Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At AmandaFest, our mission is to help ambitious dreamers reconnect with themselves and others through the pillars of intentionality, connection, and play. We believe a fulfilling life isn’t something you stumble into—it’s something you create on purpose.

This mission is deeply personal. I spent years grinding in the entertainment industry, checking every box of “success,” but feeling completely disconnected from my joy. It wasn’t until I slowed down, got curious, and began taking aligned action—actions that felt true to who I am—that things began to shift. I realized that fun, presence, and meaning weren’t distractions from the work… they were the work.

Now, whether it’s through my podcast, immersive events, or intentional social experiences, I help people get off autopilot and into alignment. I want people to know they’re not just the main character of their lives—they’re the director. Through intentional choices, meaningful connections, and unapologetic play, we can design a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Amanda , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Amanda Laurena—Chief Vibe Officer of AmandaFest, podcast host, event producer, facilitator, and speaker. I’m on a mission to bring intentionality, connection, and play to events and experiences around the world. I help ambitious dreamers get off autopilot and into alignment—because when we lead with presence and joy, everything shifts.

My journey into this work has been anything but linear. In 2017, I took a solo trip to Thailand that cracked me open. It was my first real taste of spirituality and personal development, and it planted the seed for the work I do today. But at the time, I was still deep in the grind—spending the better part of a decade working in the entertainment industry across both Broadway and Hollywood. I worked in casting, talent representation, and production, eventually supporting A-list actors and producing large-scale events for industry executives and VIPs. On paper, it looked like I had “made it.” But on the inside, I felt increasingly disconnected from my own purpose.

In 2022, I began working intentionally with plant medicine, which became another massive catalyst in my personal and spiritual growth. It helped me peel back layers of conditioning, reconnect with my truth, and remember the version of me that existed before the expectations. That year marked a major turning point. And in 2023, I finally made the leap—I left Hollywood and the life I had built behind. I gave up my apartment, put everything in storage, and became a full-time traveler, choosing curiosity, creativity, and connection as my new compass.

Now, I create transformative, high-vibe experiences that help people connect—to themselves, to each other, and to the moment. Whether it’s a festival, brand activation, corporate event, or community gathering, I design and produce immersive experiences that blend play, intentionality, and connection to turn moments into meaningful impact. My work includes sober-curious nightlife events, guided meditations, intentional pregame experiences, post-event integration, workshops, and community activations that invite people to feel more alive and connected.

I also host The AmandaFest Podcast, where I share real, soul-expanding conversations about personal growth, creativity, healing, and taking aligned action toward your dream life. My guests range from artists to founders to healers—people who are fully embodied in their mission and here to make magic.

One of the core messages I share is around intentional consumption. I don’t believe you need substances to have a good time—you already have everything you need within you. While I’m not anti-psychedelics and still work intentionally with plant medicine, I invite people to get off autopilot and ask why they’re consuming. I especially challenge the normalization of alcohol culture, which often encourages disconnection rather than presence. My mission is to help people reconnect with their joy, on their own terms.

What sets me apart is the way I merge my entertainment background with embodiment, spirituality, and emotional intelligence. I’ve learned how to curate spaces that are both energizing and grounding—where depth meets fun, and intention meets impact. I don’t just produce events—I live this work. I’ve taken the leaps, done the healing, and built something that feels truly aligned.

I’m most proud of turning my own transformation into a movement that inspires others to create lives they actually want to live. You’re not just the main character of your story—you’re the director. And when you lead with intentionality, connect deeply, and allow yourself to play, you create a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2023, I made the biggest pivot of my life—I walked away from a decade-long career in the entertainment industry, left my apartment, and put everything I owned in storage. On paper, I had built a dream career—working with A-list talent, producing major events, and thriving in a world many people aspire to. But inside, I knew I was out of alignment. I had been living on autopilot, building other people’s dreams while putting my own on pause.

That pivot wasn’t just a career change—it was a full identity shift. I chose to prioritize joy, creativity, and connection. I started traveling full-time, deepened my work with plant medicine, and began creating intentional experiences that blended everything I love: travel, spirituality, entertainment, community, and play. What came from that leap was AmandaFest—a platform, podcast, and movement designed to help others get off autopilot and design lives that feel deeply good. It was terrifying and uncertain at first, but it led me to the most fulfilling, aligned work I’ve ever done.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In early 2022, I was standing at a crossroads. I knew I wanted to shift my life in a big way, but I didn’t know how it would unfold. I was burned out, spiritually curious, and craving a deeper connection to myself—but I was also scared. Around that time, I began working with plant medicine and diving into nervous system healing and mindset work. What people don’t always talk about is that healing can be harder than staying the same. I had to face parts of myself I had buried for years, let go of identities I had outgrown, and sit in the discomfort of the unknown.

But I kept showing up. I kept listening. I kept taking the next aligned step, even when I didn’t have a clear roadmap. I went from feeling disconnected and stuck to building a life that reflects who I truly am. For me, resilience isn’t about “pushing through”—it’s about surrendering, recalibrating, and choosing to keep going, even when the path looks nothing like you imagined. That chapter showed me my strength—and reminded me that everything I needed was already within me all along.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @amandalaurena
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalaurengluck/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmandaLaurena
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gY88hSoNb5xQivKUNNRnr?si=048fd1c9c3914815