We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Lemaster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business seemed like an unobtainable reach for so long. I would burn out at job positions that I was holding, and would find myself starting over again and again. I really needed to heal my relationship with abundance and what that really looked like for myself. I began dabbling in a lot of community events, supporting friends with their endeavors, and ultimately wanted to amplify the voices and art forms of the vibrant folks I was surrounded by. So I started a podcast “Living Vicariously Through Myself” . I had never even listened to a podcast in my life! With the guidance of Julius Hinton with The Plug Podcast we started recording. Sitting in the Denver Community Media Studio, listening to the stories of my kinfolk began this deep inner working of healing. That led to more opportunities as I began to discover that I could hold space for myself and create! I started understanding that I am an artist-shoot I was creating my own lil way of abundance in joy and healing. The dabbling continued- I started modeling, content creating, promoting events, and up cycling clothing creating awareness around neurodivergence and gender non-conformity. Having all of these endeavors I knew I needed to lock in and take ownership of the brand I was becoming. What an interesting concept huh? That you yourself are a brand? I’ve just been out here doing things, and now Im becoming this version of self creating with my community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Shoot this one question here has always been something that intimidates me, I just end up drawing a blank when asked this. So Ima do my best here to answer accordingly- cause I dont know how to identify work. Now don’t get that wrong- I am not saying I am so in love with my Job that it doesn’t feel like work. What I am saying is that work, as in the things that keep my mental and spiritual being strong and capable, vs work that puts a number somewhere so that the numbers can be dispersed and allow me to eat, have housing, a vehicle, and those things. But work is a different story every single day. It sometimes takes more work in one day to just get my physical, mental, and spiritual bodies to all align so that I can complete a simple task like making a meal for myself that day. Other days I can accomplish multiple tasks with ease, and feel ahead of the game- now I’m calling it a game? Lemme try to tell yall what I do. Im a contractor, podcaster, community advocate, model, creative, student, door dasher, and more to come. So “professionally” speaking the one constant you will get here is change. Ive never had a career. Ive had many many jobs! Societally being this type of person may not equate to the generalized success stories in the American Dream way. Ive always been set apart from others due to my autism, adhd, schizoaffective disorder- all things I discovered about myself in the past 3 years. So let’s see about these questions again- what am I most proud of or excited about? Well that would would have to be Me- I am so proud of Me, and all the versions of self that I became, and released in the process to be here now. Im excited to be the representation I always needed.

I decided one day Ima start a podcast and Ima call it “Living Vicariously Through Myself” -its just something Ive said for a long time because you know growing up comes with the family heirloom TRAUMA! Wahooo so whenever I was making a different decision or a new choice I would say this and take that step. In a way creating a relationship with my autonomy and intuition. One more confession…. I had never even listed to a podcast episode in my life- and Im over here like ima just go start a podcast. Mmmhmmm I did just that- got myself tuned into the community, got a producer, got a lil studio, and just started raw rambling. That got me healing and listening to myself, and I began to realize so many folks out here feeling similar to me! Then the hyper-fixation came, and I stayed learning on how to be my own producer, and shedding light on how accessible this was in my community. So one more thing yall should know about me- is I fancy myself a collector of folks, and then I connect them to each other in the community- that way we stay turning these “stumbling stones into building blocks” . So that is how “Living Vicariously Through Myself” came to be. Just a lil moment in the Art of conversation.

I had no idea that I was an Artist of any kind. Then one day, I was being asked by my now partner, where I learned to be the creator that I was. I was like what? Im just out here doing things cause Im a curious person. That curious state of being has led me to discover such brilliant things about those around me, and myself. The flip side being “am I willing to sit and be patient with the version of myself that sits in a bit of imposter syndrome, and gently nudge the healing around my worth to continue”? I am a spectrum-The only way I know to exist, and I navigate that with wisdom in curiosity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Its a must that we start at my humble abode! I put a lot of love into the remodel of my lil home, and it has housed some wonderful conversations, so that that would be my starting point. Im a lover of a good stroll you know -boulevardier – just dress for the stroll about town, now we would do that through Cheeseman Park up to and thru the Denver Botanic Gardens. Such a lovely walk with so much vibrancy in seasonal waves! Upon consent having you as a guest on my podcast “Living Vicariously Through Myself” at the wonderful Denver Community Media. I just love introducing folks to what Denver has for us, so that we might amplify our voices. Just showing how accessible this can all be. Then a must is viewing the Denver Walls thru Five Points /the Rino Art District. So many amazing pieces of art, venues, gloriously curated vintage stores, just great conversation pieces! At least one live show! Now we all know that Red Rocks be the spot for that-however if you cant make a concert there is always time to enjoy it without a live show, and just hike up around it during its open to the public hours. But a show at BlueBird, Cervantes, Hi-Dive, Gothic, or Levitt Pavillion,-you know a wonderful Denver staples for a great show! Now when it comes to food Im not the best to ask for the newest, bestest eats, Im picky so at home is best for me- however Snarf Burger always comes in clutch and they got them Veggie options!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Partner is the most patient, compassionate human I have ever known. In the last year I have shed a lot of layers of my identity- including pre-conceived notions about myself that I was holding on to for a very long time. She came in so tenderly and began existing with me everyday, and its changed everything about how I was existing in fear and anxiety of my own self. She gently nudged me to create more space to explore what it means to be Dani Baby. I am so grateful for this nurturing soul and the love she has for me. I Love You Isabel.

Website: Under Construction

Instagram: itsmedanibaby

Youtube: itsmedanibaby

Other: TikTok- @itsmedanibaby
spotify @itsmedanibaby

Image Credits
1.-Isabel Andino,
2._photomaki
3. Roxieeee_

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