161: Bold Before Ready with Bianca Mitchell-Avila

161: Bold Before Ready with Bianca Mitchell-Avila

From Try Life On by Maurice Philogene

May 8, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 162

About this episode

Bianca Mitchell-Avila shares her journey of building a successful documentary and business as a teenager, emphasizing the importance of taking action before feeling ready.

What happens when a 16-year-old stops waiting for permission and starts building the life she actually wants? In this episode, host Maurice Philogene sits down with filmmaker, artist, and chess player Bianca Mitchell-Avila to unpack the mindset that transformed a small documentary idea into an internationally recognized project connected to names like Keanu Reeves, Carla Berkowitz, Michael Simkin & Zach Zamboni. Bianca shares how she started reaching out to productions at 13, launched her own business as a teenager, faced criticism from peers, and ultimately created Mad Woman’s Game — a documentary highlighting women in the world of chess. More than a conversation about filmmaking, this episode explores identity, courage, creativity, and what becomes possible when you stop waiting to feel “ready.” In this episode: ​Why movement beats perfection every time ​How to “create the space” for the life you want ​The mindset shift that changed Bianca’s future at 13 ​Facing fear, rejection, and criticism head-on ​Building genuine relationships in creative industries If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to start — this conversation might be the sign you needed. Connect with Bianca…

People in this episode

Host: Maurice Philogene

Guest: Bianca Mitchell-Avila

Topics covered

  • mindset
  • filmmaking
  • creativity
  • identity
  • courage

Keywords

  • documentary
  • chess
  • teen entrepreneur
  • creativity
  • fear
  • rejection
  • identity

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Mad Woman’s Game

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