🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts
▶️ Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@gopluckyourselfpod
❤️ Support the show: patreon.com/gopluckyourselfpod
Follow me on Instagram & TikTok:
@featuring_chris_gun
@gopluckyourselfpod
My IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm8690472/
Follow Calen on Instagram: @catsordeathfilms

Watch his debut short film, ‘Greg’: vimeo.com/848995139
This week I sat down with one of my oldest and closest friends, Calen Vanstone. A director, writer, filmmaker, and someone I’ve known since the beginning of my filmmaking career. We’ve been on parallel creative journeys for more than half our lives, and it’s been incredible watching him finally bring his stories to the screen.

Calen’s short film Greg (vimeo.com/848995139), a raw and moving piece about the personification of anxiety, has already made its way into festivals, and he’s now gearing up for his second feature. In this conversation, we go deep on what held us back in our early years, the dangers of waiting for permission to create, and why sometimes you just have to ignore the noise and make the thing anyway.

We talk about mental health, vulnerability, and how to keep creating without falling into the trap of people-pleasing or chasing external validation. Calen shares why he believes film school should be a place to fail, why failure is essential for growth, and how he’s learned to turn stubbornness into strength.

If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination, self-doubt, or feeling like you don’t deserve a voice as an artist, this episode is for you.

Like. Share. Comment. Support.
Thanks for listening. Let me know what you think.
🎵 Theme music by Nick Gun: soundcloud.com/nickgun

Send us a text