Winning often looks like a long trail of losses that were too weak to keep you down. We are beyond inspired by the stories below. Resilience cannot capture the true nature of what so many of these entrepreneurs, artists and creatives possess and there is so much to learn from the folks highlighted below.

Ronald “Ron2Riches” Anderson

First of all I want to thank y’all for having me back as a featured guest on this platform. Since our last interview, new and amazing changes has blessed me. Since then I have moved from Atlanta to New York City to really hone in and focus on building my skills in the production space of film and television. Read more>>

Matthew Middleton

My entire life I have been around the construction industry. My grandfather built houses, my dad was mason, and my uncles were all carpenters. I learned all about the industry from all of them and loved it. The most important thing I learned from them was to always take pride and do my best in everything I do.. when I grew into an adult I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps and work in construction. I had a few jobs working for construction companies and learning my craft . But during this time I also was suffering from a severe drug addiction which took serious toll on my life. I lost my job and started committing crimes to support my habit. Read more>>

Gerda

Gerda Carina’s journey as an artist is a fascinating tale that began when she discovered her passion for portrait photography at the age of 12. After graduating high school, she took a leap and flew to London for the first time with a one way ticket.

London became the backdrop for her growth as a portrait photographer, as she worked with unexpected individuals and honed her skills in filmmaking and collaboration with other professionals. Read more>>

Trey Flynt

I grew up in New Mexico and my father was a fairly accomplished photographer. I always enjoyed taking photos but didn’t begin to take it seriously until about 7 yrs ago when I got my first “nice” camera.

I enjoy traveling, nature and exploring and photography gives me an even better reason to get out.

My favorite subject to photograph is the night sky. There is just something so mesmerizing looking at the stars and realizing how insignificant we truly are. Read more>>

Rodney Johnson

I’m a self taught portrait photographer and visual artist. Read more>>

Toi Bijou

My passion for anything I’ve decided to do definitely kept me on my toes. I’m very big on learning new things and the Virgo in me wants to master it all. For anyone that hasn’t read any of my previous articles here’s a little back story. I’m a Mississippi girl living in Louisiana I have a background in modeling, content creation, and interior decorating. Read more>>

Boss Tootie The Hip-Pop Princess

I got my start by watching my dad record songs in our home studio and wanted to follow in his footsteps. One day at the age of seven, I approached him about recording songs of my own and he agreed.

It was a dream come true. I am now 11 years old and have release 15 singles and completed 9 music videos. I have had the opportunity to perform in front of hundreds of people around California. I am From Sacramento also known as the 27916! I get booked a lot to perform and am looking forward to taking my show on the road and places beyond California. Read more>>

Maggie Scudder

When I moved to New York after college, I underestimated the time and work it would take to get to this point in my career. However unconventional my path has been, I’m glad I took the weird way. The direct path is not always the fastest or best way to your goals. I’m lucky (and proud) to be in a place where I can support myself solely from my work in comedy/entertainment. But it didn’t happen overnight! Read more>>

Narcisse Burchell

I’ve made it here by refusing to tell myself “no.” From an early age, I was endlessly curious—drawn to new ideas, eager to try everything, and determined to explore every version of who I could become. I’ve always been a dreamer, the kind who jumps headfirst into new projects and passions without hesitation. Read more>>

Sorana Mitchell

My name is Sorana Mitchell. I live on the Caribbean island of Grenada; however, I lived in Brooklyn, New York, for almost 16 years. I am the author of the book Still Smiling, A Memoir by Sorana Mitchell, which can be found on Amazon. I am a Singer/Songwriter, filmmaker, poet and novelist. I am a mental health advocate on the island of Grenada. I am the proud mother of one beautiful daughter, Sydney Best. Read more>>

R. Réal Vargas Alanis

Of course! I’m R. Réal Vargas Alanis, Co-Founder and Core Leader of Artistic Vision for IN THE MARGIN (ITM), a nonprofit arts, entertainment, and service organization.

ITM was born out of necessity in 2015. My undergraduate theatre cohort and I—W. Fran Astorga, Edgar A. Alamo, Amy R. Kuehl, Brittany “Elle” Analise Rodriguez, Gray Smith, Nandi Mathews, Ileana S. Ramirez, and myself—came together to form a collective. We were frustrated with the inequities and harmful practices within the academic theatre system that often marginalized students like us—QT, BIPOC artists. From the start, we focused on new work development, skill-sharing, and creating opportunities that weren’t readily accessible to us. Read more>>

Sean O’Connor

Growing up in New York, I got into horror at a really early age with outlets like “Chiller Theater” and the “Million Dollar Movie” to start cultivating my love of all things spooky. Fast forward decades later and, like so many others quarantining during the COVID lockdown, I began to explore if a podcast was a possibility. Wanting to combine a relaxed chat with an insightful dive into some of the horrors, best and worst, I brought on my co-host Shannon Bushmann in August 2023, and we launched our first episode later that month. It’s been almost two years now and we couldn’t be happier. Our guest list is exploding and we’ve already booked well into the spring of 2025. Read more>>

Yigsy Magaly

I began drawing at a very young age, mainly using pencils and colored pencils. It wasn’t until high school that I started painting and exploring that side of my artistic abilities. As a competitive young artist, I believed that mastering realism meant being the best artist. The ability to create the most realistic image seemed like the ultimate achievement—or so I thought. Read more>>

Khalid Thompson

So much has happened in my life so I’m very grateful to share my story with all of you. As most of you know art is a very present power in most if not all of our lives. Art is a bridge to a more sensitive, ethereal part of our human existence. In my early childhood I experienced trauma’s and set backs that would propel me into an inward journey to find meaning and confidence in myself through art. What a journey it has been. Read more>>

Adrien Blackwell

My story began when I was just 11 or 12 years old. My mother handed me a book called You Can Heal Your Life. She had read it, found it intriguing, and thought I might too. Little did I know, that simple gesture would shape the course of my life.

As I read the book, I started to understand something profound—that, on some level, we have the power to create the life we desire. Intrigued, I began experimenting with its teachings, and to my surprise, they worked. I was actively creating what I wanted in my life. Read more>>

Constance Stowers

Sure! My story is a bit of a rollercoaster—pun absolutely intended. I started my adult life like many people do, checking the boxes: college degree, steady job, marriage, and what felt like a predictable life ahead. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t happy. I was living a life that looked good on paper but didn’t feel authentic to me. Fast forward to March 2022, I was navigating a divorce, feeling completely lost, and decided to go alcohol-free as a way to take back control of my life. Read more>>

Rushaal Marwaha

I started my make up journey in 2019. I was always into SFX ,creative and graphic make up looks. Read more>>

Angel Bodnar

In 2022, I needed to make a change. My second child had just arrived, my husband was taking on increasing responsibilities as a partner in his law firm, my corporate job required long, inflexible hours, and to top it off- I am unable to drive due to a disability. My family and I needed more flexibility in every direction- caring for the children, creating space for my husband’s career needs, and finding a work-life balance that fit with my current lifestyle needs. Read more>>

Leandro Taub

Leandro Taub is a Jewish writer and actor, who was born in Argentina and lives in NYC since 2020. With foundations in Vedanta, Shamanism, Occult Sciences, and Jewish Mysticism, he brings useful tools to build a better relationship with G’d, and improve our Health, Mind, Relationships, and Work.  Read more>>

Shilpa Raju

I started out as an engineer but went on to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a writer. Read more>>

David GARCIA CASADO

David García Casado is a multifaceted writer whose work spans poetry, prose, cultural criticism, and literary translation. With a deeply rooted background in Fine Arts, David’s writing is imbued with a profound understanding of aesthetics, presence, and the intersections of art and daily experience. He is a published author of several books, including Manta sucia (2018), Primer diario de Nueva York (2017), and Buscando invisibles (2016), each of which offers a unique lens on personal and urban landscapes. His work reflects a search for the unseen, an exploration of place, memory, and the fragments of life often overlooked. Read more>>

TBJ Ohab

My names are Ohab Tochukwu Bernard Johnbosco, known as Ohab TBJ.
A Nigerian born visual artist and illustrator.

I’ve been an artist as long as I can remember.
My story began when I was very little. Back then, I was a kid who enjoys doodling with his older siblings for fun. Read more>>

Mike Caliber

Djing has been the foundation of everything I’m currently doing. I started Djing over 20 years ago. During this journey I’ve worked with a marketing company that worked directly with the record labels and national touring artists. Later on I learned how to write and produce music from a few successful Chart topping producers and Grammy award winning song writers. Read more>>

Melissa Martinez

As I reflect on my journey, I am reminded of the passion and dedication that have propelled me to where I am today. With 10+ years of experience in the beauty industry, I have had the privilege of turning my passion into a successful career. Read more>>

Yunqi Yang

Growing up surrounded by my grandparents, particularly my grandfather, a Chinese water-ink painter, instilled in me a deep-rooted passion for art from an early age. This familial influence has shaped my artistic journey, becoming a significant part of my identity. The subtle yet pervasive impact of my grandfather’s artistic spirit has been a constant undercurrent, guiding me as an artist. Read more>>

Michelle Marakasherry

I was born and raised in Indonesia to an Indonesian mother and an Indian father. No one in my family was an artist, but my family and my dad especially always encouraged me to try everything freely. While my interests came and went, art always stayed. Initially, I was trained in classical Fine Arts and fell in love that way, but I adored the storytelling aspect of films and their power to connect, resonate, and represent people. Animation felt like a perfect marriage of the two. Read more>>

Jacquelynn Cotten

I was born a fighter. My mom had to have an emergency C-section on April 1, 1989, because my heart rate dropped to just 9 beats per minute while I was stuck in the birth canal. Surviving my first moments of life was just the beginning. At four years old, I accidentally caught myself on fire, enduring injuries that I miraculously survived. Read more>>

Chad Hollister

My life is music. I started out trying to play the piano, violin and cello which were all a means to play my true instrument , the drums. The rhythm was in me and felt the music through rhythm and groove. I was the drummer and lead singer in my first band and that lead to moving out front and starting my own band as the songwriter , guitarist and front man. Read more>>

Meredith Kong

The seeds of my entrepreneurial journey were planted early in my childhood. I remember never wanting to do anything I was told. I knew even back then I wanted to be my own boss! After having my son and wanting to only give him the best food possible, I fell in love with making ice cream for him from scratch. It sounds so cliche but it felt like that proverbial lightbulb went off in my head and I dove headfirst into recipe development with the encouragement of my sister (and business partner!) It wasn’t long before Lick was born and we began selling our original flavors at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market in 2011. Read more>>

Keri Hayes

Sure! Before starting Get Baked Seattle I was a personal trainer. I was always on the look out for high-protein snacks that fit into a healthy lifestyle. But, I just couldn’t stand the taste of most protein treats on the market. They felt like a compromise between flavor and function. Get Baked Seattle started as a passion project. I have always had a deep love for baking, but I wanted to create something unique. I wanted a dessert with more substance and nutrients, not just empty calories. But, it needed to taste amazing and not like a protein bar. It took me countless hours in my kitchen to develop recipes that struck the perfect balance between gourmet flavors and high protein content. Read more>>

Idara Tom

As a child, my art journey began with crude drawings on the walls of my family home.

Given the fact that I was always fascinated by the world of colours and textures, I would spend hours scribbling with crayons, drawing, and experimenting with different mediums.

My parents, seeing my dedication, offered their support, and my passion intensified. Read more>>

Nick Valente

I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. Then one day, my dad brought home an old Spider-Man comic and I was hooked. I remember thinking how cool it was that someone did that as their job, and that’s what got me into wanting to pursue it as a career. As I got older I drew more but started taking it more seriously at around 20. I consumed every how to draw and anatomy book I could and started creating comics. I did anthology works and short stories, some mine, and some for other writers giving the industry a go as well. Read more>>

Jada Lee

I like to credit my love for music to my mom. When she was pregnant with me, she would place headphones on her belly, and I’d kick in response. Maybe that’s why music feels so deeply embedded in who I am. I started singing and writing songs at a very young age, but I was shy and hesitant to sing by myself in front of others. I sang in my church choir, but I hadn’t fully embraced music yet. That all changed in middle school when I joined the concert choir. I was content just being part of the group, but my teacher, Mrs. Cropper, saw something in me. She insisted I do a solo for one of our holiday concerts. I was terrified, but I went through with it, and the crowd loved it. That moment was a turning point.  Read more>>

Jeff Musser

I was probably 12 or 13 years old when I was enrolled in beginning art class when as a freshman in high school. The teacher, who I still talk to by the way, asked me to stay after class the same day I started. She brought out a few of my drawing I turned in for the days assignment and asked me point blank, “Did you do these?” I said, “Of course.” She paused with this puzzled look on her face, then she furrowed her eyebrows and said, “Draw these two again from scratch. I will give you five minutes.” I sat at a desk, recreated the drawings, with time to spare and returned them to her. She looked at them, looked at me, then looked at the drawings again. Read more>>

Terrance Bennett

I started my T-ENT SPORTS by first doing interviews via Facebook and posting them on Facebook in a written format, questions & answers. Then as of April 23, 2017 is when I started recording my sports podcast. Read more>>