This week, the Optimists get real about what it’s like to chase big creative dreams while trying to keep your friendships alive. In a world packed with hectic schedules, self-doubt, and constantly shifting routines, they explore how intentionality, reaching out first, and finding like-minded people can make all the difference. Building your dream life doesn’t mean leaving your friendships behind—sometimes it means choosing them on purpose. Tune in for an honest conversation about connection, growth, and a nudge to text that friend you’ve been thinking about.

This week, the Optimists are joined by Hana Soomro to unpack and debrief our trip to the 2025 SCAD Film Festival. From the premiere of Rachel Sennott's I Love LA to a Halloween screening of Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney's Twinless, we dive into the every detail of our Savannah adventures and discuss our takeaways from the festival.

Follow Hana: https://www.instagram.com/hanasoomro/

This week, the Optimists welcome our first ever guest: Shanylah Sainvil! Shanylah is a friend, classmate, icon, and star in the making. The three of us reminisce our days in LA with no cars and a dream, break down Shanylah's side quests since graduating college, and talk about our long term creative goals.

Follow Shanylah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nylah.luvs/

https://www.instagram.com/bynylah/

The Optimists are back—and this week, we’re getting real about something we all face but rarely talk about: rejection. From job applications that vanish into the void to auditions that didn’t go as planned, we’re unpacking the sting of “thanks, but no thanks.”

In this episode, we share our own rejection stories, laugh through the awkwardness of post-audition heartbreak, and explore how those tough moments can actually point us toward something better. We dive into coping strategies that keep us grounded—from sweet treats and self-care to reframing rejection as protection.

It’s a conversation about perseverance, perspective, and remembering that all it takes is one yes. Because sometimes, the “no” you dreaded ends up being the redirection you needed most.

The Optimists are back–and this week, we're diving into one of our ongoing struggles: creative block. It all started at a coffee shop on a Saturday morning, where a brainstorm session turned into a full on, caffeine-fueled creative freeze. In this episode, we break down ways that we continue to overcome writer’s block, our process when it comes to acting and filming, and discuss the controversial phrase: “good artists copy, great artists steal”.

This week, the Optimists get a little… pessimistic. We’re talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly of breaking into the entertainment industry and how we’re keeping our heads high. From battling imposter syndrome to second-guessing ourselves in auditions and interviews, we’re peeling back the curtain on the mental rollercoaster of creative life. We dissect the trap of perfectionism, the burnout that follows, and the never-ending loop of goal chasing. It's honest, it's relatable, and yes—it's still (mostly) optimistic.

Cameras rolling, sound speeding… action! The Optimists are back and today we’re talking about all things movies. We’re chatting about our sacred Double Feature Fridays, our favorite films, and upcoming releases that we’re excited about.

In this episode, we take a reflective (and slightly ambitious) dive into time. We chat about where we were five years ago, where we hope to be five years from now, and how our dreams, like winning Oscars and chasing EGOT glory, fit into that journey.