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.
Amanda Lee Jones
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. In my twenties I pursued classical drawing and painting classes at a local atelier. I was offered a job teaching there and eventually built a career both as a working artist and as an educator teaching observational drawing and painting to children and teens. Read more>>
Myranda Rovello
I started making treats and cakes in 2016 it all started when I lived in Germany and I was trying to integrate my dog with two other dogs that were not very friendly however they were very food motivated. Read more>>
Stephen Stokes
Two8 Bands didn’t start in a factory. It started on a field. I played running back in the CFL. That career taught me what the body can do when it’s trained right, and what falls apart when it isn’t. When my playing days ended, I moved into coaching at the high school level in California. Football, track, performance work. That’s when the real education began. Read more>>
Maitlynne Alamar
I first began sewing at a very young age when I was ‘helping’ my mom make Halloween costumes for my brothers and me. When I was 12 the two of us took a beginner sewing class where I learned the basics of this craft. The journey since then has been one of exploration. Read more>>
Melanie Gil
I grew up always knowing I wanted a life that felt meaningful, creative, and free, but for a long time I didn’t fully know what that would look like. I’m originally from Miami and eventually made the decision to move to Austin, which honestly became one of the biggest turning points in my life. Read more>>
Caulen Lauria
Cryo body Works owner Caulen Lauria started Austin’s first City Approved facility for Cryotherapy in 2013. Caulen’s inspiration came after working with and being exposed to world champion athletes ranging from Formula 1, Olympic athletes, wakeboarders, and more. Caulen is originally from northern California near Lake Tahoe. He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for Engineering and Business. Read more>>
Theresa DiMenno
As a four-year-old, I mostly wanted to be outside. One spring afternoon, I found an area clear of shade away from the large pecan tree in the center of our front yard. Lying face-up on the dirt-packed driveway of our San Antonio home, I spent the afternoon looking upward to the sky. Read more>>
yvonne moreno
My journey into esthetics started in a very unexpected way. A friend of mine, who is one of the co-founders of Ann Webb Skin Institute, once asked me if I had ever thought about going back to school to become a licensed esthetician. At the time, I laughed and said, “Ummm… no.” I truly did not have any extra time. Read more>>
Annette Hill
Creating Universal Royalty® beauty pageant came from a place that was very personal to me. I had spent years around pageantry and saw firsthand how much it could impact a child’s confidence and self-esteem. I loved seeing children walk into an event feeling nervous and leave feeling stronger, happier, and proud of themselves. Read more>>
Emily Weaver
I grew up in a small farm town in central Pennsylvania. From a young age I dreamt of being a designer and going to fashion capitals like New York and Paris. I started my career at a creative studio in my hometown which led me to a styling position in NYC. Read more>>
Tanya Henslee
I’m a former teacher who made decision to stay home with my boys after becoming a mom. While I loved teaching, motherhood completely changed my perspective on what I wanted this season of life to look like. I wanted to be present for the little moments with my children, while also finding a way to hold onto a piece of myself creatively. Read more>>
Vanja Corovic
What started as a shared obsession between my daughter and me, it became something much bigger. We fell in love with the idea that jewelry could represent moments, milestones, and connections. Read more>>
Kylee Wine
For most of my adult life, I’ve worn a lot of hats. I’m a mom, a creative, a community-builder, and someone who’s always been drawn to connection and entrepreneurship. Before real estate, I spent years in social media marketing and content creation, helping businesses grow their brands online through storytelling and authentic connection. Read more>>
Samantha Hussey
My name is Samantha Murdock Hussey and I’m a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. I grew up in Naples Florida but made my way to Texas to obtain my B.S in Radio-Television-Film at UT0Austin! Since I was 8 years old reading tattered copies of various Goosebumps novels, I knew I wanted to be a storyteller. Read more>>
Juli Orlandini
I am originally from New Jersey. I’ve been invovled in all sorts of music from a very young age, but choir has been a lifelong passion. I joined my first choir—the now defunct ‘New Jesery Children’s Choir’ at age 7, and can proudly say at age 39 that I’ve never NOT been actively involved in at least one choral ensemble since—not even for a month. Read more>>
Brad Costa
I’ve always loved movies and the art of acting. It’s something that I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do since I was a little boy. Read more>>
LaClea Miles
I am LaClea Miles, and I grew up in Austin, Texas. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Texas State University in 2024. Growing up, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to go to college and become a teacher. I grew up in a large family with many younger cousins, who inspired my passion for working with children. Read more>>
Chris Harders
This chapter starts about eight years ago when I had a spontaneous spiritual awakening. It was an exciting time — I was learning there was more to life than I once thought. And yet it was also challenging and lonely. Read more>>
Kalisa King
Growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio with three siblings, all five years apart, I never had an appreciation for sports or being a fan. Once I met my husband, that changed. Read more>>
Dustin Burch
Skyfire FX started from a lifelong passion for creating memorable experiences and turning live events into something people would never forget. Before launching Skyfire FX, I spent nearly 20 years working for a large fireworks company based out west, where I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of displays and productions. Read more>>
Ravelle Laurette
My path into my healing work was honestly born out of trying to understand myself. As a child, I was deeply sensitive, shy, and struggled to feel safe in my body or fully understood in the world. When my father passed away when I was 11, that disconnection only deepened. Read more>>
Bon Blossman
I’ve always had two very different passions: science and entertaining people. While earning my Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of North Texas, I spent most of my days balancing life as a mother of two with research and coursework. But outside the lab and soccer practices, I absolutely loved hosting parties. Read more>>
Robi Hamilton
I’ve always been a creative person who enjoys using my hands. Growing up, I started off working in retail and customer service jobs with various tasks like bagging groceries, selling clothes, and rolling burritos. Meanwhile I was dealing with my own personal and mental health issues that left me feeling drained and unfulfilled in life. Read more>>
Jayden Mills
I was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma, where my Dad and Grandpa owned and operated a small business. I found myself working there after school most days. I also grew up around live music, waking up to Dad playing the guitar and Mom singing along. My whole family is musical- I sang in the choir both at school and in church. Read more>>
Annie Bolognino
Equineimity LLC Originated in Bozeman Montana around early 2008. It was my first swing at a homegrown public horsemanship and riding lesson program geared for beginners. I start with children ages 3+ and teach adults into their 70’s! No matter the age or experience I try to make learning about horses, and riding balanced regardless of saddle or style. Read more>>
Shani Montique-Ahmad
Franklin Music Academy really came out of necessity, purpose, and a desire for autonomy. We both realized pretty early on that we were not fulfilled working within systems where other people dictated how education should look, how creativity should function, or how we should spend most of our lives. JP always had strong ideas about teaching and skill development. Read more>>
Gerald Lutz
I wanted a fresh start in life, so I moved to Austin after leaving the military in 2003. My skill set wasn’t in high demand so finding a good job, or something that I liked, seemed unobtainable. I searched for more options and refined myself along the way. Read more>>
Carol Schiraldi
First, thank you for having me. Looking back, it’s funny how much of this began simply because I picked up a camera to explore a new city. After moving to Austin in 1992 to follow the tech boom, I found myself picking up a camera as an excuse to explore my new surroundings. Read more>>
Kourtney Mack
Lace Me Naturally was created from my passion for helping women feel confident, beautiful, and empowered in their own skin. What began as a lingerie brand has evolved into a lifestyle brand offering lingerie, jewelry, apparel, and accessories. All designed to celebrate natural beauty, self-expression, and confidence. My journey started at just 19 years old when I sewed my very first piece of lingerie. Read more>>
Sidu Arroyo
Pahtia Counseling Center was founded with the hope of creating a therapy practice that focused on deep, lasting healing rather than simply managing symptoms. Early in my work as an educator and school counselor, I saw firsthand how anxiety, trauma, grief, and relational struggles were affecting not just individuals but entire families. Read more>>
Virginia Belliveau
My story isn’t organized, intentional or anything I could have predicted. It was a walk of blind faith and relying on what I knew was true for me. After a hairstylist career of 17 years and a pandemic that would ultimately close the salon I was working at, as well as my son’s daycare, I would truly begin the deepest soul search of my life. Read more>>
Deleigh Hermes
Before real estate, I spent 15 years working as a photojournalist and adventure photographer. My passion has always been the land God gave us — being in the middle of nowhere, standing in an open field with nothing but the sound of the wind, is still one of my favorite places to be. Read more>>
Brooke Brockman
I suppose my story started with taking classes in college such as philosophy and sociology that made me question human behavior and why I think the way I do. After college, I worked for a local nonprofit and helped high school students who needed more individualized support in reading, writing, math, and soft skills. Read more>>
Randy Baker
First of all I wouldn’t have a story if it wasn’t for my father. My father loved children and he passed that love down to me. Our house was always the center of activity with the children of the small town that i grew up in. Read more>>
Robbi Gallagher
My story started with creativity always being part of my life, even before I fully knew what form it would take. Growing up, I was encouraged to stay involved in school while also having creative outlets, like band in middle school and high school. That foundation taught me discipline, collaboration, and the importance of expressing myself. Read more>>
Stacy Nguyen
I’m a visual artist and arts administrator originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, now based in Austin, Texas. I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Studio Art and a minor in Arts Management and Administration. During college, I became passionate not only about creating art, but also about making arts experiences more accessible through community engagement and public programming. Read more>>
Albina Pozdnyakova
I was born in Lviv, Ukraine. I was writing since childhood: poems, short stories, diaries. I was running several magazines while I was a student, and later I’ve got my little publishing project. But in 2014 we moved to US, which was a terribly hard decision for me. And I’ve lost my ability to write for several years. Read more>>
Katy Sloan
Hello, my name is Katy Sloan, or @Not_Katy_Sloan on Instagram. My username was created in a rebellious fashion while teaching elementary Art in Western NY. I always had a public flare that pushed my own boundaries (and the boundaries of my profession)… the most practical thing to do was to hide my identity in a poetic and passive-aggressive way. I became Not_Katy_Sloan. Read more>>
Tamara Kenigsberg
I’ve been teaching yoga for about 16 years and have called Austin home for the last six. My journey into yoga actually started in New York City, where I was working full-time in public relations, including serving as Director of PR for artist Peter Max. Read more>>
Tasha Miller
I have been in the restaurant business for 25 years with the honor of owning my own restaurant for almost 6 years now. I got into the industry after college when I finally agreed to help out a friend that was managing a local restaurant. I ended up loving it and worked my way up through every position. Read more>>
Cody & Reva Atkins
We started selling vintage clothing and home goods in 2015, when our living room and spare bedroom doubled as our warehouse and photo studio. In those early days, most of our sales were online but the plethora of online selling platforms did not exist yet. Read more>>
Charlie Peterson
I relocated to Austin from Chicago at the beginning of 2026 to build a new career in the world of music teaching. I’ve always been a musician and graduated college with a music industry degree, and then began teaching students about 3 years ago. I love educating in music almost as much as I like music itself, and I believe music is an art you can see shine through other individuals through it’s engagement process. Read more>>
