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 Memphis.
Melissa Ummed
I’ve always been a helper, I grew up in a home that was difficult. As an adult, I became an RN. I was determined to help more people in more ways. What I learned in working with patients bedside was that despite the best medical care, they weren’t getting well. I worked in home health and got to know my patient population better and that’s where I discovered the problem was. They had no hope, no joy. They had spiritual afflictions that were not being treated. Read more>>
Jarvis Hall
My fitness journey started in my junior year of high school in 2009. I would work out for 30 minutes every day after school hoping to lose body fat and gain muscle mass. The workout consisted of 15 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and 50 push-ups. In the fall of 2010, I began my freshman year at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. That year I began using the campus rec center to jog 1 mile a day and I enrolled in a personal conditioning and beginner weight lifting course. Read more>>
Wain Snyder
I have always had a love for music, and from an early age spinning my Dad’s 45rpm’s, I marveled at how the music was made. That launched me on a life-long journey to understand how the music that was played translated to the physical formats that you could purchase and enjoy at your leisure. When I was old enough to read, all the labels had “Produced By” printed on them. That is when it dawned on me, this was the person responsible for making the artist sound the way they did, and I wanted to do that! Read more>>
Rico McKinney
My journey as an entrepreneur started, for the most part, due to the influence of my mother; who has played a private role in my life. My mom had me at the age of 19 and I was her third child at the time. My older siblings and I were able to grow up with my mother, we witness her sacrifice greatly to provide for us. There were even times when she would work 17-hour days, she did not have the luxury of leveraging a degree or leveraging wealthy parents. Read more>>
Neak Undefined
I became interested in creating music during my late teen years; watching my brother create and produce music from afar. Watching him make beats on the MPC, write rhymes, and formulate songs, inspired me to create and express myself in rap. Ironically, I’ve always had a deep-rooted musical background as my Father, Robert Kelly, was part of a major R&B/Gospel group, “The Kelly Brothers,” and those musical roots came out through me as I grew up. Read more>>
Hayden McOlgan
I started doing stand-up about 5 years ago. I grew up making friends and family laugh. I use to look forward to going to school because I had so much fun acting a fool in class. I even had teachers that would let me turn presentations into comedy acts. Being funny often got me into trouble but the fun that was had with a group of people laughing and having a good time usually seemed worth it. This made me always want to try to stand up but the fear of failure kept me away for years. Read more>>
Renata Bayazitova
I have always loved fashion. When I was little, I remember going to the grocery store with my mom fully decked out in a princess dress and Walmart plastic heels. I see the world through clothes, and what I especially love about clothes and fashion is how it is a way to express yourself without even having to say anything. In 2020, upcycling and tailoring my thrift purchases became one of my hobbies, and I began learning everything I could about the fashion industry. Fashion is a glamorous world. However, what I didn’t expect to find is how wasteful it is. Every year United States citizens throw away about 34 billion pounds of clothing and textiles. That’s about 100 pounds of textile waste per person. Read more>>
Shalyn Webb
I started Her Chamber Company at the end of 2019 right before COVID. I was laid off from my job, at that point I was just tired of depending on companies. I always told myself I will be an entrepreneur, but never knew what exactly I’ll be doing. So, I decided to start my own boutique. My boutique was doing well, but I wasn’t 100% happy with it. I just felt it wasn’t what I was meant to do. At times it was very stressful, overwhelming, and expensive. So, I decided to take a break. Read more>>
Eric Henderson
All my life and at the start I have been an entertainer in Memphis. Even before I started formally educating, I had put together my “act.” And dancing (organized movement) was my calling card. My natural talent/skills were nurtured and brought to fruition through activities and programs at Memphis City Schools (CLUE), Memphis Parks&Rec (Children’s Theater), Overton High School (CAPA), Libertyland Theme Park, Mid-South Fair (Youth Talent Competition). Read more>>
Andres Arauz
I was born in New Orleans, LA. My parents immigrated from Nicaragua in the 80s, so I am what would be considered a 1st generation American “Dreamer”. I studied Graphic Design at Loyola University New Orleans and shortly after graduating in 2017, I relocated to Memphis. After about a year, there was a period of time where I was feeling a bit unfulfilled while working as a freelance designer and an artist assistant to Carroll Todd, so I decided to work toward a master in Art Education at the University of Memphis which I received in May of 2021. Read more>>
Takeyla Calhoun
I am originally from Lorain, OH, and was raised as an Air Force military brat. I graduated high school with Honors, in the top 2% of my class, and was then accepted into my dream college, Ohio State University, where I planned to pursue a degree in Architecture. However, I ultimately decided to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, to remain close to my immediate family, who had settled there at the time. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science. Read more>>
Ranasha Chapman
I started Mommy and Miya Essentials in December of 2021 with a push from my grandson and a request from my daughter Damiya to create our own business. I researched the benefits of Eczema and shea butter and loved how shea butter is made and where it comes from. I then started mixing products using all-natural and organic treatment regimes for eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and much more! Read more>>
Nicole Moore
I didn’t grow up wanting to bake, but I was always the one waiting for the desserts to be done. I didn’t find a love for baking until I had children. I started baking for my children and next-door neighbors. After a while, I lost my love for baking until I met this sweet lady, Mrs. Fields, through a relationship I was in. She ignited my love for baking again through her baking. For so long, I was longing for those classic cakes, you know the ones like grandma used to make. When I told, Mama Fields (what I call her) I wanted to bake again she gave me recipes from her collection. Read more>>
Jerika Jones
Paving the way. Marie Jones grew up in a two-parent home with a loving family who cared for and provided for her. The standard of what a family should be was within the walls of her childhood house. Yet, she was a troubled teenager who always faced adversity in school. The only thing that motivated her to finish high school was the sport of Track and her Guidance Counselor. She recalls not knowing what she wanted to do with her life and knew little to nothing about college, but her counselor continued to remind her that she was exceptional and could have a successful life. The counselor invited scouts to every track meet to see Marie’s talents in Track, which helped land a college scholarship. She then recognized that she could accomplish more in her life. Read more>>
Jamean Graves
I have been wearing heels since I was 19 years old. I’ve always loved how they completed any outfit or made the simplest stretch pants and tops look well put together. I started sending shoes I loved to different store owners, until I realized I was doing most of the leg work with research so I decided to open my own Shoetique. Absolutely not, business ownership is more than a title. It’s peaks and valleys. My struggle initially was finding vendors that would fit into what I wanted to offer besides the look it was a lot of trial and error to find great quality. Even today, trying to branch out and work with other designers and brands can be difficult because again the quality has to be there. Read more>>
Jien
Sure, thanks for asking. Music always had my interest. Even back when I was at Southwind Elementary and going through music class playing the recorder. I noticed that everyone else hated that class while I found it fascinating, and always tried to get those little colored yarned strings to show your mastery haha. Of course, in public schools, there’s a certain stigma with music and it not being “cool” so I had to pivot to playing sports, which I became pretty good at. Read more>>
Daphany B. Kelly
I was recognized as one of the 2018 Super Woman Of The Year at the ‘You Can Sit With Us’ Event by Angie Steele Parham. Thank you for this opportunity! Greetings, I’m Daphany B. Kelly, Woman of God, Wife, Mother of 3 Beautiful Children (Alana, Lauryn, and Temauri), Daughter, Sister, Friend, Entrepreneur, and so much more! I would start by saying my story started by simply having Faith & trusting God even when I didn’t understand ‘His Plans’ for me & my life, stepping out of my comfort zone & walking by Faith & one of my favorite scriptures I live by is Jeremiah 29:11. Read more>>
Mario Phillips Hammond
Hello, my name is Mario Phillips Hammond, I’m the founder/CEO and manager of MiND BoggLE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP in Memphis, TN. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army I was medically discharged in 2019 due to injuries while I was still active overseas. While in the military I did DJ from 2010-2015. Prior to that, I was a rapper/singer and poet. I have basically been in and out of the music for over 20 years. I started managing artists in July 2021 and I went from managing my nephew and younger brother to running a full indie label with 12 artists from rap acts like Trippy Tribbitt, and BLO Reckless (whose my nephew) and R&B artists like Phoenix Keyz and newer artists like JLOUD (Hip-Hop R&B) and Lemon King Oddy (Experimental Hip Hop), I also manage artists in Portland, OR (Snx LvBoy) Houston, TX (Skoowop also my younger brother), and I have and in the UK (Elijah Nile). Read more>>
Ian Labat
My passion for Streetwear started back in early 2006 when I became a fan of Lupe Fiasco and was able to find videos of his interviews on the internet. I already knew about A Bathing Ape and had a Billionaires Boys Club hoodie, but had no idea about other brands or the culture and community surrounding Streetwear as a whole. I loved that Streetwear clothing gave me a new way to express things visually. Read more>>
Miranda Williams
As a type 2 diabetic, I’ve struggled for many years with the ups and downs of trying to lose weight, controlling my sugar levels, stress levels, and depression. After the sudden loss of a family member to Covid-19, I made the decision to take my life back and gain control of my health. On this journey, I found that by helping others I also helped myself stay focused and committed to a healthier lifestyle. From this Mad Lab Nutrition was born! After 7 great years of teaching, I decided to open Mad Lab Nutrition: a healthy vibrant nutrition bar serving energizing drinks, protein shakes, coffee, waffles, and more. Read more>>
Luis Oliart
I grew up in Inglewood and Orange County and started playing music in middle school. The social crowds I was hanging out with were all artists. I quickly started performing at high school parties – punk rock for the backyard parties and rock and roll for the house parties. I’ve had the opportunity to perform music around the world, playing anywhere from Carnegie Hall to B.B. King’s Blues Club. I’ve played on stage with Brian Setzer, Scott Page (of Pink Floyd, Supertramp, and Toto), Robby Krieger (Doors), and Dennis Quaid. Read more>>
Karneilla “Kalaya Israel” McGee
The genesis of Kalaya’s Jewels To Healing, LLC was a result of a life-changing event that left me broken and shattered, both physically and mentally. The pain and trauma that followed the horrific car accident left an indelible mark on my being, and I knew that I had to do something to heal and recover. As I embarked on my journey toward holistic health and wellness, I discovered a love that was all-encompassing and life-changing. It was a love that not only transformed my body but also my mind and spirit. The power of plant-based living and herbal remedies had a profound impact on me, and I knew that I had to share my experience with others. It was not just about the physical changes but also about the cognitive and emotional well-being that came with it. Read more>>
Kourtney Coleman
On the brink of the pandemic, my uncle needed some flyers for his travel agency deals. Knowing I had just had a baby and needed some extra funds, he paid me to create them. I posted the flyers on social media, and a couple of days later an old college teammate contacted me about making a logo and price list for a new business venture she was starting. I had never made a logo but was willing to take a shot at it. She loved it and I loved the feeling I got creating it and seeing her reaction to it. From there the rest is history. I spent most of the months we were on lockdown practicing creating flyers, logos, digital business cards, and more and eventually it turned into a full fledge craft business that allows me to express my creativity. Read more>>
Sydney Neely
If you were to tell 10-year-old Sydney that she would be the in-arena host for the Grizzlies, Tigers, Americans, and on-field host for the Redbirds in addition to being a tv host and producer she probably would not believe you. I grew up dreaming of being a cardiologist, but that changed after my sophomore year at the University of Memphis. After shadowing a friendly family physician, I knew that wasn’t the career path I wanted to take. Huge kudos to those in the medical field though! Read more>>
Katrina Blake
I guess where I am now can be broken into two parts. With the writing aspect, I’ve been writing for a long time. I started writing professionally in 2014. Fiction books in the romance genre are under the name Kay Blake. In turn, I started writing articles, and blogs outside of the romance genre. Those would lead me to ghostwrite for others. The wrestling industry aspect is more recent. In 2019, I did color on color for a video game wrestling show, I also did interview segments. I have been a wrestling fan since the age of 6, so this was fun for me. At the very beginning of 2020, I was part of a podcast called Unpopular Review where we chatted about the goings-on about wrestling- namely, WWE. My time with Unpopular Review would come to an end during the quarantine and the COVID pandemic. Read more>>
Jennifer Lyn
It started as a pandemic project. I was talking to my actor friends who were out of work like me and we had some great conversations so I decided to make it a podcast. I decided to still keep it going. I like to ask unique questions that might surprise my guests and just have laid-back conversations. It’s been pretty smooth. The challenge is really finding a time when both my guests and I have time to meet up virtually. My real job is as a Broadway usher. I’ve been doing that for quite a while now. It’s fun and I’m always trying to provide the best possible experience for everyone that comes into contact with me. You never know when it’s someone’s first show that they’ve been to and you want them to have fun. Read more>>
Dick Earl Ericksen
My name is Dick Earl Ericksen, and I’m a musician. I was born in a little town called Moroni, Utah. My dad played the harmonica and when I was about one year old he gave me my first harp. When I was older, he brought home a cassette tape that he had found at the landfill, he said, “Check this out, you might like it.” I read the name, Muddy Waters, popped it in the cassette player, and “Mannish Boy” started playing. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Read more>>
Joey Hopper
Hi, my name is Joey Hopper and I am a Memphis-based Actor, Film Maker, and even Music Artist. I started acting when I was very young, I did plays such as Annie in which I played the character Bert Healy. Then as I grew up I got into films and television shows. The first television show that I was in was called Bluff City Law which I did both background work and even stand-in work in episodes 2, 3, 4, & 6 on an NBC series in 2019. Read more>>
Johnnie Domino
My name is Johnnie Domino. I am an Entertainment Catalyst and Creator of the community news & media company GhettoWaze. The idea came from God and I did not believe it would become as big as it has become. It all started with me being tired of the police putting roadblocks in low-income areas writing high-dollar tickets and incarcerating the majority of blacks in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana is the prison of the capital of the world (Per Capita) more people get incarcerated here than anywhere in the WORLD… not just the nation. Read more>>
