“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ W.B. Yeats
On Sunday, I went to a housewarming party and happily saw some of my wonderful former co-workers, now friends. Most have left the company where we worked together and we all talked about finding our next great adventure in the world of work. One person finished up at the company on Friday and really wanted to know if there was as much opportunity out there as he’s heard. My answer was an emphatic “YES!”
The synchronicity of this Yeats quote flying into my inbox this morning was not lost on me. I’m in the midst of a short but intense freelance assignment in addition to my responsibilities at Sesame Workshop, PBS, and Compass Yoga. This morning I had to turn down my first freelance assignment for the sole reason that over the next week or so I have a completely full, well-compensated plate. And then we’re into the holidays when I plan to spend an inordinate amount of quality time with my family and friends, sans work.
I promise you that there are magical, joyful, blow-you-mind unbelievable opportunities floating all around you. So many that you’ll have your pick. They are like fireflies on the warmest summer nights. They are begging to be seen, recognized, and acted upon. By you. To see them, you must let go of your fears about finding them. You must trust the process – commit to finding a new kind of living and working. Then, the opportunities will be so obvious that you’ll wonder why you waited so long. Once you leap, they will be there to light your way.
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
2 thoughts on “Leap: Seek Magic”
It’s so true, Christa, we see what we are looking for. Well said! have a great holiday!
“You can live your life as though nothing is a miracle or you can live your life as though everything is a miracle! – Albert Einstein
P.S. My partner has a blog that I think you would really like:
It’s so true, Christa, we see what we are looking for. Well said! have a great holiday!
“You can live your life as though nothing is a miracle or you can live your life as though everything is a miracle! – Albert Einstein
P.S. My partner has a blog that I think you would really like:
http://www.goodisbetter.net
Cheers!
S.
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I wish I could find some of that magic, I keep looking, but it hasn’t shown up yet.
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