Fordham Senior Colby McCaskill Wins NPR’s 2026 College Podcast Challenge

Colby McCaskill, who recently turned 21 and is finishing his senior year at Fordham University in New York, is the grand prize winner of NPR's College Podcast Challenge in 2026. His winning entry is an audio letter to his grandfather titled 'Dear Papa' that grapples with his grandmother Kathy McCaskill's dementia.

NPR judges selected Colby's podcast for its intimacy and vulnerability from hundreds of entries.

The article detailing the win was published on May 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM ET and was written by Elissa Nadworny and Janet W. Lee. NPR reported that the podcast tells the story of a family learning to talk about hard things, including aging, dementia and death.

The McCaskills were at a rental condo in Pensacola, Florida, when scenes featured in the podcast were recorded. At the kitchen table of that condo, Dick and Kathy McCaskill, ages 76 and 77, worked on coloring in an elaborate star from an adult coloring book. Coloring helps Kathy McCaskill with her dementia by calming her anxiety and stimulating cognition.

Colby McCaskill joined them with a gold colored pencil, asking his grandmother how long they had been working on the book. Colby McCaskill made the audio letter after struggling to confront the reality that his grandparents are aging and changing. When he was growing up, Dick McCaskill worked as a healthcare executive and Kathy McCaskill worked as a teacher.

They were always adventuring, telling stories about 100-mile bike rides and skiing double black diamonds. " He weaves scenes from visits with his grandparents alongside interviews and personal reflections. Kathy McCaskill said she is 47 years old when asked her age.

Kathy McCaskill said: "Now, I started to say something, and then I can't remember. " She often repeats the phrase "The Lord knows it all," which seems to calm her. The family used the podcast to discuss dying, how things are changing, and how to stay connected.

Dick McCaskill has listened to the podcast four or five times. " He and Kathy held hands while sitting with Colby on their screened-in porch overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway in the Florida Panhandle after one recent listening. " He described how Kathy struggles with basic tasks, such as knowing how to turn on an electric toothbrush but not how to turn it off.

"That used to drive me crazy," he said with a laugh. " The experience has taught him acceptance, contentment, and strengthened his faith. " Colby McCaskill said he was scared to talk about dementia because "If there's no medical solution for it, then what would talking about it do?

Before the recording, he had never discussed dementia, his grandmother's health or their changing family dynamics with his grandparents. " The ideal outcome, he said, was mutual listening between generations. The podcast has served as a jumping-off point for the family to talk about death and how to remain connected as roles shift.

Dick McCaskill conceded there had been avoidance on his side too, not wanting to burden his grandson who is nearly 50 years younger and preparing to graduate from college. NPR reported that the resulting conversations have made Colby feel less scared about the future.