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.
Paula Raymond
From Nothing to Something: The Story of Paula Raymond, Founder of Paula’s Hair Salon & Spa” My name is Paula Raymond. My father is from Zengaring, Burum, Finschhafen, and my mother is from Peira, Garaina, both in Morobe Province. I was born at Angau Hospital, Lae City, in 1967, the fourth of six children — two girls and four boys. Read more>>
Richard Casper
Creativets was founded in 2013 by Marine Corps veteran Richard Casper, who discovered that art and songwriting helped him cope with his own post-war trauma. Experiencing the impact of creativity on healing, he set out to create a space where other veterans could experience the same transformation. Read more>>
Amy Ervin
I’ve been a nurse practitioner in TN for 20 years and have worked exclusively in cardiology. My passion is preventative cardiology and treating underlying metabolic dysfunction. Heart disease remains the #1 killer of men and women in the US and claims more lives than all cancers combined. Unfortunately, heart disease starts silently and only announces itself when there is advanced disease present. Read more>>
Sandy Arons
I started the business in 2007 after my divorce was completed. As I reflected upon the lengthy, stressful and very expensive process and thought, ‘The process was miserable and it could have been much better’. Read more>>
Michael Baron
I’m a physician that began my career as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist here at Vanderbilt. I became ill with the disease of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). In the late 1990s the Tennessee Medical Foundation – Physician Health Program (TMF) literally saved my life and my career. I was intervened on by Dr. David Dodd, the first medical director of the TMF. Read more>>
Gabby Ross
I was born and raised in Guatemala. At the age of eleven, while attending middle school, is when I first learned to sew. I even designed and made my own dress for my quinceañera celebration. Since then, my passion for sewing and designing has continued to grow through my career. Read more>>
Catherine Taylor
My name is Catherine Taylor and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an Addictions Specialist (LCAS). I’ve worked in the mental health field for 9 years, and have owned my private therapy practice for 5 years. Couples and families are my specialty, including those impacted by addiction. I’ve always been fascinated with human behavior and why people do what they do. Read more>>
Stephanie Macca Hemyari
I have been a part of my family’s restaurant and catering business since I was a little girl. After school, I would answer phones and ring people up at the register in my Catholic School girl uniform. As I got older, I would help with food preparation and learn all the secret family recipes. Read more>>
Lori Hoge
My love for consignment, thrifting, etc. all started when I was a little girl. Some of my very first memories are ‘yard saleing’ with my nannie. When I got pregnant with my first child, I was out and about in Nashville looking for yard sales with baby stuff. I happened upon a HUGE children’s consignment sale. I had never heard of these pop-up events. Read more>>
Eric White
I started with almost nothing but an obsession with bold flavor and the perfect piece of hot chicken. The early days were rough—small space, tiny team, lots of long nights and recipe testing. What pushed us forward was being relentless about quality, not trends. Read more>>
Aye West
I go by Aye West, and I am a Nashville Tennessee rap artist born and raised on the Antioch side, same stomping grounds as Jelly Roll. My story really starts with my family and music being all around me. My mom is my rock and a true music lover. My older brother Kari was in the band growing up, rapping and producing. Read more>>
Britt Mitchell
I’m doing something I never thought I’d do — something I never even wanted to do — and yet it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I became an entrepreneur. People assume I always dreamed of running a business, but that’s not true. My dream was to be a corporate powerhouse — a CMO — because I was raised by Rita P. Read more>>
Taylor Steele
I was born and raised in wild and wonderful West Virginia, coming from a very small town where everybody knew each other. I was extremely timid, but began taking voice lessons at age five, falling in love with performing onstage and letting it become a haven for me to escape whatever I was going through at the time. Read more>>
Charlene Odigie
I started NOCX in 2018 with a simple intention: to create opportunities where they didn’t exist. Even the name reflects that — NOCX is “XCON” backwards. I knew part of my calling would eventually touch reform and restoration, but I had to figure out where to begin. What shaped my direction most was my own self-love journey. Read more>>
Jet Jurgensmeyer
I was born and raised right here in Nashville. TN. My parents owned a restaurant called the Nashville Palace from when I was born, until I was 8. So from a very early age (3 years old), I started getting on stage and performing. Some really close friends of ours, the Mandrell sisters told my parents to try acting with me and see what happened. Read more>>
Kristi Oliva
My journey into microschooling really began long before I realized it. I spent over 15 years as a teacher, instructional designer, and program manager, working both inside classrooms and behind the scenes to improve how students learn. I loved education, but I also saw, again and again, how the traditional system wasn’t designed for the modern child. Read more>>
Tyron Carter
I am originally from Richmond, Ca. I am the oldest of four and the only boy. I began my ministry journey at an early age. I was baptized at 7 years old and also began to start playing the drums for my home church (Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Richmond, CA) at that age. Read more>>
Ahmad Adhami
In 2020, I sold the pharmacy that I had operated for over a decade in Spring Hill and subsequently began serving as a pharmacist in various settings for nearly four years. This experience illuminated the challenges I faced in providing the same level of personalized care to my patients as I had delivered in my own pharmacy. Read more>>
Kevin Bull, Jr.
I was born and raised in northern VA, just 30 minutes south of Washington DC; a quick metropolitan area and filled with hard-working people. I was fortunate to grow up in a musical household; my parents played music all the time from the Beatles to Michael Jackson, to Stevie Wonder. Read more>>
Chris McKechnie
I’ve been in video production since I was eight, raised in the industry and shaped by the so-called “Hollywood” lifestyle. Now at 43, the Lord has brought me out of that corrupt world and redirected my gifts toward telling stories that glorify Him. Read more>>
Hayley Hofheinz
Baking has been a part of my life since I was a young girl. I always loved being in the kitchen with my Mom, trying out different recipes. It was special one on one time with her that I will always cherish. I have four wonderful children and I made all of their Birthday cakes when they were younger. Read more>>
Laura Baker
I was blessed to grow up in rural northwest Ohio, where my early years were shaped by a deep love for animals and a habit of rescuing strays. Read more>>
nora suknaic
Hi! Absolutely! I grew up in Harrisburg, PA, and I was always chasing any chance to create or perform. Dance classes, school plays and musicals, choir, and even sharing my own songs online…those were the spaces where I felt the most “me.” As a kid, I found a lot of comfort in turning my messy, awkward feelings into something artistic. Read more>>
Christopher Jordan
Well it started for me in I think the same way it begins for a lot of dj aficionados – watching a lot of djs play. In my case it was the dj at my own sisters quince. I bothered the dj for lessons and after 3 or four lessons I really was one completely hooked and enjoy in discovering the endless posible blends. Read more>>
Allie Williamson
My story begins with my Grandma Hattie. While all the other kids were outside playing, I was inside helping her scrub cigarette smoke off the walls. Those early days are where my love for cleaning really took root. Read more>>
Dana Maloney
At Jubilee Suites, hospitality runs deep in our family. Inspired by my grandmother Edna’s Joyful spirit of welcoming guests and my mother Alice’s gracious love of family, we’ve built a boutique bed and breakfast that feels like home – only better. After years of travel with my husband Jim, a U.S. Read more>>
Brennan White
My recent story is that I moved back to Nashville after being gone for 13 years in Mississippi. In the midst of the hardest few years of my recent life arose an album of music about finding life lessons in the midst of loss, taking accountability, and embracing the changes. Along with making my own music, I also play lead guitar/BGV’s for a couple touring artists in town (Jeremy McComb & Jenny Tolman). Read more>>
Shannon Slayton
I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors and try to make it part of my daily life in some way. Whether it’s the lake, river, creek, or ocean, the forest , a trail, or the mountains; I love to travel and create new experiences for myself and others. I’m a curious life long learner and enjoy observing the world around me. Read more>>
Aundra Lafayette
Hello. My name is Aundra Lafayette. Known as the SoupLady of Nashville. After teaching Dance for 40 years. I Wanted to find a way to give back but also away to teach people how to eat properly and love on self. Soup worked for me!!!! Read more>>
