NCKU students collaborate with elders from Nanmei Village to launch the third season of the podcast "A Good Life in Nanmei"

National Cheng Kung University's "Family Relations" general education course, in conjunction with the university's "Companion 2026" program, continues to lead students into Nanmei Village in Tainan. Utilizing podcasts as a communication medium, students engage in dialogues with the elderly, preserving the rich collective memories of the community. The new season of "Nanmei Beautiful Life" focuses on the theme of "A Good Life in Nanmei" and has been online since May 23rd.

Taiwan is transitioning from an aging society to a super-aged society by 2025, making the life stories of many elders valuable references for the younger generation. The "Nanmei Beautiful Life" podcast program is a collaboration between NCKU's "Family Relations" general education course and Nanmei Village. Students engage in face-to-face interviews with the elderly during class visits to Nanmei Village. Driven by curiosity, students imagine the past and cherished memories depicted by the elders through dialogue and interaction. Students shoulder the social responsibility of cultural preservation, ensuring the rich life experiences of the elderly are preserved for future generations.

This semester, participating students planned discussions with the elderly on various topics such as food, entertainment activities, and values. The elders showed great enthusiasm and preparedness for each topic, even bringing along signature dishes and handwritten notes as reference materials. Throughout the interviews, their sense of humor and wisdom helped ease the anxiety and pressure felt by students who were not fluent in Taiwanese. In this new season, the program not only informs listeners about the presence of art galleries and cafes in Nanmei Village but also delves deeper into the vibrant local daily life and cuisine of Nanmei residents.

Elders have experienced various stages of life, and their experiences and memories are invaluable assets worth preserving and sharing. These amateur seniors have seldom had the opportunity to have their voices recorded in the past, but with advancements in technology, this is changing. For their loved ones and other listeners, the firsthand accounts of their stories hold significant meaning.

Sound is the memory book of time, and experience is the gift box of life. The "Nanmei Beautiful Life" podcast program starts from the community, collecting oral histories from community elders and presenting them in audiovisual format, allowing the stories of the elders to be preserved and their voices to be heard. Through this, young people can gain a deeper understanding of history and culture, while also allowing the elders to feel their own value and presence. At the premiere event of the third season on May 23rd, NCKU students also taught the elders how to share the podcast program with their family and friends via their mobile phones, fostering a warm and interactive atmosphere.