Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Wolfe.
Hi AJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a writer, journalist, speaker, entrepreneur, and media creator. I founded Cambrick Yard Media, a multi-media company overseeing several brands and products focused on travel, social media, food, and more, in 2007.
One of my personal passions is running The Disney Food Blog, an independent brand that has grown exponentially over 15 years to reach millions of readers, viewers, and followers daily across several platforms. That success is mostly due to being an obsessed Disney theme parks devotee and a stickler for honest, comprehensive, relatable, and sometimes kind of embarrassing journalism and storytelling.
My love for Disney parks, stories, and products began in childhood when I bonded with my Dad over the epic EPCOT Center soundtrack in 1985; but expanded later when Disney World became an escape from the real world and the hard parts of “growing up.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Does anyone ever say it’s been a smooth road in these interviews? I’m genuinely curious!
Plenty of struggles, but one that I think is very relatable is that media — including social media, which didn’t exist when I started my company — is mercurial. Platforms, audiences, algorithms change every day. Technology is constantly being upgraded. To stay relevant in media, you have to follow your audience.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My job is to help people and, hopefully, add value to their lives. Right now, that takes the form of Disney World and travel guides, books, youtube videos, website articles, and social media content. I’m known for founding and owning DisneyFoodBlog.com and owning AllEars.net, two relatively large Disney travel guide brands. But I think what sets me apart is the voice that comes through our content. We’re Disney nerds through and through, but we’re also your trustworthy best friend who’s gonna tell you the details nobody else will. It means we have to work harder than our competitors, but hopefully it means that we add a lot more value for our audience.
I’ve been doing this for the last 15 years, so that means we’ve weathered difficult questions during the Walt Disney Company’s times of plenty as well as times of struggle. I’ve been a featured interviewee for the Wall Street Journal, MSN.com, Parents magazine, National Public Radio, CNN, Orlando Sentinel, Fast Company, and more. On the more fun side of things, profiles have been done about my weird venn diagram of a career (media creator, food critic, theme park junkee, and entrepreneur) by The New York Times, Eater.com, National Public Radio, and People Magazine.
On August 5th, my first non-guide book comes out — Disney Adults — through Simon and Schuster. This is a deep dive into the often misunderstood subculture of Disney Adults, who we are, and how we got this way.
How do you think about happiness?
Safety and security — because I’ve always been an anxious person, so when I feel safe and secure, I can relax a little more.
Walking — This is imperative to my mental health. See above re: anxiety.
Not feeling alone — I am happy BEING alone, but I am always happiest when I have loved ones I can reach out to. Loneliness — the feeling of having nobody you can call, nobody you can talk to — is extremely difficult. This is a tough balance as an introvert and I am very lucky that I have family and friends who understand that I need them, even if I don’t need them next to me.
Pricing:
- $28.99 hardcover https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Disney-Adults/AJ-Wolfe/9781668069219
Contact Info:
- Website: AJWolfe.com and DisneyFoodBlog.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyfoodblog
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfbguide
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-wolfe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyfoodblog
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/dfbguide
- Other: https://Allears.net
