The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Shalene Roberts
More than 20 years ago, I graduated from TCU and immediately went to work in magazine publishing for a small, women’s ministry publication. Not long after my tenure there, I landed a job as an editor at Fort Worth, Texas magazine, where I was also eventually tapped for the role as editor of the company’s home and garden magazines. I served in this role for several years and was the founding editor for the launch of Innovative Home magazine. Read more>>
Kara Barker
I hold a BA in Psychology, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, and a few powerful letters behind my name (CLU, CPCU)—but more than anything, I’m committed to showing up fully. As a wife, a mother of three amazing kids, and a woman of faith, I bring all of me to every space I walk into. Read more>>
John McStravick
There has been a lot of travel, late nights, and weekends along the way. While some of that could be seen as a struggle, it’s also led to incredible work and meaningful opportunities and relationships. Collaborating with great people has made it all worthwhile. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, but despite the challenges, everything seems to have worked out for the better. Read more>>
Emma Johnson
I believe my love for photography was shaped by my childhood. My grandfather played a huge role in my life, and some of my earliest and most cherished memories are of him with a camera in hand. He was always documenting—recording home videos, capturing snapshots on disposable cameras, and ensuring that every special occasion and ordinary day alike were preserved. At the time, I didn’t realize how important those images would become, but now that some of the most significant people in my life are no longer here, I treasure those photos more than ever. They remind me of the warmth, the love, and the moments that defined my past. Read more>>
Paris Branch
This was during the time where it was genuinely hard to go viral and get a huge following. I grew faster after an interaction with Issa Rae however my rise was organic because I was always me. I eventually stepped in front of the camera giving controversial takes on dating, the Black community, and more interactions with celebrities as of late, Cardi B. However, my platform is meant to cause conversations Read more>>
DJ Queen Breezy
I’ve always wanted to be a DJ since high school. My uncle was a DJ and used to put me on game, told me all the ins and outs, but I never took the time to really go for it. I grew up surrounded by music. My dad used to burn CDs all the time, and just being around him, I learned so much music beyond my years. I was on Napster and LimeWire heavy, making my own mixes and burning CDs for friends. People used to come to me asking for custom playlists, and I was always at Walmart the day my favorite artists dropped albums. I even used to record fire radio mixes on tape by putting paper in the bottom of the cassettes just so I could replay them later. Music was always in me. Read more>>
Leanne Page
I started my career as a special education teacher working with autistic students. I wanted to do more and learn more to help my students and other so I went back to graduate school and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). I have worked in Applied Behavior Analysis providing ABA therapy in a center-based program and in-home therapy for autistic kids. When I became a mother myself, I realized that this science of behavior was something ALL moms could use so I created Parenting with ABA. Read more>>
Taé Baszile
I began posting workout content, weight, loss, tips, etc. As soon as I got my website up, I got an influx of clientele. I then had a photographer reach out to me basically telling me that there was an opportunity for me to bring my clients to train at a gym in Grand Prairie called iron bar athletics. They have been a very big help in providing me with any resources that I need for my clients and they have an amazing community there with owners who are Christian as well and do weekly Bible studies and I felt right at home. Read more>>
Kira Kahlke
The spring of 2021 I had a friend that showed me an internship opportunity at the biggest haunted house in the state; which I was accepted into. That internship at Fear Factory was a dream. The lead MUAs were great at demonstrating airbrushing and different techniques. The way they coached you to be better at your craft was very positive and uplifting. After the summer, I was accepted into the internship extension; where I was able to work the season at the haunt. Airbrushing multiple actors in just a couple hours, bringing to life the horrors of the evening. What was crazy about this experience is starting the internship I was not a horror fan, and I was terrified of everything. After going through that program I have a joy and appreciation for the industry (while still going through baby steps in my horror movie watching). Read more>>
Madison Perrott
Through every high, low, detour, and plot twist music has been the through line. It’s how I process things. Writing is where I get to be brutally honest, a little messy, and say the things I might not have the nerve to say out loud. My songs are full of heart, a little bite, a lot of truth, and all the contradictions that come with being human. It’s my favorite way to make sense of the chaos and hopefully help other people feel a little less alone in theirs. Read more>>
Kelly Blackall
My love for photography actually started way before that, with my Grandpa Bear. He taught me how to shoot and process film, and those memories of being in the dark room and developing prints are still some of my favorites. Later on, working on the yearbook and newspaper staff at Lewisville High School (Go Farmers!) really cemented my love for storytelling through both words and imagery. Read more>>
Jake Abraham
In the past 4 years I have also worked on a number of Film/TV productions including “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” on Paramount + and the CW’s “Walker” in Austin. This past summer, I premiered “Daddy War Bucks” at the Historic Texas Theater in Oak Cliff to a packed audience and great reception, while also attending the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York City. As I continue to develop my production company, I am embarking on my next project which I plan to shoot this year, and hope to continue making personal, emotionally driven films that resonate with audiences. Read more>>
Pudge
I learned how to produce beats and record rap songs by myself at a very early age. Me and my childhood friends had a collective called “Fab Deuce” in High school…we saw a decent amount of underground success as teenagers. We would sell out local shows and perform at hip hop events all around the country. I was the lead producer and manager for our group from 2005 to 2020. During this time, I was a big facilitator for hip hop here in Denton and Dallas. I always made beats for other artists, recorded them, shot and edited videos etc…I spent the better part of a decade working with other people to cultivate a rap scene here in my home town. Read more>>
Harrisen Viator
I have been a singer since I learned how to talk, but I guess I got it from my dad who is a singer-songwriter and has been performing in Dallas since the early 90s with various bands from cover bands to original groups. I didn’t really begin taking music seriously until I was about 19 years old, but I always had it in me. I remember around that time I was visiting home between semesters at college and I shared a poem I wrote with my stepmom and to this day I still remember her saying “this is good, you should keep doing it.” That’s all it took. Read more>>
Promise McCree
Poetry has always been instrumental in my life. I started writing at the age of 7, and from that point on, I developed a deep connection with words. My vocabulary, wordplay, and emotional expression were recognized early by teachers, mentors, and community leaders. I found myself drawn to any space that allowed me to speak, write, or create—from school announcements and media segments in elementary to founding a poetry club in high school, and eventually creating an artistic movement at Grambling State University. I’ve always believed in using my voice not just for myself, but for those who haven’t yet found theirs. Creating platforms and safe spaces for others has always felt like a part of my purpose. Read more>>
DeAndra Mitchell
But one of the biggest struggles wasn’t just the personal hurdles — it was realizing how important the right team is. In the beginning, I didn’t always have the right people around me. Not having the right team in place caused some really important business dealings to slip through the cracks, and I had to deal with the fallout from that. It was a tough lesson that no matter how passionate or hardworking you are, you can’t build something great alone — you need people who are just as committed and trustworthy. Read more>>
Yesel Gutierrez Cristhal Gutiérrez
We value authentic learning, play based learning and project based learning and wanted to create a way to combine these elements into our own curriculum. We saw students thrive when they were fully immersed in a language but could not find a public school campus that offered just that. Here, at Mi Cielito Lindo, we provide families and students with a full Spanish immersion experience where children have the opportunity to be children and learn through hands on play based activities. Read more>>
Parker Slavens
There have many highs and lows along my comedy journey, but I’m so glad to be walking this path. These days, I wow audiences with impassioned diatribes on the dating scene, hilarious stories from my childhood, and sharp observations on the luxury-athleisure market. You can count on me to deliver relatable comedy—jumping from feel-good anecdotes to half-crazed retellings from my wild and wonderful life—guaranteeing a show that’s both memorable and uniquely entertaining. Read more>>
Joshua Moore
It’s definitely been a rocky road. I struggled with cast and staff members. Having to deal with multiple personalities is not for the weak hearted. Not knowing how to properly operate a film company and shooting my first feature film, I made mistakes and had no choice but to learn from trial and error. Reading books and taking classes helped me tremendously with pre-production to post- production. I had to keep in mind that I’m just getting started and promised myself to never stop regardless of the circumstances, seen and unseen. Read more>>
J.D. Glaeser
I spent the next 20ish years in these kind of gyms. I always wanted to own my own gym and eventually I got to a place financially where I was able to make my dream come true! I partnered with Brian Dobson the owner of the original MetroFlex gym to open my own MetroFlex here in Mansfield, TX! The area was very underserved for this type of training facility so I saw my opportunity! We have just celebrated our 2nd anniversary this month and as much as things have changed and gotten better, one thing remains. The hardcore roots of this world known brand are alive and well in Mansfield Texas! Read more>>
Emily Jane
I’ve been very blessed to be able to curate such powerful relationships and connections over the past decade that have assisted in giving me many opportunities that upcoming artists put out a lot. of music to be considered for, and although this is backwards, it wasn’t until being able to successfully execute these experiences that I really knew music was my purpose in life & what I wanted to put all of my effort into, Read more>>
DJ Johnny Chiles
If there’s credit to give, I’d have to give it to my friends at Soundworks Academy. No matter how interested I was in the idea of DJ’ing, there was never really an avenue where I knew I would get the chance to learn. Soundworks presented that opportunity for me to get my feet into DJ’ing business and now it’s become my full-time passion. Since my time at Soundworks, I’ve done holiday parties, graduation parties, weddings, clubs, lounges, and even house parties. My next goal is to have my own event series that travels from city to city across the country! Read more>>
Amya Hudson
One of my biggest inspirations came from being part of a collective called CAMP, which stands for Come And Make Peace, founded by Chef! (Curtis Bryant). CAMP was more than a creative group — it was a movement. We hosted shows, created platforms for artists, and built a culture of connection all throughout South Carolina. Being surrounded by creatives who poured into each other and uplifted one another showed me the power of collaboration. It’s where I learned what it means to build something with soul. Read more>>
Taylor Pham
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Starting out during COVID meant I had to learn everything on my own—no crowds, no live feedback, just trial and error through practice. Transitioning to live gigs came with its own challenges, like building a local network, landing opportunities, and proving myself in a competitive scene. But every struggle has helped shape my style and confidence as a performer. Read more>>
Saraida Thibodeaux
The road hasn’t always been smooth. As you can imagine, balancing content creation with a full-time job at a tech giant, being a wife, and being a mom is no small feat. Each of those roles on their own can be exhausting. Put together, it’s a lot. Naturally, content creation often falls to the bottom of the list. I’ve struggled with finding time to edit videos, post across platforms, and truly engage with my community. But I’ve learned to be proud of whatever I am able to accomplish. I wear a lot of hats, and I’m doing a great job. Read more>>
Jade McNeal
Entrepreneurship has always been a passion of mine. I received subtle hints along the way that molded me to see it through. For me, entrepreneurship is a financial pursuit rooted in creating multiple streams of income to support my well-being and that alone can be frustrating. There aren’t always clear examples or consistent support, and often the only people who truly understand are the ones walking this path beside you. Read more>>
Sydney Williams
When I was 13, I also downloaded TikTok on a whim and started posting fun videos—jokes about rodeo life, behind-the-scenes content from our day-to-day, and anything else that felt true to me. At first, the platform grew slowly, but by my sophomore year, things exploded. I was gaining 2,000 to 10,000 followers a month, which led to incredible opportunities in modeling, content creation, and brand collaborations. I found myself juggling booking shoots and planning videos during the week, while competing at major rodeos on the weekends. Eventually, my platform helped pay for some of my rodeo expenses, which was such a blessing. Read more>>
Jonny
Being a solo project, playing live has been a particularly stressful facet of my endeavor. I am beyond fortunate to have friends willing to play alongside me and help give the best show possible, but ensuring availabilities as well as teaching parts to incoming members can be a long, difficult process. Read more>>
Christopher Rucker
I don’t like putting a label on the boards for a lot of reasons… Every skater in the world is going to know where my boards came from and what they are. I only put a brand label on the clothes. I plan on building free skateparks in cities across the US to keep kids into other things instead of making some similar mistakes to the ones I did for most of my life AND having a yearly summer music festival tour with all kinds of artists every year sponsored by us. I’m working on designing the perfect skater shoe too! I had to do something with myself & my life & pull myself out of the gutter I dug myself into for so long. Finally.. If you build it.. they will come… Read more>>
Brycen Alleyne
I am originally from Wilmington, Delaware born and raised. Graduated from Delaware State University in 2019 with a Bachelors in Exercise Science. Since I was young I’ve been involved with sports and sports performance. All state and all conference in Football in High school, All Conference Runningback/Returner at Delaware State University where I finished #3 All time in school history. Post College while trying to figure out my professional football career I began to lean more into my love for developing young athletes on the field and in the weight room, passing along information and keys to help them be successful on and off the field. Read more>>
Aamir Syed
One more significant struggle was the process of building a community around my work. Halal food is a niche market, so growing an audience that truly resonated with my content took time. I had to invest a lot in social media engagement, learning SEO, and creating content that not only showcased food but also educated and informed people about halal practices, which added an educational layer to my platform. Read more>>
Nicole Sallis
From there, my path evolved naturally into personal branding and identity coaching. I started helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams show up authentically, confidently, and stylishly—no matter the setting. This work took me global, hosting transformational retreats around the world that blended style, personal growth, and empowerment in stunning, inspiring locations. Read more>>
Becky Steinhardt
The year after I started college, now a Marketing major, I got my first freelance gig working for M.A.C. and I just had no idea where anything was going. I stumbled through corporate life, wanting to do things that brought me joy in artistry, but bills usually got in the way of that. Read more>>
