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.
Nafis Ricks
Where I am today is the result of those experiences coming full circle. From the court to the mind, it’s all connected and I’m building something meaningful from both. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Tennessee State University to become a psychologist Read more>>
Caitlin Crow
Hi there! I’m delighted to be back and honored to share another chapter of my story with you. My path began in a small, charming beach town, Pensacola, Florida. I was a multi-passionate girl with big dreams, supportive parents, close friends, and an inner knowing that I was meant for something meaningful, even if I couldn’t quite define it yet. Read more>>
Mary Catherine Jarmon
Looking back, I’ve created content for as long as I can remember. My extensive media library begins in Memphis, TN, where I used to utilize the Photo Booth app on the family Mac to create TV shows featuring my friends and family. Read more>>
Jessica Jackson
If you had told me ten years ago that I’d end up in the flooring and tile industry, I would have laughed at you. I graduated from the University of Tennessee with degrees in Biochemistry/Cellular and Molecular Biology and Psychology and was originally planning to attend medical school to be a neurosurgeon. Read more>>
David Gideon
I grew up on a famous hippie commune called ‘The Farm’., an hour south of Nashville. The Farm is in Summertown, Tn, The commune was founded in 1971 by over 1000 San Francisco ‘fallouts’ including my parents who followed Stephen Gaskin on a speaking tour in buses. Read more>>
Ginger Oh Snap
My name is Ginger Oh Snap, also known as “The Shapeshifting Showgirl”. I am a multifaceted entertainer and creator based in Nashville, Tennessee with an emphasis in burlesque performance, emceeing, acting, and modeling. I am a born and raised East Nashville native and, aside from a few years spent in Murfreesboro for college and graduate school, has always called Nashville home. Read more>>
Maya Azlyn
Photography started as a creative outlet for me back in high school. It started with class projects and turned into my teacher encouraging me and people around me trusting me to capture their moments. Support from teachers and my peers encouraged me to enjoy it and continue to do it and learn how to keep building my skills with the camera. Read more>>
Van Hickman
About 20 years ago, I received an email advertising a class for writing stand-up comedy jokes. After about a year, I finally signed up, took the class, and started doing stand-up comedy as a ‘sometimes paid’ hobby. Read more>>
Kristina Parish
Local Venom is my artist studio name, representing a collection of items I create—primarily hand-painted and carved ceramic art pieces. My work seems to live at the intersection of the beautiful and strange, often drawing from animals, sea life, and the darker corners of the natural world. Read more>>
Piper Landis
I love teaching dance! I have been teaching ballroom dancing since 1999. I teach ballroom, Latin, swing, country, wedding dance preparation, dance fitness, and line dancing. At a young age, I had a strong drawing toward dance, music and movement. I was a very shy child, and dance helped me come out of my shell. Read more>>
Troy Stackhouse
I grew up in LaGrange, Indiana, a small town where everybody knows everybody. My dad was a homebuilder and remodeler, so construction was always around me, even though I never really pictured myself ending up in it. He is still the most skilled craftsman I know and one of the hardest working people I know. Read more>>
Lashonda Springfield
My story started with flowers long before I opened a business. As a child, I discovered my creativity while playing in my grandmother’s flower bed. Over time, that love for flowers grew into a passion for floral design and serving others through meaningful experiences. Today, I am the owner of Anointed Flowers & Gifts in Jackson, Tennessee. Read more>>
Tori Mortimer
I’ve always been drawn to people and the stories they carry. Even before photography, I found myself people-watching, curious about the connections, emotions, and moments that make each person’s story unique. I picked up a camera for the first time in 2021, thinking it would simply be a hobby, but I quickly fell in love with the art of storytelling through photography. Read more>>
Marcus Meneese Sr.
My name is Marcus Meneese Sr., and I am the Founder and Executive Director of Stronger Than My Father, Inc., a Nashville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening families through mentorship, leadership development, and educational support. My passion for serving young people began more than 23 years ago when I started working with youth in my local community. Read more>>
Randy Murray
Randy Murray is an internationally recognized tattoo artist known for his mastery of blackwork, sacred geometry, and large-scale custom tattooing. With nearly three decades of experience, Randy’s journey into tattooing began long before social media, television features, and convention awards made his name known throughout the industry. Read more>>
Alexandria Farmer
I fell in love with painting as a little girl. Me and my sisters would have paint night at the kitchen table, which was better than dessert to me back then. Growing up, drawing became my choice of creative outlet. Throughout high school I painted, but I always saw it as a fun hobby- never a lifestyle. Read more>>
Houston Bernard
I was born in Oklahoma, spent much of my childhood in Alaska, and later moved to Massachusetts, so music has always been connected to a variety of places, people, and experiences. My father was a country musician, and I started singing and writing songs at a young age. Like many artists, I had big dreams, but the road wasn’t always straightforward. Read more>>
Iryna Marchak
Iryna MARCHak – Ukrainian violinist, musician. 1. I am an ophthalmologist by profession. 2. I started going to music school at the age of 7, where I performed classical music on the violin for 10 years. Then I played for 4 years in the orchestra of the medical university. 23 years of experience already! 3. Read more>>
Blue Foley
Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As an only child growing up in Ogden, Utah, I used to sit and sing songs to my puppy dog, Hobo. Looking back, that’s really where my love of songwriting began. I was making up songs almost as soon as I learned how to talk… probably around four years old. Read more>>
Charu Singh
I started Marigold Room with a simple belief — that our homes deserve pieces that carry meaning. Inspired by the timeless artistry of India and my love for creating warm, welcoming spaces, I set out to craft homeware that blends tradition with modern luxury. Having led global teams in technology, I’ve always valued precision and detail. Read more>>
Amanda Stephenson
I have always been an artist since I was a little kid. I went to school to be an art teacher and I did that until I had kids. I stayed home to teach them and then I escaped to the garage to make epoxy art. Read more>>
Beth Inglish
Nineteen years ago, I moved to Nashville to be a songwriter and a painter. Not a backup plan in sight. Every step forward and back along the way has forged the path I’m standing on now. When I look at it clearly, I can see it was shaped by sacrifice, pain, peace, and joy. Read more>>
Chelsea Young
I’m a mom of 4 who started a pandemic garden in her Brentwood HOA and was canceled by the neighbors across the street. But I fell in love with growing our own food and connecting with my children in the garden. It was a wonderful way to slow down together and connect with our food, soil and nature. Read more>>
Ashley Allen
I always joke that I am not much of a talker. At most of my events, I am usually the person in the back making sure everything is running smoothly. But I have learned that I need to get better at telling the full story of who I am, what ABC Sports Foundation is, and why this work matters so much to me. Read more>>
Ronica Wolbert
Empire Lock and Safe is a family owned and operated business with a legacy spanning more than 50 years. We believe everyone has the right to feel safe and secure, so we seek out the best security hardware products to help our clients protect and secure the people, places, and things they care about the most. Read more>>
Bailey Thayer
Big Sports Girl was born from a desire to turn an insult into empowerment. Once a playful jab meant to undermine women’s confidence in sports, ‘Big Sports Girl’ now embodies a vibrant community of women who love sports, socializing, and celebrating their competitive spirit–whether that means playing the game or simply cheering from the sidelines. Read more>>
Carmine Miranda
I was born in Valencia, Venezuela, where I started my musical foundation and early studies and career as a cellist. My path into music was a bit unconventional because I didn’t grow up in a musical family. Discovering the cello was entirely my own venture, which meant my early years were shaped purely by personal curiosity and a lot of independent dedication. Read more>>
Jesseter Wang
My path into motion design was actually a bit unexpected. I originally studied architecture, but somewhere along the way I realized I was spending more time teaching myself 3D and animation than focusing on architecture itself. What started as curiosity gradually turned into something I wanted to pursue professionally. Read more>>
Riley BREEZ
I started in fashion. I was as a stylist, and I started working with Eaze foundation based in Africa in a country called Uganda with some of my closest friends. then started merging into doing music. the clothing line was a way where we were bringing music and fashion together without being just about fashion. Read more>>
Brett Penington
Reader, be warned—there’s no wild rockstar tale here. I’m just a country boy from Bend, Oregon. My mom dreamed of music and lived it through us kids, while my dad worked his tail off to make it happen. The music scene in Bend was basically nothing—just the county fair and a couple of shows at the local amphitheater during the short summer. Read more>>
Landen Arnold
We started as a quilt company. Our crew has a lot of experience in the outdoors and in extreme environments and we wanted to create a quilt that would withstand it all. For your worst days and your everyday. Read more>>
John Moore
My story is really about a lifelong obsession with how things work. For over 20 years, I’ve been fascinated by the intricate electronics in cars and motorcycles. I didn’t just want to know how to install a new radio; I wanted to understand the ‘why’ behind the system. Read more>>
Austin Petty
I was totally obsessed with capturing moving images the moment I held a camera. I was around 10 when I found an old VHS camera in an attic. That entire summer break I remember running around with neighborhood friends recording our antics. we quickly shifted from filming whatever we were doing that day, to creating skits, short films, fake commercials, etc. Read more>>
Takela Room
I started comedy six years ago with a simple goal: to make people laugh and create a moment where they could forget about life’s challenges. What began as performing at local open mics quickly grew into a passion and a purpose. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to develop my craft, build my confidence on stage, and connect with audiences from all walks of life. Read more>>
Erin Flanigan
I have had a microphone in my hand and singing and putting on ‘shows’ since I could walk and talk! I made my sweet grandmother endure countless interviews as a child on long summer breaks where I made her ask me, endlessly, what it was like to be ‘fanous’ lol. Read more>>
Melissa Bollea Rowe
I moved to Nashville, TN in August of 2006 from my hometown of Tampa, Florida to pursue my songwriting career full time. I landed a job on Music Row as an administrative assistant at (GAC) Great American Country for several years before leaving to start my own boutique publishing company called Rhyme Partners in 2013. Since that time it’s been head-down and hard work. Read more>>
Matthew Thomas
Well thank you so much for having me first off. I’ve been in Nashville for 3 years but in the music industry for about 7 years. I started to make trips to Nashville in 2019 when I was in college. Read more>>
Emily Walker
I’ve been with Team Chad for 5 years and took a windy road to get here. I spent 15 years in the television industry, which I absolutely loved. It was the perfect first career right out of college and taught me the importance of hard work, storytelling and humility. Read more>>
Amy Lisek
Since May was Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ll share that 11 years ago, I experienced a mental health crisis and was hospitalized for mental health treatment. That experience shaped who I am today and gave me a deeper understanding of what it feels like to struggle, feel isolated, and need support during a difficult season of life. Read more>>
Sarah Lightman
I’ll give you the short version… I got started professionally in music 10 years ago being a street performer where I realized it was a great gift to be able to connect with people and help them feel less alone in this world through music. During Covid times I went through a lot of personal and professional adversity. Read more>>
Jackson Pollard
I was born in the early 2000’s and immediately from a very young age I knew I wanted to be a musician. Read more>>
Hannah Holbrook
When I was 10, my grandmother offered to pay for piano lessons. There was a jazz pianist in Fort Collins, where I grew up — Mark Sloniker — and I’d been hearing for years how much fun it was to learn from him. He was my first pick. Within four years, he had me improvising, composing, reading music, playing jazz and classical, and performing. Read more>>
Danielle LaCoste
I have always worked in education in some form or another; with the last 15 years in higher ed. I began professionally college planning about 15 years ago; in that I guide families through the entire college process while helping the family create the plan to pay. Read more>>
Marin Rylee
Most of my life has been spent in the dance studio. I’ve been dancing since I was 6, trained in all different styles and have been blessed to perform with some of music’s greatest artists like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Lord Huron and more. Read more>>
Dr. Jen Rafferty
I started my career as a middle school music teacher, and truly thought I would do that for the rest of my life. I loved working with kids and inspiring them to keep music as a part of their lives in meaningful ways. Read more>>
Jennifer neu
I grew up in a small rural town in Indiana. My mom owned a salon there, so I came by this honestly. I was in the industry before I ever chose it. I always knew I wanted a faster pace than I was raised in. But I’m grateful for the small-town piece of it. Read more>>
Gracie Moses
I got thrown into music early in the best way. I started piano lessons when I was four, and even then, I was way more interested in creating than just practicing. Practicing other people’s songs wasn’t something I was thrilled about, but writing my own has always felt like home to me. I started writing songs at ten, and haven’t stopped since. Read more>>
Brittany Moore
I would love to. Something in me always wanted to create, I wasn’t exactly sure of the root of it until recently. I began in the content creator space as an instagram model and it blossomed into the lifestyle space. As I matured, I realized my true joy was in sharing my soul and not simply the surface. Read more>>
Alexandra Cline
Looking back, content creation feels like a natural extension of who I’ve always been. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved being creative, entertaining people, and finding ways to connect with others. I was the kid who loved performing, storytelling, and making people laugh. Read more>>
Joey Liechty
Hey! My name is Joey, I own and operate The Pantry Recording Co. here in Nashville, Tennessee. I started playing music when I was 10 because I was obsessed with Top Gun and wanted to learn ‘Danger Zone’ on guitar. I didn’t think that anything could ever be cooler than that. Read more>>
Jai Starling
I’m originally from Arkansas, but Nashville became an important part of my professional journey and played a significant role in shaping the leader I am today. My career began in mission-driven work, where I quickly discovered that many organizations with incredible missions often struggle not because they lack passion or vision, but because they lack the infrastructure needed to sustain and scale their impact. Read more>>
Sherry Stoeppler
Over the years, people began reaching out to me, asking if I could help individuals and families they knew who were facing difficult circumstances. Whether it was furniture, household essentials, transportation, or other urgent needs, I would do everything I could to provide what was needed—often within a day or two. Read more>>
Emily Michael
I am Emily owner of Tease Hair & Co. I got my start while I was in high school actually ! I was taking fashion design classes and we had a fashion show at the end of the year where we picked our models to showcase the clothing. Read more>>
Gina Carrillo
Nice to virtually meet you, I’m Gina Carrillo, aka Black Widow and am a Spoken Word Artist from Franklin,TN. I created The Prodigal Poets Poetry Collective and we started Performing all over middle Tennessee! I became an Author of Poetry Books entitled: Kaleidoscope & Poets United, which can be found on Amazon! Read more>>
Joston Cooper
I grew up in Jackson, TN in a single parent household. My mother worked 2-3 jobs at times to provide for me and my brother. I experienced a lot of childhood trauma stemming from many situations but have made it to a point in my life where I healed from those things. I am married now with a 1 year old son. Read more>>
Desnéige Bourret
My journey to founding Grace Place began in 2013 while I was working full-time and overseeing a church benevolence ministry in Sumner County. Every day, I encountered individuals and families facing crisis situations, but I became particularly aware of a significant gap in services for single mothers experiencing homelessness. What I saw troubled me deeply. Read more>>
Brent Taylor
I was adopted at four months old by Glenn and Wendy Taylor, and my life has always been a testimony of God’s grace and divine purpose. I grew up in a home that fostered more than 160 children over the years, so from an early age I learned the importance of faith, family, compassion, and resilience. Read more>>
Morgan Alexander
I grew up in Albany, Oregon, where music became a major part of my life at an early age. I attended West Albany High School and was heavily involved in the music program. Early on, I played drums in both the pep band and marching band, which gave me a strong foundation in rhythm, performance, and teamwork. Read more>>
Hannah Mello
I heard a phrase recently that I can’t help but use now, but basically I got into music making ass-backwards. Originally from Houston, TX, I learned to play guitar around age 12, and wrote my first song not long after. I loved to sing in my school choir, and of course I would daydream about singing on a TV show like the Voice or AGT. Read more>>
Rhema Smithwick
I’ve always loved music since I was a little girl. I used to dream of being a pop star, and singing my songs to people and sharing my love for music with the world. Read more>>
Ping Rose
Memphis native artist/musician who relocated to Nashville after starting work on cruise ships. Toured with and recorded for a litany of artists/producers including Jazze Pha, Wendy Moten, Crystal Shawanda, Amythyst Kiah, and Brandi Waller-Pace, and Megan Coleman. Worked as an artist as well as music director for Black Opry Revue. Read more>>
Jessica Pulley
I started at vendor events and worked my way to our current brick and mortar location here in Lebanon. I’ve always been drawn to the thrill of finding that one-of-a-kind piece — something with character that you won’t see on everyone else. Read more>>
Ashley Wineland
I am a country music singer/songwriter. Born and raised in the heart of Arizona, I have expanded my borders by touring across the United States the last 10+ years sharing my original music. 2026 has been a fruitful year with a brand new album “Wineland”, a 60+ city, US based, Love and Heartbreak tour, and connecting with my million Winelanders online. Read more>>
Jessica Miller
I’ve been passionate about animals and science for as long as I can remember. After earning my biology degree from Boston University and graduating from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, I spent years building and leading veterinary hospitals with a strong focus on quality medicine, diagnostics, and client education. Read more>>
Jess Phillips
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so starting a business was always when, not if. I had one specific goal: do it before I turned 30. Before The Social Standard, I was employee number two at a Pinterest influencer agency, joining as COO and running sales from day one. I built that company into a multi-million dollar agency. Read more>>
Ty Beard
Growing up, I was always drawn to people, energy, and community. I was an athlete my entire life, which naturally taught me communication and how important relationships and teamwork are. Read more>>
Hannah Myers
I’ve spent more than fifteen years in real estate, but my journey has never been just about houses. I started in property management and leasing in 2010, eventually building my business across multiple states while navigating military life, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and constant reinvention. Every move taught me something new about people, resilience, and what ‘home’ really means. Read more>>
Victoria Sisson
Emerald Creative started during a season of my life where I knew I wanted more creatively. I was working in marketing full-time, but I kept feeling pulled toward building something of my own that felt more intentional, creative, and personal than what I was seeing from a lot of brands online. Read more>>
Riley Lindsey
Auburn started out as a solo project by our lead singer Austin Evans. After working on some songs, they asked me (Riley Lindsey) if I could help out with arrangements and midi drum parts. After a while and on a massive whim, my brother Collin picked up a bass and wrote a part. We loved it, so we asked him to be our bassist. Read more>>
Jenny Petite
I moved to Nashville as a singer/songwriter. I attended Nashville State College to finish my AA in Photography. I furthered my education at Savannah College of Art and Design graduating with both BFA, [2018] and MFA, [2023] in Photography. During this period, my interest aligned in exploring the intersection of the concept of simulacrum and self-portraiture through the medium of photography, mixed media and painting. Read more>>
Joshua Neely
My journey into visual storytelling started with photography back in 2019, but I’ve always had a strong passion for videography and the ability to bring moments to life through motion and storytelling. What began as learning photography and creating content gradually evolved into a deeper love for cinematic visuals and capturing real experiences that people can relive forever. Read more>>
Tiffany Smith
When I was a child, most girls wanted dolls and Barbies, but I wanted cameras and microphones. Even at a young age, I was drawn to storytelling, media, and being behind the scenes creating something meaningful. Read more>>
Mackenzie Thompson
As a kid I was really interested in acting and doing theater, but kind of gave it up to pursue soccer for a while. During covid, my friend introduced me to Lord of the Rings and I became really obsessed with the idea of world building and what goes into making films. Read more>>
Anthony Rosser II
I began my journey into photography and videography in the 6th grade after joining my school’s photography club and volunteering with the media team at my home church in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time, the church was known as Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, now rebranded as The Blvd. Read more>>
Lori Lynn
Lori Lynn’s story has a lot in common with the music she sings—lines of joy and sorrow in a good-hearted woman’s pursuit of a lifelong dream. Her earliest memories are of singing to visitors in her rural TX home. Lori has performed on two of Country Music’s most influential radio shows—the Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Ole Opry. Read more>>
Avery Gipson
I started doing music as early as I can remember. My mom put me and my sister into church choir at 3 years old, and we both fell in love with it. Whether it was singing the little mermaid in the living room, or singing for the congregation on Sundays, I loved everything about music. Read more>>
Mikaela McLane
Throughout my whole life I loved to write. Other than that, I never had a creative bone in my body. Writing, yes. I was interested in photography, but drawing or sculpting? Absolutely NOT. However, life took a turn for me and my outlet ended up being beauty and SFX makeup. Read more>>
Jacob Smith
My backstory is slightly interesting. When I was 19, turning 20 years old, I randomly decided to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Combat Photographer…this was in 2000. Well, given how the world kind of went crazy under a year later. I ended up being sent to Iraq to cover the war from 2003, 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. Read more>>
Tara Duke
My husband and I have always shared a love for travel, especially the beach. In 2021, we purchased an investment property along Florida’s beautiful 30A. Later that year, we met a couple who were managing several short-term rentals in Nashville, and we quickly became close friends. Read more>>
Shea Smith
I started my career in network television as a story producer, helping craft and tell people’s stories in high-pressure, fast-moving environments. Over time, I realized I was just as interested in the people behind the stories as the stories themselves, specifically what helps people thrive and what keeps them stuck. That curiosity eventually led me into coaching. Read more>>
Gabrielle cataldo
When I was younger, I loved the idea of owning a bakery/coffee shop where everything was homemade. When some family members of mine started fixing up some buildings on the square. This opportunity arose. They asked if I wanted to use one of these buildings to start a coffee shop and I jumped right on board! Read more>>
Bernadette Mccann
I have been the Director of Tennessee America Pageants for four years now, which is part of the longest-running pageant system created for Mrs. to compete in. This year will be its 50th year. It’s an honor to be part of this history in pageantry. Our representatives, from all over the state of Tennessee, donate thousands of hours to their specific causes. Read more>>
Tim Patton
I’ve been around the automotive industry since I was 19 years old. While attending college, I started selling cars for CarMax and quickly realized this business was something I was passionate about. Although I earned my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University, I never swayed from the automotive industry. Read more>>
Megan Scott
When I was little, I was always drawn to stories, music, photography and acting. I loved looking through my dad’s photo albums filled with pictures he had taken of nature and flipping through fashion magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store with my mom. At the time, I never imagined that I could one day become a photographer. Read more>>
Victoria Morris
Small Town Squeeze started from a simple idea, I felt like our small town needed something fun and family-friendly that brought people together. What started as a small idea quickly turned into something I became really passionate about. I wanted to create more than just a lemonade stand; I wanted to create an experience that people remembered. Read more>>
Killa MusiQ
Born and raised in Nashville, TN on the south side of the city. My mother and father met at Tennessee State University (HBCU). My father was 1st trumpet in the band and I was surrounded by music all of my life. I learned piano in kindergarten, and played xylophone & snare drum in band during middle school. Read more>>
Hannah Walker
I’ve always had a camera in my hand. Growing up, I was fascinated by nature and would take pictures of anything I could find—birds, flowers, landscapes, wildlife, oceans, anything that caught my attention. I loved being able to freeze a moment and look at the world from a different perspective. As I got older, that interest started to evolve. Read more>>
Britney Drake
I discovered purpose in October 2018. I was working at Enterprise car sales and knew it was more meant for me. As I prayed, I was directed to clean out my house. In doing so, I found my old art pieces from childhood, and they were stunning. It was a love lost right there in my closet waiting to be found. Read more>>
Max Soderberg
I was born in Omaha Nebraska with a very rare condition known as hypo plastic left heart syndrome in 2005. I had to undergo a total of 3 heart surgeries from birth until I was 3 years old. In the early stages of my life I quickly connected with music. I found drumming to be my outlet of expression. Read more>>
Adam Shanley
I started playing guitar when I was in middle school, learning Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins songs from tab books. I was just drawn to the guitar from the first time I saw one in person, which was when I was probably nine. Much later, when my brother went away to college, he took a music theory course as an elective. Read more>>
Caroline DuBois
My path to becoming an author was circuitous and serendipitous, even though I’ve been a lifelong reader, journaler, and writer. I grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and my foundational creative journey included beloved literature teachers and dance teachers from middle school through high school, as well as creative parents who are both storytellers at heart. Read more>>
