Andrew Liston

Describe the steps you took prior to obtaining your internship.
   I heard about FSU's Experience Recognition Program through a friend and upon doing some research, I found it was the perfect opportunity for me to combine my passion for broadcast journalism with my major of International Affairs. I applied for ERP and was accepted! From then on, I was able to focus purely on my duties as producer and host for the political podcast Inbetween Gods. 

How far in advance did you prepare and begin applying for your experiential learning opportunity?
   I began preparing for this opportunity about two months before I applied. Since I was already familiar with podcast hosting and production, the transition to a more organized platform was easier to make than it would've been otherwise had I moved to a more traditional method of broadcasting. 

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your internship, and what a typical day was like "on the job".
   My responsibilities at Inbetween Gods included researching relevant topics and taking notes on pertinent information; crafting a rough schedule of points to be made on each episode; recording of each episode, and editing the audio before posting. The day-to-day work at Inbetween Gods begina with brainstorming a topic to discuss and analyze on the show. Once a topic or issue has been chosen, I dive into research on the topic for anywhere from 3-6 hours in order to understand the full scope of the problem and better craft an opinion and present my ideas. Once all research is completed and the main points of the show have been fleshed out, it is time to record. This usually takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. After a show is recorded, I work on it in post-production to ensure the audio quality is sufficient and edit any parts of the show that need touching up. 

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?
   This opportunity has helped me solidify what I want to do with my career more than almost anything else. As an aspiring comedian and podcaster, my college experience has been riddled with anxieties over whether there is a chance that I can do something professionally that coincides with my passion. Often times as a young comic, it can feel like the world doesn't have space for you, and that there's only one path in which you must commit yourself to- that of a starving comic or resigning to a professional career and forgoing a part of yourself that you truly love. This experience is the first time in my career that I've felt that I can do my own thing and have it mean something. More than just saying that I do something, or hearing positive feedback on stage, I finally have a legitimate organization behind me saying, "We believe in you, you can do this," and it's one of the most tremendous feelings of pride I've ever had.  

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so?
   This experience helped me understand that no matter what I do, I will find something that I truly believe in and if I cannot find that thing, I can create my own. I understand now that my career path is not a straight line of progress, but a rollercoaster of successes and lessons learned.