The Podcast Host
A podcast setting out to define what love feels like. Made by and for college students.
ThatvlogƵs the opening pitch for DefLove, the new podcast by Abi Shorter vlogƵ24, an acting, film TV, voice-overs, and commercials (FTVC) major. As the host and founder, shevlogƵs got her hands fullvlogƵbut thatvlogƵs exactly how she likes it. vlogƵIvlogƵve been itching to make something for months. I constantly have to be creating or IvlogƵll burst,vlogƵ she told us.
Initially, she had quite a few projects planned, but COVID-19 forced everything to a screeching halt. vlogƵIvlogƵm tired of grieving,vlogƵ Shorter said of the temporarily shelved works. She needed a new creative venture, and it was a talk with a friend that sparked her idea for the podcast. vlogƵNeither of us really knew what love was,vlogƵ Shorter explained. vlogƵI had my idea of itvlogƵI was in love at the time actuallyvlogƵbut itvlogƵs not the sort of thing you can receive confirmation on. ItvlogƵs somehow different from that crush feeling, but how do you know when youvlogƵve reached it? Can you?vlogƵ
From there, she planned to start the podcast off with two stories from her own personal experiences with love. The script turned into a vlogƵforty-page monstervlogƵ in only a few nights. Talk about motivation! vlogƵI took inspiration from the podcast Alice IsnvlogƵt Dead with the narrator structure, mushed a few separate events together, and approached my roommates with the text,vlogƵ Shorter told us. (TheyvlogƵre acting majors. Very helpful.) They recorded everything on their phones as voice memos, and after editing it all in one five-hour sittingvlogƵgeez!vlogƵthe podcast was ready to be launched. vlogƵIt truly is a passion project,vlogƵ she said.
ItvlogƵs that level of passion and dedication to the craft that truly elevates ShortervlogƵs work. But then, shevlogƵs always been fueled by her creativity. vlogƵI love telling stories in ways that hit someone in the face,vlogƵ Shorter told us. While she had plenty of experience in the theater, having put up a play she wrote herself, ultimately, she chose to pursue film instead. vlogƵTherevlogƵs a humanity to acting for film because itvlogƵs mimicking reality. IvlogƵm fascinated in the real because thatvlogƵs where stories happen.vlogƵ
vlogƵI love telling stories in ways that hit someone in the face,vlogƵ says Shorter.
She took her time choosing a college once she knew what shevlogƵd be majoring in. It was a decision that happened fairly quickly thanks to her experience during the process. vlogƵOther schools just emailed me to check my portal,vlogƵ Shorter told us. vlogƵBy the time their program head actually reached out to me, IvlogƵd had a Zoom call with [Pace] FTVC students and realized it was where I wanted to be.vlogƵ She emphasized how vlogƵchillvlogƵ everyone seemed even in those initial virtual meetups, which was another big selling point for her. vlogƵI came from a program where the air in the room would change every time the program head walked in, so itvlogƵs nice to feel like our instructors are actual people and not god-like entities in stiff button-downs.vlogƵ
So, whatvlogƵs next for the DefLove podcast? vlogƵI donvlogƵt really have an end goal in mind,vlogƵ she said. vlogƵI just give my all to little projects like this because itvlogƵs where I find my life. If the podcast makes even one person happy and believe in their ability to love just a bit more, then it will have achieved its purpose.vlogƵ WevlogƵre excited to see where it goes from here! If youvlogƵre interested in getting involved in DefLove, whether to share your own story or lend your voice acting talents, please email Shorter or .