Faren Collins and Marisa Garrett August 20, 2026

Life & Work with Faren Collins And Marisa Garrett of Atlanta

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Faren Collins And Marisa Garrett.

Hi Faren Collins and Marisa Garrett, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Faren and Marisa met in the early 2000s while attending Pebblebrook High School’s Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Faren was a vocal major and dance minor, while Marissa was an acting major. Their friendship began there through a shared love of performing and creativity.
After graduation, Marisa earned her BFA in Acting from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, while Faren earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State University. They went on to build separate careers and lives before reconnecting through social media in early 2024.
Even after years apart, their friendship immediately felt familiar. They realized that although their lives had taken very different paths, they were still the same fun, grounded, curious, and slightly unhinged people they had always been.
That reconnection eventually became Farely Groundid, a podcast rooted in friendship, life experience, laughter, growth, and the ongoing process of learning and unlearning.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing in life is completely smooth, and building something new definitely comes with challenges. We both navigate personal struggles, including physical and mental health, while also balancing everyday life and the demands of creating a podcast from the ground up.
Since launching Farely Groundid on February 11, 2026, we have seen slow but steady growth, and we are genuinely proud of that progress. We try not to focus too heavily on the struggles because life will always have them. Instead, we focus on consistency, optimism, growth, and enjoying what we are building together.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Faren: Faren is marketing professional, performer, entrepreneur, and educator with a background in musical theatre. My work has spanned entertainment, higher education, and branding, with a focus on storytelling, creativity, and connection.

Marisa: Marisa is a classically trained actor, entrepreneur, educator, and creative strategist with a BFA in Acting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her work has spanned entertainment, retail leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, marketing, and branding, with a focus on communication, confidence, and authentic connection.

Together: Together, we’re most proud of creating Farely Groundid, a space where difficult conversations feel approachable, honest, and even funny. What sets us apart is that we don’t pretend to have all the answers. We show up as two longtime friends who are still learning, still growing, and willing to have the conversations that many people are thinking but don’t always say out loud. We believe vulnerability and laughter can exist in the same room, and that’s the heart of everything we create.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First and foremost, we give all glory and gratitude to God, Yahweh. As Christians, our faith is at the center of everything we do, and we are incredibly thankful for every opportunity and every day we are given.

We are also deeply grateful for our parents, Roosevelt and Phyllis Weatherly, and Alfred and Sheila Collins, as well as our closest friends and loved ones who continue to support and encourage us.

Most importantly, we are thankful for each other. Faren and Marisa have truly been each other’s biggest cheerleaders throughout this journey, and we are excited to continue growing Farely Groundid together with gratitude, humility, and faith.

Contact Info:

Instagram: farelygroundidpodcast
Facebook: farelygroundidpodcast
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=farely+groundid
Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6k61yHjxKPGEpbtQFcQbaU?si=4dd9035f62de444d

Smiling woman with red braided hair, wearing a black leather dress, sitting on a red chair, gesturing with hands, in front of a microphone.

Woman with red braided hair sitting on a red chair in front of a brick wall and curtain, wearing black leather outfit.

Two women sit at a table with microphones, headphones, and a laptop, in a studio with a brick wall and neon sign.

Woman with red hair and glasses in a recording studio, wearing a red top, with a laptop and brick wall background.

Two women with red hair and glasses stand against a dark brick wall, one whispering to the other, wearing stylish outfits.

Woman in red dress with glasses, holding a feather, sitting in front of a brick wall with plants.

Two women with headphones sit in a pink-themed studio with mirrors and makeup items, discussing identities. Text reads 'Unlearning Identities, Episode 25'.

Two women pose in front of a brick wall with a neon sign that reads 'Farily Groundid,' surrounded by mannequins and plants.

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