We recently had the chance to connect with Amy Vorpahl and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, 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. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I love getting up really early, but I’m not always motivated to, so I take boxing classes at 7am! I’ve trained in Muay Thai for the better part of 10 years, and I’ve only recently transitioned to a boxing gym (similar, but no kicking) when my Muay Thai gym moved further away from my home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Amy Vorpahl is a content and music creator who tends to laugh at everything (you may have seen her on Dropout’s “Breaking News”). Her extensive background in sketch and improv makes her Dungeon Mastering lean a little bit silly and a lotta bit fun! She has been playing D&D since college, and her two music albums, “Songs in the Key of D&D” and “Behold Her Dreams,” were inspired by many characters and experiences at the table. Amy has written for Official D&D books, “Candlekeep Mysteries” and “Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons;” and she has played D&D on notable streams such as Critical Role, Dimension 20, The Guild, and more. She is the Creative Director for Alchemy RPG’s world and campaign book “Dark Symmetry” and the DM for the TTRPG actual play “Sagas of Sundry: Goblin Mode.”
She is currently building a training/education program for performance-based TTRPG players and Dungeon Masters. She has already run two successful classes of her DM School. And she’s excited to crowdfund her one person musical comedy show, “As Long As There’s Magic” this fall!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I have always believed myself to be a “good second-in-command.” A vice president, a substitute, a fill-in, an assistant to the decision-makers. My therapist might say it’s maybe because I’m the second-born in a set of twins or maybe because I was intensely bullied as a child. I don’t really know why, but I really proved myself to be a great employee or collaborator. As I am moving forward in my projects and collaborations, it’s becoming clearer that it’s time for me to own my own leadership, as imperfect as it might be. I believe in wonderful things, I have an amazing supportive vision, and I stand for powerful ideals. It’s time for me to believe I’m the main event instead of the side show, for my benefit and others’.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I have had multiple times in my life where I thought “maybe I should leave LA and go back home to Texas,” but then the question always arose: “and what would you do there?” You know, “You can’t only run from something, you have to run towards something, too.” And all my thoughts and work and meditation continued to lead me back to storytelling. So, why would I pursue storytelling in Texas if I already have a life and friends and a foundation here in LA? It never made any sense. Now I understand that if ever I think, “I would be a good high school math or physics teacher,” it’s just me panicking, and I’m probably scared of starting my next idea for a project. By the way, I actually would be a GREAT math or physics teacher.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
We are all connected, you get what you give, your attention makes things grow, love is the only way to heal.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly believe I’m doing what I was born to do–or at least my best educated guess. I often reflect on what I would want to say about my life on my death bed, and every single time, I am really proud of myself for consistently going towards my dreams. The “how” has consistently looked different than I imagined–unexpected mostly in a whimsical, surprising and better-than-expected way, although not without hurdles nor friction. I thought I was meant to act and perform since I remember (age 3? 4?). I’ve been singing and dancing and putting on plays for forever. But as an adult, I understand that only acting would leave out a huge gift of writing/creating that I love. My most rewarding and challenging jobs have all used every last piece of my creativity from both the acting and writing sides, and I intend to keep letting both skills and their subcategories drive the bus.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amyvorpahl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vorpahlsword/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-vorpahl-2544858/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/thenobleamy
- Other: https://www.amyvorpahl.com/subscribe
https://www.patreon.com/c/amyvorpahl
https://amyvorpahl.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Cici Andersen, Cam Rice, KP Upadhyayula, Graham Sheldon
