Portraits of Phoenix

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.

Ann Cassero

I have loved all things real estate for as long as I can remember – homes, land, fixer-uppers, architecture, and the dreams people attach to a place. As a kid, I could look out a window and daydream about how an old lakeside resort might be revived, or see a For Sale sign on a building and immediately start imagining the possibilities. That was me. Read more>>

Dr. Gabrielle Ficchi

I grew up with cerebral palsy, so disability was never an abstract concept for me. It shaped how I navigated physical spaces, education, accommodations and other people’s expectations of what my life could look like from an early age. When people told me college was not realistic, I became determined not to let someone else’s expectations define my future. Read more>>

Sangeeta Kalle

I grew up in India watching my mother and grandmother bake cakes and savory treats. I began baking at nine, using stovetop Bundt pans and a small round electric oven with a glass lid. Watching a cake rise filled me with wonder. Read more>>

Marilyn Chychota

I’ve been immersed in elite sport since I was 9 years old, building a life around high performance, grit, and the pursuit of potential. My journey has taken me across three professional sports—equestrian show jumping, triathlon, and cycling—as well as competitive strength sports. Through it all, I’ve lived by one motto: Never Die Wondering. Read more>>

brad siedlecki

I’ve been involved in the action sports world (skateboard, BMX, snowboard) for more than 40 years, so this work started with a love for the places where people ride and the communities that form around them. I’ve lived in Arizona for 30 years and I’ve spent more than 25 years designing and building skateparks. Read more>>

Julia Beatty

My journey into cookie decorating began in 2018 when I became an empty nester. What started as a creative way to stay connected with my children while they were away at college quickly became a passion. I would decorate custom cookies and send them care packages filled with sweet treats from home. Read more>>

Maurice Fernandez

I’m a professional Astrologer, a profession that is commonly not in the vocabulary of parents or schools when asking children what they want to do when they grow up, Really off the beaten path! It was a calling that came surprisingly when I was about 19. I took an introductory class, and soon enough people began to ask me to read their chart. Read more>>

Arianna Carralero

Aries Beauty & Wellness was founded in 2020 by Arianna Carralero, inspired by a passion for helping people feel confident, cared for, and seen. From an early stage, Arianna felt called to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and that calling led to a deep love for skincare. Read more>>

Carlene Leier

I’ve always believed it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. I was born in Canada and moved to Mexico in 2010 with my husband and our four kids, eventually making our way to Scottsdale, Arizona in 2019. At age 40, I decided to return to college while raising my family and continuing to build businesses. Read more>>

Jeffrey Smallwood

RESTLESS really came from how my daughter is always so restless haha but also my own life and the feeling that I was meant to build something bigger. Read more>>

Michael Takla

Diecast Cove (diecast.net) started with a genuine passion for collecting and the excitement that comes with finding the next great diecast car. What began as an appreciation for the hobby grew into something bigger: the idea of creating an online diecast store built by collectors, for collectors. Read more>>

David De La Garza Jr.

I started working for an indoor furniture warehouse moving boxes and loading trucks in Phoenix, AZ in 2003. That was the start of the entire learning process of how the back end of retail works. Moving boxes and loading trucks. Read more>>

Jade Xiella

My journey into community organizing started long before I ever thought of myself as a “community organizer.” I grew up as a military kid, so adapting and finding belonging in new places was normal for me. Because of that, I think I learned pretty early how important it is to have spaces where you feel seen, welcomed, and connected to something bigger than yourself. Read more>>

Brandy Lawson

I actually come from a long line of self-employed people. My great-grandparents on both sides homesteaded in Montana and produced generations of farmers and ranchers. Even though my parents grew up on a farm, they moved to the ‘big city’ and opened a restaurant the year I was born. Read more>>

Mike Babin

Born and raised on the East Coast in New Jersey, and our family relocated to Arizona during the late 1990s, moved back to NJ and then settled down for good in AZ again back in 2006. Here in the desert ever since, and content on staying here due to everything the state has to offer. Read more>>

Shannon Maaske

I found sound meditation about three years ago, during a time of emotional and physical burnout. I am an Occupational Therapist, and during COVID I was working in acute care at a Level I trauma center. Over an 18-month period, I experienced an incredible amount of loss in addition to what I witnessed working in a hospital during COVID. Read more>>

Melissa Boher Jacobson

My journey as a coach began 26 years ago, when I was asked to coach someone for an important audition, after several years, I realized that my students and clients were leaving my studio, very different than how they entered, with much more self-esteem and confidence. Read more>>

Elizabeth Nganga

Every journey has a beginning. Minister Elizabeth Nganga’s journey began long time ago before she had any professional titles, a business, ministry or nonprofit. She had many dreams and questions about the future. She did not know that one day she would be involved in entrepreneurship, ministry, music, podcasting, and nonprofit leadership. Read more>>

Kylee Lee

I first picked up photography as a hobby, using a Canon camera my husband had received for his birthday, and it quickly became something I fell in love with. I had always enjoyed taking pictures, but realizing that photography could become something more was incredibly exciting to me. I officially began photographing clients professionally in 2021 while also working full-time as a teacher. Read more>>

Tyree Ballard

I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where my love for the arts and creativity started at an early age. I’ve always been drawn to anything that allows me to express myself, whether that’s through singing, acting, fashion, or hair. Read more>>

James Swann

Hi, my name is James Swann with CRAFT 64 Pizzerias. We are award winning wood fired pizzerias and brewpubs located in Scottsdale and Chandler Arizona. We have been in business for 12 years and got started when a group of good friends all wanting to open a restaurant combined our collective know with a vision to be different. Read more>>

Camilla Ross

My journey began with the belief that theatre should do more than entertain—it should educate, inspire conversation, and give a voice to people and stories that are too often overlooked. As a producer, director, actor, playwright, educator, and military veteran, I have seen how storytelling can bring people together. Read more>>

Steve Vicera

My story really starts with my family. I grew up around a family business — car parts and accessories — so entrepreneurship wasn’t some abstract idea to me, it was the dinner table conversation. I watched my parents build something with their hands, and it planted a seed I didn’t even realize was there yet. Before Sommet Fitness, I was a bodybuilder and personal trainer. Read more>>

Ron Degner

I grew up in a small town in Indiana, raised by my mom along with my sister. There was no money for college and no dad around, so I went to work at 18 for a local, small family Plumbing & A/C company. At 20 I moved to Cincinnati and got into a plumbing trade school, and by 24 I had my Journeyman license. Read more>>

Abigail Lupien

My story began with an interest in and love for the medical field and mathematics. I have always wanted to understand how life works around me on a deeper level, which is what drew me to biomedical engineering. While earning my B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University, I became especially interested in medical device development, microbiology, and translational research. Read more>>

Wenzel Escudero

My name is ‘Wenzel’, I am a lo-fi hip-hop artist/producer from Phoenix, Arizona. I started making hip-hop beats as Wenzel in 2017 in my bedroom using tools such as my sp404/mpc2000xl and connecting with other artists over the years. My music includes chill melodic, nature lofi beats. Read more>>

Joanna Mackay

For a long time, I was living a life that looked like a life I should be grateful for, but somewhere along the way, I had completely lost myself inside of it. I became a mother to three boys, and during those years I also found myself in a marriage where, little by little, I stopped trusting my own voice. Read more>>

Paul and Kathy Tucson Loves Music

Tucson Loves Music began in 2022 with a simple frustration: Paul Munsen couldn’t easily find live music in Tucson. A retired software engineer, former musician, and newcomer to Southern Arizona, Paul quickly realized that information about the region’s live music scene was scattered across countless websites, social media pages, venue calendars, and other sources. Read more>>

Torsten Stein

. I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, and if you had told the younger version of me where life would eventually take me, I probably would not have believed you. At 7’2”, I was always easy to spot in a crowd. My height naturally led me to basketball, and the game became a major part of my life. Read more>>

Kayde Johnson

I was born and bred in the great state of Arizona and raised in Payson; a small rural town nestled in the pines of the Tonto National Forest. As a proud Arizona native, I have lived and learned the lands of the desert throughout my entire life. My upbringing has played a huge role in who I am as a person today. Read more>>

Patty Gamez

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona to parents originally from Mexico, I grew up understanding the value of hard work, perseverance, and creating opportunities that had not always been available to the generations before me. I became the first in my family to attend college, earning my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and later pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education. Read more>>

Mommie Cakes

Hi, my name is Chanel, and I am the proud owner of Mommie Cakes, located in Arizona. 🍰❤️ My journey started back in 2017 on Crenshaw in California with something very close to my heart — a two-day bake sale dedicated to honoring my grandmother, the woman who taught me how to bake. Read more>>

Joseph Rochel

My path has never been a straight line, but every chapter has taught me how to tell a better story. One of the earliest defining chapters of my life was serving in the Army. It taught me discipline, responsibility and what it means to serve something larger than yourself. From there, I found my way into filmmaking, photography and storytelling. Read more>>

Noelle Kitzke

I spent 5–6 years bartending in Milwaukee, WI, and it was always something I genuinely loved. After moving to Arizona in 2017, I transitioned into the corporate world, but I eventually found myself missing the energy, creativity, and connection that came with bartending. I wanted to get back behind the bar, but this time, I wanted to do it my own way. Read more>>

Lucas Antonio Guevara

I was born and raised in Arizona in a large Puerto Rican and Mexican blended family. As the oldest of my siblings, leadership and responsibility became part of my identity early. I also spent school breaks and holidays in San Diego County with my father, which gave me a broader perspective while keeping me deeply connected to Arizona. Read more>>

Lily Regalia

Since around age four, I told everyone that I was going to be a professional artist. Cut to high school, where I was taking every 2-D studio course I could, including AP Studio Art. Every so often, they would give us these career alignment tests, and the result was always visual artist in the top spot. It felt like this calling planted in me. Read more>>

Ges Briggs

Everything really all started with my camera and years traveling the world somewhat aimlessly. I’ve been snapping photos since I was a kid and always had a passion for travel, but I never planned to do anything with that. Read more>>

Taylor Knoll

While I was attending university for my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, I had the opportunity to shadow a therapist who did part time pediatrics and part time pelvic floor therapy. After leaving, I was so intrigued with pelvic floor therapy and the impact it could make in a woman’s life. It also tied closely with my personal life story. Read more>>

Bree Deverill

I’ve always been drawn to creativity, animals, and making things that bring a little more wonder into the world. I studied visual arts and interior architecture in Singapore, and spent much of my career in travel and tourism, marketing, and brand development while continuing to make art along the way. Over time, my body of work moved from two dimensions into more sculptural forms. Read more>>

Tara Brighten

Chandler Jewish Preschool opened in 2013 with three teachers and nine students. We have expanded to serve hundreds of Jewish families over the past decade by providing a high quality, play based preschool curriculum from deeply dedicated teachers and directors. Both preschool directors, Shternie Deitsch and Tara Brighten, have been a part of the preschool since day one. Read more>>

Cheyenne Rose

It all started when my aunt and I would take art lessons regularly together at a local art school when I was a young teen. We took many different classes ranging from mixed media styles to oil painting like the old Masters. As my skills and love for art grew over the years, I decided I was going to continue to pursue art full time. Read more>>

Luis Marrufo

In my early 20s, my life looked completely different than it does today. I was a musician in a heavy metal band called INCITE. We were signed to a record label, and for years I traveled the world playing music and living what most people would probably consider a rockstar lifestyle. Music wasn’t just something I did — it was who I was. Read more>>

Tim Carter

My name is Tim Carter, and I’m originally from Bloomington, Minnesota. My relationship with hookah started at a young age. Looking back, we probably shouldn’t have been smoking hookah as young as we were, but what we loved most wasn’t even the smoking itself it was the social environment. Hookah gave us a place to sit down, relax, talk, and enjoy each other’s company. Read more>>

Jade C. Harman

I never imagined I would become a content creator, but looking back, I had already been in the creative space for most of my life. Before stepping into content creation, I worked as a model, an artist, and a freelance social media specialist for several agencies. I was constantly brainstorming ideas, creating concepts, and envisioning something bigger for myself. Read more>>

Rachel Canelo

Hi everyone! My name is Rachel Canelo, and I’m so glad to be back! I’m a licensed esthetician, content creator, and entrepreneur with a passion for skin health and helping people feel confident in their own skin. My passion for skincare became deeply personal through my own journey with rosacea and other skin challenges. Read more>>

Nicolle Hood

Before starting My First Nest Egg, I spent nearly two decades as a business attorney, general counsel, nonprofit board member and adjunct negotiations law professor. I graduated from USC and Notre Dame Law School and spent much of my legal career helping private equity-backed companies grow from startups into regional and national businesses. Read more>>

Ryan Nielsen

Timing was funny, my wife was in a graduate program on the east coast, and I was in a leadership role in the military. I had several individuals I worked with coming up on retirement and wanted to get them something nice as a gift, funds were limited so I took up CNC and woodworking as a hobby. Read more>>

Rowdy Kids

Rowdy Kids was started in 2017 in by way of Chicago creator Rowdy within the year Rowdy Kids moved to the west coast and planted roots in Phoenix that continuously grows and stays prevalent to this day while still staying connected to the Midwest roots that made the brand. Read more>>

Yesica Montoya

In 2011, my mother and I moved to the United States from Colombia, where we had our own sewing business. After settling in Mesa, tragedy struck in 2015 when my father unexpectedly passed away. I was suddenly faced with the responsibility of becoming the provider for our family, so I applied for a job and traveled to California for training. Read more>>

Raul Alejandro

I am a retired retired structural engineer and commercial general contractor, with a long and fulfilling career in the construction industry. An Arizona native, I graduated from Arizona State University (ASU), where a strong foundation in engineering and design set the stage for a successful career in both structural engineering and contracting. Read more>>

Thermo AZ

Hello! I am ThermoAZ! I started crafting in 2014 with a Diablo III build and my worldview, from a creative perspective, exploded. Since 2014 I have had the honor and privilege of guesting at pop culture conventions, teaching at Costume College, participating in an international convention, placing as Intermediate Runner Up in the National Championships of Cosplay and so much more! Read more>>

Alexis Hamilton

I actually started this just as a joke. I couldn’t believe axe throwing was a real thing. I thought it was silly and laughed at the idea of trying to be a lumberjack. Then, out of nowhere, my boss, who was interviewing me at Jersey Mike’s, turned out to be a former world champion axe thrower. Read more>>

Christine Byrd

I started my business in Seattle with DivineTouch Bridal Artistry, specializing in on-location bridal hair and makeup. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work with countless brides and clients, travel for weddings, build a team, and grow a business that became a meaningful part of my life. Read more>>

Daniel Hendrick

My story really begins in a small town, where I discovered that I had a voice and eventually found my way into the world of opera. What followed was a career that took me much farther than I ever imagined. Read more>>

Mario Albert

My journey really starts in the Bay Area, where I grew up in the 90s. It was an incredible place and time to come of age, but it also had its pitfalls. My generation experienced watching enormous cultural and technological changes happen right in front of us. Read more>>

Kiabi Addison

The Garden State has been my home for all of my life. I lived in a city, enjoying the fast-paced zeal of life, but always secretly wanted more. That ‘more’ is what Holistiva is growing into today. I have always been interested in learning about holistic health and finding creative ways of alternative healing. Read more>>

Joe Muscarello

I guess the origin story began around 2009 while working in Madrid. On my days off I would shop with other employees then we’d go back to their flats and each cook our favorite or family recipes. That intimate personal touch of sharing your time, kitchen and table with great people really stuck with. Read more>>

Janelle Chantèa

Noir Jardin started when everything in my life felt like it was falling apart, and I was looking for somewhere to land some sense of ease and beauty in the middle of the chaos. I couldn’t find it built for someone who looked like me and loved the things I did, so I started building it myself. Read more>>

Makenna Lewers

Just over 10 years ago, my health had deteriorated to a point that was genuinely scary. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and later was also diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. During these years, I felt completely disconnected from my body. Fatigue, bloating, brain fog, chronic hives and pain. Read more>>

Réka Vicsacsán

I was born in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca), Romania, and grew up in a multicultural environment that sparked my curiosity about the world from an early age. My family is Hungarian, so I was raised bilingual, and I became very interested not only by my own cultural heritage but also by the different languages, traditions, and perspectives that surrounded me. Read more>>

Nikelle Sybrowsky

I’m a mother of three little kids, and I’ve always been looking for easy ways to give them a fun childhood. I’m also a speech-language pathologist (specializing in young children), so I’ve seen how important play is for a child’s development. Read more>>

Shawnna Denny

Getting to where I am now in life was not a quick or easy journey to say the least. I was told at a very young age by my grandmother that I had to do something that made me a lot of money or I’d fail at life. Read more>>

Kristin Armstrong

I was curious about massage and bodywork as early as my high school years in upstate New York, through experiences with athletic training and sports, though at the time, it did not align in practicality. My path veered, but I landed back at integrative healing in my late 20s. Read more>>

Jamie Benfield

I founded Rockstar Rescue in 2010, and over the past 16 years it has evolved into a small, hands-on rehabilitation rescue focused largely on dogs who need more than the typical shelter or rescue environment can provide. We’ve worked with dogs recovering from abuse, neglect, illness and injury, as well as dogs with behavioral and emotional challenges. Read more>>

ERICA VILLA

I decided to go to beauty school at 26, genuinely believing I was WAY too old to start a new career—which is hilarious to me now! Getting through beauty school was a family effort. I had a baby at home whom I was still breastfeeding, so I pumped during my hour-long commute each way. Read more>>