The oral-history project StoryCorps is asking each of us to bow out of traditional Black Friday consumerism and think about a different kind of gift Friday: time and curiosity.

It’s StoryCorps’ fifth annual National Day of Listening, where you take an hour and record an interview with someone important to you or a retired or active-duty service member. You can use whatever’s handy – your computer, smart phone or tape recorder. (You can even record right through your Web browser.)

Founder Dave Isay talks about why this year’s event is spotlighting the military.

Tags: military, StoryCorps, National Day of Listening, Dave Isay, listening