Meet the Publisher: Amanda Murphy

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Tulsa. My roots are in Tulsa proper and northeast Oklahoma. In fact, two of my grandparents were graduates of Central High School when it was located downtown. I grew up always being aware of Tulsa’s history because I’ve been surrounded by people who lived it. I am also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

I graduated from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor’s degree in communication and Spanish. After that I spent time in Chicago earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University in management and from DePaul University in media studies. The Chicago area is where I launched my career in marketing. After living and working in Maine, I returned to Tulsa in 2014. I worked for a variety of organizations either in full-time or consulting roles in Tulsa and some out of state prior to TulsaKids.

I have a daughter who will be heading into fifth grade and a stepson who will be a freshman in college this fall. My husband, the kids, and I stay busy. When work and school don’t keep us hopping, we enjoy traveling and spending time in the Tahlequah area by the Illinois River.

What drew you to TulsaKids, and what made you want to become the publisher?

I started reading TulsaKids when my stepson was little. Several years down the road, I got the opportunity to blog for TulsaKids. At the time it was a hobby, but one that I took very seriously. Even during my busiest workweeks, I’d find time to write whether that meant from an airplane, the passenger seat of a car, or at midnight. There was a particular moment when I knew the publication was supposed to be my entire career and not just a side gig. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Prior to taking on the role of owner/publisher in December 2025, I learned the ropes from the TulsaKids team for a year and a half as an account executive. My background is in business, and I love the community-driven nature of TulsaKids. It is a blessing to be in this role.

You’re an animal lover! Can you tell us about your pets and your heart for animals?

Let’s just say our smallest dog is 7 pounds and our largest dog is about 117 pounds! My oldest dog, Yoko, is around 18, according to a recent dog DNA test. All of the dogs I’ve had throughout my adult life, except one, have been from shelters or nonprofit animal rescues.

We also have a cat. He’s the first cat I’ve ever had. My stepson immediately cuddles the dogs when he gets home, whereas my daughter goes right to the cat. Having an animal in the house you can connect with is special.

Fun fact: I wanted to be a vet growing up, but decided against it in early high school after my dad took me to see a veterinarian perform a dog surgery. You probably shouldn’t be a veterinarian if you pass out while giving dogs shots or doing basic procedures—just in case anyone was wondering.

What excites you most about the future of TulsaKids?

I’m excited about the fantastic ideas that come from our team. We are building new relationships within our state and region while continuing to nurture existing relationships. Everyone on the team is committed to the mission.

Though we are known for our print publication, we’ve had a large digital distribution for years, and it has expanded significantly this year. People definitely have their reading preferences and we want to meet them where they are. We are rolling out a new website soon and other projects on the horizon to cater to our readers and our advertising partners.

There truly isn’t a better time to be part of TulsaKids.

Why do you think TulsaKids resonates so much with Tulsa families?

TulsaKids has been a trusted resource for more than 35 years and I believe the publication is more relevant now than ever. At a time when an increasing amount of content is purely AI, we are proudly the opposite. We are real people promoting our community and providing useful information from appropriate professionals — in print with an even more expansive digital audience. I think people are craving that.

The team behind each TulsaKids issue includes our staff, the writers and photographers who make it happen. We are a resource for all families — kind of like the friend who provides encouragement and entertaining stories alongside must-know details. We are sometimes the first “friend” people have when they move to the area and they stick with us. I can guarantee a lot of grandparents reading TulsaKids today picked up their first copy long ago when their kids were in grade school.\

What do you love about raising a family in Tulsa?

The Tulsa area has changed in many ways since I grew up here. There are so many things to do now! There are museums, entertainment centers, parks, sports games, a thriving performing arts community and numerous festivals and free family activities. You can stay as busy as you want. Meanwhile, places like Dallas, Kansas City, and Wichita are close enough for a long weekend.

This issue is all about summer travel. Do you have any summer travel plans?

We have a few regional trips planned already within Oklahoma and to Texas and Missouri. We enjoy Colorado summers so perhaps some time there.  I hope to spend a week in Maine.

What else would you like TulsaKids readers to know?

Relationships are at the core of what we do. We want this to be a space that resonates with you. If you have something to share, don’t be a stranger. Feel free to reach out to us at hello@tulsakids.com or to me personally at amanda@tulsakids.com.