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.
Jordann Dwayne
Jordann Dwayne is a Houston-based alt/punk rock recording artist, Grammy voting member, and multi-brand entrepreneur. He began singing in a church choir at six raised by his single mother and now leads a portfolio spanning Imperial Panache Inc. Records, Trilogy Diamond & Co., and VYRIA Apparel & Co., . Read more>>
Debbie Murphy
My story has two threads that came together to create the Debbie Murphy Foundation. Professionally, I’m a Texas-licensed, Nationally Registered Paramedic. I’ve spent my career responding to people on the worst days of their lives — arriving in the middle of a crisis, stabilizing it, and then handing them off. Personally, I’m a survivor of sexual and domestic abuse. Read more>>
Maya Leibowitz Stephanie Fleischer Bell
What if something as simple as holding a pencil could change the way a child feels about school? For two teachers, that question became the beginning of something much bigger. Maya and Stephanie saw firsthand that the skills children need to succeed in the classroom often begin long before the first sentence is written. Read more>>
Rob Lihalakha
I actually first got exposed to the mental healthcare and the home healthcare industry from my mother. When I was in high school she worked at MHMRA & I needed volunteer hours for the YES program. During every summer I would volunteer at MHMRA. In the beginning it was more clerical than anything else. Read more>>
Zegovia
My brother Matt Mireles and I started playing together when we were 12 and 15 years old. There was always music in our house, and our parents were musicians as well. They supported us playing because they loved it themselves and it gave us an outlet/something to do together. I started playing guitar at about 9, and Matt started playing drums a little later. Read more>>
Jerricka Caldwell
My name is Jerricka Caldwell, and I’m the owner of Capture The Moment Photography by Jayda. Photography started as a passion that quickly turned into a purpose. What began with simply wanting to capture meaningful memories for family and friends grew into a business dedicated to helping people tell their stories through timeless images. Like many entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been easy. Read more>>
Zainab Jabak
Looking back, I think my desire to become a teacher was rooted in a love of learning and a belief that education has the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life. I was always drawn to environments where people were encouraged to ask questions, think deeply, and see the world from different perspectives. Read more>>
Michelle Enriquez
My story began long before Mastering Mindfulness had a name. I was born and raised in Brooklyn as a first-generation Mexican American, surrounded by strong women, deeply rooted cultural traditions, and an understanding that care often extends far beyond words. Read more>>
Francesco Puglisi
I was born in Catania, Italy, and raised in Rome, where my passion for music began at a very young age. Although music was always part of my life, my professional journey wasn’t a straight line. After marrying my American wife, I moved to the United States, leaving behind everything I had built in Italy and starting over from scratch. Read more>>
Aisha Anwer
My content creation journey started on TikTok as a creative outlet where I planned to share mostly aesthetic videos. Over time, it naturally evolved into something much more personal. I began posting day-in-the-life vlogs, wedding content, travel videos, beauty, fashion, and pieces of my everyday life. The name **Aishaszindagi** actually came from a separate Instagram account where I shared photos from my digital camera. Read more>>
Heather J (is it possible not to disclose?)
My relationship with my body has been a journey since I was a teenager. I struggled with body image, loving and accepting myself and showing myself true kindness and grace. I ultimately went through a season of healing and recovery, found my footing and finally started to feel better and feel GOOD. Then, life happened! Read more>>
Sylvia Plummer
Sylvia Pennington has transformed a lifetime of challenges into a legacy of purpose, entrepreneurship, and service. A proud New Orleans native, wife, mother of two daughters, entrepreneur, and executive chef, she continues to inspire others by proving that perseverance and faith can turn even life’s greatest obstacles into extraordinary opportunities. Read more>>
Angelina Jecel
Hello, my name is Angelina Jecel, I go by Gina to friends. I am the creator of HTX journal junkies, a crafting and journaling community here in Houston. We meet monthly at Las perras Café in second ward. We are always open to collaborations with other cafés and small businesses! I am a student HCC and And soon the university of Houston! Read more>>
Beth Muecke
Beth Muecke wasn’t born in Texas, but she got here as soon as she could! A proud mother of two and grandmother of 3, Beth discovered her love of fashion at a young age. Read more>>
Alessandro Viviani
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing the Venezuelan cuatro when I was eight years old, picked up the guitar at fourteen, and taught myself piano at fifteen. Even as a teenager, I was already performing professionally alongside musicians much older than me. Read more>>
Mackaela Gray
I’m Mack, a full time content creator based in Houston.I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, I grew up in Rochester, New York in a single mom household, where I watched my mom work incredibly hard to provide for us. Read more>>
Cherise Royal
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity and communication. Early in my career, I worked as a journalist, photographer, and videographer, telling stories and helping people understand the world around them. That curiosity eventually led me into marketing, where I discovered that great marketing isn’t just about promotion, it’s about understanding people, building trust, and creating meaningful connections. Read more>>
Meibae Wu
Growing up, I was the kid who was always starting something. Girl Scouts gave me my first taste of entrepreneurship—yes, selling cookies, but more importantly learning that relationships, creativity, and persistence could turn an idea into something meaningful. One of the experiences that shaped me most was earning my Girl Scout Gold Award. Read more>>
MiMi Miles
The Chandler Ashton Collection was born from a deeply personal need to lift my vibrations and find peace during moments when creativity felt out of reach. Navigating the emotional weight of not being in a creative space often left me feeling disconnected from myself, and candle making became the outlet that grounded me and restored my sense of calm. Read more>>
Carlos Aguilar
I was born in Arvin California to migrant farm working parents. My father was an abusive alcoholic, so after 25 years of marraige my mother finally left my dad and moved to Houston with 5 kids ranging in age from 11 to 21 I was 15. Read more>>
Tony Diaz
I was born with a facility for language. It served me in my first job-translating the English of the outside world into the Spanish of my household. However, I also grew up in a family whose vision helped me overcome barriers to art and culture. Read more>>
Ashley Kraft
My journey into doula work began shortly after the birth of my second son. One afternoon at the park, I met another mom who shared that she had once been a doula. Prior to this, I had no idea what a doula was or about the work they do. That one conversation sparked something in me. Read more>>
William Hall
My name is Will Hall and I am the founder and lead photographer at Perla Images, an editorial wedding photography studio working in Boston, Cape Cod, Newport and Nantucket. I did not start in Boston, I started on the South Shore. I shot for free, then I shot for very little, and every time a booking came in I split the deposit in half. Read more>>
Miriam Sandoval
My journey has been one of resilience, faith, and reinvention. Like many people, I’ve faced challenges that tested my strength, but I chose to see every obstacle as an opportunity to grow. I’ve always had a passion for creating meaningful experiences and connecting with others. As a bilingual wedding officiant began with a genuine passion for celebrating love and bringing people together. Read more>>
Emi Karavdic
Photography has always been part of the life I imagined for myself. Long before I had clients or even knew what I wanted my business to look like, I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to create, meet people, and tell stories through my lens. Read more>>
Daniela Sifuentes
I have loved Photography since I was 8 years old, my uncle owned a Studio in Monterrey, Mexico and I loved seeing him work. Read more>>
Victor Roa
Twenty-three years ago, I started Hugo Plumbing with just one helper, one truck, and a dream to build something my family could be grateful for. Like many small business owners, I didn’t have investors or a detailed business plan. I simply had a strong work ethic, faith in God, and a desire to provide for my family while serving others with honesty and integrity. Read more>>
GEISHA THOMPSON Miller
I’ve always believed that every family has a story worth preserving. I was born in Jamaica and later made the United States my home, where I’ve worked in the airline industry for many years. While balancing work, family, and everyday responsibilities, I never let go of my dream of becoming a filmmaker. Read more>>
Erica D. Helm
My name is Erica D. Helm, and if you had told me years ago that I’d be a missionary, an author, creating music with artificial intelligence, and building businesses all at the same time, I probably would’ve laughed. I gave my life to Christ in 2009, and from that moment my life took a completely different direction. God began opening doors I never expected. Read more>>
Ashton Roane
I graduated from Southwestern University in 2012 and started my career in consulting, where I learned how to solve problems, communicate clearly and build strong relationships. Along the way, I developed a passion for personal finance and investing. What began as a hobby turned into a desire to help others make smarter financial decisions. Read more>>
Whitney Fields
Magician Kitchen was created from my passion for bringing people together through great food. Cooking has always been something I genuinely enjoy, and over time I realized I wanted to turn that passion into something bigger than just preparing meals for family and friends. Read more>>
Idali Larez
I got my start in makeup artistry, but it didn’t take long to realize what I really loved was the skin itself. The science of it, the care of it, the quiet ritual of tending to someone with your hands, and the vulnerability that lay in the connections. Read more>>
Brittany Purr
Hi, my name is Brittany Purr. I’m a native Houstonian and a newly Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). I grew up on the westside and now call the Heights home. I’m a proud mom to one pretty awesome kid, an amazing rescue dog, and 2 cats. Read more>>
Kathryn Fayle
I have always been drawn to helping people understand what exists beneath their pain. Many people enter therapy already knowing that something feels broken. What they often do not understand is why they feel the way they do, how their experiences have shaped them, or what healing will require. That desire was also shaped by my own life experiences. Read more>>
Sage Sanders
I’ve worked in the beauty industry since I was 16. My mom was a nail technician growing up and she opened Lavender Mobile Spa-a full service traveling spa company during my teenage years. I was her personal assistant ever since! Over the years, my mom and I became a successful team. Read more>>
Tempest Langley
I grew up going to salons and was fascinated by the stylists and their processes. I was a quick learner, and after every appointment, I would go home and practice what I had seen on myself and my little sister, sometimes even getting in trouble for using hot tools at an age I probably should not have been. Read more>>
Julie Rainey
RaineyMills Crafters is small family art business that began in September 2017 after we all retired from office jobs. Phil Miller, Pat Miller and Julie Rainey attended a yearlong stained-Glass class more than two decades ago. They each completed several projects for themselves plus made many glass items for a church fundraiser. Read more>>
Paula Parker
I’ve always had a heart for children and a passion for kindness. I believe kindness is my one true gift. After retiring from teaching, I still wanted to make a difference in children’s lives. I created Ollie the Kindness Guardian to encourage children to be kind, notice others, and understand their words and actions matter. Read more>>
Cameron Mitchell
Though I am 35 now, I had the idea for the film Disposable Humanity when I was nine years old. My parents were presenting on the history of American Eugenics in Germany and someone in the audience thought it would be worth mentioning at the end of the presentation that they also did this ‘not far from here’. Read more>>
McKenzie Wright
I’ve always been fascinated by the way experiences can change people. Whether it’s traveling somewhere new, sharing a meal, hearing someone’s story, or gathering in community, I’ve always believed those moments have the power to create lasting connection. That curiosity led me into hospitality and destination management, where I found myself designing experiences for visitors, corporations, and groups exploring Houston. Read more>>
Nicki Davis
Absolutely! Connecting Charlotte started in December 2024 because I was so tired of feeling like every new connection happened through a screen. Between working remotely, using friendship apps, and dating apps, it felt like so much time and energy was wasted. I wanted a more intentional way to connect with people in Charlotte, so I created one. Read more>>
Jayce Ball
Growing up in Beaumont, Texas, I didn’t have a blueprint for where I wanted to end up. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and many people spend their whole lives there. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I knew I wanted to experience more. Read more>>
Adrienne Renick
The dream of being an author has lived with me for as long as I can remember. I knew how to draw before I could write. I spent hours creating comics and concept art for all the things I wanted to see on a page. As I got a little bit older, my parents encouraged me to read anything and everything I could. Read more>>
Wendy Conklin
I actually started out as a teacher in 3rd and 5th grades. Then I went back and got my master’s in Gifted Education. After that I spent years writing curriculum for publishing companies and traveling around training other teachers on best practices. In 2012, I took an upholstery course just for fun, and it completely changed my life. Read more>>
Stephanie Hernandez
It all started with curiosity—just an experiment. My passion for music and photography has brought me to where I am today. I started by recording local musicians and artists whose music I enjoyed listening to. Then I began promoting local bands by creating reels from live music and dance events. My goal was simple: to promote music through photography and storytelling. Read more>>
Elizabeth Fortenberry
I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. When I was about 5 or 6, I remember using a disposable camera to take pictures of my stuffed animals in a couple of car seats, after my mom brought them into the house upon returning from a long road trip. Read more>>
Kera Bear
My business journey began as a stay-at-home mom. I was ten years deep into giving my kids every ounce of my energy, to the point where I lost my sense of self. My oldest was 10 years old, with special needs, my middle child was 6, and my youngest was 4. My identity was “mom”! Read more>>
Anastasia Osho
First, I want to sincerely thank VoyageHouston for inviting me back to share my story once again. It’s truly an honor to be featured in your “Inspiring Stories” series. I’m grateful that you continue to create a platform that celebrates the journeys of entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers throughout our community. Read more>>
Tara Hughes
My family was pretty poor when I was a kid, so that plays a roll, you just see purpose in things. I love to take items and give them a new life. The reality of how much stuff gets thrown away is disturbing. I love to take these things and transform them. Read more>>
Maranda Evans
I attended college at Sam Houston University (2010-2013) and got my MBA at Texas Southern University (2014-2016). I would say my journey started in college, but my story started at 11 years old when I lost my father, Randy Alexander Evans, to domestic violence. Read more>>
Karen Daniel
Looking back, I think my journey really began in college, where I took two years of photography classes. We shot on film and developed our images in the darkroom, and I was fascinated by the entire process. It gave me a strong foundation and sparked a passion that would eventually become my career. Fast forward to 2013. Read more>>
Dmytro Velyush
I moved to the United States from Ukraine when I was 21 and began working in the food and beverage industry because, at the time, it was the most accessible way for me to start paying my bills. At one point, I tried to leave the industry and pursue something else, but I quickly realized how much I missed being behind the bar. Read more>>
