We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Christensen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Valley Views is a story telling podcast based out of Las Vegas, telling my real-life perspective of hospitality, family and local city insight. As a 15-year hospitality vet, I feel there is very little out there informing listeners on what to do when they relocate here and what skills you may need to stay relevant, safe, and informed. Often Podcasts interview celebrities or high profiled guests, but on Valley Views I’m seeking small businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs who want to create a unique “Valley View”. Every episode I shed light and create a profile on who they are and what they are doing to make this a more valuable and beneficial city for years to come. As a mother of 2 small children and a wife, I also discuss topics of safety, schools, and key tips of what makes this a family friendly city, over all the other leading cities in the US. Having a platform for anyone to share a voice is the key to my future success. Every single person deserves a chance to create a name for themselves, pursue happiness, with Valley Views I hope to continue to be that for Las Vegas and beyond.

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?

My background expands a 15-year period in Las Vegas where I held roles in Front Office, Revenue Management, Sales & Conference Services, Call Center and Food Services. Expanding various roles and titles I always found what made great service is the people delivering it, not the product. Sure, you can have the big items, but without the right dreamers, voices, and employees, but without the right training, security with colleagues and trust, big things fail all the times. Having a personal brand of Valley Views with a deep-rooted background in essentially creating vacations for people’s lives I have real in-depth experience to bring out the very best in anyone.

The service I offer is an online listening resource to encourage you, inspire you, teach you without even being hired! Having a space to create real stories, share real insights is the root of real journalism. My story could help someone land their next big promotion or a local family NOT move into an area of town, because it WON”T support their needs. It’s not just a podcast, but a future community to make you feel like, not matter where you are in your car, you can see Las Vegas Valley like it’s right before you!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My number one goal driving this decision is to create education and conversation. Moving to Las Vegas, I was only 20 years old with NO family as a college student. Let me be real, what I experienced could have been avoided had I had more resources to inform me on some things you won’t find on the news. Opening the door on why hotels open, what makes guest experience here so important, and how rising costs are truly ruining guest experience coming to a city that once had so much “extra” to give. Creativity fuels growth and in the beginning under 15 episodes I have learned to just keep going. Keep capturing stories, keep asking anyone you met questions, and never stop seeking the chance to learn.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, my 15- year hospitality career took a major nosedive, along with the half of million local workers here in town. I chose my industry, because I knew casinos and hotels were 24/7/365, they’ll never close I’m set for life. Wow what I totally wrong, but the reality is at almost 32 then, I found myself without family, a husband, it was all material and artificial relationships up until that point. I literally gave up my entire home here and car and left contents of 15 years at the dumpster and left town after learning my grandmother and mom fell very ill during the pandemic. Life went from a fast BMW ride with valet trash and laundry services, to living back home in Levittown, Pa where I grew up. Let’s just say I had to actually go to a laundry mat and take my own trash out.

Without, taking the time off forcibly I wouldn’t have had the time to step into the roots of where I am now. I bought my time back in the last few years for the first time ever. I was able to care for and live with my grandmother until she passed. My mom’s health got so much better, that she’s finally retiring here to Las Vegas.
As for me, I realized careers and titles literally mean NOTHING, because once you’re done to a company they DON’T and WON”T care if they fired you illegally when you were pregnant. They won’t care that the job was the lifeline to keeping your future family alive. They won’t care if you’re gone because they are so dead inside themselves, they forgot what it’s like to be alive.
I took the chance on my college crush; Matthew and we got married and had two beautiful children which at almost 40 was something I never thought I’d have.
The pivot was this, I gave up my artificial, material life to tap into true human connection of a real family.
Every UNPAID choice I make now as a mother, Entrepeneur and creator is a way to show my children to never settle and always push yourself to achieve more and be greater.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/65JCASzafK5rgxaxoNqtsz?si=BnA7KCz5RCWPYIWf4VBJqg&nd=1&dlsi=b720d919ccbd4c05
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandajoychristensen/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajangellella/

Image Credits

Headshot Photograph: Bartholomew Photography
Valley Views Podcast Canva Created by Amanda Joy Christensen
Valley Views Episode 10 Image of Family at Lion Habit Ranch
Christensen Family at the TMobile for a recent Vegas Golden Knights Game