Inspiring Stories from The Valley

The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In recent weeks we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of West LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble-rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out The Valley’s rising stars below.

Andrew Coughlin

My path into filmmaking is a bit unconventional compared to the traditional route, but I was first exposed to it when I was 17 years old and spent time on location in the locations department on Ang Lee’s “Ride with the Devil.” Even then, before I fully understood what I was seeing, I remember feeling drawn to the environment and knowing I wanted to pursue filmmaking in some form.  Read more>>

Sasha Feiler & Joe Cabello Shut Up I Love It

SASHA: These days, everyone and their audacious auntie has a podcast. But the genesis of Shut Up I Love It goes back to early 2019, when I met up with a friend from my old improv team. Read more>>

James Cunningham

Neverdead was started really as an artistic idea in 2019 when I moved to Los Angeles. Specifically North Hollywood. My background is in film, but I am also a writer and visual artist and am tremendously inspired by classic Hollywood and the noir films of the 40s and 50s. Read more>>

Lissete Dumas

I never imagined I would end up where I am today. Growing up, I wanted to become a children’s social worker because I spent a few years in foster care as a child. That experience deeply shaped me and planted a desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Read more>>

Tatiana Turan

My dance entertainment company, BLING DIVAS ENTERTAINMENT has been in business since 2008. Offering premium dance and walk-around entertainment for corporate events, private parties, weddings, casinos, nightclubs, and often television & music videos. It all started from what I found to be a lack of quality event entertainment at the time. And when I see a “problem”, I fix it! Read more>>

Tiffany Gray

I came up producing and directing theater in my twenties, but I had no idea that could be a real profession. So hoping for a firm career path, I went to law school at the University of San Francisco. I got a job in real estate and bankruptcy litigation during the 2008 financial crisis. It was brutal. Read more>>

Brian Crites

DJ Kasanova is a Ventura County native from Thousand Oaks, CA, whose love for music started at a young age. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by the radio mixes he heard on Q104.7, now Q95.9, KROQ, Power 106, and DJs like DJ Wicked, Kidd Spin, DJ Relyt, Divine, JScratch, Jeremiah Red, and the Bakaboyz. Read more>>

Monica Bloom

I’ve been teaching Ayurveda—the ancient science of health and longevity—for more than two decades. My work began with a simple desire to help people feel better using practical tools related to food, daily habits, mindset, and self-understanding. Read more>>

Youssef Ramili

I started my business in 2014 by bringing small handmade items from Morocco to the U.S. I quickly realized that people were deeply drawn to Moroccan textiles and rugs, not only for their beauty but also for the craftsmanship and story behind them. Read more>>

Wara Pornkulwat

I grew up in Patong, Phuket, Thailand—an area known for its vibrant nightlife and beach culture. My connection to film began during a time when I had to stay indoors for months as a child, due to frequent reports of abductions in the area. During that period, television and a stack of DVDs became my constant companions, quietly shaping my interest in cinema. Read more>>

C M Cooper

I started off with a BA in Psychology (1975) and a month later (encouraged by my electives in art by my design professor) I was accepted into Art Center College of Design and graduated in 1980 a BFA In Fashion Illustration after taking a couple years off in between. I worked in the Advertising Department at the Broadway Department store along with freelance editorial projects. Read more>>

Dark Passenger

Dark Passenger was founded by John Rubay and Tyler Trainer after a 10 year hiatus from music, with Tony Siouffey joining shortly before the debut of the band. Dark Passenger was born out of a need to fill an outlet and a passion for creativity – exploring different genres of metal, rock, and punk. Read more>>

John Piccarreto

Moved to California in 2017 and started doing BG to cut my teeth in television and film. This helped me get acclimated to what all the roles and process is in these various productions. Read more>>

Diego Magana & Solimar Gutierrez

Inspired by a trip to the Grand Canyon, upon our return home, my sister Miranda and I were saddened and shocked to realize how little accessible green space we had in our city. Growing up in Oxnard, we always knew that our farmworker community is the backbone of society, yet the only green space available is fields to be exploited on. Read more>>

Lexi & Celeste Carmona & Reyes

JRNY Apparel started from a shared passion between my sister and I for fitness, confidence, and wanting women to feel good in what they wear. We grew up as athletes and have always been heavily involved in health, wellness, and movement, so activewear naturally became something we connected with on a personal level. Read more>>

Vickie Hayley

My story of how I ended up pursuing a comedic and creative career starts just like everyone else’s. It’s so cliché. After college I moved to South Korea for the K-pop and bibimbap, and I just happened to end up on one of the most popular talk shows there: Misuda (Chit Chat of the Beauties). Read more>>

Rasha Mediene

My name is Rasha Mediene, and I’m an entrepreneur, swim coach, travel content creator, and experience curator based in Los Angeles. My journey definitely wasn’t traditional, and honestly, that’s what shaped a lot of who I am today. Before I ever started teaching swim lessons, I spent years trying different jobs and figuring out what kind of life I actually wanted. Read more>>

Emily Owens

Hello, my name is Emily Owens, but most people call me Lady E I moved here from Boston to start my life over after a bad breakup. It was the best decision I had ever made. Today I own 3 businesses: a for-profit, a non-profit, and a real estate investment business. Read more>>

Cerulean Farms Lisa Winn & Jessica Rabbiner

Lisa Winn and Jessica Rabbiner opened Cerulean Farms in 2021 after working together for more than 25 years at Far West Farms in Calabasas, CA. When Far West Farms was closing, an opportunity arose to start a business in Bell Canyon, CA. Lisa Winn grew up in Los Angeles and attended UCLA. She started riding as a child with Onondarka in Newhall. Read more>>

Taylor Stewart

Sevyn was born during a really transformative chapter of my life. Becoming a mother changed the way I viewed beauty, confidence, and even myself. I wanted to create something that felt feminine, luxurious, and intentional, a brand that represented softness, self-care, and empowerment all at once. Read more>>

Mackenzie Beenken

I have always been drawn to stories. From crafting deeply imaginative beginnings for the trees rooted in my childhood backyard and believing every toy in the toy room was friends with the others, to forcing my friends into homemade music videos and finding art in Blockbuster movie aisles (RIP), storytelling always felt instinctive to me. Read more>>

Bonny Butler

I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved drawing and taking art classes, and art was always the place where I felt most myself. But like many people, life took me in a more practical direction for a long time. Read more>>

Jeff Coggins

I came to Los Angeles in 1983 to see Van Halen at the US Festival and basically never went home. I drove out from the Midwest in my brand-new 1982 Chevy Chevette with a cooler full of food, a backpack of clothes, and no real plan beyond the concert. Read more>>

Glenn Stanton

I went to college to play football at Ohio Northern University without really knowing what I was going to study. I ended up receiving a scholarship for musical theater and became the first football player to carry that major. While I was there, I also was the front man for a rock group that managed to make a few radio stations. Read more>>

Kourt MeQui

So, I have been singing since I was a child. And, I started perusing a career in music when I was about 14/15 years old. When I was younger and trying to be a singer, I would go to different auditions, because back then things were really different! Read more>>

Destiny Papalia

I grew up spending my summer vacations with my aunt in San Diego. Every summer she would buy a ton of jewelry supplies and we would make beaded necklaces together. It stuck with me and I began making and selling necklaces and chokers in the fall of 2016. My business really took off in 2020 during the height of Covid. Read more>>

Leilani Spring

I have always been fascinated with digital design and what goes on behind the scenes when creating a digital presence, ever since my grandparents upgraded their typewriter for an old-school Macintosh computer in my pre-teens. Read more>>

Skyler Sawyer

I’ve always been really drawn to music, I was always surrounded by music as a kid. My step dad was apart of a popular band so I was always being dragged around tour after tour. I started out helping with events, promotions, and content creation, which naturally led me deeper into the entertainment and nightlife space. Read more>>

Rebecca Hernandez

The idea for LA Fright Club started during quarantine when I was in my last semester at Cal State Northridge. Before the lockdown happened I had just joined a gym and became quite consistent. Throughout my life I have always been pretty active. I played volleyball and soccer in High school and then I joined bootcamp type classes once I was out of high school. Read more>>

Lacey Montes

Here’s a cleaned-up and more polished version that keeps your heart and personality in it while making the story flow naturally and professionally for an interview: I’ve always dreamed of opening a coffee shop. When I first met my husband, one of the things we instantly connected over was our love for coffee. Read more>>

Brandi Aguilar

I started modeling for Stein Mart when I was 10 years old and doing commercials and films and such. I then started voice acting about 12 years ago. Then went on from there! It’s been a very long journey. A lot of wins but also a lot of rejection. Read more>>

Shenee Randolph

I started Ms Naestyles LLC from a personal place—watching how hair impacted confidence, especially when my daughter was bullied because of hers. That pushed me to create a space where people feel seen, confident, and cared for. Being a mom to a child with special needs also shaped my purpose, showing me how important patience and inclusivity are in this industry. Read more>>

TreyTM

my dad has been making music since before i was born, he had a number one song on chicago radio station. he’s always been my biggest influence and inspiration. when i was a child i obviously gravitated towards music, but being so young i thought it was this ethereal, lucrative practice that only specific people could do, like wizards. Read more>>

Jeremy Fox

I am the third generation to run Fox Feed. My grandfather and father opened it in 1976. Prior to that, they were in the hay and dairy business delivering to dairies all over Southern California. My grandfather, Odie Fox had come to Imperial Valley in the late thirties from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, to work in the hay fields at that time. Read more>>

Rachel Vandevort

I was a weird kid and now I’m a weird adult. Every day I’m grateful for the opporitunity to be my creative self. My name is Rachel, some people call me Rainbow Rachel. I was born and raised in west Los Angeles, and I moved to Studio City about 10 years ago. I’ve loved art and bright colors my whole life. Read more>>

Eric Hinwood

I was born and raised in Salinas CA and co-founded an independent film production company called ATAEC Studios with high school friends that also attended a film trade school called the HARA Motion Picture Conservatory. Read more>>

Ryan Klass

My health journey began in my late 20s after years of recurrent, unexplained abdominal pain that progressively became debilitating. At this time in my life, I was mostly just skateboarding, drinking beer, and traveling with my friends. Read more>>

Krista Lance

I’m Krista Lance, a commercial photographer specializing in architecture, interiors, hospitality spaces, plus more, and based in Santa Barbara, CA. What sets my work apart isn’t just an eye for detail and composition, it’s that I genuinely love and appreciate design, and the experiences spaces provide. Read more>>

Jordan Walker

My name is Jordan Marquis Walker, founder and CEO of Brilliant Species, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. Brilliant Species started from something deeply personal. As a father to a son on the autism spectrum, I saw firsthand how often people with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions were viewed through limitation instead of brilliance. Read more>>

Tracey ‘Jewel’ Palmer

I am from Westchester and Long Island, New York. I was born in Manhattan. My parents met at an ad agency in Manhattan in the 70s. My father was a marketing executive and my mom was an artist and graphic designer. Read more>>

Sergio Ramirez

My name is Sergio Ramirez (Sergio Hairdreamer). I am a hair stylist, I co-owen Stile Hair Salon in Encino California. From the age of 16 I studied Cosmetology. I enrolled in a High School program where i can study hair dressing for my 5th and 6th period. I received my Cosmetology Liscence when i was 18 years old. In those days I did house calls. Read more>>

Marissa Estrella

Little Groove was built from a deeply personal journey rooted in love, inclusion, and community. As the founder and operator of Little Groove Play Studio, my inspiration came from raising my son, who is on the autism spectrum. During his early years, therapy sessions became one of the only places where our family truly felt safe, supported, and understood. Read more>>

Joseph Bradley Phillips

I’m originally from New York City and have spent much of my life exploring different forms of creative expression, from fashion, photography, literature, and dance to collaborative art and film. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside artists and creatives on large scale immersive art installations, including collaborating with artist Michael Benisty on the Angels and Demons installation presented during Burning Man. Read more>>

Jared Svoboda

I come from a very artistic musical family. I spent my childhood learning how to play instruments and sing starting at the ripe old age of four years old. I was always highly encouraged to perform in my family, my siblings and I would put on little shows everywhere we went; we joked that we were like the Von Trap Family. Read more>>

Odette Dragossaer

Growing up in the film industry, I longed to create something beautiful, Stories, art, animation, novels, until one day I decided to make it happen. In the span of barely over a year, I wrote and published my first novel that has gone all the way to print, as well as serialized 2 more. Read more>>

Dalia Flores

Benito Coffee started as a mom-and-daughter business built by two immigrants in Los Angeles who wanted a space where we could pour our creativity into the things we loved most: coffee, cooking, and the traditions we grew up with. What started as a small idea became a way for us to share a part of ourselves and create something that felt warm, personal, and genuine. Read more>>

India King

My journey in entertainment started much earlier than people realize. My very first audition was for the role of an orphan in *Annie*, and from that moment on, performance and storytelling became a part of who I was. Read more>>

Kaidyn Riggs

Hi! I’m Kaidyn Riggs, a 20-year-old Videographer and Editor based in Santa Clarita, California. I was born in Reno, Nevada and throughout my childhood living there, My dad would always film core family memories like me and my brother’s youth football games and our family always being together for the holidays. Read more>>

Supawat Anantachaisilp

With over 16 years of experience, Chef Tim Supawat Anantachaisilp has sharpened his skill in traditional Japanese Cuisine under the guidance of authentic Japanese restaurant owners. From Mastering the art of rice preparation and fish handling to perfecting sushi making in the true Japanese style. Chef Tim’s Journey has been remarkable. Read more>>

Taylor Hartman

Hi, I’m Taylor! I am a mom to four kids, ages 3-11. Two boys and two girls. I am also the owner of Sac Town For Kids, a website and social media platform where I love to share things to do around the Sacramento area. I was born and raised in Roseville, CA. I moved away for 7 years. Read more>>

Kyle Stocking

I grew up in the small town of Mount Shasta California, where as a kid I would make short videos on my family’s home video camera in the backyard with my brothers and friends. In 8th grade, I also became interested in acting and started participating in school plays. Read more>>

Maria Berglund

I’ve always been interested in media, marketing, and digital storytelling, especially how brands connect with people online and build strong communities. Early on, I focused on learning through hands-on experience with content creation, social media, and marketing campaigns, which helped me understand what drives growth and engagement. Read more>>

mbela endeley

I was born in Chicago, and almost immediately, my family moved to Cameroon, our ancestral home. I was raised in Cameroon and then Nigeria. I returned to the United States at 19 and moved to Los Angeles, CA, to live with my aunt while pursuing an education in Architecture. Read more>>

Arthur Janumyan

My name is Arthur Janumyan. I was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1990, just before the fall of the Soviet Union. My earliest years were shaped by hardship, limited food and water were part of everyday life. When I was three years old, my parents made the difficult decision to leave Yerevan, Armenia and move to Moscow, Russia, in search of stability and opportunity. Read more>>

Irma Lake

My story is basically one big adventure of starting over—and succeeding—again and again. I was born in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, and from early on I was curious about the world. After studying acting and working as a model in Russia, I felt the pull to see more, do more, experience more. So I started moving. And I didn’t stop. Read more>>