Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

J Ryan Stradal | Author

I’m born and raised in southeastern Minnesota — and lived most of my childhood in a town ringed by cornfields, halfway between an oil refinery and a nuclear power plant. All in all, if was both safe and strange, ordinary and unforgettable, where we had to make our own fun, and that was a wonderful crucible for imagination. I didn’t know of any writers who came from my town, or anywhere nearby, so it seemed like a real pie-in-the-sky idea to try to be one. I still had a lot of encouragement along the way from my teachers and school librarians, and even if I moved away to become that writer I dreamed of being, I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without their influence. Read more>>

Zimo Zhao | Artist/ Art Instructor

Hi Shoutout LA! This is Zimo Zhao, I come from China and now I am a multi-disciplinary artist, photographer, painter, and illustrator. I received my BFA in painting department from Renmin University in 2019(China) and my MFA from California Institute of the Arts in 2022 (United States). I have been living in the US for almost 5 years. I came here as an international student for art study and last year I got married here. I used to study painting when I was very young, after I got my BFA in China Renmin University, I decided to change my major to photography to explore more possibilities in my artwork. My work takes a critical view of social events which have happened in the world and have a profound impact on our contemporary social environment. Read more>>

Bernard Galane | Renaissance Man

I grew up in a suburb town named Tulln close to Vienna in Austria. My parents sent me and my brother to music school at the young age of 4. I started out on Piano and recorder flute and later switched to the drums which became an obsession and my true calling. My brother and me ended up in a successful band called “New Kids On The Drums and the Session Brothers” which also landed a hitting in the European charts. I also had the opportunity to tour Europe, appear on Hit Parade TV shows and play big stadium gigs as opening acts for major artists like Brian Adams, Chesney Hawks and Extreme when I was only 12 years old. So naturally music became my life. Read more>>

Shannon Bradley-Colleary | Screenwriter

My upbringing had a huge impact on who I am today. I am a child of divorce, which means, much like an astronaut reentering earth’s atmosphere, I had to learn how to enter each home at the exact right angle or endure incineration on contact. This turned me into a chameleon/raconteur. As a professional screenwriter, it only took me about a decade to realize that most of my protagonists are characters living two separate lives and hoping they won’t collide with one another, simultaneously destroying both worlds (and the protagonist, of course). Read more>>

Ellen Snortland | Writing coach/columnist/writer/director/playwright/Renaissance woman

I was born in Denver, Colorado. When I was 6, my parents moved to South Dakota, and I had to go with them! I wanted to stay on our little farm outside of Denver! I am super confident, largely I think because both of my parents grew up on farms, and I did too for awhile. Since I didn’t have any brothers, we didn’t have gendered chores. With farmers, there’s a whole “all hand on deck” ethic. So I’m competent in what many people would consider to be male tasks. If I don’t know how to do something, I just figure it out. That up-bringing allows me to have a spark, “Hey, I could write a book!” and then, not knowing how to do that… well, a see that a bunch of idiots have written books so that could include me too! Same with writing plays; same with starting a theater company or producing/directing a documentary movie. Read more>>

Marielle Gelber | Brand Communications Expert

Hi there, I am originally from Long Island, NY. Born and raised there with very outgoing and social parents, I quickly became a little social butterfly myself. I was what you might call a “floater” – friends with many different groups of friends. A natural connector and someone who wants to enjoy where they are at all times. I would always find some common ground with a new person and try to relate to them – whether it was our favorite thing to do, a food we both liked or our favorite movie. I think finding that common ground is a canvas for a publicist. My mother also put me in some type of class every day after school, gymnastics, dance, piano, etc. That broadened my “network” of people and culturally shaped my mind in “what could be.” Read more>>

Connor Daniel | Music Producer & Artist

I’m originally from Santa Barbara but have been living in LA for more than a decade, mostly in the valley. Growing up in SB, I learned how to play several instruments and got to play in bands in the local music scene; it was almost like a “soft launch” before diving head first into the LA music scene and beyond. Regarding family background/upbringing, I have a very musical family – my dad was a guitar player who opened for The Doors and Jefferson Airplane in the sixties with a band called “Distortion,” my sister Jen is a songwriter/artist with a project called “THE ANTIPOP MVMT,” my cousin Joel is an outstanding guitarist/keyboardist, my other cousin Norm Block is a producer/engineer and drummer in the LA scene and my nephew Rowan who is learning production just got accepted into Berklee School of Music. Read more>>

Eric Ziegler | Music Clearance Assistant

I am originally from a town in Maryland called Frederick. Frederick has a fantastic music program in its’ schools, and the city is ripe with arts and culture. This played a significant role into my career, as I started learning about music from the age of 7. From there, it became an obsession that grew into learning multiple instruments, performing with choirs, orchestras, rock bands, and ultimately my path into music supervision. My parents were always very supportive, and taught me that if you truly love something, you have to go for it. You have to at least try. No matter how hard it gets, no matter the obstacles, you keep going and giving it your best! Read more>>

Jeffery Tay | Musician & Educator

I’m from Guangzhou, China, the third largest city in the southern part of the country. I was born in a small rural town near the seaside, a conservative and undeveloped city that shaped my early experiences. Growing up in a conservative and strict environment was tough, especially as someone who identifies as LGBTQ. My childhood in that small town was marred by bullying and negative memories. My family, not particularly warm, had strict and harsh expectations, especially concerning traditional gender norms. Music became my refuge. Despite my parents’ disapproval, I spent most of my time with my piano. Unfortunately, societal expectations were such that even my passion for the piano was considered “girly” by my parents. Read more>>

Sophia Frizzell | Visual Artist

When I was growing up, I used to love watching my mom get ready for work every day. I would watch my mom dress herself in beautiful dresses, donning heels, meticulously spraying her hair, exuding a fearless passion for her role as a performer. She would always tell me, “Do what you love, because the future is never guaranteed”. These words are now my guiding principle. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve also seen how much perseverance and a positive mindset matters, and how when you have no safety net, you will push through and make it work! I grew up in Highland Park, CA, a small area just a little outside Pasadena as the only child of a Hispanic single mom. Being an only child, I had to entertain myself a lot, which I think is the situation for a lot of only children. I could find a scrap piece of yarn and talk to myself for hours, just imagining scenarios in my head. Im glad it turned into a career! Read more>>