In this episode, Julia Relova and I talk about that tender mix of creative joy and quiet comparison—what happens when you see a story close to your own finally break through, and the voice in your head says, “Does that mean I’ve missed my chance?” We get into scarcity mindset, energy tracking, and the sometimes-tricky shift from generous collaborator to intentional boundary-setter.

Julia Relova is a queer Filipino-American filmmaker, creative producer, and community builder based in Chicago. She co-founded Rm. 19 Productions, a company committed to telling stories that center women—both on screen and behind the camera. Her credits include producing features like ROLLER BABIEZ and YEAR ONE, and she's spent years in program management across big tech and nonprofit sectors. These days, she’s focused on writing her first feature High, Mom, and reminding herself that sometimes, the best work starts when you let the outline break.

We talk about:
→ Celebrating watching other people get their flowers
→ How energy (not time) might be your most precious creative resource
→ Creating a rubric for saying yes to collaborations
→ The balance between showing up for your community and showing up for your own work
→ And why extroverts sometimes rot on the couch too

Find Julia and Room 19 Productions on Instagram: @juliarelova, @rm.19productions
Check out her work and podcast: anywhereishome-podcast.com

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.