Lights, camera, microphone...vintage phone: English majors Kaley Hoppenworth and Sophia Ferraro discuss new talk show

By Abigail Botsford, Senior Writer

The meaning of a coincidence can sometimes surface well after its initial occurrence. Three years after randomly watching a YouTube video, that viewer launched a new venture for an online publication.

Shortly after Kaley Hoppenworth was admitted to Florida State University for the Fall 2022 semester, she scoured the internet for any FSU-related information and what it was like to be a student on campus.

Hoppenworth landed on a video showing a tour of Azalea Hall, where she wanted to live. She interacted with with the creator to ask questions about the dorm and the creator’s FSU experience.  

At the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, Hoppenworth, now an FSU senior, became one of the YouTube/Video co-chairs for Her Campus at FSU. She and FSU senior Sophia Ferraro spearheaded the YouTube talk-show “The HCFSU Edit.”

Bella Bozied, an HCFSU alumna who served as president during the 2023-2024 school year, posted the original video that Hoppenworth watched. Hoppenworth eventually met Bozied through HCFSU and recognized her from the video that she had seen before she was even a student here.  

“That's the experience that I want for the people who watch this. They want an inside view of what it's like to truly be a student here, to be a woman here,” Hoppenworth says. “And I wanted them to be able to come in feeling like a part of this community. So, I think that was a huge inspiration that was kind of random and still connected to Her Campus.” 

Hoppenworth is a senior with a double major in English-Editing, Writing, and Media and in social work. Ferraro is a senior with a double major in English-Editing, Writing, and Media and in digital media production. 

“The goal of Her Campus at FSU is to uplift women's voices and carve a space for them in journalism,” Hoppenworth says. “We're giving them a platform, and we're also building a community.” 

Ferraro agrees with this sentiment and adds that the talk show “creates a space for not only college women, but college women at FSU, as a safe space for women on campus.” 

A writer for the organization approached Hoppenworth with the idea of a podcast during the 2024-2025 school year, when she was HCFSU’s editor in chief and Ferraro was serving as social media manager for the publication. Hoppenworth liked the idea, but initially thought it was unfeasible due to the chapter’s bandwidth. However, the concept stuck with her, so she explored the possibility, researching guidelines from Her Campus Nationals, which stated that chapters could not have podcasts. 

“We had a dormant YouTube account, “Hoppenworth says. “I thought, what if we use our YouTube to create a talk show that is similar to a podcast?”

Hoppenworth then discussed the idea with Ferraro. 

You'll hear people refer to Her Campus at FSU articles as a big sister advice column, while remaining informative and factual. I want the talk show to have that same feeling.

— Kaley Hoppenworth

“I was intentional when I wanted to bring Sophia onto the project, because I interviewed her when I was editor in chief to join our executive board,” Hoppenworth says, “and I remember her telling me in her interview that she really wanted to work more on video projects for our Instagram and do longer form videos.

“I also knew she had that video production experience, which I did not have whatsoever.” 

Ferraro quickly expressed interest in pursuing the project.  

“I had been wanting to delve into more video projects since that is my primary major, being in digital media production,” Ferraro says. “I wanted to help jumpstart projects or just be a part of things that could expand my portfolio but also reach diverse audiences and be able to use my skills to reach those people.” 

The pair discussed logistics, equipment needs, and the visual branding of the talk show including the name, "The HCFSU Edit." 

Hoppenworth contacted Her Campus Nationals for approval, and she and then-HCFSU President Kate Fernandez met for a call to the national office, pitching the idea to those in charge, which they approved. 

Drawing on her editor-in-chief experience, Hoppenworth wants the talk show to serve as an extension of the style and the voice of the publication.

“You'll hear people refer to Her Campus at FSU articles as a big sister advice column, while remaining informative and factual,” Hoppenworth says. “I want the talk show to have that same feeling.” 

Ferraro says it is important for the symbols and colors used with the show to be consistent with the branding of the organization. 

“I wanted there to be a symbol that you see and immediately latch onto the idea that this is The HCFSU Edit,” Ferraro says. “I wanted to keep the idea that this is like a phone call with your girlfriends, this is a debrief.” 

A vintage phone that Hoppenworth had at home represents the talk show, highlighting that experience of chatting on the phone with friends. 

When Ferraro and Hoppenworth discuss building this project from the ground up they mention the hard work they have put into the process and how they make do with the resources available to them as students. The students check out camera equipment from Strozier Library, utilize campus buildings to film inside, and use their personal items as props. 

“The pillows and blankets come from my apartment, they are items that my roommates and I bought about a year ago,” says Hoppenworth. “The poster boards are from Amazon, so we are making do with what we have.”

Hoppenworth and Ferraro also devote hours behind (and in front) of the scenes to produce the episodes posted every two to three weeks. Hoppenworth handles everything on the front end of the episodes, which includes researching topics and content, creating loose outlines and questions for guests, and collaborating with guests to make them feel comfortable about filming.  

Next, the team rents equipment from Strozier, such as cameras, lights, microphones, and props. After that, they film the episodes. 

Ferraro coordinates the details on the back end of filming. She edits the raw footage in chunks using Adobe Premiere, creates the ad breaks for the episodes, and selects two to three social clips of buzzworthy moments for the HCFSU Instagram to promote new episodes. The entire editing routine takes about a week to have it ready for release. 

“We put out these fun social clips that hopefully draw people to the account at the end of the day,” says Hoppenworth, noting that the Instagram account has more followers than YouTube, as the account is older.

It’s important to have open conversations about college life and provide young women with a space where they can feel understood, heard, and resonate with our shared experiences.

— Sophia Ferraro

“We get a decent number of views on YouTube,” Ferraro adds, “Instagram is our most popular platform, so we want to utilize that crowd as much as we can, so that's really helped us a lot.” 

The HCFSU chapter is the first, out of more than 300 Her Campus chapters, to start a talk show, and Hoppenworth and Ferraro hope that they inspire other chapters to do the same. 

“I feel like I'm leaving a legacy on Her Campus,” says Hoppenworth, as Ferraro nods in agreement. “This is something that will now be on the internet forever, so that's really exciting.”  

Ferraro says she, too, will always look back on this experience with fondness. 

Hoppenworth and Ferraro both express how grateful they are for the support HCFSU offers them, especially from Isabelle Krukoski, editor in chief, and Sophia Montoya, president, who check in regularly.  

The talk show has come a long way since it was just a concept, with six episodes published on YouTube as of mid-January. 

“I’m so proud of its ability to connect our audience further with our chapter,” Ferraro says. “It’s important to have open conversations about college life and provide young women with a space where they can feel understood, heard, and resonate with our shared experiences.” 

Hoppenworth also emphasizes the importance of the talk show for women on FSU’s campus. 

“This project means the world to me, and I truly hope the final product reflects that,” she says. “When I brought this idea to the table, I could not have imagined what it’s grown into in the short amount of time we’ve had.

“I feel so honored to be trusted by the women of HC at FSU to represent our collective voice and create a new platform for people to find community in.” 

Hoppenworth and Ferraro were once students looking for community and support at FSU. The HCFSU Edit talk show provides just that to not just the women of HCFSU but also to students across campus.

Abigail Botsford is a major in English-Editing, Writing, and Media, with a minor in communication.

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