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 Ohio.
Sulbha Midha
My journey in dentistry has been a combination of love, learning, and self-discovery. When I began my career, I knew I wanted to do more than just fix teeth. I wanted to bring healing and comfort to every person who sat on my chair. Over time, I realized that true dental care goes beyond the mouth; it touches the mind, emotions, and spirit. Read more>>
Chungkeun Lee
I immigrated to the United States at the age of forty-five — not a young age, but with a heart full of determination and faith to begin a new journey. In Korea, my family and I lived a comfortable middle-class life, so leaving everything behind and starting over in a new country was not an easy decision. Read more>>
Brittney Lickert
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, originally picturing myself in the world of branding and logo design. But during college, everything changed when my sister asked me to design her wedding invitations. That one project completely shifted my path-it sparked a passion I didn’t see coming. Read more>>
John Hoffman
At age 9 (1980) my mother took me to local household auction as my mom loved antiquing. There was an old time & strike mantle clock made approx. 1915 at this auction and for some reason I really wanted it. It sold pretty cheap and mom was able to buy it for me. Read more>>
Amanda Lewis
Trillium Project didn’t come from me growing up wanting to be an artist. Honestly, that world wasn’t even on my radar for most of my life. I grew up in poverty and around a lot of instability and abuse, some of it generational, so I’d always been searching for meaning and purpose, trying to find a place where I felt safe and loved. Read more>>
Eric Gerber
We began in Defiance as a small soft serve business in 1999. In 2003, we opened our second location in Defiance. 2008 we opened our Bryan location. In 2012 we began manufacturing our own ice cream. It’s done just 3 gallons at a time and we still inject everything by hand. 2013 saw our 3rd location in Defiance. Read more>>
Edward Jones II
My DJ journey started at age 5, inspired by my dad, who’s been spinning tracks for as long as I can remember. Watching him light up a room and bring people together through music sparked something in me early on—I knew I wanted to learn the ropes and be part of that magic. Read more>>
Rita Ballenger
When I retired from Tri-C in December 2010, I was awarded 55 free credit hours. I decided to enter the Culinary Program, specifically the Baking track. In spring of 2011 I went to a human trafficking presentation fully expecting to learn about human trafficking in the third world. However, it was about human trafficking in the United States and even in Cleveland. Read more>>
Danica Michelle Woodard
I didn’t just become a writer — I grew into one through experience, faith, and a deep love for storytelling. What started with a single poem has evolved into a lifelong passion for helping others build, grow, and believe in their own gifts the same way I believed in mine. My journey as a writer began when I was nine years old. Read more>>
Matthew Hohler
I have always had a desire to do something that made the difference in the lives of others. My career path has been quite unconventional. I have spent time teaching English in Honduras, running a health coaching business in Florida, to starting a coffee company working directly with farmers in South America. Read more>>
Tyler & Nina Feeken
With backgrounds in education and a passion for supporting women and couples, Tyler and Nina Feeken launched Feeken Fertility at the beginning of 2025. During their own family planning journey, they came to understand the benefits and importance of Natural Family Planning (NFP) education- both for preventing pregnancy and for getting pregnant. They are currently pursuing certification through SymptoPro. Read more>>
Neica Raker
My story began with a profound, lifelong connection to the visual world; the pull to create has been a driving force since childhood. I quickly learned that my own creativity thrives best in an organized and visually stimulating environment, a principle that has guided my entire career. Read more>>
BRYAN WHEELER
I was wanting a pizza oven for a couple of years. I watched a lot of YouTube videos, and finally decided on a Gozney Roccbox. I had never eaten, nor heard of Neapolitan style pizza until I spent all of that time on YouTube. I put it off for a year because I had already purchased a new smoker and grill in a short time. Read more>>
Ben Hatmacher
So I have owned a tattoo shop in Chillicothe for about 15 years now (Grimey Inc Tattoos) It has always done well but I knew wanted something more. I wanted some way to give back to the community. In 2018 after an injury I had 8 vertebrae fused together. Spent a lot of time in the hospital as well as a lot of time recovering. Read more>>
DeAngelo McDonald
My story really starts with a genuine love for storytelling and a curiosity for how visuals can impact people. I didn’t grow up with a traditional path into filmmaking — no film school, no big studio background. I learned by doing. Read more>>
Alison Dodd
I used to work full time, but it became a real struggle after my second child was born, and would have night wakings every couple of hours. My husband advised me to quit work and that we would figure the rest out later. Read more>>
Stefanos Athinaios
My name is Stefanos, I’m a Greek-born world percussionist, composer and educator. I started playing music when I was 6, I don’t come from a musical family so it was just for fun in the beginning. When I was 17 and started working professionally, I realized this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>
Grace Kim
In 1987, a mixed group of students and alumni from Ohio State University Department of Art’s Glass Program founded our organization under its former name Glass Axis. Our goal was to spread knowledge about glass art, and we first started by traveling all around central Ohio with a portable glass blowing studio. Read more>>
Dr. Zach Thomas
As a teenager I became very interested in exercise and weight lifting. My dad always had workout equipment in our basement growing up and it always peaked my interest. As a multi-sport athlete growing up, weight lifting eventually became a part of those sports and that is where I try started to fall in love with the process of weight lifting and exercise. Read more>>
Tony Kost
I’m a native Clevelander, born and raised in Ohio City, and I’ve loved this city for as long as I can remember. My dad before me, my mom too — Cleveland runs deep in my family. I love its grit, its warmth, and the way people here just keep pushing through. Clevelanders are resilient, kind, and tough as hell, and I admire that endlessly. Read more>>
Christine Allison
All my life I was around music. Both of my parents had beautiful voices and would sing all the time, both at home and at church and elsewhere, and so I sang in church as well, not to mention singing in Jr. Music Study Club, to name one place. My brother sang as well. Read more>>
Andre Scott
Our Story: How It All Began Our story didn’t start with a big investor or a boardroom pitch — it started with boredom, heart, and a genuine desire to bring joy back to our community. It was around 2020. The world felt heavy, quiet, and disconnected. Read more>>
Mike Norton
I grew up in a working-class, single income home with a mom who faced serious health struggles and a father who spent much of his time over-the-road trucking. Life threw a few early curveballs my way — I ended up dropping out of high school my junior year when my mother became seriously injured. Read more>>
Katie Humphreys
When I was 21, I watched a comedy special for like the first time ever. I thought, ‘hmm what if I tried that.’ So I did. And I slowly worked my way into opening for sold-out acts at the Columbus Funny Bone and performing sometimes in different states. That began about five years ago. Read more>>
Moneen McBride
About Paddle The River Our Story Founded in 2015 by Moneen & Brad McBride, Paddle The River, LLC was born from a passion for the outdoors and a desire to share the beauty of Northeast Ohio’s local rivers and outdoors to people from all walks of life in a safe and family friendly environment! Read more>>
Michael Ciu
I began photography in high school working for the yearbook in the mid 90’s mainly photographing sporting events from the sidelines. After high school, I attended Lorain County Community College and studied graphic design which integrated my love for photography and the design of commercial art. Read more>>
Trinity Full Gospel Church
Today Trinity Full Gospel has a congregation size of about 200 people and is growing. Lives are being changed and people are making decisions to follow Christ at Trinity Full Gospel Church. Trinity Full Gospel has a desire to make a positive impact for Christ in the Y-City of Zanesville. Read more>>
Janelle Phillips
I grew up in Republic, Ohio — a tiny town where everyone knows everyone and hard work runs deep. My parents owned a little restaurant called Fathead’s. I worked there part-time until I was 38, even while growing my own dreams. Being raised by entrepreneurs shaped me completely — I learned early that when you want something, you don’t wait for permission, you build it. Read more>>
