“What is to give light must endure the burning.” ~ Viktor Frankl
Yesterday I posted about not delaying our actions because we have more than we think we do, and what we have right now can do a lot of good for others. Sometimes, it’s harder to give of ourselves than we’d like it to be. I want to teach more yoga classes and I want to get a pilot of Innovation Station up and running. Both are taking more time to come to fruition than I’d like them to. Finding the right partners and carving out the time in our schedules can take a bit of fancy footwork. Sometimes it does take a bit of patience to find the right opportunity, and it’s important to keep searching.
I’ve been thinking of the Viktor Frankl quote as I’ve worked my way through Harold Ford Jr.’s book More Davids Than Goliaths. It’s an interesting read, particularly with mid-term elections next Tuesday. In his quest to serve, Mr. Ford met with many roadblocks. Yes, there were great victories but there were great defeats, too. And even in those defeats, he found shards of light that he could piece together. His expectations sometimes fell short, but he never had an ounce of regret about his very long journey.
The same should be true of our quest to serve, whatever form that takes. Finding the right place and right time to put our gifts to work is not always an easy task, but I can promise you it’s worth it. We have to take some wrong turns sometimes to truly appreciate the right opportunity when it appears. Don’t let this discourage you. Take a cue from Mr. Ford – there are more Davids than Goliaths, more people who want to help us than stand in our way. The key to finding them is continuously being willing to put ourselves out there, to never give up, and appreciate every victory, large and small.
Published by Christa Avampato
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
“What is to give light must endure the burning.” ~ Viktor Frankl
