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.
Deepti Kingra-Mickelsen
I’ve always been drawn to the arts. Growing up with very little, creativity came naturally, and literature, music, films, and theatre became the ways I discovered myself. I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have amazing teachers and mentors throughout my life, especially in college. My theatre professor introduced me to working on film sets and eventually became a close friend who helped me figure out who I wanted to become. He’s also the person who introduced me to my husband! I’m very aware that I am who I am because of the people who guided me. Read more>>
Joe Estrada
Coming from the Palm Springs area, so close to LA and a well-known hotspot for talent to vacation or to work on a shoot, you’d think there’d be more opportunities to work on a film, but nope. So, I worked as a set builder at the local stage theaters for a couple of years. Read more>>
Tenisha Dyanne Younger
I love the stamina of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. I remember when my friend Steve Markland offered me a position on Music Row in Nashville. We always had a nice friendship and musical bond. This message is promoting the ALL LIVES MATTER CLUB; NOT ONLY BLACK LIVES MATTER. A positive message must be conveyed. I look at the color of someone’s heart and not their skin. Let’s make America Great Again! Read more>>
Brian Ochab
I get asked about my musical style quite often. I tend to wander between genres so my style depends on the song I’m writing. Someone recently described my vibe as early Billy Joel cross pollinated with a distinct county sound. I rather enjoyed that description. Last week an audience member came up to me and said if Bruce Hornsby and Don Henley had a baby I would be the result. That was a new one but I’ll take the compliment! Read more>>
Mistral Davis
In my early 20s a boyfriend asked me the old cliched question – What would you do if you had a million dollars? I said, I would sail away from Australia on a beautiful sailing ship. Two months later, that is exactly what I did. Read more>>
Timur Almazov
Around this time, ten years ago I was sitting where I sit now – in my parents’ kitchen – scouring the web-pages of various think tanks looking for an internship. I was doing my undergrad in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and was deadset on becoming an economist. Read more>>
