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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to grow up on the internet—and still stay true to yourself?
How do you balance virality, brand deals, and public opinion with purpose, artistry, and an actual life?
In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Amanda Steele—one of YouTube’s earliest beauty pioneers turned model, actor, and founder of the fashion label STEELE—for a candid conversation about creative identity, longevity, and reinventing yourself without losing your soul.
Amanda shares how starting YouTube at 10 gave her a voice when she didn’t fit in offline, why she chose homeschooling at 14, and how she navigated early brand deals, analytics pressure, and the temptation to “play the template.” She opens up about acting (and why she refuses to “act” as herself), reclaiming creative control of STEELE, the euphoric highs and quiet lows of the creator journey, and how becoming a mother reframed everything—from ambition to authenticity.
If you’re a creator, artist, founder, or anyone trying to build a life that actually feels like you, this conversation will meet you right where you are.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
How Amanda went from sixth-grade makeup tutorials to a career in fashion, acting, and entrepreneurship
The mental health cost of hustle culture—and a healthier creative framework that lasts
Why saying “no” (to trends, templates, and misfit opportunities) protects your voice
What it really takes to build a fashion brand—and why she took STEELE back in-house
The difference between acting in character vs. “acting” as yourself for brands
How to navigate hate, algorithms, and the highs/lows of going viral
The mindset shift motherhood sparked around purpose, patience, and pace
Practical advice for new creators starting today (spoiler: it’s not too late)
🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding
In this interview, we discuss:
0:00 Intro
1:15 Huntington Beach childhood, cheer & softball, early creative sparks
4:00 Not fitting in → finding community online
9:11 Homeschooling at 14: bullying, boundaries, and momentum
23:15 First brand deal at 13 & learning the business
23:59 Analytics, pressure, and panic—when “framework” replaces fun
34:25 Starting STEELE: partners, lessons, and reclaiming control
41:43 Acting vs. “acting as yourself” for brands
50:23 The euphoric high of projects—and the post-project low
54:34 Creativity without burnout: pacing, presence, and trust
1:03:09 Advice to new creators (it’s not too late)
1:04:23 Motherhood: purpose, priorities, and creative risk
1:06:27 The mystical side: astrology, metaphysics, spirituality
1:07:04 Where to find Amanda online
1:07:25 A message to her 10-year-old self
Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with visionaries who turned their ideas into reality.
Episode Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/amandasteele
https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.steele24?lang=en
https://www.youtube.com/@amandasteele
https://www.youtube.com/@FromVisionToCreationPodcast
https://www.steeleofficial.com
https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation
https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation
https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding
This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement – a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com
Produced and edited by Proper Placement – https://www.properplacement.com
#AmandaSteele #FromVisionToCreation #CreatorEconomy #YouTube #Beauty #Fashion #Acting #STEELExAmanda #Authenticity #PodcastInterview
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Have you ever wondered what it takes to capture the essence of an icon—someone the world thinks they already know?
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Have you ever wondered how adversity can shape an artist’s vision?
In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with internationally acclaimed artist Carl Hopgood for an intimate conversation about creativity, resilience, and the power of art to heal.
Growing up queer on a farm in Wales, Carl faced bullying, silence, and isolation—but also discovered refuge in creativity. From making sculptures out of strawberry boxes as a child to studying at Goldsmiths alongside Britain’s leading contemporary artists, his journey is a testament to the courage of following one’s vision.
Carl opens up about:
Finding sanctuary in art while growing up under Section 28 laws in the UK
How a chance childhood encounter with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton sparked his dream of exploring the world
Merging film, sculpture, and projection to create groundbreaking multimedia works
Selling his entire degree show and building a three-decade career in fine art
How personal loss, fire, and heartbreak led to his powerful Chair Therapy series
Why his piece “You Tried to Bury Me, But I Was a Seed” became a universal symbol of hope after surviving a devastating studio fire
Using neon to merge glamour with grit and bring life to found objects
His activism through art, including the Just Say Gay installation in response to discriminatory laws in Florida
Carl’s story is not just about art—it’s about survival, community, and creating light out of darkness. His work invites us to consider how personal pain can transform into collective healing and how imagination can manifest a new reality.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
How to transform adversity into creativity
The role of community in building a sustainable career in the arts
Why manifestation and imagination are powerful tools for any creator
How art can serve as both personal therapy and universal activism
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Growing Up Queer in Wales & Finding Refuge in Art
05:51 A Childhood Encounter with Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton
8:58 Discovering Conceptual Art & Goldsmiths
10:38 Merging Film, Sculpture & Projection
16:15 Selling His Entire Degree Show
23:11 Risk, Reinvention & The Power of Neon
31:08 The Chair Therapy Series & Healing Through Art
35:21 The Studio Fire & “You Tried to Bury Me, But I Was a Seed”
41:32 Sound Installations & Presence vs. Absence
47:40 Just Say Gay & Activism Through Art
52:59 Redefining Success After 30+ Years as an Artist
57:18 Advice to His Younger Self & What’s Next
Episode Resources:
🌐 carlhopgood.com
📸 Instagram: @carlhopgood
🎙️ Host: @alexschmieding
This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement – a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email marketing, and more. Learn how we can help at www.properplacement.com.
Produced & Edited by Proper Placement – https://www.properplacement.com
#CarlHopgood #FromVisionToCreation #ContemporaryArt #LGBTQArt #NeonArt #ChairTherapy #Motivation #Inspiration #Podcast #Art
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Have you ever felt the pull to completely change your life, even if it didn’t make sense to anyone else?
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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, we sit down with Corbyn Besson—singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the globally successful band Why Don’t We—for an intimate and emotional conversation about growing up with music, navigating fame at a young age, and reclaiming his voice as a solo artist.
Corbyn opens up about his early years learning piano and guitar, how his musical upbringing and internet community shaped him, and how singing on Xbox Live and uploading songs to YouNow unexpectedly launched his career. He shares the inside story of how Why Don’t We formed, what it was like to go from social media tours to headlining arenas, and the intense pressure of life in the spotlight.
We dive deep into the challenges he faced during a difficult lawsuit that put his music career on hold, the personal toll of contractual entrapments, and how he found healing and purpose through writing music that’s true to him. Corbyn reflects on falling in love with music again, the emotional process of creating his debut EP, and what he’s learned about mental health, creative identity, and the power of community.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating artistic growth, reinvention, or the complexities of stepping into your truth. If you’ve ever felt stuck, stifled, or unsure of your path, Corbyn’s story will remind you that your voice matters—and that you’re never too far from your next beginning.
🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding
In this interview, we discuss:
0:00 Intro
1:23 Early Life, Music & Family Support
4:52 Singing on Xbox Live & Starting on YouNow
13:07 Writing His First Song & Recording in Studio
16:22 How Why Don’t We Was Formed
19:47 Life in a Boy Band: Fame, Friendship, and Touring
27:55 The Lawsuit & Creative Struggles
40:10 Releasing “Love Me Better,” Rediscovering His Voice, & Making Music That Heals
48:56 Working with Jeremih & Creating “Summer”
55:17 How He Knows When a Song Is Done
58:00 Upcoming Debut EP & Musical Influences
1:01:03 Advice and Reflections
Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with visionaries who turned their ideas into reality.
Links & Social Handles:
https://www.instagram.com/corbynbesson
https://www.tiktok.com/@corbynbesson
https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding
https://www.tiktok.com/@alexschmieding
Stream Corbyn Besson’s Latest Track “SUMMER” Featuring Jeremih:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1iG6H4h48zsndU5JoQs1jK?si=36d6324a06bd44c9
https://music.apple.com/kh/album/summer-single/1828027728
This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement – a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email marketing, and more. Learn how we can help grow your business at www.properplacement.com.
Produced and edited by Proper Placement – https://properplacement.com
#CorbynBesson #WhyDontWe #MentalHealth #MusicIndustry #SoloArtist #PodcastInterview #BoyBand #Songwriting #CreativeJourney #FromVisionToCreation
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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, we sit down with Tim Hailand—a renowned photographic artist whose work spans intimate celebrity portraiture, immersive installations, and stitched fabric photo collages featured in museums and high-fashion spaces around the world.
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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, we sit down with Kevin Kreider—model, actor, speaker, and reality TV star—whose journey has inspired thousands of Asian American men to reclaim their identity and power.
https://www.instagram.com/kevin.kreider
https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.kreider
https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding
https://www.tiktok.com/@alexschmieding
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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, we sit down with Janelle Jordan—the visionary founder of Deako Studios—who transformed her passion for beauty into a thriving interior design business.
Subscribe for more inspiring stories from visionaries who turned their ideas into reality.
Janelle's IG: @JanelleJordan
Alexander's TikTok: @AlexSchmieding
Alexander's IG: @AlexSchmieding
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In this episode of From Vision to Creation, we sit down for a powerful and emotional conversation with honestav—a genre-defying musician and storyteller whose viral hit “I’d Rather Overdose” became an anthem for addiction recovery, healing, and resilience.
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Today’s guest is someone whose life’s work is rooted in a deep reverence for nature, sustainability, and intentional living. Priscilla Woolworth is an environmental advocate, author, designer, and founder of an eco-conscious lifestyle brand that’s been inspiring mindful living since 2009. A direct descendant of the Woolworth retail legacy, Priscilla has charted her own course—dedicating her career to promoting toxin-free living, biodiversity, and regenerative practices that nourish both people and planet.
Named a New Green Pioneer by Time Magazine, Priscilla has made it her mission to educate and empower others. She’s the creator of LOLA (Lots of Love Always), a beautifully illustrated and deeply practical guide for young women stepping out into the world, and the voice behind an inspiring newsletter and almanac that celebrates the small, hopeful actions we can all take to care for our environment. From building her own medicinal garden and wildlife-friendly homestead in the Hudson Valley, to creating a platform that uplifts other changemakers, Priscilla’s story is a powerful example of how purpose, education, and creativity can come together to make a lasting impact.
Hosted by Alexander Schmieding
Subscribe for more inspiring stories from visionaries who turned ideas into reality.
Links & Social Handles:
https://www.instagram.com/priscillawoolworth/
https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding
https://www.priscillawoolworth.com/
This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement – a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email marketing, and more. Learn how we can help at www.properplacement.com.
Produced and edited by EveryWord Media – https://everyword.media
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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