No Map Included

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.

New Strategy for my Zero Budget Vertical Series

In this episode of No Map Included, I talk through the next phase of building LOVE/HATE, and everything I’m learning as I move into Season 2. Season 1 was an exploration. Testing format, structure, and how a vertical series can live on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Now, I’m looking at what’s working, what’s not, and what I want to adjust. I talk about the challenge of building something for a platform that isn’t designed for the way the story is meant to be watched, and the tension between believing in the project and not seeing the level of engagement I expected.  This episode also gets into the practical side of making the series:  scheduling without a budget, writing within real constraints, simplifying locations, and finding ways to keep the process sustainable. At the same time, Season 2 is already in production with new approaches to structure, distribution, and filming. If you check out LOVE/HATE, I’d love to know what you think. You can find it on Instagram @thisislovehate (start at “Start Here” and scroll up). And if you found the show through this podcast, comment “podcast”. I’m really curious how this process translates. If you’re building something in real time too, feel free to share what you’re figuring out. 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.

I asked for this, so why does it feel so hard?

A few months ago, things were slow. Now, there’s momentum. Work, projects, responsibilities. It’s what I’ve been asking for. And still, I feel burnt out. Not overwhelmed in the way I used to be, where everything felt like too much, but a quieter version of it. The kind where you keep going, but you know something needs to shift.  This episode is a real-time reflection on time management, boundaries, and trying to balance multiple paths at once without dropping the things that actually matter. I also talk about the tension between that and the good things happening at the same time: new opportunities, creative work, and moments that remind me why I’m doing this in the first place. If you’re going through something right now, feel free to share in the comments, on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yessisth], or on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/]. Sometimes just hearing what others are navigating can make it feel a little lighter. And if you know someone who might need this, send this episode their way. 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.