From Vision to Creation

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with singer-songwriter Devon Gabriella for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about music, mental health, resilience, and what it truly takes to pursue your dreams.

From teaching herself guitar at 13 to relentlessly reaching out to producers and building her career from the ground up, Devon’s journey is a powerful example of vision meeting execution. But behind the momentum was a more personal story—one of anxiety, self-doubt, and learning how to channel those struggles into something meaningful.

In this conversation, Devon opens up about using music as a lifeline during some of the hardest years of her life, how vulnerability became her greatest strength, and why expressing the hardest truths often creates the deepest connection with others. We also dive into the community she’s built—“The Garden”—a space that has grown far beyond music into something truly special and human.

She shares the realities of rejection, the mindset that kept her going, and the moment everything shifted—from sending cold DMs to opening for Somber on a North American tour. At the core of it all is a powerful message: no one is going to do it for you—you have to believe in yourself first.

This episode is for anyone chasing a dream, navigating self-doubt, or learning how to turn their pain into purpose.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How Devon Gabriella turned anxiety into creative fuel

The mindset that helped her push through rejection and keep going

Why you shouldn’t tie your self-worth to “yes” or “no”

How she built a loyal fan community through authenticity and connection

The story behind her music and what makes it resonate so deeply

Why reaching out (even when it’s scary) can change your life

How to separate your identity from your work

What it really takes to grow as an artist in today’s world

Why vulnerability is the key to meaningful art

Devon’s biggest lesson: no one will do it for you—you have to bet on yourself

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/devongabriellaa/

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

https://www.devongabriella.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rfIKfqoygAsxTWBdzVO2ihttps://music.apple.com/us/artist/devon-gabriella/1536353232

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

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

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

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 Justin Bolognino—founder of META and Unreality—for a mind-expanding conversation about creativity, technology, and the nature of reality itself.

Tour of Spirit Lake 2025: https://vimeo.com/1136507656?fl=pl&fe=sh

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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with creative visionary and founder Kahh Spence for a powerful conversation about identity, success, burnout, and the courage to start over.

Kahh spent over a decade shaping culture as a celebrity hairstylist, working with artists like Cardi B, Kelly Rowland, and Victoria Monét—operating at the highest level of his industry. But at the peak of his career, he made an unexpected decision: he walked away.

In this conversation, Kahh opens up about the physical and emotional toll of success, the moment he realized he was missing out on life, and why he chose to prioritize his health, peace, and purpose over momentum. What followed was a complete reinvention—stepping into his role as a founder and building Samir Grey, a fragrance and personal care brand rooted in memory, legacy, and self-love.

We explore the mindset shift from creative to CEO, the realities of self-funding a business, and the importance of building something with intention. Kahh also shares the deeply personal story behind his signature fragrance—created from a dream about a vacation he never got to take with his mother—and how he turned grief into something tangible and meaningful.

At the center of this conversation is a powerful message: that stillness is productive, and that success without alignment comes at a cost. This episode is for anyone navigating growth, burnout, or transition—and for anyone questioning whether the life they’ve built is truly the one they want to live.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

Why Kahh Spence walked away at the peak of his career

The hidden cost of success on your health, identity, and relationships

How to recognize when it’s time to pivot or start over

The mindset shift from creative talent to founder and CEO

What people misunderstand about self-funding a business

Why “stillness is productive” and how to actually apply it

How grief, memory, and emotion can be turned into meaningful products

The importance of boundaries, rest, and protecting your energy

Why vulnerability is a superpower in both life and business

Kahh’s biggest lesson: your body will tell you the truth before your mind does

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/kahhspence

https://samirgrey.co/

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 Trey Devey, President of Interlochen Center for the Arts, for a thoughtful conversation about music, mentorship, leadership, and the lasting power of arts education.

Trey reflects on his journey from growing up near Chicago and discovering music as a lifeline to making the difficult decision to leave behind a pre-law path in order to fully pursue a life in music. He shares how early teachers and mentors helped shape his direction, why creativity and collaboration matter far beyond the stage, and how the arts can develop resilience, empathy, discipline, and a deeper sense of purpose.

This conversation explores what it means to follow a creative calling, how young artists can navigate rejection and uncertainty, and why mentorship can make all the difference in someone’s life and career. Trey also offers powerful insight into the role arts education plays in shaping not just performers, but thoughtful, capable human beings who bring creativity and perspective into every field they enter.

At the center of this conversation is Trey’s work at Interlochen and his vision for nurturing the next generation of artists and creative leaders. From the importance of staying grounded through both highs and lows, to the value of pursuing growth over perfection, this is an inspiring episode for artists, educators, parents, and anyone who believes in the transformative power of creativity.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

Episode Resources:

https://www.interlochen.org/

https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

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

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

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 entrepreneur, speaker, and author Danny Morel for a deeply personal conversation about success, spirituality, healing, and the journey back to self.

Danny shares how building a business that generated billions in sales did not bring the fulfillment he thought it would—and how that realization forced him to confront the deeper wounds, beliefs, and patterns that had been shaping his life all along. From childhood experiences and family dynamics to religion, relationships, ambition, and identity, this conversation explores what happens when external success no longer feels like enough.

We talk about the unconscious stories we inherit from our parents, the connection between masculine and feminine energy, why so many people search for love, validation, and meaning outside of themselves, and how inner work can completely transform the way we experience life. Danny also opens up about his first marriage, the pressure to find “the one,” the painful turning points that changed his path, and what it means to truly discover yourself rather than constantly striving for something outside of you.

At the center of this conversation is Danny’s book, Awaken Your Highest Self, and the message behind it: that peace, fulfillment, and power are not found in money, status, relationships, or achievement alone, but by healing what lives within. This is a powerful episode for anyone who has ever felt successful on the outside yet unfulfilled on the inside—and for anyone ready to ask deeper questions about who they are and what they are really chasing.

🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding

In this interview, you’ll learn:

Why financial success alone does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment

How childhood wounds can unconsciously shape ambition, relationships, and self-worth

The connection between your relationship with your parents and your masculine and feminine energy

Why so many people seek validation, love, and peace outside of themselves

Danny’s perspective on religion, spirituality, and questioning inherited beliefs

What it means to do the inner work and begin healing old stories

Why relationships often mirror what is unresolved within us

How ego, ambition, and external goals can keep us disconnected from ourselves

What “awakening your highest self” actually looks like in everyday life

Danny’s biggest lesson: everything happening on the outside is a reflection of what is happening within

Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/dannymorel/

https://awakenbook.com/

https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation

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

https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding

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 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