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.
Domonie Mattson
I originally started as an apprentice at a floral shop in Minnesota. I thought it would be easy and fun and get my boyfriend off my back about getting a regular paycheck to setup a budget on. Turned out to be very challenging and here i am 35 years later still doing it! Read more>>
Lady Jade
I guess the best way to tell my story is to say that I’ve never really had a master plan. I’ve simply tried to recognize the opportunities God put in front of me, be willing to learn, and trust that each opportunity would lead to the next. My career in media actually started while I was in college at Texas State University. Read more>>
Whitney Tolliver
I’ve always had a heart for people, and over time, that passion has shaped both my career and my purpose. I’m originally from Wichita, Kansas, and my educational background actually began in marketing. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Wichita State University. Read more>>
Brittany Mondrinos
I don’t think I ever set out specifically to build an entertainment company, but looking back, the path to Lunascend makes perfect sense. I’ve always been fascinated by people—their stories, what motivates them, what makes them different, and what can happen when someone recognizes their own strengths and is given the opportunity to fully use them. Read more>>
Maria Amelia Park
I began acting in school. doing musical theatre. I graduated from Overton High School of Performing Arts. I later received a degree in Film/Theatre from the University of Memphis. I began voice acting in late 1999. early 2000/ I worked with Pendant audio on some of their amazing audio dramas. Read more>>
Nikkita Torres
Almost 3 years ago I started my own mediation practice, Neutral Voice Mediation. I started my practice for multiple reasons. One being, not enough people know they have this valuable resource and so many people still don’t even know what mediation is or what a mediator does. Read more>>
Chad & Tressie Zellner
We started Two Pair Photography more than 17 years ago, which is honestly a little crazy to say out loud. What started as a love for photography and figuring out how to turn that into an actual job somehow turned into hundreds of weddings, thousands and thousands of photos, a whole lot of cake, and a career we still genuinely enjoy. Read more>>
Andrea Bloukos
How I started? Good question. Probably like most young adults, I took the first job that seemed reasonably related to my college degree in Marketing. I signed on with a well-known market research firm here in Dallas and was trained from the ground up. Read more>>
Steve Chalson
Having spent a career designing for many of the largest brands and companies in the world – I am now creating work I truly love. I imagine, design, and create pieces that are 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional, literal & abstract, and even functional & funky… depending on the piece and what I’m feeling on any particular day. My art aligns with “Zero Waste” sustainability principles. Read more>>
Shauna Harris
I’m a self taught artist, motivator, and teacher who discovered that art could be so much more than simply creating something beautiful. My journey began through my own love for painting and creating, and over time, I learned how to take what I discovered and use it to inspire and guide others. I grew up in Dallas, but relocated to South Florida as an adolescent. Read more>>
Lenisa Love
Mermaids have always been a part of my life. I grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, a charming fishing village along the Puget Sound where the ocean shaped everyday life. Surrounded by evergreen forests, rocky shorelines, and incredible marine life, it often felt like living in a real-life mermaid world. Read more>>
Brittney Bluitt
Now that I think about it, it’s crazy to realize that I started acting in 2016! It’s insane how much time has passed, and yet I still feel like I have so much opportunity ahead of me to become the creative I’m meant to be. WOW. Theresa Bell Actors Studio is where I began my journey into acting. Read more>>
Lisa Naveed
I’m a model, actor, and design student pursuing a career in the creative industry, with over eight years of experience in front of and behind the camera. Looking back, my journey has been anything but linear, but somehow, every chapter has continued to bring me back to the same thing: storytelling. Read more>>
Charisse Williams
My journey into real estate actually began in 2009- right in the thick of the housing crisis- as a collections agent for Nationstar Mortgage (now Mr. Cooper). Working in that environment, I had a front-row seat to the intense struggles homeowners were facing. Read more>>
Larry Katdaddy Marshall
To start off my name is Larry DJKatdaddy Marshall. I go by DJKatdaddy Marshall. I have been in the music industry for over 25 years we have did it all from managing artists, Djing, and promoting artists. My main goal now is DJing and the promotion of artists we forcus on pushing and promoting the underground music and entertainment throughout my network and social media. Read more>>
Jenny Heriot
Firstly, thank you for this opportunity. I’m so thrilled to share our story as I’ve spent time living in Dallas TX with my aunt & uncle for college internships and adore Texas!! Read more>>
Maria andre Paiz Garcia
The Story Behind Artemis Archery Archery has been a part of my life for much longer than Artemis Archery has been a business. In many ways, Artemis was born from my own journey as an athlete, a coach, and eventually a mother and business owner. My journey with archery began in Guatemala. Read more>>
Dominique Austin
I am a mom of 2 from South Jersey and creator of ParentPing – the button you keep in the nursery for when you need help, without phones, lights or noise. It’s helping parents work better as a team and ditch their phones at bedtime. We’re helping parents work better as a team and ditch their phones at bedtime. Read more>>
Camay Davis
From Pain to Purpose LAVON CUSTOM CREATION was never just about fashion. It was born from love, loss, healing, and the decision to turn unimaginable pain into purpose. In 2019, our life changed forever when we unexpectedly lost our oldest daughter, Zaria La’Von Davis, at just 20 years old due to an asthma attack. Read more>>
Rashmi Tamang
After our second child was born, my husband and I realized that having both parents work traditional 9-to-5 jobs wasn’t the lifestyle we wanted for our family. Read more>>
Teleah Grand
I took a slightly unconventional path to veterinary medicine. I graduated from LSU with a degree in electrical engineering and moved to Fort Worth to work for General Dynamics on the F-16 and F-22 programs. It was fascinating work. I worked with very talented engineers, and I could see that many of them genuinely loved what they did. I didn’t. Read more>>
oliver williams
After leaving Dallas in 2004 I moved back in 2018 to hide out and refocus my life. I took 18 months off working, social media and people. Down the street from my house is a Corepower. I would take classes daily for like 4 months, one day the studio manager at the time (Karla Hufman) invited me to take teacher training. Read more>>
Tami Kukla
The Story Behind The Ollie Project Dallas Animals have been part of my story for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I watched my grandparents rescue animals and help people who were struggling to care for theirs. Read more>>
Sara Pray
I’m Sara Pray, also known as Sarapoo. I’m semi-retired. I sing and play guitar, do standup comedy, and host open mic events in the DFW area. I guess you could call me a late bloomer in the entertainment scene because I was in my 50’s before I started following my dreams of being an entertainer. Read more>>
Nicole Jones
I’ve been a licensed Cosmetologiat for 18 years. As a 2nd generation hair care enthusiast, I wanted to take my mother’s legacy to greater heights. I attended and graduated from Clark Atlanta University which eventually lead me back to my passion of hair care in 2007. Upon learned that working in someone else’s corporation was not what I saw for myself. Read more>>
David Seals
My name is David Seals, but my stage name is David Raé Shawn. I’m a 27-year-old hip-hop artist from central Texas, but I’m based out of Dallas County. My big sister got me started on free-styling when I was 9 years old, and it was something I just fell in love with. Read more>>
Lucas Ridley
I’ve always loved creating experiences that bring people together. That passion and a love for style eventually led me to open Ray’s Mercantile, a boutique in the historic Katy Depot. The store is named after my grandfather, Ray, and was built around the idea of offering thoughtfully curated clothing, gifts, and home goods while creating a place where people genuinely enjoy spending time. Read more>>
Shun Freeman-Lauren
My name is Shun Freeman-Lauren, and I am a professional actor. Performing has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I have been singing and acting since I was six years old, and the arts have played a major role in shaping my life and career. My love for performing began at home. Read more>>
Darrell Collins
My story has always been rooted in creativity, technology, and finding ways to connect with people. Music was really my first creative language. I’ve loved it since I was a kid, when I would record sounds from video games onto cassette tapes and create beats by tapping on whatever I could find. Read more>>
Jane Louis Banks
My journey into custom clothing was anything but conventional. In fact, I never set out to become a tailor. I always knew I wanted to be a business owner; I just didn’t know what that business would be. I moved to Fort Worth in 2016 after losing my mother, looking for a fresh start and a better opportunity to build something of my own. Read more>>
Dania Hindi
What started as snapping photos of friends and family “just for fun” has slowly grown into something so much more. I remember the first time it really hit for me that I genuinely loved taking photos. It was during a trip to Jordan in 2018, when I visited Petra. I remember wanting to capture that day so I could hold onto how it felt. Read more>>
JoiMei Clark
My love for music began as a child. I would replay songs over and over while singing and dancing along with no cares in the world. My kindergarten teacher pulled my mom to the side one day and told her that there was something special about my singing voice and that’s where it all began. Read more>>
Berenice Brown
My story really begins in Mexico, city, where I spent the first eleven years of my life. My Mexican roots are deeply woven into who I am today. So much of what I value–family, hospitality, resilience, art, creativity, and that warmth and coziness Mexico is so beautifully known for–comes from how I was raised. Read more>>
Savannah Reeder
Momentum Dance Company was formed in 2005 by Jacquelyn Forcher as a way to bring awareness of the arts to Irving. Her passion for dance inspired a legacy of presenting two ballet driven shows per year, welcoming all dancers of all ages to participation. Read more>>
Joy Jones
Thirteen years ago, I started making jewelry as a personal reminder that I am wonderfully made. What began as a creative expression of faith soon grew into something I wanted to share with others. I took a small leap of faith and rented a booth at a local craft mall. Read more>>
Brenda Amaral
I’ve been a hairstylist for more than 25 years, but if you had met me early in my career, you probably wouldn’t have guessed I’d one day teach hair color across the country. Truthfully? Color terrified me. I loved cutting and styling hair, but every time I had to formulate a color, my confidence disappeared. Read more>>
Maurisa Goldston
My journey with Fierce Beauties started very simply—at a park, hosting workouts and football practices specifically for young girls. I saw a need for a space where girls could learn the game, compete, build confidence and feel like they belonged in football. What started as small workouts grew into Fierce Beauties Football League, an organization serving girls ages 8–18. Read more>>
Frank Galvan
I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, to a single mother who worked as a nurse at the same public hospital where I was born. Growing up, education was always important in our home. My mother worked hard to put me through private school, and while she worked, my grandfather helped take care of me. My older brother had taken a different path. Read more>>
Voro Solo
I started a few rock bands in Utah before moving to Nebraska to pursue different paths. I have self-published a science fiction novel called ‘The Secret Future’ under my pseudonym Parker G. Brandt and started working on some film projects and will be submitting them to film festivals in 2027. Read more>>
Stephanie Cao
Before I start, I just want to say that it’s such a pleasure to have y’all reach out and I appreciate it so much. I’m sorry if I ramble but honestly, this whole thing started in my opinion kinda in an odd way. Read more>>
Rachael Di Vincenzo
I’m a British artist who primarily produces oil paintings and mixed media layered artwork inspired by the natural landscape around me. From a young age I’ve always loved being creative however I didn’t start painting and creating professionally until about 7 years ago when we moved from the UK to Texas. Read more>>
Rai Hudson
I’ve always believed that art has the power to bring people together and help people feel seen. Growing up in Milwaukee, I was drawn to music and performance from a young age. Singing quickly became more than a hobby, it became the way I processed my experiences and connected with others. Read more>>
Steer Fort Worth
Fifteen years ago, SteerFW (Steer Fort Worth) was founded to address one important challenge: increasing civic engagement among Fort Worth’s young professionals. At the time, voter turnout among residents under the age of 40 lagged behind the rest of the community, and local leaders recognized that strengthening our city meant investing in the next generation of informed, engaged citizens. Read more>>
Lexi Drew
I’ve always loved entertaining and telling stories. Storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do. I started my career in the entertainment industry at a very young age (11 years old), and simultaneously started social media at a young age as well! Read more>>
Brittany May
About 7 years ago, I was in a dark place. I felt like I lost myself. Aside from being a mom, I wanted something for myself. So I started brainstorming. I always had a creative mind and the kitchen was always my happy place. I love “love” and Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days.. Read more>>
Kellie Cation
The start of my career began in an educational salon; the world renown Toni & Guy. After years of getting education and experience I began teaching educational haircutting classes with the company. After over a decade with this company I started searching for a salon to transiting into self-employment. Read more>>
E.J. Ybarbo
In April 2015, shortly after finding out my wife, Joelle, and I were expecting our first child, we kept crossing paths with another hairstylist and product representative, Blake Brister. It was one of those moments that felt impossible to ignore—as if something greater was orchestrating the encounters. After running into each other four different times, we finally sat down to talk. Read more>>
