Local Voices Collective

S2E017-Sauntymia

In this episode, I sit down with Sauntymía, co-founder of Artistry Soul Collective, to explore what it means to build something that brings people together. What started as a simple desire for better music and community in Fort Worth turned into a space where artists can be seen, supported, and connected. We talk about the hidden gap between talent and opportunity, the power of simply recognizing someone’s work, and how one platform can change the trajectory of someone who was ready to give up. More than anything, this conversation is about showing up—for your city, for others, and for the quiet voices that just need a place to be heard.

S2E016-Mariah

In this episode of Local Voices Collective, Rafael sits down with Mariah, co-owner of Cherokee Lake Farms, a small regenerative farm in Texas run alongside her husband Peyton and their young daughter. What begins as a conversation about growing food becomes a reflection on stewardship, sacrifice, and community. Mariah shares how she has learned to work with the land—adapting seeds to the Texas climate, protecting soil through cover crops, and building systems rooted in patience rather than control. She also speaks candidly about the realities behind small-scale farming: the long hours, financial pressure, off-farm jobs, and family compromises required to keep the farm alive. At its core, this is a story about choosing meaning over money and seeing food not as a product, but as a connection—between people, land, and purpose.

S1E015- Emily A.

In this episode of the Local Voices Collective, we sit with Emily, a coffee professional whose relationship with coffee has grown far beyond the bar. We talk about her path from barista to roaster, how curiosity led her into the science and craft of coffee, and what it means to keep learning even after years in the industry. Emily shares how visiting coffee farms in El Salvador changed the way she understands the drink—connecting flavor to labor, land, and the people behind every cup. This conversation isn’t just about coffee. It’s about attention, care, and the environments we choose to spend our time in. About slowing down, asking questions, and building trust—whether that’s with producers, coworkers, or the people who walk through the door each morning. One cup. One conversation. One story at a time.

S1E014-Shannon

This week’s conversation is with Shannon, owner of The Roadside Stand, a Texas roadside produce stand built on relationships with local farms. We talk about what it means to keep food affordable without losing integrity, why transparency creates trust, and how food carries memory, culture, and connection. From pick dates to Pecos cantaloupes, this episode is about choosing experience over convenience.

S1E013-Bencjones

Bencjones is a Fort Worth musician and producer known for blending rock, soul, R&B, and Americana into a unique, genre-bending sound. He’s a songwriter, collaborator, and creative voice shaping the city’s evolving music scene through authenticity, presence, and community.