Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Katy Lewis
Oh 100% my best friend Kailyn she is my ying to my yang, she has always seen me for my true authentic self for the last 20 plus years. She believed in me at times when I didn’t believe in my self which sometimes would cause riffs. Read More>>
Daniel Lee
I was an emotionally abused/bullied child who was extremely easy-to-manipulate, scared to stand up for myself, and too weak to break away from always doing what everyone else wanted me to. I was held back by ‘friends’ who hurt me, I went for a college degree that I didn’t want, and I moved for a job that I didn’t like. Read More>>
Jenna Smith
I hope the story people tell when I’m gone is that I always said “yes”—to adventures, to late-night phone calls, to the people and moments that mattered. I hope they remember me as someone who was fearless but grounded, content in her own company, and unafraid to explore the world solo. Read More>>
Dominique Nash
I know that I am doing what I am meant to be doing. Being a singer/songwriter and creator has been my dream my entire life. I would get asked as a child and people would laugh and think I was unrealistic with my goals in life but I knew I could do. Now that doesn’t mean I never fell short or down on myself. Read More>>
Garrett Gillette
I think the answer is yes. But I have had struggles with this question for basically my entire photography journey. To me, my journey is about overcoming mental health problems and finding your love and passion when you least expect it. Like I stated before, my early life was primarily focused on athletics and doing well in school. Read More>>
Marissa Manning
God has made it abundantly clear to me that He has put me on a path. The road here may have been a bit bumpy and windy, with a few detours I’m sure I put in along the way. My business and my current doings in life are the result of many prayers answered over a period of time. Read More>>
Darrian Brothers
I currently think I am wandering. There was a time in which I thought I knew how my path looked and I could see the direction I was going. I think recently I have realized that my path seems to not want me to know where I’m going. I’m forced to have faith that I’m still ultimately heading towards my destination. Read More>>
Mollie Amburgey
When I give my best to something, it isn’t for the praise. It’s in knowing I accomplished what I set out to do. There’s a deep sense of satisfaction in completing a goal on my own terms. That feeling of personal achievement, of following through with dedication and intention, is gratifying enough to make the effort worthwhile. Read More>>
Shea Radcliff
I think most things in life are like this— the desire for it is usually more appealing than the thing itself. I read a book recently that talked about “Sweet Desire” and how that longing is really for the ultimate good, and no real object could ever satisfy. Read More>>
Shakira Denise
I’m chasing a life that feels like mine – full of purpose, peace, and those little moments where my work and my joy meet in the same room. That’s the heartbeat of Emerge too – creating space for people to align their life in a way that truly feels good from the inside out. Read More>>
Lauryn Pyatt
As someone who overthinks on a daily basis, the one thing that I desperately desire is peace. My mind is one that never rests, and it can be exhausting sometimes. One of my biggest struggles in life is my war with excessive self-criticism and perfectionism. The voice inside my head likes to judge, accuse, analyze, critique, and insult the majority of my thoughts and feelings. Read More>>
Drum’ma Napper
The grind behind Apprentice Ent. — the 16-hour days, the systems, the sacrifices. Whether it’s engineering music or running AI sports simulations, it’s all built with purpose. Most people see the final product, but not the discipline it takes to get there. I live by the Mamba Mentality — embrace the grind, trust the process. That’s what I’m most proud of. Read More>>
Rob Fairless
I’m most proud of building The 25th Hour Radio Show into something meaningful and lasting. On the surface, people see the finished interviews, the guests, maybe a few social media posts — but what they don’t see is the hours of research, the genuine care put into each conversation, and the consistent effort it took to grow the show from nothing. Read More>>
Kim Adams
As a child, I was a classic people-pleaser. I constantly sought approval and positive feedback from others, and if someone criticized something I enjoyed, whether it was a TV show I liked or something I created, I would often stop pursuing it altogether. But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that you can’t live your life trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. Read More>>
Britney Lauf
I believe that small acts of kindness and laughter ripple farther than we’ll ever know. A gentle word, a moment of patience, or simply making someone feel seen—it might feel small to you, but it can leave a lasting mark, even if you never witness its impact. Read More>>
Megan Sanders
It is interesting, as a wellness studio, we absolutely provide services, but the mindset of ‘receive and leave’ is not what we are selling. At the heart of our small corner of the wellness industry is the idea that we are ‘difference makers’ but it is our client that will truly do the work toward their own health. Read More>>
Megan Naik
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the henna world is the assumption that all henna is safe henna. Unfortunately, that’s not true. As a certified henna artist I try to bring awareness to everyone. Natural henna is made from the leaves of the henna plant and is a natural, plant-based dye that’s been used safely for thousands of years. Read More>>
Shannon Hagerty
I think a lot of people secretly struggle with the fact that they feel energy and intuition but don’t know how to talk about it or explore it. At the same time, we’ve been taught to define beauty as Botox, fillers and makeup when real radiance is energy, integrity and the inner knowing that we all have. Beauty lives inside and out. Read More>>
Miss Paige Hamber
I think a lot of people are secretly struggling with not knowing what they don’t know when it comes to money. Read More>>
Sinead Angele
I understand the importance of sitting with your uncomfortable feelings. I’m talking about your deepest sadness, your anger, your anxieties. We spend so much of our time trying to escape or distract or deflect from these feelings but if we sit with them and really try to understand what’s causing them, that’s where growth happens. Read More>>
Laura Stansberry
That the magic isn’t in the photos – it’s in the experience. Lots of people can take a technically good picture, but most people underestimate how much the way you make someone feel will change the way they see themselves in those images. Read More>>
Calin P
One fear that has held me back is the opinion of others. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned that I am a “people pleaser”. I want to make everyone happy. I had to learn that I can’t please everyone & that is okay! As a business owner & hairstylist their will be moments were clients are not happy. Read More>>
Tre14
I think early in life I always cared too much about what other people thought of me. The fear of being called lame or corny. The fear of being rejected for liking something that may not be seen as “cool”. I think as kids we all just want friends and to be accepted. Read More>>
Amy Loden Tiffany, MD, FACP, MBA
A defining wound in my life came from the tension between being a “good doctor” and a “good mom”—two roles I valued equally but struggled to balance. I was doing everything I “should” do professionally, but not everything I “could” do to be present as a mother. Read More>>
Kim Fields
An important truth I hold—one that not everyone agrees with—is that automation and human connection can coexist, even in service-based businesses. Many people believe technology takes away the personal touch, but I see it differently. I believe automation doesn’t replace relationships; it enhances them. By using tools to streamline scheduling, payments, and follow-ups, I actually create more space to focus on clients. Read More>>
Tiara Jordan-Sutton
One truth I hold—often quietly resisted or overlooked—is that the children we are failing to educate don’t just disappear. They don’t vanish from our communities, our economy, or our future. We treat education like a private matter—something for individual families to figure out, succeed at, or suffer through on their own. Read More>>
Lydia Gwin
I think the light I’ve dimmed most is my travel experience—ironically, the very thing that fuels the heart of my work. Building a travel business has opened the door to some truly remarkable journeys. Read More>>
Jordan Haddock-Tauai
Music (off all kind)! My favorite thing to do is put on my headphones and be trasported into another world. The same goes for finding myself. Sometimes if I feel self concious or maybe it’s just a ‘meh’ day, music will pull me out of it and put me into the best space for me to create. Read More>>
Gino Santa Maria
When I paint, time seems to dissolve. No matter what the circumstances or what I am going through at the moment, painting transports me into a world with so much peace and excitement. When I find myself again, I discover with delight that the world I was immersed in, was capture with paint on the canvas. Read More>>
Jackson Winters
Honestly, it wasn’t just one relationship. It was the collection of relationships I’ve built through collaboration over the years. Working with other creatives, clients, comics, and even those early gigs with coworkers in the corporate field. Each connection helped shape how I saw myself and what I was capable of. It took time (and a. Read More>>
Steven Moore
Powerful has such a strong meaning. I feel like in today’s world the best definition of powerful is having control and influence over people and events. However I don’t think I like the idea that I am controlling someone else or the events around them. Read More>>
La’ Relle Brown
I would say when I was about 11 or 12 years old. My great grandmother had passed away. It was during the week of my last baseball tournament of the summer. I was raised by my grandparents and they had to leave to cater to other family members for her funeral. I stayed behind with my teammates and their families. To finish out the tournament. Read More>>
Megan Schmitt
I think I’d regret not taking risks that scare me a little. Every big step in my journey—starting Cheeze and Thank You, putting my products on grocery shelves, even saying yes when I wasn’t sure I was ready—came from leaning into fear. If I don’t keep doing that, I’d regret playing it too safe. Read More>>
Randi Zans
I think my closest friends would say that what matters most to me is the connections I have with people. Of course, my family and friends are at the heart of that, but my clients are right up there too. I love keeping in touch long after the wedding day or session, seeing their families grow, and celebrating new chapters with them. Read More>>
Brenda Fraser
My closest friends and supporters know that social justice and advocacy for women’s education is very important to me. They know about my ‘Dream Uplifters’ program to provide scholarship aid for women returning to college after a lapse between high school and college. I also support a woman in Ghana. Read More>>
Thomas Fortenberry
One belief I hold onto—no matter how long it takes—is that Face and Junk will become a globally recognized brand. Not just for its name, but for what it stands for: authenticity, empowerment, and simplicity in men’s grooming. I’m committed to that vision with everything I’ve got. Read More>>
Adam Usry
Right now in the music industry there is a huge shift towards content creation. If you can constantly post and be at the forefront of people’s minds you can ‘make it’. And while that may be true for some people, it really is just naïve for artists to participate in this way. Read More>>
Janessa Williams
I’ve always had a “fight for the little guy” spirit. Even as a child, I was the one who spoke up for people who were too shy or afraid to defend themselves. I’ve never been afraid to say what needs to be said or to stand up for what’s right. Read More>>
Carrie Schmitt
This question resonates with me because I would tell my therapist how hard everything was after the death of my son. I didn’t want to do hard things because it hurt. Many people don’t want to do hard things. My therapist said, “if you replace the word ‘hard’ with ‘important,’ it changes how you approach things.” It changed the way I look at everything. Read More>>
Leah Potts
One thing I’ve changed about myself especially as a woman is learning to choose me first. For a long time, I was always putting others before myself. My best friend would always remind me that I have a big heart, and that’s true. I used to think I could handle it all—take care of myself while supporting everyone else. Read More>>
Meridith O’Connor
I could barely say the words ‘myasthenia gravis’ in those early years of my chronic illness journey without erupting into tears. I was young, frightened, navigating entirely new territory, and coping with a relatively unfamiliar diagnosis that was invisible at times and difficult for people to understand. Read More>>
Frankie Cat
The last time I felt true joy was simply sitting in my own backyard, watching the birds flutter to my feeder and catching the playful antics of baby raccoons on my game camera. There’s something magical in those small, unscripted moments—like sunlight on a beautiful day, the sound of leaves rustling, or the soft call of a chickadee. Read More>>
Lolly Vieira
I think especially in the United States there’s this huge, unnecessary emphasis on individualism rather than collectivism. I found that even I once held the belief that accomplishments meant more if you did them all alone. I think that many of us hold this belief subconsciously without even realizing it and that this is what is holding all of us back. Read More>>
Phillip Meece
I think where smart people are really getting the world wrong is that they’re under valuing quality food. Our world is extremely competitive and as it gets more and more competitive corners are cut that biologically that just don’t make sense for our health. Read More>>
Jen Maness
Not exactly sure what ‘normal’ means…I feel like I have very few of those kind of days! No two days are alike – that is for sure. Typically, I start my day our Kirkwood location. We run our juicing operation out of that location and most days we have deliveries for our wholesale accounts. Read More>>
Rebecca Strickland
Most mornings start early with coffee, a little family time, and a few quiet minutes to ground myself before the day gets going. I split my time between seeing patients for aesthetic treatments and creating personalized wellness plans that support hormone balance, gut health, and longevity. Read More>>
Ashley Miles
Honestly, I’m not even sure what “normal” looks like anymore—in the best way possible! Since Coco’s Tee Boutique has really taken off, my days are a blend of structure and hustle. I still work full-time as an Administrative Manager, which takes up most of my day. But once I clock out, it’s time to put on my boutique owner hat. Read More>>
