Introvert City: Recent Episodes
Seth and Carina
Hello, and Welcome to The Introvert City Podcast! Join Seth and Carina, as they explore social issues, current events, cultural trends and theological questions, from the perspective of an Introvert. Join the community, and have some fun!
Seth and Carina discuss commonly known philosophical paradoxes that spark conversation in society and encourage introspective thinking.
Seth and Carina respond to questions from YOU! From whether or not they consider themselves "Christian Influencers" and what that means, to handling pressure in the creative field, to advice they'd give to parents, to what they'd change about the country... this conversation is packed full of depth and laughter.
Seth and Carina discuss the phenomenon of fast-paced social media responses to deep, philosophical questions that actually take years to ponder. It seems as though we as a society are uncomfortable with mystery, and need to satisfy any type of uncertainty, even if that means sitting contently with shallow answers. They cover topics of meaningful questions, social media's quick-fix responses, individuality and purpose, and also touch on the issues with modern American evangelism.
Seth and Carina jump on the cancel-culture conversation to discuss the rapid increase of celebrities and public figures being exposed and losing their platforms. Additionally, on a more personal level, they also dive into grudge-holding, as the two hosts have differing habits when it comes to forgiveness. Should you always forgive, no matter the circumstance? Are human beings capable of change? Is forgiveness used in its proper intention, or is it misused in society today? All of these questions and more are addressed in the conversation.
Seth and Carina sit down with Diana Vuolo, founder of the Lancaster nonprofit "SWAN 4 kids". SWAN stands for "scaling walls a note at a time", and has a mission to help children who have parents in prison heal through musical performance and lessons. Having experienced trauma and abuse in her home growing up, Diana found her own relief and healing in music. She is now dedicated to informing the public about the harsh realities of parental incarceration, and what role we can play in supporting children and helping them heal. This conversation is heavy, vulnerable, and full of resilient stories of children who have been through unspeakable trauma, and have found healing through the gift of music.
While Seth and Carina have touched on their relationship challenges before, in this episode, they go into depth about their biggest conflicts, their growth over 4 years, and their hope for young couples to challenge their relationships and ask difficult questions.
Seth and Carina are joined by award-winning podcaster and film composer Cory Rosen, who shares his journey of overcoming childhood wounds and channeling a creative ambition. With a deep love for music and storytelling, Cory has successfully created a life for himself as an entrepreneur, and aims to inspire and build community through every project he produces. The three discuss gifts and passions, the definition of success, hardships, questioning God, and the power of collaboration and art.
Seth and Carina reflect on their season 2 conversations, guests, and topics. They talk through their personal growth throughout this season, as podcasters, creators, young adults, college students, and much more. Season 3 is on the horizon!
It feels like our brains are searching for new hits of dopamine every second of the day, due to our fast-paced mentality of short-form social media scrolling. When we try to make conversation in person, we may have to endure boring or mundane discussion that we're used to skipping past on social media. We are instantly gratified on social media, and this makes real-life conversation feel like a chore. We are ruining our friendships, romantic relationships, attention spans, expectations... you name it. Seth and Carina share their experiences with social media doomscrolling and discuss the direction that the digital world is moving in.
Seth and Carina reflect on their current friendships and how they have helped each other grow. This conversation delves into the intricate dynamics of friendship, and how varying worldviews can influence them. They also examine the friendship of David and Jonathon from 1 Samuel of the Bible. What can we learn from them, and what example does Jesus leave for us regarding our relationships? Tune in as we navigate through the complexities of understanding and respecting the diversity of worldviews in our own circles.
Abner Gonzalez and Ned Bustard join Seth and Carina in a conversation surrounding artistic values, convictions, and discernment in your creative depictions. Abner Gonzalez is an artist and owner of the restaurant "Flora's", located in downtown Lancaster, PA. Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, illustrator, author, and curator of the Square Halo Gallery in the Trust Performing Arts Center, also located in downtown Lancaster, PA. This conversation is full of storytelling and connective moments that anyone and everyone can apply to their God-given abilities and gifts.
Seth and Carina share bits and pieces of their childhoods as shy introverts who struggled with confidence and friendship. They discuss what parts of being timid they have overcome, and what they believe is important to preserve.
Seth and Carina sit down with Darien Good, a close friend of several years, to discuss their differences in worldview. Darien grew up in the church, and left the Christian faith as a young teenager due to church hurt and family dynamics. The conversation dives into church life, philosophy, the homeschool experience, and the "satanic panic" (or fear-mongering in entertainment).
Carina and Seth discuss the impacts of physical, mental, academic, and social comparison. They share stories from their own lives, and reflect on what has helped them in the process of avoiding comparison.
This is the time of month where gyms fill up, goals are set, and everyone is claiming to have a year that surpasses the previous one; "It's MY year!" Seth and Carina address the problems they see with the hyper-disciplined mindsets that arise around the beginning of January, and why they often lead to more failure than success.
Stepping into 2024 with some weighty conversations with two of Seth and Carina's closest friends, Gabby and Josiah! Join them in discussions involving solidifying your faith, dating, core values, cultural commentary, and much more.
Join Carina and Seth for this year's Christmas Special, where they discuss favorite holiday traditions, advice, and the burning question: Why doesn't Christmas feel like it used to?
Carina and Seth share memories, thoughts, and tips on dating as a young couple. They address questions such as: "how long should you date before talking about marriage?", "how soon is too soon to meet the parents?", and most significantly, "how has the church helped or harmed modern dating?"
Constantly striving to think outside the box can oftentimes wear down your creativity. Carina and Seth share some of their struggles with tackling creative burnout. They dive into the root causes and share their experiences with what has and has not worked in fighting the burnout.
Carina and Seth share Reddit stores; they give their own input and react to some audience responses!
Friendships are difficult to navigate as circumstances change and life becomes unpredictable. In this episode, Carina and Seth sit down for a nostalgic conversation with Seth’s childhood best friend and the Introvert City’s Official Musical Producer: Taylon Madison. Seth and Taylon reminisce on their initial interactions, their growth, and the artistic musical abilities they have fostered together. Tayon also goes in depth about his growth in music, and as how his friendship with Seth fit into his story.
Women and men alike seem to be having mass identity crises at this point in time; Carina and Seth interview author, speaker, model, and entrepreneur Sandra Coates to discuss these issues, and how they are affecting women in particular. Sandra shares the mission of her nonprofit organization UNITED&TRU, which revolves around helping women to find their voice and their identity in Christ. Sandra is passionate about letting each individual woman know that there is none like her. In addition to hosting workshops and events, Sandra and her partner organizations work with women in their unplanned pregnancies and victims of sex trafficking, providing housing, education, funds, and resources through her ministry.
“How does my pastor get paid?” “How does my church distribute money?” “What does tithing look like in my life?” All of these questions are essential to ask if you are a person of faith seeking to settle down in a church family. Returning guest Professor Anthony Bruno tackles all of these questions and many more in a fiery conversation with Carina and Seth. He shares his experiences having been both a pastor and a church board member at different times in his life. Additional topics mentioned include church hurt and sneaky televangelist tactics.
Carina and Seth open up about some of their personal struggles and how they have been affected, both on an individual level and a relationship level. Topics discussed in this episode include personality type differences, media consumption, judgement, and pornography & its long-lasting effects.
Introverts tend to look for the deeper meaning in every-day, mundane activities. When it comes to dreams and even certain sleeping patterns, a question for believers arises: Does God intentionally give us certain dreams, or are dreams simply a function of the brain? Could it be a little bit of both? Seth and Carina discuss dreams they have experienced, and the possibility of different dreams having different meanings.
We hear the phrase "Guard Your Heart" thrown around in church and in our close circles. But what does it actually mean, and why is it never discussed on a deeper level? What does it look like to truly apply that phrase to your life? In this episode, Carina and Seth speak on their opinions about Proverbs 4:23, and how guarding your heart is more important than you realize.
Conversations surrounding men are swarming social media spaces, and these perspectives are usually dominated by polarizing, political influence on both sides. Carina and Seth invite Pastor Kenny Bowman into this conversation, which is centered around the issues that men today are facing not only in the secular world, but also in the church. Pastor Kenny speaks from the perspective of a man who has worked in ministry for decades, both in the prison system and in the modern church.
Sight and Sound is the most recognizable name in the medium of biblical theater, and entertainment. In this episode, Join Carina and Seth as they take a deep dive into the history of Sight and Sound Theaters with the man who started it all, Founder Glenn Eshelman. In this episode, Mr. Eshelman gives an exclusive look into the theater's successes, losses and his undying willingness to preach the word of God.
One evening, after nearly a year of watching her daughter, Mae, suffer from an abusive and manipulative relationship, Vickie Davis hears the words that no mother wants to ever imagine: "your daughter has been shot". Vickie shares her journey in this episode, and discusses the depths of her grieving process in losing her daughter to domestic violence, and suffering intense spiritual turmoil. Since the death of Mae, Vickie has vowed to be her voice, and to share her story. Vickie has spent years working to save others from domestic violence, and is continuing to spread a message of caution, joy, and reliance on God. If you would like to reach out to Vickie to have her speak at your church or university, you can reach her at hismercyisnew@gmail.com.
In an era of fast moving media, we consistently find the gospel being spread at a rapid rate. However, while many use this tool for amazing outreach, there are those who take this opportunity to spread lies and follow dollar signs. In this week's episode, Carina and Seth tackle issues dealing with televangelism, prosperity gospel and taking advantage of the less fortunate. We hope this episode can open up dialogue amongst you guys; Tune in and enjoy!
For our introverted theologians, philosophers, and deep thinkers, this episode is for you! For this week’s topic, Carina and Seth discuss the never-ending debate of God’s existence, and how this topic can lead to productive conversation and friendship. They bring to light the benefits of using both personal experience and logic to come to a conclusion about truth. They also address some questions and perspectives from their audience!
Hello, and welcome back, Homebodies! We are excited to be officially be back recording for season 2, and we have a lot in store. In this episode, you’ll hear about some of our life updates and sneak peaks for this season. Recharge your social battery and spend some time with us! Enjoy the episode!
Hey, Homebodies! In this week's episode, we are rounding off season 1 with some updates and reflections. Throughout our vert first season, we have had many laughs, enjoyable conversations and life giving guest appearances. We hope you can all enjoy this trip down memory lane with us, as well as hear some of our own personal feedback on the show. You may also find some sneak peaks for next season, and some hints at some interesting upcoming guests!
In the world of online influence, we oftentimes fall into traps of being mislead, misinterpreting the Word, and struggling in your personal journey of reading through scripture. For this week’s episode, Carina and Seth speak on issues regarding mainstream Christian influencers, and the appearance of sin. They also give their opinions on how to feel encouraged in your walk through scripture, in whatever stage you may be in. We hope this episode can open up dialogue amongst all of you!
We often find ourselves struggling to grasp hope in this divided, contorted society. In this episode, Seth brings in his father, Mr. Sal Franqui, to discuss generational differences in faith and the hopeful outreach for salvation. Mr. Franqui had spent decades working in ministry, studying theology, and partaking in community outreach and evangelism. We hope to bring a new perspective on the importance of witnessing, and passionate outreach!
For The Introvert City’s very first interactive episode, Seth and Carina decided to ask for some Hot Takes from you guys! In this episode, the duo debates popular and unpopular opinions alike. From discussing the credibility of Wikipedia, to miraculous spiritual gifts, to whether or not bacon is overrated… tune in to find what Seth and Carina have to say about it all!
Are you ever scrolling on Tiktok, and you see a video that brings out a strong opinion. You immediately go to the comments, only to find that no one agrees with you nor do they hold back their harsh statements. In this episode, Carina and Seth express their opinions on the neverending search for validation through social media and real world scenarios. They also speak on the differences in worldly joy versus biblical joy, and how to seek true joy and validation through the love of Christ!
It can be difficult to read through the Word of God without coming across supposed contradictions and mysterious questions. In this episode, Carina brings her father, Professor Anthony Bruno into the studio to discuss all things Old Testament, New Testament, and all complexities in between. Professor Bruno has worked in ministry for over three decades, and is currently teaching at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania. His classes offer teachings on subjects including theological questions, criminal justice, and other courses in the arts & sciences department. We hope this conversation can open up dialogue amongst all of our Homebodies out there!
We serve an omnipresent God, which is astonishing to think about in every-day life. So why is it that we feel closer to Him in certain moments, and we struggle to see His hand in other moments? In this episode, Seth and Carina discuss the ways in which they commune with God and recognize God’s creativity in the art, music, and nature that surrounds us.
Happy Easter, Homebodies! In this episode, Carina and Seth express the importance of worship, community, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Enjoy the episode, and take this time to remember the cross and the passion of Christ!
We know that introverts need to recharge their battery on their own, as opposed to extroverts who recharge around others. In this episode, Seth and Carina walk through their own recharging processes; the main one being creative writing! Other topics that are discussed revolve around alone time, social anxiety and God’s omnipresence.
In this episode, Carina and Seth give a rundown of who the Duggars are, why their worldview as a Quiverfull family is problematic, and what could have been done to prevent Josh Duggar's actions.
What podcast out there DOESN’T have an episode discussing anxiety? Carina and Seth approach the hot topic of mental illness after having walked through their own journeys with anxiety. They give an overview of Gen Z’s glamorization of mental health issues and the new problems that have arisen. What is the difference between fear and anxiety? How do I approach my mental health as a Christian? What are healthy coping strategies? The answers to these questions and more are addressed in this episode.
In this episode, join Seth and Carina as they discuss topics such as toxicity, negative church relationships, the importance of pre-engagement counseling and life updates!
In this episode, Seth and Carina explore their biggest pet peeves, since childhood. From dirty fingertips, to made up stories, join the couple as they explain their dislikes from the lens of an introvert.
Welcome to the final portion of the Introvert City Testimonies. Seth and Carina continue their testimony as a couple as they share their relationship journey after the very first date. They cover relational issues, character development, and Christian dating and marriage messages that society portrays. Enjoy the wrap-up of the series!
In this week's episode, we will be interviewing our very first guest, Mr. David Garlock. Mr. Garlock and his brother were abused in their childhood, and they went to prison in 1999 for taking the life of their abuser. Living through intense childhood abuse, the prison system, and the reflection process, Garlock now speaks at universities all across America to give His testimony of trauma to triumph.
Welcome to another episode in The Introvert City Testimonies! In this episode, Carina and Seth share the story of how they met. In this first segment, you'll hear about the situations, people, and locations that intertwined and played a role in their meeting.
Welcome back to the second park of Introvert City’s testimonies! Seth takes the mic and opens up about growing up in a fundamentalist Pentecostal faith, and how it has affected his mentality. Discussions of bullying, insecurity, and people-pleasing are present in this episode. Seth’s heart is to encourage young people who have grown up in the faith to seek God for themselves. Enjoy part two of the series!
Welcome to Introvert City’s first series of testimonies! In this episode, Carina shares her testimony of faith and how it has shaped her today. She dives deep into childhood innocence, legalism, the public school system, and anxiety. All of her obstacles have brought her to a place of contentment and gratefulness to God. Her vision for the future is to encourage young women who are struggling to break out of their shell to place all of their worries in the hands of the Grand Artist. Enjoy part one of the series!
Welcome back, Homebodies! Let's welcome the new, and say goodbye to the old with our first episode of the year. In this episode, join Seth and Carina as they reflect on 2022, and as they look forward to 2023. Have fun, and God bless!
In this episode, Seth and Carina talk about the holidays from the perspective of an introvert. Sit back, and have a nice conversation about the most wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas, and God bless!
On this episode, Seth and Carina go through their favorite things, and explain why they love each thing so much. Sit back and chill out to this light-hearted episode, and see if they share any similar likes and dislikes with you!
In this episode, Carina and Seth touch on the subject of morality, and how it may be changing in today's society. They speak on immorality among older generations, the possibility of morality being lost and foggy in the modern day, and what the bible has to say. Are we moving forward, or do we find the line between good and evil beginning to blur?
In this episode, Carina and Seth touch on the historically controversial subject of blasphemy and the possibilities of its meaning. Will there ever be a real answer, or will its true meaning never come to fruition?
In this episode, Carina and Seth discuss the rise of Gen Z influence on the media. As members of the generation, they review the pros and cons of the personality traits that Gen Z entails. They address the big question that every generation asks themselves: Have we done our part in making the world a better place for the next generation?
In the first episode of Introvert City, Carina and Seth break down what it means to be an introvert in the modern world. They dive into personality tests, societal stereotypes, and their own personal testimonies of introversion. Looking beyond introversion vs. extroversion, the couple shares their individual testimonies of faith. Finally, they offer sneak peeks of topics that will be discussed in future episodes.