Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.

Karthik G P

I believe there’s a higher power at work — not in the dramatic, life-changing way we often imagine, but in small, quiet ways that push us when we need it most. I can’t prove it, but I’ve felt it. In moments where things didn’t make sense at all, something always seemed to shift just enough to keep me moving forward. Read more>>

Henry Thompson

It’s a very topical thing to discuss, but, I really believe that AI can come for everything; but it won’t take human performance. Read more>>

John Campbell

That’s a good one, ok ‘What is meant for you won’t pass you bye’ When I first got to Hollywood I did a movie one time with an awesome older actor Car Crudupl …. What an incredible talent, he took me to one side and said boy, you got some chops then starting to lay some serious wisdom down on me. Read more>>

Aaron Spence

Hope is the only way forward. Things will get harder and darker. I’m not naive about that. But there’s always sun shining somewhere on this planet, and I refuse to go out without a fight. It doesn’t matter how small and timid the flame burns, as long as it keeps burning. Read more>>

Sushila Love

When I first began editing, there were very few people outside the industry who had any real understanding of what an editor actually does. To this day, I still encounter people who think that films and television shows are both shot and edited in-camera; that there is no real “editor,” merely a camera operator pushing start and stop.  Read more>>

Robin Randolph

I think what’s most misunderstood about photography today is the level of professionalism, investment, and integrity it truly takes to do this work well. With technology and AI advancing so quickly, people sometimes underestimate what goes into creating timeless, meaningful images. Read more>>

Shannon Daneshrad

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about therapy, and by extension, our practice, is that it’s only for people in crisis. In reality, therapy is just as much about growth, reflection, and prevention as it is about healing. Read more>>

Gina Ippolito

I think that there’s a major misconception about TV and film writing and that is that it’s easy and anyone can do it. I can’t think of another career that so many people think they can just DO, or pivot to, or pick up without putting in countless hours of training and hard work. Read more>>

Love Sachartoff

I think working in the energetic and spiritual realms comes with a lot of misunderstanding. Because the way our society teaches people to value empirical evidence and logic, humans have forgotten that they are energetic beings at their core. People think that what I do is a luxury and fru fru, but everything is made up of energy. Read more>>

Sarah Murphy

One of the biggest misconceptions is that natural health therapies are not “real medicine” or backed by science. In reality, they are the original medicines, relied upon for hundreds and even thousands of years, long before modern medicine was professionalized and monetized. Read more>>

Salar Sheik

A lot of people think restaurant consulting is just about fixing menus, improving service, or cutting costs—but it’s so much deeper than that. At its core, great consulting is about understanding people. Every decision we make, every process we design, and every standard we implement impacts more than just the guest experience—it shapes the culture and morale of the entire team. Read more>>

HM Newton

A conflict that some creatives, including myself, struggle with but rarely talk about is knowing how much they want to sacrifice their idealized artistic practice in order to make a living from their work. Read more>>

Cara Stevens

I think we’re all quietly struggling with having too many open tabs in our minds—and too many versions of ourselves running at once. In the creative and freelance world, we call it opportunity. In reality, it’s fragmentation. We live in a time where stability is elusive, so we try to make up for it by splitting ourselves into smaller and smaller parts. Read more>>

Christina Santini

Having worked with people at every stage of life and health, from those at the peak of their careers to those in quiet collapse, I’ve learned that most people silently fear being replaceable. Read more>>

Timothy Roberts

Most people are quietly struggling with disconnection, not just from others, but from themselves. We live in a world that celebrates being “always on,” yet it’s left us spiritually and emotionally depleted. People don’t admit it because it sounds vague or unproductive, but underneath the surface-level busyness, a lot of us are searching for meaning, belonging, and grounding. Read more>>

John DeFazio

People are secretly struggling with the performance of being “okay”. They’ve built entire identities around appearance, around pretending that the collapse inside them is just another story. Everyone’s exhausted from trying to appear coherent. They curate purpose the way they curate content. I think we confuse applause for meaning. The real struggle isn’t loneliness, it’s the shame of realizing that connection has become transactional. Read more>>

Brandyn Hernandez

I think the biggest misunderstanding will be thinking The Hip Pop was about being cool or building a brand or some kind of social image. The visuals, the sneakers, the humor — those are just the surface layer or that I ‘did it for the gram’, haha. Read more>>

Angela Su

Everyone experiences their world through their own lens, shaped by their background, experiences, beliefs, and emotions. There’s a quote that says, ‘no one sees what you see, even if they see it too’. With that in mind, I’d actually be surprised if there were no misunderstandings. Read more>>

Despues Green

I see that generally people are remembered for very small, nostalgic things rather than as a holistic review of their contributions to society. My words will be quoted, but how many people will read the entire book or article, watch the entire article, to get it in full context and get a full representation of the message being conveyed? Read more>>

Kathleen strukoff

My work blends bold color, vintage nostalgia, and modernist design, inviting you to experience California’s light and landscape in a whole new way. Read more>>

Roxanne Hunt

The most important truth I have learned is this – to love yourself first. Sometimes this claim attracts rebuttal i.e. ‘But I have children, they are my first priority….or, ‘But my mother is ill and I have to foremost focus on her care’…just as a few examples. Read more>>

Benjamin Villers

Morning: I start the day early, working with clients in personal training sessions. Daily checking messages from clients, logging their progress, and planning out their training schedule for the day. Midday: I might be training clients, but middle of the days is usually for my online business. Recording podcast episodes, updating the website, managing ads, posting new Reels, writing blog content. Read more>>

Scott Fidgett

A normal day for me starts early, I’m usually up before sunrise. I train most mornings, whether it’s CrossFit, conditioning, or recovery work, as that’s the foundation of how I stay focused and grounded. From there, my day shifts into business mode. Read more>>

Nika Agiashvili

Right now, I’m in post on Atlas King, the feature film starring UFC Hall of Famer and champion Michael Bisping and Cuba Gooding Jr., which also stars my brother George Finn, with whom I produced the film. Most days are spent in the edit bay, going over cuts, sound, and music, making sure everything feels right before we deliver to our distributors. Read more>>

Steve Skipper

Long story short, I’ve been dealing with mental health challenges since 2013. In August of 2024, I had to quit my job after experiencing daily panic attacks. That moment ended up becoming a turning point for me. These days, my mornings start with a workout, which helps me stay grounded and focused. Read more>>

Lian ‘ Li Li ‘ Castillo

As a creative, I need to be constantly stimulated so these days I’m in my Home Studio! Usually in a digital writing session or just working on the EP with my producer who lives in Denver, so were always on Zoom. Lots of Home Studio time and spending time with other Artists is my daily grind. Read more>>

Ryann Lanel Redman

Day-to-day life for me is waking up, going to pilates, then grabbing a matcha and either staying at the coffee shop and working from my computer for a bit or running around LA doing pulls and prep for clients. Then I usually love to end the day hanging out with friends and grabbing some food and drinks. Read more>>

Krista Awad

I’ve been working hard to balance my creative practice with content creation. I usually set up my camera to record in the most noninvasive way possible and try to forget it’s there. Lately, that balance has been paying off, my YouTube is about to hit 100k, which is both exciting and mildly terrifying. Read more>>

Kyle Langdon-Weyrich

A normal day for me at PICTURE ESQUE, the global hub for creative professionals, is a dynamic blend of collaboration and creativity. I connect with models, actors, directors, and agents, oversee productions, manage casting calls, and help others showcase their talents through our customizable portfolios and community forum. Read more>>

Gina Maier Vincent

Every day begins in stillness — that sacred moment where I connect with my soul before the world starts asking for pieces of me. I honor my Divine Resources — time, energy, attention, money, and voice — as treasures, using them with intention. Read more>>

Heather Perren

My days kick off at 5 a.m. with a Lagree workout, sometimes on one of my Lagree machines at home doing a Lagreeing at Home class, or heading to a local Lagree studio. After that, I take my teenage triplets to school and then teach Lagree privates, both virtually and in person. Read more>>

Sirona Faeryn

Honestly, it’s been my creative light. I didn’t grow up in an environment that encouraged art as a real path, it was treated more like a hobby you kept to yourself, than something you could build a life around. So, for a long time, I kept that part of myself small. I created quietly, but never let myself fully believe it could be something. Read more>>

Sharmine

My interactions with the people around me, whether from work, school, band, my Buddhist group, family, or friends, have shaped how I see myself. I’m one of those people who wears many different hats through my roles. Earlier in my life, I struggled to understand who I really was. I felt the need to adjust my personality to suit my surroundings. Read more>>

Brenda Oregon

The relationship with my mom has definitely shaped me who I’ve been. My mom has been through a lot and I’ve seen my mom go through so many things so many struggles and for her to still be standing here winning I think it’s so inspirational to me. Read more>>

Allen Plone

I grew up in a relatively poor house. We sometimes didn’t have enough money for food. I was well-liked by other kids in school and considered smart, both of which helped my get past the financial poverty. Read more>>

Joanna Beckett

Great question – thank you for asking. There are a handful of truths that have quietly crystallized over the course of my life. First, most of us are doing the best we can within our capacities, our history, and our limitations. Read more>>

REBELLE

There are a few core truths that really shape how I live and create, even if I rarely put them into words. First, I believe kindness is the key to everything. It’s such a simple concept, but it holds so much power. Read more>>

Kevin Gerald

First and foremost, I have a strong faith in God and Jesus. This trust has helped me overcome the incalculable challenges we face while experiencing the material world. I have discovered that gratitude is the foundational truth that, unfortunately, many overlook. I am grateful for so many things on so many levels. In my life, I have found that the universe rewards a grateful soul. Read more>>

Gianluca Todisco

That everything I experience: love, pain, joy, silence, is part of the same divine current. That life isn’t happening to me, it’s happening through me. I deeply believe that we are creators of our own reality, constantly shaping it through the energy we carry and the stories we tell ourselves. Read more>>

Ryan Hayes

When I was working at LRG Clothing, the owner Jonas — who was an early design mentor of mine — walked up to me and asked if I could design websites. I said yes. He asked me to follow him to his office, which was ten steps from my desk. Read more>>

NIKA Cristiani

I knew from a very young age that one day I would create something extraordinary — a fitness technology that would empower millions of people to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in their own bodies. I always had this vision of building the most powerful wellness innovation in Los Angeles — something that would merge science, design, and purpose. Read more>>

Sarah Espinosa

When I brought life into the world, I understood the pure magic and strength of the human body. Women don’t just nurture – We create, build and shape existence from the very beginning. Life can seem challenging through the lens of society, but at its core, we are our own creators, capable of transforming anything through our power and purpose. Read more>>

Kate Bode

I think my earliest memory of feeling powerful was realizing how naturally music came to me. Even as a child, I could easily remember melodies and repeat them — whether they were from blues, pop, or even opera. I loved exploring how different styles felt in my voice. Read more>>

Ieema C

Being denied so many times by the industry and certain personal situations early on as a teenager. The rejection obviously was protection and I found purpose in my pain along the way. Read more>>

Milli Banks

Clap for yourself, even if you have to do it alone!’ I could never forget how it felt walking across the stage when I graduated from college, it was the first this I did when I got away from my trafficker. Read more>>

Jing Lin

I think my earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I decided to start something on my own — even when I didn’t have everything figured out. It wasn’t a huge moment, but more like realizing, “Ok, it’s coming together piece by piece.” Building Coffee Confessionals from an idea into something real gave me that sense of control and pride. Read more>>