Happy New Year! This week, the Optimists are back to reminisce on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. They recount their personal wins, favorite movies, artists, songs, albums, and brain rot from the last year, and dive into their career manifestations and pop culture predictions for 2026.

This week, the Optimists are back for a candid conversation about the origin of their creative passions and why they're still fighting to pursue those dreams. The two reminisce on early creative sparks, the highs and lows of the education system, and the reality of navigating an industry that wasn’t built with them in mind. Along the way, they unpack confidence, competition, representation, and what it really means to bet on yourself when the path isn’t stable or straightforward.

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.