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.
Colette LaPorte
Sometimes that means navigating unexpected challenges, balancing the creative and business sides, or learning how to set boundaries to protect my energy. But those experiences have helped me become more resilient and intentional in how I approach my work. Ultimately, my goal is to create a meaningful experience for my couples and deliver photos that truly reflect their unique story—and that keeps me motivated every step of the way. Read more>>
Faith Boone
Thanks God for CHAT GPT! haha. On top of everything, after a year of working as a project manager full time, I got pregnant with my Daughter. I had an awesome opportunity to bring my daughter to work with me each day. I worked full time, with my baby, everyday! Meetings and all! Nursed her during virtual client presentations. I was simultaneously working two full-time jobs that completely contradicted each other. One was a corporate, fast pace world, and the other was a slow loving, silly little girl. Read more>>
Renee Martinez
I am a self taught cookie artist, I started when my kids were in school and the holidays were around the corner. I created different recipes so they could take cookie baskets gifts to their teachers, Then they wanted cookies for classmates and friends. Teachers started inquiring and they began to order for family and friends for different occasions. At this point I had to get my Food certification and educate myself on pricing, packaging and accounting of a small business. It was not easy, but I figured it out. During this time not too many people were custom cookie artist so the need and want was there. Read more>>
Heather Wagner Reed
There, I learned the ropes of artist management and got to handle Beyoncé day-to-day as she transitioned from Destiny’s Child to becoming a solo artist. I also had the opportunity to work with her sister, Solange and a host of other major artists. It was the experience of a lifetime to say the least. I learned so much in this role and worked with some of the best of the best around the world – from incredible brand consultants, to heads of marketing ranging from Sony Music and Columbia Records to film studios like Dreamworks and brands like L’Oreal. Read more>>
Sean Carpenter
I found the space I wanted in the Casa De Luz (East) Village, which really aligned with my mission statement of making wellness as accessible as possible, without sacrificing quality and luxury. The space I found happened to have a side yard that had just enough space to incorporate a communal area for those who enjoy a good sauna convo with fellow enthusiasts. I’m very happy with what we were able to achieve with the space–especially having an affordable contrast therapy experience for $25 that encourages regular use (where the benefits really kick in!). Read more>>
John Schrepel
Moving from New York to Texas was no small adjustment. The climate alone forced me to rethink how I approached everything, especially barrel aging. But once I understood how to work with the Texas heat and humidity, I started to see what made this region so special for whiskey. The whiskey matures faster, but it also develops rich, bold flavors you just don’t get in cooler climates. Read more>>
Justin Teliga
The location in Austin is the very first franchise location and came about when two Dripping Springs families were struggling to find day camps for their own children. Both families had been HGG members when they lived in Illinois and really missed being part of the HGG program after moving to Texas. The families decided to reach out to the franchise owners and, after a bit of convincing, they decided to award the families with HGG’s first franchise opportunity and first HGG gym outside of Illinois. Read more>>
Arman Elliott
We were taking a risk having never worked in the kitchen but were confident that as long as we didn’t “burn it, or over-season it” then we knew we’d be fine. After months of working behind the scenes getting permitted and coming up with color schemes and menu items, we were blessed to be able to open for business and sell our first cheesesteak at the beginning of April of 2019 in downtown Austin Texas, right next door to the Westin hotel directly across the street from the famous Antone’s music venue. Read more>>
Chris Guarino
All this led to a multitude of gallery shows in different areas of the city, and my eventual connection to a touring steampunk vaudeville act that I eventually began constructing props for and touring with. That led to me working on the props and construction of a stage called the “Stage Stage” for New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat festival. Before leaving Denver for the last time in 2012, I did a lot of the set design, prop and special effects work on an indie film called “Decay.” Read more>>
James Bradley
At 17, my adoptive mother, Ms. Bradley, learned that my biological mother was in town for her brother’s funeral. She insisted we go meet her, and that moment turned out to be a pivotal turning point in my life. My biological mother came to visit, and I confronted her with questions that had haunted me for years. “Where do you live?” I asked. “Upstate New York,” she replied. “Do you have any other children?” I inquired, and she said yes—three others. “Why didn’t you come back to see me? Why did you abandon me?” I demanded, my voice heavy with pain. The truth felt like an impossible weight to carry. I told her that I hated her and never wanted to see her again. Read more>>
Thanooja Ganta
I began gifting handmade earrings to friends. They loved them—and soon, they started asking me to make wall art for their homes. My very first commission was a custom 18” wall mirror and a 12” peacock piece. While working on it, a friend invited me to set up a stall—and that’s how PinkzArtGallery was born. Read more>>
Emily Schmitz
By 2008, I was ready for a new chapter and, like many former journalists, transitioned into public relations. What I thought would be a short-term pivot turned into a passion project that kept growing. I launched MedVoice PR, a full-service agency dedicated exclusively to medical and healthcare brands. Over the next 16 years, I had the incredible privilege of working alongside physicians, hospitals, health tech innovators, and nonprofit health organizations — helping them share their stories, connect with their audiences, and make an impact. Read more>>
Karen Wesley
I lost myself in the midst of ensuring that their needs were met. Losing my sense of self, and the constant anxiety that came along with teenagers with mood dysregulation and explosiveness, ravaged my nervous system. Home was their safe-place and I was their person. For years I played the role of in-house therapist, caregiver, referee –deescalating meltdowns, Helping them navigate their challenges in conjunction with my own left me in burnout and exhaustion. Read more>>
Zoe Kimura
The road has been relatively smooth, especially because this has always been a passion project for me. I genuinely enjoy creating this type of content, so even when there are challenges, it still feels rewarding. That being said, there have definitely been moments of self-doubt, staying motivated, and learning how to balance content creation with a full-time job. It can be tough to consistently show up, especially on days when creativity feels low or life gets busy. But overall, the support from the community and the joy I get from sharing my experiences have made the journey feel incredibly worthwhile. Read more>>
Michelle Washington
I wasn’t handed anything—I built it. One stubborn step at a time. My family has a motto that lives rent-free in my head: “Don’t get ready… STAY ready.” And BABY, I’ve had doors slammed so hard in my face, I started bringing my own hinges. The “NOs”? I’ve heard ‘em all. Some said it politely. Some said it with silence. Either way, I thank every single one of ‘em—because they “accidentally” built my strength and resilience. Read more>>
Natalie Perez
These days, I’m working in wardrobe styling, helping people clean out their closets, style what they already own, curate personalized look books, and shop with intention. My goal is to help people feel like the most confident version of themselves — not just trendy, but truly aligned with their own unique vibe. There’s nothing like watching someone light up when they feel amazing in how they look and what they’re wearing; it really does make a difference. Read more>>
Fabian Alejandro Diaz
I feel like i have experimented and made mistakes and learned what works for me. I think one of the only struggles would be consistency. As a freelancer, jobs don’t always come back to back. As far as everything is am doing, i have always felt it is what I need to be doing. But you have to learn your worth and figure out who can appreciate what it is that you do. My parents have played a big part in that. They have always been supportive of my random ventures, and have gone to most of my shows, even though they live 6 hrs away, back in west tx. And I feel like that makes things so much easier to be yourself. Read more>>
Carly Ostler
I don’t believe anyone gets a smooth road. I do understand how privilege works and how some things seem to go smoother for some in one area of life or another, but I don’t believe in creating hierarchies around trauma and pain. From my 20 years of studying trauma, I know that the right resources can transform trauma into invaluable wisdom and expertise. Smooth roads make for uninteresting lives and people, which creates a rougher road later in life. Read more>>
Kathleen Utts
Our family then moved to Wimberley, Texas and purchased a 40-acre wildlife ‘paradise’, beginning a love affair with the Texas Hill Country with its’ beautiful sunsets, gently rolling hills and expansive views. I jumped into organic gardening and loved raising our children in a farmlike setting – complete with chickens, a feral emu, a llama, and our own herd of alpacas. Their annual shearing provided beautiful fiber that inspired opening a yarn shop in Wimberley. I became immersed in the ‘fiber arts’ by knitting, spinning yarn, and, eventually weaving. Read more>>
Blake Stowe
I provide the same professional approach as multimillion-dollar productions, but on a smaller scale. Every client has different pain points, goals, budgets, and deliverable needs, which we help define through our discovery stage to determine where video can provide solutions. Once those are established, we craft a content service plan. After the plan is agreed upon we schedule the shoot. Then we go into the editing and finally delivery of content. We focus on these video types: video business cards, testimonials, FAQs, process videos, and short-form content. Read more>>
Alana Lipham
My artwork and subject matters have changed a lot since September 2020. As an avid reader, I found myself with amazing opportunities to create stickers and artwork for indie and best selling authors and publishing companies. I’ve had my dreams come true to have been able to work with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and the families of the Penguins players to create special artwork for events and to celebrate milestones. Read more>>
Lauren Hodges And Gracelyn Economidis
Like any creative project, it’s had its ups and downs! One of the biggest blessings has been the creative freedom—we’re constantly inspired by everything H-E-B has to offer. From fresh finds in the produce section to seasonal home décor and local brands you can’t get anywhere else, the content ideas are endless. H-E-B makes it easy to stay inspired. Read more>>
Lora Templet
It’s mostly been smooth. What has been refreshing is people seem to love my suggestions of things to keep or different ways to store things. I thought I would have to convince people to streamline their belongings harder, but usually they are just ready to part with them. And if they do want to keep items that I personally wouldn’t I dont give them a hard time. I let them know they’re the boss! Read more>>
Whitney Beissner
I moved to Austin from New York City and bought a small piece of land in Lockhart, so I could raise some animals. The farm came with goats, and I fell in love with them. I loved being at the farm and with my animals so much that I quit my corporate job and decided to find a way to share my love of goats with everyone. This is how Goat Shenanigans was created. I started offering goat rentals for birthday parties, then I started partnering with local businesses to host goat yoga and goat cuddles events throughout the area. Read more>>
Candace Perez
Now, five years later, The Posh Picnic has grown into something I could’ve never imagined. We’ve worked with brands like Stanley, Capital One, and American Express. Ive been featured on Spectrum News, interviewed by Codie Sanchez, and invited to speak as a keynote at Latin Talks, Austin Latina Day, and University of Texas. I get to do what I love and bring beautiful, intentional events to life—whether it’s a proposal, a birthday, or a corporate activation. Read more>>
Lisandra Ramos
My work is deeply shaped by adaptability. I approach each project as a unique opportunity to respond to the needs of the client and the character of the space. I’ve created everything from murals and tapestries to music posters and canvas paintings—each one a challenge that I embrace with joy and curiosity. What truly sets me apart is my background in textiles; it’s my comfort zone, my language, and the place where I feel most free. Through fabric, I find infinite possibilities to express texture, movement, and emotion. Read more>>
Echo Partners
Linda signed the lease for the Echo’s original location within 24 hours of seeing it for the first time. Like many artist studio galleries, she lived on-site for a couple of years. Moving into and renovating the nearly one-hundred-year-old dealership building was a labor of love with chilly nights, a leaky roof, and patience in bringing it to occupationally safe conditions. A sweet memory is the week of the move from the old gallery to the new one, just a few blocks down Main Street. Echo’s artists joined with their fellow art galleries in Johnson City to help move and open the new location within a week. Read more>>
Monica Gonzalez
I graduated from college with a degree in Criminal Justice, fully intending to build my career in public service. From 2006 to 2008, I worked as a federal warrant officer — a demanding but fulfilling role. In 2007, during that chapter of my life, I met my husband, who was actively serving in the U.S. Army. We hit it off immediately — maybe it was the mutual respect for service… or maybe it was our fun (and ongoing!) debate over who had the bigger gun. Let’s just say, I let him win that one. Read more>>
Felicia Reed
At 40, I stepped away from my secure job to start my portrait photography business, with no formal background in entrepreneurship. I built my business from the ground up—networking by day, working call shifts at night. I photographed women over 40 because I knew what it felt like to lose yourself in life’s roles. I wanted to give women the gift of visibility, confidence, and self-love through the lens of my camera. Read more>>
Jack Alejandro Young
I knew I wanted to go on pursuing acting, leaning towards film and TV specifically. In 2019, I was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. I had planned to start in fall of 2020 after taking a gap year to save some money. But we all know what happened in 2020, and unfortunately, acting classes over Zoom weren’t really doing it for me. Read more>>
Shanna Grote
Every Thursday night we have a Patio Party! We often have many bikers stop by lining the parking lot with a variety of bikes. We are a fantastic place to host an event and offer free space to do so. We don’t have a ton of rules; just want everyone to come and have a great time in a great location! Read more>>
Mallory Lawson
That question eventually led me to nutrition. I transferred colleges, fell in love with chemistry and the science of food, and realized I wasn’t alone in my struggles with body image and health. I graduated with a degree in dietetics in 2009 and married my husband—a professional baseball player at the time. Though I delayed completing my RD internship due to cost, I began working in sports performance and discovered CrossFit—a community that reignited my passion for movement. I went on to compete at the CrossFit Games in 2015 and 2017 on a team. Read more>>
Waldo Calderon
I also held a solo exhibition called ‘Faces of My Community’ which was presented in the city of Colima, Mexico. Currently, I am working on a collection about the culture of charro-taurine festivals in Mexico, which I will be presenting soon. The path to becoming a professional artist is complex; there are moments when you feel desperate and want to give it all up, moments when you don’t see which path to take, and also very rewarding moments that make it all worthwhile. I am trying to carve my path, and day by day I aim to improve. I would like to continue dedicating myself to this because I love the art of painting. Read more>>
Dan Clift
As the business grew, so did the mission: not just fixing gutters or roofs, but helping people protect their homes and understand how maintenance can save them thousands down the line. Today, Dan’s Gutters offers everything from seamless gutter installs and storm damage repair to full exterior cleanups. We’re still growing, still learning, and still laser-focused on giving homeowners in Austin the level of service they deserve. Read more>>
Lauren Gibson
My journey into the field of mental health began during high school when I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University. It was during that experience—being immersed in new perspectives and meaningful conversations—that I discovered a deep desire to support others through life’s challenges. That calling led me to pursue a degree in Psychology and later a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Read more>>
Jacob Minze
25 years later I’m running one of the most influential goth blogs on social media. There’s been many different eras of my content, but probably the most significant is my homelessness era. It came about due to being misperscribed a handful of ssris. I lost my mind and ended up on the streets. But I was on the best possible streets I could be on for my content, and I suspect that is what yall want to hear about. It’s the best story I have, and I would rather not give it away in a preview. Read more>>
Alisa Dusan
I graduated with my B.S. in nutrition from UT and did my dietetic internship at Texas State. For many years, I practiced as a solo practitioner, working a day or two a week while my kids were small and our family was growing. In recent years, I’ve been able to expand the practice and hire on additional dietitians. We opened our own brick and mortar in Kyle in 2022 and have loved getting to serve the south Austin, Buda and Kyle community ever since. While I focus primarily on eating disorder care, as a practice we see patients with all sorts of nutrition-related medical conditions and love serving them from a weight-neutral lens. Read more>>
Alyssa Williams
One thing that I set out to do was take the big existential question “What is God’s plan for my life” and turn it into a question you actually expect to find an answer to. God tells us so much of His intentions for us in our very design, and when you interpret it from the context of what else He tells us of His plans and intentions in the Bible, the answers become much clearer. My method helps people study God, themselves, and the opportunities God provides around them and helps them make confident decisions for their careers. Read more>>
Meghan Herman
I grew up in the 90s, the youngest of five, always trying to keep up with my older brothers. I started playing soccer at 4, and the 90s label, “tomboy” label stuck almost immediately. As I played D1 soccer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, I realized I needed a creative outlet to balance the intensity of competition. That’s when I found my passion for textile and fashion design—a softer side of me I was excited to explore. It led me to study design at UW, then continue my education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Read more>>
Andie Wells
When my husband first asked what I would name the boutique, I instantly said “Whiskey and Wine Boutique”. He tells me he saw the fire in my eyes in that moment — and from there, we knew it was time to invest what little we could afford to make this vision real. Within hours, we had the name and logo. By November 2023, we officially incorporated the business and received our documents from the Secretary of State — it was the beginning of an incredible journey. Read more>>
Judy Lockett
For a long time, I was interested in aesthetics but put it on hold while working multiple jobs to support my son through college. Once he graduated, I felt it was finally time to invest in my own dream. I had always been drawn to the confidence-boosting aspect of aesthetic care—and inspired by my mom, who taught me the value of skincare and self-care from an early age—it felt like a natural evolution in my nursing journey. Read more>>
Bob Mann
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas and have played in bands since I was in middle school. After graduating high school I toured around the country for a while until I was 23 and decided to move to NYC. I played in bands and bartended throughout my 12+ years there then my partner Erin and I had our first child and moved back to Austin. Eventually we made our way out to Elgin in March of 2020 where we decided to open a bar with some friends that had put down roots here ahead of us. We opened the Lightnin’ Bar in February 2023 and have been chugging along ever since. Read more>>
Trever Butler
Come 2024, after my husband joined our team full time, we decided to take the coffee shop to the next level and put in a full blown restaurant. That restaurant opened in March of 2025 and is named The Desert Spoon after the native plant which sotol alcohol is made out of! We currently grow all of our own herbs in house, and will eventually grow our own vegetables as well. It’s really difficult to encapsulate everything that is Spring Creek into one small paragraph. Loyal guests will tell you we always have something changing, but I think we like it that way. Read more>>
Aranza Talamas
My marketing journey actually began in an unexpected place: the world of new home construction real estate in my hometown of Laredo, Texas. I started out helping builders sell homes, and it wasn’t long before I realized that what I really loved was the storytelling behind the homes—creating content, running ads, and finding the right words and visuals to attract buyers. That’s where my passion for marketing sparked. Read more>>
Kirsten Maitland
After the Navy, I transitioned into technology, spending over a decade as an agile coach with companies like Microsoft and Expedia, focusing on innovation. I met my husband Fred quite by accident at a putt-putt golf league in Seattle—our mutual love of food, particularly cheese, made us a perfect match until I decided to go vegan for lifestyle and health reasons. Fred, knowing how much it meant to me, made the same choice. Read more>>
B
I started my photography journey over 10 years ago taking photos of bees for a honey startup I was working for- I had no background and had no idea what I was doing. Since picking up the camera for the first time, I’ve grown my portfolio from bees, to working with large brands and working in motorsports ( formula one, NASCAR, MotoGP) as well as taking photos of pretty things, like women and cars. Read more>>
Selûna The Band
We started as four high school friends just jamming and trying to play music together. At first, we were all pretty bad at our instruments and it took us a long time to get good enough to play for others. We didn’t have our first show until about a year after we started playing. It paid off though, because in that time we learned all about how to collaborate and learn from each other in an effective and fulfilling way. Five years later, we’re still doing the same thing, just in a much bigger city and with much bigger goals. We’re in college now, but the dedication, chemistry, and heart that took its roots when we were younger continues to persist. Read more>>
