Life, Lessons, & Legacies

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.

Maryann Roberts

I’ve always believed that everyone deserves to find love, and that’s why I’ve dedicated myself to matchmaking. It’s a career built on hope, but also on a firm understanding of reality. I know better than anyone that modern relationships are complex and require conscious effort to grow and flourish. Making a lasting connection isn’t easy; it takes vulnerability and commitment.  Read more>>

Kirsten Pursell

Absolutely. I am unapologetically me — on the page, online, and in person. What you see is what you get. I’m too old, too grounded, and too comfortable in my own skin to pretend to be anything else. I genuinely like who I am, and I show up as her everywhere. Read more>>

Roxy Kelemen

Absolutely. What you see is what you get with me. I don’t have it in me to fake or con anyone — it’s just not part of my wiring. I come from a real place of contribution, so the thought of being caught in a lie or pretending to be something I’m not honestly freaks me out. Read more>>

Ms J7

One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that you have to be born into the Cirque world of entertainment. I wasn’t. I had no connections to the circus, no ties to Cirque du Soleil, and no background in performance. Read more>>

Elle Jauffret

The quiet myth? That ‘literary’ means ‘deeper’, when really, it just means ‘a different kind of depth.’ For years, I wrote in a rich, lyrical style, the kind of prose that unfolds slowly, like savoring a complex wine. There’s beauty in that. There’s art in that. Read more>>

Alana Godoy

Lately, I’ve felt a strong pull to return to my cultural roots. Between my personal journey throughout the last year in Polynesian dance, collaborating with Disney for a few Moana projects, and witnessing the success of Chief of War, I’ve been reminded how deeply my heritage shapes who I am—both personally and creatively. Read more>>

David Estrin

I started my Photography and Video Production business, David Estrin Productions, in 2017 right after graduating from San Diego State University. I was young and had all the energy in the world, and thought it would be an instant success. Boy, did I have a lot to learn. The first year taught me how to be comfortable with the unknown. Read more>>

Tessa Elisabeth

How strong my will is. Nothing will teach you how strong you really are like the feeling of sitting in your pain with no end in sight. Especially when you created the problem. Read more>>

Taylor Brune

Suffering taught me presence, empathy, and purpose, lessons that success alone could never reach. Living with chronic illness from the age of 21 completely changed the trajectory of my life. There were years where I measured time in medical appointments and flare-ups instead of milestones and dreams. Read more>>

Will Lu

I understand pretty deeply that connection does not just show up on its own. It has to be built. Most people think if you get good people in one place, community will form. Sometimes it does for a moment, but it does not last unless someone is designing for it. Read more>>

Erika Toraya

We all have crosses, limitations, pains and setbacks. I find it important to see the beauty of our scars, how we have suffered and how those inflictions have allowed us to grow in our faith, depth of love and wisdom. Read more>>

Ikaia Pal

Lately, I’ve been spending more time doing street photography — just walking around with my camera and capturing real, unscripted moments. It’s been refreshing to create with no agenda, no client brief, just curiosity. There’s something raw and honest about photographing everyday life as it unfolds — the energy of a street corner, a stranger’s expression, light cutting through buildings at the right second. Read more>>

Daniel Altenburg

There’s a quote by Hunter S. Thompson that I’ve always loved. Read more>>

Judy Reeves

I want to believe that I have lived my life honestly and authentically so what I say and what I do and how I present myself in the world represents what I truly believe in, and that my friends recognize the me I want to be and believe myself to be. Read more>>

Liz Hahn

I’m deeply committed to empowering and validating entertainers in the adult entertainment space. This industry is my passion, and my purpose goes far beyond the parties. I want to help entertainers see themselves as entrepreneurs. I teach them how to invest their money, care for their bodies, strengthen their mindset, and show up in the world as confident, grounded individuals. Read more>>

Erica Robinson

I am committed to my personal project, Under the Pencil, for as long as it lets me lead it. I was introduced to a quote recently in that same interview with Sasha Wolf and Todd Hido, said by Sister Corina Kent, who said, “Find a place you trust and then try trusting it for a while”. Read more>>

Rosanna Barr

Having my first born son really changed the way I saw the world, I realized how magical being a mother is, the ups and the downs. How being a mom makes you into a super hero, you have this tiny little being that relies on you 100% and you are their protector and provider. Read more>>

Connie Bolger

On the top of my list is integrity. That is by far the most important quality. Someone with integrity would have a high moral standard and the courage and conviction to adhere to them. From my point of view, being honest with yourself and others, that is a big one and is not always easy. Am I the person I want to be? Read more>>

Karina Vazcones

My grandmother has taught me more about work than anyone else. My mami Queta has been a street vendor for as long as I can remember. She used to sell snacks like tostilokos, tortas, and raspados at the park while I played on my soccer team. Watching her work so hard every day really shaped how I see hustle and dedication. Read more>>

Nick Madden

I operate by a rule of life, which means that I have disciplines around work, rest, community, and faith. I know when I’m out of my depth when I have not been able to make time for these four areas of my life. Read more>>

Austin Arenz

I’m chasing the version of me that my younger self needed. Little Austin didn’t get much of a childhood — I grew up fast, always working, always trying to prove myself. So now I’m chasing peace. Fulfillment. The kind of life that feels full because I’m helping others find their own power through what I do. Read more>>

Chef Ty

I firmly believe that the bond between people is most easily (and quickly) broken, by a slip in one’s memory that people are, and will always be: people. And to be a person is to be imperfect, at fault, and in need of empathy, forgiveness, and grace. Read more>>

Paul Wynns

I own and operate a flight school for non-traditional students, veterans, and anyone aspiring to a career in aviation. People often think flight training is about airplanes. Learning checklists, procedures, and the mechanics of flight. Yes, those are the table stakes. You must be a disciplined operator, safe, compliant, and skilled. But at Flex Air, we see it differently. Read more>>

Jessica Cvetic

My earliest memory of feeling powerful was the moment I realized I had a choice, and that choice could change everything. Even as a young woman, I learned that power isn’t given; it’s claimed and earned through courage, integrity, and hard work. Read more>>

Glenda Castro

The trust I have with each of my clients is unparalleled; that bond we share is unmatched. I don’t really call my clients customers because I see them more as friends, Something that does surprise me and fills me with joy is the love I feel from them towards me. Read more>>

Jess Gallo

This is a big one. You aren’t ‘successful’ just because your calendar is full. Life, success, happiness, is all a balance. Read more>>