Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Kevina Daniel
When I was in Physical Therapy School, we had a Special Topics class. It basically went over different specialized areas within Physical Therapy that we might pursue at some point. One day, we talked about Pelvic Floor PT and that one lesson changed the course of my life. I just knew I was going to be a Sports PT. Read more>>
Nikki Richardson-Rafferty
Things Celtic started 25 years ago in Austin. Seven years ago, it was moved to Dublin Texas and a year ago. We bought it and moved it to Elgin Texas. It has been a staple in the community for culturally authentic imports from Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic nations and providing culturally appropriate entertainment. Read more>>
Freddie Bustinza
I was born in Brownsville, Texas, on October 4, 1982, to a single immigrant mother. Growing up, I witnessed her tireless dedication as she worked two to three jobs to provide for our family, especially as my younger siblings joined us. My father, who was estranged and faced mental health challenges, was a talented artist with some of his works featured in the Smithsonian. Read more>>
Christopher Andry
My story did not begin in the usual way. Actually, it is opposite of how most success stories begin. I originally did not want to be in either of these professions, Education or Cosmetology. My mother has been in Education since 1973, and I knew the life of a teacher. So that was a big ‘No’ for me. Read more>>
Mardy & Jeff Chen
Original Hot Yoga, aka Bikram Yoga, is a challenging physical and mental test of resilience. Accomplishing difficult things like this makes you tougher and your life better outside the yoga room. The 90-minute, 105+ degree hot yoga class has transformed countless lives over the last 20+ years with PURE Yoga + Fitness in Austin and Dallas. Read more>>
Julie Craig
I’ve been a nurse for over 14 years, building my career in traditional healthcare and wellness settings. Day after day, I saw patients, guided them through acute issues, chronic conditions, and preventive care—and I truly loved it. But I often felt limited in how deeply I could help them truly thrive. Read more>>
Richard carney
Like most entrepreneurs I started small and built incrementally by taking a series of risks and learning along the way. Through hard work, a lot of planning and some luck, I was able to build a series of businesses that were profitable and personally interesting. My current business was developed from learning and observations from a business I successfully exited three years ago. Read more>>
Alicia Poche
I’ve been a physical therapist for over twenty years, but at the core of it, I’ve always just wanted to help people feel better in their bodies. I started out in outpatient orthopedics and pretty quickly found my lane in spine care. I completed a spine mentorship early in my career and realized it was an area I felt both comfortable with and genuinely enjoyed. Read more>>
Jessica Murdock
Real estate has been my full-time career for over 11 years, and it has truly been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life. I serve buyers and sellers across Liberty Hill, Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and the greater North Austin area, and getting to grow alongside this community has been incredibly special. Read more>>
Amanda Mercado
My path to veterinary social work was shaped by love, loss, and the deep bond I shared with my dog, Lyric. She wasn’t just my dog, she was family, my constant, and the heart behind why I do this work. Loving her taught me how powerful the human–animal bond can be. Losing her taught me how devastating it is when that bond is broken. Read more>>
Lilly Teague
Photography began as my COVID hobby. My best friend and I were gifted beginner cameras for our birthdays and spent our days photographing each other in local parks. Over the next few years, my subjects were roommates, church friends, and siblings. Before I knew it, I became the go-to friend for graduation and couple photos. In January of 2025, everything shifted. Read more>>
Alyssa O’Krent
I’m a physical therapist with over 12 years of clinical experience and the founder of AOK Physical Therapy. I grew up in the city of Jena and later moved to Austin to attend St. Edward’s University, where I studied psychology and Spanish. After undergrad, I went on to graduate school, which is where I truly discovered the power of working with the human body. Read more>>
Daniil Kolesnikov
I was born into a priest’s family and was raised from childhood within the Orthodox Church tradition. I always had before me the example of my father, a clergyman, and over time I came to the decision to follow in his footsteps and dedicate my life to serving the Church and the people of God. Read more>>
Diedra Brownell
After a fire department family experienced a profound tragedy, the Round Rock Fire Department and the broader Round Rock community stepped in to help in extraordinary ways. That response led to the creation of the Round Rock Fire Foundation. Read more>>
Crystal Hamilton
My journey into boutique ownership began after more than 27 years in retail leadership, where I had the privilege of leading high-performing teams, driving multimillion-dollar businesses, and learning every facet of the retail experience — from merchandising and operations to customer connection. Read more>>
Emily Turinas
I came to this work through both training and lived experience. I’m a psychologist, but long before opening my practice, I was deeply curious about how people navigate major life transitions—especially the ones that are supposed to be joyful, yet often feel isolating or overwhelming. Read more>>
Bernard & Laurie Quandt
Hello, we’re Laurie & Bernard Quandt, the husband and wife founding team of War Trail Spirits! Read more>>
Spencer Welch
I was always an artsy person, always drawing and creating but never anything serious. One day, after my oldest daughter was born, my husband saw some of my drawings and believed I had talent! He encouraged me to become an Artist, and I began studying and learning and taking things a bit more seriously. Fast forward a few years, I started sharing on Instagram. Read more>>
Chih Fan Hwa
My wife was on a parallel journey. She experienced the power and beauty of TCM since her childhood, which ignited her initial passion for the ancient healing art. However, at the age of 18, when it was time to choose a college major, she didn’t know better than being a law major with practical considerations. Yet the desire to be a healing professional to help people never left her. Read more>>
Swetha Sridharan
In 2020, during the uncertainty of COVID, a handful of makers who were already creating on-site on a ranch property in Nutty Brown road made a pivot. What began as a workshop-focused creative space evolved into something more accessible and community-centered: a gift shop cooperative that invited artisans from the surrounding area. Read more>>
Kadie Spinks
There but for the grace of God go I (with God as a non-religious 3-letter word pointing at something divinely mysterious, intelligent, and vaster than the human mind). It’s all grace! Isn’t it? Why any of us are here or are where we are. Even with the hard stuff. Life’s always nudging us along, helping us grow, heal, have fun. Read more>>
Deepika Ganne
I completed my dental school in India in 1997, and pursuit of further education brought me to the USA where I went to New York to obtain my DDS and decided to specialize in endodontics. One of the main reasons I chose endodontics was the instant gratification.. I could see my patient who came to me in pain, leave smiling right after treatment. Read more>>
Richie Phoenix
Our mission is to create a diverse, ecologically functioning ‘Texas Food Forest’; an ecosystem that can support native flora and fauna, and produce enough food for our community. We want to conserve/contain/reuse as much water on the land as possible Odd Duck Garden began in 2020. Since its beginning, Odd Duck Garden has focused on permaculture, sustainability and community. Read more>>
Viktoria James
I began my journey in Germany, where I completed the traditional Massschneider apprenticeship (bespoke tailor training) one of the most rigorous and highly respected forms of tailoring and dressmaking education. In Germany, tailoring is not something you simply learn casually. It is a formal, structured, multi-year program that combines craftsmanship, technical precision, design knowledge, and professional discipline at the highest level. Read more>>
Jorge Garcia
After graduating from high school in Crookston, Minnesota, Jorge Garcia packed for a future that was supposed to begin in Fargo, North Dakota. College awaited. A plan was in place. A flight path had been set. But the trip had a layover in Austin, Texas. He never made it to Fargo. Read more>>
Christopher McAllister
Life Changers Church Austin didn’t start as a perfect plan on paper—it started with a clear word from God and a “yes” that required faith. In 2017, I moved my family—my wife and our four children—to Austin, Texas for one reason: we heard the voice of God. We didn’t come with a big team, a big budget, or a guaranteed platform. Read more>>
Tim Myers
I grew up in Ohio, left for the Army at age 18 with no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I spent 6 years in the Army and got out and settled in Atlanta, GA where I started a career in IT that over 26 years progressed to the highest levels, primarily in financial services, tech and cloud companies. Read more>>
Sarah Denham
I’m Sarah, 35 a mom of three. It all started in highschool I had a love of of doing all my friends hair. My dad is now a retired police officer, but at the time he worked a lot and my mom was always there. Read more>>
Tatum Beierle
Hi, I’m Tatum, owner of Tatum Beierle Photography! Taking photos has always been my passion, but I officially launched my business in the fall of 2024. What started as casually capturing moments for friends and family quickly turned into something much bigger when I realized how powerful photos can be in telling stories and preserving memories. Read more>>
Weiting Yu
The Story Behind KAT Realty Group KAT Realty Group didn’t start as a business plan. It started as a mom trying to make space for her child. After my daughter was born, our three-bedroom home suddenly felt very small. I was sharing my home office with her—half workspace, half playground. Read more>>
Madeline Brice
I’ve had a camera in my hand since middle school. I was always the friend documenting everything, capturing moments for MySpace before I ever imagined photography as a career. I didn’t start taking it seriously until years later, when I found myself in Midland during Covid. Read more>>
Natalie Gomez
Born: 2016 Sign: Pisces Hometown: NYC Current Residence: Austin, TX Inspiration: Street Style Personal Mantra: More is MORE Commitment: Offering the best assortment to help you mix new items into your look flawlessly. What makes CB Special: Hit rewind – We’re giving fashion a second chance. We pair our finds for bold looks to always give you fresh style. Read more>>
Summer Reid
I didn’t set out thinking I’d build a practice. I was always drawn to the very beginning of things. Feeding, communication, cognition. Those early moments when families are tired, unsure, and just want to know they’re doing right by their child. I’m a Speech Language Pathologist and a Certified Lactation Counselor, and I’ve worked in medical settings, early intervention, and schools. Read more>>
Deborah Argyropoulos
I started my career as a fine artist, originally working in realism and commissions before evolving into large-scale abstract and mixed-media work. Early on, I was offered an opportunity to create a collection of abstract paintings for a corporate office, and that project changed everything. Read more>>
Fernanda Barcelo
As a young woman, I naturally gravitated towards listening to people’s stories, and my strong curiosity around understanding the human mind eventually lead me to my studies in psychology. In 2011, I was in my Master’s in Counseling program when I offhandedly chose to take a mindfulness course that offered a rare opportunity to go study Indian culture with one of my professors. Read more>>
Paige Morris
I have been blessed with living in Eastern Williamson County for 25+ years. Within that time, I have grown great relationships with many businesses and locals, in and around our area. Over time, I have developed a love for supporting other small businesses and watching them succeed alongside our local families as they grow. Read more>>
Candice Fraser
I like to say that therapy found me. Growing up as a strong-willed, emotionally expressive kid in the 80s, I suspect I might have been in therapy much earlier had it been more common then. My path to being a therapist wasn’t a straight line. I entered college ambitious and set on a Biology major, only to discover that it wasn’t the right fit. Read more>>
Sutton Van Gunten
After many years working in dives on sixth and at places like Threadgills I was hired on at Whole Foods Market for the opening of the flagship store at 6th & Lamar in 2005. After five years with the company as a supervisor and safety/knife skills trainer I left to open my own business. I opened Gonzo Juice in 2011 after finding an antique trailer with a giant 3D rooster had attached to the top. Off to the races. Read more>>
Victorious Thompson
I grew up as a military brat, moving often and learning early how to adapt, build relationships quickly, and take responsibility for myself. Service and structure were part of everyday life, which eventually led me to the United States Air Force Academy. Read more>>
Mary Kay & Kim Bowden & Wilson
Our journey began with a shared desire to create something that felt personal, meaningful, and enduring. As twins, we’ve always approached creativity collaboratively, and 11 Juillet grew out of that partnership and a desire to redefine what luxury could represent. Read more>>
