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.
Tom Spano
After college, I spent roughly 10 years as a school teacher and was invited to North Carolina to join a business in the Furniture industry in the sales and marketing department and worked for an import export company all the way up until the housing crisis in 2007 which promptly put Furniture industry in major distress. Read more>>
Jacqueline May
I am from a small town – Aledo, Texas – and from a very early age was attracted to the arts. I took many years of piano and also painting lessons, did creative writing and UIL competitions in ready writing in high school, and majored in Fine Art at North Texas. Read more>>
Antonio F Delgado
The road has been winding, but the view has been beautiful. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, a big city with a small-town mentality. I never really learned how to speak Spanish, but I lived and breathed the culture of growing up Mexican American in a border town. Music was always how I passed the time. Read more>>
Leah Cullis
It started when I had a career-ending fall as a cheerleader in my first year – I sprained my neck and hurt my lower back, and instead of properly rehabbing, I just tried to move on. That trauma got buried under everything else going on at the time: my parents’ divorce, a breakup, needing to work and hustle through school. Read more>>
Erin Carle
Creativity has been a constant throughout my life. I grew up in Houston, Texas, I spent most of my childhood immersed in the performing arts and modeling. I began dancing at the age of three and later trained extensively in ballet and aerial arts, eventually performing and teaching professionally. Read more>>
Matt Rade
It’s funny because we never truly got together to be in ‘a band.’ At the time (2007), we were all working at the downtown club, Beauty Bar. Through conversation we discovered that we all played instruments, so decided to get together to jam for fun. 20 years later, we are still doing it! BIO: Austin TX’s instruMETAL outfit EAGLE CLAW plays heavy, loud music. Read more>>
Nicolle Reid
Books of Wimberley Philosophy We price used books from a mobile book shop. I travel around Hays County and surrounding rural areas to bring books to folks, in towns that do no have a book store. We will carry books that represent the under-represented voices. Read more>>
Jess Ledbetter
I was born in Arlington, Texas and spent most of my time playing outside, playing dress up and writing stories. I was a very silly kid and loved performing. I took an interest in my neighbors acoustic guitar and though it only had 2 strings on it, I asked to borrow it and started making up little songs on the 2 out of tune strings. Read more>>
Samantha Wishlinski
Sam Wish has been evolving alongside me for more than 15 years. What began as one creative passion has grown into a business centered around wellness, intentional living, and natural skincare. In 2010, I opened the metaphorical doors to Sam Wish as an online Etsy shop selling vintage and upcycled clothing. Read more>>
Tara Bertoldo
I grew up in a small town where hard work, integrity, and taking care of people weren’t just values—they were a way of life. Those lessons ultimately led me to nursing, and I became a registered nurse in 2009. While working in a hospital setting, I pursued my master’s degree and discovered aesthetic medicine in 2014. Read more>>
Victor Plata Mazzotti
I’m a husband and father of three. I graduated as an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer and started my career at Ericsson, doing software development and testing for public telephone networks. I steadily worked my way up into leadership roles and later completed a master’s degree in IT Management. When the dot-com and 3G bubble burst, I was laid off during the recession that followed. Read more>>
Kailyn Harris
While at the University of Texas, studying Studio Art, I stumbled across a flyer for an interest meeting regarding the formation of a Black creative collective on campus during my sophomore year. Read more>>
Mason Petmecky
I started my professional career as a professional land surveyor in 2006. When the economy crashed, I was laid off by three different engineering firms. While on unemployment I went into my local fish store just to grab some water for one of my fish tanks and I saw and now hiring sign. At this time in 2008 now hiring science more practically extinct. Read more>>
Sarah Falciani
I’ve been coaching in one form or another for most of my adult life. It actually started when I was 17 or 18, working as a fitness coach while I was in undergrad. Even during my time serving in the Army, I continued coaching because I loved helping people create meaningful, lasting change in their lives. Read more>>
Laura Esparza
I was an artistic kid that turned into an artistic teenager, and then an artistic young adult. Everyone said a career in the arts was impossible but I kept going. In college, I wrote my own degree called ‘Community Arts Development’ at Fairhaven College, Western Washington University and it still describes my career over 40 years later. Read more>>
Hannah Zeeb
I have always painted but really started to take it seriously during COVID when there was nothing else to distract me. Soon my friends saw my work and wanted some pieces and it just snowballed from there. Read more>>
Sara Kocek
I moved to Austin in 2010, right after finishing my MFA in fiction writing from NYU. My first job here was at the Writers’ League of Texas, where I worked my way from unpaid intern to administrative assistant to program director, and, for a few memorable months, interim executive director. That job was really my entry point into Austin’s literary community. Read more>>
Sean Mathis
I grew up drawing since I was in elementary school, and took my first photography class as a college freshman. After that I didn’t really touch the camera until my last few months living in the Eastern Sierra. Read more>>
Ricky Nichols
I’m being as brief as possible here but I have the best story I was adopted at a young age then kicked out at 16 and was homeless in Austin for 5 years. Read more>>
Diego Sebastian
Diego Sebastian – Biography Diego Sebastian is an Argentine-American fitness model, actor, stuntman, certified personal trainer, and health and performance coach with more than three decades of experience in the fitness industry. Known for his elite physique, athleticism, and longevity, Diego has built a career that bridges fitness, entertainment, and lifestyle branding. Read more>>
Nicholas Ross
I’ve always had a hard time sticking to just one creative outlet. My day job is in advertising, but outside of that I’ve spent years playing in bands, designing for musicians and record labels, making films, and saying yes to any project that gives me a chance to create something. Read more>>
Brendan Friel
Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I’d spend my summers in Ireland visiting family, and one of my core memories was watching my Uncle Jimmy play accordion in his Céilí band at the local pubs. I’d fold up a piece of paper like an accordion and sit as close to the makeshift stage as I could. Read more>>
Mary Yalda
Hair has always been my passion, but in high school I was in a law program and I was planning on going into law. I realized I wasn’t being true to myself and decided to go to beauty school instead. I wanted to help people feel good about themselves, give them confident boost because I believe that when we feel good, we treat others well. Read more>>
Natalie Sideserf
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. While in school, a lot of my work was focused on hyperrealistic painting and sculpting as I was influenced by other artists such as Ron Mueck and Evan Penny. Read more>>
Jenny Powell
I was first introduced to Pilates while attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a Dance Major. I fell in love with the precision, technique, and detail of the Classical Pilates Method. After graduation I moved to New York City with no real plan, other than to dance and survive in the insanity of the city. Read more>>
Rania Sawaie
Inspired by the excitement of foam fiestas, we created the name Foamista. We discovered foam parties and loved the joy and excitement they brought, so we decided to share that experience with others. Read more>>
Sara Ferniza
My Viva Verde ATX Story Viva Verde ATX was born from a lifelong belief that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, anything is possible. For 28 years, running was a major part of my life. I completed 59 marathons, including all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, a goal that took me 10 years to achieve. Read more>>
Lizbeth Mejorado
My name is Lizbeth Mejorado, and my story started long before I ever imagined building a career in the beauty industry. I came to the United States from Mexico as a child, and I grew up as one of the youngest of six sisters. Being surrounded by so many women, beauty, makeup, and getting ready was always part of my environment. Read more>>
Jo Doak
When it comes to being talented, a lot of people believe you’re either born with it or you’re not. My mother likes to say I was born an artist and looking back at elementary age school projects, I understand why she would say that. Especially about her own child, haha. Read more>>
Kristi Alder
I have always enjoyed the outdoors and was raised in it. When I moved to Austin in ‘92 it consumed me. I got a job at a bead shop (I did small seed bead work for a long time as well as wire work), I spent most of my time at the rivers and lakes or traveling the country in my Honda. Read more>>
Teddy Long
I was raised in a small town in Western New York called Bemus point on Chautauqua lake. I moved to Austin in 2006 with my then girlfriend Natalie who is now my wife. And ultimately it’s because of a drunken coin toss we ended up in Austin. I started playing open mics. Read more>>
Kelé Self
My interest in bodywork started as an interest in movement and kinesiology. I was an avid dancer, rock climber, and fitness enthusiast in my 20s and 30s. This gave me a good understanding of how the human body works as well as how it hurts and can benefit from regular bodywork and consistent care. Read more>>
Shasta Lusk
Building a Spa Destination Beyond Austin For Shasta Lusk, building a successful spa business has always been about more than massage and skincare—it’s about creating places where people feel genuinely cared for. A longtime massage therapist, esthetician, and woman business owner, Shasta has grown Cherry Blossoms Spa from its original Bastrop location into a second thriving destination in Lockhart, Texas. Read more>>
Fight Opera
Well, Austin is full of freaks. After 2020 a lot of those strange people and creatures had nowhere to go and nowhere to display their incredible skills. Several of us met for some ritual potions and snacks under the light of a full moon. There we decided that we were overdue to reveal ourselves to the people of Austin. Read more>>
Kendra Merrill
I grew up in the South, where girls were taught to be sweet, agreeable, and quiet — don’t talk back, don’t question authority, just follow the lead of someone who knows better. I absorbed that so completely that by adulthood, I didn’t know how to ask myself what I wanted. I followed other people’s blueprints and called it living. On the outside, everything looked fine. Read more>>
Nika Urban
I’ve had a deep love for drawing ever since I could remember; art was always the main part of my life from childhood until now. My art teacher in high school encouraged me to go to art school, and I was accepted at College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and completed my Fine Arts degree there. Read more>>
Ligaya Thompson
My journey started early during the digital tech boom. For thirteen years, I worked my way up the corporate ladder at a major technology organization—starting as part-time retail sales, advancing to corporate sales where I lead strategic marketing initiatives across the region, and ultimately capping my corporate career in high-level Business To Business sales. Read more>>
Charla Tedrick
Since childhood, I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer. Coming from a small town in Central California, this was definitely not the typical career choice — not practical, not realistic, maybe not even possible, in fact I knew absolutely no one in ‘real life’ who actually had a job like that. Read more>>
Stanley Johanson
I am someone who has a very global footprint but I will never forget my city of birth/my home Austin. I was born in Austin, spent the first years of my life with my family members in my Grandparent’s house in Tarrytown. Afterwards I moved to Hualien, Taiwan with my parents where I also picked up my love for nature and my Chinese skills. Read more>>
Elias Aragaw
I’ve always been drawn to creating things that bring people together. During my time at Texas Tech, as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, I found myself gravitating toward creative projects, organizing events, and building community. Looking back, those experiences were an early glimpse of what I enjoy most—bringing ideas to life and creating experiences people remember. Read more>>
Madison Ierulli
My life has felt a bit like that of a cat on its seventh or eighth life, but I wouldn’t trade the mountains I’ve climbed or the emotions and experiences that shaped me. I haven’t hit my peak yet, but I can feel it waiting just around the corner. Read more>>
Karla Ransom
In 2021 I was faced a life-changing turning point that led me to leave life work of 34 years and begin rediscovering who I was. During that time I met Katrina Bos of Ontario, Cananda and completed her 200hr Kundalin Teachers Training . Thru breath work, movement, and meditation, I experienced profound healing and earned my certification in 2022. Read more>>
Sarah Nehama
I learned how to make jewelry in Boston at the historic North Bennett Street School. I already had a degree in art history, which informs my work a lot, but I needed the technical skills to bring my jewelry ideas into reality. After the 18-month program at North Bennett Street, I studied gold granulation with goldsmith Cecilia Bauer at her NYC studio. Read more>>
Hiram Molina
Hey I’m Honey Hiram Molina, front man and lead guitar player from The Honey Hiram Band. I’m an infantry Marine from South Texas turned blues man. Starting in south Texas I came from the classical world of music from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky, then being enlightened by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddie King, Marcus King. The transition from military to musician was harder than expected. Read more>>
Adriana Uruena
I started Con Mucho Amor during the pandemic when I was living in Long Beach,Ca. I started painting my own clothes and furniture for fun and eventually started thrifting old furniture and giving them a new life, my signature was painting furniture into cow print. Read more>>
Jenn Collazo
The story of the Filipino Young Professionals of Austin, Texas (FYP ATX) kicked off in May 2017 with a simple mission: find fellow professional Filipinos in town and put our community on the map. Back then, it was all about casual social networking and fun events— carving out a space to find like-minded people who wanted to celebrate our culture. Read more>>
Luna Lucero
I grew up in a small town on Vancouver island Canada, both my parents were artist types so for me being creative was really encouraged and supported. Since I was a small child I always had the dream of being an artist. Read more>>
Kaelyn Montoya
I am originally an East Coast gal who moved to Austin over 5 years ago now to pursue a master’s degree in Digital Marketing Data Analytics at St. Edwards University. Read more>>
Marie Miller
After planning my own pandemic wedding and a reception the following year, I fell in love with the industry. I took a side job as a check-in concierge at a local wedding venue, assisting families with setup, answering venue questions, and serving as a joyful point of contact. The venue graciously offered me an in-house coordinator position. Read more>>
Yvette Strange
Spoon Mountain Glamping was born from a dream my husband, Ken, and I shared of creating a place where people could slow down, unplug from the distractions of everyday life, and reconnect with the people they love most. We have always been passionate about serving others and creating meaningful experiences, and we wanted to build something that reflected those values. Read More>>
Jennifer Jones
The Mission To democratize access to high quality psycho-education to decrease intergenerational trauma. It was love at first sight when Chris and I met later in life. Blending our professional talents, my almost 30 years of being a psychotherapist, specializing in relationships and couples, and his lifetime of being an industrial and fine artist, alongside our romantic relationship, our business became an organic result. Read More>>
