Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Arlette Campos
After 20 years as a housewife, I started over as a single mother—with nothing but determination. In a country that wasn’t mine, with a language I didn’t speak and a culture I had to learn, I faced countless challenges. Every hardship, every obstacle, fueled my strength and ambition. In just 4 years, I became an empowered woman living her dreams. Read more>>
William Franklin
My journey into massage therapy and wellness has been both personal and purpose-driven. Before stepping fully into this space, I was always someone who valued movement, performance, and discipline. As a former professional athlete, I spent 10 years playing basketball overseas throughout Europe, an experience that shaped my understanding of the body at a high level. Read more>>
Laura Aguirre
I have been working in the mental health field for nearly ten years now. Much of what motivated me was how I grew up. Growing up, I was the eldest daughter of an immigrant family in a small town near Houston. I often found myself in the role of a listener. I saw firsthand how mental health impacts individuals and couples. Read more>>
Epiphany Priebe
My name is Epiphany, but nowadays a lot of people know me as Piff. For a long time, I did everything ‘right.’ I built the kind of career that looked great on paper, ten years of climbing ladders, checking boxes, and curating the perfect résumé. I worked hard. I said yes. Read more>>
Sarah Inayatali
Engraviti Studio started from a simple idea. I had a personal item I needed engraved, so I took it to a local shop. The process was easy, but it felt purely transactional. I wanted more from that experience and realized that most engraving services focus on executing exactly what the customer asks for, without much collaboration or creativity. Read more>>
Elizabeth Dawson
I began my creative life as a ballerina, training from a very young age. When it came time to retire my pointe shoes, I found myself searching for something that could replace that sense of expression and discipline. That turning point came unexpectedly. I painted a series of three works as a housewarming gift for a friend. Read more>>
Jamillah Elvehoey
“What is your story?” This is one of my favorite questions to ask people, so much so that I made a career out of it! Haha! My story is about belonging, resilience, and purpose, all across different continents. I was born in Tanzania, the only girl out of three children. I was raised by a strong and ambitious African woman. Read more>>
parasmani chaturvedi
Our story began with a simple realization: families in our community lacked access to truly fresh, high-quality, and locally grown food. Across three neighboring counties, nutritious options—especially those rooted in sustainability, transparency, and regional heritage—were limited. We believed there was a better way—one that not only offered exceptional products, but also restored and honored the land they came from. Read more>>
Holly Block
I’ve always been a hyper, enthusiastic kid who was naturally drawn to the arts! Growing up, school was actually quite a struggle for me—I’m dyslexic and didn’t fully learn to read until I was 13 years old. Back then, I never would have dreamed that I’d be capable of writing and producing a musical. Read more>>
Kimmi Doan-Subida
FKTG was born out of a deep love for creating meaningful, personalized items and my desire to bring unique, personal touches to every occasion. After the passing of my amazing mother, I found myself lost, focusing solely on my children and their needs. But my biggest supporter of a husband, who has always believed in me, encouraged me to rediscover my passion. Read more>>
Njabulo Zulu
My name is Njabulo Zulu, and I’m a creative entrepreneur based in Johannesburg, South Africa. My journey has been both life-changing and deeply fulfilling. Over a decade ago, I founded Indoni Arts and Entertainment, a platform dedicated to creating opportunities for artists to showcase their work and access the market. The company focuses on curation, visual art exhibitions, live music, festivals, and workshops. Read more>>
Margaret Madariaga
Returning to work after having my first child brought challenges I never anticipated. Just months after giving birth, I stepped into a supervisory attorney role at a Fortune 500 company while learning how to navigate motherhood. As I balanced career advancement with the demands of being a new parent, I also faced ongoing struggles with my child’s childcare. Read more>>
Jorge Begun
I originally started my career in a completely different field—I was working as an architect for about a decade, focusing on designing spaces that felt intentional and meaningful. But over time, I found myself becoming more interested in the inner human experience of people and myself rather than just the physical spaces around them. That shift really deepened during the pandemic. Read more>>
Carvin Daniels
I was at work one day, scrolling the internet… and that same day, I decided to start my business. No overthinking. No perfect plan. Just faith, vision, and action. ✨ Sometimes all it takes is one moment to change everything. Read more>>
Chelsea Carpenter
For the last 15 years I have been an elementary school teacher. I started that career as my son entered kindergarten. I have always been creative and artistic and my father was always an amazing woodworker. He could build anything. I hung out with him a lot! Once my son went to college I was ready for a change. Read more>>
LIIA KAMKADZE
I’ve grown an audience of over 60K English-speaking followers while creating in a language that is not my first, and my content has reached more than 150 million views across platforms Read more>>
Sunita Osborn
I would describe my journey to becoming a clinical psychologist as conventionally unconventional. Like many first-generation kids of South Asian immigrant parents, going into medicine was my clearest route, and since the only other sure conviction I had going into college was my desire to help people, I set on the path that seemed safe and predictable. Spoiler alert…I pivoted. Read more>>
Josh Herod
I was a musical theatre major in college, with a passion for live music and entertaining. After college, I moved to NYC and performed in a handful of regional theatre productions before determining that the theatre lifestyle was not for me. Read more>>
Emy Ogujiofor
My trading journey began in 2009 with a brief but formative stint on Citigroup’s trading floor. I placed my first trade that year — and I was hooked. For the next decade-plus, trading remained a passion I pursued alongside a successful corporate career spanning strategy consulting and telecommunications at firms like BCG and AT&T. It was intellectually stimulating work, but something always felt missing. Read more>>
Kelsey Strachan
Letters From Home is a historical fiction story subscription service that started as a creative venture between two sisters living over 2,000 miles apart. Leveraging my background as a professional writer and my sister’s experience in sales and marketing, we’ve worked together to create original and realistic stories written as personal letters, which our customers receive chapter-by-chapter the old fashioned way: in their mailbox. Read more>>
Lawanda Tensley
In 2002 I discovered that I had a gift to make custom made gift baskets. My baskets would tell a story of their own because I would pray for creative ideas and unique ideas. Read more>>
Laura Pulliam
Laura Pulliam Photography started as an expensive hobby and a wild idea. Twenty years ago I needed an art credit for my undergrad studies and chose a black & white film photography class where I learned the basics of light and composition. This class gave expression and an outlet to my artistic inclination. Read more>>
Chaunell Albert
I’ve spent the past several years working in child welfare as a CPS Caseworker, where I’ve gained experience supporting families, advocating for youth, and navigating complex situations. That work strengthened my passion for service and led me to become Vice President of All Is Well Family, where I help create programs and support systems for youth. Read more>>
Jamie Albert
I am a senior at Sam Houston State University and a member of the Elliot T. Bowers Honors College, studying English with a minor in Legal Studies. I grew up in Huntsville Texas and have always been involved in the local community. Last semester, I took an Honors Seminar that challenged us to get involved in our community. Read more>>
Lisha King
P.O.P Pulse of Purpose got started when I was offered a position to be a personality on 953 Jamz. Outreach is a big part of me, So when I was offered the position, that was my opportunity to encourage, invite, educate, and inform on a broader platform. Read more>>
LIUDMYLA HRYSHKO
I started my career in dermopigmentation over 10 years ago in Ukraine. What began as a professional interest quickly grew into a full-time practice, as I became deeply involved in working with clients and understanding how even small details can influence how a person sees themselves. Read more>>
James Polanco
Started off DJing playing around with old equipment that was given to me in my garage! Missed around with it day in and day out looking at YouTube m videos. and asking my buddy DJZ in corpus question after question. Djed my own party around 2012 of May but really just played music nothing special off an iPad. Read more>>
Brandy Hamilton
I didn’t start this journey with a business plan. I started it from a moment where I realized I deserved more. I was working in corporate America in HR after having my son, doing everything right. Showing up, doing my job well, even being trained for a position I never asked for but was growing into. Read more>>
Laura Brown
I’ve always been someone who likes to hear other people’s stories. I love to read and I love to share and hear from other people and their experiences. During my senior year of undergrad while in one of my theatre courses, our college counselor came to discuss how the arts can be used in therapy. Read more>>
Kandy Boutte’
I started Kandy By Design from a simple place, my love for jewelry and beautiful stones. It began as a hobby, something I did because it brought me joy. Creating jewelry became a space that gave me peace and purpose. Friends, family, and customers started reacting to my pieces with real excitement, and it opened my eyes to what this could become. Read more>>
Banko St-Leger
I started as an artist in New York, where painting became a way for me to turn emotion into something tangible and useful. That creative path grew into curating shows across the city and collaborating with brands, which taught me how to shape experiences, bring people together, and think deeply about how people connect with ideas. Over time, travel pushed that mindset further. Read more>>
Amir Beats
I taught myself to play the piano at age five; while I may not be Beethoven, I certainly found my calling in production. I have been composing beats and writing songs for over 35 years. In high school, I was a versatile athlete—competing in football, basketball, and track—and served as class president. Read more>>
Shannon Smith
My short story: Hello, my name is Shannon and I’m an Endo Warrior. I’ve battled the relentless symptoms of endometriosis since 1995. Conventional medicine didn’t just fail me—it may have even made my condition worse with all the drugs and interventions. As an adult, I came to know Christ and began to fiercely pursue alternative medicine as my path to healing. Read more>>
Gabriel Solis
In 2003, I used to work for a manufacturing plant as a Engineering manager, the operation moved to china and 470 workers and me, were left without a job., With my Mechanical engineering backgroud, I quickly started in the machining and steel transformation. Later on, we started manufacturing ornamental steel components, like doors, railings, staircases, etc,. Read more>>
Deborah Thorn
I’m a 7th-generation Texan and 3rd-generation Houstonian, raised in Memorial where I attended Stratford High School before earning my degree in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. Read more>>
Dr. Tatum Louie
I was born and raised on a farm in the small town of Lone Oak, Texas. I ventured into the big city for my education at UT Dallas where I fell in love with science, art, and my wonderful husband, Terry. During my time at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, I discovered my passion for helping patients overcome dental anxiety. After earning my doctorate, Terry and I moved to Houston where I began seeing patients as an associate dentist and we started our family with two beautiful children – Tatiana (4) and Tucker (2). Read more>>
Peter Allen
My journey in radio started with a deep love for music and community. I grew up inspired by the power of radio personalities who could connect with people through sound, conversation, and culture. Read more>>
Megan L. Brown
I’m the owner of Nuthatch Montessori School in Sugar Land, Texas. Our school is new yet our location has a long history serving our community’s youngest citizens. The school that was here previously had a long run, but went out of business in late 2025. Nuthatch opened in February this year. But let’s backtrack a few months. Read more>>
