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 Miami.
Lucia Marinelli
I was born and raised in Milan, Italy — a city that taught me creativity, determination, and style. Ten years ago, I made one of the most courageous choices of my life: I left everything behind and moved to Miami with nothing but a dream, faith, and my Italian heart. Starting from zero in a new country wasn’t easy. Read more>>
Ender Benavides
Comunicar con alegría es lo mío. Cuando salí de mi país, Venezuela, llegué a Estados Unidos y viví 5 años en Houston, TX. Allá tuve varios trabajos como: Busser, constructor, vendedor y por último: driver de Amazon Flex. Me mudé a Miami en noviembre de 2023 y comencé un 2024 haciendo deliveries de Amazon. Read more>>
Shirley Moreira
Since I was a child, I felt a deep passion for art. Although I was born in a small rural town in Cuba, with limited access to cultural life, anything involving a creative process fascinated me. That search for something more always pushed me to improve myself. Read more>>
Mademoiselle Lilli
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been captivated by beauty, elegance, and harmony. I recall watching my mother as she got ready—her graceful movements, the way she chose her outfit, applied her lipstick. Those moments sparked something in me: a deep love for the art of expressing one’s true essence through style. As I grew older, my passion only grew stronger. Read more>>
Aurora Dominguez
I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where storytelling became my language long before I ever realized it would be my career. Surrounded by the warmth, color, and rhythm of island life, I developed a deep appreciation for stories that reflect culture, identity, and community. Read more>>
Gabriela Mihailescu
My path has always been about connecting ideas, people, and growth. I started out in marketing, working with international brands and advertising agencies, and realized early on that what really drew me in was the strategic side, understanding how creativity, partnerships, and measurable outcomes come together to create lasting impact. That curiosity has shaped everything I’ve done since. Read more>>
Paz Nilo
My journey started when I decided to leave Chile and figure out who I actually was. Being number five out of seven smart siblings meant a lot of competition, and most of the time who I truly was didn’t match what others thought they were seeing. I wasn’t invisible — just misunderstood. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep growing inside that frame. Read more>>
LUIS RUBIO
My story started when I was just a little kid. I was a skateboarder heavily into the MTV, culture, viva, la bam, jack ass, wild boys, etc. Read more>>
Lauren Coleman
My name is Lauren Coleman, and I’m the founder of Casa Retreats — a collection of design-led yoga and wellness retreats that bring people back to themselves through presence, rhythm, and intention. The creation of Casa has been a deeply personal evolution — one that mirrors my own journey of healing, growth, and rediscovery. Read more>>
Andreea Alexandra Dobre
You asked me to share my story, and even now, when I think about it, I get a knot in my throat and the tears want to fall. But this story, my story, it’s important because it shows how our biggest struggles can bring us to our greatest breakthroughs. Read more>>
Mary Killmeyer
I have always been fascinated by people—our stories, relationships, and the ways our life experiences shape who we become. That curiosity guided me toward systems-informed therapy during my master’s and doctoral training, where I learned to look at individuals not in isolation, but in the full context of their families, identities, and environments. Read more>>
Matthew Liebman
Emrgent Media started because Gonzalo Londono and I were two creatives obsessed with storytelling and entrepreneurship — not just filming moments, but making people feel something through our work. What began as shooting small events and social clips quickly evolved once we saw how powerful content could be in driving brand identity, emotion, and engagement. Read more>>
florencia uliarte
My name is Florencia Uliarte Varas, and I’m the founder of MUV Training. I started teaching fitness in Argentina, and later moved to Miami, where I wanted to continue helping people move and connect. MUV Training began as online classes, but quickly grew into live group sessions at hotels and outdoor spaces in Miami Beach. Read more>>
Briggitte Pascual
I’m a single mom who wanted a better life for my son and me. Photography found me back in my junior year of high school, in a film photography class. From the moment I developed my first image in the darkroom, I was captivated how a single photo could hold emotion, light, and story all at once. Read more>>
Romina Bryce
I started working at Baby Stars as a sophomore in college. This was supposed to be my summer job, and it became my life story. As a psychology student, I knew I wanted to work with people, especially children. Read more>>
Levin Chaskey
We’re driven to capture authentic human connections and evoke emotion to inspire action. We value the trust you place in us to share your story and strive to exceed expectations, creating a powerful impact for our clients and communities. Together, we partner with ambitious, like-minded creators to push boundaries and craft meaningful work for the future. Read more>>
Shelby & Eddie Price
Eddie and I were both born and raised right here in the Florida Keys, and we are so proud to call this incredible community home. We come from very different, yet similar backgrounds. Eddie grew up in Key Largo and I was raised just a few miles south in Tavernier. Read more>>
Jessica Sapharti
I was born and raised in Miami, and I’ve always felt a deep love for this city — its energy, its diversity, and its sense of possibility. Being both Jewish and Cuban has shaped so much of who I am. Read more>>
Taylor Bulfin
Sunny Sailor started with two sisters who grew up under the relentless South Florida sun. We were outside all the time – by the pool, at the beach, on boats, playing with our friends – and our mom was an absolute freak about sunscreen because she hadn’t put it on as a kid. Read more>>
Tiffany Pyke
My journey with Get Up and Go Kayaking started with a simple love for being on the water. I am a Miami native, I live right on the bay and Kayaking has always been part of my routine. I’ll often paddle out to Picnic Island just to unwind, reset, and enjoy the quiet. Read more>>
Anika Darville
I Am Anika, I go by Nibbz. As a child I loved singing songs, from YouTube, I would sing to the top of my voice and my parents would call it noise. When I was 21 I meet a person that does karaoke and they made me so comfortable that I grabbed the mic and started singing karaoke. That was 10 years ago. Read more>>
Rachel Newland
For 7 years, I worked as a critical care nurse, specializing in the cardiac unit and open-heart recovery. Four of those years were spent traveling across the country, caring for patients in some of the most intense hospital environments imaginable. Read more>>
Jorge Perez
I am the creator of The Shut the Fu*k Up Method. This is a book and a movement that was born out of unimaginable heartbreak and profound transformation. Read more>>
Romina Derbogosian
My Story – How I Became a Psychologist From a very young age, I knew I had a deep passion for listening and helping others. My vocation found me early, so when the time came, I never hesitated to enroll in the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. As I advanced through my studies, my interest in psychoanalysis grew stronger. Read more>>
Paolo Fidanza
I was born in Rome, Italy and graduated with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. My first and only job was in the UK for Group Lotus, where I reached the position of Manager in the Engineering division in just three years. However, my vision transcended the conventional: I decided to take a bold leap of conviction. Read more>>
Linda Chiou
I started Ivy Swimwear in 2016 after designing pieces for myself and realizing there was a real gap in the market for petite bodies. So many swimsuits didn’t fit right — the proportions, cuts, and details just weren’t made with smaller frames in mind. I wanted to change that by creating bikinis that combined flattering silhouettes with a fashion-forward, modern aesthetic. Read more>>
Gabrielle Raymond McGee
At six years old, I saw Dr. Sylvia Earle snorkeling with Mister Rogers on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. She dove fearlessly into the deep, and I remember thinking—there’s a real-life superhero. That moment changed everything for me. Life first took me into sports and entertainment—working with Major League Baseball and the Tory Burch Foundation—but the ocean never stopped calling. Years later, fate stepped in. Read more>>
Giovanna Mansi Farid Lutfi
Lira Beirut Eatery was born from the shared vision of Farid Lutfi and Giovanna (Gigi) Mansi, who first met in 1999 while studying Hospitality Management at the prestigious École Hôtelière de Lausanne. What began as a friendship built on a shared passion for food and culture soon became a lifelong journey. Read more>>
