challenge with a heartfelt podcast about his grandparents, Kathy and Dick McCaskill. The podcast explores Colby’s struggle to accept his grandparents’ aging and health challenges, including Kathy’s dementia. During a visit to their Florida condo, Colby joined them in coloring, an activity that helps Kathy manage her condition. The podcast, described as an “audio letter” to his grandfather, captures the emotional journey of a family confronting difficult changes. NPR judges praised the podcast for its intimacy and vulnerability, highlighting the importance of open communication about aging and illness.
QUESTION: How might sharing personal stories about family challenges help others who are experiencing similar situations?
Making a podcast helped one family talk about aging, dementia and death
