Get Involved

If you don't have access to any of those then you can still get in touch with one of the local BBC radio stations participating in the Listening Project. A full list of the stations involved is available on our stations page. 

And don't worry about whether your conversation is suitable for the Listening Project – there’s no right or wrong way to have a conversation. Both the BBC and the British Library are keen to hear from as many people as possible.

Preparing for your conversation

Who would you like to have a conversation with? Think of a person whose stories you would like to hear, or someone who might like to ask about yours, such as a grandparent, sibling, or close friend.

Think about any topics you would like to cover in your chat and make a list of possible questions to get you started. You can take a look at our suggested questions for help. Your conversation might go wildly off topic but that’s fine!

Choose a device to record your conversation. You need something that will record your conversation and save it as an audio file, which you can then upload to the Listening Project. There are several tools you could use that you probably already have access to:

1 - Computer

It’s likely you have a computer with a built-in microphone, which will allow you to record with free (or free to try), online audio software like Audacity, Free Studio or Sound Forge. Apple computers should already have the audio software GarageBand pre-installed.

If you have an external microphone we suggest you plug it in, but if not the built-in mic should work fine.

2 - Mobile phone

Most smart phones have the ability to record and output mp3s. If you're recording on a phone, make sure the battery is fully charged and turn off any features that could interrupt the conversation, such as text alerts, alarms and the phone feature.

3 - MP3 Players

Some MP3 players (such as later generation iPods) have built in voice recorder functions, whilst others can be turned into a digital recorder using a microphone attachment.

4 - Digital cameras

Many digital video and stills cameras can also be used to record audio.

Where should I have the conversation?

Pick a quiet place where you and your loved one can sit and relax for 15-30 minutes without any interruptions. A carpeted room is best.

Make sure there’s nothing nearby that could create background noise, such as a fan, phone or ticking clock.

Take off any rings or jewellery that might create noise.

Position your recording device at an equal distance between you and the person you’re talking to, and as close to the two of you as you can.

Check the sound levels first by making a short test recording and playing back the sound. If it sounds distorted, you’re either too near the microphone or the sound level is turned up too high.

Once you're set up, press record and start your conversation.

How do we start the conversation?

Make sure that you have permission to record the conversation from all parties involved, and that they understand that you are recording the conversation with a view to submit it to BBC and the British Library as part of the Listening Project.

Start the conversation with basic information by stating your name, your age, the date, and the location of the interview. For example, “My name is John Smith. I’m forty years old. The date is November 27, 2011, and I’m sitting with my grandfather, Frank Smith, in his living room in Salford.” Then ask your conversation partner to do the same.

Remember, the questions you prepared in advance are just suggestions. If something interests you, ask more about it. We’ve found that 20-30 minutes is a good length of time for a conversation, but you can talk for a shorter amount of time if you like. Unfortunately we are unable to accept conversations that are any longer than half an hour.

Try to be yourself; you can laugh or even cry during the conversation.

Some emotional questions like “how does this make you feel?” often elicit thoughtful responses so don’t be afraid to ask.

Before you turn off the recording device, ask your conversation partner if there is anything else he or she wants to talk about.

Finally, hit stop on your recording device. You are ready to share your conversation with the Listening Project.

What do I do when I've finished my conversation?

Please don't edit your conversation. We are working with the British Library who are interested in hearing the conversation as a whole. How people use certain words, pauses and even a fit of giggles could help oral historians and provide insights into contemporary Britain.

Save your conversation as an MP3 file, give it a distinctive and recognisable name and keep the size to under 100MB. More information about file types can be found on BBC Webwise.



How can I share my conversation with the BBC and the British Library?

To share your conversation with the BBC using the Listening Project Upload Tool you'll need a BBC iD membership. We need to know some details about you, your conversation partner and the conversation you had.

Please ensure that you have permission from your conversation partner to share their data with us.

The British Library asks that you provide some additional information about yourself to help researchers and future generations better understand your recording.

Before you use the Listening Project upload tool, please listen to the conversation that you have recorded and ensure that you've got the following details of you and your conversation partner.

For each speaker:

• First Name
• Second Name
• Gender
• Occupation
• Place of Birth
• Year of birth
• Where did you grow up?
• Ethnicity
• Father's Occupation
• Mother's Occupation

About the recording:

• Details about the conversation - be sure to give as many details as possible about who was taking part in the conversation and what you discussed
• When the recording took place
• Where the recording took place
• What equipment did you use to record the conversation

Please note that uploading can take time. A 30 minute audio file can sometimes take over an hour to upload, depending on the size of the file and the speed of your broadband connection. If the upload does not work the first time, try again.

If you find you're repeatedly having problems with the uploader that are not answered on our FAQs page, then you can email us on listeningprojecthelp@bbc.co.uk.

For full details on how the BBC and The British Library will use your conversation and the data that you give us please see the Terms & Conditions.

How can I share my conversation with my friends and family?

Conversations submitted to the Listening Project are passed on to BBC producers and, with your permission, the British Library. We very much hope to use your contribution but can't guarantee to do so.

If you would like to share your conversation with friends and family there are a number of audio sharing websites that you could use.

Free media-sharing websites such as Soundcloud, Audioboo, Mixcloud and Youtube allow you to easily upload and share digital audio or video recordings. Social networking websites like Facebook also host audio applications that allow you to upload and share your conversations.

We have set up an Audioboo channel where you can share your Listening Project recordings with us - there are more details on our Audioboo page.

Please note, only conversations submitted via the BBC Listening Project Uploader will be eligible to be considered for broadcast and publication by the BBC and archiving by the British Library.