The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Giorgio Calvo
After my last album, Dopamina, got tangled up in some drama with a label we had met with, I wasn’t even thinking about making another album. That was in the past, and honestly, I didn’t want to do another Latin urban moment just for the sake of it. But life kept moving—literally. I was bouncing between cities, trying to figure out where I was going to land, and I needed music to keep me moving. A rhythm to keep the flow going because, truthfully, I had no idea where I’d end up. Read more>>
Ray Velez
My name is Ray Velez, and I’m originally from El Paso, Texas. I’ve always been passionate about community engagement and marketing. Ever since I was little, I was fascinated by how people connected—whether it was through social media, newspapers, radio features, or even billboards showcasing artists. That curiosity led me to work with Neon Desert Music Festival, where I got my first real experience in promotion and being part of online conversations. Read more>>
Stacey Scantlin
Despite these struggles, I’ve always believed that every setback is an opportunity for growth. These experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community. They led me to Inner Diva Studios, where I’ve been able to create an empowering space for women and continue my passion for movement, connection, and giving back through puppy and kitten yoga. Read more>>
Lorinda Baum
The search was on for another location. Found a vacant building not far from Belton off of HY93 in Temple. It was only a mile and a half from 35. We renovated and moved in January of 2012. At that point I realized I couldn’t bartend, so now I mingle with our customers and DJ. We renovated again in 2015 and took over the restaurant side of the building making it all of ours. Business was picking up so we renovated again for an additional 4k sqft. We almost went out of business when Covid hit. Down to our last few dollars when we could go back to business as usual. We are still here after 17 years this coming June! Still offering LIVE COUNTRY Music! Read more>>
Slept All Day
Since this project is so new (we began in summer 2024), we have had a pretty smooth ride so far. We have put a lot of hard work into the project but our previous experiences gave us the knowledge and skillsets to execute all the production elements we needed to complete. Rudy and I have been friends and making music together for a while now, so we know how to communicate, collaborate, and tour together without getting on each others nerves and remaining productive. Read more>>
Johnathan Lewis
But rather than letting that discourage us, we used it as motivation. We knew that if we stayed committed to our vision and worked together, we could prove the doubters wrong. Every challenge has been an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. We’ve built YNT from the ground up, balancing school, responsibilities, and our passion for creating safe and inclusive entertainment for the Austin community. Read more>>
Mary Long
Somewhere along the way, I had gotten into Pilates, a mind-body exercise system, and found it had completely transformed my body awareness and not only built my strength and confidence, but also helped me find a deep joy in movement. After being a Pilates student for a few years, I thought, why not?, and signed up for Pilates teacher training. Being the type to make any excuse to travel, I found a great Pilates studio in Costa Rica, and completed the bulk of my training there (and got in a little surfing on the side!). Read more>>
Douglas Cardoso
Unfortunately, many of my academic and professional interests conflicted, as society does not accommodate well for the aspiring polymath. So, I started mondegreen to pursue a career that enabled participation in both technical and creative work; after considerable time studying technical and artistic processes via mechanical engineering bachelors, integrated product design masters, and in-house / consulting settings across industry. Read more>>
Cesar Fuentes
The company’s early days were challenging and full of valuable lessons. The first major hurdle was transitioning from being an Executive Manager with hundreds of employees to becoming employee #1 of a startup. I went from receiving a regular paycheck to being paid sporadically as projects were completed, and I had to take on multiple roles to establish systems and operations from the ground up. My approach has always been to continuously improve the operation at every step and to embrace the opportunity to learn from each mistake. Read more>>
Rob Chase
Over time I also became intrigued by forms of lettering that expanded beyond the limitations of ink and paper. While exploring this space I came across the art of sign painting, and was drawn by the diversity in both style and medium of the art. I experimented several times, but unlike calligraphy I found the learning curve was too steep for self-teaching. So in the middle of 2020, during the height of the COVID lock down, I enrolled in an online class with Australian sign painting legend Lianne Barker, and truly learned the fundamentals not just of signage, but of letter forms and design as well. Since then I have continued to hone this craft, and was fortunate to study under Mike Meyer in 2023. Read more>>
Ty Griffin
It hasn’t been easy. Most of my music is about my life and life isn’t easy. Going to college, working, and making music is difficult. Im a senior currently and many times I have to trade my passion for music to meet a deadline. Working and saving money while also trying to make time for the studio is a challenge as well. Also writing about life isn’t pretty. Many times I feel as if I don’t want to put some music out because of how personal the stories are. Much of my music is opening up about my failures and how it affected me. This last project was very difficult in that respect but very rewarding. Read more>>
Jordan Kovatch
Owning a business is never a smooth road. Running a production shop there is always something that needs to be worked on. You have to adapt and learn, which has taught me how to rewire my machinery and the mechanics of my day to dey equipment. Our pipes have frozen and burst which helped me quickly learn how to do small plumbing tasks. As a business that works for other businesses, we are hit with everyone else’s slow seasons. When a client goes out of business or no longer needs merch, we have to scramble to find another account to help tip the scale. So far we have overcome all the obstacles we have faced. Read more>>
Allison Wilcox
We specialize in natural fiber yarns from all over, with a wide range of hand dyed products. We also have a selection of “entry level” yarns (acrylic and acrylic blends) although our emphasis is on natural fibers (wool, linen, silk, cotton, etc.). In addition we are a beer and wine retailer with a curated selection of small production, sustainably produced wines available by the bottle and glass. Read more>>
Amber Appleton
Soon after, Maria, Tessa, Katya, and I got together. They had all studied the demos I sent them and we played together. It went really well and our personalities meshed too, so soon after I integrated Aaron into the mix. We were asked about a month into practicing to play our first show by a random band, j’cuuzi, (who we all now obviously love) and jumped at the challenge to play our first show in April 2024. The show went so well! The next few months ended up stacked with shows, especially June where we wound up having about 6 shows. Read more>>
Anne Mistak
I am an interior designer by way of NYC where I went to design school, worked for other great firms to understand the nitty gritty of it all and moved to Austin in 2018. Pre design I was actually a professional musical theatre actress with an emphasis on dance and improvisation. Raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas with lots of down home/small town memories; I never forgot where I came from. Animal lover first, especially my little terror-ier Beatrice Louise who I adopted when I arrived in Texas, she is my ride or die. Read more>>
Mallory Davidson
Based on my own healing history, I am especially drawn to those navigating grief or healing major traumas. This combination of work is considered “somatic” or “trauma” related bodywork and it is appropriate and gentle enough for anyone who is ready. The classes operate in much the same way – when a student is ready, they will appear. Read more>>
Brinton Freeze
I left San Antonio to attend Texas Tech University where I pursued a degree in Architecture and Business. It placed me 6 hours away from home and it also meant moving to a place where I knew nobody. This is where I really found my voice as a designer. My professors here were incredible and really pushed me to channel the passion and desire to push the limits of what a building could be. Read more>>
Mr. Black
The only real challenge we face occasionally with new members is the commitment level. Learning to trade and invest is a very valuable skill set. I’m a firm believer that anyone can learn to do it as it’s very process oriented and systematic. When A happens you do B, when B happens you do C and so on. So it’s not beyond anyone’s abilities as it’s not a matter of intelligence but more a matter of dedication and commitment. If someone is willing to take the time to learn all of the steps and then practice implementing those steps over and over in the exact same manner without letting their emotions dictate their decisions, they can learn to do to this. Read more>>
Amanda Leigh Adams
From there, I dedicated myself to honing my craft and building a name and a reputation in Austin. Fast forward to today, I’m proud to be the number one Bark Busters trainer in Texas & number 18 in the entire country for 2024. But beyond the numbers, what truly fulfills me is the impact I’ve had on families and their dogs. With nearly 300 five-star Google reviews, my clients often tell me I’ve transformed their relationships with their pups—and that means everything to me. Read more>>
Ashley Emanuel
I am someone who is intrigued by AI, innovation, and design. This makes me a techie and an artist at heart who loves to create and think deeply into things. I have been designing and building websites ever since I was 15, and I am most proud of my eye for simplicity. Read more>>
Kristian Allen
Kristian got to work at many different restaurants in the Bay Area such as Spruce, Kronnerburger, and Del Popolo and began honing in his techniques and working with the seasons. After 4 years in in San Francisco, he and Misa returned to Austin in 2021 to be closer to family, while bringing his inspiration of local produce and farm to table cooking back to his Austin roots. Read more>>
Darius “DJ Dmoney” Martin
Breaking into the Austin scene wasn’t easy, but I kept grinding—networking, showing up, and proving myself. Over time, the opportunities grew. I landed gigs at major festivals like SXSW and AfroTech and got into the sports world, DJing Austin Spurs G League basketball games, Texas Volleyball, Texas Football recruiting events, and multiple San Antonio Spurs activations in Austin. That opened doors to performing in some of the biggest venues, like the Moody Center, Frost Bank Center, and even the Caesars Superdome. Read more>>
Naomi Young
It’s not all about the numbers or the photos. To me, it’s about the relational aspect of the work. It’s exciting to be the main decision maker and to have the freedom to decide what I do and don’t want to do. Knowing that it’s all on me to make things happen, to achieve goals, to get paid, etc it can be daunting. I try to take it one thing at a time and releasing the need for things to be perfect has been the only thing keeping me from getting stuck. Read more>>
Heather Olexa
I’d thumb through those magazines daily , drooling over the life the hair dressers that created those looks lived . Creating artistically but also giving people the hair that both made them look their best and also the confidence that comes along with loving your look . When I see a new client I spend time with them , learning who they are ,what their lifestyle is like . This information is just as valuable as their inspo pics . Whats the use in giving someone a smashing cut and color but them recreating it doesn’t meet their lifestyle or worse yet is impossible for them to do themselves . Read more>>
Lydia Galarza
Working private events I am not a stranger of, however, figuring out marketing, how to price my events, who is my audience, how much supplies should I buy, social media, and so much more! I really didn’t have anyone to talk to, so I did my best, hence, the part in making mistakes. I truly, believe all mistakes/fails are learning experiences that allow me to be better! I am human after all. Read more>>
Elena Yanes
During my final course, an internship led to a 10-year career and mentorship with a company that shaped me into the event coordinator I am today. That company was originally Hermanas Inc., founded by my mentor, who guided me throughout my career. When the opportunity came to step into ownership, I chose to continue the Hermanas name—not just as a business, but as a tribute to what it has always represented: sisterhood, connection, and excellence in event planning. Read more>>
Nadia Yamini
A lot of people ask me what got me interested in doula work as a childless 20-something, and I never quite know what to say. People who knew me growing up and then find out what I do are seldom surprised, though. I think I have always had an interest in the intersection of science/nature, magic, and art, and for a long time it seemed impossible that I could find a path that held those interests in balance, let alone one that would pay the bills! Read more>>
Amanda Hughling
The city of Temple, which is about an hour north of Austin is pretty strict on this. I spent years going back-and-forth with the zoning committee asking if locations were okay to be at I would constantly get “no”. I knew in my heart I wanted to be located in downtown Temple, which was a strict no no. So finally, I worked up the courage to go through city council. I had to do a number of meetings and get approval three times total, but I was finally approved for my own location in downtown Temple and that brings us to today. Amanda Kay Brow Studio Read more>>
Winston Wintheminiween
Another obstacle was creating meaningful content about Austin’s dog-friendly spots when there wasn’t much information available. We had to explore, test, and experience places ourselves before sharing recommendations with others. But through this process, we found a passion for helping other pet owners discover the best of Austin. Read more>>
Ray Garza
During lockdown, I experienced a lot of big, sudden change. My marriage ended, and I was living alone for the first time. I did a lot of soul searching and by the time things started to open up again, I didn’t recognize the version of myself that led Poly Action. The songs I had written in Poly Action were big, bombastic, and even silly (see The Accident of 1993 off of Baby’s First Rock n’Roll). During lockdown, my songs had become more melancholy, introspective, and even confessional. I felt like I was being musically honest for the first time. I decided to put Poly Action on an indefinite hiatus. Read more>>
Amber Scardino
Transitional times can feel heavy and challenging. It is always hard when employees that you care about move on, but luckily we have become a hot spot for educators and creatives that want to be part of the Figment community. We are a fast growing business and everyone that I hire brings their own special magic to the team. We are a team working toward a common goal – education and creative growth. Growing into the new space, building out the right team is extremely important. I have already been spending a lot of time interviewing candidates for the second location and we break ground next week Read more>>
Manoj Karyampudi
I’m Manoj, the owner and chef behind @Manoj_Cooks, a catering service that brings international cuisine, fine dining, and unforgettable culinary experiences to the table. I grew up in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC, where I first discovered my passion for cooking. My love for food was just a natural part of my life, something I enjoyed doing for family gatherings and friends. It wasn’t just about the meals—it was about creating memories and sharing moments through food. Read more>>
Jeremy Courtney
We didn’t have any investors or debt when we started CRIBS—we were completely self-funded, which was undoubtedly challenging. We initially began in co-living, renting out rooms in single-family homes, and grew that side of the business to about 40 houses under management, all while simultaneously expanding our short-term rental management portfolio. As both sides of the business grew, it became increasingly difficult to manage both, leading us to the tough decision to sell our co-living portfolio and go all in on short-term rentals. Read more>>
Ernest Trujillo
That realization sparked a deeper purpose. I made the decision to leave the banking world and become a Mortgage Loan Officer, dedicated to helping others achieve what I once thought was out of reach. My mission is to break the myths around homeownership and show people that it’s not just a dream—it’s possible for everyone. Read more>>
Adriana Brito
The road hasn’t always been smooth… One of the most defining moments in my journey was when I decided to leave my corporate job in Houston and move to Austin. I had what seemed like a great job at a CPA firm—good pay, a nice office in downtown—but deep down, I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to be. I spent all my time working, driving, and barely taking care of myself. So after two years, I realized something had to change. Read more>>
Troy Breen
When I got my first camera at 16 years old, I never envisioned myself moving to Austin, Texas, attending a top film school, and working for one of the biggest brands in college sports. I feel that it is pretty full circle that my love for sports came from Kevin Durant, who played college basketball at The University of Texas at Austin. My main message to anyone reading this is that it is important to chase your goals and try new things. You never know how much one decision can change your life in a positive way. Excited for what the future has in store. Read more>>
Ben Baecker
After a few years in Hawaii, I ended up moving back here to Central Texas, and getting married. My wife absolutely loved the bees, but didn’t love how much time that was being taken away from the home with me beekeeping. After the birth of our first son she sweetly suggested that I either slow down or try to make bees into a business. That sounded like an excellent idea! So we ended up buying 10 1/2 acres in the small town that I grew up in. And now we have a bee removal business, and an agricultural business, where we help keep bees on other peoples property to help with tax agricultural exemptions. Read more>>
Pingback: Homepage