It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Austin.
Craig Vanis
My education and professional life started at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. My major was mechanical engineering with a concentration in manufacturing and material science. While in school, I had internships in Boston and Cincinnati with GE Aircraft Engines, and worked at the Metal Processing Institute assisting research on advanced metal casting techniques. After graduating, I ended up taking a job at a small oil company in Houston, doing some labor in the field, as well as engineering work in the office. Read more>>
Larry Wallace Sr.
After completing high school, I attended Career Academy in Milwaukee and graduated with a Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. Faced with the daunting challenge of financing my higher education, I did not permit financial constraints to hinder my dreams and worked multiple part-time jobs while balancing my academic responsibilities and the need to fund my education. I worked nights cleaning offices and took temporary jobs to help me realize my goals. Read more>>
Gisele Cano
I turned to entrepreneur podcasts, took a few courses, and started exploring what truly lit me up inside: transforming spaces. It was something I’d loved since I was 14. I used to rally my friends on weekends to help me redecorate rooms as a surprise for my mom while she was away. One time, we transformed three rooms in a single weekend. I was obsessed with faux finishes, stencils, and always had wallpaper in my childhood bedroom—it was in my DNA. Read more>>
Amber Brunkow
When I opened my studio as a brand-new teacher, it was definitely a leap of faith. I had very little experience and no real following yet, so building trust and community took time. Balancing the business side—like marketing, finances, and scheduling—while also finding my voice as a teacher was overwhelming at times. I faced a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, wondering if I was really ready. But I kept showing up with authenticity and heart, and slowly, the right people found their way in. Amazing Grace, a supportive partner, staying rooted in my purpose and being open to learning helped me grow into the role. Read more>>
Christopher Freeman
Simply Blessed has been blessed to work and collaboration with some great Business owners: Gigi’s Flower Hut, TPI Travel Agency, Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Ladies First Creations Event Planning, Anointed Accessories by Tif, Big Banks Custom, NPI Event Planning, Latia’s Wangz and Thangz, Freeze the Moment Photography, Madkins Photography, TJ THA DJ, Simply Jadior, Tom’s Chicken & More, Roundtable Catering, and DW Finest Catering Etc. Read more>>
Sarah Sides
That spark of curiosity quickly became a full-blown passion. I couldn’t stop thinking about how to build an entire brand around that experience — one that celebrated connection, permanence, and personalization. The first Loveweld event was in my garage, welding forever bracelets on a few of my closest friends. That night really shaped the heart of the brand: intimate, meaningful moments shared between people. Read more>>
Angie Gaylor
I’m all about capturing real stories in a way that feels fresh, natural, and a little bit editorial. I specialize in lifestyle and brand photography, but I’ve shot everything from boudoir to product to big life moments—and I love the variety. At the heart of it all is connection. Whether it’s a solo entrepreneur or a full team, I help people feel confident in front of the camera so their true personality comes through. Read more>>
Sandy Muckleroy
I took a welding class at ACC and made my first bonsai tree sculpture, out of steel, which is what they provide. That piece sold at the West Austin Studio Tour and I was certain this was my path! I began welding more trees, using bronze rods like my mother, and started applying to art shows. Initially, I stayed in Austin doing shows like The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Travis Heights Art Trail, West Austin Studio Tour and Art City Austin. After the hiatus of 2020 I started applying to shows within. a 3-hour radius of Austin. Wimberley Arts Fest, Bayou City Arts Festival in Houston and Fiesta Arts Fair in San Antonio. In 2023 I started applying to shows in Michigan, Colorado and even the Balloon Festival Art Show in Albuquerque! Read more>>
Shana Merlin
Over the years I took my fun, interactive workshops and keynotes in to many different companies, non-profits, conferences, universities, and medical groups. I enjoyed the challenge of disarming a skeptical room of people with their arms crossed, turning them into a room of playful colleagues connecting with each other, themselves, and the moment. Over the years, I’ve gotten lucky with some amazing partners with backgrounds in medicine and science, co-presenting with them to hone my sub-specialty in applied improv for creativity, research science, persuasive communication, and medical team building. Read more>>
Dr. Oliver Engle
My wife and I went into this knowing the amount of work involved. She had managed veterinary practices in the past, and I had been a medical director. However, neither of us have owned our own business. The learning curve has been steep and, at times, bumpy. The uncertainty of leaving a steady income job and benefits for a business venture that could fail remained a constant source of anxiety. Read more>>
Stacy Vu
That’s how Ajna & Co. was born. What started as a creative outlet, handcrafting leather journals at my kitchen table, has grown into a brand rooted in intention, beauty, and soul. Every detail matters, from the carefully sourced stones and vintage pieces we select for our sacred talismans to the words we engrave on our mantra charms. It’s not just about journaling. It’s about honoring your journey. Read more>>
Ian Shown
No journey is without bumps. Every time one thing is changed, half the people will say “why is this different?” while the other half will say “why wasn’t it always like this?” Multiply this by every time you change something, and you field a lot of complaints! Overall, though, the journey has largely been smooth – several people have been supportive of the changes I’ve introduced, which have led to the school growing and thriving. Every time one person objects, I lean on the 400 other people who support it. Without the outspoken, positive majority, I’m not sure where I’d be. Read more>>
Jaelyn Valero
Whether it was finding free shows, art or dance festivals, I was constantly aware of how art and music were at the foundation of bringing people together in Austin. As a family, we never sat still. I felt like every weekend was an opportunity to see what exciting new things could be happening in our city. Now, as an adult, I still struggle to sit still – as eager as I was to watch it all happen in front of me as a kid, I’m more eager now to be a part of it, as both a musician and also someone capturing and archiving it all through my zine. Read more>>
Kelsey Manka
After a summer full of books on soap-making and weekends full of trial-and-error, I ended up with about 12 foolproof recipes of soap bars ranging from Carrot Lemongrass to Blue Tansy Chamomile to Charcoal Tea Tree. I realized quite quickly how much of an advantage I had to making soaps. My years in the kitchen taught me to easily understand how and why specific ingredients play a role, how to effortlessly pair different aromas together, organization and sanitation in production and trusting my intuitive creativity. Read more>>
Kelly Magee
I started in a commission salon, but pretty quickly realized I needed more freedom. I wasn’t built to follow someone else’s rules—I wanted to create something on my own terms. I worked multiple jobs while slowly building a clientele from scratch. I’ve moved to Austin twice since I took a break to move back to Arkansas after having my daughter. Eventually, I knew it was time to come back to Austin—this time, on my terms. I’ve restarted my business more than once and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, especially as a single mother. Read more>>
Claudia Willis
Muy Yum started as a blog – a platform to explore my culinary whims while at Culinary School in Mexico City. I shared stories of dining out and sharing tips from cooking classes, but what it really did was mold my passion for wanting to cook for and share my recipes with others. It was a playful experiment in discovering myself. So, I began selling products at farmers’ markets – salt blends, dehydrated fruit chips, gluten-free pastries, etc. Marrying my nutritional background with my love of food, I became passionate about creating practical food options that weren’t terrible for you. Read more>>
Phil Kegley
The initial investments, commitments, and lifestyle are a lot. Partnerships and relationships can suffer. But all and all, it is very rewarding. I would not describe my experience in a creative industry and being a small business owner, self-promoting as necessarily smooth. Read more>>
Mike DeHay
Life is surprising how it all falls apart and comes back together. Deaths of friends and family have shaped my life in ways that didn’t become clear until years later. I didn’t realize it at the time but the skills my late father taught me in the garage and yard, like how to repair and keep calm when everything’s broken, ended up steering my whole life. I’m happy now knowing the DIY experience my father shared with me would become the backbone of my career. Read more>>
Lindsey Trumper
But within 48 hours of that conversation, the universe seemed to respond. My friend called to tell me about a space for lease on the busy downtown square of Lockhart, where she lives and co-owns another business. The space was already well-suited for a café. With my background in residential construction, I took possession in mid-December and quickly got to work. By February 1, 2025, we held our Grand Opening. Read more>>
Patrick Killoren
On the consulting side, I’ve had plenty of struggles. Early on, I lacked the confidence that I could provide value without being a full time employee. So much of my identity was tied to being a leader and builder within a team setting. I felt like that wouldn’t translate into consulting…and that I would be spending too much time on the ‘fluff’ and not real execution. Read more>>
Lindsey Deringer
Our youngest was 4 when we decided to buy The Budaful Hiker. I was really excited to get back to work! We purchased The Budaful Hiker on March 15, 2023 and started hiring some new employees. Over the last two and a half years, we have added some really great employees. One of my favorite parts of the job have been getting to know our employees. Most of them are high school and college age students. Our kids are younger so it has been fun to get to experience the older age kids and get to know them. We also have a few out of college and older employees that add a lot to our shop! Read more>>
Tyler Davis
Since I was a little boy, I always knew I was different. I felt like I was here as an undercover agent and forgot the secret mission somehow. Throughout my childhood, I couldn’t hide who I was no matter how hard I denied the allegations. I quickly learned to mask with masc traits and fight to convince everyone around me that I fit in. I finally came out after my freshman year at Texas Tech and was able to be authentically me for the first time in my life. Most importantly, I started to remember my mission. Read more>>
Alicia Dean
Another interesting challenge for me is that I don’t draw well–weird for a fashion designer! So rather than sketch a design idea, I make it from memory, mocking up on a dress form first, then creating the pattern, and sewing a finished piece. It is a very personal creative process, which is wonderful! But it’s hard to hand off to others to help with production. That means it takes me a lot longer to build inventory, so I have to be really selective about which runway shows and markets I participate in to ensure I have enough time to create high quality pieces. Read more>>
Nena Khir
It was definitely not a smooth road. Becoming a mother for the first time brought a wave of emotions I wasn’t prepared for—feelings of not being enough, fear, anxiety, and a quiet struggle that manifested in panic attacks, chronic dizziness, and debilitating migraines. It was a deeply challenging time, both physically and emotionally. But instead of letting those struggles define me, I chose to transform them into something meaningful. Writing became my healing space—a way to turn pain into stories of acceptance, self-love, and vulnerability. Through that process, I found my voice—and a purpose beyond the struggle Read more>>
Kristen Lumsden
That’s when my first mentor, Tim McCoy, suggested I meet Robert Gardner—also known as “The Pain Guy.” When I met Robert, I was about three years post-accident and in constant pain. I genuinely didn’t know how much longer I could keep going like that. Robert was a massage instructor, and I ended up being the body for his Phase 2 instructional DVD. Luckily for me, his videographer kept losing the footage—we recorded three days, it got lost, re-recorded another three days, and lost a day again. Thanks to those mishaps, I ended up receiving seven full days of bodywork. For the first time in three years, my relentless pain actually subsided. Read more>>
Brittany Fox
My dad had the home video camera out constantly, capturing everything from birthday parties to backyard shenanigans to sweet everyday dance parties. My mom made sure everyone felt seen and celebrated. Together, they taught me that memory-making isn’t about big poses or perfect outfits. It’s about showing up, being present, and turning ordinary moments into something unforgettable. Read more>>
Casey Frank
With a background in marketing and advertising, I launched my own graphic design and photography business in 2015. By 2020, one of my clients was The Vineyard at Gruene, where I initially took over their social media. That role evolved quickly—I stepped into general management, and in early 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to acquire the business. Read more>>
Cecelia Brinke
We both had a passion to create but also a common vision for our community. Creating a warm and welcoming environment for others of our community to show off their own talents. Everything in our shop is handmade or has Taylor history behind some of the collectables we have brought in. In addition to the various vendors that we have in our shop we aslo offer Do It Yourself Art classes. Friday and Saturdays are quite fun in our shop as we hold stained glass, painting and crochet classes for all to join in. Grab a beer, cocktail or ice cream and join us for some creative fun.. Read more>>
Stephen Carter
Prior to becoming a Financial Advisor I completed my MBA and the industry required licenses. Once licensing was completed, I then pursued and completed multiple certifications and designations to gain industry specific knowledge. During that time, I joined Ameriprise as they provided both a training program and real-world experience. I have been in this industry, with this firm for more than 20 years at present time. During this time, I have been able to achieve the personal gratification I sought, and we continue to positively impact our clients lives every day. Read more>>
Carol Holguin
At age 31, I was newly divorced, newly sober, and desperate to figure out a new life plan. I had hit bottom. I wanted to figure out who I was, needed to find work that paid decent money, and afforded flexibility to be available to my kids. I chose massage therapy, thinking I could get my license within a year and be off and running. What I didn’t know at the time was that massage therapy would set me on a path of working deeply with others and with myself. Read more>>
Gary Gayler
Subsequently, horses and the outdoors connected to other interests and work, like historical re-enactments, film work, land surveying, and landman work. I was also fortunate to participate in some truly unique and special events — mounted archery, polocrosse, polo, buffalo hunting with traditional bow and arrow, even mounted knife and tomahawk throwing. All of these experiences deepened my respect for the horse as a partner and for the many ways riding can engage both body and spirit. Read more>>
Courtney Campbell
I’m a third-generation hairdresser, though I never imagined I’d follow that path. My mom was a stylist too, and after losing her when I was 10, I thought I’d go a completely different direction. Life had other plans. I started cosmetology school in high school and went straight to work after graduation. At 22, I opened my own salon. Read more>>
Tim Minnick
I became a fitness instructor/trainer at age 72 after my wife passed away. It really totally changed my life not only physically but mentally as well. I really needed that after helping her deal with Cancer off and on for many years. Read more>>
Gracen Morrow
For me, floral design felt like an “aha” moment in my college career as I was discovering future career paths. Through the power of prayer, I found my calling! I quickly began freelancing for florists all over Texas, gaining as much experience as possible. Then COVID hit, and I had plenty of time to actually create my business. Once my website was live, weddings haven’t stopped rolling in. I believe God provides, and he has proven that true for over 5 years now! My husband and I officially settled in New Braunfels in 2023 and I have been pouring my focus into the hill country/Austin area ever since! Read more>>
Kendall Beard
The music industry is not for the weak. It’s unpredictable, constantly evolving, and can be incredibly tough to navigate. I’ve always said—and even wrote a song about it called “The Curse”—that having the gift of music is both a blessing and a curse. Once you’ve been bitten by the bug, once you’ve tasted success or felt the thrill of performing live, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else. It pulls you in completely. Read more>>
Jeff Lum
I thought working with athletes and getting them back to activities they enjoyed was so cool! I got to listen to people’s stories on how they got into the activities they did, how they got injured, and was able to see them go back to doing the things they loved. Seeing people regain their lives and knowing you play a role is incredibly gratifying. I’ve always wanted to run my practice in a way that may be outside the box. One thing that hasn’t changed is putting the patient at the center of it all and providing care that helps them get back to what they do as quickly and efficiently as possible. Read more>>
Olivier Vo
Everything changed when the studio asked me to film a promo for a new event. I didn’t own any gear, so I borrowed a camera, lens, and gimbal from friends. The result wasn’t perfect, but the process was exhilarating. I loved capturing movement, framing energy, and turning raw footage into something dynamic. That’s when I realized I wanted to do more. Slowly, I found myself filming dancers more often than dancing myself. Read more>>
Ashley Dahlke
We had many challenges getting to where we are today. We started the search for a brick & mortar during the height of the pandemic which added to the difficulty. We found our original location on Main Street in downtown Elgin in January 2023. It needed work and didn’t have a kitchen, so we decided to wholesale party from a bakery in Austin and focus on building a foundation for the creative arts and community part of the business plan. We hosted weekly workshops, pop-ups and events. After six months of driving into Austin every morning to pick up pastries, I decided that we needed to make a change. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Lewis
I’m a therapist, entrepreneur, helper-at-heart, and someone who believes deeply in the healing power of being truly heard. I started out in solo private practice because I was craving something slower, more intentional that honored the deep work I knew therapy could be. I loved my clients, loved the one-on-one relationships, but I kept seeing how hard it was for other clinicians to get started, how easy it was to burn out, and how many clients were slipping through the cracks. I loved the work, but I quickly saw the limitations—not just for me as a provider, but for clients too. I knew there had to be a better way to offer therapy that was accessible, compassionate, and impactful. Read more>>
Katie Hastings
Over the years, I found myself busy enough with architectural work so in 2023, I decided to phase out the interior design part of my business and rebranded as Katie Hastings Architecture, focusing on residential architectural projects of all types and sizes. I feel lucky to have found a profession that I enjoy so thoroughly, getting to flex my creative muscle and work with amazing people, while staying flexible and available for my family. Read more>>
Jayme Shiarla
Today, I’m an Executive Wellness Coach and NLP Practitioner. I work with high-achievers who’ve built strong careers but are silently questioning why it still doesn’t feel like “enough.” My coaching helps them get to the root of their burnout, blocks, and breakdowns — and rebuild a life that actually feels good. We simplify, we reset, and we redefine what success really means — from the inside out. Read more>>
Poet Elizondo
One of my favorite songs (and proudest I’ve been of myself when writing a song) is a song called on that album called “Twisted” which explains my parents falling out from my dad’s point of view. I tried to think of what a early 20’s version of my dad would say to my mom about their break up when feelings were still fresh & raw (and after a couple of drinks lol) The song also samples Keith’s sweat’s twisted which is a song that my mom absolutely loves and probably the only R&B song that my dad sings along to. So with twisted coming out in 96’ (year I was born) and them both always playing the song made it the perfect sample for what I was trying to do. Read more>>
