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.
Tosha Kozloski 
I started Mouthy Matters because I kept realizing how much people don’t know about what’s happening in their own mouths, and how much it can matter to the rest of their body. I’ve spent years teaching dental teams about the mouth-body connection, oral bacteria, inflammation, microscopy, and salivary testing. At some point I thought, why are we only having these conversations with dental professionals? Read more>>
Prana Kishore 
Article Title : 119 Albums,5 Grammy Entries for PLUR D, Nirvana Dasakam -Who Are You?, One Global Mission: Meet Nashville’s Visionary Artist, Prana Kishore My musical journey began early, at the age of seven, when I started learning music from a blind teacher who deeply shaped my ear and intuition for sound. Read more>>
Starr Adara
I grew up in a small town in southern Missouri, in a very religious household alongside my 7 younger siblings. Ever since I can remember, I have felt a strong pull towards anything creative/artsy. I spent my most formative years experimenting with various art forms and mediums including drawing, fashion design, photography and writing music. Read more>>
Kate Battistelli
I like to call myself an “accidental writer.” Becoming an author had never entered my mind, not because I couldn’t write, but because I never saw it as something that deserved my full focus. But let’s go back a bit. My story begins when I was an actress in New York City in the ’80s. Read more>>
Lakendra Davis 
My story really started in the kitchen. As a kid, I was obsessed with Food Network and constantly turning my mom’s kitchen upside down trying to recreate whatever I had seen on TV. Some of my favorite memories are cooking alongside my grandmothers on Sundays and during the holidays. Read more>>
Laura Ponchillia 
I worked by entire professional career to become a TV host – it was always my dream. Since I was a young girl, I would use my home video camera to pretend I was Barbara Walters. I worked my way up in the industry, moving to various markets like Durango, Colorado and Honolulu. Read more>>
tatum Dodd 
I’ve been working in the creative and design world for a little over 14 years now, and honestly, my career has taken me places I never really expected. I started out in graphic design and just kind of fell in love with it. Read more>>
Karen Hedges 
I have been teaching private piano lessons at Shiloh Music since 1974. I met my husband George at Shiloh soon after his family opened the music store in Mt. Juliet. I have always played the piano, guitar and sing. I have loved teaching piano … it’s been 51 years now!! As we raised our family … Read more>>
Gina Osmar
I started playing drums when I was 3, and music has been a huge part of my life ever since. By the time I was 7, I was already playing regular gigs with seasoned musicians, and at 11, I got my first professional recording opportunity. Read more>>
Anna Noda 
Florecer really started from my own experience with Pilates and wanting to create something that I felt was missing. I’m a first-generation Latina, born and raised in Nashville, and I have Cuban and Mexican roots. When I found Pilates, I really fell in love with it. I loved how it made me feel stronger, but also how intentional the movement was. Read more>>
Michelle Carrow 
Hi there! I’m Michelle, chef and owner of Terra Cotta Catering Company. My mom recently reminded me of a funny story from my early 20s. I was making cupcakes in our family kitchen when she, my sister, and I came to the realization that I should probably be enrolled in the culinary program—not the criminal justice program. Read more>>
Suzanne Igoe 
I graduated from esthetics school in Atlanta in 2006 and was fortunate to begin my career at a small, locally owned spa in Decatur, Georgia. At the time, I was perfectly content working for someone else, My girlfriend, who is now my wife, noticed how discouraged I would become when I was denied time off or didn’t have the flexibility I needed. Read more>>
Luis Cortes 
My name is Luis Cortes. I originaly hail from Mexico City, from the city’s most famous and popular neighborhood, widely known for its rich history of athletes and commerce: Tepito. Back in 2003, when I was a teenager in high school, the opportunity came up for me to go work in the United States. Read more>>
Ashley Porter 
I moved to Nashville in 2003 to attend Belmont University, where I majored in Music Business and graduated in 2005. After college, my career eventually led me into catering, and that’s really where I discovered how much I loved the event side of the business. I loved seeing all of the different pieces come together and being part of creating an experience for people. Read more>>
Monica Greer 
I started working in healthcare at the age of 16 and remained in the healthcare industry until I eventually left to pursue real estate full-time. Real estate was something I had always wanted to do, but for a long time I allowed the noise around me to keep me from pursuing it. Read more>>
ANGELA THOMAS-SMITH 
Queen Visionary Angela Thomas Smith is a faith-filled servant leader, visionary, author, speaker, intercessor, publisher, and community builder known as the Queen of Collaborations. She is a woman who believes deeply in the power of prayer, purpose, healing, storytelling, and divine connection. Read more>>
Diane Mulloy
We bought the Osteostrong franchises and opened both our centers in 2015 so celebrating our 11th anniversary. We were one of the first in the nation and now it is one of the fastest growing franchises in the US. It was such a revolutionary concept at that time but now the medical community has embraced how effective our protocol is. Read more>>
Arica Eggleston 
My story is one of faith, resilience, loss, growth, and learning how to turn my pain into purpose. I have spent many years caring for others, both personally and professionally. Caregiving has always been a part of who I am, and over the years I have gained experience helping people through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Read more>>
Bobbie Allison-Standefer 
A couple of Nashville songwriters on a USO tour decided to take out their guitars and talk to soldiers and put their stories into song. Read more>>
Marcus Kinzer II 
My journey started young when my dad would take me to the gym and work me out. It grew when Dr. Harrison asked me to train his son Brenton while he and my dad played racquet ball. He saw something in me as a youth that I didn’t see at the time. I always just wanted to play basketball all day everyday. Read more>>
Lauren Aid 
One night in 2014 I decided to start a blog as a creative outlet. I later established an Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook Page, Threads, and most recently, a Substack. Read more>>
Nikki SunBear Chiavuzzi 
I’m an open book so feel free to use as much or as little of my story as you’d like. I’ve already predetermined in my mind what I am comfortable and safe to share and what details I will not be sharing 🙂 My name is Nikki SunBear Chiavuzzi. I am of Native American and Italian ancestry. I was born and raised in Central FL. Read more>>
Max Blachman 
I grew up hating country music. Today, I’m a voting professional member of the Country Music Association. I moved to Nashville in 2017 for a career in technology and somehow spent years missing the original music happening a few miles from my home. Then I saw Bonner Black open for Samuel Herb at The Basement. Read more>>
Ivone Acosta 
I think the travel bug has always been a part of me. In fact, back in the day, I dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. My career ended up taking me in a different direction, but travel never really left the picture. I spent 25 years working as a litigation secretary and paralegal. Read more>>
Kayleigh Mack 
I actually found my way into esthetics while working at Sally Beauty. I was exposed to so many different parts of the beauty industry there, and I found myself really drawn to esthetics. Read more>>
Kristin Lagan 
My journey began long before I ever sat in a therapist’s chair. Raised in an evangelical church, I grew up believing in an unseen realm, but through a narrow lens: us versus them, heaven or hell. Questions were a sign of backsliding. Read more>>
Nella Schwanekamp 
I grew up playing guitar and singing, but I really didn’t show much interest in music until sixth grade, when I got a guitar for Christmas. I started taking lessons and then started singing by myself in my room. Taylor Swift was a huge inspiration for me. The first time I ever performed was on a family vacation in Hilton Head Island. Read more>>
LouAnn Partington 
I was introduced to the world of wildlife rehabilitation in California. I had accepted a job transfer to the San Francisco Bay Area and was looking for somewhere to volunteer. Read more>>
Kat Robinson
My passion for photography began as a young child, as my father and grandfather were very talented hobbyist themselves. I grew up sifting through baskets of photos my dad had taken. At a time when photography required a strong commitment to the craft. I have pursued the art through dark room courses, courses at MTSU and photojournalism at WKU. I miss everything about the darkroom. Read more>>
Lamonte Mclemore
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, with roots that extend into Nashville, Tennessee, my story is really a blend of two worlds. I’ve always carried that city-boy mentality — the ambition, the style, the culture, and the hunger to create — while embracing the Southern influence that helped shape the person I’ve become. Read more>>
Samantha Hoppen 
I was a dancer in high school, actually local here at Nashville School of The Arts. It was there where my passion for movement and expression via the body was seeded and nurtured. Confidence and grit in pursuing dance as a career was not something I had, so once I graduated, dance became less and less a part of my routine. Read more>>
Loretta Pena 
My entire work career was in the insurance industry. It was during my employment with the last insurance company I worked for that I had a severe anxiety attack that landed me in the hospital emergency room. I honestly thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. The doctor that examined me said that I was having a severe anxiety attack. Read more>>
Sara Smith 
For me, landscaping has always been about much more than plants. I started The Girls Landscaping 26 years ago from a genuine love of being outdoors, working with my hands, and appreciating the beauty found in nature. Over the years, that love has grown into a passion for helping my clients create outdoor spaces that feel like a natural extension of their homes. Read more>>
Kelsey London 
Absolutely — I’d keep the heart of your story because it’s personal and compelling, but make it more cohesive and intentional so it reads like a story rather than a timeline. Ever since I can remember, standing out has been at the core of who I am. Read more>>
Lindsay Levine 
We got started 8 years ago, in a small 1000 square foot space in Wedgewood Houston. Audrey and I met about 3 years prior to opening Crescent in a salon we both were working in at the time. We became fast friends and I can’t imagine opening a business with anyone else.. Crescent has expanded 2 times, landing us in our current location in Madison. Read more>>
Joseph Morgan 
As the Executive Director of Music City Review, I think a lot about the role a publication like ours can play in a city. At its most basic, I believe we are here to pay attention—to the artists, performances, exhibitions, ideas, and conversations that make up Nashville’s cultural life, and to create a record of some of that work as it happens–to document the culture. Read more>>
