We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
Lauren Cecil
Right now is my tap-dancing era. With Rio Bravo Ranch, Rio Bravo Songs, Big Bend Jeep, and the Bravo Bravery Retreat, I’m watching my visions come to life in real time. That kind of alignment makes me want to dance — whether anyone’s watching or not. Read more>>
Norema Cecilia
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: “You are stronger than you realize, and everything you’re going through will shape you into someone resilient, compassionate, and unstoppable.” As I got older, I came to understand that what I thought of as “normal” were, in fact, hardships. Read more>>
Sheila Baez
Yes, I believe the public version of me is real because I show up as a whole person. I can be shy and reserved at times, but also silly and funny, and my facial expressions often give me away. I’m both raw and gentle, and I allow those parts of me to come through in how I connect with others. Read more>>
Khalil Kodak
What I’m most proud of building, that most people don’t see, is the creative world I’ve been quietly developing behind the scenes. I’ve been working on my own original animation series for YouTube, crafting every detail from the characters to the story lines completely on my own. At the same time, I’ve been building a video game from scratch! Read more>>
Daphna Sebbane
Bonds between people often break and when pride overshadows compassion. What restores them is usually much simpler like small, intentional gestures that remind us of our connection. Whether it’s an honest apology, or the act of reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to in awhile, those moments rebuild trust and remind us that we’re not alone. Read more>>
Curtis McMurtry
I think many people believe that by listening to an artist on spotify that they are actively supporting that artist’s music, which unfortunately isn’t true. Doing that only supports the streaming service, which is a parasitic entity exploiting the artist. The only way to support an artist is to directly purchase their music or their merchandise. Read more>>
Brant Day
One critical moment, a crossroads of decision, was when my dad passed away when I was 16. I believe I was a sophmore in High School at the time. I had just begun discovering my love of art and drawing. Read more>>
Rachel Silva
That tenderness is power. The world teaches us to equate strength with hardness, with walls and armor. But I have learned the opposite. The ability to stay open, to feel deeply, to create from that rawness, is the bravest thing we can do. Chaos on a canvas, vulnerability in a conversation, grief turned into color: those are the places where real strength lives. Read more>>
Tom Vera
Man, that question weighs heavy on me — especially now as a husband and a father. Because honestly, I think about it a lot. What story will my family tell when I’m gone? I hope it’s the story of a man who was far from perfect, who stumbled plenty, but who always got back up and kept trying. Read more>>
Leigh Kubin
One of the moments that most shaped how I see the world came during one of the lowest points in my life. I had lost everything. Most of my family had disowned me, I had made choices I wasn’t proud of, and I found myself completely alone. In that darkness, the only thing I could cling to was gratitude. Read more>>
Rachel Ross
When I am near water, in water or drinking water I feel peaceful. I call my tin my happy place. It’s soothing, calming and refreshing. Read more>>
Maurice Vellas
I feel most at peace when I’ve done what I’ve felt called to. When I’ve actually gone and bothered to explore those little inklings of ideas of what I would like to create and stuck with them long enough to watch them transform into something living— whether that’s a painting, a photograph, a story, or a film. Read more>>
Kelsey Edson
One of my favorite parts of life is the ability to learn from every experience and interaction. My partner and I, for example, communicate in very different ways, and through that we’ve learned—day by day—how to better understand and support each other. I also wouldn’t be where I am in my business without the guidance and influence of other artists and makers. Read more>>
Julie Albertson
My Grandmother taught me about integrity, hard work, and that I could do anything. She was a hard working woman that used her food rations during the WWII to make pies to sell to the steel workers. She was always cooking and instilled in me that same desire to make people happy with my cooking. Read more>>
Jordan Cordel
This is an amazing question. I was just myself, the real me. The reason I titled my album “You Made Me This Way” is because I felt that there were relationships and people in my life that hurt me so bad that I became someone I never thought that I would be. Read more>>
Semih Yanyali
Yes, I would. I have consistently received feedback from artists and clients that I not only bring their sound to the finish line but elevate it to the next level. I’m also often told that I’m easy to work with and create a comfortable environment in the studio. Read more>>
Virginia Hernandez
I believe I am doing what I was born to do now. I started becoming interested in photography as a kid, as young as 8 years old. It was always a hobby, and I daydreamed about making it a career, but I had no idea how. Read more>>
Laila Khater
I am the kind of person who gives my best effort in everything I do, regardless of whether it is recognized or rewarded. For me, excellence is not driven by external validation, it is a reflection of my personal values and my commitment. Read more>>
Therese Schwenkler
Absolutely. With my creative work, I’ve learned the power of tuning into natural rhythms rather than rushing. For example, I’m planning to release my Unlost podcast episodes on full moons. It’s a way of honoring a slower, more intentional creative cycle rather than feeling pressured to churn out content quickly. Read more>>
HANNAH HANNAH
This past spring, I had the opportunity to participate in Austin Fashion Week on a larger scale. As the social media manager for the company, Fashion X Texas, I noticed a lot of our followers were drag queens, and members or allies of the LGBTQIA community. Read more>>
Elissa Marie
I would tell my younger self that she’s more powerful than she gives herself credit for. I would tell her she’s allowed to break through the facade the world has built around what girls and women are “supposed” to be like, and to believe in the power of her dreams and her imagination. Read more>>
Tania Vanmeter
Yet another powerful question, one that I am not sure I can answer. Life is full of broken bonds between 2 or more people. What I have learned over the years, is that what will be will be. If a relationship is meant to be, no bond can be broken, maybe a little tarnished or bruised, but true love always finds its way back. Read more>>
Mitchel Dumlao
Suffering taught me that it’s okay to ask for help—that it’s important not to be embarrassed or too proud to seem weak, and to allow myself to be vulnerable in order to get the guidance and support I need. Read more>>
Katherine Mullen
One of the biggest misconceptions about what I do is that people assume a “sports chiropractor” spends all day adjusting spines and chasing pain. Don’t get me wrong, manual work has its place, but that’s just the surface level. Pain is actually the easiest part to treat; it’s the first thing that shows up and the last thing to leave. Read more>>
GRACE NGUCHU
I’ve come to see death as a gift — not in a morbid way, but as the clearest teacher of what truly matters. Knowing life is finite gives urgency and clarity: it pushes me to create honestly, to speak my truth, and to spend time on what connects us rather than what divides us. Read more>>
Francis McGrath
One of my favorite parts of each day is that each day is different. I have gigs some days, rehearsals others. On Mondays I teach music and whenever I can, I’m working in my studio. I might end up swimming laps, playing disc golf, or driving to Houston or Dallas to perform. No two days are alike and I find that incredibly energizing. Read more>>
Kemi Yemi-Ese
Travel has been bringing me joy lately. Recently, my partner and I went to Australia to go scuba diving. This was a challenging and incredibly fulfilling experience. It brought me joy to witness the beauty of the ocean and it inspired a new list of places that I want to visit. Being a wheelchair user, I used to just assume most places were inaccessible. Read more>>
Qudduws Ware
As I mentioned before, my first love was dancing. One of my earliest memories is of my mother watching me dance like Michael Jackson. She and one of my favorite aunties decided to take me to a dance contest that was happening one Easter. Before the music started, they had all of us kids line up on stage. Read more>>
Jennifer James
The project I am committed to no matter how long it takes is my acting career (apart from my film production company). Acting has always been my dream since I can remember, and I have had many on and off moments but have never given up on the pursuit of it. The industry has always been tough, and sometimes it all comes down to timing. Read more>>
Katelyn Langley
I used to believe that success meant being able to do everything on my own. Looking back, that was wrong. I’ve learned that real strength is in building an amazing team, mentoring others, and letting people shine in what they’re best at. It’s not a weakness to trust other or delegate-it’s actually how you grow, both in business and in life. Read more>>
William Schreoder
I used to believe you could live life in a way that avoided suffering. I don’t believe that any more. Life is full of suffering, and what matters is what you do with it. Sometimes I even feel for people who somehow escape it, because their experience of life may end up thinner. Read more>>
Chad Rea
Authentic self-expression. Full stop. There’s nothing more important to me than protecting the right for every person to show up as who they truly are. Nothing lights me up more than helping others share their gifts with the world in a way that feels honest and uniquely theirs. Read more>>
LeeAnna Benavidez
Two experiences within my own family profoundly shaped how I see the world—and ultimately inspired the vision behind Sensory Style Co. Growing up with a brother who has Down syndrome gave me a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs of being neurodivergent in a world that isn’t always designed with inclusivity in mind. Read more>>
Patty Mekhail
There are so many people that contributed to my work ethic: my parents, my aunt, etc. But the most influential person that led me to my career is my grandmother, Pat. We call her Ninny. She had a boutique in my hometown, and later designed and created her own line of women’s European linen clothing. Read more>>
