Ep. 139: Amberly Lago Turning Pain into PURPOSE
Send us Fan Mail Amberly Lago is a widely recognized expert in helping entrepreneurs build their businesses through grit and resilience. As the founder of The Unstoppable Life Mastermind, she has worked with thousands of clients, empowering them to achieve success by developing resilience and perseverance. She is the host of The Amberly Lago Show, a podcast recognized by Apple as being among the Top 1% of podcasts worldwide. An internationally sought-after speaker on grit, resilience, and con...
Amberly Lago is a widely recognized expert in helping entrepreneurs build their businesses through grit and resilience. As the founder of The Unstoppable Life Mastermind, she has worked with thousands of clients, empowering them to achieve success by developing resilience and perseverance.
She is the host of The Amberly Lago Show, a podcast recognized by Apple as being among the Top 1% of podcasts worldwide.
An internationally sought-after speaker on grit, resilience, and connection, Amberly has shared the stage with bestselling authors and thought leaders, and has delivered keynote presentations for companies including Lululemon, Google, and Athleta. Her TEDx talk has garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
Through her authentic approach and unwavering commitment to serving others, Amberly has built a large and deeply engaged community. She is passionate about helping people overcome personal and professional challenges, equipping them with the mindset and resilience needed to create lasting success.
A sought after thought leader and bestselling author in 19 categories, her insights have been featured in national media outlets like Forbes, USA Today (named Top Most Influential Speaker In the nation), The Doctors, Hallmark and The TODAY Show.
Amberly has overcome major trauma in her life including 34 surgeries to save her leg after a horrific motorcycle accident. She emerged on top by leveraging her proprietary P.A.C.E.R. Method which teaches how authentically connecting with others leads to unstoppable resilience and success.
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Quick Episode Summary:
✅ What if your deepest pain became your greatest teacher?
✅ Amberly Lago reveals how surviving 34 surgeries and living with chronic pain sparked grit, gratitude, and a new purpose.
✅ On Passing The Torch, Amberly discusses resilience, hidden scars, finding joy alongside pain, and why desperation can be the spark for life-changing transformation.
✅ Real stories, hard truths, and the secret to turning adversity into your superpower - press play and get inspired to rewrite your own story!
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Podcast Chapters:
00:00 Random Stuff
06:15 Nervous before a big speech
12:13 Building Relationships through Research
13:45 Turning down an opportunity
18:59 Amberly Lago's journey of resilience
22:51 Dealing with chronic health issues
26:18 Recovering from injuries
28:11 Using gratitude to overcome fear
31:26 Finding gratitude after the accident
35:07 Struggling with alcoholism and recovery
37:11 Dealing with hidden struggles
41:10 Living with visible and invisible scars
46:32 Talking about favorite movies
47:31 Talking about celebrity lookalikes
51:34 Billboard message for struggling individuals
53:46 Expressing gratitude to Amberly
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🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:
- Podcast Recording and Modern Trends
- The Business and Reality of Publishing and Speaking
- Amberly's Resilience Journey
- Integrity, Self-Worth, and Opportunity with Jesse Itzler
- Coping with Pain, Addiction, and Recovery
- Vulnerability, Scars, and Inner Strength
- Mindset Shift and Reframing Adversity
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People and Names mentioned in the episode:
- MC Hammer
- Jesse Itzler
- Scott MacGregor
- Ed Mylett
- Rachel McAdams
- Brad Pitt
- Jon Gordon
- Trent Shelton
- Renée Marino
- Maye Musk
- Mel Robbins
- Lewis Howes
- Brendon Burchard
- Henry Ammar
- Jay Shetty
- Chef Rush
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Quotes to open episodes:
“Obstacles don’t block the path they ARE the path.”
“We are walking permission slips for our children.”
“Addiction does not discriminate.”
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Amberly's Resources:
◼ Website: https://amberlylago.com/
◼ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/
◼ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlylago/
◼ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmberlyLagoMotivation
◼ Podcast: https://amberlylago.com/podcast/
Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin
More Amazing Stories:
Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure
Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way
Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel
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00:00 - Art of Natural Conversations
06:15 - Nervous before a big speech
12:13 - Building Relationships through Research
13:45 - Turning down an opportunity
18:59 - Amberly Lago's journey
22:51 - Dealing with chronic health issues
26:18 - Recovering from injuries
28:11 - Using gratitude to overcome fear
31:26 - Finding gratitude after the accident
35:07 - Struggling with alcoholism and recovery
37:11 - Dealing with hidden struggles
41:10 - Living with visible and invisible scars
46:32 - Talking about favorite movies
47:31 - Talking about celebrity lookalikes
51:34 - Billboard message for struggling individuals
53:46 - Expressing gratitude to Amberly
Passing The Torch — Episode: Amberly Lago
Podcast Summary
This episode features Amberly Lago, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and a renowned voice on grit, resilience, and overcoming adversity. The conversation opens with candid reflections on the evolving style of podcasts, particularly the use of natural preambles and hooks to engage listeners right from the start 00:00.
Amberly shares her journey from a successful athletic and dance career to facing unimaginable hardships after a near-fatal motorcycle accident that resulted in 34 surgeries and a diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), often referred to as the “suicide disease” due to its severe, unrelenting pain 19:05. She explains how pain became her greatest teacher and how gratitude, connection, and a mindset shift helped her navigate the physical and psychological challenges of chronic pain and disability 28:11.
Throughout the episode, Amberly emphasizes the importance of research and preparation for success, both in podcasting and in life. She illustrates how deep personal inquiry—doing the "hard work before the opportunity"—is vital for building meaningful connections and seizing moments of impact, sharing examples from her own network and interviews 09:49.
Amberly speaks authentically about overcoming addiction, the shame associated with it, and how desperation became a gift that led her to recovery and a renewed sense of purpose through service to others 35:07. She discusses the coexistence of pain and joy, resilience through adversity, and how vulnerability can become a source of strength 24:24, 41:10.
In lighter moments, listeners learn about Amberly’s past as a dancer (including dancing with MC Hammer), her family life, and her passion for spreading positivity—often through spontaneous dancing in public 44:46.
The episode wraps up with Amberly’s advice for entrepreneurial resilience, her hypothetical message for a billboard on Skid Row (“With God, all things are possible. Don’t give up.”), and her gratitude for authentic connection and friendship 51:34, 52:42.
Key Themes:
- Turning pain into purpose and embracing both vulnerability and strength
- The power of gratitude and mindset in the face of adversity
- Authentic connection as a foundation for resilience
- The importance of research, preparation, and consistency in any pursuit
- Finding joy and humor even amid challenges
Amberly Lago’s story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the transformative power of embracing both pain and possibility.