We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Faren And Marisa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Faren and Marisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
How did you learn to do what you do?
To be honest, we jumped into podcasting without really knowing how to do it. Our backgrounds are primarily in performance. We are both classically trained actors with formal degrees in theatre and extensive experience on stage and in front of the camera. That part felt natural to us. The production side, including recording, editing, and managing multiple platforms, was something we had to learn along the way.
A lot of our learning came from research, watching tutorials, asking questions, and simply experimenting. We approached it the same way actors approach rehearsal. You try things, adjust, and keep improving. In many ways, the process of figuring it out has been one of the most exciting parts of building the podcast.
Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
We are still very much in the learning phase while actively creating content. At the moment we have nearly ten full episodes between thirty and forty minutes available on YouTube and Spotify, along with around forty YouTube Shorts and an active presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Looking back, the biggest time saver would have been learning earlier how different software platforms work together. Understanding how recording, editing, and scheduling tools integrate allows you to streamline content creation and pre schedule posts. That gives you more freedom to focus on creativity and to actually live life, which is where many of our best conversations and ideas come from.
What skills do you think were most essential?
The most essential skill for podcasting is connection. Connection with your co host and connection with your audience. Some podcasts speak directly to their audience in a more informational format, which works well for educational platforms. Our show is more conversational and lifestyle oriented.
For us authenticity and chemistry are everything. Being able to listen to one another, stay present in the moment, and allow conversations to unfold naturally creates an environment where the audience feels like they are part of the discussion rather than simply watching it.
What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
We try not to see obstacles as barriers. If anything the biggest challenge has simply been time. Balancing the creative side of producing episodes with the technical learning curve that comes with podcast production can take patience. But every episode teaches us something new, and we continue to grow through the process.
The experience has been a reminder that sometimes the best way to learn is simply to start, stay curious, and enjoy the journey as it unfolds.
Through Farely Groundid we have been able to turn that learning process into open, honest conversations that invite others to laugh, reflect, and feel a little less alone in their own experiences.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
A little about us. We found our way into podcasting as a natural progression from our backgrounds in acting and performance. Faren holds a BFA in Theatre from Penn State, and Marisa studied and has a degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Theater performance. Both of us have spent years working in performance on stage and in front of the camera in film, television, and commercials. Podcasting felt like a natural extension of that work, just in a different medium.
Although we both felt fulfilled in our acting careers and in education, we realized there was not really a space where we could fully express who we are as people. Acting is often structured and scripted. What we wanted was something more spontaneous. A space where we could improvise, have casual conversations, and simply be ourselves. That idea became our podcast.
We are both longtime fans of podcasts and YouTube. We love having something playing in the background while driving, sitting in traffic, or doing everyday chores around the house. But one thing we felt was missing was a show that embraced fun, lighthearted, and sometimes completely random conversation. We wanted something joyful and conversational. Something that might not always be serious or deeply informative, but still leaves you thinking, laughing, and feeling a little lighter.
Our podcast is meant to feel like elevated background conversation. You can take what you need and leave what you do not. It is meant to give people a quick laugh in the present moment and remind them to stay joyful.
Another layer to this is that both of us have ADHD and are likely highly sensitive people. Sticking to one rigid topic for an extended period can feel limiting for us, and honestly a little boring. Our show embraces that reality. We allow digressions and multiple conversations to happen naturally. In many ways the podcast is intentionally ADHD friendly, because life itself rarely follows one neat and organized topic.
What we are most proud of is simply taking the leap and putting our voices out into the world. It takes vulnerability to share your thoughts and personality publicly, and we are proud that we trusted ourselves enough to do that.
The message we hope listeners take away from our work is simple. Stay present, be yourself, and remember to have fun. Happiness and peace are often found in the smallest moments. It could be a cup of coffee in the morning, a promotion at work, a silly laugh with friends, or even a small personal milestone. All of it matters.
If our podcast can be one of those small moments that adds a little joy to someone’s day, then we feel we are doing something meaningful.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Although we are only about a month and a half into the podcast, we have already seen encouraging growth. Our numbers may be small compared to established YouTubers and podcasters, but for a brand new show the response has been incredibly positive. What we have noticed most is that genuine connection and honesty resonate far more than chasing algorithms.
One of Faren’s acting professors at Penn State used to say, “You are enough.” That idea has really stayed with us and has become something of a quiet mantra for the show. Whether someone is in entertainment, academia, or any other field, authenticity matters. People are drawn to what is real.
Because of that, we believe the podcast will continue to grow naturally. Each episode has reached more listeners than the last, and we credit that to simply showing up as ourselves and trusting that authenticity connects with people.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Our mission in entering the podcast space came from a very simple place. We were looking for something to listen to during our own leisure time and realized we could not quite find a space online that reflected who we are. As actors, as women of color from the South, and as people who enjoy comedy and lifestyle conversations, we wanted something lighter.
Many podcasts today focus on politics, heavy education, true crime, celebrity gossip, or constant commentary on the news cycle. While those spaces have value, we found ourselves wanting something that simply allowed the mind to rest. Something fun, conversational, and easy to listen to.
Both of us have ADHD and are highly empathetic people with high emotional awareness, so content that is overly intense or emotionally heavy can sometimes feel overwhelming. We wanted to create a space that felt lighter and more joyful.
We often describe our podcast as the elevator music of lifestyle podcasting. It is not meant to be stressful or overly serious. It is meant to be something you can enjoy in the background while driving, cleaning, or simply taking a break from the noise of the world. We saw a need for that kind of space and decided to create it ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: farelygroundidpodcast
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Farely-Groundid/61584394963997/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FarelyGroundid
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6k61yHjxKPGEpbtQFcQbaU?si=9mmm9nz_Quyvpo1MnqzvfA
Image Credits
Farely Groundid podcast- Faren Collins