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 Phoenix.
Daniel Johnson
As a professional drummer, I have had the privilege of playing for various renowned artists and bands throughout my career. One notable highlight includes my time as the drummer for Brian “Head” Welch from Korn, from 2009 to 2017. During this period, I had the incredible opportunity to tour and perform with one of the most influential metal bands in the industry. Read more>>
Piper Connolly
I started performing when I was 5 and my first big performance was in front of about 150 people, belting out Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row… and I was totally and completely hooked. To have people sing along with you and dance and jump around is just amazing. It is as if the crowd’s energy charges me and I love it so much. Near and dear to me especially is performing at First Fridays in downtown Phoenix- having the downtown core just come alive, teeming with people and music. It’s pretty magical and I always really look forward to those hometown moments! Read more>>
Felicia Rials
Beginning her career as an apprentice to celebrity hairstylist, Michael Sparks, Felicia Rials spent over a decade in LA working with high profile clients including Cindy Crawford, Jamie Alexander, Lauren Silverman, Jae Shu Park, Jen Cheon Garcia, Miranda Cosgrove, Tinashe and more. Felicia’s work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, NY Times, Instyle Magazine and has worked on set for Billboard, music videos & the CW set. Read more>>
James Mueller
I have to create. It’s not a rational decision – no more than breathing is. From my earliest memories, I created drawing, building, writing – whatever it took to make my dreams come alive. Paint the picture you always wanted to see and write the novel you always wanted to read -but for me, it even went further: paint the world and write the novel you always wanted to live in. And therein lies the catch because you can’t unless you settle on a world that can never be. Read more>>
Cecilia Findley
I’m your go-to Beauty Enhancer with over 20 years of experience in the hair and makeup world. I’m a mom to two pretty awesome teenage boys who keep me on my toes, and I’ve been blissfully married to my best friend for over 18 years. Life’s a balancing act, but I thrive on connecting with amazing people and diving into creative adventures like singing, painting, and all kinds of creative shenanigans. My entrepreneurial spirit sparked early—at age 5, I was already selling lemonade and “reading fortunes” outside my home in California and my grandparents’ home in Mexico. Read more>>
Mary Grodman
After graduation, I moved to Tucson and began my career teaching after-school classes in the same district where I work now. I worked my way up to become a Program Director, helping shape the district’s after-school program and launching its outdoor program. Before the pandemic, I transitioned to working as an Event Coordinator at Kino Sports Complex, organizing sporting events, and later as the Natural Resources Supervisor for the Town of Marana, where I managed the trails, outdoor recreation programs, and conservation projects. While both roles were valuable, I felt a strong pull back to work more directly with kids again in the outdoors. Read more>>
Chanana McGarry
Inspired by the transformative power of FAM, I enrolled in a 2 year program at The Well School of Body Literacy to help women reclaim their bodies and sexual health through this method. My work is rooted in ancestral wisdom passed down through my connection to the Mujuji lineage of Rain Queens of Southern Africa, where water is life and fertility is sacred. My grandmother was a water healer and prophet, and her ancestors were Hosana dancers—those entrusted with the task of going to the mountains and singing and dancing prayers for rain. These deep watery roots connected the dots of my lifelong, intimate connection with water, fertility, and ancient wisdom. Read more>>
Justine Parra
Of course not. I don’t think any one has a smooth road whether it be personally or professionally. We all face challenges daily. One major challenge for me has been space. Being a cottage bakery I bake out of my home kitchen which is tiny. I’m so blessed with the amount of orders I get but bake days usually include a few cuss words and deep breaths. I’m working hard to be able to scale up and get a few items (bread oven, mixer etc) that will help my days go smoother! Read more>>
Poundgame Addison
I am a touring hiphop artist, I specialize in stage entertainment and people interaction. I’m know for my #1 song titled “Smoked Love”. I’m most proud of making a name in the industry while being a independent artist. What sets me apart from others is my willingness to get the job done. Read more>>
Rochelle Daniel
When I think about how I got to be where I am today, I can honestly say the road started at a very young age! I think that growing up I was always drawn to food in the sense that it brought people together in such a special way. Food is such a universal experience that we all can share in and that to me has always been very special! Read more>>
Annie Wagner
In my current role, I oversee and manage all aspects of operations, ensuring smooth workflows across departments. Since stepping into this position, I’ve been thrilled to implement a more seamless system that enhances efficiency for our customers, sales representatives, and construction teams alike. Additionally, I take pride in achieving a higher active project log, which reflects our growing impact and dedication to excellence. Read more>>
Keea Morgan
My journey started before I arrived here on this planet. I signed a contract to experience this planet but consciously my journey started 4 years ago when died and I awoke during a spiritual awaking. My awakening showed me clarity, peace, and the lifting of my veil into other dimensions or I like to call the other side Read more>>
Carol Tenwalde
With repurposing and recycling trending, I also have a beautiful, colorful line of fiber jewelry that is made from recycled India saris that I buy from a Fair-Trade Organization, and I am very proud to support them. These bright, cheery pieces are all one-of-a-kind originals and because they are made from silk are also weightless. Read more>>
Charlene Goa
The challenges of entrepreneurship run much deeper than typical business obstacles. They penetrate our emotional core, revealing hidden fears and vulnerabilities that often remain buried in traditional corporate environments. Every deadline, financial challenge, and professional demand becomes a mirror reflecting our inner landscape—pushing us to confront aspects of ourselves we might have long avoided. Read more>>
Suhelen Gutierrez
I have been a baker/ cake decorator for almost 25 years. I worked as a correcting officer for 14 years and continued doing cakes full time. I decided to quit my job to open my cake shop. I pulled my retirement money to follow my and my mom’s dream. Unfortunately, I met the wrong contractor. Which ended up taking my money and not doing the job. I have been struggling every since too open, yet little by little I have continued the process. Not giving up. After. While dealing with my mothers, fathers and sisters cancer treatments. I’m looking forward on penning my shop within the next month or two. Can’t wait. As a single mother of 3 girls. I want to have my own business and show them you could make your dreams come true if you work hard. Read more>>
Veronica Garcia
We cater to wholesale, festivals, private events weddings, markets, partnerships, and local businesses, Including Catering for any special life moment or life celebration. Read more>>
Tyler-Ann Bruce
Oh goshhh no!! I think me being so young and also a female will definitely play into factors! But I don’t let it stop me, I try not to because what example am I setting for the girl I want to be, the girls wanting to do what I do? Not being in college too has made it a bit harder too, and they’re so many cool programs I would’ve loved to be apart of, and who knows maybe later down the road! I think it was when I changed my mindset to thinking as if I was my own client almost, you gotta sell yourself really, but also provide a service! Read more>>
Alison Martin
My original career was in television broadcasting. When my mom died in 1991, my world turned upside down. I ended up following my heart and began to work in the pet field. Each part of my new career built upon each other. I started working for the Denver Dumb Friends League (one of the nation’s largest humane societies) when I gained a tremendous amount of hands on behavior knowledge. I then transitioned to working in two veterinary clinics where I was very fortunate to be trained in all aspects of the medical side of caring for pets. With a move to another state, I knew I wanted to start a pet sitting business where I knew my behavior and vet clinic knowledge would be valuable. Read more>>
April Nowlin
Understanding this, we set out to create a boutique ultrasound studio that felt different—one that was centered on love, excitement, and the beauty of seeing your little one for the first time. From the beginning, we aimed to provide state-of-the-art 2D-5D live ultrasound imaging while also offering a curated selection of baby boutique items that add to the magic of the experience. Read more>>
SkyLee Edmiston
I had to learn how to be a person while raising a person—figuring out who I was while making sure my child had everything they needed. That meant falling in love with the wrong people, realizing I deserved better, and finally loving myself enough to stop repeating that cycle. It also meant learning how to be truly alone and focusing on myself, not just filling the silence with people who weren’t good for me. Read more>>
Bela Fidel
As an adolescent I wanted to be a writer. I’ve always been an avid reader and could write reasonably well. However, my adolescent perfectionism never allowed me to start and explore this calling. Many years later, despite not having any special ambition to become an artist, I started taking painting lessons in Brazil. I was very dedicated and worked very hard for many years. Despite selling a painting here and there, I just kept painting for the love of it, to learn the craft, never expecting to make art a career. Until about ten years later, around the late 70’s, when I realized that without Art I would not. be centered, could not be whole. Having a career in Art, though, was continued to be secondary to becoming a better artist. Read more>>
Chris Hutter
It’s funny how my profession has nothing to do with art but is directly related to how my art starts. I am a high school substitute teacher and because I do my job so well that I’m considered the mellow sub. With the free time I have, I doodle and this is where all my initial designs start. I guess it has something to do with the creativity that happens in an educational environment. Once I have my initial design I then perfect it on my own time at home.. I m most proud of the fact that I can do my job and my art at the same time though I don’t tell anyone what I’m doing with my art and my thought process is what makes me unique and sets me apart from others. Read more>>
Talia Dudley
When I wasn’t practicing sports, I loved climbing trees, listening to music, stargazing, and swimming in the ocean. The ocean inspired me in many ways; it’s a mysterious environment, and at night, it becomes especially intriguing. I appreciate the histories, stories, songs, and myths that emerge from it. I spent countless nights by the beach, gazing at the night sky, mapping the stars, discovering planets and constellations, and simply relishing the vastness of it all. All these experiences have greatly inspired me and created a wellspring of ideas within me—elements that I incorporate into my art today. Read more>>
Tad Inoue
I started my fitness journey as a bodybuilder at the age of 15. I was literally a 95 lbs skinny kid in high school. To me that was simply unacceptable so I started studying everything I could on biology, weightlifting and nutrition. I went to college at Oregon State University and took all I could on nutrition. But back in 1988 when I started I couldn’t really see a vocation in nutrition or bodybuilding so I majored in religion and eventually got my undergraduate degree in philosophy with a heavy I=emphasis on the historical Jesus. Read more>>
Ozlem Yeni
Looking back, I realize that deciding to become an artist was only half the journey—no one ever tells you how the rest will unfold. For me, the decision was clear from a young age, but the path to getting there was anything but straightforward. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my story here, to reflect on the twists and turns that have shaped my journey, and to hopefully inspire others navigating their own creative paths. Read more>>
Mike Rothmiller
The birth of Amazon’s self-publishing marked a pivotal moment in the publishing world. Through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), authors gained the ability to bypass traditional gatekeepers and bring their stories directly to readers. The ease of such platforms has enabled anyone with a manuscript to become a published author. Read more>>
Tiffani Walker
But one day, I realized I had a choice. I could stay stuck in the pain, or I could transform it into something meaningful. That realization sent me on a deep, spiritual journey, not just to heal but to truly transform myself and my life. I explored nervous system healing, energy work, and spiritual growth, blending science with mysticism in ways that made real, lasting change. Read more>>
Hannah Hernandez
In 2019, I began my foodie Instagram journey to spare my friends from constant food images. I decided to create a dedicated account showcasing Tucson’s best vegan options. Today, I have over 15k followers, I have collaborations with restaurants with special dishes named after Death Free Foodie, and I’m the co-founder of Tucson’s first Vegan Night Market. Our latest night market was a huge success, drawing over 4000 attendees. Read more>>
Barry Moltz
I left my job at IBM in 1990 to start my first company. The first one went out of business. The second one I was kicked out of it by my two partners. Fortunately, the third business I was able to sell the company, pay back the bank the $1M loan and make some money! I then did angel investing for 5 years. Afterwards, I wrote 7 small business books and now I mostly help entrepreneurs sell their companies, Read more>>
Jacque Arend
I dropped out of film school, getting my first “F” ever in my academic history by not showing up for my final in cinematography. My instructor was very disappointed in me. Now 20 years later – living a sort of, “laissez a faire” attitude about my future, I let the universe guide my decision making which led to finding Improvisation as an art form and attempting to build my career on that. Now today, just by living my life, I am proficient in positive communication skills and performance arts training, theater and arts administration, operations, creating infrastructure and systems, web design, as well as producing events and performances. Read more>>
Stephenie Bjorkman
Sami Fine Jewelry’s owner, Stephenie Bjorkman, embodies the essence of the jewelry she sells: vibrant, innovative, intelligent, and continuously evolving. Just like the native gemstones her store showcases, she is a true Arizona original. Since 2011, she’s been rocking it as the CEO of Sami Fine Jewelry, by keeping the magic alive and customers spellbound with top-notch service and one of a kind jewelry designs. Read more>>
Chris Martin
I started as a caregiver in 2010. Helping card holders get meds. I was raided in 2012 and was facing life for making edibles. I wrote a book called #OneLife the Chris Martin Story on Amazon and Kindle and have a documentary now called #Hatersmakemefamous on Amazon prime Read more>>
Digital Garden
One of my struggles was dealing with perfectionism, and the feeling that I needed to get everything right about a track if people were gonna hear it, otherwise it wouldn’t be good enough. Another struggle was not being bothered to expand beyond basic production/songwriting and invest time in learning new skills to improve my work (mixing, mastering, speaker testing, etc.). So my problems were many – I wanted to get so much right about music but only the stuff I thought would be right, not keeping in mind the technical improvements that would make for a more pleasing listen than any complicated song ideas will. Read more>>
Az-Lee Wilbon
Then, during my senior year of high school, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. In a heartbeat, everything I had painstakingly built—this false identity I had crafted—collapsed. My sense of control disappeared, and for the first time, I had to face the reality of how fragile my foundation truly was. I began to lose faith in myself and my ability to persevere. By the end of that summer, despair had taken hold. I had spent my entire life in pursuit of happiness and belonging, yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find it on my own. This left me feeling trapped in a cycle of fear and rejection. Read more>>
Sasha Reyes
As a young female culinarian, I was met with lots of discrimination in the restaurant industry. Where I experience wage discrimination and sexual harassment. I was also raising 2 young children at the time I graduated from culinary school. I found that the Long hours and late nights were not conducive to motherhood. Read more>>
Beth Homme
Being in the Advertising Industry for over 20 years, I’ve had lots of opportunity to fuel my creative side and learn there are lots of ways to Market your business. However, I believe less is more, stay in your lane, focus on your message, know who your consumer is and talk to them…over and over and over again. I started the PLM Agency Jan 3rd 2018 with a solid client following from my radio days, and I have never advertised for more clients. We have been able to grow to a national and international advertising agency with our very first handful of loyal clients. We have built a world around them and in turn they have given us an amazing world of success! We keep it simple, no nonsense & direct. Time is precious so we don’t waste our clients time or ours with fluff and advertising options that are costly and do not work. Read more>>
Ashlee Stancill
Now I would love to tell you right after that grand opening that orders were coming in. However, they were not and this hurt me. I was determined to remain in God’s will and seek Him on what to do. I knew that Abiding Cakes is what He called me to do. In the meantime, I worked on improving my decorating, recipes, marketing, packaging. Flash forward to June 2024 and got my first large order for 2 sheets and I began my first weekly promotion: Slice Slice Baby. Where each week the cake flavor would change and Slice Slice Baby would be a hit. Who doesn’t need a sweet treat every week? Read more>>
The Blindsiders
We’re a high-energy band that blends classic rock, country, and Southern rock with our own originals, creating a sound that’s both nostalgic and unique. What sets us apart is the chemistry between our members—each musician brings something special to the table. With Saultin Barrett on lead guitar, Chris Smith on rhythm guitar, CAMERAn SHY on bass, and Dave Barnard on drums, we create an electrifying experience for every audience. Read more>>
Chief Mark Corona
That’s when trivia entered my life. What started as a fun side project turned into a passion for engaging audiences in a whole new way. I co-created the world’s only TV-style trivia show for bars, restaurants, and corporate events, combining my love for entertainment with the ability to retain and engage audiences. Over the past 10 years, I’ve hosted thousands of trivia events, both live and virtual, captivating audiences with high-energy shows tailored to their needs. Read more>>
Maggie McCane
I received a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the University of Arizona and immediately after graduation moved to Gracias, Lempira, Honduras, to teach first grade at a Bilingual School. I quickly realized teaching was not for me so I became involved with a group to help survivors of domestic violence, a common crime in that area. One night, I was walking a woman home and we came face-to-face with her abuser. The only thing I remember from that interaction was realizing that she was not the only one in this relationship who needed help. I remember this man’s face and thinking that he is broken and in need of support, yet no one was offering him any. Read more>>
Karen Martinez
Born in Arizona and raised in Mexico, as little I experience lots of moves and was always back and forward between the two countries. A little over a decade ago, I packed up my bags and moved from my hometown to seek better opportunities to a big city with my two daughters. It was a daunting experience, finding myself feeling alone and isolated in such a bustling big city away from family and friends. It was a move I needed to make for the future of my daughters.
That’s when Fitness entered into my story. I discovered a new way of starting fresh, regaining control of my life, and giving me a sense of a community and belonging. Little did I know that Fitness will lead me into my first bodybuilding competition in 2014. I ended up taking the first place in Bikini Novice Division at the INBA. Despite my success during the competition, this great experience was followed by a challenging period in which I struggled with bouncing and gaining over 30lbs, binge eating, body dysmorphia, over-exercising, and guilt around food. Read More>>
Christian Klingeler
I have always wanted to help others. I am a disabled Veteran, I served my country with the U.S Marine Corps. I started painting in Seattle while I worked various law enforcement jobs. I went on to become one of the first Federal Air Marshalls hired after 9/11.
Due to anxiety and PTSD I decided to change my career path and move to Phoenix where I continued my education obtaining a Masters degree in Psychology. It was then when I had a mental breakdown and could not pursue a Doctoral degree. I started painting as a therapeutic exercise, not knowing this was going to give me my new career as an abstract artist. Read More>>
