The Spirit of Alchemy

Thank you for tuning into The Spirit of Alchemy, a podcast sharing entrepreneurs' life stories of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Rowyn Stoltz is a mechanic, a grease monkey by his own description, who runs Black Unicorn Auto, an independent workshop at WorkPods in Midrand. He was diagnosed dyslexic, left school in Grade 9, had a stroke at 27, lost his wife a month later, and came bac...

In this episode, we sit with Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, founder of Tolokazi Beer & Cider and Brewsters Academy, for a conversation about ancestry, collapse, and what it takes to rebuild when everything falls apart. Apiwe was the first woman to qualify as a professional brewer in South Africa. She built a multimillion-rand brewery, lost it all during COVID, and then built it back on her own terms. This...

In this episode, we unpack: How Thato’s journey into content creation started in university The early days of YouTube in South Africa and building without validation The difference between a content creator and an influencer Why storytelling is the most powerful tool in a world driven by AI The reality of content creation: consistency, patience, and no immediate rewards Turning content into income...

Thank you for tuning into The Spirit of Alchemy, a podcast sharing entrepreneurs’ life stories of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. In this episode, we sit with Eddie Nyarkoh, founder of Eleve Verde (meaning Elevate Green), for a fascinating conversation on healing, intention and building a wellness brand rooted in both science and spirit. What began as a personal search for relief from...

Food is one of our oldest languages — a way we express love, preserve memory, and care for one another. In this episode of The Spirit of Alchemy , hosts Bobby Forssman and Rehema Isa sit with Anele, founder of Sweet Thymes, to explore how nourishment became both her calling and her practice. Trained in accounting but shaped by her family kitchen and a deep curiosity for food, Anele shares how she...

The Silhouette of Self: KandyBoi and the Art of Becoming is a conversation about fashion not as trend, but as language — a way of expressing identity, confidence, and inner alignment. In this episode of The Spirit of Alchemy , hosts Bobby and Rehema sit down with Kagiso “KandyBoi” Mokoena, South African fashion designer, stylist, and creative director, to unpack the philosophy behind his work and...

Step into a story where purpose meets permanence: a journey shaped by artistic instinct, discipline, and the quiet alchemy of becoming. In this episode, hosts Bobby Forssman and Rehema Isa sit with Gareth Miller , founder of Circle of Ikigai Tattoo Studio, to explore how tattooing became more than a craft, it became a philosophy of life. With no formal training and limited resources, Gareth taught...

Step into a story where ancestral wisdom meets modern innovation : a journey shaped in the soil of Thembisa and refined through the quiet alchemy of becoming. In this episode, hosts Bobby and Rehema sit with Zama Shabalala , biotechnologist, entrepreneur, founder of Earthling Emily, and a son of herbalists who transformed lineage into legacy. Together, they explore: • The influence of growing up w...

Step into the fragrant world of Conza’s Biscuits, a story rooted in Soweto kitchens long before sunrise, where a mother’s love, a timeless recipe, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood shaped a legacy that continues to rise. In this inaugural episode of The Spirit of Alchemy , hosts Bobby and Rehema sit with sisters Rhulani and Randzu , whose journey uncovers the poetic truth of entrepreneurship:...