In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with classical broadcaster, vocalist, and creator Jennifer Miller Hammel for a fascinating conversation about reinvention, creative advocacy, and why video game music belongs in the concert hall.

Jennifer shares the story of leaving the East Coast for Los Angeles to chase a dream as a session singer—taking every gig she could, building community through connections, and learning firsthand that momentum often comes from saying “yes” before you feel ready. From caroling groups in Dickens costumes to studio sessions for indie games, she explains how each chapter shaped the career that followed.

We also dive into Jennifer’s unexpected pivot into radio—how a single holiday greeting recording revealed a new path, what it takes to become an engaging storyteller with only your voice, and why she ultimately moved from news to classical broadcasting after the 2016 election. Along the way, Jennifer opens up about the importance of being your own advocate, especially as a woman in classical media, and how criticism can often be a signal that you’re pushing culture forward.

At the center of this conversation is Arcade—Jennifer’s 24/7 stream that blends orchestral video game music, classical pieces used in games, and modern classical works with the same emotional DNA. She explains the resistance she faced when pitching it, how she reframed the project to connect with a traditional classical audience, and what it means to build something “polarizing” that turns into a bridge between generations.

Jennifer also reframes how we think about the great composers, sharing her belief that if Handel (or Mozart) were alive today, they’d be writing for PlayStation—because composers have always followed the work, and video games are one of the most powerful storytelling mediums in entertainment.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

What it really looks like to move across the country and build a creative career from scratch

Why “community” is often the missing ingredient for anyone trying to break into a new world

The moment Jennifer realized her voice belonged behind the mic—not only onstage

How her performance background shaped her approach to storytelling in broadcasting

What Arcade is, how it works, and why orchestral game music fits naturally beside classical repertoire

How Jennifer curated Arcade and what qualifies as “classical” in the gaming world

Why “polarizing” ideas often just need a new perspective to land with the right audience

A powerful story about Arcade inspiring a lifelong classical listener to play her first video game—and reconnect with family

The case for video games as a major artistic and economic force in entertainment

Jennifer’s biggest lesson: take the scary path, and think long-term when fear shows up

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/jenmillerradio/

https://www.instagram.com/classicalcalifornia/

https://www.kusc.org/schedule?stream=CC8_S01 https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with creator and founder Isan Elba for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship, circular beauty, and what it really takes to build a solution for a problem the industry has ignored for years.

Isan shares how she went from being a young content creator receiving endless PR packages—until her home started feeling like a “mini Sephora”—to realizing the overwhelming excess wasn’t just her problem, but a systemic issue across the beauty ecosystem. She walks us through the moment the question shifted from “Where do I donate this?” to “How do we redesign the entire process so this doesn’t become waste?”—and how that led to Beauty Access (the parent innovation lab) and Beauty Forward (the tech-enabled redistribution system built to get unused, unopened products into the hands of women and communities who need them most).

We also dive into what it’s like building a nonprofit without a business degree or institutional backing, the realities of navigating leadership at 23, and why Isan believes you’re never truly “ready”—you just have to start. Plus, she breaks down the tech: why no existing inventory system fit the scale of the problem, how they built their own scanning and tracking backbone, and how data can help brands make smarter gifting decisions (and reduce waste at the source).

We also talk about Isan’s musical journey—how she “accidentally” became a DJ, why she calls it her paid hobby, and how music gives her the creative reset that entrepreneurship can’t.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How PR excess became the spark for a larger mission

Why donating at scale isn’t simple—and what shelters actually need to make redistribution work

How Beauty Forward’s courier + sorting model removes burden from both creators and shelters

Why Isan built custom tech to track products, SKUs, and needs-based donation matching

How redistribution data can help brands reduce overproduction and gift with intention

What it takes to lead at 23—while still trying to live like a 23-year-old

How to navigate people who care more about opportunity than impact

How Isan thinks about sustainability beyond products—into culture, wellness, and values

Why “you’re never going to be ready” is the mindset that changed her life

The biggest lesson she’s learned so far: believing in herself (without needing perfection)

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/isanelba/https://www.tiktok.com/@isanelbahttps://www.beautyaccess.org/https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreationhttps://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreationhttps://www.instagram.com/alexschmiedinghttps://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Brian Kosnar of Mineral Classics for a deep, fascinating conversation about one of the most misunderstood—and most mesmerizing—collector worlds on earth: high-end mineral specimens.

Brian takes us inside a five-generation mining lineage, from Cornwall tin mines to Colorado gold country, and shares the origin story of Mineral Classics—named by his father in honor of the legendary European “old classics” that once defined the most valuable specimens in the world. He opens up about what it was really like taking over the family business at just 17 years old, learning under the shadow of a true mineral savant, and carrying a legacy forward while still finding his own identity as a dealer, collector, and educator.

We also explore why minerals are fundamentally different from any other collectible—because they’re not made by humans. Brian breaks down what makes a specimen truly special, why there’s no “perfect 10” standard in mineral collecting, and how the internet transformed the hobby from a closed world into a global community. He shares insider perspective on Tucson—the biggest gem and mineral event on earth—plus the rare opportunity to see “The Great Phosphophyllite” on public display at Yale for a limited time.

And in one of the most visual parts of the conversation, Brian brings out stunning specimens from his private collection—aquamarine, tourmaline, ruby from Mogok, and a historic Russian emerald on matrix—explaining what you’re actually looking at, why condition and crystal form matter, and why cutting certain pieces would be “criminal” because their value is greatest untouched.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How Brian’s five-generation mining history shaped his life and career

Why Mineral Classics was named in honor of Europe’s legendary “old classics”

What it felt like taking over the family business at 17—and the pressure that came with it

How Brian’s father trained him through constant “pop quizzes” on minerals, chemistry, and localities

Why mineral collecting has no universal “perfect specimen” standard—and why that’s the magic

How the internet changed the mineral world from gatekept to global

Why minerals are truly “one-of-one” collectibles—and what separates specimens from “rocks”

What Tucson really is (a month-long citywide series of 50+ shows) and how to experience it

The best beginner resources: mindat.org, museums, and The Mineralogical Record

How to think about value when there’s no “Kelley Blue Book” for minerals

The wild story of a crystallized gold specimen traded for whiskey—and how it came back into the family

Why Brian believes we’re living in the golden age of mineral collecting

The #1 advice Brian would give his younger self

Episode Resources:

https://www.minclassics.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mineralclassics

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Mindat (mineral database): https://www.mindat.org/

The Mineralogical Record: https://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Jorge Richardson and Cristina Gnecco, the founders of HOPE Hydration, to unpack how they’re rethinking public access to clean drinking water—free, filtered, chilled, and available in high-traffic places around the world.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with singer-songwriter and performer Mergui for a raw, thoughtful conversation about identity, fame, and the inner work it takes to create music that’s truly honest.

Mergui takes us back to his upbringing in Tel Aviv, growing up in a deeply musical household, building a bedroom studio, and making the bold decision to commute two and a half hours each way to attend an arts-focused high school—an early sign of the commitment that would shape everything that followed. He shares the moment his life flipped overnight at 17, when a cover he recorded (and his dad secretly sent out) led to a last-minute audition on Israel’s biggest televised competition—where he navigated pressure, judgment, and sudden public attention by staying locked into the art.

We also talk about what it means to be a musician when you’re “working with your soul,” how he protects his creative flow from outside opinions, and why he believes nobody really knows the one perfect path—there are countless ways to build the same dream. Mergui opens up about writing as a way to understand emotion, how vulnerability becomes the most powerful ingredient in a song, and why his project Dark Side of the Rainbow transformed from a breakup story into something deeper: a journey of self-discovery.

Plus, he breaks down the story behind his single “3 Tears”—including a standout writing session with Amy Allen and Andrew Goldstein—and explains how his definition of success has evolved from chasing results to building freedom, balance, and a life he can actually enjoy.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How Mergui’s childhood in Tel Aviv shaped his relationship with music and identity

Why his parents’ support (without pressure) helped him choose his own path early

The defining moment he walked away from soccer to follow a creative calling

What it meant to commute 2.5 hours each way to study music—and why it was worth it

How one cover recording led to an overnight career shift at 17

What it’s really like competing as an artist—and staying focused when the world is judging you

Why being on stage is his most natural “flow state,” even as a perfectionist and overthinker

How his music became more personal over time—and why vulnerability creates the best results

The session story behind “3 Tears” and what made it feel instantly “right”

Why he’s experimenting with letting songs shape the “world,” instead of forcing a concept first

How moving to the U.S. helped him find balance, privacy, and space to live

The biggest lesson fame taught him: being himself without apologizing

The advice he’d give his younger self: stay true to what feels right—because nobody has the one answer

Listen to Mergui’s new single “3 Tears” - OUT NOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8nOkR28vk

https://open.spotify.com/track/0hzaaTLCdtSC6ZFJePiNfG

https://music.apple.com/us/song/3-tears/1861504548

"3 Tears" was co-written by Mergui, Amy Allen, and Andrew Wells, with Andrew Wells producing.

Episode Resources:

https://www.mergui.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mergui/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mergui

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Margaret Cho — comedian, actor, author, and cultural trailblazer — for an intimate and deeply reflective conversation about creativity, resilience, and what it truly takes to sustain a life in the arts.

Margaret opens up about starting stand-up comedy at just 14 years old, the fear she felt stepping on stage at such a young age, and why she believes comedy — and success in any creative field — is less about raw talent and more about endurance, discipline, and showing up when it’s hard. She shares how humor became a coping mechanism, how failure is a constant part of the process, and why fear is often a signal that something meaningful is at stake.

We also talk about the realities of building a long-term career in entertainment, navigating self-doubt, learning from mentors, and staying committed to your craft through exhaustion, uncertainty, and change. Throughout the conversation, Margaret reflects on legacy, inspiration, and what it means to create work that allows others to see what’s possible for themselves.

This episode is a powerful reminder that creative success isn’t instant — it’s built over time through persistence, courage, and a willingness to keep going.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you'll learn:

What starting stand-up comedy at 14 taught Margaret about fear and confidence

Why comedy — and creativity — is about endurance, not just being “good”

How fear can be a sign you’re moving in the right direction

Why failure is an unavoidable (and necessary) part of the creative process

The importance of dedication, discipline, and showing up consistently

How mentorship shaped Margaret’s early career and long-term growth

What legacy means after decades of creative work

Why inspiring others to pursue their own paths matters more than accolades

Episode Resources:

https://www.margaretcho.com

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_cho

https://www.tiktok.com/@themargaretcho

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon — double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, fertility expert, and author of The Lucky Egg — for an honest, science-based conversation about fertility in the modern world and the massive misinformation gap that leaves so many people anxious, confused, and feeling alone.

Dr. Sekhon shares her personal journey from growing up in Toronto in a hardworking family to becoming a leading voice in reproductive medicine — and why her early experiences, including her younger brother being born extremely preterm, shaped her passion for women’s health and safer pregnancies. We also talk about what it’s been like to practice in a field that was once considered experimental, and how advancements in IVF, embryo freezing, and embryo testing have transformed outcomes and reduced risks like twin pregnancies.

One of the most powerful parts of this conversation: Dr. Sekhon opens up about going through IVF herself and how becoming a patient changed the way she supports others — especially around the mental health toll of fertility journeys. She explains why The Lucky Egg was written as “Health Class 2.0,” designed to give people foundational knowledge, calm, and control — so they can make informed decisions long before they’re in crisis.

If you’re trying to conceive, considering egg or embryo freezing, navigating IVF, supporting someone through infertility, or simply want to understand fertility with clarity and compassion — this episode is for you.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

Episode Resources:

⁠https://theluckyegg.com⁠

https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon

⁠https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding⁠

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation⁠

⁠https://x.com/fvtcpodcast⁠

https://resolve.org/

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at⁠ www.properplacement.com⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Agatha Relota Luczo — founder of Fortuna Skin and former high-fashion model who was scouted at just 15 years old and quickly became the face of Chanel after walking Paris couture.

Agatha shares the incredible origin story behind Fortuna Skin — from sitting in the makeup chairs of legendary artists and falling in love with skincare, to building a mission-driven brand rooted in a certified-organic, regenerative farm in Sicily. Alongside her husband, Agatha helped transform a small piece of ancestral land into an 800-acre farm powered by natural spring water, rich volcanic soil, and over 80 medicinal plants — with a guiding philosophy: leave the world better than you found it.

We dive into the science and sourcing behind Fortuna Skin, including their sound bath extraction method designed to preserve plant potency, the skincare benefits of extra virgin olive oil and olive leaf water, and why “single estate” sourcing matters — both for what you eat and what you put on your skin. Agatha also opens up about balancing motherhood with building a global brand, staying grounded in tradition and integrity, and why she believes your team can become your greatest asset.

If you’re interested in beauty entrepreneurship, clean skincare, regenerative farming, longevity, ingredient transparency, or building a brand with real values behind it — this is an episode you’ll love.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:How Agatha was scouted at 15 and became the face of ChanelWhat she learned from the world’s top makeup artists — and how it shaped her love of skincareHow an 800-acre certified-organic farm in Sicily became the foundation of Fortuna SkinWhat “sound bath extraction” is — and why it matters for ingredient potencyWhy extra virgin olive oil may be one of the most powerful longevity ingredients (inside and out)How to shop for higher-quality olive oil (what to look for on the label)Why over-washing your face can work against your skinThe “non-oily oil” approach behind Fortuna Skin’s bi-phase oilHow Agatha balances raising four children while running a global brandWhat she believes the beauty industry is getting right — and where it’s headed next.

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/furtunaskin

https://www.instagram.com/agatharelotaluczo

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Tomás Mier — Rolling Stone writer, music journalist, and Grammy Museum moderator, shaping the conversation around pop and Latin music today.

From front-page stories at the Los Angeles Times to covering major cultural moments at People and now Rolling Stone, Tomás has built an impressive career at a remarkably young age. He has interviewed artists like Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Julia Michaels, Megan Moroney, Chappell Roan, and many more — earning a reputation for thoughtful, disarming interviews that feel human, honest, and deeply researched.

In this conversation, Tomás opens up about his journey into journalism — from being a curious kid who cold-called a radio station at 13 to becoming Editor-in-Chief of his college paper and landing competitive internships that launched his career. He shares how starting a Fifth Harmony fan account unexpectedly led him toward music journalism, why preparation and empathy matter more than “gotcha” questions, and how he balances speed, accuracy, and heart in a fast-paced news environment.

We also dive into what it’s really like interviewing icons like Lady Gaga, how live interviews differ from print, what makes certain artists instantly magnetic, and why authenticity — both from the interviewer and the artist — is the secret ingredient to great storytelling. Tomás also reflects on interviews that changed him personally, the rise of Latin and Mexican music, and what aspiring journalists need to know about building a voice, platform, and career in today’s media landscape.

If you’re interested in journalism, music, pop culture, interviewing, storytelling, Latin music, or building a creative career, this is a must-watch conversation.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How Tomás went from a teenage radio caller to writing for Rolling Stone

What really goes into preparing for a great interview

How to disarm guests and create conversations that feel real

What it’s like interviewing Lady Gaga — and why that moment mattered so much

The difference between live, on-stage interviews and long-form print profiles

How journalists decide which pitches deserve deeper coverage

Why authenticity and empathy outperform “gotcha” journalism

The rise of Latin and Mexican music — and why language barriers matter less than ever

Advice for aspiring journalists on finding their voice, building a platform, and standing out

What Tomás hopes to create next — including books, hosting, and leading coverage

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/tomas_mier/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tomasmier

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation

https://x.com/fvtcpodcast

https://www.rollingstone.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with la georgea, Dan Bucatinsky, and director Kelley Kali to unpack their deeply intimate short film elle|elle — a brave, emotionally resonant story rooted in la georgea’s real-life experience of coming out as a transgender woman to her husband, and the complicated, human aftermath that follows.

Kelley shares how the film was born as a love letter to la georgea — and a mission to help the world see her the way her community does: fully, honestly, and without judgment. la georgea opens up about the terror and healing of reenacting her most private truth on camera, what it meant to finally feel safe, and the years of “performing” masculinity to survive. Dan, as both performer and outsider to the personal story, explains why the script grabbed him immediately: it refuses to villainize either partner — and instead invites viewers into the raw, behind-closed-doors moment where two people fight to be seen, heard, and understood.

We talk about the film’s universal impact (including how many non-LGBTQ+ viewers see their own marriages inside it), the unspoken misogyny and bias that can exist even within marginalized communities, and the creative choices that made elle|elle feel so real — from micro-silences to blocking, mirrors, and the quiet scenes of loneliness that land like an emotional gut punch.

If you care about storytelling that humanizes, challenges, and stays with you long after the credits roll — this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How elle|elle began as Kelley Kali’s “love letter” to la georgea — and why making the film became an act of advocacy

la georgea’s emotional journey of sharing her real-life coming out story on screen, and why she calls the film her “rebirth”

Why Dan Bucatinsky felt the story was something he’d never seen before — especially inside a long-term gay marriage

How the filmmakers worked intentionally to avoid villainizing either partner, and why that balance is the film’s power

The layers of identity: sexuality, gender, and the painful reality of “performing” masculinity to survive

The conversation rarely addressed out loud: misogyny and bias within the LGBTQ+ community, and how storytelling can break “othering”

Kelley’s directing choices that preserved honesty — including subtle blocking and mirror framing that creates subconscious tension

The most emotionally difficult scenes to film (and how time pressure, vulnerability, and trust shaped the final moments)

The question the film leaves you with: what does unconditional love really mean — and what truths are we afraid to say out loud?

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/elleellefilm/

https://www.instagram.com/lageorgea

https://www.instagram.com/danbucatinsky

https://www.instagram.com/danbucatinsky

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

Watch info: check the Deadline piece and screening links referenced in the episode notes, and reach out via publicist Monique Moss for viewing access.

Monique Moss’s Email: [email protected]

https://deadline.com/video/elle-elle-interview-short-film/

Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality.

This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, Shopify builds, PR, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices