Open Mic Life

This week on Open Mic Life, Dutch entrepreneur Thijs Maas shares his remarkable journey from academia to building and selling a successful startup. Thijs dives deep into his expertise in blockchain and startups, access to crypto, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of starting and scaling a business.

One of the key themes Thijs emphasizes is the importance of believing in yourself and your vision. For most entrepreneurs, that initial belief often comes from family and friends, who are typically the first to fund your idea.

Thijs doesn’t shy away from sharing the gritty details of raising capital. He breaks down the different stages of funding, from the early bootstrap phase to the more sophisticated world of venture capital. In the beginning, Thijs stresses the importance of building relationships and leveraging your personal network.

As your company grows, the stakes get higher, and so does the complexity of raising funds. Thijs offers practical do’s and don’ts for approaching any investors from angels to venture capitalists.

Thijs also discusses the emotional and psychological side of fundraising. Focusing on the right investor in terms of vision fit, raise capital when you have to raise and hire when you have to hire. His success didn’t come overnight—it required discipline, resilience, and an openness to learning from every experience.

Interestingly, Thijs credits his first mentor, his grandfather’s brother, as a profound influence. Despite having no formal education, this man founded a university and even met the pope.

In addition to business strategy, Thijs shares tips for staying grounded in the fast-paced startup world.

Whether you’re dreaming of starting a business or looking to take your startup to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiration. Tune in to hear Thijs Maas on Open Mic Life, and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories, insights, and conversations from trailblazers across industries.

Radio is arguably the media that stands the test of time and technological evolution. While it was the main source of information once to streaming it online or having it on in the background while driving – everyone listens to radio.

On this week’s episode of Open Mic Life, host Stoyana Ivanova interview’s Today RTL’s program director and host of the daily “The Sam Steen Show”. Sam brings a wealth of insight into the world of radio—its impact, its staying power, and its unique role as a classic medium for connection in a fast-evolving media landscape.

The conversation dives into what makes radio more than just a source of news or music. Sam shares his approach to curating content that not only entertains but also fosters a sense of belonging within Luxembourg's international community. They explore how radio, with its timeless reach and intimacy, serves as a bridge for listeners of all backgrounds, helping them feel connected and informed in a place as multicultural as Luxembourg. From behind the scenes, he reveals the thoughtful planning and creative decisions that go into each program to make sure every listener can tune in and feel represented. How they stay in tune with the audience, their desires and needs of information. A tough job considering the diversity of the listeners of Today RTL Radio.

But this episode isn’t just for radio fans—Sam also offers practical advice for anyone trying to get their own media platform or podcast off the ground. With tips on how to stand out, build authentic chemistry with your audience, and create content that leaves an impact, Sam's insights are great for aspiring creators navigating today’s crowded media landscape. His approach is rooted in a genuine respect for listeners, ensuring that each show resonates deeply and builds a loyal following.

Tune in for a captivating and important conversation on the media that connects contemporary society, a little bit of nostalgia and reliability.

You can listed to the Sam Steen Show every day from 06:00 – 10:00 and you can find all episodes on RTL Play.

In a world where borders are increasingly blurred, love knows no nationality, no boundaries, and certainly no limits. On this week’s episode of Open Mic Life, host Stoyana dives into the heart of international romance and destination weddings with her guest, Diana Kazaniecki. Together, they explore what it means to fall in love and build a life with someone from a different culture, and the unique beauty and challenges that come with planning a wedding away from home.

Pack your bags (no passport required!) as Stoyana and Diana take listeners on a journey through the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Poland, Finland, Luxembourg, and the stunning Côte d'Azur. As they travel through these diverse landscapes, the pair uncovers the delicate dance of planning a destination wedding. From navigating long-distance arrangements to curating a truly personal celebration that reflects the couple's unique story, they reveal the nuances that make each moment worth the effort.

Their conversation is as honest as it is insightful, offering listeners a window into the reality of international marriage. They discuss the “before” moments—those crucial, sometimes uncomfortable conversations that need to happen before walking down the aisle. Marriage, as they note, isn’t just about a beautiful wedding day; it’s about being ready to create a family, merging different traditions, and embracing the shared responsibility of building a life together.

In today’s globalized world, more and more people find themselves building families far from the places they once called home, often in countries where they don’t speak the language or know the customs. For many in Luxembourg and similar multicultural hubs, this is a familiar journey. Stoyana and Diana explore the joy of mixing traditions, celebrating new holidays, and crafting a household where diversity is celebrated, all while balancing the everyday demands of life.

This episode of Open Mic Life promises an open-hearted look at the beauty of love that crosses borders and cultures. Whether you're planning a destination wedding yourself, are part of a multicultural family, or are simply curious about the world of international marriage, Stoyana and Diana’s conversation will leave you inspired and uplifted.

The world of art auctions is one of glamour and prestige, uniting people through a shared passion for art, and iconic paintings by old masters regularly make headlines for achieving record-breaking prices at spectacular events in global art hubs.

These masterpieces pass into the hands of new owners, continuing their rich histories. But behind the scenes, there’s more than just spectacle – there’s sentiment, complex negotiations, and sometimes restitution, particularly for works wrongfully acquired through the tragedies of war.

At the heart of these transactions are the auction houses, where art and luxury lovers gather.

Sotheby’s, founded in the mid-18th century, is the oldest and largest internationally recognized fine art and luxury auction house. With such a rich history, institutions like Sotheby’s have a lasting impact on art history, playing a key role in preserving some of humanity’s most treasured creations. They also serve as guardians in turbulent times when artworks are at risk of being lost due to disasters or conflicts.

Art and luxury items aren’t just objects of beauty – they’re also investments. As new generations enter and exit the market, the profile of the art buyer continues to evolve. On this week’s episode of Open Mic Life, host Stoyana Ivanova sits down with Andrea Jungmann, the Managing Director of Sotheby’s Austria, Hungary, and Poland.

Andrea’s career includes the sale of Paul Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents in 2002 and the record-setting auction of Gustav Klimt’s Litzlberg am Attersee for $40.4 million in 2011. She has also been instrumental in the sale of restituted works by Klimt and Schiele.

In this episode, Andrea shares insights on becoming an art collector, how technology is transforming the auction world, shifting buyer demographics, the impact of humanitarian crises on art, and even how the weather played a role in the sale of Klimt’s second most expensive landscape.

Tune in for all this and more on this week’s episode of Open Mic Life!

In today’s world, families and weddings come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s no one "right" way to start your own. Whether you envision a big celebration surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones, or an intimate day with just you and your partner, the choice is yours—and it’s perfect, whatever you decide.

While a quick trip to Las Vegas for a chapel wedding might not be an option for those of us in Europe, Luxembourg offers its own unique perks for couples considering elopement. In fact, it's one of the few countries where you can get married without witnesses, and the cost? Just 14 euros.

Planning a wedding is a thrilling time, filled with decisions about how to celebrate your love. For some, that means a traditional gathering with everyone who matters most. For others, eloping offers a deeply personal, simple way to say "I do," with just the two of you embarking on the journey of a lifetime—marriage.

Choosing to elope doesn’t mean you’re against weddings; it just means your special day is about you and your partner, a reflection of who you are as a couple and how you want to celebrate your love.

In today’s episode, host Stoyana is joined by RTL Today’s own Alannah Meyrath to explore the beauty of elopement. Together, they discuss why couples shouldn’t feel obligated to have a traditional wedding if it doesn’t align with their vision. If you’ve ever wondered about taking the road less traveled for your big day, this conversation is for you.

Tune in and join the discussion!

We are back, WELCOME TO SEASON 2! On this episode Stoyana discusses with Haik what listeners can expect following the successful pilot season. They tease the incredible guests lineup, introduce a bonus series and give several life and professional updates.

The Season 1 Finale is here! On this weeks episode Stoyana and Haik reflect on season 1. They discuss the essence of what bringing a passion project to life is - blood, sweat, tears and an immense amount of joy. They share their takeaways from the first season and their dreams about the next chapter.

On this weeks episode Stoyana interviews Alrivira Ferreira, a visual arist who captures human interaction and connection in different ways. She discusses the balance she finds in her artistic expression in the rich palette between her own art, art restoration and teaching art. Stoyana and Haik discuss the trend of activists attacking famous art pieces and how this affects the view of the public on the causes they are championing.

You can learn more about Alvira Ferreira on her website: https://www.alviraferreiraart.com/home

Visit Art Space and see all the courses and workshops they offer: https://artspaceshop.com/

On this weeks episode of Open Mic Life, Haik and Stoyana switch roles and you will get to listen to Haiks debut in interviewing our next guest. He welcomes Martin Müller M.D. of Venture Capital at CARMA FUND, focused on investments in Life Sciences & Healthcare. You will hear a conversation about anything between who the greatest basketball player is, medicine and pivoting to venture capital. A crash course into the investment world. A conversation about switching from medicine to investments, and in which areas can they overlap in terms of workflow and approach.

This week's episode Stoyana starts with e very, very special announcement that also comes as a surprise to Haik. During the second part of the interview with Martin Jonsson of RTL. We start right where we left off and dive deep into how to do our due duligence as media consimers in order to stay properly informed. Haik gets his question, why certain evens get more media coverage than others answred. Finally, Martin elaborates on how AI will change the media and journalism industry, and how that will impact the human aspect.

You can read the referenced article "50 years an expat" by Maeve Ryan here: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2137650.html