Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Dylan Joseph

In between all of the shows, I was constantly submitting to guitar contests and collaboration videos on the internet. which led me to winning the Trans-Siberian Orchestra x School of Rock contest in 2020. As the new decade rolled in, new opportunities arose. I competed as a finalist in the Dallas International Guitar Festival’s “Ten Under 20” competition in 2021. In 2021 and 2022, I was featured on the Abasi Concepts social media pages for my guitar work! Of course, I kept playing shows, and learning from anyone I could up until the biggest change of my life in 2023. I moved from New Jersey to Nashville. I had never moved, and this, in my head, was the closing of the first chapter of my life, and the opening of the chapter of perusing my dreams. Read more>>

Sean Weaver

So while my background and life at the guitar factors into how the platform came to fruition, the platform itself is what I’d like to focus on. Fretboard Playground is split between a free side on YouTube and membership side on the website. I first started playing guitar in 1991 and of course I’m the one running Fretboard Playground, so in many cases these answers delve into my history with the guitar. Read more>>

Joseph

One thing that sets me apart is my work ethic. I’ve been releasing a new track every single week. A lot of artists tend to overthink or get stuck trying to perfect one song, but I’ve made it a point to let go of that and just keep creating. For me, it’s about momentum, growth, and pushing through the perfectionism. Releasing consistently keeps me sharp and helps me develop my sound while building a real catalog. Read more>>

Regan Kelly

I was very stop & go with the idea from the conception. The concept kept shifting and changing. Then I became fearful of people in the industry perception of me. Then I realized if they do at least they’re talking about the platform and I can add to the conversation of making more space for women in the industry. Currently my biggest struggle is creating a platform for women to join to connect online and help each other out with job opportunities and developing their creative endeavors. Read more>>

Crystal J And Felicity

Despite the 1400 miles that lies between us (I live in Nashville, but Crystal lives in Phoenix, AZ), we have become best friends, business partners, and written five published books together. We are now hybrid authors, meaning we have published books through traditional publishers and self-published novels. Our most popular titles are Kept in the Dark (our first Amazon Best Seller!) and Unleashing Chaos. We will release our sixth co-written novel in Spring of 2026 (title TBA). Read more>>

Molly Biddle Redwine

It has definitely not been a smooth road but it’s been worth it. I left my job as the Visual Merchandising Manager at Anthropologie in Franklin to pursue Define Beauty full-time. The original plan was to start with a bridal makeup business, because that’s where my love for beauty began. (During college, I did hair and makeup for weddings on the weekends and found a passion for brides and the way they saw their selves on their big day!) Read more>>

Abbey Rae

Until recently, I was stuck in a shell of “I am not good enough for this”. It’s something many individuals experience at some point in life, but this thought really deterred me from even sharing my original songs with my voice teacher or performing them in a public setting. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for my voice teacher and best friend telling me that my originals were worth people hearing, I may not be where I am today! Read more>>

Kallan Anderson

These past few years I have definitely faced struggles but around August 2024 a switch flipped in my brain. I decided it was time for me to pursue a dream of mine: to be a tattoo artist. I have been tattooing since January 2025 at Ronin Tattoo LLC (Columbia, TN) and it has proven to be one of the most difficult mediums of art I have ever done. My tattoo journey so far has been life changing and I can easily say I do not know what else I would ever do. Read more>>

Megan Roark

I am a graduate of Missouri Southern State University where I graduated with a degree in Kinesiology studying Health promotion and Wellness. I was a 4 year collegiate athlete throughout my tenure in college. My love for being strong not only physically, but mentally as well has turned into a passion. I want to share that passion with people and teach them how to love their body from the inside as well as what you see in the mirror. As someone who used to have zero confidence unless I was in a baggie hoodie and sweats, and stress over food all day long, I wanted to teach and show people that you can still love to eat and be healthy while doing so. Your body is yours and you deserve to show that off to the world! Read more>>

Samantha Tritschler

From a young age, the beauty industry captivated my imagination. Growing up in a family rooted in the values of hard work, I saw what went into running a successful business. My family has owned and operated a Landscaping company in Nashville since 1913, growing up we never felt the pressure to take over the business, but instead my parents instilled in us to do what makes us happy, but do it well. I did, however, inherit their strong entrepreneurial spirit. I always dreamed of being my own boss, inspired by their dedication and the idea of building something meaningful, my own way. Read more>>

Dylan Cunningham

I’ve been playing squash since I was six years old. I played at Franklin and Marshall College (’15) collegiately and then played professional for 4 years, reaching as high as 93 in the world. After pro squash, I worked at University of Pennsylvania for 2 years and Drexel University for 5 years as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams. In 2023, I was approached about a job at MBA to start a squash program from scratch after they built some of the first courts in Nashville. I jumped over this opportunity for three reasons. Nashville seemed like an incredible city, I loved the MBA community and their overall goals, and I thought starting a squash program from scratch was an incredible challenge worth taking on. Read more>>

Natalie Dodd

Once I finally said, “Okay, let’s do this,” I completed my Master’s in Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville — Go Vols! — and landed my first position as an MSSW about nine months after graduation at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. From there, I transitioned to Rogers Behavioral Health, where I focused on OCD, family therapy, and depression recovery for several years. Eventually, I made the leap into full-time 1:1 therapy within a group practice here in Nashville. Read more>>

Jennifer Lawrence

When I moved to Tennessee, I felt that classic combo so many women face: craving connection but not wanting the same old “network and nod” vibe. I’d experienced something really special back in Boise—a group called The Boise Breakfast Club started by my friend and powerhouse founder Kelci Borges from Sherose. She built a space where women could gather over breakfast and connection without any dreaded elevator pitches. Read more>>

Linda Gambill

Then tragedy struck. I stopped thinking so much about my own problems and more about how I could help the villagers. I learned the local language and made friends. The women and I started a project that benefits the village to this day. I also got attracted to two very different men, so there was that to sort out. Then a coup broke out and changed the course of my life. It was all very dramatic. Even back then, I saw a narrative structure in events as they unfolded. I knew I would write about it one day–I just never thought it would take me so long to get around to it. Read more>>

Hannah Waters

My name is hannah and I’m a 33 year old entrepreneur. I own a full service hair salon and a tattoo shop. 7 years ago I was a stay at home mom with 3 kids under 3 years old in diapers and I was so ready to get out into the world and start working again. So I decided to go back to hair school and get my license. Since I graduated school in 2019, I have worked for myself as a booth renter in a salon to get started in my career. Read more>>

Jordan Brill

From there I returned to the USA and attended the French Culinary Institute in New York, NY. As a young chef in the early 2010s, it was finally pretty acceptable to have full sleeves so in short succession I covered about 1/2 of my skin in my favorite tattoo style- American Traditional! Eventually a legendary New York tattooer who saw my painting skills and enthusiasm for the craft took me aside and told me, “Man, you’re in the wrong career and you should make a change.” Having just met my now wife, I had clear perspective, and I did decide to make a drastic career change. Through bootstrapping, resourcefulness, asking a lot of questions, and gracious mentors I made the change over a decade ago. Read more>>

Katie Night

However, the biggest challenge I have faced was when I decided to unpublish a book. As I grew as an author, I knew the first two books I wrote could use my attention. So, after I wrote and published my third book, I went back and gave the first two more love. They got new covers, better edits, and the love they both deserved. I don’t regret how I did it in any way. From struggling to connect with the characters, realizing my editor did a poor job, to republishing. All of that made me better and a stronger author. I love this journey because it is mine. Read more>>

Lauren Johnson

I started Choose Joy Nursing in 2021 to offer in-home postpartum support and postsurgical support that helps you feel seen, safe, and cared for. Our goal is to provide thoughtful, personalized care to help you rest, recover, and feel confident in your role as a mother. Whether you’re healing from birth, adjusting to life with a newborn, or recovering from surgery, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Read more>>

Raven Robinson

I launched my business under the Compass umbrella with the Stormberg Group, stepping confidently into luxury real estate, with a focus on high-end new construction and elevated buyer and seller experiences across Nashville. I brought with me everything I’ve ever been, my design degree, my deep understanding of the building process, my intuitive approach to people, and my standard of excellence. Read more>>

William Brown

The abridged, and corporate approved version, is a journey from Public Accounting with Deloitte & Touché, to Assistant Controller, to Consulting, to benefit agency owner. I hated the 90 hours a week of Public, was bored by the month end close of the Controller position, loved seeing behind the curtain of what made business run and focused on that in consulting, and focused in on Benefits: a very high impact – low technical aptitude – problem that was troubling a lot of smaller to mid-sized businesses. Most Brokers were lazy, product peddlers and merely being an order taker was not solving the problem that the business owners and the employees were facing. Read more>>

Kristin Wiens Keyes

The biggest hurdle our company needed to overcome has been reducing the stigma of a secondhand first approach. We believe it’s more sustainable, more interesting, and just better to incorporate used furniture in our designs and our company is on a mission to prove it. This has meant that we needed well-working systems in place, since it’s not as simple for us as clicking “add to cart” on a furniture website. We have developed finely-tuned processes through the years that make us experts when navigating all the ups and downs that come with buying secondhand furniture and we aim to make the process as smooth as possible for our clients. Read more>>

Macy Speight

Nothing about owning a business is easy! There are always things to learn and places to grow! I think the hardest thing for me was just starting. It took a big leap of faith to trust God’s plan and trust that He would bring me business! But He did and He did it abundantly! I have been so grateful for the love and encouragement I have gotten along the way, and truly don’t think I could have done it without the encouragement of family and friends the whole way! It was hard to put myself out there, but I wouldn’t trade this job for the world! I feel so blessed that I get to do this for a living! Read more>>

Jahquell “Jay” Johnso

I’m a Nashville native who has always been drawn to storytelling—especially through visuals that move people. After studying film and media, I returned home with a mission to create work that felt purposeful and culturally impactful. I began building the foundation for what would become Beyond Sight Production—a full-service production company rooted in emotion, excellence, and authenticity. I spent years developing my voice behind the lens, collaborating with local artists, brands, and grassroots events, often with limited resources but an unlimited drive to create. Read more>>

Shelbi Montgomery

It hasn’t always been easy but it’s felt “right”. Creating the “perfect” cake recipe, trial and error, lost materials when something didn’t turn out the way I wanted, and the late nights/early mornings working on something until I felt like it was exactly what me and my customer envisioned, has definitely been frustrating at times. But when I get the positive feedback that a child loved their birthday cake or someone tells me how delicious it tasted, it makes it all worth it. Read more>>

Kristen Vaden

I’ve always had a love for art and creating, even as a little girl, I was constantly drawing, painting, or making something with my hands. So in a way, this has always been in me. In 2020, my husband encouraged me to buy a used Silhouette Cameo machine. Honestly, it sat in my closet for over a year collecting dust. I was intimidated by it and didn’t even know where to start. But eventually, I pulled it out and gave it a try. Read more>>

Blair + Hanna Carter + Hayes

We met at a Sound Bath at a time where we were both strongly calling in aligned friendship in Nashville. We met for coffee and within an hour both had this feeling that we were supposed to create something together – it was definitely one of those moments where we instantly felt like we had always known each other. We hung out that day and have spoken every day since. Over that first year of knowing each other, we slowly developed Blooming Spiritus Collective as an answer to something we had been looking for: consistent, intentional, nourishing gatherings where real healing and community come together. Read more>>

Mason Martin

It’s hard to exactly pinpoint where I started. I could trace it back to taking “Video Production 1” during my sophomore year of high school because I waited too long to enroll in classes and everything else was filled up. I could trace it back to my mom letting me borrow her camera in Alaska, and I spent hours taking photos of anything even remotely interesting to me. Or I could trace it back to my Aunt taking me to the movie theater every Sunday after lunch. The last 10 years of my life have been consumed with working on my craft, and I graduated from Lipscomb University with a BFA in Film Production in 2023 and haven’t stopped working since. Read more>>

Tony Lucca

after releasing several albums, I tried my hand at reality TV taking 3rd place on season 2 of NBC’s The Voice. the show not only provided me a fresh start with new fans but earned me a deal with (coach) Adam Levine’s 222 Records. although the deal was short-lived, it managed to open a lot of doors for me, not the least of which were those down on Music Row, here in Nashville. after spending time amongst the writing community in Music City, I realized it was here I was always heading towards. being in Nashville caused me to slow down, to gain some much-needed perspective and to truly begin honing the craft of songwriting in a way that I simply hadn’t before. Read more>>

Kristi Mefford

I’m Kristi Mefford—a Nashville native, Navy veteran, and the heart behind Kinky Rootz® Salon and Queen of Kinks® Natural Hair Essentials. My journey didn’t begin in a beauty school—it began in combat boots, serving as an Aviation Electronics Technician in the U.S. Navy. Amid 12-hour shifts and personal trauma, I found myself with little time—and even fewer resources—to care for my natural crown. That struggle cracked something open in me… and planted the seed of my purpose. Read more>>

Nick Polito

Nick currently has four singles available to fans. His latest release, “True North,” marks his first collaboration with acclaimed producer and three-time No. 1 Billboard songwriter Dave Pahanish. Released on July 17th, this track represents a new chapter in Nick’s career as he travels regularly between his home base and Nashville to co-write and record songs with Dave, pursuing a full album project. Read more>>

Sofie Katherine

Followed by a divorce, a short stint in a mental facility where I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and then having a spontaneous spiritual awakening which led me to the gifts I can now embrace fully and my inevitable move to Nashville. It has been a never ending labyrinth of trial and error, magic and madness. Along the way I realized my passion was to help others avoid the pain, or at least in some way be what I never had when I was younger. A liaison to them trusting themselves, something a lot of us have been talked out of doing. My business was birthed out of so many experiences that have shaped and shifted me. None of which have been easy but looking back now I can see why things happened the way they did, and I am so grateful for the journey. Read more>>

Stephanie Campbell

My travels are my passion and my inspiration. Boho chic, urban lifestyle, and fashion trends from all over the world influence my creations. I have an intuitive feeling for color harmony and love to mix different materials, styles, and patterns. I enjoy creating something beautiful. I believe everyone should have gorgeous jewelry to express themselves and their personality. I always have the woman or man in mind who will wear my art. Read more>>

Makayla Davis

I am a model and lifestyle content creator based in Nashville, TN, I craft compelling visual stories that inspire and captivate audiences. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creativity, I collaborate with brands and individuals to bring their visions to life in the form of social media advertisement. Read more>>

Walter Holt

Unfortunately I had already started a school and that was not an option so I unenrolled and re-enrolled into another program so I could do my full apprenticeship under Shawn. I work at Woods Viking for almost 4 years before I decided it was time for me to move forward and grow and open a shop. I just continued to grind and try to find the right place and landed at what was an old car wash I spent about six and a half months remodeling turn down walls painting changing things to what now is the Wildwood Reserve. I wanted to shop to have meaning and history behind the name so I named it after my great great grandfather James Holts farm known as the wildwood. Read more>>

Jasmine Bryant

The way I got started with my photography was by just taking pictures for people on my phone and then like making the picture pop or make the background look a way to help the picture even more. I brought me a camera and started taking pictures for my church and once I started putting my photos out there, the more attention I was getting. My niece senior year really got me the exposure I needed. Read more>>

Madison Lee

There have been many challenges along the way, especially learning how to create the best designs and refining my skills through trial and error. But through those struggles, I’ve grown tremendously—both as a business owner and as a creator. Every setback has taught me something new, and every success has reminded me why I started. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited for everything still ahead. Read more>>

Kelsey Muse

It was never smooth sailing, there were constant pressures by record labels to adapt to what was selling then and what was currently trendy to be pushed through the mainstream music. Most executives ignored the conflict of unique personality of an artist and pushed to compromise to what needed to fit in their budget. During the early YouTube days, it motivated herself more and more to learn independence and owning your work because everyone sounded the same on the radio. Read more>>

Rachel Lipsky

I have run into many people that like to create roadblocks for others, one instance in particular, I was at a showcase event and met a gentleman that asked me if I was a singer in town, then asked me how old I was and after I told him he stated that I had “about 8 good years left and then I would be done.” I have never believed in being a person to put an expiration date on anyone, but I learned early that 98% of people often self reflect their own insecurities. I know for a fact that I decide when I am done, no one else can put that on anyone. Women are often put in a different category than men, but times have changed and we no longer have to let the industry decide when we are “done.” Read more>>

Dominique Diallo

I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2021 majoring in Tourism and Hospitality, focused in Event Planning, with a passion for creating unforgettable experiences and making people feel seen. In the midst of the COVID pandemic, I transitioned to get my real estate license since the event market really had stopped offering a lot of hospitality job opportunities. I liked real estate as I still found my passion for helping people to find their forever homes. After a few years of being an agent, I decided to become a corporate girlie working a typical 9-5 office job. I explored a lot of “practical” options but nothing really clicked. I would say I was good at these previous roles—but I never felt very fulfilled. I didn’t feel aligned. I didn’t feel in flow. I wanted to work with people, yes—but I wanted to help them experience real transformation. Read more>>

Jessica Bell

I’ve always had a heart for helping people feel seen, supported, and at home whether that was in a classroom or now, in real estate. I started my career as a teacher, first overseas in Egypt and South Korea, then later here in Tennessee. Teaching little ones taught me a lot about patience, flexibility, and how to bring calm and kindness into situations that can feel a little overwhelming (which, as it turns out, is just as useful when you’re buying or selling a home!). Read more>>

Dana Shavin

I had always “played around” with art because my mother was very creative–an interior designer and an amateur art teacher. Likewise, I began keeping a journal at age twelve, thanks to my older sister, who encouraged me to write everything down. When I went to college (Bard College in upstate NY), I wanted to pursue creative writing, but they didn’t have a creative writing major, so I majored in psychology. I continued to dabble in writing throughout college, and all through graduate school (MS in Psychology). Read more>>

Mariah Berry

That season of my life came with heavy diagnoses: ADHD and PTSD, both right after graduating… After college, I moved to Tennessee with my now-husband. Shoutout to the video game Valorant by Riot Games for bringing us together! I got fired for the first time ever, right out of college… That felt great, obviously. Then we went through my third experience of being unhoused, bouncing between Airbnbs in Chattanooga until someone I worked with offered us a place to stay until we found something more permanent. Read more>>

Corinne Lincoln And Jennifer Goslin

So when we started considering real estate, we weren’t naive. We knew the risks. We knew the volatility. For Corinne, it meant stepping into the same world that had once suddenly unraveled everything her mom had built for them—leaving them nearly homeless. And for Jen, it meant confronting the reality that her parents had worked tirelessly to build a rental portfolio their daughter could one day embody, only to lose it all in a sudden economic downturn. Read more>>

Olivia Atkinson

I started taking photos back when I was a kid and got a giant pink Barbie camera. After that, it was little disposable cameras or videos on my parents’ camcorder, and I finally got my first digital camera, and that was when I really fell in love with photography. I started shooting mostly for family and friends during high school, and since then it has grown into my business, where I get to photograph beautiful people and work with the sweetest clients! Read more>>

Amy Smith

Pet owners all want different things. Some want to provide end of life care in the office with their established veterinarian that they have years of relationship with, while others desire to have it in the comfort of their home. Between local clinics and our small business, we are able to meet the needs of all clients. The name Bentley came from a beloved senior Maltese Ryan and I adopted, even before we were married. Bentley was my companion through vet school, two moves and countless other life experiences. He was truly my heart dog so it felt appropriate to name the business in his honor. Read more>>

Dave Goldberg

After graduation I moved to Manhattan and took a job working in the mailroom and as a Production Assistant for Comedy Central. It was fun to work with comedians and they did have a huge file cabinet filled with Nestle Crunch and Kit Kats, but I quickly realized it would take years before I got a shot producing there. It wasn’t long before Steve moved his company to New York City and I worked for him as his Creative Director, creating and producing unscripted shows for networks including A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery and VH1. Read more>>