It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Raleigh.
AsheLee Bonham Gahagan
I started as a cellist and educator, and teaching has always been at the heart of my work. Early on, I saw how powerful music education could be, not just in building musical skills, but in shaping confidence, discipline, creativity, and connection. That belief led me to start teaching privately and eventually grow that into what is now Ashe School of Music. Read more>>
Colleen + JoAnne
JoAnne took her first big step into wellness in 2003 when she became a Certified Yoga Teacher. After teaching yoga for a few years she followed her desire to make more of an impact in her student’s lives and received training as a Mindset Coach. Read more>>
Sanya Sukhwal
Define Brows and Spa opened nearly 15 years ago as one of the first official threading salons in the Brier Creek area. Founded by Sanya Sukhwal, the spa was built on years of skill and tradition. Read more>>
Mac McCrodden
I have been in love with vintage clothing since I was a kid going through antique malls with my Mom. I spent 10 years in New York City as a fashion designer but moved back home to Raleigh to be closer to family. I happened on an antique mall in Kinston a few years ago, they had just opened and were looking for vendors. Read more>>
Andy Danser
My interest in the guitar began at the age of eight, when I was gifted a short-scale, Chinese-made Memphis electric guitar and a 5-watt Gorilla combo amp by my father for Christmas. I immediately began taking lessons and spent hours practicing in my room, seduced by the instrument’s form, sound, feel, smell, and the emotions it evoked in me and others. Read more>>
Luke Fury
I am a 3rd Generation Pro Wrestler trained by my Aunt Leilani Kai, and my Father Nick Fury. 5 years active experience. From Spartanburg, SC. I started wrestling at 14 years old. Read more>>
James Johnston
The Entrepreneurial Journey of a Physician Who Wouldn’t Stay in One Lane Dr. James Johnston If you look at my résumé, it doesn’t make sense on paper. Physician. Novelist. Filmmaker. Weight-loss clinic owner. Stem-cell practitioner. Public speaker. Cash-only concierge doctor. Ghostwriter. Health entrepreneur. Inventor. Gas & oil technician… I sometimes joke that I’ve lived the Forrest Gump version of entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Rachel Crawford aka ‘Raymond Ray’
Hey, it’s Rachel aka Raymond Ray. I’m an NC native, channeler of spirit, psychic intuitive, tarot reader and certified life coach. I channel spirit through intuitive messages, visions and automatic writing. I’ve been communicating with spirit for over 15 years and have read tarot professionally at a local store and now currently on TIKTOK. Read more>>
Gamaliel Torija
I grew up in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro neighborhood, as did the majority of the roofers. I began working as a helper with Angel, my father-in-law, in 2004. I was 16 years old when I started my roofing career, and Angel was my supervisor at the time. He taught me how to be a roofer and very much prepared me to become a roofing business owner. Read more>>
Whitney Miller
I was born in Raleigh and have spent most of my life rooted in the Wake County community. After earning a master’s degree in Trust and Wealth Management from Campbell University, I entered corporate America with the goal of helping families steward their resources wisely. My path shifted unexpectedly when I stepped in to teach a 5th-grade financial class. Read more>>
Tarini Nallavolu
Footprints & Pages started from a very personal place. I founded the organization while I was still in high school, driven by a genuine desire to help others and give back to communities in need around the world. What began as a small book drive at a local elementary school quickly turned into something much bigger than I ever expected. Read more>>
Le Le
I come from a family where cooking was a way of life. I grew up watching my grandmother prepare scratch, made meals, and that naturally poured into me developing the same passion. My family always talked about starting a business together, but when that didn’t happen, I decided to take a leap of faith on my own around 2014. Read more>>
Oluwanbe Amodu
Oluwanbe Amodu, born in Lagos, Nigeria, has embarked on an artistic journey since childhood, refining his skills at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos. In 2007, he joined the esteemed Ara Studio, where he mastered the Araism technique—a richly textured, narrative-driven form of expression. That same year, he debuted within the movement, launching a dynamic career that has included international exhibitions. Read more>>
Jamie Elk
After more than eight years working in the recovery and mental health support field, I developed a deep passion for helping people rediscover confidence, resilience, and a sense of self-worth. That work shaped my heart for service and solidified my belief that true transformation happens when people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Read more>>
phillip crumb
I started Crumb Construction, LLC, doing business as Phil Crumb Trucking, LLC, in 2015 with a single dump truck and a strong belief that consistent work and integrity would open doors. In the early days, I focused on subcontract hauling, building relationships with major contractors across eastern North Carolina and steadily growing my reputation through reliability and performance. Read more>>
Yuliia Streletska
I started my journey with a simple idea — to do my work with honesty and care. When I moved here, I didn’t have a big plan or resources, just my skills, experience, and a strong work ethic. In the beginning, I focused on adapting, learning, and understanding the people around me. Through consistency and attention to detail, my work began to speak for itself. Read more>>
Jessica Bell
My journey into baking is deeply personal. I’ve always had a love for cooking, but the reason I chose baking came from something much deeper, I never had a birthday party or birthday cake growing up. Read more>>
Elijah Fullwood
Life is a journey filled with dead ends and detours, and sometimes it doesn’t come with a GPS. I’ve been blessed to move through it with what I call a skeleton key, an ability to unlock doors I never imagined for myself. The path I’m on now isn’t the one I originally planned. Read more>>
Kiana Renee
My name is Kiana Renee also known as CraziiKi, I got started in poetry as a way to understand myself and the world around me. Writing became a space where emotions, philosophy, and lived experience could meet honestly. What began as personal expression slowly turned into performance, and eventually into purpose. Read more>>
Liya Degraffenried
I’ve always loved art in all its forms—painting, photography, and even cooking. Before becoming a photographer, I worked as both a kindergarten teacher and a chef. Teaching taught me patience and how to truly see people, while culinary art showed me how creativity, balance, and emotion can come together to tell a story. Read more>>
Erin Robertson
I am a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Boston University and have always loved music and learning. I have taught overseas in Japan and China, and since 2016 I have resided in Wake Forest with my husband and yellow lab, Leia. Read more>>
Jennifer Pharr Davis
I grew up in Hendersonville, North Carolina, about 20 miles south of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As a kid I was into traditional sports like tennis and basketball, but didn’t get out much for hikes. I decided after finishing college I wanted to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. At the time I had not spent a single night camping in the woods. Read more>>
Camila Hargett. MBA
My story really starts with being an immigrant and learning early on how much resilience, adaptability, and mindset shape the path you take in life. I’m originally from Chile, and when I moved to the United States, I had to rebuild everything from the ground up-my network, my confidence, my career direction, all of it. Read more>>
Morgan McPherson
I am a pianist/singer/songwriter, drummer, and music producer. I started playing piano at age two, started lessons at age five, and went on to study music at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I started becoming interested in songwriting at age 12. I used songwriting to help self-soothe. My first full song was written when my grandfather died, as I processed losing him. Read more>>
Ricky Whittaker
Kilvington Digital started because I kept seeing the same issue with local businesses: owners were working incredibly hard, spending money on marketing, and still felt like everything depended on them personally to keep the business running. I began in traditional digital marketing—websites, SEO, ads, and content—and that helped businesses get more calls and leads. Read more>>
Amy Neeble
I found my way into pediatric physical therapy somewhat unexpectedly after moving to Chandler, Arizona, in the summer of 1996. At the time, every position I applied for encouraged me to reapply in October, once the snowbirds returned. In the meantime, I applied to a pediatric therapy clinic and immediately connected with the owner, who was also a pediatric physical therapist. Read more>>
Darrell Cordell
During Covid in 2018 a lot of job loss and tragedies occurred in my life. as I was cutting my hair one day it dawned on me that, “this is something I actually like doing “. So I decided to move forward on it and go to barber school. From there on I never stopped chasing my dream of becoming a professional barber. Read more>>
Justin Belvin
You’ll have to forgive me, this will be long but it’s all relevant to my story. I was born in Roanoke VA in 1993 to Robert and Linda Belvin. My father worked as a technician for restaurant grade food equipment while my mother raised my brother Jake and I. My parents have passed on but their impact on people’s lives… on my life, echoes boldly. Read more>>
