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.

Robin Pritchett | Owner & Artist at The Red Brumby Co/Birdie’s TX

Lorie darlin’, life in San Francisco, you see, is still just life. If you want any one thing too badly, it’s likely to turn out to be a disappointment. The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.” –Augustus McCrae in the book Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
I love the movie Lonesome Dove, but I love the book even more. I have loved it since the moment it was released and I think it is filled with life lessons. This quote is powerful if you let it soak in. Life is hard and in the world we live in, we want what we want when we want it. Read more>>

D’Lynda Crossett | Creator

I am inspired by life; Mother Nature, God, and my Ancestors. There is so much darkness and despair in today’s world but there is also so much beauty and light, you just have to look for it. I love waking up and seeing the beautiful masterpiece my Creator has painted just for us every morning, though so many sleep right through it. I’m inspired by the sound of crunching leaves under my feet as I know that means winter will soon be ending and beautiful new leaves and brightly colored flowers will be blossoming in no time. As someone who struggles with mental illness, I must remind myself that the seasons of life are the same as the seasons of nature, they come and go like the ebb and flow of the ocean waves. Read more>>

Max Brown | Podcaster & Singer/Songwriter

There’s a deep love of nostalgic movies and video games that I share with my cowriter & creator, Brady Echols. We’re constantly referencing these genres in our Scare Fighter 3 audio drama. For example, we’ll use knock-off parody versions of characters from the 80s or 90s interacting with our heroes to create something both hilarious and epic. That’s definitely one level of inspiration.
Beneath that, the shared laughter and talents of our friends and family ignites the heart of our creativity. Our buddy, Joe Wilkinson, is our sound engineer and he makes every episode sound immersive. The voice of our narrator and novelist, C.S. Humble, is a hybrid of Orson Wells and Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone. Read more>>

James Faust | Artistic Director

Keep an open mind. I always like to go into an event planning session or a meeting with a plan but I am open to new ideas that may enhance what we are trying to do. Read more>>

Ashley Bryer | Cake decorator, baker.

My end goal in my small business is to reach a wider audience and grow into a bigger business. I would love a storefront brick and mortar shop someday! It’s really exciting when I imagine what it could be like as I grow. Read more>>

Marvin McKinney | CEO & Founder

I was born in Texas and raised in California. My family emphasized early on the idea of working hard and the importance of education as my key to success. Living in different states and cities exposed me to other cultures and perspectives, so I never felt I should limit myself. My father reinforced the idea of never giving up, no matter how hard things get. I also used the example of my parents starting a business, my father receiving a master’s degree, and my parents continually pushing themselves to improve, which was inspirational. Read more>>

Kayla Marshall | Singer, Dancer, Actor, & Choreographer

I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and have lived here all my life. I come from a Christian & Baptist family who was brought up in the church. A lot of who I am and how I’ve established my identity is through my faith in God, the guidance of my grandparents, and the love of my mother. In the church and with their presence I found my voice, gained wisdom, and built enough patience to withstand life’s challenges. The church allowed me to discover my passion for the arts and taught me who gets the glory for my gifts. My grandparents, happily married for 57 years, model strength and hard work. I’d like to think that my determination and will to follow my dreams comes from them. Read more>>

Jonathan Thompson | Science Educator, Tutor, and DJ

Finding that elusive work-life balance is a challenging task for most educators, myself included. When I began teaching in 2013, I was spending a huge portion of my daily time at the school taking care of classroom matters. For the first few years into my career as an educator, my life revolved mostly around being a teacher. Getting to school early and leaving late just to grade papers and lesson plan at home were all just part of my routine. It wasn’t until nearly a decade later that I discovered that the demand for online learning solutions was growing – especially after the pandemic. Now that I am an online teacher and tutor, my work-life balance has drastically improved. Read more>>

Madeline Montes | Lifestyle Documentary Photographer

Starting this journey and trying to find balance in my work and personal life has been something I have learned to juggle these past 3 years. I started my business while still working a full time job at a vet clinic and let me just say, it is definitely a challenge I didn’t know I was signing up for! I have had a few learning curves on the way but I have realized making sure I have time for myself and my family is beyond important. You hear people say that you get away from working a 9-5 to end up working 24 hours in a day. That definitely can become a reality if you let it. Having that balance is important!! Read more>>