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.
Poseidon Neptune
Most people are living lives that were never meant for them out of fear, because they’re afraid. Afraid to fail. Afraid to be judged. Afraid to let go of the version of themselves they’ve been pretending to be for so long just to feel accepted. And that fear keeps them stuck in safe jobs, safe relationships, and safe environments. Read more>>
Ahmad Shaban
I think a lot of people secretly struggle with not having it all figured out—especially when it feels like everyone else around them does. Social media’s made that worse; It’s full of highlight reels that make you feel like you’re behind or missing something. But the truth is, no one really has it all together. Read more>>
Aliya Fraser
People often assume I’m in this just for the money—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is about freedom. It’s about peace of mind, legacy, giving back, and family. I’m building a business that stands on unshakable values—morals, honesty, and integrity. I don’t just want a recognizable name; I want a name that carries weight, respect, and long-term value. Read more>>
Craig Sefcik
That personal responsibility is absolutely paramount to leading a life of value and substance. Now I, like most people, struggled with this when I was young; especially considering what the message of the collective consciousness was back then, that if you worked hard you would get ahead and things would just work out. Read more>>
Noah Hoffmeister
Art is the most accessible skill, and everyone has the ability to make good art. A lot of people want to believe that they just don’t have what it takes to make good art, but that’s not true. Read more>>
Cody Grubbs
A normal day for me is being at a sporting event capturing photos. Read more>>
Grant Braudrick
It all depends! During the week you can find me throughout Texas growing relationships and educating consumers on DECKED products. On the weekends I could be playing music, fishing or on the golf course! Read more>>
Brittany Callahan
A normal day for me is all about balance, purpose, and impact. I wake up every morning focused on two things: my family and my mission to help people transform their financial lives. My day starts with being “mom”—making sure my boys are set up for success with school and sports. Read more>>
HARSHAD KANETKAR
For me a normal is I create, think and explore new things in music. I may not find new ones every day but atleast I get a direction where I am suppose to go. Read more>>
Fredrick Ewelike
A normal day for me right now is a mix of creativity and logistics. I’m deep in pre-production for my proof-of-concept short, which means my mornings often start with script breakdowns, scheduling, and calls with my team. Afternoons are usually spent on creative development. Whether that’s reviewing design references, imagining how certain scenes will look on camera, or refining the flow of the story. Read more>>
Robert Abtahi
The majority of my work day is spent on the phone. From a business perspective we field roughly 80 calls a day from individuals looking to hire a lawyer. Those calls are then sorted and triaged to determine which calls need a direct call back from myself or from a member of our team. Read more>>
Annie Shannon
A normal day, when I don’t have an all day event or photo session for me right now looks like waking up, making my bed, taking the dog out for a walk, coming home to do my daily chores, having my breakfast and quite time and then jumping into work. Read more>>
Hanna Still
For a long time, I felt like I had to create what everyone else was creating. Cake trends come and go, and while it was fun to keep up with them, it sometimes meant losing that personal touch and creative freedom. In the beginning, I kept things very business-like and did not share much of myself. Read more>>
Stephanie Syphus
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is the one I share with my dear husband Parker of over 12 years. From the moment we met in our collegiate touring choir, he’s been the steady rhythm to my melody. Parker is honest, kind, grounded, loyal, hardworking, and everything I always dreamed of. Read more>>
Ghazal Qadri
The relationship that has shaped me the most is the one I share with my papa. He’s been both my anchor and my compass, always pushing me to grow, to never settle, and to face the world with courage. As an artist, he nurtured my creativity and made me believe that imagination truly mattered. Read more>>
Moesha Modjulua
My relationship with God has been the foundation of who I am and how I see myself. Even as I pursued my passion for cooking and achieved the dream of owning a restaurant at a young age, I always knew there was something greater that God was calling me to. Read more>>
Kyliah Baird
I would say all of my friendships have helped me to see myself. They believed in me first and pushed me to my full potential, even before becoming a business owner. They trusted me to help style them for all occasions and they continue to use my services and products to continue supporting my passion, talent, and dreams. Read more>>
EmJay Photography
One truth that’s really important to me, but I don’t often talk about, is that my worth comes from God, not from what other people think. Even when I mess up or feel like I could do better, trusting that He has a plan for me keeps me grounded and gives me the courage to follow my purpose. Read more>>
Geetanshi Arora
I think of power not as dominance but as resilience. My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I overcame a challenge I was initially afraid of—standing up to speak in front of the class and presenting my power point presentation in college. The moment I finished, I realized strength comes from facing discomfort. Read more>>
Trandon Welch
I was about nine years old, sitting behind a drum set in my church for the very first time. The moment my sticks hit the skins, the room seemed to come alive; people standing, clapping, swaying in perfect time to a beat that had only existed in my mind seconds before. I remember feeling a rush, not of nerves, but of pure connection. Read more>>
Reggie Blanchard
When I was 8 years old selling newspapers for the local Post Dispatch in St. Louis, Missouri Read more>>
Kenny Poovey
My earliest memory was feeling power through the gift of song. I remember a man coming up to me at a local show when I was in my early 20’s, the man was a complete stranger, and he just came up to me and said, ‘your music saved my life’. Read more>>
NiEtta Reynolds
Not giving my whole self to my art, my craft, and my creativity. Not pouring every ounce of myself into the stories I was meant to tell. Not honoring the gift I’ve been given by fully showing up for it. I don’t want to leave this world with pieces of my creativity still inside me. Read more>>
Folusho
What I’d regret most is not fully going after the vision God placed in my heart. I don’t want to look back and realize I played it safe, stayed small, or let fear make my decisions. Whether it’s growing my creative business, traveling more, deepening my faith, or simply living life on my own terms—I want to know I gave it everything. Read more>>
Chandler Cooper
You have to write all your stuff by yourself. You can’t have collaborators. I was very involved in hiphop and while it made me (in my opinion) excellent at song structure, it also established some pretty stubborn bad habits in me. Read more>>
Carlos Ramos
A cultural value I preserve at all costs is staying true in my origin and immigrant identity. Although I grew up in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, I lived for a few years on the Caribbean side, in a small town called Puerto Viejo where a lot of its heritage is Jamaican and Panamanian. Read more>>
Alejandra behindthelensbyale
The cultural value I protect at all costs is family. Every day I pray for my family and thank God for blessing us with another day together. I never take for granted the time I get to spend with my children, my husband, and my loved ones. For me, family is everything it’s my source of strength, love, and motivation. Read more>>
Colin Moseley
My cultural values are grounded in honor and duty. I value loyalty and protection, especially toward my family, community, and beliefs. Respect for others is essential to me—acknowledging the rights, dignity, and presence of others is not optional; it’s a must. I place high value on respect for my home, seeing it as both a sacred space and a reflection of myself and my family. Read more>>
Kimberly Ratcliff
One of the cultural values I protect above all else is generational sustainability. For me, that means doing everything we can — not just in the day-to-day ranch operations, but in how we structure and manage the business — to make sure Ratcliff Premium Meats lasts well beyond our time. It’s not just about running cattle or selling beef. Read more>>
Rafael De Loa
My roots. My Mexican heritage. I am proud to be Mexican and it shows in my food. To share my culture and cooking with others is the greatest joy and I am risking everything to be do so. Read more>>
Alexa Larberg
I used to think failure was something to avoid at all costs, but I’ve completely changed my mind about that. No one gets anywhere without failure — it’s simply a rite of passage. My first real business failure nearly broke me. It had me questioning everything about who I was, what I could become, and what I wanted my business to be. Read more>>
Aleks Fisher
When I was younger, I often worried about what people would think if I failed. But now, with strong relationships and a supportive family, I know they will be by my side, understand me, and help me — not judge me. Also, more recently, I’ve realized that it’s okay to make mistakes and fail. Read more>>
Rodrego Way
To answer this question I will need to go back to my time in grad school. I have told the story many times as to why I decided to go back and get my degree in counseling. However, I never get the opportunity to talk about the process I had to go through to get where I am today in the area of mental health. Read more>>
Erin Roy
I was surprised at the level of curiosity for learning shibari and the sheer joy on their faves when they learned how to do something new. Read more>>
Edwina Gray
July 25th, the day Terms & Conditions went live, was pure joy because it was dedication made visible. I remember the first voice note, the messy drafts, the calendar blocks I protected, the budget stretches, the tiny daily choices to show up when it wasn’t glamorous, and then watching those quiet decisions become a real body of work. Read more>>
Daniele Puleo
On June 26th, 2025, my son Giuseppe got married in Palermo, Sicily. It was one of the proudest moments of my life, not only because he decided to do it in the place I was born but also because I saw the man in him instead of the child he was. Read more>>
Liam Lee Taylor
Many musicians are singing other people’s songs which to me makes no sense. I want to hear your words and your story not someone else’s. Except if it’s a cover of a popular song that’s fine. Read more>>
Heather Hall
I think a lot of smart people are getting caught in the trap of constant hustling—believing that if they can just optimize every moment, they’ll be more successful. In the early days of my business, I thought the same way: If I can just be more efficient, then I’ll have more time. Read more>>
Kathleen Ketola
While new advancements in technology and medicine have revolutionized our knowledge of physiology, biohacking isn’t the path to true health. The body does best when living in line with nature as much as possible. Drink plenty of water, eat whole foods, walk barefoot in the grass, get adequate sleep, and integrate activity into daily routines. Read more>>
Toska Smith Washington
I think a lot of smart people are getting it wrong by believing they have to do everything on their own. Yes, you might be smart enough to figure it all out—but that doesn’t mean you should. Just because you can doesn’t mean it’s the smartest move. Read more>>
Maddison Adkins
Right now, I’m learning from my younger self. As I wrap up my twenties, I’ve been reflecting a lot. This decade has been a rollercoaster. Lately, I’ve found myself facing situations that feel familiar, but I’m showing up to them differently. That growth feels really powerful. Running my own company for the past year and a half has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. Read more>>
Evan Moore
Gordon Ramsay is one of the few people in the culinary world who’s built more than just restaurants—he’s built a brand that thrives on precision, intensity, and unapologetic standards. As someone who runs Street Bites, I respect that. You don’t get to the top by playing it safe or sugarcoating feedback. Read more>>
TAG KING JUNIOR
My supporters and my clients, their opinions means the most! Read more>>
Terrance Thomas
I would hire me. I asked others what they thought and they said ‘I would hire you because you are a proven leader and community builder who consistently organizes impactful events that bring people together. You are a dynamic DJ, and emcee, able to both energize and inspire crowds in any setting. Read more>>
Benjamin McDonnell
Absolutely. I know firsthand the level of detail, preparation, and care I put into every shoot. I don’t just show up with a camera—I show up with a vision, an understanding of what my client needs, and the ability to guide them so they feel confident in front of the lens. What sets me apart is that I’m also a working actor myself. Read more>>
Autii
As a creative and open minded person, to me there is no particular path that is the correct path to follow. I am a wanderer, which for me is of the mind, body, and soul. Walking a path shields me from exploring and experiencing life in ways that I would never imagine. I would rather wander with intentions than walk with restrictions. Read more>>
Eddie Martinez
I’m walking a relentless path to become the best professional wrestler in the game. Every rep, every bump, every match I’m grinding with purpose. The ultimate goal? To get signed by a major company and show the world what I’m truly made of. This isn’t just a dream it’s the mission. I’m coming for everything I’ve worked for. Read more>>
Travis Hubbard
One of the defining wounds of my life was the ending of a relationship I believed would last forever. I proposed in Paris, just outside the Louvre, and for a moment it felt like a storybook beginning. But shortly after, it fell apart. For a long time I wrestled with that loss. Read more>>
Byron-Gabriel Proutt
A memory that surfaced during EMDR was from a summer I spent with my grandmother. I remember waking up one Saturday morning, using the bathroom, and then sitting on the edge of my bed. I quietly wondered to myself, ‘Would anyone even miss me if I were gone?’ With that thought, I got down on the floor and sat in a corner of the room. Read more>>
Kayla Jones
These days I find I lose myself in thoughts and photos. When I am faced with a challenging day, I come home, change into comfy clothes and grab my Nikon camera. I snap on a lens, check for a SD card and off I go. I head outside and wander my 3 acres to breathe some fresh air. Read more>>
DerNeccia Livingston
Energy and intelligence are both powerful traits. Energy gives you drive, persistence, and the ability to push through challenges. Intelligence gives you problem solving skills, creativity, and the ability to make smart decisions. But without integrity, both can become dangerous or even destructive.Integrity is more important because it’s the foundation of trust with others. Read more>>
Kenya Moore
Integrity. I am currently learning how to walk while recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). I have a Ph. D. in Biomedical Science so I clearly have the intelligence. I work so hard in therapy everyday and all of my therapists past and present can tell you that so I clearly have the energy. Read more>>
