We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Ashton August | Entrepreneur, Author, Wellness Expert, Yoga + Meditation Guide

My work-life balance has swung from one extreme to the other and everything in between! What I’ve learned in the past decade of running my company YouAligned.com is that “work-life balance” doesn’t always mean a day-to-day or monthly balance. It means that we go through phases, chapters, eras – whatever you want to call them – of balance (or lack thereof). Read more>>

Aisha Darius | Pet Care Business Owner

Initially, I was solely focused on growing my business, dedicating all my free time to work or recovering from walking 13 miles a day and from spending, sometimes, months away from home pet sitting. This left little room for family and friends, and when I did have time, I often felt too drained to fully engage. Read more>>

Julie Busse | Filmmaker, Film Editor, and Producer

The most important decision that I make every day is to search for the real thing at the heart of the film, and don’t stop looking until it’s been uncovered. This means you have to dig deep into the artmaking and assess what about the film rings true, and what about the film is trying to be something it’s not. Read more>> 

Kristen Bracy | Founder & CEO

The mission of I Rise is to break the cycle of poverty that survivors of human trafficking and other forms of violence/exploitation find themselves in upon exiting that violent situation. We promote economic justice and empowerment for survivors and work to help women attain financial stability and independence and get back into the workforce in a career that provides them a sense of dignity and worth, a livable wage, and upward mobility. Read more>>

Jay Yelas | Executive Director

By providing an opportunity for children with special needs to be celebrated, and showing these kids they are loved and valued and are an important part of their community. Read more>> 

Amanda Gaschani | Restaurant owner; entrepreneur

That people will have memories at Moosehill they will remember forever. Moose hill has been open since 1984 we have connected with so many family’s. We have seen family’s grow, we have seen family’s separate, we have seen many customers through some of their hardest moments and happiness moments. Read more>> 

Scott Leisure | Artist, Foodies, Poet, Creator etc.

Many people, practices, and values have helped me along my life journey. Structure. but just enough structure. Living in a life of Recovery has taught me that structure is essential and healthy. Read more>>

Mario Childs | Food truck owner/operator,BBQ pit master

I wanted to be my own boss. I had been working in a factory during Covid. I took a risk quitting my job to build the trailer and with hard work it has paid off. Good hospitality, Location, consistency and quality are the habits that have made me successful. Read more>>

Sarah Murdock | Artist

I’ve learned that painting with bright, vivid colors brings me so much joy. This type of art lets me have fun and connect with my deep love for bold color combinations. I tend to find myself dancing or chatting with others while I paint, because I feel relaxed and in my element. Read more>>

Alix Naber | Lifestyle and Event Photographer

Kindness and connection. This is why I take photos. It’s a reminder that we all have very different lives and are on different paths. When I am behind my camera, I feel connected with humans that I may have never met otherwise. I’ve met people through photography that have shown me the deeper meaning of kindness. Read more>>

Alyssa Gorman | Birth Doula & Postpartum Doula

Having the support of a birth doula throughout labor and delivery reduces the risk of needing a c-section by up to 50%. In fact, in early research it was found that just the presence of a woman knitting in the corner of a delivery room was associated with higher reports of positive birth outcomes. Read more>>