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.

Anna Wilding

True friendship lasts through a myriad of moments, and true friends can go years, agree or disagree over cities, movies, or even politics, and yet there is still a basic understanding and respect for each other and each other’s experiences. Read more>>

Ghazal Rahimi

I think judgment breaks the bond between people and creates separation. and LOVE always restores, reconnects, and heals. Read more>>

Anthony Clark

Lack of communication breaks the bond, abundance of communication restores it. I’m real big on communicating how I feel about someone or something, regardless of how tough the conversation is going to be. I believe if we communicate about how much of a miracle it actually is for two people to be in the same room as each other, it helps strengthen that bond. Read more>>

Torie Zalben

I believe that we are all star seeds and from a celestial plane. That this human incarnation is one big dream. Read more>>

Claire Pearce

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about boudoir photography is that it’s just about taking sexy photos of women, or that it’s somehow raunchy. For me, boudoir is really about creating art and helping women see themselves in a new, more empowered way. Read more>>

Ginny Horton

One of the most misunderstood things about being a Psychic medium and spiritual practitioner is the idea that you’re always on , and that we are constantly receiving information and can read anyone at anytime when reality is any ethical Psychic Medium will have boundaries, intuitive perception is something you tune into not a nonstop broadcast. Read more>>

Jasmine Noghrey

I’m an occupational therapist, and I think people often misunderstand what OT really includes. With my business, Joojeh Joy Occupational Therapy, especially in pediatrics, our scope is incredibly wide. We support children and families with things like fine and gross motor skills, feeding, lactation, sensory processing, hygiene, and other everyday routines. Read more>>

Gabriela Espinoza

My experience has informed me that a Sensazao class looks too hard for a beginner and too simple/repetitive for an experienced dancer. And that is OK. I trust that the people who connect with the music, the vibes and the moves will stick to it and will soon see how great it can be. Read more>>

Jennifer Keagle

I think everyone believes that Plastic surgery is what they see on TV. Beverly HIlls doctors who only do cosmetic procedures, charging an arm and a leg and patients looking much different than they did before (or a little weird). Plastic in Plastic Surgery stands for the greek work, Plastikos- which means to reconstruct. or to mold and form. Read more>>

Greg Hex

People sometimes say: ‘it’s just a knife.’ – missing the reality that heirloom pieces are functional art. Food is a love language and so knives are about more than just cutting. Especially the ones we make. They are personal, they are about craft, story, identity and the connection to the landscape. Sometimes misunderstood, is that price is about luxury, not value. Read more>>

Brandon Rufino

That we’re constantly working. The phrase “I quit my 9-5 to work 24/7” has never felt more true especially the longer I’m in this industry. There’s really no passive income in this industry, maybe if you’re a successful shop owner but even that comes with hard work. Read more>>

Courtney Davila

Hi, thank you so much for having me! It’s an honor to be chatting again. The Fashion Styling industry is prone to many misconceptions, likely due to movies and television. People imagine that styling is a glamorous career, though it is truly more of a “behind the scenes” role. Read more>>

Sierra Scott

People are funny, so there are a lot of misconceptions, but currently, the thought that AI will solve all their problems. A lot of times customers are like, ‘AI can do that’ because they’re skeptical about hiring a person if they can get AI to do it for cheaper, or free. My answer is always, ‘Sure. Read more>>

Darren Hawkins

In conversations, most people share the parts of life that feel manageable, polished, or “on track.” But beneath that surface, many are silently carrying struggles that never make it into the open. One of the biggest challenges people face today is learning how to speak honestly about hard things while still protecting their peace through healthy boundaries. Read more>>

Galina Slavova

I believe struggle is not the enemy — comfort is. Most people try to avoid discomfort, but every major transformation in my life began with something that felt painful or impossible. Discomfort is a doorway if you’re willing to walk through it. Read more>>

Riley Silos

Training for the World Championships in Eskrima in the morning, then spending the rest of the day on everything music…songwriting, recording/singing, social media, rehearsals, dancing, and networking. I release a single every 4 weeks. Read more>>

karen demirjian

A normal day is waking up to e-mails and texts to schedule or change appointment times. Then I head over to the studio to set up for my day. Read more>>

Eve Richards

My day starts very early, often before the city awakens. I carve out a few quiet minutes for meditation, centering myself and setting the tone for what’s ahead. A light snack, usually yogurt or a banana, fuels me for my morning workout—a cornerstone of my routine and lately tailored to preparing for an upcoming movie role. Read more>>

Anthony Navarro

A normal day for me includes overseeing the day-to-day operations, coordinating with the team, managing client communications, and ensuring that projects are on schedule. Read more>>

Ashley Scott

The relationship that most shaped how I see myself would be the relationship that I have/had with myself. We sit with ourselves more than one would like to at times and I feel like when you’re able to be alone and understand who you truly are it can make or break you. Read more>>

Cassandra Dalí

My earliest memories of feeling powerful were from the prophetic dreams I’d have. I’d meet friends and boyfriends in my dreams before meeting them in real life. When I turned 20 I had an astral projection experience which only increased these type of dreams and experiences that I felt like I was tapping into a magic portal in my mind. Read more>>

Richard Carranza

I constantly moved around growing up as a kid. I can remember all the different schools I attended and how I had to adapt to each one in a new way. When I arrived in East Los Angeles at Griffith Junior High School I thought my moving days were over. Read more>>

Isis Josephina Ramirez

Making everyone nervous. Life’s short and I love keeping everyone on their toes. Read more>>

Fernando Sandoval

I would regret not building three of the most important things in my life: 1. Developing a deeper and stronger relationship with God. 2. Spending intentional time with my family and maintaining a real connection with my wife and kids. 3. Pursuing my dreams to succeed in life. Although I’m already working on these things, it’s a work in progress. I must remain consistent. Read more>>

Kristina Wong

I used to think that in order to stop hunger, we just had to feed people, like with a food bank. Sometimes this meant our leftovers or rusty cans in the back of our pantry. Even if it was processed and unhealthy food, there apparently was some desperate person willing to eat it and we would be heroic to discard it in their direction. Read more>>

Lisa E. Kirkwood

I strongly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion for everyone, regardless of their background, age, gender, color, creed, or other social divisions, that are often arbitrary and just keep people disconnected from each other instead of bringing them closer together. I always choose integrity over quick gain, character over profit, compassion over indifference, and humanity above everything. Read more>>

Lina Leikam

The cultural value I protect at all costs is authenticity. In a world that often pushes conformity or perfection, I believe in honoring individuality, honesty, and the courage to show up as yourself (with the good and the bad). Read more>>

Ella Stichler

Early in my life, I changed my mind about what failure actually meant. Growing up, I was rarely given the chance to “prove myself.” I never got the dance solo, the choir solo, or the lead role in the school play. I labeled all of that as failure. Read more>>

DeLanté McLean-Sanchez

The last time I changed my mind about something important was early 2025, when I decided to fully commit to this mixtape and project. I had scrapped it under different titles in previous years because I wasn’t ready- not artistically, not emotionally, and not spiritually; however, something shifted for me. Read more>>

Kai Fischer

With LAMBADA THE DANCE OF FATE earning over 100 awards & selections across five continents and ranks as the most awarded biographical screenplay by a first-time screenwriter in history — I am honored by how deeply this story has resonated around the globe. Read more>>

Sami Siteman

As a child, and even still to this day, music has gotten me through SO much; it has gotten me through some of the scariest, most devastating, most heart-wrenching times of my life. Listening to other people’s music and feeling less alone. Writing my own music and processing my feelings in a way nothing else can substitute for. Read more>>

Khristian Osuna

There are many examples of characters who lead with character over power that I greatly admire. For this instance, I think a perfect example is my favorite comic team: the Green Lantern Corps. Read more>>

Amy Berrian

I really admire Dax Shepard — not for his visibility or success, but for his character. I had the opportunity to work closely with him on a project for about eight months, and what stood out immediately — and continues to stay with me — is his willingness to go deep into his own psychology. He doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable self-examination. Read more>>

T1LDOOMSDAY

Easily Mike G. Aside from growing up thinking he was the funniest one in OF. He has been one of the nicest people ever to work with, very respectful and has open arms to new talent. Read more>>

Julie Margi

Absolutely! Because after 18 years in the beauty industry, I genuinely care. I don’t just want you to look beautiful, I want you to feel like yourself at your absolute best. Everything is done with intention, heart, and a genuine desire to make you confident in choosing me. I care about you, your experience, and the confidence you carry when you walk out the door. Read more>>