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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, attends community college, and tries to figure things out.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

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*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 discussion with Whitney D’Allaird, founder of FOR Students. This episode picks up where Part 1 left off, diving into the grieving process, including things that were said to her during that season; both helpful and unhelpful. We also really dig in to try and discover what was the catalyst that changed her pain into a desire to help others. Lastly, we wrap the episode talking about the efforts and first events that eventually grew into this organization, and what we are doing in Charlotte to better prepare students to be able to foster and maintain their own mental health.

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*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 honest interview with Whitney D’Allaird, founder of FOR Students. From starting a life in Charlotte, NC with her husband, and the joys and challenges of raising 3 boys who are all very different from one another, to losing her oldest to suicide. This is the first part of a story of loss and grief that becomes a story of purpose and mission.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

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“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

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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 “whole” person, how addiction (of any kind) reveals a desire to avoid feeling something, and Patrick shares the role that spirituality has played in his recovery and understanding of himself. Amazing and transparent discussion.

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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, Severance, and briefly discuss his internship and first ever “business trip.” We wrap up with Evan opening up about how difficult it was as an introvert to learn to be vulnerable, but how important that vulnerability has become to his friendships and personal health. Settle in for an amazing conversation.

Hot Ones Challenge

firstwefeast.com 

https://www.youtube.com/@FirstWeFeast

Apple TV’s Severance

https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

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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 experience of working with the FOR Students team, and then went on to walk us through her story, one that includes the events around her mom becoming a quadruple-amputee when Caroline was only 7 years old. As you might imagine, it changed the family and Caroline forever.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

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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 and why he eventually chose UNC. 

Granger shares about his current efforts as he is wrapping up high school swimming, and how he is trying to figure out how to perform and improve without having to go to dark places mentally. He is very open about the loneliness he felt initially after moving to a k-12 prep school as a 9th grader, and how the one friend he had there was his lifeline. 

Lastly, Granger talks about how he decided to be a part of creating spaces of belonging on campus for students through his leadership in Students FOR Students. Great interview with a talented and driven young man who has an obviously old soul.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios

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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, and optimism, you won’t be able to listen without becoming an Emma fan.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios

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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.

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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, optimism, and life-giving personality are contagious. You’ll be glad you listened.

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios

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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 school, Ryan talks about being part of the lead team of Students FOR Students, starring in multiple theatre productions, juggling friends and work load, and figuring out what was next for his journey. As a staff, we are privileged to have Ryan back for the summer working with us as an intern, and couldn’t miss the opportunity to share his story. 

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios

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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 change your thoughts, you can change your life. A must-listen for anyone who believes mindset matters.

Intro Music: Ways To Go by GROUPLOVE – Used with permission

Recorded at: EVRYBDY Studios

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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 who has trouble sitting still for any length of time. Amy is an Advisory Board Member and one of FOR Students go-to communicators in our partner schools. You’ll quickly pick up on what makes her so good in front of teens and such an amazing counselor, and you’ll also get a peek into the mind and life of someone who admits that accomplishment can be quite the “drug.” A hilarious and vulnerable conversation.

Website: https://www.renewedcounseling.net/

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios

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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 accomplishments and qualifications just scratch the surface. “Dr. Charryse” tells us about her incredible mother, that growing up she thought she was going to be a pop star, and how mentors really helped her see her abilities and the opportunities they might provide. She gets very practical around some things to look for in quality friends and partners, and is quite vulnerable around learning to give herself the compassion she deserves. This is a beautiful story with someone who has compelling insight.

Website: https://drcharryse.com/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dr.charryse_j

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.charryse_j/

Intro Music: Ways To Go, by GROUPLOVE- Used with permission

Recorded at EVRYBDY Studios