ATL’s Most Inspiring Stories

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.

Zack Boland

Music has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I first picked up drums and percussion in middle school band, and that early spark quickly grew into a lifelong passion. Read more>>

Kristin Tansey

I worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years. Most of that time was in NYC. My specializations include designing bras, intimate apparel, and activewear. I’ve always been fascinated with the human body, mind, and spirit. Studying natural health and wellness was my hobby. Read more>>

Raven Dean

I woke up one day during Covid and decided I was going to chase my dreams. Read more>>

Simone Reid

I originally started my blog over 10 years ago, crazy to say! I had just finished grad school and was preparing to teach English overseas in Bangkok, Thailand. I created my page as a way to showcase my travels throughout Southeast Asia and to keep my friends updated during my year abroad. Read more>>

Daniel Robinson

I started off watching my favorite YouTubers at 11 and being inspired from them and I made my first video at 12 freestyling. I began uploading all the time fun videos or funny videos just showing myself on camera. Then when vine came out I started doing skateboarding videos and skits online. Read more>>

Leng Kar Ch

My journey began through a deep love for art, which gradually became more than creative expression—it became a path of inner cultivation. Over time, I came to see art as a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary life, allowing both myself and others to experience stillness, clarity, and compassion through the creative process. Read more>>

Dia Fioretti

Dear Voyage Atlanta Team, I am honored to share my story for the Hidden Gems: Inspiring Stories Series. My name is Dia Fawn Fioretti. I am a 56-year-old wife and mother of two daughters, ages 19 and 30, and my journey is rooted in a lifelong commitment to integrative healing. Today, I am a modern-day medicine woman—a nurse and intuitive healer. Read more>>

Laila Stamer

The Tulip Place – Dementia Day Center is born out of one clear belief: people living with dementia still deserve joy, purpose, dignity, and meaningful connection. I have spent more than 25 years working with people living with dementia, and over that time I saw the same problem again and again. Families were exhausted, overwhelmed, and often forced into impossible choices. Read more>>

Kevin Wilson

Well, it’s kind of a long story, but bear with me. I am an attorney, but I’ve always been a singer, dancer, actor, and performer at heart who wants to expand what he can do by trying new things. I was inspired by my mom, who was offered a singing contract with Motown before she decided to go to college and pursue a PhD instead. Read more>>

Madeleine Minotto

I was in digital marketing for about three years before deciding to go off on my own. In December 2024, I picked up a contracting role while I was searching for a full-time job in social media and marketing, but during that time something clicked. I realized I could actually do this for myself full-time. Read more>>

Miguel Corado

I made a decision a long time ago that forever changed the trajectory of my life. I grew up on the southside of Atlanta, specifically in Clayton County. When deciding which High School to attend, I had the opportunity to choose between the school I was already zoned for and a school with a magnet program for the performing arts. Read more>>

Erin Caver

Hi, I’m Erin. I am a certified life coach, an author dedicated to the Kingdom of God and I have a non-profit called Women of Refuge. Originally from New York, I have called Georgia home for the past 20 years. For a long time, my life was defined by pain, poverty, oppression, toxic cycles, abusive relationships, and addiction. Read more>>

Confession Kids

We’re a folk punk band from FL on tour through Atlanta! Read more>>

Nick Laureano

My journey started as wanting to originally be an actor until life’s many challenges steered me on a different path. That path I embarked was becoming a public speaker of mental health and mindset. I struggled personally with my own depression and self doubt which led me astray for a better part of life. Read more>>

Tara Pandarinath

I’ve always been interested in what makes people tick. From a young age, I found myself drawn to people’s stories—how they made sense of their experiences and why they thought and felt the way they did. When I took AP Psychology in high school, I realized there were entire frameworks and evidence-based approaches for understanding human behavior, which really solidified my interest in the field. Read more>>

Yxng Don

I started rapping my senior year of high school, just being around friends who were already going to studios and recording. At first, I was more curious than anything—just watching how everything worked, how songs came together, how energy in the room could turn into something real. That curiosity turned into passion in 2018 when Cardi B dropped Invasion of Privacy. Read more>>

Sayma Hossain

Sayma Hossain (she/they, b. 1992, Dhaka, Bangladesh) is a textile installation artist working at the intersection of material reclamation and cultural memory. Rooted in the traditions of unorthodox quilting, tapestry weaving, and the use of found objects, her practice centers on reimagining discarded textiles through labor-intensive, often meditative processes. Read more>>

Ron’Netta

I started in the arts as a kid in a program called ‘Culture in Black and White’ in Mobile, AL in the 1980’s. The program meet on Saturday mornings and focused mainly on dance including ballet, tap dancing, jazz dancing, etc. When I wasn’t involved in that, I was reciting poetry and speeches in my grandmother’s Church. Read more>>

KAT CARTER

A lifetime of obesity struggles and a background in media drew me to help Kim Carlos get the PlusSidez Podcast off the ground. We combined our skills of marketing and media to highlight the transformative change that is happening right now in medicine, healthcare, and obesity medicine. Read more>>

Amanda Good

My path into dog training wasn’t a straight line—it really grew out of a deep love for both animals and people. I started my career in healthcare as a neonatal ICU nurse, then transitioned to an oncology nurse, where I spent the last couple years supporting people through some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of their lives. Read more>>

Kelly McCrary

I’m an educator by profession, and I have been riding motorcycles for almost 2 decades. Within the last 10 yrs, I periodically started riding to the high school where I work. Students would ask me about riding, noting how fun or cool it looked which I agreed. I would also throw in that what made riding fun was being safe and skilled. Read more>>

Mike Mccollum

What started as simple curiosity and a passion for fixing things turned into a lifelong profession for Mike, the owner of Mike the Locksmith 24/7 Atlanta. For over 10 years, Mike has dedicated himself to mastering the craft of locksmith —learning the details, building hands-on experience, and developing a reputation for reliability and precision. But for Mike, it was never just about locks. Read more>>

Jen Ihrig

I’ve always been drawn to creating—whether that was through photography, branding, or building meaningful experiences for others. I spent years as a photographer capturing families and milestones, and over time I started to notice something important: people weren’t just looking for photos… they were looking for a way to hold onto their memories. Read more>>

Oky Arthur

It all started at a wedding. The moment I saw the photo booth, something different from the typical mall version. I immediately thought it was such a great vintage idea. There was something nostalgic and fun about it that really stuck with me. I went home and couldn’t sleep, replaying the experience in my head. Read more>>

Savvy Breaux

So, my artistic journey began when I was 8 years old. My older brother Dion told me “Just draw what you see!” Since then, I learned how manipulate the world in my image when I create. Later, I worked closely with my sister, Dionna Hayden, an award-winning graphic artist, who helped me discover my place in the art world. Read more>>

Nathaniel ‘Tony’ Bryan

First, let me say that I’m honored to have the opportunity to share my story on your platform. My life started in downtown Charleston, SC, and we didn’t have much, but what we didn’t have in material things, we made up for it with love. Read more>>

LaNise Thrasher

I’m LaNise Thrasher, a Life Coach, Speaker, and Author known as The Love Cheerleader®. I help high-performing women navigate heartbreak and life transitions so they can stop being “the strong one,” pause, heal, and come back to themselves with clarity, confidence, and peace. My journey into this work started with my own experience going through a divorce. Read more>>

[email protected] Green

At 29 years old, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. In the middle of treatments and uncertainty I saw firsthand how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis can be, not just physically, but emotionally and financially. What stood out most wasn’t just how hard the fight against cancer is, but the gaps in support others around experienced when I had so much support. Read more>>

Kimberly J. Stevens

I’m not just building a career—I’m building a legacy. As a mother of two, I have been moving through life with purpose stitched into everything I do. I have been a Braider since the age of 14. In 2017, I became a licensed cosmetologist, not just to style hair, but to uplift confidence, restore identity, and remind people of their worth. Read more>>

Misty Schwartz

My journey into the entertainment and media industry is probably “book-worthy.” It’s been a beautiful, unexpected path—one that truly began when I met the love of my life and future husband, Scott L. Schwartz (Ocean’s 11, 12, 13). Read more>>

Christen Roberts & Kim Woods

Dew+Glow Aesthetics was born from kitchen-table conversations between us as mom and daughter—honest, heartfelt discussions about beauty, aging, self-confidence, and the need for skincare that delivers REAL, and LASTING results. What began as our shared curiosity quickly evolved into a deeper purpose: creating a corrective skincare sanctuary of our own for those, alike us, navigating acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging. Read more>>

Donielle Williams Collins

As a military brat, I grew up constantly starting over. New cities, new schools, new faces. I learned early how it feels to walk into unfamiliar spaces and not quite know where you belong. But I also learned how powerful it is when someone makes you feel seen, welcomed, and safe in those moments. That stayed with me. Read more>>

Lamar Arts Depot and Gallery

Lamar Arts is a nonprofit organization guided by a dynamic and diverse Board of Directors—an inspired collective of artists, residents, and community and business leaders dedicated to shaping the cultural heartbeat of Lamar County. With a mission rooted in creativity and connection, Lamar Arts exists to promote, coordinate, develop, and champion the artistic and cultural growth of the community it proudly serves. Read more>>

Big June

With years of dedication and discipline, Big June, owner of Big 6 Protective Services, has built a reputation as one of the most trusted high-profile security professionals in the industry. A proud father of six, he balances family values with the same protection and loyalty he brings to every client. From starting as a local bar bouncer at Ms. Read more>>

Lolita Young

My story really began in 2003 with a simple “yes.” I stepped away from my job after feeling led by the Holy Spirit, and I started caring for children in my home. I didn’t have a big plan—I just knew I had a heart for children and a desire to serve families in a meaningful way. Growing up, I’ve always been nurturing. Read more>>

Coach Leander Murphy

I didn’t start out as the athlete or coach people see today. I was an overweight kid with Tourette’s syndrome and autism. I had crooked teeth, struggled with confidence, and dealt with a lot of bullying. For a long time, I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere. Sports changed that. Read more>>

Caitlin Labistour

I am originally from a place called Wentworth in Durban, South Africa. I’ve always had a love and passion for taking pictures and videos it just that now I’m able to do what I love whilst working with brands that I love. Read more>>

Britney Sims

My journey into real estate started about eight years ago, during a time in my life when I was not only a mother of three, but also searching for something more… more flexibility, more purpose, and ultimately, more control over my future. Read more>>

Johari Pennington

I started InStyle Getaways™ with a simple realization — a lot of travelers were paying more but getting less. Whether it was cramped hotel rooms or inconsistent experiences on traditional booking platforms, it felt like there was a gap between what people expected from travel and what they were actually getting. Read more>>

Affiniti Harris-Mordecai

I discovered my strong intuitive abilities at the age of 3 or 4. I always remember feeling the energy of individuals and animals around me which would often consume me. The emotions of others have always been very easy for me to detect due to my highly sensitive nature. Read more>>

Chelsea Michael Goode

I was born & raised in Richmond, VA. I began my acting journey at the age of 9 in my elementary school drama club, transitioning to middle school drama, Center for the Arts at Henrico High School (shout out Todd Ritter and Emma Givens), and eventually earned a BFA in Acting at Shenandoah Conservatory.  Read more>>

Allison Smith

My husband passed away 08/2021. Once I became a widow, I had so many questions and no one to ask because I didn’t know anyone in my circle of friends who had lost their partner. As sympathetic as people were, no one else really understood what I was going through. My number one unanswered question was, “What do I do now?” Read more>>