Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Nicole Sachiko
Before I could remember, my house never looked or felt the same as the houses of my neighbors, friends, and extended family. I did not learn until I was a teenager that the label for our home was a hoarder house. Everyday I would walk through alleyways of piles of stuff on every surface and every floor of every room. Read more>>
Lilliana De La O
I started my entrepreneurial journey when I was just 16 years old, babysitting to make money and learning early on that I loved the idea of creating my own opportunities. I would save and invest in the things I wanted, and that early independence stayed with me as I grew older. Read more>>
Audrey Callahan
Ever since I was two years old, I knew I wanted to be a singer. But somewhere between childhood and adulthood, a lot of us learn to trade the things we dream about for the things that seem practical. I grew up with a strong military influence. Both of my parents worked in the medical field, and I admired them tremendously. Read more>>
Patricia Toporcer
My journey started through my own personal healing and a desire to understand myself on a deeper level. What began as something for me eventually became a calling to help others heal, reconnect with themselves, and transform their lives. Over the years, I continued learning, training, and trusting my intuition, which eventually led me to create Transforming Lives Holistic Center. Read more>>
Jon Eckrich
I grew up in a house full of dogs and have never really known life without them. Long before this was my business, animals were always my anchor whenever life got complicated. For 15 years, my primary career was in corporate healthcare leadership. I managed teams across the Northeast, from DC up to Boston. Read more>>
Taya Hawkins
I started doing nails when i was in college & working a minimum wage job. i became really popular in my city and was doing nails until i was noticed. i moved to las vegas about 2 years ago, it’s definitely been different but it’s a journey Read more>>
Marc Hendrick
I studied architecture in Sydney and worked out fairly quickly that I was more interested in graphic design, so I spent the early part of my career in design, branding and art direction, mostly around music and fashion, and ran my own clothing label for a while. The best part of all of it was working with artists. Read more>>
Spencer Davidson
My journey into music started long before I really understood where it would take me. I’ve always been drawn to sound, creativity, and the way music can completely change how someone feels. I studied Audio Technology at American University, which gave me a technical foundation, but my real education came from years of experimenting, performing, producing, and immersing myself in the electronic music community. Read more>>
Kaiden Arellanes
I like to look at my life through the lens of a novel reader. A person experiences living life as a book; each event or milestone adding a new chapter to our story. I started off my story in Tucson, Arizona. My experience there definitely changed the trajectory of my life. Read more>>
Rachel Goodman
These days, I wear at least three hats, and they were all made in the same place: the SF Bay Area. The hat that fits the most comfortably is my musician hat. I grew up during the sixties and seventies, when the rock and folk music scene was just exploding. Read more>>
Laurel Thomsen
I’m an internationally touring string player, passionate about exploring the range of emotions and genres the violin and other bowed-stringed instruments are capable of. I was born and raised in Monterey, California and am now based in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Read more>>
Mary Flodin
From the moment I could hold a pencil and write my name, I knew that my prime directive for this trip to Planet Earth was to listen, observe, and write down the things that happen to people. At least that’s how I remember trying to explain it to my parents when I was very young. Read more>>
Katharine Cameron
Ever since I shadowed a Digital Art class at Marin School of the Arts, I became fascinated by art as a form of communication. I immersed myself in that world, eventually graduating with a triple major from Marin School of the Arts before earning a full scholarship to attend the Academy of Art University. Read more>>
Judy Specht
In 2001, while working in the tech world, I decided to get a Bachelors in Natural Health through distance learning while continuing to work. Prior I had taken a 40-hour course, on weekends, to learn Intuitive Energy Medicine™, then Reiki from the same instructor. Being interested in natural healing techniques while still in the technical world and I loved both equally. Read more>>
James Papp
If you’d told me six months ago I’d be doing what I’m doing now, I’d have thought you were nuts’ is something I’ve had the privilege of saying often in my life. Read more>>
Juno (with the band TKB) Bordens
My brother Sean and I started TKB when we were around 4 and 9 years old. We’ve always loved music, and starting a band just seemed like the natural thing to do. What started as two brothers making music together eventually grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Margarita Y. Pinhas
My story is really a story about transformation, finding my voice, and realizing that it is never too late to change direction. I was born in Dagestan, in the former Soviet Union, and moved to Israel with my family when I was 10. I eventually built a career in technology, where I spent almost 20 years working in QA, integration, technical support, and IT. Read more>>
Daina Catlin
Yes, I when I was turning 50, I was asked what advice I would give my younger self. My immediate instinct was to find that 20-something woman and scream, ‘You are gorgeous! Enjoy it! Read more>>
Wanda Gardette
I’m originally from France, and my love for languages and travel led me to live in several countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. After moving to Santa Barbara, I became a certified French teacher and I decided to start my own business: Excuse My French Class. Read more>>
Ray Harris
Ray Harris was born in Missouri October 4, 1952 and traveled with his family often before settling in California. His father, Joe, worked for NASA in the 1960’s and 70’s. His mother, Thelma, raised six children and encouraged Ray’s interest in Art. Ray moved to Southern.California studied at Palomar Community College. Read more>>
Adelita Candelaria
The summer between seventh and eighth grade, my mother looked at me and said, “Wow, you went from an ugly duckling to a swan in one summer.” I’m sure she meant it lovingly. But when you’re thirteen, you also hear the other half of that sentence: apparently I had been the ugly duckling. Read more>>
Kirby Slager
My path to Planet Group Chat has been anything but linear, but looking back, every chapter makes beautiful sense. I spent nearly 16 years working as an actor, improviser, and comedian, training and performing at places like The Groundlings, Second City, and UCB. Storytelling, character work, and making people laugh have always been some of the most natural ways I connect with others. Read more>>
Silvia Salas-Sanchez
My name is Silvia Salas-Sanchez. I am a wife, a mother, a granddaughter and a storyteller. I have always been drawn to storytelling and the power of media to connect people. In my 20’s, I earned my BA in Mass Media, and that background has played a huge role in how I approach the work I do today. Read more>>
Elizabeth/Jordan Hudson
We started Fika Coffee Co. in late 2024/early 2025, but the idea really started from my love of coffee and the relationships that come with it. At that point, I had been a barista for about three years. What I loved most about being a barista wasn’t just making coffee—it was getting to know the people who came in. Read more>>
Katie Harris
When I was in high school, my mom hired a college admissions coach to help me identify schools where I would be a competitive applicant and enjoy the experience. Without his guidance, I probably never would have applied to Arizona State University—let alone attended and had such an incredible college experience. Read more>>
Curtis Cole
Ever since I was a kid, I always had a fascination with cameras and making videos. Read more>>
Rachel Siegel
Hi, I’m Rachel Siegel. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I completed my nursing education in the Midwest and began my career as an oncology nurse at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. As I provided cancer care, I became deeply interested in balancing disease-focused treatment with care that prioritizes comfort and quality of life, leading me to practice in both oncology and hospice settings simultaneously. Read more>>
MacKenzie Rana
I bought my first camera when my kids were little, simply because I wanted to document our everyday life. At the time, I never imagined photography would become my career. It was something I loved, but not something I believed I could actually pursue professionally. Read more>>
Jill Troderman
Why I do what I do. My driving experience was to heal myself first and then focus on the outer world. I became empowered by firing my doctor, who offered me no solutions to heal my health imbalance except for the use of pharmaceuticals, which I knew would not address the underlying problem but only mask my symptoms. Read more>>
Jasmine Glasheen
I built my career in a retail content industry that no longer exists. Between 2021 and 2024, I watched content requests shift from mostly human writing with a quick keyword check to business owners asking for quick edits on AI slop. Read more>>
John MacKinnon
For more than 3 decades, the Central Coast has been both my home and the place where I have built my career in the restaurant business. I grew up in Southern California and moved to the Central Coast in 1989. Read more>>
Danny Bruckbauer
I am a multidisciplinary artist from North Dakota, currently living and creating in Los Angeles California. I work with sound and clay, separately, although maybe there’s a way to combine them in the future. Read more>>
