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.
Madison Aichele
I’ve always loved writing and books. I knew it was part of my calling to be a writer from as early as I can remember (I crayon-colored and wrote my first ‘book’ when I was eight), but I didn’t know what that would look like. In my early career, it looked like saying yes to opportunities that scared me, and I didn’t feel qualified for. Read more>>
Amy Phillips
I began my career as a young model and developed not only a love for the fashion industry and photography but a deep curiosity about the inner workings of the modeling industry. My earlier experiences as a model led me into the editorial side of fashion, where I worked for Mode Magazine as a Fashion Retail Editor. Read more>>
Natae Feenstra
I’m Dr. Natae Feenstra and I’m a running therapist—which is exactly what it sounds like. I run or walk alongside clients while engaging in talk therapy, creating a therapeutic experience that moves beyond the traditional office setting and into the rhythm of movement, conversation, and connection. Read more>>
KoldHeartKrow
I’m KoldHeartKrow, an independent blues artist from Richmond, California and the creator of a sound I call “Ghetto Blues” — a blend of raw blues emotion, real-life storytelling, and modern pain, struggle, and redemption. Growing up in Richmond shaped my perspective heavily. Music became more than entertainment for me; it became survival, therapy, and purpose. Read more>>
Ryan Wilson
I was born in Southern California in 1978 and raised in the rugged beauty of the High Desert. From a young age, the outdoors was a major part of my life. I grew up hunting and fishing with my dad, riding motorcycles, camping, and learning to appreciate the freedom, challenge, and peace that come from being outside. Those early experiences shaped who I became. Read more>>
Ashley Reid
I have been singing since before I could even talk (at least from what my mom tells me!) I grew up with a strong passion for music and started learning piano at the age of 5 years old. Read more>>
Hayley and Hunter Byrd and Harris
As twin sisters, we’ve always shared a love for creativity and storytelling, and together we have 10+ years of combined experience in social media marketing, influencer marketing, talent management, and more. Around the same time, we both had our first babies just two weeks apart, which honestly changed everything for us. Read more>>
Abbie B
I was diagnosed with coeliac disease almost 10 years ago, when I was just 16 years old. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where eating gluten triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the gut, causing damage and preventing nutrients from being properly absorbed. At the time, I had never even heard of coeliac disease. Read more>>
Gaby Polycarpo
Ex-patriate from Brazil (Sao Paulo city), eleven years ago, it amazed me to see how many things people owned here. As a journalist and PR from the Tourism and Hospitality industry, i Knew i could not comeback to same life i had before, traveling and working on weekends (moved here pregnant and a 4 years old in the other arms!). Read more>>
Lil Timme 57Recordz LLC
I started my journey in music as a way to express real life experiences, pressure, growth, struggle, and ambition. Coming out of Nashville, I always felt like there were a lot of talented artists in the city that just needed a real platform and real opportunity. Over time, that passion grew into more than just making records. Read more>>
Emily Camacho
Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When we were younger, my sister and I would take turns with our mom’s camera — recording videos of ourselves making muffins, pretending we’re models in the yard, and documenting our time during roadtrips. I’ve always been drawn to different compositions and documenting life as it’s happening. Read more>>
Daniel and Keely Showalter
I Daniel had childhood dream of Dairy. In a family line of dairymen having a great grandfather who had a few cows with his own delivery service of glass bottles of milk delivered with horse and wagon. Read more>>
Natalie Dodd
My journey began on a traditional mental health path, earning my MSSW degree and moving through a variety of structured internships and social work positions. Over time, I came to understand that I was struggling to fit within these traditional molds because I was never meant to. Read more>>
Lynn Solomon
I have been drawn to artistic expression ever since I was able to hold a pencil. As I’ve grown as an artist, I have learned that my purpose is to help bring other people’s ideas to life. Digital marketing became my outlet for this expression once I began digital design classes in early high school. Read more>>
Brandon Couch
My journey has been anything but traditional, and honestly, I think that’s what shaped who I am and how I serve people today. I served in the Army and deployed to Iraq, which taught me a lot about leadership, sacrifice, perspective, and the importance of people. Read more>>
Kristin Oakerson
I developed a passion for beautiful, freshly made artisan bread as a child growing up in Europe. French baguettes and German brötchen were staples at our family meal table. My personal journey of bread making began much later in life. I started making sourdough bread for my son, Harley, who has special needs. He is a very picky eater. Read more>>
Des Mizell
I’ve always been called to create and I’ve always been an avid reader. Growing up, I could normally be found crafting, writing, or reading something. I sort of accidentally got into journalism in high school – I was supposed to be in a yearbook class, but got switched to the school newspaper last second. Read more>>
Will Larson
I grew up in Lincoln, NE in a musical household. My dad is a professional jazz piano player who currently teaches music composition at the University of Nebraska. I started playing guitar around age 10 after discovering the Beatles and other bands of that era. Read more>>
Sue Whaley
I grew up in the Chicagoland area. My father and his family had been farmers in Wisconsin. He taught me all about gardening and instilled in me a love of the flowers, herbs and plants that grew. When I was 19 I started really developing my love of herbs and collected every book I could find on herbs, growing them, using them eating them…whatever! Read more>>
Tarcia Gilliam-Parrish
Sister Soul Seasonings started with family, food, and the way we grew up cooking. In our family, food has always been a big part of bringing people together. Some of our best conversations, memories, and traditions happened around the kitchen and dinner table. We created Sister Soul Seasonings because we wanted to bottle the flavors we actually use in our own cooking. Read more>>
Jamela Bass
Temple Love Juices was born from a very personal place. After becoming a mom, I found myself struggling to consistently prioritize my health while juggling motherhood, daily responsibilities, and everything that comes with caring for others. Juicing became my form of self care. It was one of the few things that made me feel like I was intentionally pouring back into myself. Read more>>
Chris “PMRnB” Jones
I’m an R&B/Southern Soul Recording Artist and have been performing and producing music for 30 years. I moved to Nashville in the mid 90s during my high school years and started my music career journey at McGavock High School with a group I formed with some friends and I haven’t stopped since. Read more>>
Tori Smith
My name is Tori Wharton Smith, and I’m a photographer, a mom, and a proud lifelong resident of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, the place I’ve always called home. Read more>>
Dr. Andrea Poynter
My journey into healthcare and education has never been a straight line. I grew up in a working class family where resilience wasn’t something we talked about, it was simply how we survived. My mother worked in factories for most of her life, and my father was an AME minister, military veteran, and educator who believed deeply in service and education. Read more>>
Ryan Burton Jr.
My story is in continuation through renounced prayer and determination… However, I grew up always interested in the creative arts when it comes to fashion, art, film, video, etc. I remember being 5 years old and picking out my own pair of timbs like it were yesterday. Read more>>
Kara Dellinger
For nearly a decade, I built my career helping businesses across the country grow through organic marketing. I loved the work because, to me, marketing was never just about visibility or sales; it was about understanding people, telling meaningful stories, and helping businesses create genuine connection and impact. From the outside, everything looked successful. Read more>>
Tyler Gauthier
I have been involved in music in some capacity since I was 11 years old. I picked up trombone in 6th grade and played through 8th grade. When I was 15 or 16, I started taking lessons for bass guitar and played all through high school. When I was 18 I became interested in DJing and production. Read more>>
Natalia Cooper
I’ve been planning travel for as long as I can remember. Back in college, I organized a trip to Peru for 9 girls with multiple stops, transfers, and destinations — long before all the helpful tools we have now. Ever since then, friends and family have always come to me for travel tips, itineraries, and help making the most of their time and budget. Read more>>
Miggie Snyder
I grew up involved in music, between piano lessons, voice lessons, dance classes, showchoir and local theatre. I always loved performing and would organically write my own songs, eventually writing them down in a purple notebook I would carry around through middle school and high school. Read more>>
Victoria La Mendola
I got my start in New York City working in marketing within the corporate beauty industry. It was an incredible foundation where I learned how big brands build loyalty, tell their story, and connect with customers at scale. But my path took an exciting turn when my husband pursued his MBA at Vanderbilt, and we made the move to Nashville. Read more>>
Terry Raley
I got started in restaurants in 2003. I was the head bartender at an Elliston Place restaurant called OMBI. It was a hub for industry people, liquor reps, and a late-night dance crowd, courtesy of cool DJ sets from some Vanderbilt radio college kids. It was a lot of fun. Read more>>
Carly Rae Coady
Carly Rae Coady (Lawrenson) began her hair career in 2008. In 2011, her passion for music brought her to Nashville, TN. She built a loyal clientele early on and has been working in Nashville ever since. In 2017, Carly Rae began working for Local Honey in Nashville, becoming their Director of Education and created and launched their apprentice program. Read more>>
lailah street
Fact. I didn’t go to college for a Design degree, I didn’t even finish High School, my home life was…let’s just say, a bit chaotic. (That’s a story for another day). I’ve always been creative, making anything out of nothing. My passion for interior design didn’t begin with trends or portfolios — it began at home. Read more>>
MvkeyyJ
Born in Encino and raised in Dallas, my journey into music started long before the studio sessions and publishing deals. After moving to Texas with my family, I became deeply involved in church culture as a teenager, spending countless hours at church camps, youth events, and services. Music quickly became more than just a hobby; it became a calling. Read more>>
Shelby Martin
My name is Shelby Martin and I am the Communications and Marketing Manager for the BruinShop, the official merchandise store of Belmont University. I grew up in rural Kentucky and always knew I wanted to be part of a creative industry, so in 2018 I moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University and pursue a degree in Music Business. Read more>>
Teresa Porter
I went to college to pursue biomedical engineering. During that time, I worked to improve the longevity of hip implants. Even with the best medicine and materials available, hip implants are not a long-term solution and are only likely to last 10–20 years. Read more>>
Nathaniel Hudson
In high school, I loved anime and became fascinated with Japan and its culture. In college, I took a 3-week ‘Maymester’ to study in Japan, and it was there that I saw live Sumo in Tokyo. Fast forward to 2022, and I attended the World Games held in Birmingham, AL to watch an international sumo tournament. Read more>>
Aimee Harmon
Opening a store had always been a dream of mine. I started talking to a few other local boutique owners to learn what the process looked like, thinking maybe I’d slowly work toward it and open something 10–15 years down the road. Instead, within two weeks, I had the keys to a storefront and a grand opening date. Read more>>
Tatum Hill
I truly believe my passion for design is a gift the Lord blessed me with. I genuinely love what I do, and I feel incredibly grateful that I get to turn something I’ve always loved into a career. My mom recognized creativity in me early on and gave me room to explore it, letting me “remodel” my childhood bedroom. Read more>>
Phillip Patti
I was living in Chicago in the early 2000’s and, after finishing a Masters Degree in Music- Percussion Performance- I was not happy with gigs I was getting and how I was using my newly-minted skills. At that time, Chicago was a hotbed for culinary innovation, and the wine scene was extremely robust. Read more>>
Betsy Wood
What started as a cozy coffee shop dream during the height of COVID has grown into something much bigger — and much more delicious. Founded by local owners David and Betsy Wood, Towne began with a simple vision inspired by a memorable weekend getaway to Mount Pleasant, Tennessee: create a warm, welcoming place where people could gather over exceptional coffee and incredible food. Read more>>
Robert Longhurst
I have worked in bars and restaurants most of my life and I was born and raised in Nashville. I love small towns and Springfield really stood out to me as a great community that was in need of more independent restaurants and bars. Read more>>
Joey Lankford
After farming tomatoes in South Africa, I felt a call to create an organization that combined growing fresh produce for hungry neighbors with discipleship and community for those in need of a fresh start. With the help of friends and church members, I started Cul2vate in 2016. We started with 2.5 acres of land and two greenhouses at the Ellington Agricultural Center. Read more>>
Betty Rose
I was born in Mount Olive, NC. It’s a very small town, about 2,500 people. I grew up with Sunday lunches after church at my Godmother’s house. With five minute walks to my grandma’s for cooking lessons. And with knowing how to get the latest scoop at the beauty parlor. It was a fun way to grow up. Read more>>
Chanel Peek
Hi, I’m Chanel Peek a mom of two little ones, ages 2 and 4, and the founder of Moms of Nashville! After struggling with postpartum depression following both of my pregnancies, I realized just how many women were probably feeling the same loneliness and isolation while craving genuine connection with other moms who truly understood what they were going through. Read more>>
Tyler Bedwell
I started as a graphic designer after earning my Bachelor’s degree from Harding University in 2009. After several years in the design industry, I launched my own business in 2015, Studio B Print & Design, originally focused on stationery design and custom wedding stationery. My work was sold wholesale to retailers, through Etsy, and directly to clients nationwide. Read more>>
Haute Cocoa
This year marks three years since I stepped into the world of burlesque and ecdysiast performance. I first fell in love with the art form years ago, attending shows when I lived in Chicago. A few years later, I signed up for a nine‑week class with an acquaintance that ended in a student showcase. Read more>>
Bailey Padgett
Hi, I’m Bailey! I have always considered myself an artistic person. I love to bake, craft, and draw. In my high school senior year art class, one of the projects my teacher had us do was upcycled paper bowls. We folded magazine pages into strips and coiled those strips on top of each other and upward for walls in order to make a bowl shape. Read more>>
Kelly Daniels
While many country artists wear a blue-collar image, Kelly Daniels has lived it. With calloused hands, a union card, and a lifetime of real-world experience, Daniels brings an unmistakable authenticity to his music. Read more>>
Joe Hastings
I’m an IT professional by career, but woodworking has always been a big part of my life. A while back I purchased my first laser to enhance my woodworking projects, but then quickly realized I was spending more time experimenting with the laser than I was doing my traditional wood work. One laser eventually turned into an entire studio of them. Read more>>
Jules Smith
Born in Shreveport Louisiana, I spent my life chasing acceptance, battling body images, bullying, and enduring the unimaginable loss of my daughter at 21yo. Through that heartbreak I rebuilt myself, shedding over 100 pounds, finding strength in CrossFit, and stepping onto runways from New York to Los Angeles. Read more>>
Tony Teal
Growing up as a native Nashville artist, my world has always been defined by the urban landscapes of this city. My story actually started back on the East side, where my grandfather grew up. My mother caught on to my interest early when she saw me copying cartoons from the newspaper and encouraged me by enrolling me in art classes. Read more>>
