Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.
Neujack The Demigod
Ouch, starting off strong here, aren’t we? Now that’s a loaded question that I ask myself frequently, especially as an artist. I’ll try to keep this brief and straight to the point as much as possible because I know I can get into extended detail about this. Honestly, I always felt like I’ve been wandering. Read more>>
Sharlene Lurie
This past year has been a transformative journey, filled with both professional milestones and personal growth. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities to participate in pop-ups, art shows, festivals and private events. These experiences have allowed me to connect with so many remarkable people, each interaction deepening my understanding of myself and my art in ways I never anticipated. Read more>>
Kevin van den Elzzen
I’m very proud of the many West Coast Jazz Hour performances I’ve been able to do with my co-leader, Josh Nelson. WCJH is a project we started in May 2020. We started interviewing musicians who were a part of the old Los Angeles jazz scene in the 50’s, 60’s and onward. Read more>>
Maxie Mandel
The public version of me is always, one hundred percent, the same as the real me. That is my whole belief system as an artist. I will never change or hide anything about myself or my beliefs in order to fit in with the status quo or be popular. My public persona on social media is always authentically true to myself. Read more>>
Arreanna Marko
Success shows you what works. Suffering shows you what you’re capable of. When you’re successful, everything feels validated. Success confirms what you already believe about yourself and the world. You’ve made the right choices and have a clear direction, which feels comfortable and reassuring. But it doesn’t demand much from you beyond continuation. Suffering forces a choice that success never requires. Read more>>
Ivelin Giro
There is not success without suffering! Read more>>
Simone Ispahani
I think that our bodies and abilities are a gift. Before I got sick and started my health journey almost 10 years ago now I used to take all of it for granted. I would get up, hop out of bed, I’d eat whatever I wanted, I didn’t have to budget my energy and so on. Read more>>
Albert Lew
What I think I deeply understand that most people don’t, is actually nothing new. I think everyone innately knows this. A true freedom – one without limits – is actually done through discipline. Many people see discipline as restrictive or purely serious. When I see it, it’s like an engine that powers my freedom, my ability, and my will to enjoy these exceptional, cool pursuits. Read more>>
Megan Walker
My wound was a physical one – in 2021 I fractured my elbow pretty badly and required 5 surgeries because it wouldn’t mend correctly. I still have lasting damage but what I’ve learned is to adapt to my limitations and modify my work such as using a left handed mouse for computer designing, or switching to laser engraving for less demand on my body. Read more>>
Andrea of Gaia
Music has been bringing so much joy into my life lately. I’ve allowed myself to reconnect with my voice and the instruments I used to play as a little girl. Through this reconnection, I’ve realized that music is medicine — a sacred form of healing that I’m meant to share with the world. It’s been a beautiful journey of remembering who I am through sound. Read more>>
Sona Lewis
Firstly, thank you for this opportunity, I truly appreciate it! I took swimming lessons recently. Growing up I never had the opportunity to learn. I am still a beginner at swimming, but it was such a fun experience! I am a movement artist, I love the feeling of how we move our body across various mediums. Also, kudos to my trainer Maddy, she was spectacular! Read more>>
Sari Megan Kern
Definitely playing tennis. It is my outlet for everything. It brings out a side of me that is completely unfiltered – I love loudly cheering people on, I truly enjoy a well-played point (even if I was not the one playing), I celebrate the shots I win like I am on top of the world, and I curse a ton. Read more>>
Jenny Formica
The part of me that constantly feels the need to prove I belong. The part that craves feeling “chosen.” It’s a common theme throughout my life, but especially in acting, where so much of the process does revolve around external validation. Even after all these years, rejection still hurts. I’m not going to lie, it’s something I still struggle with. Read more>>
Brandon Notch
Integrity is the foundation of everything I do. Intelligence gives us understanding, and energy gives us drive, but integrity is what connects the mind, heart, and spirit. It’s the inner compass that keeps us aligned with truth — not just the truth we speak, but the truth we live. Read more>>
Shannon Corbett
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power by turning my pain into my own art by making my own concept photography. I would turn my pain and mental health issues into a character and take photos of myself as the character I invented. Read more>>
Mike & Sophie
We feel most at peace when we’re connected with nature, when we step away from the noise, take a deep breath, and allow ourselves to just be. There’s something magical about the ocean, the trees, the mountains, they remind us of how vast and alive our planet is, and how small but connected we are within it. Read more>>
E’lon Joi
My creativity comes from God, so I’m most at peace when I’m in a space of spiritual alignment. I really appreciated when The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron became en vogue again because it highlights this feeling that I know so well. The entire creation of the universe is divine. Read more>>
Joel LeBlanc
I owe many people for believing in me, but there are three in particular that really helped me find myself. The First person is Parker Green who helped me find my confidence when I had lost it. He helped me see that I can chase my dreams and put me back on my journey as an actor. Read more>>
Heather Alexander
I LOVE MY JOB!! I’m most excited when it’s something new, which is often. As an actor, I’m constantly stepping into someone else’s life. Changing my clothes, hair, makeup, transportation, environment, food…. EVERYTHING. And I do it with a whole bunch of other people who all have the same focus. Energetically speaking, it’s an incredible high. Read more>>
Airi Pan
Boy am I lucky to have this problem, but it is a problem nevertheless. I genuinely love what I do and I care so, so much that I can easily get overwhelmed because I want to do EVERYTHING… to the BEST of my ability. Read more>>
Ikumi Makino
Yes, I do. When I was about to graduate from university, I was struggling with what to do next. I didn’t really know what I wanted, and I didn’t believe I had anything I was truly good at. During that time, I applied to become a staff member at an entertainment agency in Tokyo. Read more>>
April Peng
My AFI graduation thesis got into Tribeca and I attended the film festival expecting to feel fulfilled as a filmmaker, but I wasn’t. I took a few days off work and flew across the country expecting it to be one of the most significant moments in my career. Read more>>
Savvy Jaye
Immortality is a terrifying concept, as it leaves you alone when everyone passes. When the sun explodes, are you just floating in space? Just hanging out there, bored? Can you play chess with God? (I can’t play chess at all.) That being said, architecture is the only thing that stands the test of time. Read more>>
Love Feels Best
Watching the news and using my phone instead of meeting new people, seeing new places, tasting new flavors and learning new fascinating facts about how nature, people and the world in general operate. Read more>>
Heather Wicks
I actually thought about this last night… Get off the screens and get outside with my kids all the time. And if it’s too hot here in the desert go somewhere pleasant in nature. Read more>>
Dalia Gottlieb Silver
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss having a partner who sees the potential in their homes before they can. I’ve always believed that design isn’t just about making a space look beautiful — it’s about creating a home that feels like them. Read more>>
Mary Kay Cocharo
What breaks the bond between people is disconnection. These are the moments when communication shuts down, assumptions take over, and reactivity starts running the show. When we stop really listening and begin believing that our partner thinks and feels exactly as we do, misunderstanding grows and empathy fades. What restores connection is almost always the opposite: slowing down and communicating with honesty, curiosity, and calm. Read more>>
DAVID HERNANDEZ
I believe the universe has a sense of timing that we’ll never fully understand — and that every detour, delay, and heartbreak is secretly rerouting us toward something better. I can’t prove it, but I’ve lived it enough times to trust it. There were moments I thought I’d missed my shot, or that something I wanted so badly slipping away meant I’d failed. Read more>>
Luz Hernandez-Hidalgo
When I share my heartwork with girl moms they think that it’s not until their daughter is having big challenges or mental health struggles to act on socio-emotional tools. Read more>>
Davida Rappaport
People don’t always understand the services that psychics provide. We all have different talents, interests and ways of conducting business. I am primarily an entertainment psychic which means I am hired to entertain guests by providing interactive entertainment at all types of events — corporate and social, etc. Read more>>
Erik Huberman
A lot of people assume that because Hawke Media has had massive success, we’re too big to work with smaller brands, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. From the beginning, our mission has been to build real marketing horsepower and make it accessible to brands at every stage of growth. Read more>>
Michael Loghmana
People tend to have a negative connotation towards lawyers because they think they’re always out to get them or something of the sorts. However, it is not until someone needs a lawyer and they realize how valuable their services are to them that they appreciate us and see how helpful we can be in their time of need. Read more>>
Makena Metz
Right now, I think most everyone I know is secretly struggling with fear. We tend not to talk about fear as a whole – who wants to know what we’re afraid of when we scroll highlight reels of people’s wins on social media on the daily? No one’s posting about their fears to show off the bad with the good. Read more>>
Shifra Wylder
Thank you. I’m grateful to share my stories and insights with you. I’d have to say, many people including myself, quietly struggle with the feeling of ever-present pressures we place on ourselves and absorb from others, that we always must be producing, be perfect or proving our worth through constant action. Read more>>
Eddie Atom
I don’t know about a ‘legacy’ per se, that’s a pretty loaded word and I don’t think I am anywhere near that but I think a lot of people tend to associate musicians or artists as simply an expression of themselves or who they are. I don’t think that about myself or my music at all. Read more>>
Peter Samuelson
They think I’m a selfless saint. I’m not. I realized 40 years ago that happiness comes most often and in the largest quantities when you help other people, especially children. Do that and find the Meaning of Life. It’s in the book! Read more>>
Nickolas Natali
Most businesses don’t need more content, they need faster follow-up and a cleaner pipeline. A strong offer plus a 60-second speed-to-lead and consistent nurture will outperform fancy funnels most days. v
jo kelly
Children do not need school. They can learn by themselves. My kids went to a humanistic school in LA where no teaching, authority, homework, classroom is allowed unless the children specifically demand to be taught. It’s all child based curriculum and they are the smartest and most self aware kids i have ever met. Read more>>
natalie felikian
No two days look exactly the same right now — that’s the reality of running a fast-moving startup! Most days I’m juggling a mix of things: managing our sales channels across Amazon, DTC, and TikTok Shop; creating and refining content; and working on new projects or partnerships to get LAV in front of more people. Read more>>
Sheri Smith
A normal day for me is a mash-up of creativity and logistics. I’m either in my home office working on my books and author platform, or in catering mode doing proposals, menus, and planning events or out at an event. Read more>>
Hulnara Castellon
I always laugh a little when people ask me what a normal day looks like — because in my world, there’s really no such thing. My days are full, unpredictable, and, in many ways, nonstop. Read more>>
Bernard Galane
I get up around 6:30 AM and the first thing I do is reading the stock market and world news. It’s really important to me to know what’s going on in the world and stay informed since I’m very involved in the markets. Read more>>
Jacqui Wolf
Right now, my days are all about art teaching. I work at three different art programs, so each day has its own rhythm. I get up, get ready, and head out to share creativity with my students. Read more>>
Andrii Kachan
I usually wake up around 5:30, put on my headphones right away, and listen to a podcast to improve my listening skills. Then I brush my teeth, drink a glass of warm water, and do a morning stretch. I go for a walk in the park — usually 20–30 minutes. Read more>>
Tiffany Spadola
These days, I work as a parent coach during my daughter’s school hours, which gives me the flexibility to be present for her after school. She’s five and currently involved in soccer, theater at Haven Arts, and gymnastics—so our afternoons are pretty busy. I’m also volunteering as her homeroom mom and assistant soccer coach, which has made this fall busy, yet rewarding. Read more>>
Faber Dewar
Wake at 5.30 …a nice cup of tea ( Its a British thing ) and then drive an hour to work ..we have a great team in Corona we are all like family and we all have our strong suits that make us so Dynamic . Lunch is a group thing we all sit together and discuss anything and everything non work related . Read more>>
Kellin Sproul
Right now, I’m spending a lot of time grinding, preparing portfolio material and looking for work. Unfortunately, things in the entertainment industry continue to be tumultuous and dry, but I still persist. Perhaps out of sheer stubbornness or blind hope, I want to make art my career, my life. Read more>>
Spenser Reich
Editing, editing, editing! I’m currently working on a first season show and it’s pretty all-encompassing. A normal weekday starts and ends working on this show, so on the weekends when I’m not working, I try to find balance by going to the dog park, spending time with loved ones, or sneaking out of town for quick trips. Read more>>
Helen Pacheco
The light I’ve been dimming is… talking my own story. I’m naturally reserved, and many of the incredible clients I’ve had the privilege to work with, the opportunities I’ve been given, and the milestones I’ve reached often go unseen because I don’t share them publicly. I’ve held back out of humility and a concern about being perceived as boastful or drawing attention to myself. Read more>>
Vreny Van Elslande
I don’t think it is one particular relationship, but a combination of relationships. Besides being lucky enough to have fantastic parents, I think the most important relationship you can have is probably the one with yourself first and foremost. Read more>>
CHRIS Damon
If we’re going with the earliest-earliest memory of feeling powerful, I think it’s when I was in the second grade. I used to be a huge fan of Star Search — what a show. After many late nights recording each episode, I got the idea to produce a talent show at my elementary school. Read more>>
Anya Kalia
The earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I performed a scene in front of my family and friends. It was so nice to get into character and share a story that an audience could see. It made me feel happy when people applauded at the end. I felt proud that I could share something I love with others. Read more>>
Jonisha Garcia- Lindsey
My parents moved to the U.S from Belize when I was young. My mother moved when I was two years old and my father when I was around ten. I hadn’t heard from either of my parents for sometime during my final year of middle school so my grandmother was left to provide for me and the rest of the family. Read more>>
Allison & Tom Schmidt
When we bought Three Falls Ranch, somewhat impulsively, many friends and family questioned our decision. We were city folks after all. We were use to working heating and AC, coffee shops on the corner, food delivered to our door. Bears getting into our trash, bats and mice sneaking into every crack of the house, chopping wood for the fireplace.. all of this was new territory. Read more>>
karen liniado
I think what I would regret the most is not giving myself the chance to pursue my own path—whether that’s building Olive Club or exploring my design career across architecture, fashion, and beyond. I’m proud of the bravery it took to transition through different fields—working in architecture firms, interior design, production, and even the toy industry. Read more>>
Josh Galitsky
There’s this quote I’ve always loved by Albert Camus: “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. Read more>>
Mike Cardan
I’d regret not trying more than not succeeding. I’d rather look back and know I gave my ideas a chance — whether they soared or stumbled — than wonder what could’ve been. Action, even imperfect, leaves less regret than hesitation. Read more>>
Eunice Jaymie Tan
That everyone knows what they’re doing. It’s everyone’s first time at life. Whether it’s a job, being a parent, a partner, a leader, being anything for that matter, everyone’s just winging it. I used to believe that everyone else had it figured out. That adults knew exactly what they were doing. Read more>>
Sean Jordan
Playfulness. Not just because it’s core to my company’s brand, but because I genuinely believe a playful approach to life leads to more happiness. When you’re playful, you’re less tied to outcomes and more open to trying new things. You take yourself a little less seriously — and that’s where creativity, connection, and joy really start to thrive. Read more>>
Matt Kohanbash
The most surprising thing I’ve learned about my clients is how deeply I can relate to almost every one of them. Whether it’s someone recovering from an injury or a homeowner facing a stressful property issue, there’s a common thread — people just want to be heard and treated fairly. That’s something I understand on a personal level. Read more>>
JayJay Drums
I’ve recently realized how important it is to embrace your own personality as a musician , and as a creative person in general. Skills are essential, of course, but what truly makes people connect with you is the energy and vibe you bring. Read more>>
Meredith Quill
In regards to work, I decided about 2 years ago to only make jewelry that I loved and not what was ‘trending’. For a time, I was trying to be everything to everyone, and it didn’t work. I decided that I was only going to create pieces that I wanted to wear, and not worry about what other brands were doing. Read more>>
Gilbert Holguin
True joy for me comes from my faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a deep, lasting peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances. I find joy in knowing that God’s hand is over my life, my family, and our business. Seeing my wife Gloria and our daughters, Addison and Aliyah, happy and thriving always fills my heart. Read more>>
John Wusah
My entire childhood, things that happened unto my person made me lose faith in a lot of things, especially what a family is supposed to be. Suicidal at 13 it was my step father who ultimately saved my life, not by doing anything extravagant. But showing me that someone cared, planting that seed of light I didn’t realize was there at the time. Read more>>
Massiel Valenzuela-Castaneda
I think a lot of smart people are getting it wrong when it comes to the new myth around self-publishing and rapid releasing. There’s this growing belief that AI tools or ghostwriters can fully replicate an author’s voice — but they can’t. Writing fast isn’t inherently bad, but when speed or automation takes the place of soul, something essential gets lost. Read more>>
Ishwari
I’m learning from life itself. From my family — my daughter, who finds magic in the smallest things, and my husband, whose calm strength grounds me. They both remind me to slow down, observe, and simply be present. I’m learning from nature — its rhythm, its silence, its perfect balance of light and shadow. Read more>>
Pramita Mukherjee
This is a very interesting question and I never really have talked about it. Well Yes, I would hire myself without hesitation. As an alpha personality who thrives on discipline, accountability, and ownership, I bring relentless dedication and a results-driven mindset to everything I take on. Read more>>
