We are always inspired by meeting new creators, but just as curious about what happens after the first conversation. A podcast captures a moment in time — an idea in motion. This mini-series of Passie als Kompas, titled Where are they now?, grew from the desire to return. Not to repeat what was said before, but to understand how ideas, choices, and ambitions have evolved since we last spoke.
With Polestar as our partner, that return felt natural. Their focus on considered design and conscious decision-making aligns closely with how we approach these conversations: focused on progress, without losing perspective. Moving forward, but taking the time to reflect.
Returning to Elza Wandler and Lotte Drijvers brought the conversation into spaces where work and life intersect. With Elza, we looked back on a year shaped by responsibility and recalibration. Where our first conversation centered on pressure and momentum, this time the focus shifted toward clarity. How do you keep a brand aligned with yourself as expectations continue to grow? Her reflections offered perspective on the choices and trade-offs that come with long-term growth. With Lotte, we returned to a familiar setting. Just like the first time, we recorded the conversation at her home. Speaking openly about both success and doubt highlighted how closely personal rhythm and professional decisions are connected — and how acknowledging difficult periods can be a necessary step forward.
Conversations with Ward Strootman and Patrick van Riemsdijk unfolded in their ateliers — spaces defined by focus and repetition. As Ward’s work in stone continues to gain visibility, the question has shifted from being seen to staying balanced. Building a brand alongside an artistic practice demands protection of time and attention. Patrick reflected on a similar tension. When we first spoke with him, the conversation took place in his atelier on Mallorca; this time, we met again in Amsterdam. Dividing his time between the two, he spoke about focus, solitude, and the discipline required to protect space for making.
Although tattoo artist Amy Maxime Stroet hadn’t been a guest before, her journey fits naturally within this mini-series. She invited us into her own studio for the first time. The move to her own space marked a step toward independence and ownership of her practice.
“Every decision leaves something behind. Accepting that is part of growing as an entrepreneur.”
Philip Hillege closed the mini-series with a longer view. After decades of entrepreneurship, returning to the conversation meant revisiting identity as much as strategy. What does it mean to redefine your role when something you’ve built enters a new phase? Across all these conversations, one thing stood out: progress looks different over time. It’s not always visible from the outside, and it rarely moves in straight lines. Returning to these creators created space for reassessment, recalibration, and renewed direction.
This mini-series of Passie als Kompas is an invitation to listen again. To stories that continue to unfold. To creators who are still shaping their path. And to the idea that asking where are they now? can be just as meaningful as asking what’s next?