FOR Students

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! To call high school senior Jackie Rao, “multicultural” is a gross understatement. Growing up with an Indian father and Russian mother, raised around Judaism and Hinduism, Jackie and her sister were learning a lot about the world. She shares what her life is like right now, here at the end of her senior year of high school- spring br...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie sit down with high school sophomore, Jack Totten. He shares about his current hobbies and interests, including his gaming, comics, and music Youtube channels (all linked below). Jack talks about the complications his mother faced while carrying him, and also shares what the doctors originally said about his chances to...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie talk about New Year’s resolutions, when travel locations don’t meet expectations, and the constant struggle between what we want now versus what we want most. A fascinating discussion around the things we choose in life but are dissatisfied with once we have them. It's not often we slow down and compare our short...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie get to hear the story behind Dr. Samantha Martinez, a young, successful, Charlotte-based psychologist.  You will hear how Dr. Sam grew up in a small NJ town as the oldest daughter of 2 coaches, how her mom was diagnosed with cancer when she was 9, and that despite her begging not to go, how her parents sent her and her...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! **Trigger warning: This episode talks explicitly about suicidal ideation and depression. If you are in crisis please call or text 988. Ed and Kellie sit down with their long-time friend and FOR Students’ Videographer and Graphic Designer, Chris Lee. They talk playing music, becoming a full-time creative, and the stresses of working...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie interview Jaxon Brown, 22 yr old, Charlotte-native who has been, self-admittedly, trying to figure out what to do with his life since he graduated high school. Jaxon reminisces about his teen years, youth group, his relationship with mentors, and the difficulty he has had with education and direction. He beautifully de...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie interview Anish, a Charlotte student that will be studying politics, philosophy, and economics at the University of Oxford starting fall of 2025. Recorded during the weeks right before he left for school, the 3 get into his family, friends, hobbies, and what it feels like to prepare to attend one of the oldest and most...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie have a conversation around the 24 hour, global news frenzy, and the feelings of anxiety and helplessness that seem to inevitably follow. Why are we addicted to bad news? What is the body’s response to endless, traumatic events without clear solutions? Ed and Kellie talk about some evidence-based ways to deal with it al...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! We jump into Walker’s story of growing up playing lacrosse, being the youngest of 3 brothers, and a surprise diagnosis after a father-son trip. The fears, family interactions, surgeries that followed, the changes to many of life’s rhythms, and the feelings around watching peers do all the things he used to do. Walker’s humor, optimi...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie sit down with Northwestern sophomore, Ryan Samii. He talks about growing up in a family where everyone had unique gifts and interests and how his parents worked hard to create space, time, and value for each of their kids equally. Diving deep into his high school experience being a “lifer” at his Charlotte-area private...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! In this episode, Ed and Kellie dive into the LAUNCH module: Thoughts.  They share the heart behind its design and explore how students can take control of their inner narrative by identifying and filtering out untrue, unhelpful thoughts. With practical strategies and powerful insight, this module helps students realize: when you cha...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Amy Work is a Charlotte-area therapist, founder and owner of Renewed Counseling and Play Therapy, and long-time friend of both Ed and Kellie. She jumps into the studio to talk about growing up achieving, burning out as a teacher, being a wife, becoming a grad student, a mom, a business owner, and the realization that she is someone...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Author, keynote speaker, business owner, and yoga instructor, Dr. Charryse Johnson holds a B.A. in human development and family studies; an M.A. in professional counseling and a Ph. D. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in crisis and trauma. And while all of this is most certainly  impressive, we find out that these accom...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Current nursing student, Emma Wooten, talks about growing up in a family of 3 girls, being a middle sister, and what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer in high school; the months of treatment in Philadelphia, big changes in her social life, and the role her faith played in it all. Shetells her story with such confidence, grace, a...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie explore the strategy behind FOR Students school events, then reflect on when they each first became aware of their natural strengths and areas for growth.

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed and Kellie get to interview Granger Bartee, Charlotte-area high school senior, and future University of North Carolina swimmer. They get into how Granger got into swimming, and how his stand out performances at a young age led to this life direction. He goes through what it was like to be recruited by schools all over the country...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Ed sits down with Patrick Balsley, addiction counselor and founder of Sana Counseling and Sana House in Charlotte, NC. We dig into his personal recovery journey, why he feels it took more than one stay in treatment, and what changed during that stint that allowed him to remain sober. We briefly venture into what it means to be a “wh...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Recorded the same day as Caroline Seaford’s interview at the end of the summer of 2024, Evan, a college junior, had also just finished his internship with us at FOR Students. We hear about how he and his friends recreated their own version of the Youtube sensation, Hot Ones. We talk about the greatness of the Apple TV show, Severanc...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! Back in August of 2024, before we had convinced Kellie Shope to co-host with Ed, we captured this incredible interview with Caroline Seaford, one of our then summer interns. She had recently graduated high school as student body president, and was looking forward to leaving for college in a few short days. Caroline shared her experi...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! *TRIGGER WARNING* This episode includes discussion of suicide and the loss of a family member to suicide. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone and do not have to carry this weight by yourself. Please text the suicide hotline at 988. Caring and trained professionals are ready to help you. Part 1: An incredible and hones...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! *TRIGGER WARNING* This episode includes discussion of suicide and the loss of a family member to suicide. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone and do not have to carry this weight by yourself. Please text the suicide hotline at 988. Caring and trained professionals are ready to help you. Part 2: We continue our discuss...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! We dive in with recent graduate, Caleb Jusay, and hear about his job with LEGO, his time doing improv as a middle schooler, and how he felt about his time in high school. We spend the second half of the podcast parsing through the difficult feelings surrounding his friends leaving Charlotte to go to college while he stays local, att...

Have Questions? Got some ideas on what you want to hear? Text us! “How do you even start a podcast?” Meet Ed and Kellie, the hosts of the FOR Students Podcast. They discuss where the intro music came from, what people can expect from each of them individually, and what this whole podcast is hoping to do. Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission