Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz: Episode Summary

Episode Title

From 11-Year-Old Hustler to Forbes 30 Under 30: The Rise of Stephanie Agathis

Date

December 9, 2025

Overview

This episode of Detox Retox dives deep into the relentless hustle, resilience, and rise of Stephanie Agathis, founder of Vitalized Projects and one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 (Music, 2025). At just 22, Stephanie brings listeners into her world: the rapidly changing music industry, the grit of building something from scratch, and intensely personal challenges, including overcoming a period of targeted stalking as a teenager. The episode balances industry insights, candid conversation, and inspiring moments about perseverance, ambition, and redefining the "American dream."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephanie Agathis: The Origin Story

• Early Ambition
  • Stephanie has been hustling since age 11, leveraging social media and raw initiative to break into music management.
  • Founded Vitalized Projects, now representing names like Asher Angel, Zevi, and Juan Rosari.
  • Recently recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music.

“There hasn’t been a day that I have not been grinding to where I am right now.”
– Stephanie Agathis [10:38]

• Mentorship & Industry Connections
  • Worked closely with Kenny Hamilton, legendary for his role in Justin Bieber’s early days.
  • Stephanie recounts being a “Directioner,” balancing youthful fandom with professional drive.

“For all the Beliebers out there, [Kenny Hamilton is] part of the OG Bieber crew... He’s a really just notorious music executive in that scene.”
– Stephanie Agathis [11:32]

2. Inside the Modern Music Industry

• Changing Landscape
  • Stephanie explains how social media is democratizing artist access and power. It’s no longer solely about gatekeepers – artists can cultivate audiences on their own and call more shots.
  • Independent artists are thriving, using TikTok, Snapchat, and other platforms to monetize and build followings outside traditional label pathways.

“...because of social media... you curate your fan base and your audience... artists have so much control, which I love.”
– Stephanie Agathis [16:32]

• Revenue Streams
  • While touring is important, she highlights social and brand deals as rising sources of artist income.
  • Many artists manage without touring or minimize it, focusing instead on content, partnerships, and digital engagement.

“A lot of it is through monetizing on social media like TikTok, Snapchat... that’s paying their rent.”
– Stephanie Agathis [18:50]

• Labels, Managers, and Independence
  • Agathis champions artists doing it independently for as long as possible: build leverage, then selectively choose managers/labels who are genuinely invested.
  • Warns about industry “horror stories” and emphasizes artist empowerment in team-building.

3. Candid Conversation, Real (and Raw) Advice

• Pathways & Guidance
  • Advice for new grads: “Passion is everything.” The work is long, hard, and emotionally demanding.
  • Stephanie points to the “vulnerable impact” music can have—her drive is less about the spotlight and more about changing lives through artists' work.

“If you don’t like, really, really love it, you’re gonna be like, why am I doing this?”
– Stephanie Agathis [28:33]

• Tactics & Networking: the Early Days
  • Started by DMing, cold-prospecting, and running a “bedroom agency,” networking with artists with millions of followers... as a middle-schooler.
  • Met with major label execs by being insistent—even skipping school for meetings. Not always taken seriously, but always bold.

“He really thought I was ... 18... but I was just this really immature kid that was like, you know, I need to get this done today.”
– Stephanie Agathis [29:38]

4. Surviving and Thriving: Stalking, Setbacks, and Starting Again

• The Ordeal (Ages 16–20)
  • Stephanie opens up about being stalked, first by a close friend and her boyfriend, which escalated to psychological manipulation, hacking, and physical intimidation.
  • The experience led to isolation, lost work, and long-term anxiety—but also solidified her resolve to reclaim her career and autonomy.

“It was horrifying... all of my emails, all the hard work ... just, like, gone like that. And I remember being like, no. No one’s gonna take what I’ve been building away.”
– Stephanie Agathis [52:17]

• Resilience and Recovery
  • Eventually, law enforcement intervened; Stephanie rebuilt from scratch, finding strength in work and mentorship (especially from Kenny Hamilton).
  • Telling her story to Kenny marked a turning point, allowing her to reintegrate her sense of self with ambition.

“He was like, nah... giving me the best advice ever. From that day on ... I was like, wow. This is someone who… is gonna be a genuine person in my life ... don't be ashamed of it.”
– Stephanie Agathis [54:13]

• Triumph
  • Publicly celebrating her successes this year felt like “taking back my piece and taking back my power.”
  • Posting on social after years of privacy and fear was a pivotal, deeply personal victory.

“I can’t let the asshole win... [Posting publicly] was a really pivotal moment for me. It was really taking back my peace and taking back my power.”
– Stephanie Agathis [59:29]

5. The State of the Business

• Artist Onboarding Example

  • (Hypothetical scenario: a rapper named “Woodbush” comes seeking management.) Stephanie would:
    • Assess strengths and weaknesses (touring? social? creative vision?)
    • Start by bolstering areas where the artist feels insecure.
    • Emphasizes building narrative, authenticity, and scalable solutions.

• Management vs. Labels

  • Vitalized Projects is management (not a label); guides careers, but doesn’t write checks or own masters.
  • Raises the stakes on understanding contracts, advances, and the risks of cash advances vs. long-term ownership.

“...always want to be careful... look into that contract and realize how much the label is really owning of you and your masters...”
– Stephanie Agathis [41:28]

• Spotting Emerging Talent
  • Stephanie gives shoutouts to early connections, like Freud, and describes the fun (and sometimes bittersweet) feeling of seeing early discoveries “blow up.”

6. Culture, Cool Perks, and the Non-Stop Hustle

• Industry Perks
  • From exclusive concerts and backstage hangs to spontaneous celebrity moments (see: Megan Thee Stallion at SiriusXM), Stephanie admits there’s a definite glam factor—albeit one that’s earned through relentless work.

“It was definitely princess treatment... in there and it was like VIP... This is so nice.”
– Stephanie Agathis [61:07]

• Starstruck (But Not How You'd Think)

  • Stephanie gets more starstruck by executives and managers than by chart-topping artists—illustrating her focus on business and mentorship over celebrity.

• Talent Scouting

  • Relies on instinct and digital discovery—social media “For You” pages and genuine connections trump traditional talent scouting by far.
  • She encourages ANY age to rekindle a lost art; “just post, you really never know what could happen.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She may be young, but she is a professional in every way… she is a trailblazer.”
  – Tom Schwartz [06:34]
• “You ever tried Adderall or Vyvanse? ... Think like Bradley Cooper in Limitless.”
  – Tom Schwartz [04:54]
• “I am just living for it because I love when artists can be like: ‘No, I don’t want to do that. I don’t need to explain myself to you.’”
  – Stephanie Agathis [17:50]
• “It’s almost intoxicating… old school guys who have been in the game for 20, 30, 40 years... they have a lore, don’t they?”
  – Tom Schwartz [36:46]
• “There’s been a lot of different artists that, like, I’ve definitely helped… and I’ve been like, ‘Shit, why did I bring that?’”
  – Stephanie Agathis [42:21]
• “They took what was probably the most valuable and the most important thing—which was my mental health and my sanity... I can’t let anyone ever take that away from me again.”
  – Stephanie Agathis [59:29]

Important Timestamps

• [10:38] – Stephanie introduces herself, recounts the early grind
• [16:32] – Social media’s impact on music industry & artist autonomy
• [21:05] – Explanation of A&R for listeners
• [28:33] – Advice to new grads: “passion is everything”
• [29:38] – Insider look: cold networking with major label execs at 13
• [44:09]–[59:29] – Stephanie’s stalker story, overcoming trauma, rebuilding
• [61:07] – Fringe benefits: VIP concerts and the “princess treatment”
• [64:23] – Motivational final thoughts for aspiring artists of any age

Final Takeaway

Stephanie Agathis’s story is an unfiltered journey of early ambition, hard-won perseverance, and the new rules of the music industry. Her candor about the trials she's faced—including deeply personal trauma—add gravity and inspiration to her professional triumphs. The episode delivers practical, real-world advice for aspiring artists and industry hopefuls, while underscoring that real success isn’t just about the wins, but the resilience in adversity and the drive to keep building.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

You’ll come away with not only an understanding of how the music industry is rapidly evolving, but also a profoundly human story of grit, recovery, and the power of knowing your purpose—no matter what stands in your way.