NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Entrepreneurship does not always start in a boardroom. Sometimes, it starts with a game.
On a recent episode of the NFM Podcast, hosts Abby Miranda and Mark Vikingstad sat down with Leia Avery, widely known as the “Queen of Fun” to discuss how she transformed her passion for high-energy, nostalgic entertainment into a rapidly growing national business. Avery is the founder of Just Play Entertainment, a full-service game production and event company redefining experiential entertainment across nightlife, lifestyle, collegiate, and corporate spaces.
Based in major markets including Chicago, Atlanta, and Nashville, Just Play Entertainment specializes in interactive game experiences designed to bring people together through competition, connection, and play. What began as a creative outlet has evolved into a scalable entertainment brand trusted by some of the world’s most recognizable organizations.
During the conversation, Avery shared her unconventional journey into game creation and live event production, explaining how identifying a gap in the entertainment market led her to build something entirely her own. By blending nostalgia with modern production and crowd engagement, Just Play carved out a niche that resonates with both younger audiences and corporate clients seeking memorable team-building experiences.
That approach has paid off. Just Play Entertainment has produced events for major brands and institutions including Google, Microsoft, Chick-fil-A, Dell, and Emory University. The company’s innovative work has also earned industry recognition, including being named Small Business of the Year by the Southern Entertainment Awards.
The episode explores the behind-the-scenes realities of turning “fun” into a serious business—from logistics and staffing to brand partnerships and scaling operations across multiple cities. Avery also discusses the importance of creativity in entrepreneurship and why experiential marketing continues to grow as brands look for more authentic ways to connect with audiences.
At its core, the conversation highlights how entertainment, when done intentionally, can become a powerful tool for connection, culture, and community. Avery’s success underscores a broader shift in the events industry toward immersive experiences that prioritize participation over passive consumption.
The episode of the NFM Podcast featuring Leia Avery is sponsored by OptimizeU, Clean Juice, and the U.S. Navy, and is part of Nashville Fit Magazine’s ongoing focus on entrepreneurs and leaders shaping the future of business, lifestyle, and experiential innovation.
Listeners can find the full episode on the NFM Podcast platforms, with more conversations spotlighting creators and visionaries redefining their industries.
