Portraits of Nashville

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Nashville.

Chelsea Rae

Music became my lifeline at a very young age. At 12 years old, after facing serious health challenges, I began writing music as a way to cope and heal. By 15, I started playing guitar after my mother enrolled me in lessons, and from that point on, music became more than a passion — it became my purpose. Read more>>

Pete Healey

I’ve always been drawn to the arts whether through music, live performance, design, or photography. It’s part of my DNA. For nearly 30 years, I toured globally as a Production Manager, Show Designer, and Audio Engineer at the arena and stadium level. That experience continues to shape my photography today; especially in the way I approach lighting, atmosphere, storytelling, and cinematic editorial imagery. Read more>>

Alicia & Mclain Ensrud

I’m Alicia Ensrud, and along with my husband McLain, we’ve embarked on an incredible entrepreneurial journey that began over 30 years ago. Both hairstylists and barbers, we’ve built our careers while nurturing a vibrant family that includes our six children, ranging from our eldest, who turns 31 this year, to our youngest, Mason, who celebrated his 9th birthday in January. Read more>>

Miakia Dodson

For over 25 years, I dedicated my life to healthcare as a Certified Pharmacy Technician, serving others with compassion, care, and a genuine heart for helping people heal. Long before I stepped into the beauty industry, care giving was already woven into who I am. In 2015, my life and purpose shifted in a way I could have never imagined. Read more>>

Madeline Mota

I was born and raised in Middle Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, concentrating in criminology and criminal justice. After college, I spent five years as an intelligence analyst with the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, where I developed strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Read more>>

Colt Graves

Colt Graves is a genre-blending artist from Owensboro, Kentucky, rooted in the legacy of his grandfather, Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Josh Graves. His sound fuses country and bluegrass with hip-hop and R&B, creating emotionally charged music that bridges tradition and modern edge. Graves was discovered by Timbaland on TikTok and signed shortly after. Read more>>

Page Fox

Originally I’m from Huntsville Alabama & studied photography at Sparkman Highschool for 6 semesters, college brought me to Tennessee where I became a full time student and was looking for part time work I could be really happy doing and landed a job facepainting at a nation wide corporation. Read more>>

lee marshall

I spent 30 years in corporate as an engineer & manufacturing executive. I started doing pottery when my husband got me enrolled in a class in a burb of Chicago. It was an escape from all the work issues- backorders, personnel problems, new products or new procedures on the manufacturing line. Read more>>

danielle ruiz

I’m Danielle Ruiz, a Los Angeles–based creative entrepreneur with a background in television hosting, modeling, entertainment, and real estate. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across multiple industries — from hosting and appearing on television and live events, to building my personal brand through social media, content creation, and marketing collaborations. Read more>>

Justin Rayna

Quick and dirty: Got grounded. Ended up in Marching band. Played music. Loved it. Started writing music. Was coaching gymnastics. Asked to write for a gymnast’s floor routine. Started a composing business. Went to college for music theory and theatre. Wrote my own award-winning show, Legend City. Ended up composing for several other new musicals in development, and producing full-stack for some songwriters. Read more>>

Nicholas Kenton

Very long story short: I grew up in a musical home. My parents were both professional musicians who traveled around the world with a group called the Continentals back in the 80’s and early 90’s. I was born in Denver Colorado and moved to Noblesville Indiana around 3 years old where I grew up. Read more>>

Cody Uhls

I started a business in 3D design in 2024 called Daisy House Studios. I told my story in the last interview about how and why I started that. Read more>>

Byrdie Wilson

Byrdie Wilson is a rising country artist known for pairing raw storytelling with modern Nashville energy. Raised in South Carolina, she moved to Nashville at 19 to pursue music full‑time and has since worked with Rob Arthur of The Peter Frampton Band as well as award‑winning songwriter Trey Bruce. Read more>>

Heidi Cataldo-Warren

My story actually starts in my childhood home as the 2nd born kid of 13. When you grow up in a home-schooled family that size, you don’t just ‘learn’ how to organize – it becomes a survival instinct that’s bred into you. From a very young age, I had a knee-jerk response to chaos. Read more>>

John Howse

I got my start in real estate at 17 as a wholesaler. That was my first real introduction to investing, negotiations, and creating opportunity. After some early success, I transitioned into project management with little hands-on experience—but I knew how to build trust, communicate clearly, and lead people with confidence. Read more>>

Ashley Nowak

Nashville has played a huge part in my story. It is such a collaborative city, and being surrounded by all of the motivating people in it has pushed me personally and professionally in the best ways. I moved here in 2022 and was instantly drawn to the small town feel within a big city. Read more>>

Randy Obasuyi

I was at a very young age when I first caught a love for music. From hearing musical tunes throughout the house, playing the drums in the church, singing in the choir, navigating different instruments, and entering the realm of production. I was still in high school when I kicked off my music production career. Read more>>

Angeliz Marrero

Music always carried in my family. I played instruments at a young age. My mother always sang around us and had a beautiful voice. She always told me stories of doing shows and how much she loved it. I often would ask why didnt you keep going for your dreams and she always told me one thing or another. Read more>>

Forrest Gray

I was born just outside of D.C. in Arlington, Virginia. When I was only 9 months old, my mother, Nancy, took a position at Great Smoky National Park as an assistant to the park spokesperson. I went to elementary school in downtown Gatlinburg at Pi Beta Phi Elementary where I did grades K-8, followed by high school at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. Read more>>

Zariya Foster

I grew up as a very extroverted child. I did every sport you could think of, I participated in all of the church activities, I made friends everywhere I went. That was until I reached high school. I still participated in sports and extra-curricular activities, I just became introverted. I developed social anxiety, and had a hard time being around other students. Read more>>

Vic “MagicOnTheBeat” Washington Jr.

I grew up in the church in my hometown of Boston. The church, originally named New Covenant Christian Church and later rebranded as Jubilee, is where my love for music truly began at the age of five. I vividly remember sitting at just the right angle so I could keep my eyes locked on the musicians during service. Read more>>

Kayleen Steele

My story really starts before Steele Massage ever existed. After having my third child, I was dealing with serious back issues that led me through what felt like every treatment option available. Massage gave me real relief when nothing else had, and it completely changed how I saw healthcare and what the body is capable of. Read more>>

Kimi Carter

Kimi Carter is an Indie Pop/Folk Artist born and based out of the mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Getting her start at the age of 13 years old, Kimi has been writing and performing her original music for audiences around the country for over a decade. Read more>>

Judy Fruity

I was a burlesque and drag fan for over a decade before I jumped in. I took a few drop in burlesque classes in 2023, then I signed up for an actual series my mentor, Kim Bustible, and that helped me develop my first act. The end of the series was my first show, and it has been up from there. Read more>>

Garrison Nunn

I’ve been singing since I was a kid, and I’ve been playing shows for about ten years now. So music has always been there in some form, it wasn’t something that just randomly showed up. Read more>>

Keith Hill

Because I couldn’t learn music fast enough, my harpsichord teacher, Anneke Uittenbosch, at the Amsterdam Conservatory suggested that I should become a harpsichord maker after she heard two instruments that I had made and brought with me to the Netherlands. So I immediately stopped my studies in harpsichord performance and traveled around Europe to all the museums that had large collections of fine antique harpsichords. Read more>>

Sage Foxe

colt Graves is a genre-blending artist from Owensboro, Kentucky, rooted in the legacy of his grandfather, Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Josh Graves. His sound fuses country and bluegrass with hip-hop and R&B, creating emotionally charged music that bridges tradition and modern edge. Graves was discovered by Timbaland on TikTok and signed shortly after. Read more>>

Phil & Rebecca Hamilton

After meeting at Smoky’s Tobacco & Cigars in 2021, getting engaged in 2022, and toasting our marriage with premium cigars in 2023, we decided we need to do something to celebrate what brought us together. Ash & Elegance was created from a desire to bring a more elevated, intentional experience to social events. Read more>>

Keren Furaha

My name is Keren Furaha, and I’m the founder of Maison Furaha La Charcuterie , a luxury mobile charcuterie cart based in Nashville, Tennessee. The name of my business is deeply personal to me. “Furaha” is actually my name, and it means “joy” in Swahili. Read more>>

BREEZY WILSON

I grew up in Phetchabun Province, Northern Thailand, I watched a respected local healer care for people through the art of Thai massage, and that image stayed with me. In 1997, I began my own study of Thai massage in Thailand, and it is a practice I have continued ever since. Read more>>

Justin Ely

In January 2024 I was looking into sim racing and figuring out what was involved in building a sim rig. I discovered Podium1 Racing and I also discovered that they were only 9 miles from my house. Podium1 Racing builds turn key sim rigs. I set up an appointment with Kathy at Podium1 Racing to check out their turn key sim rigs. Read more>>

Levi Foster

I got my start in music playing bluegrass festivals and jumping into local jam sessions. Growing up in an area where country music was everywhere, I was constantly surrounded by music, and that’s where I first caught the bug. Artists like Ricky Van Shelton, who also came from my hometown in Virginia, played a big role in inspiring me to take the leap to Nashville. Read more>>

Lauren Lowery

I began my career as a special education teacher, working across several settings, including an alternative school just outside of Nashville. Many of the students I supported had significant histories of trauma and behavioral challenges, and it became clear early on that when someone can’t regulate emotionally, academics aren’t exactly top of the priority list—no matter how solid the lesson plan. Read more>>

Darrell Martin

I began my journey in iron fabrication in 2014 as a shop helper, learning the trade from the ground up. Over the years, I gained deep hands-on knowledge and honed my skills, eventually becoming the lead fabricator and installer in 2019. Read more>>