Borderline Optimists cover art

Borderline Optimists

Borderline Optimists

By: Gabrielle Held and Christen Powell
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About this listen

 Borderline Optimists is a cozy chaos podcast about chasing dreams, manifesting success, and spiraling with hope along the way. Hosted by Gabrielle Held and Christen Powell, two early-twenties film girls with very different vibes but the same starry-eyed outlook, this show blends film, girlhood, lifestyle, and the messy magic of post-college life. We’re talking following passions, making movies, surviving adulthood, and laughing at ourselves in the process. Will they “make it”? Probably. Will they win Oscars? Manifesting it.Gabrielle Held and Christen Powell Art
Episodes
  • “Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal”: Navigating our Creative Process

    “Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal”: Navigating our Creative Process
    Oct 17 2025

    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”.
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    40 mins
  • Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism and Burnout... Oh My!

    Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism and Burnout... Oh My!
    Oct 3 2025

    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.
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    39 mins
  • Let's Talk Movies

    Let's Talk Movies
    Sep 19 2025

    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.

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    42 mins
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