The Podcast Host
A podcast setting out to define what love feels like. Made by and for college students.
ThatŮٱƵs the opening pitch for DefLove, the new podcast by Abi Shorter ŮٱƵ24, an acting, film TV, voice-overs, and commercials (FTVC) major. As the host and founder, sheŮٱƵs got her hands fullŮٱƵbut thatŮٱƵs exactly how she likes it. ŮٱƵIŮٱƵve been itching to make something for months. I constantly have to be creating or IŮٱƵll burst,ŮٱƵ she told us.
Initially, she had quite a few projects planned, but COVID-19 forced everything to a screeching halt. ŮٱƵIŮٱƵm tired of grieving,ŮٱƵ 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. ŮٱƵNeither of us really knew what love was,ŮٱƵ Shorter explained. ŮٱƵI had my idea of itŮٱƵI was in love at the time actuallyŮٱƵbut itŮٱƵs not the sort of thing you can receive confirmation on. ItŮٱƵs somehow different from that crush feeling, but how do you know when youŮٱƵve reached it? Can you?ŮٱƵ
From there, she planned to start the podcast off with two stories from her own personal experiences with love. The script turned into a ŮٱƵforty-page monsterŮٱƵ in only a few nights. Talk about motivation! ŮٱƵI took inspiration from the podcast Alice IsnŮٱƵt Dead with the narrator structure, mushed a few separate events together, and approached my roommates with the text,ŮٱƵ Shorter told us. (TheyŮٱƵre acting majors. Very helpful.) They recorded everything on their phones as voice memos, and after editing it all in one five-hour sittingŮٱƵgeez!ŮٱƵthe podcast was ready to be launched. ŮٱƵIt truly is a passion project,ŮٱƵ she said.
ItŮٱƵs that level of passion and dedication to the craft that truly elevates ShorterŮٱƵs work. But then, sheŮٱƵs always been fueled by her creativity. ŮٱƵI love telling stories in ways that hit someone in the face,ŮٱƵ 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. ŮٱƵThereŮٱƵs a humanity to acting for film because itŮٱƵs mimicking reality. IŮٱƵm fascinated in the real because thatŮٱƵs where stories happen.ŮٱƵ
ŮٱƵI love telling stories in ways that hit someone in the face,ŮٱƵ says Shorter.
She took her time choosing a college once she knew what sheŮٱƵd be majoring in. It was a decision that happened fairly quickly thanks to her experience during the process. ŮٱƵOther schools just emailed me to check my portal,ŮٱƵ Shorter told us. ŮٱƵBy the time their program head actually reached out to me, IŮٱƵd had a Zoom call with [Pace] FTVC students and realized it was where I wanted to be.ŮٱƵ She emphasized how ŮٱƵchillŮٱƵ everyone seemed even in those initial virtual meetups, which was another big selling point for her. ŮٱƵI came from a program where the air in the room would change every time the program head walked in, so itŮٱƵs nice to feel like our instructors are actual people and not god-like entities in stiff button-downs.ŮٱƵ
So, whatŮٱƵs next for the DefLove podcast? ŮٱƵI donŮٱƵt really have an end goal in mind,ŮٱƵ she said. ŮٱƵI just give my all to little projects like this because itŮٱƵs 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.ŮٱƵ WeŮٱƵre excited to see where it goes from here! If youŮٱƵre interested in getting involved in DefLove, whether to share your own story or lend your voice acting talents, please email Shorter or .