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 the Valley.
Christy Cannon
Christy has 5 children of her own and is passionate about pregnancy, birth, and optimal women’s health care throughout the life span. Christy recently obtained CNM privileges at her local hospital in Thousand Oaks, Los Robles Hospital, where she can be the first midwife to offer birth services to the women in her own community – something she has been working toward for many years and feels like a dream come true! Read more>>
Rachael Stein
So much of what I do as a sugarist is simply letting people know sugaring exists! Though it is one of the oldest forms of hair removal, sugaring is still largely unknown on this side of the world. Rather than being stalled by people not knowing about my business’s services, I use it as a way to overcome the hurdle of developing a clientele. By using my voice to showcase sugaring’s unique benefits, such as being ideally suited for all hair and skin types (including sensitive and reactive skin), it sparks interest in my work and paves the road for people to book! Read more>>
Sunita Mukhi Aka Suni M!
I am an old girl, I guess, and now in oohhhLAlaland as an actor and writer. During that lunatic lockdown brought on by that pandemic pandemonium, I witnessed and grieved for many friends, and relatives and acquaintances who were MUCH younger than me pass away. I became starkly aware of mortality…who knows where I will be next year, tomorrow, the next minute. So I made a decision to do what I have always loved…perform, write. I moved to LA, with sunshine, and Hollywood, and possibilities in film, TV, theater, even voice to enflesh that dream. Read more>>
Ciarra “Cici” Pringle
Alongside her artistry, Cici is a trauma-informed yoga instructor and sound meditation guide, with a deep commitment to healing from the inside out. She discovered yoga during a pivotal time of depression and personal transition. Through breath, movement, and stillness, she found a pathway to reconnect with her mind, body, and spirit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while the beauty industry paused, her personal yoga practice flourished. In 2022, she completed her first teacher training at Hot 8 Yoga in Sherman Oaks, and she now teaches classes infused with breathwork, reiki, visualization, sound, and various yoga styles including Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, and Yoga Barre. Read more>>
Masha Solodukha
Absolutely! I started out as a freelance 3D character animator, working on small projects and collaborating with fellow creatives who, like me, were passionate about storytelling. Over time, as my skills and network grew, I realized there was a real need in the indie film world for accessible, high-quality visual effects and animation. Most indie filmmakers have incredible ideas, but the cost of big VFX studios makes it nearly impossible to bring those visions to life. Read more>>
Ethan
It made so much sense for me, I wanted to be an artist and make all my ideas come to life. The next step for me was College and I apply to the California Institute of the Arts (Calarts) on a whim, not putting much thought into it and got in! I am still currently studying at the California Institute of the Arts, currently going into my fourth in final year where I have learned so much from all the faculty and been able to collaborate with such amazing artist. This all wouldn’t have happened without my High School photography teacher, Mrs. Moran. Someone so supportive even when my ideas were crazy and outlandish; instead of putting me down she believed in me and told me make your ideas and lets see what happens. Read more>>
Melissa Lee
Due to my background in Scoliosis work and Special Body work I was reclassified and was about to open for private sessions as long as we followed all current protocol. Beyond that, it was a tough time. With love, support, and hard work we not only came back post-Covid but we are ever stronger now. Last year we added a THIRD studio right next to the second studio. We currently have 16 instructors and a Physical Therapist providing over 115 hours each week of proper Pilates to the Santa Clarita Valley. We pride ourselves on catering each session to the individual body in front of us. Read more>>
Chad Cardoos
It has never been a smooth road. As I said before I was managing a salon in Boston. I took one of the assistants and created a cut for her. The owner saw this and had a fit, saying if she didn’t need this girl she would send her home until her hair grew out. Later the owner broke down the cut and published it in one of her books. That damaged me and broke my confidence for a long time until I found a way to turn it into a positive. You can get a sense of how damaging words like that to a new stylist is because I still tell the story 40+ yrs. later Read more>>
Taylor Barry
Over the years, I’ve worked across spa, fitness, and specialty retail channels, advising wellness brands and hospitality groups on everything from go-to-market strategy to in-location execution and multi-sensory selling. I co-founded BRAND [UNCOVER], a concierge platform that helps emerging wellness brands break into top-tier retailers and spas throughout the country. Read more>>
Magdalena Ayon
With the constant support of my friends and family, I was able to build a thriving bridal business in Seattle. I’ll always be grateful for the clients who trusted me early on and helped spread the word. As I grew both personally and professionally, I eventually reached a point where I knew it was time to take things to the next level. Read more>>
Nadiya
I started with ballet, then moved into gymnastics, acting, voice, and other dance styles like modern, lyrical, jazz-funk, and hip hop. Around age nine, I joined a dance company at the Performing Arts Center, and that’s really when everything clicked. The energy, the stage, the discipline—it felt like home. I trained under teachers who truly shaped me, and I’m forever grateful for their mentorship. Read more>>
Neydin Villeda
After high school, I was stuck on what to do next. During high school, I would do makeup for special events to make a little bit of extra cash as a teen. So originally, that was my end goal, to be a makeup artist. But during that time, makeup courses weren’t as available as they were now, so I decided to take a course on manicuring. Read more>>
Anaise Hernandez, Guadalupe Lemus
We’re two Latina sisters who launched our event planning business after Lupe’s wedding became an unexpected turning point for us. Unfortunately, the day-of coordination did not go as planned, and Anaise had to step in to ensure everything ran smoothly. Having already planned the entire wedding ourselves, we realized we had both the passion and the capability to bring events to life. Read more>>
Amanda Nix
We found our location February 2020 and had just gone to our first market when Covid hit! We slowly tried to get the store together and people shopped over our Dutch door, as they weren’t allowed inside. It was a crazy time! I (Amanda) have worked in retail my entire life, off-and-on and my business partner Dalynn is my childhood best friend. I met her literally the day after she was born. Our moms were friends! We are from South Dakota. She is also an orange theory coach. I also write. Read more>>
Maria Madrigal
It is not always been a smooth road, in the beginning I actually had two jobs. I was a morning opener at a Starbucks in Valencia so that I could pay my bills while building my clientele as a hair stylist. I woke up every morning at 3:15am to get to work by 3:45am and I worked serving coffee till 9 o’clock.. after that shift, I went home and took a 20 minute nap then got ready and went to the salon to start doing hair for my clients will around 5 or 6. I was taught to be a hard worker by my parents and grandparents and have always seen that example. I am a third generation entrepreneur and I love that. Read more>>
Jeffrey Wienckowski
I Studied Theatre arts at CSUN and was president of student run Theatre Guild. That was where I wrote and Directed my First Play, “Hell’s Kitchen”, a comedy that imagines Hell as working an eternity in the Food Service industry. Growing up in Florida, I always felt transient and never felt like had a home. The community I developed at the CSUN Theatre Department was the first time I truly felt like i belonged. I met the people who are still in my life today, including my wife, Heidi. Read more>>
Patrick Silvers
More than visual identity, my focus for writing from the beginning has been to start from a place of personal truth, with an emphasis on how it will translate to live performance. I’m proud to carry on the traditional methods of Rock ’n’ Roll: tube amps, real guitars, real soul, and attitude. To flash to the immediate present, the band has been recording with the prodigious Jack Ross at Rockbottom Studios. We have three singles set to release over the next three months and will begin recording our debut album at an exclusive studio in September of this year. We’ve played 15 shows in 5 months and don’t plan on slowing down because, we have a real message for real people. Read more>>
Nimira Alibhoy, DC
I always knew I wanted to help people heal, but it wasn’t until chiropractic school that I discovered upper cervical care, and that’s when everything changed. I realized healing isn’t just about reducing symptoms; it’s about restoring communication within the body, supporting the nervous system, and giving people the safety and trust they need to truly heal. That clarity led me to open my first practice, Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic, in Santa Monica in 2011 – when my daughter was just 18 months old. Read more>>
Lana Khachaturov
I learned the art of floral design from my mom, and it’s been a part of my life ever since. We opened our first flower studio 25 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I was raised. After relocating to Los Angeles 15 years ago and spending some time in the corporate world, I found my way back to my passion—designing and planning events. Today, I blend my Midwestern roots with West Coast creativity to craft unforgettable floral and event experiences. Read more>>
Rina Palma
I took on multiple internships and roles throughout different parts of the industry, gaining experience wherever I could. But even with all that variety, and with my degree in fashion design, I always came back to what I loved most—designing. From concept and draping to patternmaking, construction, sewing, and one-on-one client fittings, I found joy in the entire process. Read more>>
Erick Amirkhanian
What sets us apart is our forward-thinking approach. We integrate cutting-edge techniques like drone 360 photography and aerial data collection to deliver immersive, high-impact visuals. Our niche expertise in aerial video and 360° panorama photography enables clients to gain true spatial understanding—ideal for assessing traffic flow, construction progress, and environmental context Read more>>
Erika Rojas
It’s been 20 years since I made the decision to become an entrepreneur, and it hasn’t been easy. First of all, I didn’t know how to run a business or use marketing strategies. My shy personality was also a challenge—I had a hard time selling, charging clients, or even telling people what I do for a living. It took me years to overcome my biggest enemy: myself and my insecurities, which kept my business stagnant for many years. Read more>>
Miranda Casanova
Then, one random night after I had done my skincare, I kept feeling a nudge from someone to reach out to my college friend, Elizabeth, whom I hadn’t spoken to in close to a year and a half. It just so happened to be her Auntie Maria, who had passed away, while we were in college together. I reached out the next morning, letting her know that her Auntie Maria had a message for her and I ended up bringing forward (with prior consent) multiple members of her huge Italian family and giving her a reading via voice notes. Read more>>
Mary Chavarria
Medical training is a long, challenging journey, but one I found so rewarding and I am so happy I get to do this important, meaningful work helping people through some of their most difficult and painful times. Maintaining a good work-life balance is a struggle many people face and I have realized how important it is prioritizing this so I am able to be the human and clinician I want to be. Read more>>
Larry And Cecilia Krask And Manst-Krask
We met as we were working for a new nightclub in the Chicago Northwest suburbs. A few years later we purchased a historic tavern and grill called Scot’s Inn on Main Street in West Dundee, a small town with an Ace Hardware located two doors down from the tavern. Twenty years after selling Scot’s Inn we decided to get back in the restaurant/bar business and found the ’49er Bar & Grill was available in historic downtown Acton, and there was an Ace Hardware right across the street-so you might say we have a type. We renamed the location to the historically correct ’49er Saloon and then due to the neglect by it’s numerous owners over the previous decades, we took 5 months to clean and repair it and opened on July 2, 2017. Read more>>
Lindsey McPhail
I was recognized as an up-and-coming designer in Boutique Design Magazine and awarded for my cruise work. In 2018, I focused my attention on designing under my own name for residential, hospitality and commercial work. I’ve also been an Adjunct Professor at College of the Canyons since 2016, helping students find their niches and inspirations in the Architecture and Design Department. A really full-circle moment in my career. Read more>>
Sandy Cordon
My passion for functional medicine was born out of a deeply personal experience with a close family member who struggled with seizures. Despite extensive medical evaluations, we were given little hope beyond a lifetime of medication. Seeking alternative answers, we turned to holistic and functional medicine practitioners who helped us uncover root causes and natural solutions. Witnessing the transformation and the empowerment that came from this approach fueled my desire to dive deeper into functional medicine and offer that same level of care and hope to others facing complex health challenges. Read more>>
Melody Odell
Lugging around that camera in my diaper bag with now three and four kids became my norm and I never left the house without my camera to miss an opportunity to get pictures. Read more>>
Shanesa + Nancy Fath
Over the years, our work has expanded far beyond interiors. We began to recognize photography as a powerful medium of memory and meaning—a silent language that belongs in the heart of every home. For the past three years, we’ve championed fine art photography as an essential part of our design narrative, curating works that evoke emotion and elevate everyday life. Read more>>
Melissa Gutierrez Reyes
I was born in Van Nuys, CA to immigrant parents who taught me the value of hard work and the importance of speaking up for myself. From an early age, I learned that nothing is given—everything is earned. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently worked my way up—no matter the industry. From healthcare to marketing, and eventually real estate, I’ve always embraced growth. Before launching my journey as a real estate agent, I helped managed a high-performing real estate office with over 300 agents. Read more>>
Roy Pasco
Rusty and I have been friends for many years. While our personalities are quite different, somehow, we’ve always clicked. Maybe it’s our shared love for music and the arts, or perhaps it’s just the kind of friendship where you can throw out even the wildest ideas and know they’ll be met with genuine curiosity. That goes for our wives, too; they get along just as well, which is a rare bonus. Read more>>
Charlene Rose
My journey’s been anything but linear, but every path I’ve followed has been about connection and creativity. I’ve worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and even hand model, which is its own kind of quiet storytelling. I also run a vintage-themed Airbnb in Big Bear called the Old Hollywood Lodge, where I’ve poured my love for classic cinema and immersive design into a one-of-a-kind guest experience. Read more>>
Amy Cosby
Working as a nurse was definitely a struggle. I loved helping people but it was incredibly mentally and emotionally taxing, especially working during the pandemic. Working in healthcare is difficult for a multitude of reasons but I struggled a lot with wanting so badly to be making art and having a creative career and instead having a very practical and analytical one. Acting is very emotional and you have to wear your heart on your sleeve whereas working in a high stress environment like an emergency room you have to compartmentalize your emotions in order to make clear critical decisions. It was definitely a difficult journey trying to marry those 2 parts of my life. Read more>>
Amanda Barnett
I was raised by two parents who were both musicians, my mother an opera singer and my father a songwriter. Music was inevitable, as it was in my fabric. I began playing guitar at the age of seven, which is when my brother decided to do an “El CaBong” against the wall, breaking my guitar into pieces. Not to be deterred, I got another guitar. And then another one. And today I have 15. I’m sure my therapist would have a field day with that. Read more>>
Beverly M. Collins
My photography has appeared on the cover of California Quarterly, Peeking Cat 40 (in the UK) as well as in gallery exhibits at bG Galleries (Santa Monica), Sturt Haaga Gallery (La Canada/Flintridge) and others. And can now be purchased on canvas through Fine Art America online. Read more>>
Carlos Kidd
Unfortunately, or luckyly, with life and the turn events following the next few months, due to a chronic pain condition I had since junior year in high school, it interrupted the flow of my classes and attendance forcing me to lose my scholarship. With life opening up as it did, reconnecting with a friend of mine from high school, she opened up in our conversation about a dance company I vaguely heard about (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), which later that year, after being surprised with tickets to go see their show, as a birthday gift, opened my eyes completely to the life I was going to live moving forward. I think that show was when my heart, soul, and mind came into alignment with how & where God wanted me to be. Read more>>
Marianne Hovakimyan
Though I spent over a decade as a hairstylist in the beauty industry, my love for jewelry never faded. During the pandemic, with the world on pause and the salon I worked at shut down, I started making gold beaded jewelry at home—just for myself at first. I’d wear my pieces out, and people constantly asked where I got them. When I told them I made them myself, the interest kept growing. That’s really how MARIHOVA began—organically, from genuine curiosity and connection. Read more>>
Christina Sarian
Life in Atwater Village was colorful and dynamic, filled with the sights and sounds of a city that never sleeps. I navigated the challenges of being a first-generation American, often torn between my multicultural roots and the desire to fit in with my peers. Yet, these experiences were invaluable, instilling in me a deep appreciation for diversity and the beauty that comes from different backgrounds. I attended John Marshall high school in the silverlake area and later attended Glendale Community college and transferring to California State University, Los Angeles obtaining an Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and an Option in Business Management. Having spent most of my 20 year career in Commercial Real Estate working for some of the biggest firms and brokers in the nation. Read more>>
Kim Spear
I grew up in England, where design isn’t just visual, it’s emotional. Gardens are generations deep, houses are full of inherited character, and spaces feel like they have lived many lives, so that sense of stories and history is part of me. But travelling to Provence is where it all began. From my first visit as a teenager to many trips over the years, my honeymoon included, it captured my heart. I found myself completely at home wandering brocantes and estate sales, dreaming of bringing all of these soulful pieces to life again. Read more>>
