We’re looking forward to introducing you to Makenna Cortney. Check out our conversation below.
Makenna, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I’m soaking up wisdom from a mix of incredible minds including Gabor Maté, Dr. Aimie Apigian, Michael Alan Singer, Alex Howard, Gary Brecka and Esther Perel. Each one challenges me to think deeper and expand how I understand myself and the world around me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I launched Wide-eyed in 2018 with a deep love for live music and a strong desire to create spaces where people could truly feel something, together. I began booking concerts and festivals across Los Angeles, working with venues of all shapes and histories and curating lineups that brought together artists from across the globe. These artists represented a wide range of genres and sounds, each bringing their unique voice to the stage. My goal was to create opportunities for music to shift perspectives. I wanted to give artists a platform to share their important words and notes and to offer audiences a space to connect, reflect, and feel part of something bigger than themselves. There’s something electric about those moments: when the lights dim, the first note hits and suddenly everyone is in it together. Those nights reminded me of the quiet power in simply gathering, listening, and feeling both for the artist and the audience.
After the pandemic, like many of us, I began to re-evaluate. The forced stillness and disconnection made me question the systems we navigate and the way we engage with and relate to one another. I no longer wanted Wide-eyed to be confined to just concerts or to one city. I wanted to deepen my capacity to support people, not just through music, but through the full spectrum of human experience. Music will always be at the heart of my work because it sees people as they are, meets them in their joy and their pain and invites them not to hide. But I began asking: how can I facilitate that kind of presence and acceptance beyond the stage?
That question led to a natural evolution. I stripped away the performative layers—the fog machines, the flashing lights, the desire for applause—and leaned into vulnerability, awareness, and authenticity. Today, Wide-eyed is a multifaceted brand that creates experiences rooted in connection, presence, and embodiment. I now offer everything from curated travel plans and wellness retreats to breathwork sessions, meditation workshops, yoga classes, scuba excursions, pop-ups, charity events and even officiating weddings and living funerals.
As a certified coach, somatic practitioner, facilitator and travel agent—with training in event production, crowd control, trust and safety, first aid, and trauma-informed care—I work at the intersection of physical, emotional and environmental wellbeing. Every offering is designed to hold space for honest, rooted connection—within ourselves, with others and with the places we inhabit.
Since expanding Wide-eyed beyond the stage, I’ve been able to reach people both in person and virtually. I support individuals and groups through one-on-one coaching, guided practices, custom experiences, curated itineraries and unique events—offering guidance that’s adaptable, grounded and accessible no matter where someone is in the world. Having traveled to over 100 countries, I’ve seen firsthand how much our relationships are shaped not just by people, but by the environments we move through. Whether it’s a room filled with music, a quiet stretch of coastline, a circle of breath or a shared ritual, what truly matters is how we show up. The energy of a room, the rhythm of a landscape or the stillness of nature all have a way of reflecting back parts of ourselves we may not have met otherwise.
At the center of everything I do is one simple focus: the art of relationships—our relationships with ourselves, with each other, with the environments that hold us and with the experiences that shape us.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds between people are often broken by holding on too tightly, by trying to control, possess or expect too much from one another. When space, trust and individuality are stifled, connection begins to erode. Relationships need room to breathe in order to grow. But even when bonds are strained or snapped, they can be restored through forgiveness. Forgiveness allows us to release resentment, acknowledge pain without letting it define us and choose understanding over judgment. It softens the heart and reopens the path to connection, making healing possible. When we allow each other to be fully human, flawed, evolving and real, we create the conditions for trust and closeness to return.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I last changed my mind about something important after the pandemic when I decided to expand the direction and scope of my brand. For a long time, I’d admired certain industries and spaces—travel, events outside of the music industry, wellness, coaching, and more—but kept them at a distance. It wasn’t that I didn’t care—I did—but stepping into them required a different kind of vulnerability. I was used to holding space for others, handling logistics behind the scenes and supporting artists as they shared their truth on stage. But this next chapter asked me to show up in that same way: to be just as open and just as visible. It was no longer just about organizing and curating experiences; it was about being fully present with attendees and clients. I had to expand not only the brand, but also myself. Letting go of the fear and self-doubt around that has been one of the most important shifts I’ve made. It reminded me that real growth often asks for our presence, not our perfection.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that authenticity is one of the most important qualities a person can have even if I can’t prove it in any measurable way. There’s something deeply compelling about people who show up as they are—unfiltered, honest and grounded in their truth. Authenticity creates trust, invites connection and gives others permission to do the same. It has a quiet strength to it, the kind that doesn’t need to be loud to be felt. You can’t always explain why someone feels genuine, but you know it when you see it and that feeling stays with you. In a world that often feels uncertain or disconnected, authenticity is what makes our interactions meaningful and our presence deeply recognized.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I deeply understand that that life is meant to be lived, not postponed. So many people move through the world on autopilot, waiting for the right time or perfect conditions before they really engage. I’ve made it a point to do the opposite: to actively participate in the things that move me, both personally and professionally. That’s why my work has taken so many forms. When something inspires me, I follow it. I do not shy away from it. At the core of everything I do is a belief in the value of human connection and I don’t think time zones, what-ifs or distance should get in the way of that. Whether I am producing events, leading yoga, breathwork and meditation sessions, arranging travel, coaching clients or serving as a celebrant for weddings and living funerals, I always seek ways to bridge the space between people. These moments, often tender and profound, remind me that truly living means fully showing up, honoring connection and embracing the depth of experience life offers us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://makennacortney.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makenna.cortney
Image Credits
Charlotte Dawes
McKenna Weitechamp
Zane Roessell
Sara Khan
