What Austin Bigwigs LOOK Like They Do For a Living, Part I
What their jobs would be if we go by their photo
Austin is awash in celebrities now. Whether athletes, politicians, restaurateurs (?!), TV/Movie folk (both on the upswing and down slope), or journalists, there are all manner of (semi) famous folk in and around Austin now, and this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing.
But what they look like they do can be more enjoyable than what they actually do. So let’s have some fun with this, shall we? It’s Saturday night in one of the coolest cities in America, what the hell else are y’all doing?
Let’s start with Part I: Journalists/Media Personalities. (Parts II-IV are coming soon.)
Troy Kimmel: Lakeway Megachurch Pastor who used to work as an award-winning auto insurance agent in Round Rock.
Quita Culpepper: Curator of trendy Central Austin Goldendoodle day spa. Has over 650,000 Instagram followers and nine podcasts.
Avery Tomasco: Popular 7th grade science teacher at Lamar Middle School. DJs wedding receptions on weekends as “DJ Disco Bits.”
Evan Smith: Headmaster of a prestigious west Austin prep school since leaving his history professor job at St. Edward’s in 2009. Came in 3rd place on Jeopardy in 2011.
Jeff Jones: Principal at a boutique Austin inspirational speaking firm, Greatness, Incorporated, specializing in corporate and government retreats.
Rebecca Thomas: Sells bespoke Hill Country custom homes and ranches as head of “The Texas Dream Living Team” at RE/MAX.
Kirk Bohls: Runs a popular Hyde Park comfort food restaurant, Grandma Mo’s, recently saved from sale by a GoFundMe organized by former Mayor Lee Leffingwell. Save Muny board member.
Sally Hernandez: Owns a destination regenerative health spa in Bee Cave, specializing in cryogenics, his and hers hot cupping, and lymphatic massage therapy.
Jimmy Maas: Head coach/manager for his son’s elite, traveling Oak Hill youth baseball team. Was Spike, the mascot for the Round Rock Express, in the late 90s.
Fred Cantu: Austin-American Statesman food critic, specializing in high-end BBQ and steakhouses. Plans to retire soon to launch a mail-order competitor to Big Green Egg smokers called Huge Blue Cocoon.
Rod Babers: Senior Rainey Street Editor for CultureMap Austin since 2014, when he left his jazz fusion group Chupacabra, that he formed while attending UT in 2001.
Jack Craver: Co-owner of a semi-pro vegan Pickleball league in East Austin started during COVID. Attends 10 Comic Cons a year, usually dressed as Art The Clown.
Jenni Lee: Founder of organic, farm-to-table Westlake bakery/cafe Flour Power, which recently announced Austin’s first $11 cup of coffee.
Bob Ballou: Popular sports anchor with great teeth who works for the Austin CBS TV affiliate.
John-Carlos Estrada: Storm chaser and amateur meteorologist based in Kyle. Runs the underground blog Rain Dome Truthers, which seeks to prove that Austin repels rain.
Trevor Scott: Helms Weedstock, a Woodstock-themed cannabis edible business in Encino, California. Opened a branch on St. Elmo in Austin in 2020 in hopes of Texas expansion, but has since been forced to sublet to a micro-meadery.
Coming next: Part II (Actors).