girli on Turning Feeling Like an Outsider Into Music, Community, and Creative Freedom

girli on Turning Feeling Like an Outsider Into Music, Community, and Creative Freedom

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with singer-songwriter girli for an honest, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about music, identity, creativity, resilience, and what it means to build a career by being fully yourself. girli grew up surrounded by creativity, with parents and grandparents who worked as actors and performers. But while performance was part of her world from an early age, music became the place where she could bring together everything she loved: storytelling, writing, performing, emotion, and connection. From writing her first song at eight years old to playing open mics across London as a teenager,girli’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when passion becomes something you are willing to pursue with your whole life. In this conversation, girli opens up about feeling like an outsider at school, being bullied for being different, discovering her identity, and finding belonging through music and queer artists who helped her feel less alone. She shares how those early experiences shaped her mission as an artist: to create songs and spaces where people who feel different, misunderstood, or unseen can find connection. We also dive into the early years of her career, including the bold decision to turn away from a traditional academic path and attend music school, the long nights performing at open mics, and the drive it took to put herself in front of the industry before social media became the dominant path for new artists. girli reflects on signing her first record deal at 18, the pressure that came with being expected to succeed immediately, and the difficult experience of feeling molded by a label before ultimately being dropped. But what felt devastating at the time became one of the most important turning points in her life. girli shares how getting dropped allowed her to reclaim creative control, rebuild on her own terms, and release “More Than a Friend,” a song that became her biggest release and introduced her music to a whole new audience. Her story is a reminder that the things we fear most are often not the end of the road, but the beginning of a more authentic one. In this episode, girli also talks about the importance of honesty in music, why vulnerability can become a superpower, how she defines success after a decade in the industry, and why artists need to protect their joy from numbers, algorithms, and impossible expectations. She reflects on the making of her new album, It’s Just My Opinion, and the balance between ambition, creative fulfillment, and staying grounded. At a time when so many artists and creators feel pressure to be instantly successful, girli offers a refreshing perspective on longevity, authenticity, and building something real over time. Her journey shows that success is not just about streams, followers, or sold-out rooms. It is also about making people feel less alone, staying connected to your voice, and continuing to create even when the path does not unfold the way you expected. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, questioned their creative path, struggled with rejection, or needed a reminder that being fully yourself can become your greatest strength. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: How girli grew up in a creative household surrounded by performers Why storytelling became central to her songwriting How she wrote her first song at eight years old How feeling like an outsider at school shaped her as an artist Why discovering queer artists helped her find belonging How music became a way for her to build community Why she chose music school over a traditional academic path What it was like performing at open mics across London as a teenager How the music industry has changed for new artists in the age of TikTok Why she says you have to “flirt with the world” and put yourself out there What happened after she signed her first record deal at 18 How label pressure affected her creativity and mental health Why getting dropped became one of the best things that happened to her How creative control led to “More Than a Friend” becoming her biggest song Episode Resources: https://girlimusic.com/ [https://girlimusic.com/] https://www.instagram.com/girlimusic [https://www.instagram.com/girlimusic] https://www.tiktok.com/@girlimusic [https://www.tiktok.com/@girlimusic] https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XX9YjNQrHTZfZz3DCX6DP [https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XX9YjNQrHTZfZz3DCX6DP] https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation [https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation] https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation [https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation] https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding [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 [http://www.properplacement.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Joe Nicchi on Turning a Soft Serve Truck Into a National Brand & Building CVT Without a Business 68Plan

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Joe Nicchi, founder of CVT Soft Serve, for a funny, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, creativity, and what it really takes to turn a simple idea into a national brand. Joe’s journey did not begin with ice cream. He moved to Los Angeles at 18 to study theater at USC and pursue a career in film and television. But after realizing that the soft serve he grew up loving in upstate New York was almost impossible to find in LA, he decided to create it himself. What started as frustration turned into a 1961 Mister Softee truck, a simple menu of chocolate, vanilla, and twist, and eventually a brand now found in thousands of stores, stadiums, universities, theme parks, and concert venues across the country. In this conversation, Joe shares how CVT Soft Serve grew from one truck in Los Angeles into a national CPG brand. He opens up about the early challenges of getting an old food truck up to code, making only $60 on his first day in business, and learning everything as he went. Without a traditional business plan, Joe built CVT through persistence, momentum, trial and error, and a deep belief in the product. We also dive into some of the wild moments that helped shape the brand’s growth, including catering for Hollywood productions, taking on influencer culture with his viral “Influencers Pay Double” sign, getting CVT into Jeff Bezos’s kitchen, and realizing that soft serve could become something much bigger than a truck. Joe shares how that realization eventually led him to the idea of putting soft serve in a pouch—an innovation that began with empty breast milk storage bags at home and turned into a patented process that helped bring CVT to grocery stores nationwide. Joe speaks candidly about the reality behind entrepreneurship: the fires, failures, manufacturing challenges, self-doubt, luck, and long days that people rarely see. He talks about why social media is only the highlight reel, why people need to be willing to fail and look foolish, and why the biggest lessons often come from the moments that feel like disasters at the time. At a time when many people want instant success, Joe makes a powerful case for patience, persistence, and doing the unglamorous work. From sweeping sprinkles off a broken ice cream truck floor to seeing CVT sold at major venues like SoFi Stadium, Gillette Stadium, LEGOLAND, Live Nation amphitheaters, and the Indy 500, his story is a reminder that nothing meaningful happens overnight. This episode is for anyone building a business, launching a product, chasing an unconventional idea, or trying to keep going through the messy early stages of a dream. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: * How Joe Nicchi went from studying theater to founding CVT Soft Serve * Why he started a soft serve truck in health-conscious Los Angeles * What made CVT’s simple chocolate, vanilla, and twist concept stand out * How his “Influencers Pay Double” sign became an international viral story * How CVT ended up in Jeff Bezos’s kitchen * Why Joe says the business grew through momentum, not a formal plan * How breast milk storage bags inspired the original soft serve pouch idea * What it took to turn soft serve into a portable grocery product * How CVT grew from 27 stores to 6,000 stores * Why getting on the shelf is easier than getting customers to buy * How demos, word of mouth, and Live Nation helped grow brand awareness * Why Joe believes entrepreneurs should be more honest about luck * What his $60 first day in business taught him * Why failure, persistence, and looking foolish are part of building something real * How he thinks about patents, manufacturing, and protecting a product idea * Why nothing worthwhile is easy * What advice he would give to young entrepreneurs afraid to start * Why Joe wishes he had enjoyed the highs more along the way Episode Resources: https://cvtsoftserve.com/ [https://cvtsoftserve.com/] https://www.instagram.com/cvtsoftserve [https://www.instagram.com/cvtsoftserve] https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation [https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation] https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation [https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation] https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding [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 [http://www.properplacement.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Haven Madison on Turning Heartbreak Into Music and Chasing the Dream Without Losing Yourself

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with singer-songwriter Haven Madison for an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about music, heartbreak, creativity, and what it really takes to build a life as an artist. Haven grew up surrounded by music, spending her childhood on tour with her father and discovering early on that songwriting was not just something she loved, but something she felt born to do. From writing songs in a purple cheetah-print notebook as a child to auditioning for American Idol at 16, Haven’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when talent, work ethic, vulnerability, and purpose all collide. In this conversation, Haven opens up about the realities of pursuing music at a young age, navigating judgment, learning how to take criticism, and staying grounded while building a career in an industry filled with highs, lows, rejection, and constant change. She shares how growing up around music helped her understand that rejection is part of the process, and why she has learned to separate who she is from the work she creates. We also dive into Haven’s songwriting process, the stories behind her music, and how heartbreak, friendship, and growing up have shaped her as both a person and an artist. Haven speaks candidly about turning pain into songs, learning to let people go, and why documenting her emotions through music has helped her understand herself more deeply. At a time when social media and AI can make everything feel overly polished and artificial, Haven makes a powerful case for authenticity. She talks about why people are craving humanity again, why imperfection is what makes art relatable, and why she never wants to be seen as an untouchable artist. For Haven, the goal is not for fans to say, “I could never be her,” but rather, “I’m just like her.” This episode is for anyone who loves music, dreams of pursuing a creative path, or needs a reminder that nobody truly has it all figured out—and that the messy, vulnerable, unfinished parts of life are often where the best art comes from. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: How Haven Madison grew up surrounded by music What touring with her father taught her about creativity and resilience Why she started writing songs at such a young age How American Idol changed her life and career How Haven learned to navigate judgment and criticism Why rejection is an unavoidable part of pursuing music How she separates her identity from the songs she creates What her songwriting process really looks like Why finishing a song matters, even when it is not your best work The story behind “Uncross Your Heart” How heartbreak has shaped Haven’s music and perspective Why letting people go can be one of the hardest but most important lessons How Haven stays grounded while experiencing success at a young age Why authenticity matters more than perfection online How AI is making people crave more human, imperfect, real art Why Haven believes nobody truly has it all figured out Her advice for young artists and anyone chasing a dream Episode Resources: https://www.havenmadison.com/ [https://www.havenmadison.com/] https://www.instagram.com/havenmadison [https://www.instagram.com/havenmadison] https://www.tiktok.com/@havenmadisonsings [https://www.tiktok.com/@havenmadisonsings] https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation [https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation] https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation [https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation] https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding [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 [http://www.properplacement.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Tony Mazzocchi on Why Music Is for Everyone and Preserving Human Creativity in the Age of AI

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Tony Mazzocchi, Grammy-nominated trombonist and President & CEO of Kaufman Music Center, for a powerful conversation about music, education, creativity, and what it means to nurture human potential. Tony’s journey began in a home without much music, until a public school trombone program opened up an entirely new world for him. After building a career as a professional musician, performing with ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and on Broadway, Tony found himself unexpectedly stepping into a new calling: teaching band at a Title I middle school in Brooklyn. What started as a job he took to return to New York became a decade-long experience that changed his worldview forever. In that classroom, Tony saw firsthand how music could transform not only individual students, but an entire school culture. Students who had been underestimated began creating beautiful music, attendance improved, academic performance rose, and the community rallied around the arts in a way that proved something Tony has carried with him ever since: talent is everywhere, but access is not. In this conversation, Tony challenges the idea that music is only for the naturally gifted and explains why creativity must be nurtured, not taught out of children. He shares how standardized testing has narrowed the way we think about education, why arts programs are often undervalued, and how music develops essential human capacities like discipline, empathy, collaboration, focus, and resilience. We also dive into the role of creativity in the age of AI. As technology becomes more accessible to everyone, Tony makes a compelling case that the true differentiator will not be the tools we use, but the human beings using them. At a time when AI can generate music, writing, and art, this conversation asks an urgent question: how do we preserve the face-to-face, deeply human experiences that teach us how to create, connect, and think for ourselves? This episode is for anyone who cares about creativity, education, the future of childhood, or the role the arts can play in helping us become more fully human. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: * How Tony Mazzocchi discovered music through public school * Why he left a professional music path to become a music educator * How a Title I middle school band program transformed an entire school culture * Why Tony believes talent is everywhere, but access is not * How music education can improve confidence, attendance, academics, and community * Why the arts should not be treated as an “extra” in schools * How standardized testing has narrowed education over the past 25 years * Why music develops discipline, empathy, collaboration, and human connection * What schools should be teaching children in the age of AI * How parents can support music practice without creating pressure * Why music may be one of the great unifiers in a divided world * Tony’s advice for anyone trying to follow a meaningful vision Episode Resources: https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/ [https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/] https://www.instagram.com/kaufmanmusiccenter/ [https://www.instagram.com/kaufmanmusiccenter/] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtXp-S-s88dAq7rlByaVyvA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtXp-S-s88dAq7rlByaVyvA] https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation [https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation] https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation [https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation] https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding [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 [http://www.properplacement.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Devon Gabriella on Turning Anxiety Into Art, Building “The Garden,” and Betting on Yourself

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.instagram.com/devongabriellaa/] https://www.tiktok.com/@devongabriellamusic [https://www.tiktok.com/@devongabriellamusic] https://www.devongabriella.com/ [https://www.devongabriella.com/] https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rfIKfqoygAsxTWBdzVO2i [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rfIKfqoygAsxTWBdzVO2i]https://music.apple.com/us/artist/devon-gabriella/1536353232 [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/devon-gabriella/1536353232] https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation [https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation] https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation [https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation] https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding [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 [http://www.properplacement.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]