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 Dallas.
Johnathon Thompson
First, my name is Johnathon Thompson East Texas native but Dallas raised. What I coined as “ City made Country Bred.” My story of being raised by a single mother for a good portion of my life know & understand how important complete family structure is when you’ve seen struggle in early life. Read more>>
Kit Mallari
My name is Kit, I am a 25-year-old registered nurse and singer-songwriter who also owns a pop-up open mic group in the DFW area. Growing up I had always been around music and/or singing to some capacity; to give a timeline of sorts, I was part of the elementary school choirs, then I learned the clarinet and bass clarinet in middle school. Read more>>
Viridiana Rosales
I was born in Mexico and raised here in the U.S. since I was 15 years old When I first arrived, I was scared of the new language and everything that came with starting over. Not understanding English made me feel less than the other people around me. It was really hard for me to learn, but I refused to let it define me. Read more>>
Ja’Quoi Griffin
Let’s see if I can make this long story a short one, haha. I am the second born child of all siblings. Born and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan and gained a love for music from my maternal grandmother (Doris Joseph), who was a member of a quartet group for over 40 years. Read more>>
Maha Modi
Making cake pops first began as a hobby. After watching talented cake pop creators on social media, I became inspired to give them a try myself. My first batch was far from perfect, but with every batch I made, I learned something new. I started making cake pops for friends and family, and the feedback was incredible. As I continued, the compliments kept growing. Read more>>
Noelle Kay
Noelle Kay started as a little girl in 2nd grade singing songs under her breath then hearing her teacher tell her she is a star and she needs to be on stage for the school play. My first performance ever was for the Tuskegee Airmen. After that, endless talents shows and performing arts rooms to walk through. Read more>>
Keandra Julien
My story begins in middle school, I would always want to style my friends hair and makeup in my free time. As I got older and got into watching YouTube influencer’s do makeup I was so inspired by the creativity and artistry. Read more>>
Katia Gounou
I was born and raised in Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), and at 16 years old I moved to the United States on my own in pursuit of educational opportunities. Like many immigrants, I arrived with big dreams, but also faced uncertainty, financial challenges, and the challenge of building a life from scratch. Read more>>
Crystal & Eddie Sauceda
Pray N Run Club didn’t begin with a business plan or the goal of building a large community it began with a simple yes to God’s calling, running had already transformed our personal lives it had become more than exercise it was where we experienced healing and deeper dependence on Jesus. Read more>>
Naomi Catlin
My journey into content creation really started with a simple desire to find something that belonged to *me*. For so long, my identity revolved around being a wife, a mom, and serving others through volunteer work and leadership. While I loved those roles, I realized I wanted a creative outlet that allowed me to reconnect with myself. Read more>>
Megan Hill
My name is Megan Hill, and I believe the world is a better place when people are doing more of what they love. I’ve spent the last 20 years working as a professional makeup artist, and as a way of celebrating that milestone, I launched my podcast, Be Megnetic — where I interview people about the pursuit of their passions. Read more>>
Lena Phan
I started baking during one of the lowest points in my life. There was never a plan for a cookie business. It began as something simple, just me trying to get through the days and spending time in the kitchen experimenting with flavors. Read more>>
Mallory Herrin
Like many other HR professionals, I was working in another role at a small company, and I was given some HR tasks like recruiting, and that eventually turned into payroll, and then the entire HR function. Read more>>
Briseida Bethancourt
My story honestly feels like a mix of faith, determination, reinvention, and figuring things out in real time. I grew up in a single mother household with my two brothers, and watching my mom build a life for us from the ground up had a huge impact on me. I saw resilience every day growing up. Read more>>
Justin Jay Jones
Weekenders Media was founded in 2020 by myself and my business partner as a small, two person film production company focused on telling local stories that often get overlooked by the entertainment industry at large. Our first project, a short documentary, won its category at the Burbank International Film Festival in 2020. Read more>>
Brittany Harper
Up until my mid-30s, my life was undiagnosed ADHD disguised as a discipline issue. Everyone described me as ‘smart but not applying myself’ and ‘excels when focused but easily distracted’. I went to college for Economics and Accounting because those were ‘responsible majors’. I worked a soul-sucking-but-financially-responsible corporate gig for ten years after college because that’s what I was ‘supposed to do’. Read more>>
Jake Guy
My name is Jake Guy and I am a writer, film director, photographer, and failed musician. I started my professional life interning for Red Productions in Fort Worth, then the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth until I got a permanent position there as their Video Producer. Read more>>
Joseph Troskie
I’ve always been creative. As a kid, I was constantly drawing houses and floor plans, making art, or playing the piano. I taught myself to play by ear at a young age, studied fine art formally, and eventually spent many years working in music production. Even then, I was always designing and creating in my free time. Read more>>
Ara’yiel Brooks
I’ve always had a passion for hospitality and customer service. I began my career in the food and beverage industry before transitioning into event planning and coordination, where I quickly discovered what truly fulfilled me. I loved being part of people’s happiest moments and creating experiences that made them feel celebrated, comfortable, and genuinely cared for. Read more>>
Nayeli Suarez
I’ve always been drawn to the beauty industry. Growing up, I loved watching GRWM videos on YouTube, and whenever I did my makeup, I would dream about one day owning my own lash brand. At the time I was thinking strip lashes, I had no idea that lash extensions would eventually become my career. Read more>>
Lisa Faulkner-Dunne
I currently spend most of my time running our dog rescue, The DAWG Project. This rescue was created by a small group of individuals in 2016 to provide assistance to Dallas Animal Services, as they were faced with high numbers of roaming dogs, and low adoption rates at the shelter. Read more>>
Shannon Baker
I started staging homes for another company more than a decade ago. I decided to open my own business, and start working for myself in January 2025! I worked so hard for another company for so long…with very little to show for it at the end. It was overdue that I begin to put all my dedication and sweat equity elsewhere. Read more>>
Elaine Stoltz
A 35-Year Journey Helping People Discover Their Best Colors When I began my career as an image consultant more than 35 years ago, I had no idea how profoundly color could change a person’s life. Like many image consultants at the time, I started with traditional seasonal color analysis. Read more>>
James DeLorean
I’ve been writing stories since elementary school. Since the 4th grade, I’ve had my sights set specifically on screenwriting. That journey led me to Los Angeles 15 years ago, where I interned for legendary film producer David Permut before landing an Office PA job at Dean Devlin’s company, Electric Entertainment. Read more>>
Robert Coleman
I’ve always been someone who enjoys bringing people together and creating spaces where people feel comfortable having real conversations. Professionally, I’ve spent more than a decade working in healthcare as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, helping diagnose patients behind the scenes. While I loved that work, I realized my passion extended beyond the lab. Read more>>
Isaac Brady
I embarked on my musical journey in 2011 with a group called C1UBA.M. We embarked on a few micro-mini tours across the southern states. From there, I evolved as an artist, delving into photography and videography, and even rapping through 2018 during my graduation from college with a degree in media design. Read more>>
Evelyn Arreguin
A few years ago, after my son was born, I started baking just to make homemade treats for my family. What began as a fun hobby quickly turned into something I truly loved. Being originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, making conchas became a special way for me to stay connected to my roots while adding my own creative spin through custom designs. Read more>>
Molly Magill
I am a 6th generation Texan, and I grew up in Baird, a small town in Callahan County in West Texas. My ancestors helped pioneer of that part of Texas, and we are a family deeply rooted in our history there. That history plays a big role in who I am, and of course, as an artist, in my work. Read more>>
Taylor Fontenette
My journey running a Virtual Assist Agency started when I was suddenly laid off from Corporate America. With no notice, my primary source of income vanished. This wasn’t the first time I had felt let down, angry, and disappointed by the traditional 9-to-5 grind, but it was the final straw. Read more>>
Kyndall Brown
I’m Kyndall Brown, a creative storyteller, creative director, and multidisciplinary artist from South Dallas. My journey started with using creativity as a form of expression and healing whether through photography, writing, dance, or visual storytelling. Growing up, I didn’t always see spaces where my voice or creativity felt fully represented, so I began building my own. Read more>>
Dr. Patricia ‘Tricia’ Johnson Johnson
Can you briefly walk us through your story-how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like: Throughout my life, I have devoted myself to supporting others by mentoring, coaching, training, and teaching students in both higher education and K-12 settings so they can make positive contributions to their communities. Read more>>
Joann Emmanson
I’ve spent more than a decade building products in the technology industry, working in roles ranging from business analysis to technical product management across startups and large technology companies. Throughout all of it, haircare remained an important part of my identity, a creative outlet and a form of self-expression. As life became busier, I found myself searching for a way to simplify my routine. Read more>>
Jeanette Johnston
Looking back, I never imagined that I would one day be teaching an art form—let alone become an entrepreneur. When I first started college, I thought my future was in the medical field. I grew up in a family of doctors, nurses, and dentists, so medicine felt like the “safe” path. While I enjoyed biology, I had always been a creative at heart. Read more>>
Adrienne Lister
My journey hasn’t been defined by perfect partnerships or an easy road—it has been defined by perseverance. I’ve experienced business relationships that didn’t work out, financial setbacks, and moments that could have caused me to give up. Instead, every obstacle became a lesson that strengthened my vision and sharpened my purpose. Read more>>
Comfort Idowu
My journey into braiding started when I was young. I used to braid my mom’s hair, even though I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time. Looking back, I was always drawn to hair and beauty. As I got older, I began braiding my own hair, my friends’ hair, and family members’ hair simply because I enjoyed it. Read more>>
April Smith
Ever since I was ten years old, braiding hair came naturally to me. As an only child, I would spend hours playing with my dolls as if they were my own children, meticulously combing and styling their hair. That early passion followed me into high school, where I eagerly completed my first year of cosmetology. Read more>>
Shaun Clarida
My name is Shaun “The Giant Killer” Clarida and I’m an IFBB Professional Bodybuilder and 2x 212 Olympia Champion. I began competing in 2005 and since that time, I’ve competed in over 60 competitions worldwide. I began getting into weight training my junior year of high school when I joined the high school wrestling team. Read more>>
Marlen Ipina-Guerrero
Hello my name is Marlen; I am the owner of Vivid Prints previously known as Vividly Unique Designs. I started my entrepreneur journey in 2016 after ending a job in a bridal store, i still had the passion for design so i began making Tutu sets for birthdays girls and matching shirts for the family. Read more>>
Allison Taylor
Taylored Monogram Shop began in 2023 with a single embroidery machine and the hope of building something that was truly my own. As a mom of four young children, I wanted to create a business that allowed me to pursue my passion while also giving me a sense of purpose and ownership outside of motherhood. Read more>>
Daria Smith
I was born in Waco, Texas, in a two-parent household. My parents later divorced, and I grew up with a brother and a sister. As a child, I was quiet and reserved, but I always liked connecting with people. I was also insecure about myself—, the way I spoke and what I could become. Read more>>
Sara Kercho
I was a high school dance teacher and drill team director for a little over a decade and knew I wouldn’t be in education long-term so I started asking myself what’s next. Through the relationships I built with my students, many of them felt safe enough to talk to me about their personal struggles. Read more>>
Calvin Sprague
I’m a multidisciplinary designer and illustrator based in Dallas. I grew up in the DFW area and started making art through music, posters, album artwork, and other creative projects connected to the scenes around me. That eventually led me into design and illustration more seriously, and over time I began building a career around visual storytelling, branding, murals, editorial work, and animation. Read more>>
Dania Anwar
Before Soft Films Dania was a thing, my phone camera roll was full of sunsets, coffee shops, and the cute stuff. I loved romanticizing everyday life and creating my own Pinterest-worthy memories, but I never imagined photography would become a career! It was just something that made me happy. Read more>>
Joanna Rico
I’ve always had a creative side. When I first started my social media journey, I was working with children at a community center. At the time, my page was completely focused on makeup. Every day after work, I would come home and create fun, artistic eye makeup looks and share them online. Read more>>
Mera McGrew
Over nine years ago, I launched Soapply with $5,000 and an admittedly audacious goal: to help end preventable child mortality simply by convincing thoughtful people to upgrade what’s sitting by their sinks. Today, I’m proud to say that every eight ounces of Soapply’s better-for-you, better-for-the-planet soap unlocks a $1 donation to fund handwashing initiatives around the globe. Read more>>
ReShunda Tinsley
My name is ReShunda Tinsley founder and owner of Twisted Strands By Ro, a brand built on resilience, faith, and a passion for healthy hair care. My journey into entrepreneurship began during a difficult season of health challenges that made maintaining traditional employment difficult. What initially started as a way to create stability for my family quickly developed into a purpose-driven career. Read more>>
