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 Houston.
John H. Bates
I was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. From the start, the road was not easy; I encountered racial prejudice and systemic barriers that too many have faced in our country’s history. Despite it all, I was determined to make a difference – for myself and for my community. Read more>>
Apache Goudeau
I started by going to the Military at 19 years old where I did logistics. After leaving the military I decided to try out for the football team at Texas Southern University I had no football experience at all but ended making the team. I played for 3 years and eventually graduated in 2007 with a degree in business. Read more>>
Forosha Wilcox
**Forosha Wilcox** CEO, Christian Jakoi and Busy Body Childcare Center Forosha Wilcox is the CEO of Busy Body Childcare Center and founder of Christian Jakoi, a black-owned handbag line. Passionate about early childhood education, she has created nurturing environments for children, ensuring personalized care and support. Under her leadership, Busy Body Childcare Center has become a community favorite, known for its open engaging curriculum. Read more>>
Dr. Sarah Jackson, DNP, FNP-C, APRN
My name is Dr. Sarah Jackson, and I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). I’ve spent over 25 years in the healthcare industry. My vast experience in healthcare showed me that the healthcare system often lacks focus on disease and illness prevention. I saw the same heartbreaking pattern: our healthcare system waits for people to get sick instead of helping them stay well. Read more>>
Lauren Blake
After graduating from Texas A&M, I moved to Houston and began my career in the oil and gas industry, focusing on business development and communications. I loved the people I met and the opportunities to travel, but I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak—and deep down, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. That opportunity came after I had my first baby. Read more>>
Reid Squires
Sojourn Montrose — Our Story In 2013, a small group of friends began gathering above Paulie’s on Westheimer with a simple goal: to make the gospel of Jesus available to anyone interested, and to cultivate a real community that serves people in our context. As we grew, we met wherever doors opened—at the historic River Oaks Theatre and later at Gregory-Lincoln Elementary. Read more>>
Deissy Rodriguez
I started cutting hair about 10 years ago as a way to express my creativity. I’ve always had a love for art, and barbering became the perfect outlet for that. Braiding began as a hobby, but with encouragement from a mentor, I gained the confidence to take it seriously and grow my skills. Read more>>
Madeline Minor
I founded Anchor of Hope Counseling two years ago, fulfilling a long-held dream to have my own private practice. I founded Anchor of Hope Counseling two years ago, fulfilling a long-held dream to have my own private practice. Read more>>
Jessica Payne
I was raised in a big, close-knit family where there was always something going on — cooking, cleaning, yard work, or some kind of gathering. On my mother’s side especially, the women made sure everyone had a role, and I naturally gravitated toward the kitchen. Read more>>
John Trejo
I grew up in Beeville, a small town in South Texas, and became the first in my family to attend college. I earned a scholarship to Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where I pursued Athletic Training and still maintain my clinical license today. Read more>>
Jimena Molina
I started making customized cookies six years ago as a hobby. I initially baked for my family and friends. I loved seeing how the cookies were a great addition to any event and how people enjoyed them. I continue studying and learning to improve my technique. Orders started to come in from friends and then by referrals. Read more>>
Linda Davis
In graduate school, I studied counseling at University of North Texas. When I discovered play therapy, I knew that was the path that I had been preparing for my entire life. I was fortunate enough to study under Dr. Garry Landreth, who is internationally known for his work with children. Read more>>
Janice Warren
I am no stranger to the world of art. I have been creating art and teaching for as long as I can remember. I started within my community and hometown of Houston, Texas. As a third-generation artist, I observed my father creating art and painting murals on a daily basis. Read more>>
mario salazar
My Journey: From Music and Art to The Hair Lab Salon I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, right in the heart of the Heights area. My artistic spirit comes from my father — a hardworking carpenter with a love for music and painting. Read more>>
Zurays Khan
I am Zurays Khan, founder of Artistry By Zurays and Houston Glam Club, and I am soon launching Beauty Institute by Zurays. I launched Artistry By Zurays on my birthday after pivoting from transformational life coach to beauty artist, bringing the same focus on confidence, storytelling, and calm under pressure to every face I touch. Read more>>
Lisa Martinez
I got started in real estate because I wanted to build something meaningful. Something that helped people during stressful transitions while also giving me the freedom to create my own path. I didn’t come from a real estate background, but I’ve always been resourceful and curious. Read more>>
Alexis Ceasar-White
My journey began in the medical field, where I spent years serving others with compassion, precision, and purpose. I loved helping people through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, and that experience shaped my foundation of care, integrity, and resilience. Read more>>
Sonya Patel
My early exposure to acupuncture through my parents significantly shaped my perspective on health and healing. My mother, a pharmacist, prioritized natural remedies, and both she and my father found relief from their respective ailments through acupuncture. At the age of 13, I experienced debilitating migraines that severely impacted my life. After exploring conventional medical options, my mother introduced me to acupuncture. Read more>>
Elizabeth Morquecho
I’ve loved writing for as far back as I can remember. I used to make up stories and tell them to my sisters while we worked on falling asleep at night. I loved the challenge and the thrill of getting as wild and creative as I could get with pen and paper. My love for writing only grew as I grew older. Read more>>
Jazia Landry
Jazia Landry is a Houston-based creative, dancer, and founder of the all-female trail ride group EXOTICRIDERS. Her journey into the country dance scene began in 2020, when she started sharing her passion for line dancing on TikTok. Read more>>
Richard Corbett
We were always interested in escape rooms knowing their popularity and how the entertainment industry was flourishing. Heck, we played them ourselves and enjoyed the thrill, the difficulty in some cases, and just the fun of solving puzzles! We found out the location was for sale by an out of state owner that was busy with other escape rooms. Read more>>
Shanquita Greggs
My journey started over 23 years ago in my grandmother’s kitchen in Houston, Texas. I was simply experimenting with candle-making at first, not realizing it would turn into a lifelong passion and purpose. What began as a hobby quickly grew into Simply Scents Candle Company — a Black-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned business that now serves customers all over the country. Read more>>
Carrie Speed
PlayMotion Kids began with a dream: to blend the power of yoga with my passion for helping kids and families. Before that, I spent more than a decade working in social work and child welfare, where I saw firsthand how stress, trauma, and disconnection affect a child’s ability to thrive. Read more>>
Justice4EvanL22@gmail.com Rev. Jacilet Griffin
After my Son Evan Griffin-Lee was Murdered in 2022, Started to reach out to every Stare/local/federal Officials. I turn my pain into total purpose by Author House Bill 2234 – Historically passed the house unanimously. Becoming one of the strongest Advocates Nationwide for Justice Reform, from Houston to White house DOJ – Speaking for crime victims and Death in Custody Act. Read more>>
Danielle McMullan
Biophilia is a theory that states ‘We as humans, have an innate need to connect with nature and others’. My name is Danielle, and I am the owner and creator of Biophilia products. I started creating and using homemade natural products in 2016 in my own kitchen on myself. Read more>>
Captain Dwayne Green
Totally Texas Outdoors LLC is a Christian-based outdoor and fishing outfitter that has experienced significant growth over the past few years. Our company was born from a rich tapestry of life experiences, both on the water and in the field. Each member of our team shares a profound passion for the outdoors, rooted in cherished memories with family and friends. Read more>>
Alma Jimenez
In 2018, I was living in Austin, Texas, working as a lash artist for a close friend when I received orders to deploy to Afghanistan. After completing my deployment, I returned to West Texas 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Soon after arriving from deployment, I became pregnant and realized that my life was going to change completely. Read more>>
Hannah Keller
I started my hair journey in my small town in Mississippi. I have always been drawn to the beauty industry and even more drawn to meeting new people. I was sitting in a salon chair getting my hair done my senior year of high school. Read more>>
Cody V
My business partner, Jonny, originally came up with the donut and coffee concept. I had always wanted to open a craft coffee shop, so when I heard about his idea, I immediately reached out to see if he was open to partnering. Read more>>
Sarah Jones
I started my Firm in 2018 and have grown into a thriving CPA Firm. We help 7 and 8 figures entrepreneurs 10X their business through our custom BUILD. PROTECT. GROW. Roadmap system. Read more>>
Lavell Hamlin
My name is Lavell Hamlin, but I go by Keshawn. I’m 27 years old and have been a Houston resident for over 13 years, though I was originally born in Flint, Michigan. Moving to Houston was truly life-changing—it opened doors to new opportunities and allowed me to connect with people who are driven and ambitious. Read more>>
Michelle Wimberley
I’m Michelle “Meechi” Wimberley, a passionate advocate for holistic healing and recovery. Read more>>
LAJI JAMES
I was born on the southern tip of India in a state named Kerala. My parents and I immigrated to the United States in the 1970s and made Houston our home in 1981. Kerala is a beautiful, tropical, and mostly rural area. I would always joke that I grew up in the jungle, with monkeys, snakes, and no indoor plumbing. Read more>>
Jonathan Marshall
My journey to founding TotalHome Hub started with a simple realization. Managing a home shouldn’t be this complicated. As a Director of Engineering, father of six, college student, and entrepreneur, I had plenty on my plate. Read more>>
David Whiteley
I am a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and sailed aboard merchant vessels as an Engineer for 25 years, 9 of those years as Chief Engineer on a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ship. While I was sailing in a 4-month on, 4-month off rotation aboard the LNG ship, my wife, Diane, returned to school at Sam Houston State University to earn her degree. Read more>>
Regan Barwick
Before Lily and Olive I was fully focused on my fresh floral business, Everose Co, designing custom fresh flowers for weddings and events. Read more>>
Catherine Randall
I’m Catherine, pastry chef of Chef-Catherine. My story starts with a deep and lasting passion for pastry: from those first recipes I sensed that this craft is not just about technique but about emotion, taste and connection. I followed a demanding training path in Switzerland and the United States to master the fundamentals, glazes, mousses, textures, finishes. Read more>>
Tori Pollock
My family and I moved from Michigan to Texas for a job opportunity, and I decided to come along for a fresh start. Once I received my cosmetology license, I headed to Texas, a place I had never been before. It was a completely different environment from up north! Read more>>
Rick Spitz
The Houston Brass Band (HBB) was formed in 2000 by several brass enthusiasts inspired by the British film “Brassed Off”. HBB has been a vital part of the cultural landscape in Houston for 25 years. Last year alone the Houston Brass Band reached an estimated 6,025 members of the Houston community. Read more>>
Junye Butler
I’ve been an artist for over 15 years — creating everything from abstract paintings to custom brims and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. Art has always been a part of who I am, and I’ve always wanted to build something that reflects culture, creativity, and authenticity. Read more>>
Rebecca McCallum
I actually started my career on a different creative path music was my first love. But over the years, I was always “the friend with the camera,” the one documenting life’s little moments. That hobby turned into a real passion when I worked at a children’s art museum, surrounded by artists and creativity every day. Read more>>
Syrina Peña
While completing my MBA, I got a spark to start my own business. I wasn’t necessarily sure in what, but waited patiently for the right thing to find me. At the beginning of this year, my dad sent me a reel on Facebook of this woman making magnets and I was so fascinated. Read more>>
Stephanie Harris
My journey really started with my personal weight loss struggles from loosing 80 pounds to excessive loose skin. Trying to avoid surgery I tried everything and discovered body sculpting. My success grew into a passion for helping others feel good in their own skin — inside and out. I opened my holistic body sculpting studio a little over five years ago, right before COVID hit. Read more>>
Gianni Avalos
I started my law firm out of my parents’ closet. Literally. I was a single mom studying for the bar exam with my son sleeping in a bassinet next to me, and I promised God that if He helped me pass, I would tell the world it was because of Him. Read more>>
Spencer Russell
I started my career in education as a kindergarten and first grade teacher at KIPP Legacy Prep in North Forest. I taught there for six years, three in kindergarten and three in first grade. Read more>>
Dominic Grayson
So I started out working at an electrical facility warehouse for 13 years. I got somewhat complacent in the line of work that I was doing as it didn’t challenge me enough. Therefore, I was intrigued by getting into the HVAC field. When I started doing my research finding different schools I went for local funding. Then I found a school signed up. Read more>>
Jareema Donaldson
After serving in the military, I discovered my next calling wasn’t just about discipline and leadership — it was about helping people make sense of their money. I’ve always had a strong interest in numbers and how financial systems work, which led me to pursue a degree in Finance at Prairie View A&M University, with a minor in Accounting and Personal Financial Planning. Read more>>
Tracy Cowley
I opened my first StretchLab studio at Hughes Landing in May 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. Despite the challenges, it quickly became clear that StretchLab offered an essential service that truly made a difference for clients. Assisted stretching is one of the few modalities that actually changes how muscles move and function. Read more>>
Svenya Elackatt
So, I did what any desperate, slightly fuming adult does in August humidity, I marched to the local UPS store. I stood in line behind half of Missouri City returning Amazon packages, got to the counter, and the sweet young lady looks at me and says, “What do I need to do?” At that point, I was paying $10 to teach her how to notarize my document. Two plus hours later, I finally got home, sweating, exhausted, and questioning all my life choices. Read more>>
Rosie Moshrefi
Since founding her agency, Rosie has dedicated her career to helping people navigate the complex world of health insurance with honesty, compassion, and expertise. Her mission is guided by a steadfast principle — to provide exceptional customer service and genuine care for every single client who reaches out for help finding the right health insurance plan and policy. Read more>>
Kelsee Melton
Our mission has always been simple: to be a reliable, compassionate source of support for children, teens, adults, and families as they navigate life’s challenges. Our practice specializes in helping families overcome obstacles and restore balance through individual therapy, play therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), parenting support, and marriage/couples counseling. We take an integrative approach to care, creating personalized treatment plans that fit each client’s unique needs and goals. Read more>>
Jerry Clark
Over time, I made the decision to return to school to pursue a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. That path was not easy—it meant late nights of study, balancing work and personal life, and fighting self-doubt. Meanwhile, I was also closing out a 30-year career in telecommunications, retiring from a world that had once defined my identity. Read more>>
Reginald Riggins
I earned my PhD in clinical psychology from Jackson State University in 2017 and I later became licensed in 2019. My career began at the South Texas VA Health Care System in San Antonio, TX. I served as the PTSD/Substance Abuse Psychologist from 2018 until 2020. I thoroughly enjoyed from providing care to our nation’s Veterans during that time. Read more>>
Kimberly Munsinger
I came from an oil and gas background worked in that field for 20 plus years. In 2014-2015 had been laid off from oil and gas due to plant closure. Worked for other companies for a bit and was looking for something that allowed me flexibility, to not miss all my kid’s activities. I answered a Facebook post for an assistant needed. Read more>>
