Nashville’s Most Inspiring Stories

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.

Austin Schulenburg

Inventing board games and drawing and writing stories as a kiddo eventually led me to a passion and a career in graphic design & website design. I got my professional start as a production designer on a corporate creative team, while also taking on my own clients as a freelance graphic designer. For the freelance work I used the moniker Pen & Mug, and hoped to someday turn my one-man studio into something bigger than just myself. 5 years and 1 awesome business partner later I was able to take the leap of faith and make Pen & Mug my full-time career, and in the following 3 years Pen & Mug has grown from a “garage band” creative studio to a team of 9 awesome people! (https://penandmug.com) Read more>>

Staci Buford

My personal training career taught me that physical fitness is not a sufficient enough approach to health. Addressing the complex challenges that we face in our daily individual and relational experiences requires a more holistic approach- which ultimately led me to pursuing a career in mental health. Mental, physical, spiritual, and relational health/human connection are all crucial components of optimal well-being. Read more>>

Dawn Ann Ritter

Being in cowboy country- and my roots of being from a cowboy legacy family-my cowboy became a nod to my heritage & family . My grandfather started the “Western Livestock Reporter”-which is still used to this day to buy & sell cattle; my dad started “western Ranch Supply” which is now like the “Lowes’” of Ranching.I started my store in Red Lodge, MT (11 years ago);then last year moved it to Bozeman, MT(bigger city-more year round); I opened my TN store 6.5 years ago- and that has evolved me to the entertainment industry and dressing many musicians (Country & Rock/men & women);as well as my “normal ” all walks of women customers. Read more>>

Kira Wolfe

Since relocating back to Nashville after being in the Northeast for about 7 years, I am now utilizing all of the tools I’ve learned along the way to go full force with my YouTube channel, simply titled Kira Wolfe, written and audio content, Hair & Makeup content curation, newsletters, other entrepreneurial goals, and apparel that will be coming soon. Nashville is a hidden gem full of real people who understand quality over quantity, and I am excited to see how I can contribute to the evolution that has already been unfolding in this beautiful city I call home. Read more>>

Mark Thress

At James Madison University, I pursued a degree in Vocal Performance while exploring multiple genres. I performed lead roles in Die Zauberflöte, L’elisir d’amore, and La Bohème, earning national recognition as a top classical tenor. Simultaneously, I arranged and produced for my a cappella group, Exit 245, leading them to a national CARA award for Best All-Male Collegiate A Cappella Album. My studies took me abroad through a scholarship with the Cornish American Song Institute, where I trained in England with internationally renowned artists. Read more>>

Katie Duncan

College became my turning point. I changed my major, determined to understand why I felt so disconnected from myself and what true wellness really meant. That decision led me to earn a BSLS degree in Kinesiology and Psychology, get my certifications, and eventually become a personal training coach. Along the way, I realized I wasn’t alone! So many others were struggling with the same pressures from diet culture, perfectionism, or simply not having access to real answers when it came to fitness and well-being. Read more>>

Chloe

Nashville and the community I have found there, small town vibes in a big city. Which reflects the small town I grew up in – Stamford, Lincolnshire. A beautiful Georgian town. I make trips out once or twice a year & write as much as possible during that time. I also take part in the Tennessee Runs Half Marathon – I have completed the last two years. Last year I ran the London Marathon & the Nice Marathon too – training from zero to hero literally in a small amount of time. Honestly I was never a runner! And only started to run four months ahead of my first ever marathon – bonkers I know, but it’s for a good cause and it’s a mindset thing. Really overcoming obstacles and excuses and pushing forward. Read more>>

Matthew Jones

She was completely changed. There was a fire in her eyes that he wanted too, and so he made the choice to serve on the mission field during the summer between high school and college. At the training the first night for that mission project he prayed, “God, break my heart for the world.” It was a dangerous prayer! It would turn out to be the first of many trips to Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico as a missionary, worship leader, peer, and team leader, and eventually as a trip organizer and project director. Matt would go on to become proficient in Spanish and serve in various bilingual worship settings on the Texas/Mexico border, later teaching high school Spanish and becoming a world languages department leader. Read more>>

Erik Mesikäpp

At first, it was just a side hustle—helping deliver sand, gravel, and other bulk materials around my hometown. But things grew. Fast. We founded Isekallur OÜ, and over time built it into Estonia’s first and largest mineral and aggregate e-commerce platform. We weren’t just delivering material anymore—we were digitizing the industry. Read more>>

Julia Goodwin

Soon after, I was found on YouTube by a casting agent for “America’s Got Talent” and decided to fly out on a whim for an audition. I ended up being a quarter finalist and had the opportunity to sing at The Dolby Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. This encouraged me to dive even deeper into my own personal artistry. I became passionate about posting covers and original music online and would frequently post on “Vine” with my sister, Sara. Read more>>

Kara Jones

I grew up in a really creative family; both parents played music, my mom was always painting or finding a new visual art medium, and my sister was absorbed in music, poetry, and the visual arts. My sister and I were encouraged to spend our free time creating, writing plays, making art, playing music, and exploring the outdoors. And somehow, for me, despite us as kids being discouraged to spend much time watching tv, I also found a love of film. I remember sneaking out to the family room after my parents had gone to bed so I could watch the late night comedians and SNL reruns… Read more>>

Nancie Filkins

A year into my new life in Tennessee, my favorite client from California called me. She had “torn down half the house” and needed my expertise to help her finish the renovation. She knew my background in architecture and design would be helpful, and the timing couldn’t have been better. It was the beginning of 2017, I had just left my hotel managerial job, and I wasn’t currently working on anything, so I accepted her offer. Read more>>

Leiah Drew-Hightower

MCH hired her to work as the mental health counselor for the newly formed Williamson County School Tier 3 program for children with severe behavioral issues and co-occurring mental health disorders. During this time, Leiah completed requirements for her counseling license with the state of Tennessee and obtained her LPC-MHSP, and also completed the masters level Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Lipscomb University. She was promoted to the position of Coordinator of the Williamson County School-Based (WCS) program for MCH and later advanced to the position of Director of MCH’s School-based therapeutic program. Read more>>

Kory Thompson

This road has not been smooth at all. I lost my job back in December of 2023 and told myself that I was going to pursue photo/video to the fullest extent as I knew that would make me happy. I ran a business with my best friend previously for 5 years and it was a bit challenging to completely have to switch careers. Read more>>

Kirem Marnett, MAOM

I launched my practice in 2014 as an acupuncturist and herbalist, but my path took an unexpected turn when I began experiencing enhanced psychic sight during meditation. Despite my initial resistance, I surrendered to this gift and started seeing spirit animals forming before me. When I began asking questions, I received answers—confirming my clairvoyant abilities. I started offering readings to family and friends, and soon no longer needed to be seated in meditation to access these insights. Starting in 2017 I stepped out professionally, incorporating intuitive readings alongside acupuncture for clients. Read more>>

Celia Tate Cook

Over time, I made and perfected my own recipes to the point of barely tasting a difference between regular food and gluten and dairy free food. During my freshman year of high school at Independence, I heard of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, a program offered at Franklin High School. I applied, got accepted, and started my sophomore year. During that time, not only was I able to officially establish my business at the age of 16, Tate’s Bakes, but I was able to pitch and win $1,000, go to countless events, and make meaningful relationships with people in the Franklin area. Now, I’m graduating from high school with a successful business and heading to Belmont in the Fall to pursue a Business degree. Read more>>

Bledsoe

As a result, I lost my apartment and ended up living in the back of the tattoo shop. No heat, no AC, no shower, and hole in the roof big enough to crawl into. I had to keep a trash can under it because it would pour into my room whenever it rained. I worked as a bartender in a whisky bar right off campus at MTSU and as a barista at an incredible little coffee shop called the Red Rose to make some money while I worked off my apprenticeship at the tattoo shop. All told it was 80 hour weeks, and little sleep. Looking back, even with all that chaos going on it was one of the best times of my life. Read more>>

Archie Liggett

After several doctor visits and no relief from decongestants, I was referred to an ENT. Imaging revealed a dural arteriovenous fistula—an abnormal connection in the brain’s blood vessels. What was meant to be a simple procedure turned complicated. A COVID diagnosis postponed surgery, and when it was finally rescheduled, a one-night hospital stay turned into four nights in the ICU at the University of Tennessee hospital. Two procedures later, three stents were placed in my brain. Though the swishing noise disappeared, the second procedure left me with temporary double vision due to minor damage to my 4th cranial nerve. Read more>>

Danielle Armbruster

My name is Danielle Armbruster. I moved to Nashville in 2014 from a small town outside of Cleveland, OH so that I could attend Belmont University. At Belmont, I studied graphic design and fast-tracked my degree, graduating in three years. Then came the “what’s next” portion of my life. I knew I didn’t want to move back to Ohio, I love middle TN too much! My family was looking to start a business and I was really excited for us all to go on that journey together. Read more>>

Amber Woodruff

At the time, I was already babysitting on weekends, and the idea of stepping into nannying full time began to take shape. I’ll admit, I was hesitant and a little anxious about making such a big leap. But one phrase I’ve always lived by is, ‘Do it scared.’ Even though I was nervous, I knew deep down it was time to follow this calling. Read more>>

Alma Russ

When I was a little kid, we would go to Disney World sometimes. My parents would take me to the Country Bear Jamboree. It’s set up like an old-timey theatre where animatronic bears dressed in western wear would sing and play string band and country music. Most people would find it kitschy, cheesy, and odd. Admittedly, I had never been and went today, I probably would as well. However, as a 7 year old, I loved those country singing bears, and I think they were part of my motivation in wanting to play music. Read more>>

Abby Jane Bruner

I pursued it in school and it was definitely my first love. I started out performing with my best friend at local restaurants in high school and started a band in college. We recorded and released our own songs and played many local shows. Songwriting has always been a huge part of my life and something I am drawn to when expressing my emotions. It wasn’t until I moved to Nashville and created my floral business that I was able to create more space for music. I recently started my own artist project, Abby Jane. I released an EP last fall called, “I Don’t Want to Pretend” and am working on an album I hope to start rolling out towards the end of the year. Read more>>

Entangled Dreams

We didn’t have a living situation secured for quite a while even after landing in Wilmington. We stayed in a hotel for a couple of weeks while searching for an apartment that we could afford. Finally we found a place that would take money off of our rent if we played a show at the clubhouse once a month. We finally settled into our apartment in the suburbs of Wilmington NC. I remember how we had no furniture and the walls were all empty except for our plaques from the releases of our records and our awards. It was odd but we were grateful and excited to start our new life here. Read more>>

Mrs. Kennetha Patterson

Known as “The Homeless CEO,” she is the storyteller of poverty and homelessness, using her voice to bring visibility to lived expertise of homelessness . Look out for her launching The Homeless CEO Karaoke mini snippets Cover ( With her brand new grandson that demands she sing  April 30th2025, further amplifying her mission of advocacy through innovative creativity. Kennetha has redefined what it means to lead with purpose—proving that adversity can be a catalyst for GOOD change. Read more>>

Mafe Díaz

It hasn’t been an easy road. Emigrating has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. Back in Colombia, I owned a physical beauty business I truly loved, but due to personal circumstances, I had to leave it all behind and start over. I moved through different cities, worked in customer service and call centers, and later explored roles in finance, HR, and sales. Read more>>

Hannah Madison-Taylor

From there I had opportunities to work in sync A&R, music supervision, music publishing, and music rights and management. I have been truly fortunate to have worked with some amazing companies and on a wide range of projects and productions in my career which include VH1, MTV, AMC, SYFY, Disney Music Publishing, Concord Music, Van Heusen Music Group,Secret Road, Sony/ATV, Nettwerk, Pitch Perfect, Lala Land in Concert Live-To-Film, The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert Live-To- Film, The Deep Water Horizon Documentary, Black Christmas, The Big Ugly, and The Mattachine Family. Read more>>

Mark Allee

I grew up in Northern California, born in San Jose in 1980. From 1980 to 1989, I lived south of the Bay Area before moving to Petaluma in 1989. In 2005, I left for Los Angeles. I had been an artist from the age of five, obsessed with painters and artists like William Alexander, Bob Ross, and the great Jim Davis, who created Garfield. Art was all I knew because, frankly, I was terrible at math and everything else. After graduating high school, I attended The Academy of Art College in San Francisco for four years but eventually dropped out to pursue drumming. Read more>>

Dericka Jordan

Since then, I’ve been intentional about surrounding myself with other entrepreneurs. I’ve learned the business, and have grown my brand. I’ve partnered with The Oliver Luxury Apartments and Naturally Nurtured Doula Studio, tested wholesale, and participated in multiple vendor events. I hosted a Build Your Own Body Butter class for young girls and was invited to speak at the Pretty in Pink Girls ministry and the Hygiene Chick seminar—opportunities that allowed me to pour into the next generation and show them what’s possible. Read more>>

Maddison McKinley

My story doesn’t begin in a studio or on a stage. It starts in the back of my mom’s suburban, somewhere between Dallas and Glen Rose, Texas. Jewel, Faith Hill, or Melissa Etheridge were playing through the speakers (the soundtrack varied based on how her work week went). I was in the back, legs stuck to the leather, trying my best to exactly match their tone, pitch, and ability to hold out notes (Céline takes the cake on that one). Read more>>

Chuck Starks

High tech became my world for the next decade. I’ll never forget seeing my name on an Excel spreadsheet for the first time—buried among hundreds of others. It was a gut punch, like my life had been reduced to a single cell in a massive grid. But that career gave me something music never could: financial security. It allowed me to buy a house in Nashville—an investment that turned out to be one of my smartest moves. As the city boomed, so did my equity. That equity became fuel for the next chapter: a property in the wide-open beauty of Joshua Tree, California. Read more>>

Marta Albarracin

Around the time I came to town, I began posting songs on Youtube and social media, as a way to have an easy-access catalog, it was never the intention to grow followers or reach virality, however, life once again had a surprise for me; I woke up one day to find that one of my songs was viral. The next month I released another one and it too went viral, two months later another one…and that one went viral as well! All of this was very unexpected but exciting and as a songwriter it’s a big reward to see your songs really reaching the hearts of people, without having a label or marketing arm to pushing you. 100% organic love! Read more>>

Kaeden Franklin

I’d label myself as a live, session, and multi-instrumentalist artist. I specialize in bass, drums, guitar, and main and backing vocals. On bass and drums, I’m known for my ‘pocket’, which means being tight rhythmically with the other players and really grooving with the beat. With vocals, I’m known for singing mainly 90s country, rock, and backing vocals, where I sing harmony and accent parts, all while playing that night’s particular instrument. Playing guitar, I am known for my rhythm pocket, simple soloing, and extensive song list. In my own cover band downtown, we never do the same set twice–we’re always having fun with mixing it up and keeping it fresh. Read more>>

Marcy Johnson

In the summer of 2022 our family took our dream trip to Ireland, where we first encountered flat needle felting, or “painting” with wool, and we instantly fell in love with it. When we returned, I ordered felting kits for myself and my sister Danielle Landrum, and we were hooked. We taught ourselves how to needle felt through Youtube videos, and then we taught our mother and niece. There were very little felting supplies to be found locally, which was frustrating, but we did what we could ordering online. Read more>>

Khushboo Yadav

It hit us all. I started Hoogah driven by one belief: if technology is part of the problem, it has to be part of the solution. Hoogah – It’s my heartfelt (and slightly scrappy) attempt to tackle loneliness and bringing back that elusive sense of belonging. Think of it as a platform for meaningful one-on-one connections—not just to connect, but to truly feel connected.

Starting Hoogah was like stepping into a whole new world—terrifying, exciting, and filled with moments where I questioned my sanity. But I had to atleast try 
 Read more>>

Nicole Barton

She became interested in the chiropractic field after a severe injury while working at the hospital that almost left her unable to obtain any quality of life. From then on, she has spread her passion about the positive influence of chiropractic care. Dr. Barton is extremely passionate about a holistic approach from the mind, body, and spirit, and enjoys any opportunity to educate others, young and old, on a natural and healthy lifestyle. Read more>>

Allison D’Andria

When designing our farm camp program, I carefully considered what our own three children would want in a camp. I knew they would want to feel safe, learn in fun interactive ways, make friends, and feel important. During our three weeks of summer camp, the campers stay extremely busy! They are feeding and petting animals, gardening, playing outdoor games, doing arts and crafts, cooking, trying new foods, swimming, going on scavenger hunts, watching eggs hatch in incubators, doing relay races, zip lining, etc. The children are constantly learning. They are learning how to be kind, they are socializing, they are being active, they are off of electronics, and they love every minute of it! Read more>>

Hunter Candari

My journey began when I joined a broadcasting class with a few friends. Around that time, we entered a film competition called the 54 Hour Film Festival. It was our first time making something creative together, and somehow, our short film ended up receiving several nominations. That moment lit a spark for me. We ended up competing in that same festival for nine years—this year being our last. I credit a huge part of my growth and determination to that experience. It taught me how to solve problems quickly, work under pressure, and refine my creative eye. Read more>>

Dr. Bruce Ayers

Later, I transitioned to euphonium in high school, which ultimately became my primary instrument and a lifelong passion. As I grew older, I realized that music was more than just a personal outlet, it was a vehicle for leadership, expression, and education. I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Virginia State University, where I was exposed to the unique cultural and academic environment of an HBCU. This experience helped shape my understanding of the importance of representation and cultural identity in classical music. Read more>>

Justin Shepherd

I never set out to be a content creator or have any kind of public platform. The first video I ever made was at the suggestion of my wife, after I opened up to her about going no-contact with my mother. For most of my life, I had normalized the abuse I went through, but something shifted when I became a parent. That first video—raw and unfiltered—unexpectedly resonated with thousands. I went to sleep with a few followers and woke up to 40,000. I kept answering questions, kept sharing my experience, and a community began to form. Read more>>

Patrick Price

Absolutely not, haha. We have had so much favor and growth quickly in this business, but it has not always been like that. There were a lot of hard years prior to this. People may view other people’s success as an “overnight success” story… however, those people may not know that the “overnight” portion lasted many years. To get to where I am today, I have had so many setbacks, low points, and frustrations. The best thing to remember in the hard times is that if something is bad in the current moment, it will be equally as great in the future. Read more>>

Timolin Atkins

I grew up loving many types of movies and a variety of actors along with a diverse love of multiple genres of it. I absolutely love the entertainment industry. I began to see I had a heart for the many different Independent Artists I was honored to meet and felt that one day I would like to assist them. I had the opportunity to work remotely in the capacity of Public Relations and Marketing for a Top Public Relations Company in Atlanta where I gained a lot of experience working on accounts in the Entertainment Industry for Top Actors, Reality Stars, Celebrity Hairstylists, Producers, Beauty Specialists, Music Producers and small businesses to name a few areas.  Read more>>

Zakk Miller

My name is Zakk Shane Miller. I’m a musician, a photographer, and a girl-dad with an absurdly high dose of ADHD. I love album art, that’s the first creative space that I really fell in love with. I remember the days of reading every single page of the booklets that came inside of CD cases. I loved reading the song lyrics, looking at behind the scenes photographs, and really judging a book by its cover so-to-speak. business. I also have another business, HoneySonic Production Company, in which my team and I design, install, and sell full audio visual and broadcast systems to venues, churches, and commercial settings. Read more>>

Katie Austin

Initially, I planned to just support her from behind the scenes. But coming from a background in dance and having always been drawn to makeup artistry, I felt compelled to dive in myself. I enrolled in a makeup program, and before long, we were building something together. We quickly saw how valuable it was to offer both hair and makeup services as a single vendor—something that brides appreciated for its ease and cohesiveness. Read more>>

Michelle Williamson

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of salon environments, each offering its own unique lessons and challenges. Over time, those experiences shaped a clear vision in my mind: I wanted to build a salon culture that prioritized a true sense of team — a place where beauty professionals could grow both personally and professionally, while still keeping God and family at the center. Read more>>

Julia Ducayet

Before all this, I spent over 25 years in corporate America—leading teams in sales, marketing, and customer experience. I had incredible mentors (and a few tough ones) who taught me how to run a business and navigate complexity. I’m deeply grateful for that chapter, but eventually, I started to feel disconnected. The work was meaningful, but something essential was missing—nothing truly sparked my soul. Read more>>

Fjolla Hoxha

I was born in Yugoslavia, a country that doesn’t exist anymore and now I’m a citizen of Kosova, the youngest country in Europe. I grew up under the oppression of the Serbian regime and wasn’t allowed to attend school in my native language, Albanian. Over a decade, the oppression turned into war. I was 15 when the war ended, and the world of opportunities opened. Not only was I now able to attend school in my native language, I also became a youth leader in my high school and have been an active member within the communities wherever life has taken me ever since. Read more>>

Sophia Roselle

I also found community and belonging in video creation. I used to vlog around the house and film singing and dancing videos, and was engulfed in the world of content creation as I began watching my favorite artists on YouTube and following my favorite YouTubers– I loved the YouTubers I watched and artists I listened to so much because they provided such amazing communities, and their art helped me get through the hardest periods of time in my life. Read more>>

Andy Mead

Fast forward a few years and not only am I working full time office hours and events for an entertainment company, but also playing 3-4 hours a night 5 /6 nights a week. Read more>>