Who we are

The Story Behind DopaMayhem

Hi, I'm Amanda, and I'm a medical speech-language pathologist who created DopaMayhem because I was tired of party games that left me feeling drained instead of energized.

As a working mom of two who studies how the brain works every day, I needed something that could bring people together AND actually make us feel better. Not just distracted—genuinely better.

I've always loved making people laugh and feel good. Game nights were my favorite, but recently I discovered meditation and breathwork, and I was amazed by how much better they made me feel. My brain, trained in neuroplasticity, started connecting the dots.

Then one day, out of nowhere, this wild idea popped into my head: What if we combined the joy of game night with the science of nervous system regulation?

I dove deeper into the research and discovered something fascinating: your nervous system LOVES the rhythm between activation and rest. It's called pendulation, and it's how we naturally process stress and build resilience.

DopaMayhem puts this science into action. Every laugh, every silly moment, every grounding breath is training your brain to handle life's ups and downs with more ease.

Plot Twist: The Kickstarter Connection

Here's the crazy part—I never thought I'd be a game designer. But back in 2012, I actually applied for a job at Kickstarter in Manhattan. To stand out, I created a (terribly designed) board game in MS Word to send with my resume. It had ridiculous challenges for employees, including one space that dubbed whoever landed on it the "Kickstarter Farter" for the day.

I can't believe that years later, I'm developing a real game to launch on... Kickstarter. Talk about full circle!

Sometimes the universe has the best sense of humor.

The Mission

We're creating experiences that bring out your best self, with your best friends, while having ridiculous fun. Because adults deserve recess too.

Every laugh, every breath, every grounded moment is building your emotional strength. We believe wellness doesn't have to be work - it can be play that actually makes you better at handling real life.

The Vision: A world where game night leaves you feeling more connected, more regulated, and surprisingly grounded - with skills that carry into your everyday stress and joy.