Firestarters Podcast

You’re not lost. You’re in a shift. Most people feel it. Something in their life no longer fits, but they cannot explain why. In this Firestarters episode, Jeroen Franssens shares how that feeling started for him. Growing up with religion, following a path that made sense at the time, until a personal loss forced him to question everything. That moment did not just change what he believed. It chan...

Welcome to the next chapter of the Anatomy of a Shift. In our last episode, we sat down with Benjamin (Judassime) to explore Phase 4: Darkness. Benjamin showed us what it means to willingly dive into the shadows, using his intense psychological pain, isolation, and avant-garde BDSM fashion to take power back and create beauty from toxic depthsBenjamin’s story proved that true creation often requir...

Season 2 – The Anatomy of a Shift Season 2 of Firestarters is built as a transformation model. Each episode represents one phase in a personal and entrepreneurial shift. Not random conversations. A structured arc. The journey moves from Awareness to Integration at Scale. Benjamin represents Phase 4: Darkness. Darkness is the moment where illusion breaks. Where identity is tested. Where the parts o...

This episode of the Firestarters Podcast is a long-form conversation with visual artist and filmmaker Vlad Solovov , whose work spans queer nightlife , fashion , touring , and Tomorrowland . We talk about identity not as a label, but as something formed through experience. Through pressure. Through the environments you move through and the moments that force you to show up. From finding belonging...

Episode 2 of The Anatomy of a Personal Shift “A routine business issue slowly unravels into a confrontation that forces one simple question: when the truth is clear, do you act or stay silent.” In this episode of the Firestarters Podcast, titled Truth , I speak with Nicky about a real sequence of events that began with unpaid invoices and unfolded into a confrontation that went far beyond money. R...

Season 2 opens with a conversation about a feeling many people recognize, but rarely know how to name. A shift. Not a breakdown. Not a breakthrough. Just the quiet realization that something inside you has started to move, while the outside world still expects you to stay the same. This episode introduces something new. For the first time, Future Sander physically sits at the table. He is not a gi...

What happens when the biggest opportunity of your life starts with a cancelled tour? Robin De Praetere, an editor from Leuven, had just started his own production company when he got a call: “Your name got dropped a few times… can you come in?” The next day, he was cutting one of Europe’s most iconic concert experiences — Multitude, le film — piecing together over 1,500 shots from Stromae’s interr...

Thomas Lambrechts has lived every version of the creative dream. From organizing parties at 15 to becoming one of Belgium’s most active music project launchers in Belgium, he's spent years lighting up dancefloors as a DJ and curator. Now, he's trading the fast-paced nightlife for storytelling, community, and deeper conversations about creativity. We talk about the shift toward slowing down, about...

What if the life you’re meant to live begins where certainty ends? In this episode, Sander sits down with Alja Al Saadi — DJ, Storyteller, Podcast host and Ambassador at WE.ARE.WOOM — to explore a life-changing moment that redefined everything. On October 3rd, 2023, Alja was suddenly hospitalized, unable to speak, her body paralyzed and in shock. What began as confusion and fear turned into a deep...

What if the life you’re chasing doesn’t require more? In this episode, Sander sits down with Koen Darras, an adventurer and entrepreneur, to explore his transformative journey in travel and business. Koen shares how his early obsession with exploring the world led him to spend all his savings on backpacking, leaving him nearly bankrupt. With only €500 left, he founded SnowBite, a travel venture th...

In this episode, Sander sits down with Robin Vangenechten, a resilient and passionate audio engineer and mentor, to explore his transformative journey in the music industry. From his early dreams and struggles with burnout to his current mission of mentoring others, Robin’s story is one of growth, perseverance, and the power of vulnerability in creative careers. Robin opens up about the intense pr...

Join director & screenwriter Niels Sabbe as he takes us through his unexpected journey from a passionate young dreamer to a thriving filmmaker. From his early days of making short films with a group of fellow "lone wolves" to landing a major break with "Tweede Zit", one of his most popular works, Niels’s path to success wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed. He shares stories of overcoming se...

In deze feestelijke aflevering van de Firestarters Podcast ontrafelen we de magie van storytelling. Samen met Thomas Vangeel kijken we hoe zijn werk bij De Praeters en Visuals Internationals bewijst dat verhalen niet alleen inspireren, maar ook bedrijven naar nieuwe hoogten tillen. We gaan backstage bij de reclamespot voor Mobile Vikings , volledig opgenomen in mijn eigen huis – ja, dat lees je go...

Wat als de zwaarste momenten in je leven jouw grootste krachtbron worden? In deze aflevering vertelt Julie Vermeire hoe ze van diepe dalen—een depressie, paniekaanvallen en een compleet verlies van richting—opklom naar het oprichten van Kobalt Branding , een bedrijf dat merken transformeert tot iets écht betekenisvols. Julie deelt hoe ze werkte aan grote projecten zoals het WE CAN DANCE-festival ,...

Podcast Summary: Get ready for an unforgettable episode as we welcome Lien, a creative powerhouse full of energy and authenticity. From the very first moment, we dive into an inspiring and often hilarious journey about what it means to stay true to yourself, both in life and in your work. Lien’s honest stories and infectious passion shine through as she shares her creative path, the unexpected cha...

In this episode, we dive deep into the passion and power of podcasting with Jonas Geens. Jonas shares his journey and how his love for podcasting took root through unforgettable experiences. He discusses the vast difference in podcast culture between the U.S. and Belgium, where he feels the audience here is still “sleeping” on the medium’s potential. For Jonas, podcasting is more than just audio—i...

In this episode of the Firestarters Podcast, host Sander welcomes Yannick Thiry, an experienced sound engineer and music composer with a rich background in high-profile audio production. Yannick shares captivating stories from his dynamic career and reflects on his work for major productions with Universal Studios, VTM, VRT, Atlantis VZW, and Tomorrowland. As an experienced Dolby Atmos mixer, Yann...

In this episode, electronic music legend Marco Bailey offers an intimate look into his passion for music, his recent projects, and his reflections on the ever-evolving electronic scene. From hosting backyard parties with industry icons like Laurent Garnier to discussing the deeper meaning behind the music experience, Marco openly shares his journey, values, and thoughts on keeping the "soul" of el...

Welcome to the Firestarters podcast, where stories come to life at the intersection of storytelling, tribes, business, communication and art. We dive deep into the creative minds of entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians who share, inspire, and challenge with their unique journeys. Discover how personal stories not only strengthen brands but also open new pathways in the world of creativity and ent...