Rows upon rows of jumping spiders in tiny, thoughtfully decorated condos line the walls and windows of Lauren Taylor's kitchen. Take one out of its enclosure, and it'll look at you with large eyes and an almost human-like gaze, tilting it's head as you speak - sometimes even raising a leg to wave at you.
It was those deep eyes that the Northern Nevada native says turned her fear into an utter fascination.
"I've been terrified of spiders my whole entire life," Taylor told 2 News Nevada. "It's been instilled with me from my mom, you know, always teaching us that they're scary and dangerous and all that. So then I saw a picture of a regal (jumping spider), and I was like, what? This like goes against everything I've heard about spiders."
Today, she owns her own business - Spider Stuff Co. - where she not only breeds and sells jumping spiders, but she also treks them across the region, hosting parties and events to help others overcome their fears.
She says it's a fast process that she gets to watch in real-time, as attendees swallow their anxieties to get up-close and personal with jumping spiders.
"People are so fearful of such a small creature. When you can like, release that fear and educate yourself and get to know them, it's like a huge burden off of you," Taylor said.
Beyond her mission to help others overcome arachnophobia, she said she also hopes the spider meet-and-greets show people the personable - even lovable - side of spiders.
"It's so heart-warming when a spider, like, acknowledges you," she said. "You're like, oh, we're kind of friends, and then you actually build that bond with the spider."
Taylor's next pop-up event is 'Fall in Love with Spiders' happening Saturday, Nov. 8 from 2-5 p.m. at Our Center in Midtown, Reno. She says she'll be available to answer questions and teach spider-handling skills.
Ten percent of all spider adoptions and enclosure sales will benefit Our Center.
