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.
Kaelyn Brooks
SKNMISTRY began in 2020, but the journey to where I am today has been anything but a straight line. For years, makeup was something I genuinely loved doing—whether I was doing my own makeup or doing it for someone who asked me. I loved the creativity behind it and the way something as simple as beauty could make someone feel more confident. Read more>>
Sakietra Kimble 
I was about nine years old when I first started braiding hair, all thanks to my mom, who learned how to braid from my grandmother. Naturally, my mom became my very first client. I would practice on her hair, my baby dolls, and my cousins whenever I had the chance. By middle school, braiding had become something I really enjoyed. Read more>>
Dalton Derks 
I started tattooing when I was 21 years old in Burleson, then later started working with my mentor and good friend, Austin Hansen, at Crackerjack Tattoo in Haltom City. It is here I learned the meaning and importance of traditional tattooing and what it takes to make a bold, long lasting, and powerful tattoo. Read more>>
Khaled Qaddura 
I was born and raised in Arlington, Texas, and this community has been home for nearly my entire life. I attended school here from elementary through junior high and graduated from Martin High School. Much of my childhood was also spent around my father’s business, where I learned early about hard work, responsibility, and the sacrifices that come with building something for your family. Read more>>
Avery Simpson
My journey has been one of faith, resilience, growth, and a genuine love for people. I’ve always believed that our experiences, both the beautiful and the difficult, help shape who we become and prepare us for what’s next. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in leadership, ministry, and the corporate world. Read more>>
Jonathan Torres 
I started getting into photography in high school, I took a photoshop class as an elective and really started to enjoy the art of taking photos and being able to do something creative with it. I got my first camera at the age of 18. And started to ask friends and family if I can take photos of them, and the rest is history! Read more>>
Gloria Corral
As an immigrant, I worked in many different fields before finally following in my sister and brother-in-law’s footsteps and we opened an embroidery business. I quickly fell in love with the work. Ten years ago, I discovered something I truly enjoy and am passionate about. Read more>>
Yazan ‘Yaz’ Kakish 
Teaching was never part of the plan. If you had told the 21-year-old version of me, fresh out of the New York Institute of Technology in 2007 with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, that nearly two decades later I would be standing in front of a university classroom in Texas, I probably would have asked what went wrong. Read more>>
JD Leach
I landed in the film industry by pure accident. For 28 years I’ve worked in oil and gas, following the work through the shale plays of Wyoming, North Dakota, and Texas, and spending most of that time in the Permian Basin, where I live and work today in Midland/Odessa. It’s about as far from a film set as you can get. Read more>>
Æmen Ededéen 
I have no idea how I got to where I am today. I’m not even sure where this is that I am today. The whole proposition of “getting somewhere” is probably an elaborate trick. I’m not sure who’s playing the trick though. As for storytelling, I’m often pretty good at that. Usually at the expense of the truth. Read more>>
MiShon Landry
My journey into grief informed work wasn’t something I planned, it was something life placed in front of me. After experiencing unimaginable profound personal loss in 2021, losing ten loved ones in only ten months, which included my oldest child/son, both of my parents, and my last living grandparents, along with five other close meaningful connections. Read more>>
Mariel Salazar 
Hi, my name is Andrea Salazar and I am a candy rave and neon body painter and my business is called BrattiKandi what got me into this was definitely that I am Marver of five years. I absolutely love the community. I love PLUR peace love unity respect. Read more>>
Stephanie Dean 
I began my career as an Agricultural Teacher and then a School Counselor, where I helped students navigate high school and find the right career path for them when they left school. I was a workaholic, a perfectionist, and a person who thought if I worked and controlled everything, I would reach success. Read more>>
Colby ‘DJ One-Way’ Jeffries 
My journey as a DJ started back in the 4th grade when I was unanimously chosen to play the music at our school dances. My professional career as DJ One-Way started about 14 years ago with a genuine love for music and the way it brings people together. Read more>>
Kezhal Dashti 
I’m a first-generation Iranian-American, born and raised in the U.S. by Iranian parents, and I grew up with a really strong connection to my Iranian culture and family. Except I didn’t become a doctor or lawyer like most Iranian parents love… I actually knew pretty early on that I wanted to work in media. Read more>>
Crystal Torres 
Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of having a business of my own and doing something that allowed me to be creative while making people feel good about themselves. That dream eventually became Hairlelujah, and what started as a passion for doing hair has grown into so much more. Read more>>
Trevis Sirls 
My wife and I have always had a natural passion for helping others, creating experiences, and bringing people together. We’ve always loved hosting events and creating an atmosphere where family, friends, and guests can come together, celebrate, and enjoy themselves. For years, we talked about turning that passion into something more. Read more>>
Teresa Perkins 
My story has never been a straight line, and I think that’s what makes it so special. I’ve always had an eye for seeing what something could be, whether it was a room, a business, or an opportunity. Read more>>
Bria Edwards 
My name is Bria Edwards. I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and currently still live there as well. I was raised by a single mother who always encouraged me to be myself and embrace my individuality. I’ve always had a passion for expressing myself, whether it be with music, makeup, art, fashion or all of the above. Read more>>
Natalie Walker 
I started NatalieSkye Creations in 2021 with a passion for creating memorable experiences and helping people bring their event visions to life. In the beginning, I offered a wide range of services, including event planning, decorating, coordination, and overall event management. Read more>>
Dakwaun Hampton 
DQ Hampton: More Than One Lane For DQ Hampton, choosing just one lane was never really the plan. Born and raised in Waco, Texas, and later expanding his journey into Dallas, Hampton has built a life at the intersection of music, entrepreneurship, creativity, community, and the outdoors. Read more>>
Meena Subramaniam 
I am a self taught artist. When I relocated from a city to the mountains of the Palni Hills ,South India, I was completely fascinated by the biodiversity of flora and fauna that I encountered. I was soon collecting indigenous plants that were threatened by road development or potato farming and giving them new homes in my land. Read more>>
JAYNØX AKA DJ NØX 
So my music journey started in 2011 at age 13 when I lost a dear friend who I saw as a brother named chris glover. After his passing my cousin who made hip-hop music named Dylan aka D-Tex was planning to write a song for chirs so I also did. My first artist name was Young P and I released the song on soundcloud. Read more>>
Abhinav Yerramreddy
What drives me the most are the movies. When I was younger, my dad asked me where my favourite place to go was. To his dismay, I said the movie theater. That hasn’t changed. My parents brought me up on a healthy diet of commercial cinema, growing up with masala Telugu, animated, and superhero films. Read more>>
Richard Toy 
My journey began in the DSD distribution business as an Independent Operator at 20 before transitioning into Sales Operations for a salty snack company covering Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico at 24. These experiences taught me the importance of customer service, business growth, and building lasting customer relationships. Read more>>
Jennifer Willis 
My story begins in Meridian, Mississippi, a small town where I was raised and where, by many accounts, I learned early in life how to beat the odds. Growing up in a community with limited resources taught me the value of resilience, hard work, and perseverance. Life was simple, but it was not always easy. Read more>>
Terray Smotherman 
I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO with 4 brothers and 3 sisters (so yes, life was never boring). Growing up I played every sport you can think of except hockey- not from lack of asking. At 18 I fell in love with rollerskating which led me to value fitness. Read more>>
Xay Shorter 
I was Born in Chicago, moved to Texas in my teenage years. Mainly located in Arlington Tx. I started making music in 2022. Been working on building my craft and getting my name out. My artist name is “1400madexay” I make a mix of rap, hip hop and r&b. Read more>>
Walter Johnson Jr. 
I’m originally from Dallas with deep roots in East Texas, and I spent part of my life in Long Beach, California, before returning home. My journey has also taken me through Alaska, Africa, Egypt, the Caribbean, South America, and across the U.S., shaping the way I see culture, creativity, and storytelling. Read more>>
Ashley Otterbach
My name is Ashley, though many people in the Twitch and content creation space know me as Littlepumpkintv, or “Pumpkin”. For the past eight years, I have built communities through livestreaming, content creation, fundraising, event coordination, and partnerships. My journey began after discovering Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), where I saw how gaming communities could come together to make a meaningful difference. Read more>>
Claudine Roberts 
After graduating from Boston College, I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse for 8 years. Although i loved my job, i was still wanting to do something creative. Back in school for interior design. I was able to take my artistic side and make it work for me in a business setting! I have not looked back! Read more>>
Dr. Melonye Batson 
The golden thread running through my journey is a clear calling: to help people become who God created them to be, and to build environments where they can truly flourish. Over the past two decades, that purpose has taken shape across education, ministry, workforce development, and organizational strategy. I often say, ‘Life is God’s classroom’. Read more>>
Tyrell Howard 
My journey really started with wanting to create something of my own. In 2020, I started 2920 Apparel, a clothing brand that gave me an opportunity to express my creativity and build something from the ground up. What began with clothing eventually became the foundation for something much bigger. Read more>>
Barbara Arredondo 
My path into real estate began overseas. When I was 23 years old I was living in London and searching for a flat in a local classified paper called The Loop, similar to our Green Pages. Read more>>
Holly Whitten 
The Wax Lab started in 2022, really just out of curiosity. I had always been interested in wax melts and loved seeing all of the creative designs people were making. I found myself wondering how they did it and what went into the process. Read more>>
Shelby Woods 
My name is Shelby, and as a working mom of three, I’ve learned just how difficult it can be to pour into everyone else when your own cup is running on empty. For a long time, I put myself last, believing that being a good mom and being there for everyone meant constantly giving more of myself. Then I found something that changed my perspective. Read more>>
Braneé Jones 
My story really started in restaurants. I became a bartender and quickly fell in love with the craft, not just making cocktails, but creating an experience for people. I loved remembering what someone drank, remembering their name, what they told me the last time they came in, and making people feel like they were genuinely taken care of. Read more>>
Tammy Bautista 
My journey with TaMonis began in 2007 with something very simple: a love for creating flavors that brought people together. What started with my salsa eventually became a vision for something much bigger. Like many entrepreneurs, though, my journey hasn’t been a straight line. Read more>>
Ashleigh George 
Ashleigh with Rituals here, I have been a licensed esthetician and massage therapist for nearly 15 years. My career has taken many forms including reception and management positions in corporate, medical, and European day spas until finding my footing and independence in holistic beauty. I studied herbalism and was able to bring my plant-based practice directly to client’s homes during COVID. Read more>>
Christopher Duncan 
My love for filmmaking started in high school, watching movies by Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Kevin Smith and others. By graduation I knew I wanted to study film, so I went to the University of North Texas and graduated in 2014. Right after college, I was working at a restaurant when I met my wife, Chelsey. Read more>>
Andreia Rodrigues 
Im portuguese and since litle i loved to see the news and know about the world far for my home. In one of my first memories is watching the 9/11 on the television. I study journalism in Lisbon and since there i worked in rádio, newspapers and in the digital. I make contents for social media. Read more>>
Andrew Paschal
From Magnolia to the Main Stage: The Story of DJ Drewster I’m a country boy from Magnolia, Arkansas, and music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was heavily involved in music. Read more>>
Rebecca Landrie 
Rebecca Landrie Although I’m originally from Seattle, I feel like a Texan at heart. In 2020, I made the life-changing move to Fort Worth with my husband, drawn by the people, the Texas way of life, and especially my neighborhood of Fairmount. Fairmount has a welcoming atmosphere and a wonderful creative spirit. Read more>>
Jonah Wiley 
I would say my journey with Christianity is ‘theologically incorrect’. I grew up in church and stopped attending by high school. I thought that becoming a Christian meant that if I picked the right religion, I wouldn’t go to hell. Read more>>
Janie Thompson 
I initially started doing locs during my freshman year of college. Honestly, I never imagined it would lead to the opportunities it has today. It started with me watching a video and thinking, “Okay, I can do this!” Before I knew it, people on campus were coming to me to get their hair done. Read more>>
Jazz Washington
Growing up in Washington, DC I started dancing when I was 3 years old. My mother was my first dance teacher, and quickly engulfed me in dance & theatre throughout my entire childhood. Read more>>
Andrea Eppolito 
I am a storyteller. I think I always have been. I grew up in a big Italian-American family on Long Island, where there was always something to celebrate and everything was documented. My mother and grandmother cooked and entertained, my father was perpetually behind a video camera, and I was the kid with my nose in a book or a pen in my hand. Read more>>
Cesar Aquino 
Born in Puerto Rico, my artistic journey began at a remarkably young age in the high-energy world of nightlife. What started as producing massive event decorations quickly evolved into recreating entire movie sets inside night clubs and designing elaborate fashion show backdrops across San Juan’s premier hotels. Driven by a relentless creative pull toward New York City, I relocated at just 18 years old. Read more>>
Ali Hallock 
My story really began with simply trying to survive. I’ve lived with complex chronic health challenges for much of my life, including Lupus, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare blood disorder, and a severe lung disease called Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis, just to name a few. I’ve experienced multiple spontaneous lung collapses, major lung surgeries, serious infections, and many long hospitalizations. Read more>>
Kevin Crawley 
It all started with my band, Perceived. We needed professional quality photos, so near the start of 2020 I got a camera, and the second I had it in my hands I was hooked, especially on portraits. I loved photographing people of all kinds. I practiced on family and friends first. Read more>>
Karla Gutierrez & Katlyn Luke Koven + co 
Koven + Co. is a personalized women owned and operated salon owned by Katlyn Luke and Karla Gutierrez with over 12 years of combined experience. We started noticing the things that worked well and the things that felt like they were missing in the industry. We kept talking about what we would create if we had the opportunity to build a space of our own. Read more>>
Edwin Liddie 
So, this is how it all began. One day, I came home from work and walked into my living room, only to see a Golden Doodle puppy walking around. I was completely shocked. Earlier that morning, my wife had been in a rush to leave the house, and I had no idea why. Read more>>
