Stay/Away | Momentum, Vulnerability & What's Next

Stay/Away | Momentum, Vulnerability & What's Next

In this episode of No Map Included, I share a real update on Stay/Away and why, after feeling stagnant for so long, the project suddenly feels alive again. I talk about bringing a Swiss production company on board, officially deciding to move forward with the proof of concept short film, and what happens when a project you've been carrying privately for years starts becoming real in the outside world. We get into financing, grant applications, development strategy, casting, language, and the practical realities of independent filmmaking; the parts that are far less glamorous than people often imagine, but essential to getting a film made. I also talk about why I changed my mind about making the proof of concept, what I'm learning about collaboration, and how Stay/Away is becoming a bridge between my life in Los Angeles and my roots in Switzerland. And because this story is deeply personal, I reflect on the emotional side of the process too: vulnerability, self-image, stepping back in front of the camera, and what it means to tell a story that comes from such a real place. More than anything, this episode is about the moment a project stops feeling like an idea and starts becoming something tangible with all the excitement, uncertainty, and responsibility that comes with it. And if you're building something of your own and waiting for momentum to arrive, I hope this episode reminds you that sometimes things are moving long before you can see the results. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599086/fan_mail/new] ABOUT THE PODCAST No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere. Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.

Nina Seul | Different Callings Within One Lifetime

In this episode of No Map Included, I sit down with actress and producer Nina Seul for a conversation about identity, intuition, reinvention, and what happens when a lifelong calling begins to shift. After spending more than twenty years building her life around acting, Nina opens up about the gradual realization that the career path she had centered her identity around no longer felt aligned in the same way. We talk about moving to Los Angeles, navigating the industry as a European actress, the emotional impact of rejection, and the pressure of constantly trying to prove yourself in a career that often feels deeply personal. Nina shares how the pandemic, burnout, aging in the industry, and years of instability slowly changed her relationship to acting, and how she eventually found herself asking the universe for a new path entirely. We also talk about intuition, immigrant experiences in the entertainment industry, finding joy outside of acting, and the difference between giving up on a dream versus allowing yourself to evolve beyond it. More than anything, this episode is about realizing that identity doesn’t have to stay fixed forever, and that sometimes moving in a new direction isn’t failure, but growth. And if you’ve ever questioned the path you built your life around, struggled to separate yourself from your career, or felt afraid to outgrow an old version of yourself, I hope this conversation makes you feel a little less alone. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599086/fan_mail/new] ABOUT THE PODCAST No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere. Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.

Creating Without Chasing the Outcome

In this episode of No Map Included, I talk about what it means to stop living entirely for the outcome. After spending years attaching my identity to achievement, momentum, and long-term goals, I’ve been trying to rebuild my relationship to creativity, ambition, and uncertainty in a way that feels healthier and more sustainable. I talk about stepping away from acting professionally, navigating rejection with Stay/Away, returning to writing, and realizing how much of my life had become focused on chasing outcomes instead of actually experiencing the present. I also get into identity shifts, background acting, books that found me at the right time, building new habits, and the difference between creating from pressure versus creating from genuine curiosity. More than anything, this episode is about making room: for new dreams, new versions of yourself, and a life that feels aligned even without a perfectly clear roadmap. And if you’re currently in your own messy middle, trying to let go of an old identity, rethink success, or figure out what comes next, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not the only one navigating that transition. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599086/fan_mail/new] ABOUT THE PODCAST No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere. Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.

Letting Go of the Dream I Built My Life Around

In this episode of No Map Included, I talk about what it feels like to let go of a dream you built your entire life around. After more than a decade of pursuing acting professionally, I finally made the decision to step away from it as a career. Not because I stopped loving storytelling, but because my relationship to the industry, the instability, the constant hustle, and the version of life I had built around it no longer felt sustainable. At the same time, the restaurant I had been working at suddenly closed, forcing me into an even bigger period of uncertainty and transition. This episode is about identity shifts, burnout, social media pressure, survival jobs, and the emotional reality of realizing that something you once wanted deeply may no longer fit the person you’ve become. I also talk about the complicated relationship between creativity and visibility, the pressure to constantly market yourself as an artist, and what it means to make room for a completely new chapter even when you don’t fully know what comes next. This episode doesn’t really end with answers. It’s more of a snapshot of being in the middle of a major pivot while trying to trust that something new is waiting on the other side of it. And if you’ve ever outgrown a version of your dream, or found yourself questioning the life you built around it, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Connect Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yessisth] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599086/fan_mail/new] ABOUT THE PODCAST No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere. Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.

Jacqueline Rosenthal | Finding a Path That Feels Aligned

In this episode of No Map Included, I sit down with student Emmy award winner Jacqueline Rosenthal for a conversation about what happens when the path you’ve been on no longer feels right. Jacqueline started out as an actor, then decided to pivot, because acting never seemed to be fully aligned with her. We talk about building your identity around acting from a young age, and how validation can shape the choices you make without you even realizing it. Jacqueline shares what it looked like to step into directing, how she reframed success and recognition, and why staying grounded became essential in a career built on highs and lows. We also get into the parts that are rarely talked about: Working other jobs while building a career, navigating how others perceive that, and the reality of sustaining creative work over time.  This conversation is about choosing the work that feels right even if it means letting go of something you’ve held onto for a long time. Connect Jacqueline Rosenthal [https://www.instagram.com/jacqueline.director/] Yessi Sanchez [https://www.instagram.com/yessisth/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599086/fan_mail/new] ABOUT THE PODCAST No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere. Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.