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, or on LinkedIn.

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.

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.

In this episode of No Map Included, I sit down with actress Zari Rose for a raw and honest conversation about grief, and what it means to find your way back to acting through it.

We met in 2018, at a time when acting felt more straightforward. Since then, the industry has changed, and so have we. What started as a clear goal slowly turned into something more complicated: pressure, expectations, and trying to follow a timeline that didn’t hold up.

We talk about falling out of love with acting while still pursuing it, and what it takes to come back to it from a different place.

Zari shares how grief reshaped her connection to the work, and how acting became less about proving something and more about understanding people. 

If you’re in a phase where things feel unclear, or like you’re holding too tightly to something, maybe this is your reminder to step back, let it breathe, and trust what’s unfolding.

And if you know someone going through a difficult moment while still trying to hold onto what they love, send this episode their way.

Connect

Zari Rose

Yessi Sanchez

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.

In this episode of No Map Included, I share what the early development stage of Stay/Away actually looks like, after the proof of concept is written, but before anything is financed or produced.

I talk about moving into pitch decks and grant applications, and how those materials don’t just present the story; they reshape it. Writing loglines, synopses, and a writer’s statement forced me to get clearer on what the film is really about.

I also get into the practical side of development:
researching grants, deciding where to apply, translating materials between English and German, and building a full package before funding is in place.

This episode is about a stage that’s mostly invisible:
rewriting, refining, second-guessing, and making decisions without knowing where they’ll lead.

If something in this episode sparked an idea, shifted your perspective, or made you rethink your own project, I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach out on Instagram or share your thoughts directly.

And if you know someone who’s in the middle of building something, send this episode their way.

Connect

On Instagram

On LinkedIn

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.

What does it take to make a series with no budget, no crew, and no roadmap?

In this episode of No Map Included, Yessi Sanchez breaks down the creation of LOVE/HATE, a vertical fiction series filmed entirely for Instagram.

Shot in POV style and produced with a small group of collaborators across Los Angeles, the series became an experiment in building narrative storytelling outside traditional production systems. Yessi shares how the idea evolved, how the cast came together, and what it looked like to direct, act, produce, and edit the project at the same time.

From filming on buses and city streets to shaping episodes for social media attention spans, this episode explores the creative and logistical challenges of producing something ambitious with almost no resources.

Watch the Series

LOVE/HATE is a vertical fiction series set in Los Angeles, following a group of friends after one of them suddenly disappears.

Watch on Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/thisislovehate

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.

In this first episode of No Map Included, I share how the journey started, from touring European film festivals as an actor to discovering filmmaking and writing as the form I was meant to pursue.

I talk about the story behind Stay/Away, a deeply personal feature film now in development, and LOVE/HATE, a zero-budget vertical series built entirely outside traditional systems.

This episode is about beginnings that don’t look like beginnings: imposter syndrome, scrapped drafts, creative pivots, and learning to create without waiting for permission.

Projects mentioned

Stay/Away — feature film in development
LOVE/HATE — vertical series now releasing on Instagram

Watch LOVE/HATE:
https://www.instagram.com/thisislovehate

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.

This trailer introduces the development of Stay/Away alongside the launch of LOVE/HATE, documenting what it actually looks like to build projects in real time; from early drafts to financing conversations and beyond. Along the way, the podcast features conversations with filmmakers and creatives about the work behind the work.

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.