An Inspired Chat with Andrea Emmes of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Andrea Emmes and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, 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. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Great question. I would say I’m walking a path. From a very early age, I knew I wanted to be a performer – act, sing, dance, write and I’ve been very blessed to have had so many incredible opportunities to do so. There’s also been many times in my life where I’ve had to pivot, due to needing to move and re-establish myself in a new state, figure out what I was going to do after being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (a chronic neurological pain disorder), or what to try next after being laid off in tech. The latter actually was a great pivot, as much as I loved being a game designer for Disney Interactive, but it brought me back to performing, just in a different form. Getting back into voice over, especially as an audiobook narrator has allowed me to continue to entertain and perform as a disabled person. I struggle to walk or stand much and can’t head back into any of the performance vocations I once enjoyed but sitting in my recording booth at home, being able to set my own schedule within that book’s recording time frame is such a gift and I’m just so grateful and fulfilled in this job. So, for the last 12 years, I’ve been walking a path as an audiobook narrator and now as an author and I couldn’t be happier.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi All! My name is Andrea Emmes and for the past 25+ years I’ve been a performer. I started my career in musical theatre, then sang and danced at many theme parks and shows – Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, Pirates Dinner Adventure. I’ve been blessed to be able to do some really cool stuff. I was also a magician’s assistant on a cruise ship, headlined with a girl group called “The GG Girls” on the strip in Las Vegas, produced an award-winning animated short film, wrote, worked on a reality show for a bit and dabbled in a little tv and film and then voice over work, especially as an audiobook narrator.

Before becoming an audiobook narrator, in 2006, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disorder (CRPS Type 1) and had to retire from performing and figure out my next step. In the early years post diagnosis, I was invalid and whilst dealing with extreme pain, I wrote an 11 song album that some amazing musicians and collaborators joined me in recording the album and performing in a few shows here and there. Whilst that was cathartic and fulfilled a dream of mine, I had to pivot to figure out what would pay the bills.

I went back to college in 2009 and graduated with a bachelor’s of science in Game Art & Design and worked as an associate game designer for 2 years! So much fun. I was a narrative/content designer (writer) and level designer. Sadly, my team was laid off and I had to pivot again and that’s when I broke out my voice over gear and began my journey as an audiobook narrator.

As of October 28, 2025, my debut novel, “Eternal Beauty”, co-written with the incomparable Ashley Fontainne, released as an eBook, paperback and audiobook! It’s been quite a ride!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Hmmm. Poetic question. I would say a lack of empathy can break the bonds between people. I think hubris and ego can be a devastating force if we’re not careful as we can cause so much harm to others without even realizing it because we might be hyper focused in our own “bubble”, what’s happening within our lives and points of view and ignoring others’ perspectives. Often times we can feel like we are the ones always in the right or who knows more than the other. Trying to patronize and condescend anyone with differing opinions and not being willing to listen and see someone for who they are, warts and all, really hear what they have to say, appreciate where they are coming from and how they feel even if you disagree. Judging people on petty and shallow things are divisive and destructive and strips others of their agency, identity and humanity.

What I think helps restore these bonds between people is empathy and humility, kindness and an open mind, a willingness to be wrong and to learn new things, remember that all of us have a backstory with varying levels of trauma. It would be amazing if we could be open to being vulnerable and embrace others who do not look like us, think, feel or believe like us so that we may be open to the beauty of what each person has to offer.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Beautiful question. Like everyone, I’ve gone through a lot of heartache from relationships gone wrong, losing loved ones as they passed on but as far as “suffering”… I’ve had the deepest level of suffering whilst living with CRPS – Complex Regional Pain Disorder Type 1, a chronic neurological pain disorder.

It completely stopped me in my tracks and took away everything that I loved doing, from performing to simply just walking or standing. I dove into a deep depression and struggled with suicidal ideation in the beginning of my diagnosis and during the highest points of pain levels. Thankfully the doctors, therapists, medications, prayers, meditations, family and friends helped me through the worst of it but it was still hard to reconcile that the Andrea before the accident was gone. Being a singer, dancer and actor – a entertainer – that was who I was, who I always wanted to be and now that that’s been stripped away from me, who am I now? What am I going to do now?

Going through all of that helped me to slow down. To be more patient. To focus and to be okay with change. I found that even though so much of who I was and what I loved doing was gone, that didn’t mean I was done as a professional or as a person.

I learned to fight and that I’m stronger mentally, spiritually and emotionally than I thought and that I can still live a joyous, wonderful, entertaining life. I would just have to adjust how I walk this new path now.

All of this led me to writing an award-winning album, getting a degree, being a game designer for a while (the life long gamer in me was ecstatic!), meeting my husband, becoming an audiobook narrator and now an author.

Even though we might have struggles and challenges, moments that we are suffering and searching for answers to “why” and “how to I come back from this”, there’s always a way forward. It’ll be hard, but pushing through the pain and realizing that we’re still worthy, useful and not as helpless as we might feel, can really help boost our ability to find a way.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Most definitely … and a tiny bit not. I’m definitely very bubbly, friendly, goofy and love helping people. My OCD and my Type A personality is for sure front and center but I love people. I’m direct and “blunt with love” as I try to say, lol. If you ask for my opinion, be prepared to get it… but I don’t mind if you take it with a grain of salt, embrace it or throw it away. I’m very open, especially about my disability and what I’m going through. I’m not one to shy away from letting others know I’m hurting, however I would say the there is still a mask I wear that hides a good portion of what I’m feeling and suffering so as not to burden others with that or make them feel uncomfortable. I’m not ashamed of my disability but I know not everyone is comfortable with disability nor is everything about me and I don’t want to take away from someone else’s spotlight or issue.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
It would be lovely that my legacy would reflect my empathy and resilience. That people would share goofy and funny stories about me, that I was a kind soul who always went out of my way to help and edify others. That I didn’t allow a NO or obstacles and challenges to keep me from trying, achieving and being a better person and living the life that I want to live. That I always strove to be better then I was the day before and was always willing to listen and learn.

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