The Only Constant

In today’s conversation, we spoke about how, after three full years of production, we succeeded in our goal to bring a bit more hope into the world. By talking to others about what makes them passionate and how they use it to change the world around them, we’ve found many reasons to feel optimistic and we hope the same for you. 
With the support of our family, friends, patrons, listeners, and seventy three guests, we’ve created something that we’re truly proud of. If there’s anything to take away from our podcast, it’s that change is the only constant, and you can use your passion to make change positive. Thank you for joining us on this journey of active hope. 
Hopefully, you find some hope today.

In today’s conversation, we spoke with Karina Guerra. Using poetry, music, and plays, Karina strives to de-stigmatize the conversation around mental health. The world building that goes into her writing allows herself and others to gain a new perspective on mental health and people in general.

Karina is also a first generation college student. With a family that is incredibly supportive, and a strong love for learning, she plans on expressing her truth and inspiring others to do the same. 

Hopefully, you find some hope today. 

In today's conversation, we spoke with Jack Hitchcock.

Jack is the student body president at FSU and chair of the Florida Student Association. Raised in a patriotic family, he carries a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for his country.

From navigating the complexities of student politics to pondering the role of media in shaping public sentiment, Jack offers a multifaceted view on patriotism, optimism, and kindness—values he attributes to his upbringing.

Hopefully, you find some hope today!

In today's conversation, we spoke with Lisa Mackay-Ring.

Lisa is a professor and doctoral candidate in the religion department at FSU. She teaches classes about religious conflict and fosters discussions that challenge her students’ conventional views about religion as a whole.

Aside from her work in academia, Lisa is deeply passionate about the themes of resiliency, proactivity, and self-reliance. Her personal experiences with grief and stress have shaped her views on the importance of bouncing back and taking control of one's path forward.

Hopefully, you find some hope today!

In today's conversation, we spoke with Alexis Dorman.

Alexis serves as the President of FSU Democrats and of the Florida College Democratic Caucus. Balancing a rich academic life with activism, she's been a strong advocate for a multitude of social issues from a young age.

Shedding light on the increasing acceptance of young individuals in elected offices, Alexis stresses the necessity for young people to take charge with activism and to foster change in their communities.

In today's conversation, we spoke with Jake Landherr.

Jake has a keen eye for light, working as a professional lighting designer and technician. Whether he's orchestrating lights for a church service, a theater show, or a concert, Jake understands the nuances of his art form.

Jake explains that lighting truly is an art form, deeply influenced by other forms such as painting. Lighting shapes our perception and emotional connection to a space. He believes that true mastery in any art form takes time; there's always another layer to discover, another shadow to cast, and another emotion to evoke.

Hopefully you find some hope today. 

In today's conversation, we spoke with Connor Bishop.

Connor loves building things and exploring new hobbies. His guiding principle in life is to always have something to look forward to–a mindset that always keeps him moving.

From building an infinity mirror to carving wood, he sees hands-on hobbies as a path to continual learning and connection to humanity.

Connor's passion is driven by an understanding that no skill is ever fully mastered; there's always room for improvement and a lesson can be found in every hobby. He’s always eager to jump into the next learning opportunity.

Hopefully, you find some hope today.

In today's conversation, we spoke with Casey Copeland.

Casey is ardently passionate about dance and its inherent power to narrate captivating stories through movement. She has a vision to revolutionize the dance industry by focusing on injury prevention and advocating for mental health and resilience among dancers.

 Casey's passion is fueled by the understanding that resilience is not a static state but a skill that one hones over time. Her goal is to help dancers realize that resilience can take many forms, and sometimes, it's about knowing when to rest and give yourself time. 

Hopefully, you find some hope today.

In today’s conversation, we spoke with Sebastien Marcelin.

Sebastien is passionate about filmmaking and music, working to bring fresh and meaningful stories to life. He has a vision to change the film industry by focusing solely on substance and creative freedom in his projects.

In addition to his artistic work, Sebastien values collaboration when creating anything. He believes that the story being told is always bigger than just one person - it’s a group effort.

In today's conversation, we spoke with Mason Stanberry.

Mason is a budding Anthropologist, driven by a deep fascination with past cultures and civilizations. His passion for understanding the human journey fuels his ambition to be an impactful teacher.

Outside his academic interests, Mason finds profound joy in music and comedy. These interests have allowed him to shape his identity and embody the true spirit of human connection.

Hopefully, you find some hope today

You’re listening to The Only Constant, a podcast about active hope. In today’s conversation, we spoke with Rachael Fulmer. 

Rachael works at the South Eastern Archaeological Center where she tracks down regional artifacts and preserves them in a safe and stable environment. 

Besides museum curating, Rachael finds joy in nature, specifically in taking care of plants and bird watching. From her career to her hobbies, Rachael shows a true appreciation for the small things in life. 

Hopefully, you find some hope today. 

In today’s conversation, we spoke with Lucas Wilson. 

Lucas is a man of eccentricity. He’s performed with FSU’s circus (where he pushed his body to its limits) and he has a degree in physics & astrophysics. He loves learning about people and asking hypothetical questions. Mixing things up at every opportunity is what makes Lucas feel most alive.

Lucas is also a huge proponent of traveling the world. Seeing other ways of life has shown him that many people in the world are content even though they have less - and it’s a lesson many people in the United States can benefit from. 

Hopefully, you find some hope today. 

You’re listening to the only constant, a podcast about active hope. In today’s conversation, we spoke with Adam Bowling. 

Currently, Adam serves as the Student Body Treasurer at Florida State University. 

One of his goals is to increase the financial transparency and accountability of student government, making it easier for the student body to see how money is being spent. 

Holding a leadership position himself, Adam believes that governing bodies on all levels should make it easier for people they represent to understand exactly what they’re doing. 

In theory, leaders would work with better intentions while citizens would play a more active role in their communities. 

Hopefully, you find some hope today. 

In today’s conversation, we spoke with Cole Kariher.

Having served as a Student Senator and Chair of the Judiciary Committee at Florida State University, it’s clear that Cole is focused on improving the world around him through policy and reform.

Cole provided us a look into how young, progressive minds are encouraging people to be both authentic and understanding - and willing to defend that.

Hopefully, you find some hope today.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Grace Wu.

Grace is a photographer and an actor. She is studying Theater and Advertising at FSU. She also joined a competitive advertising team in her sophomore year of college where she learned a lot about the industry and realized it was something she had a knack for.

Grace was born and raised in China, but moved here to receive a U.S. high school diploma so she could attend college in the states. She stayed with a few different host families during her time here, sometimes feeling lonely without her family. But she learned much about mainstream American culture and valued her time in extracurriculars like cross country, speech and debate, and theatre.

Grace is an artist through and through, and she brings hope into the world by helping her friends achieve their creative passions as best she can. Using her skills in theater, advertising, and photography, she hopes to amplify voices that can make a lasting impact.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Cristina Izquierdo Sorensen.

Cristi is the Recruitment Manager at FSU’s College of Fine Arts. She also serves as an advisor for the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She earned a degree in Social Sciences, which gave her a huge toolbox of skills that allowed her to pursue creative hobbies and succeed in her professional life.

Cristi enjoys connecting with students for this reason. Earning a fine arts degree equips students with more than just a skill - it gives them a way to critically navigate the world and act with empathy.

Cristi also expressed immense love and gratitude for her husband Brad. She offered advice about relationships, one of the most impactful being “we’re not out here to fix our partners.” Instead, Cristi makes it her goal to remind people what makes them amazing.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Billy Lister.

Billy earned two BA degrees from Florida State University, one in Theatre and one in Communications, along with a minor in Psychology. After graduating, Billy became an instructor at Tallahassee’s local Young Actor’s Theatre where he still works today.

As with any creative field, Billy understands that having a degree doesn’t guarantee success. Yet, he looks at the theater industry with a positive attitude, seeing that there are countless opportunities out there, even if they aren’t always on Broadway.

A great piece of advice that Billy shares is to “try acting for at least three years, or you will never know if you’re successful at it.” This can be applied to nearly any career or interest. Put your best foot forward in anything you do, and even if you fail, you tried your best and you can reassess for the future.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

Happy New Year! On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Julia Swann.

Julia earned her BFA in Musical Theater from Florida State University and is extremely passionate about reading, having met her goal of 25 books in 2022.

Because it’s the new year, we asked Julia about her goals for 2023. She just signed her first professional contract and will be touring the east coast with a traveling circus. This opportunity will help with two of her major goals in the new year: focusing on positivity and traveling more.

Julia told us that her friends bring her hope. Besides watching them succeed at all of their talents and dreams, the act of reaching out to each other for support, and being there for one another bring hope into the world.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Julia Hoffman.

Julia is studying both Digital Media Production and Political Science at Florida State University. She is also the president of Florida State’s sketch comedy group, Friday Night Live.

Her knowledge of the entertainment industry shed light on how the holiday season affects marketing, and how media and politics directly impact each other, sometimes for the worse.

Julia expressed that critical thinking is inherently hopeful, especially when it comes to a complicated institution like the media. With so many different perspectives and sources, using an analytical view allows you to seriously consider another person’s view and even challenge your own.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with returning guest, Marissa Arnone.

Marissa is a registered dietician and a certified personal trainer with a large social media following. She has a strong passion for helping people with nutrition and health habits.

With that passion, she pushes back against the idea that getting in shape or eating better should push people to their limits. While it’s healthy to face a challenge, mental health and physical health go hand in hand. When one is off, so is the other.

With so much misinformation about nutrition on social media, Marissa uses online communities to provide accurate info. Recently, she’s dialed back her time online and is getting more involved with her local community by meeting people face to face more often.

In doing so, she finds hope in connecting with people and helping others in any aspect she can, not just nutrition.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Adam Boehm. Adam is earning his BA in Digital Media Production. His interests range from comedy, film, Judaic teachings, and photography.

Adam has a philosophy focused on laughter and fun as a way to bring people together. This comes in handy because most of his interests require some form of collaboration. From recently directing FSU’s Friday Night Live, to performing improv, to providing lessons on Judaism, Adam believes “if you get people laughing, you get people learning”.

Adam also opened up about his mental health, specifically anxiety. Judaism has provided Adam with helpful insights on how to help with anxiety and not let it overwhelm him. One of the best lessons he learned was “Don’t let your oppression teach you to oppress others.”

At the end of the day, kindness brings hope to Adam. And with kindness, Adam tries to think of others as much as he can, and especially when taking on the role of a leader.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with comedian, actor, and writer Aaron Farabaugh.

Studying both Theatre and Creative Writing at Florida State, Aaron often finds himself around outgoing groups of people like actors, writers, and comedians. But even among these eclectic groups, Aaron stands out from the crowd. 

This is in part due to his unique sense of humor, but it’s also because Aaron simply isn’t afraid to be himself. Aaron hopes to make a career out of comedy one day. He sees himself living in New York or Chicago to write, produce, and perform his own material. 

Comedy has given Aaron a lighthearted approach to life. It helps him find humor in awkward moments and gives him perspective not to make a big deal out of anything. In his eyes, most of the time, you’ll look back and see it wasn’t as scary, intense, or embarrassing as you thought it was.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Nina Chong.

Nina is a leader by nature, serving as the Executive director of the Asian American Student Union and the President of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers at FSU. With her go-getter attitude, Nina is earning a degree in Chemical Engineering, is in a sorority, and has modeled for Strike magazine. She hopes to merge her degree with her interest in fashion to create sustainable fabrics.

Nina has a love for community, something she felt was lacking in her small town growing up. With the AASU, she’s met tons of college students with similar experiences growing up as a minority in their town and yearning for a sense of belonging. This student organization seeks to spread awareness about Asian culture on campus and to provide a space where students can feel seen and unified. Now, having taken on a leadership role, she plans on using what she’s learned to promote community advocacy in the future.

Nina tries not to boil her identity down to just one thing - and with so many interests, and having met so many people, Nina finds hope in the world when she sees people do anything in the pursuit of passion, growth, and improvement. 

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Anah Sofia Merifield.

Anah Sofia is studying Theater at FSU with a Minor in psychology.

One of her greatest joys is talking to strangers. In some ways, it’s like a sport for her. It pushes her out of her comfort zone, and sometimes leads to unexpected friends. She also enjoys being more “real” on social media by posting her genuine thoughts and feelings.

We also talked about how Anah Sofia’s father is American, with more rigid, traditional values and her mother is Venezuelan with more of a loosey-goosey attitude. Despite their different influences and ideologies, Anah Sofia feels that her parents have always done the best they could to raise her.

Lastly, while Anah Sofia is studying theater, it wasn’t at the forefront of the conversation. Even though she loves it, theater felt like something she was expected to do when she came to college, as if it became the defining factor of her identity.

At the moment, she’s simply exploring other things that her heart wants to do like music or exercise. In nearly everything she does, Anah Sofia strives to constantly work on herself; by addressing her current shortcomings, she prevents future problems for herself and for others in the long run.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Riley Walker.

Riley is earning his BS in Management and Organizational Leadership, which he hopes to merge with his love for music.

His father has been involved with music production since Riley was young, which sparked Riley’s deep love and curiosity for all things music-related. He loves the connection that music brings, feeling that a concert is one of the few places in which everyone is on the same frequency – literally.

Riley also talked about his college experience which has been full of unexpected lessons, the biggest one being the decision to move back home to save money and be closer to family – something he previously viewed as a worst-case scenario

When we asked him, Riley believed he could be doing more to bring hope into the world, and he plans on starting an organization focused on providing musical opportunities to disadvantaged people. Riley loves knowing that there are always people making a difference in the world. He says, “for every Elon Musk, there are 100 people changing the world for the better with no need for recognition.”

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Jessica Chunta.

Jessica is earning her BFA in Musical Theater from Florida State University.

Jessica loves musical theater, and is hoping to pursue a career in the field, with high hopes for Broadway. However, she doesn’t like to distill her identity down to that one thing as she is also into fitness and meditation.

We also explored her Christian faith, and how sometimes, people assume things about her because of her religion. When this happens, it feels like a double standard.

Ultimately, Jessica leads with love and feels that everyone at least wants happiness in their lives. It’s with that spirit that Jessica knows she can face whatever comes today, and that she’ll always have tomorrow.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Nic Evans. Nic is earning his BFA in Acting from Florida State University.

Although he studies acting, Nic is especially interested in writing. He loves poetry and playwriting, having worked on over 10 original plays already.

Nic told us about his process behind writing. Early on, the way he wrote was trying to please other people, but it lacked honesty and connection for that reason. Nic decided to write about things that scared him as a way to be more honest, and it has only evolved from there.

We also learned about why Nic is agnostic, and how it bleeds into his writing. Existentialism is more and more appealing to him. He believes that doubt and faith exist together. Without doubt, faith wouldn’t be as powerful and vice versa.

Nic finds hope in passion and achieving something in a way that was unorthodox or surprising. Success comes from the hard work put into something you’re deeply passionate about.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Quinn Cote.

Quinn is earning his BFA in Acting from Florida State University. He has many interests ranging from performance, fitness, rock climbing, and modeling. All of them revolve around health and fitness in some way.

Originally an athlete in high school, Quinn’s foot was injured while on a trip to the Florida Keys. While he was recovering, Quinn auditioned for his school’s theater. Over time, it turned into his main focus as he became interested in studying characters.

Coming from a background in athletics, Quinn noticed his friends that played sports didn’t approve of theater, and the negative aspects of modern masculinity started to shed light.

Despite this rocky start, Quinn has found his place in theater and is immensely comfortable with who he is today. Fitness and acting go hand in hand, and Quinn believes anyone will become more confident and hopeful by simply moving their body.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Kiyrax Davis.

Kiyrax is earning her BA in both Theater and Psychology from Florida State University.

Kiyrax is know for her unique style, opting to wear costumes mostly every day. She didn’t celebrate Halloween as a kid, so she would wear costumes around the house for fun until it developed into her personal style.

Kiyrax is interested in both psychology and theater because they offer a look into the human mind. Kiyrax also enjoys pushing the limit with theater. Chaotic content is what she thrives on.

Despite her unique wardrobe and interest in pushing the limit in performance, Kiyrax doesn’t actually enjoy being the center of attention. In fact, Kiyrax finds hope in the simplest of things – knowing that there will be food on the table for her at the end of the day, and laughing with others.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Ahon Gooptu. 

Ahon is earning his MFA in Theater Performance Research from Florida State University. He was born and raised in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and has been studying in the United States for the past few years. 

Ahon showed the differences between theater in the US and theater in India. Being in the US gives Ahon more opportunities to communicate his experiences to a broader audience.

Being part of the LGBTQ+ community, Ahon’s homosexuality wasn’t always accepted in India. However, Homosexuality was recently decriminalized there in 2018, and the culture has drastically changed for the better. 

Ahon hopes that one day, he can be someone that others go to when they feel lost. He wants to use his experiences to help others pursue their dreams in the future, and capture that “indescribable feeling”.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening. 

You’re listening to The Only Constant, a podcast about active hope. On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Elijah Rios.

Eliah is earning his BFA in Acting from Florida State University. Coming from a background in high school football, our conversation focused on some of the stigmas around men in performing arts, and how theater has helped Elijah become more vulnerable.

Elijah’s first year as an acting student was filled with intense emotional vulnerability. Often, acting exercises in class would cause him and his classmates to break down barriers together. People he had only just met were now seeing Elijah’s rawest emotions.

We also touched on Elijah’s Christian faith and how it has made him always strive to treat people right. He believes human decency is rare these days and contributes that lack of friendliness to our society’s addiction to phones and constantly comparing ourselves to others.

However, that cultural challenge only strengthens Elijah’s commitment to connecting with others emotionally. He sums it all up by saying “in the world, we only have each other.”

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Rouba Palmer.

Rouba is an MFA Directing Candidate at Florida State University. She teaches improv, directs theater at the university, and thrives on human interaction. Her love for theater has been lifelong, choosing to study theater at every school she has attended.

In fact, Rouba attended 12 different schools by the time she graduated high school. That’s because she has lived in Lebanon, France, England, Greece, Australia, and the United States. Her international perspective allows her to compare U.S. culture to other countries abroad.

Rouba notes that living in so many countries has sometimes made it difficult to put down roots. Despite this, Rouba finds hope in the belief that there is a plan and purpose for her life. While she might not always know what it is, asking the big questions in life helps her know who she really is.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

This is the final episode of season 2!

Caleb and Ted took time to reflect on what’s changed in their lives since their last one-on-one conversation. They also talked about what they've learned in doing 40 episodes of a podcast.

They’d sincerely like to thank everyone that came on as a guest this last season. You all brought a little more hope into the world. For those that listened along the way, they also thank you. Without your support, this show wouldn’t be possible.

They hope you enjoy their conversation. See you soon in Season 3.

Stay open, stay active, and keep listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Griffin Stanley.

Griffin is earning his BFA in Musical Theater from Florida State University. Griffin loves exploring film and music, and he hopes to combine his love for acting, music, and dance as a way to give back to the world.

Our conversation touched on Griffin’s love for Star Wars and how the entire franchise has impacted the way he sees the world – specifically the character Ahsoka Tano. He even compares his musical theater education to Jedi training.

We also talk about what it’s like to stay close to home while attending college. Griffin is a Tallahassee native, but he still feels like he’s growing up in college and having experiences that make his hometown feel exciting.

Ultimately, what brings Griffin hope is having such a loving home and a tight support system. He tries to bring that same love to other people every day – in his words, “connection is the human experience.”

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Cooper Shapiro

Cooper recently earned his BFA in Film Production from FSU. Naturally, our conversation focused on how and why he is interested in filmmaking. As soon as Cooper had an iPhone in his pocket, he was making movies.

Cooper also talked about how working in film production after college is essentially like being a singular cog in a large machine. You have to prove that you can stay creative and motivated, even in the lowest positions on a set.

Ultimately, filmmaking acts as the pursuit of truth for Cooper. But not necessarily an objective truth that applies to everyone – more so, a personal truth that grows and changes each time he works on a new project. In his own words, with so many bigger and brighter things to discover, he wants to help illuminate the dark by adding to the light.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Michael Pettit.

Michael earned a degree in English from FSU and has a passion for filmmaking.

During our conversation, Michael talked about the kinds of stories he likes to tell, how he got into film, and if getting “big” is the only way to determine success.

We also talked about how telling sincere stories is valued in media today. For Michael, dark themes are one of the most sincere ways to tell a story. Even dark themes equate to having an open heart and being open to feeling.

For Michael, making mistakes actually brings him hope, because it means he is going to learn something and find a way to keep moving forward.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Ryan Lemmon.

Ryan is earning his BA in Acting from Florida State, although he’s been interested in acting since high school.

Our discussion explored how acting has helped Ryan become more in touch with his own personal views and identity. Even though he takes on new characters regularly, Ryan believes we all have an essence that makes us who we are. However, our essence can adapt to new situations and change for the better.

Ryan enjoys exploring a character’s insecurities. He likes getting into the nitty gritty of a character’s life, and especially enjoys it when a show openly explores those heavy themes. At the end of the day, Ryan feels that the most important goal in acting is making someone feel something.

If he’s done that, he’s done his job.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Sam Perez.

Sam earned his degree in Political Science from FSU, and much of our conversation revolved around the current issues in the United States such as healthcare, supply lines, and economic equality.

Sam believes that most of our American institutions need to change to better serve ALL members of our society. In theory, that might even mean tearing down our institutions and building new ones from the ground up.

Please keep in mind, that today’s conversation by no means proves or disproves anything about the United States government – in fact, Sam, myself, and Caleb make that clear throughout the episode. We’re simply talking through today’s issues to the best of our ability, and attempting to understand their complexities together.

Sam is hopeful that his future in government work will help those who may have trouble receiving aid from the current government, such as immigrants that can’t yet speak English, and many more.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Angel Escobar.

Angel earned his degree in Computer Science, but he is currently living in LA and pursuing a career in film. While film is his passion, computer science taught him a lot about the future of technology. In fact, modern advancements in AI and science have made it easier than ever to produce films, with some creators only using iPhones to create content.

Angel moved to LA on a whim, following an opportunity that came out of nowhere. He describes this transition as some of the most challenging days of his life. But eventually, he found his footing and is thriving as a cinematographer.

One of the major takeaways from this conversation is Angel’s optimism for the future, whether it’s advancements in technology or simply the next project to work on, Angel is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

Stay Open, Stay Active, and Keep Listening.

On this episode of the podcast, we spoke with Ben Rowe.

Ben is studying neuroscience at FSU, and is also the president of the college improv group, No Bears Allowed. Ben also enjoys learning about psychology, and one idea, in particular, fascinates him: the idea that we have too many options in our society, and how this excess of options can lead to disappointment.

This transitioned into an in-depth look at the mechanics of improv, and a philosophical/scientific discussion about why not everything always has to make sense.

Despite these heady subjects, Ben makes it clear that he tries not to take life too seriously. He enjoys making people laugh, and believe it or not, a good meal at Waffle House helps him stay happy.