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.
Lyndsey Korona
Sobriety completely changed the direction of my life. Before getting sober, I spent a lot of time simply moving through each day…getting through my 9-to-5, coming home, wasting my evenings, and repeating the same routine over and over again. I would say my story really begins with sobriety. About a year ago, after going through some difficult times, I decided to get completely sober. Read more>>
Hope Perkins
I have always had a passion for art and creating weird things. When I was a kid I used to cover any available surface in paint. Clothes, clubhouses available walls, unavailable walls, Barbies, even cicada shells weren’t safe from my wrath of painting. I went on to study art focusing primarily on painting in college. Read more>>
Jermel Morphis
S.G.L.L.O.G Spacerz Generation Legacy Leauge Of Greatness Power comes from pain, and some people suffer more than most. Read more>>
Celena Ramos
My lash journey started with a desire to create something of my own while still being present for my daughters. I’ve always had a love for beauty and creativity, and when I discovered lash extensions, I found something that allowed me to combine both while creating a space where women could feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>
Huey Mensah
I’m originally from the 757—Newport News, Virginia. Growing up, I wasn’t the athletic kid, so I naturally gravitated toward the arts. It started with dance. Then, like a lot of kids inspired by greatness, I wanted to sing and dance like Michael Jackson. (I think we all had that phase.) Eventually, though, I discovered poetry, and that changed everything. Read more>>
Brooke Marsh
The Eden Flower Co. began in a way we never could have imagined. Before we ever considered ourselves florists, we were simply two sisters with a love for creativity and a passion for being part of life’s most meaningful moments. Read more>>
Adam Johnson
I started learning guitar at 10 years old and by 13 was playing open mic nights. In high school I formed my first band with friends and we started performing regularly around San Marcos, Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country. Read more>>
Meggie Farmer
I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and had very creative parents, so making things was always a part of who I was. I always had an interest in fashion and knew I wanted to be a designer from a very young age. Read more>>
Angeline Izquierdo Jose Martinez
Do Tell grew from a simple belief: everyone deserves to experience art in a space that feels inspiring and welcoming. We believe everyone has the ability to develop their own personal curation, to trust their instincts, discover what resonates with them, and build a personal relationship with art beyond trends or expectations. Read more>>
Lex Sambrosky
Photography wasn’t something I originally planned—it grew into something I truly fell in love with. What started as picking up a camera quickly became a passion for documenting the people and moments that matter most. One of the biggest parts of my journey has been learning how to rebuild. Read more>>
Amy Jasek
My Dad is a photographer, and I grew up learning from him and hanging out in his darkroom. He took me photographing with him often; he gave me my first camera and helped me make my first print when I was 7. So, photography has always been a part of my life! Read more>>
Caryn Rock
I’ve always been drawn to stories- not just the dramatic ones, but the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. For nearly two decades, I taught art and photography, helping students see the world through a creative lens while continuing to grow as a photographer and visual storyteller myself. Read more>>
Salvatore Sol & Kylo Sorensen
Sol & Root Wellness is no stranger to change and rebirth. What started as Cosmic Intentions in 2021 eventually grew and blossomed into the Sol & Root team and brand you see today. Sol & Root was officially established in 2024. Read more>>
Michelle Washington
Fashion has been the common thread throughout my career, but over time my focus evolved from building brands to telling the stories behind them. After years of working across different areas of the fashion industry and appearing as a fashion expert on television, I recognized that Texas is home to an incredible community of designers, manufacturers, retailers, educators, and entrepreneurs whose stories often go untold. Read more>>
Amarah Shakil
I started Southern Sparkle Events when I was eight months pregnant with my daughter. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the ‘logical’ time to launch a business, but I had always been passionate about floral artistry and event design. My husband encouraged me to simply put myself out there. Read more>>
Arnikia Robinson
Coming out as an author is what started my journey. It opened up doors I could never imagine. The CEO/Founder of the brand ‘Bendable but Unbreakable’ and publishing company ‘Sweet Genola.’ She’s a Motivational Speaker, Mentor, Actress, Entrepreneur, Publisher, Public Figure, Executive Producer, Influencer, and Domestic Violence advocate and expert. Read more>>
Andrew Verdugo
It started off as a idea to keep working together after Logan and I met at Nixtia Taqueria back in 2021-2022. We became friends through our services together, and slowly we dreamt of having a business where we can express our ideas similar to how Edgar and Sara raised Nixtia to what it is today. Read more>>
Michael Smith
My story started back at Fairmont Heights High School, where I was rapping, jumping into rap battles, and making beats whenever I got the chance. I was one of those kids who thought, if I could just get the right equipment, I could figure the rest out. Read more>>
Chase D. Spruiell
i played basketball my entire life. it’s all i knew. my dad played college basketball on scholarship then became a basketball coach. my mom played college basketball on scholarship then became a basketball coach. finally, my sister played college basketball on scholarship and became a basketball coach. Read more>>
Faustin Puno
Growing up, being able to express myself was exceptionally difficult in my earliest youth. From drawing planets and stars quietly in my room, my early hyperfixation was a way of connecting with myself. Read more>>
Eddie Sanchez
I grew up in Edinburg, Tx and was adopted when I was three years old. My childhood wasn’t always easy, but it taught me resilience early on. Sports became a huge part of my life, and they instilled the work ethic and competitive mindset I still carry today. Life threw some heavy challenges my way. Read more>>
Riley Fuller
To understand my story, you have to understand my wiring: I am a self-proclaimed extremist & risk-taker. I was born with two speeds–on & off and I am hardwired to chase the rush and push everything to the absolute limit. Early on, that high-octane drive fueled my success as a college soccer player, a high-stakes financial trader managing billions, and an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Creative Arts Society
Creative Arts Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that began in 1995, when a small group of South Austin artists started gathering to share ideas, encourage one another, and make art together. More than 30 years later, that same spirit is still at the heart of CAS. Read more>>
Anna Mayeux
Food was making me sick. I created Annie Eats to make my whole week healthy, easy, and yummy. I’d been dealing with my own health issues, my hormones were badly out of balance, and every doctor I visited gave me a different diagnosis and underwhelming solutions. One doctor even told me I had PCOS and offered heavy medication as the only solution. Read more>>
Ruoyun Killian
I’ve worked in the Social Media Marketing industry before Facebook even had Business Pages. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant in the US, I was always aware that I could either follow the path laid before me or chart my own like my parents did when they came to this country. Read more>>
Natalia Gonzalez Cruz
I started doing hair at a really young age, but my journey into becoming a salon owner and educator was anything but a straight line. Like many new stylists, I entered the industry excited and passionate, but I also quickly experienced some of the harder sides of the beauty industry. Read more>>
Justin Augustus. Fay
My story is a long one. Ill give you the short version, lol. My name is Justin Augustus Fay but i am known as J. Augustus in the music world. I am a Music Producer, Recording Artist, Touring Performer and DJ / MC / Event Host and Record Label Owner. Read more>>
Cooper Meaders
Straight out of High School I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2003. I served 4 years and deployed to Iraq twice. During my second deployment I decided i was going to try out college. I got out of the Marine Corps August of 2007 and found myself sitting in college classes that same month at Sam Houston State University. Read more>>
Stephanie Walters
My love for birth started when I was just seven years old, completely captivated by my mom’s pregnancy with my sister. Even then, I felt a deep, innate fascination with the wonder of new life. Years later, some friends introduced me to the documentary The Business of Being Born, and it completely opened my eyes. Read more>>
Sharon Hudson
My story began in ninth grade when a friend took his own life. That experience deeply affected me and became the beginning of a lifelong journey—one that led me through anxiety, depression, struggles with self-love, and a deep desire to understand the meaning of life and what may exist beyond the veil. Read more>>
Whitney Schaaf
I grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City when I was 18 years old. I started working the front desk at a Fifth Avenue hair salon and quickly realized I wanted to make this industry my career, so I enrolled in cosmetology school. Read more>>
Bonnie Cullum
Bonnie Cullum I’m a native Texan, going back many generations on both sides of my family. I was born in San Antonio to Susan Estelle Kelso and Jim Cullum Jr., two strong, brilliant, and talented artists. Read more>>
Marissa Mazur
I have always dreamed of opening my own boutique. That passion led me to pursue a degree in Apparel Merchandising at the University of Arkansas, where I graduated in May 2022. Throughout college and after graduation, I worked in a variety of small boutiques and gained experience as both a buyer and in the wholesale industry in Dallas. Read more>>
Daisy De La Cruz
Tidy began from a simple observation: the condition of our homes shapes our families’ everyday experience. As a wife and homeschooling mom of three, I’ve experienced firsthand—and seen in so many other moms—that we aren’t struggling because we lack motivation. We’re simply overwhelmed, both mentally and by the spaces we’re trying to manage. That’s why I started Tidy. Read more>>
Mac and Bee McAnally
Mac: We’re GenXers, we met in the mid 90s at a live music shows and have been together ever since. Bee: We’re also both native Austin-ites, born and raised. We’ve been playing music on the scene since we were kids. But like most people we started singing and dancing in the mirror and that became playing festivals and iconic stages around Texas. Read more>>
Natalie (I don’t share my last name publicly, please lmk if this is an issue!)
Hi! I’m Natalie, although most people online know me as ‘Notoriously Nat’. I’m a native Texan, a full-time engineer, and have been sharing my life online as a content creator since 2019. During my time at the University of Houston, I gained a following on TikTok and started a Tarot business called ‘Nat the High Priestess’. Read more>>
Alysia Melchor
I’ve always been passionate about beauty. Growing up, I loved keeping up with the latest trends, experimenting with skincare, and learning everything I could about the beauty industry. But it wasn’t until I was 23, working as a receptionist at a spa in Grand Prairie, that I discovered the world of esthetics. Read more>>
Reyna Barnes
I began creating as a child- taking up painting like it was my second language. Falling in love with this free form of expression by the age of 16 my body knew this was going to be my way of life. Painting became my reputation throughout my school, and people often came to me for advice or guidance on being an artist. Read more>>
Jesse Burkhart
I was young and lived in a bit of a punk rock house, everyone played in bands and we had lots of parties. My roommates boyfriend was/is an incredible poster artist and printed for all the big touring bands. I just wanted to learn more about printing because it fascinated me and he would let me come down to his shop and help him. Read more>>
