I’m walking where Walt walked, trying not to cry off my fake lashes, and unpacking everything I brought home from Disney’s Created in LA. We’re talking creator lessons from Zach King, the Try Guys, Disney storytellers and more—but this one gets much bigger than content.

I’m sharing why partners matter, why “no” might really mean “not right now,” why we have to be willing to let an idea change, and why views will never be the same thing as community. Then I finally walk through Walt Disney’s office and have one of those full-circle moments I know I’ll never forget. Bet on yourself, boo.

00:00 My Name Was on the Badge
00:43 Welcome Back to After Hours
00:59 Walking Where Walt Walked
02:37 Who Was in the Room
05:28 What I Actually Took Home
07:18 Zach King: Ideas & Trial Reels
08:48 The Pringles Test
09:25 Hooks, Curiosity & Your Story
10:37 Partners Matter
11:26 “No” Is Not Right Now
12:05 Test the Opening
12:49 Be Willing to Let an Idea Go
14:08 Don’t Stay Stagnant
15:47 Views Don’t Create Community
17:26 Walt’s Office & Betting on Yourself

I’m back, boo—and I have some explaining to do. During our quiet two-month hiatus, I seriously considered ending After Hours With Amanda. Instead, I found myself heading to Disney’s Created in LA and confronting some very loud imposter syndrome along the way.

I’m sharing what happened, why the podcast needed room to breathe, the new Dreamers & Believers series, and what it felt like to almost walk away from an opportunity I had dreamed about for years. This is about Disney, yes—but even more, it’s about letting a dream change without deciding it’s dead. Grab your bevie. We’re catching up.

00:00 We Took a Hiatus
00:41 I Almost Ended the Podcast
02:28 Dreamers & Believers Is Coming
04:24 Why Created in LA Meant So Much
06:27 The Dream Only Ends When You Stop
07:13 My Dad & the Mickey Mouse Club
09:21 Applying for Created in LA
10:55 The Acceptance Email
11:53 Imposter Syndrome Almost Won
13:13 Landing in LA
13:31 The El Capitan
15:30 Walking Into a Dream
17:51 Creator Films on the Big Screen
20:53 Meeting Mickey & Minnie
23:06 Christmas Morning at Disney Studios

Grab your bevie and settle in, because today I’m talking about the question I keep teaching my girls to ask: “Why did they tell me that?” We’re getting into gossip, friendship motives, direct communication, self-talk, comparison, and the difference between trying to control our tiny humans and choosing to have an impact. I also share the advice a therapist gave me when I was scared I wouldn’t know how to parent a teenager, plus a little life update about London’s birthday, D23, and why I’m learning to protect the moments I don’t want to miss. This is not a rulebook. It’s a long voicemail between friends about growing alongside our kids, staying in our own lane, and doing our best.

00:00 Snow Globes and Back in My Room
01:11 Choosing What I Won’t Miss
02:55 Growing Into the Parent They Need
04:44 Control Is an Illusion, Impact Lasts
06:07 Stop Comparing Parenting Seasons
07:21 Why We Took a Week Off
09:08 D23, Disney, and Creator Pressure
12:46 Why Did They Tell Me That?
15:09 Gossip, Motives, and Real Friendship
19:31 When Praise Becomes Comparison
22:13 Change the Way You Talk to Yourself
24:34 Stop Guessing Who’s Mad at You
26:26 Rejection Is Redirection
27:19 Honest Conversations Build Safe Relationships
29:31 What’s Next and What I Need You to Hear