Interviews and Stories
Uncovering the passion, struggle, and triumphs of people through compelling stories and interviews.
West Side Digs: answer. restaurant
Nashville commercial photographer Sheri Oneal shares a blog series "West Side Digs" interviewing Answer Restaurant in Sylvan Park neighborhood in Nashville.
Fabulous Women Over 40: Payge McMahon
By Sheri Oneal Wow, this summer got real busy and I fell behind with my interviews for my Fabulous “Women Over 40” blog series but I have a very inspiring woman to showcase for September! Payge McMahon is an amazing testament of courage and inspiration and she proves that your life direction can change in the blink of an eye. Her story is a testament that sometimes negative things that happen in our lives can lead us down an inspiring path. At 16, Payge was in a car accident that broke her back and left her in a body cast. Her mother was her positive inspiration in helping her maintain a…
Fabulous Women Over 40: Rita Maggart
By Sheri Oneal May almost slipped by me but I squeezed in a day this week to interview a wonderful woman for my Fabulous Women Over 40 blog series. I am proud to introduce Mrs. Rita J. Maggart! She is an artist, a writer, a floral designer and a teacher who began volunteering her time 24 years ago as a teacher’s assistant at the Tennessee Prison for Women. Rita Maggart grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee and graduated from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She married her husband John Maggart who was in the military and lived in Germany for 5 years before settling in Nashville. Her early career was teaching 3rd grade in…
One Woman’s Incredible Journey to Freedom
In my “Fabulous Women Over 40” series, I often meet women with incredible stories. But a dinner party a few years ago with a friend, Loan Hillsten, revealed her shocking childhood. While many see her as a vibrant and caring person, few know the secret past she carries. Her unforgettable journey to freedom that started with her escape from war-torn Vietnam is a story that deserves to be told. We, as Americans, are privileged to live as freely as we do. The awareness of those here from other countries is evident. Often, the media shares the struggles immigrants have endured coming to America with dreams of freedom and opportunity. I have…
Fabulous Women Over 40: Kate O’Neill
By Sheri Oneal Finally SPRING is upon us, thank goodness! This month’s Fabulous Women Over 40 I am featuring the wonderfully beautiful and talented Kate O’Neill! I met Kate many years ago while attending various Nashville business mixers including the Technology Council. The one thing I always noted about Kate was her energy, her smile and most of all her laughter, she always seemed to be the happiest person in the room. We joke about having the same last name but it is spelled differently…sista-from-anotha-motha sort of thing. I have always known Kate as an extremely intelligent and powerful business woman, but when I found out about her newest personal project…
Fabulous Women Over 40: Lisa Palet Goldstein
By Sheri Oneal Welcome to this month’s Fabulous Women Over 40 featuring Ms. February, Lisa Palet Goldstein AKA “Wonder Woman!” I met Lisa on Labor Day last year at a party she was having at her house. A friend invited me along and I had no idea what I was embarking on that day. When we arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see more than 20 people I knew, when Lisa welcomed me the first thing that I noticed was her infectious smile. As I greeted those I knew I overheard various conversation’s on Lisa’s status, at one point a song started to play over the stereo, the room began…
Fabulous Women Over 40: Tara Bloom
By Sheri Oneal Welcome to 2015 everyone and here’s to hoping you have a wonderful and productive year ahead! I am working on a new blog series this year featuring fabulous, inspiring women over 40. Here is Ms. January of the Fabulous Women Over 40: Tara Bloom! When I first met Tara I was drawn to her passion to help others. As I got to know her, I found that her 20 (plus) years of marketing experience and involvement with the healthcare system was an instant connection with me because of my clients. This experience with various companies in healthcare over the years offered her deep insight to Hospice, Neurological Rehab…
Nashville Loves Food: City House
By Sheri Oneal Another year is almost over, and boy has it gone fast! This is my last blog for the “Nashville Loves Food” series and it showcases Chef Tandy Wilson of City House Restaurant. I love this restaurant and I know many of you in the Nashville area feel the same. When I visited him in August he was in his kitchen prepping for the day ahead and I learned about how he got started in the food industry. The women in Tandy’s family created his love for food at an early age. His mom and grandmother were his key influences growing up. He attended Scottsdale Culinary Institute and went…
Nashville Loves Food: Wedge Oak Farm
By Sheri Oneal With Thanksgiving right around the corner I thought Wedge Oak Farm would be perfect to showcase because it is turkey time and they have great tasting farm raised turkeys available! Last summer I was introduced to the Overton family farm while taking photos for the Nashville Loves Food project. The weather was hot but beautiful the morning Melissa Corbin, Erik Lara (my assistant) and I arrived and we began our tour of the farm right away. Brian and Karen were preparing to feed the chickens so we headed over to the chicken coops because I wanted to capture images of them hard at work. Brian Ferrell (above) feeds the chickens on his morning rounds at…
Nashville Loves Food: Noble Springs Dairy
I visit to Noble Springs Dairy Farm for Nashville Loves Food series. An interview with owners Justyne and Dustin Noble at their goat farm.
