Advertise on podcast: The Amberly Lago Show: Stories of True Grit and Grace

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! Today I'm sitting down with Karlton Butts, bestselling author of The Soundtrack of Leadership, lawyer, engineer, musician, and leadership expert, for a powerful conversation about resilience, mindset, leadership, culture, alignment, and creating high-performing teams. Karlton's story is an incredible reminder of how adversity can completely change the direction of our lives. While in college and pursuing his love of music, Karlton contracted a severe case of meningococcal meningitis and spent nearly two weeks in the hospital fighting for his life. The experience gave him a completely new perspective and made him ask a powerful question: What am I capable of if I truly make the most of this second chance?  That mindset changed everything. Karlton shifted his focus academically, studied electrical engineering, earned a NASA scholarship, worked on artificial intelligence and robotics at McDonnell Douglas, explored business at Harvard, and eventually pursued law. His journey shows why opportunities rarely just fall into our laps. We have to be willing to take initiative, work for them, and keep moving forward even when life changes the plan. We also talk about Karlton's philosophy of choosing positivity in the face of adversity. We can't control every challenge life throws at us, but we can control how we respond. Whether it's a major health crisis or simply getting a flat tire on the way to an important commitment, Karlton believes resilience comes from staying resourceful, intentional, and focused on the next step.  And one of my favorite parts of this conversation is how Karlton connects his lifelong passion for music to effective leadership. In The Soundtrack of Leadership, he compares a successful organization to a great band. Everyone may play a different role, but the best results happen when the entire team understands the mission, listens to one another, knows when to lead, and stays in rhythm toward the same goal.  We dive into workplace culture, team building, communication, company values, self-doubt, attitude, and hiring the right people. Karlton explains why true alignment begins with clarity around mission, values, and purpose and why individual growth ultimately strengthens the entire organization. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, leader, or anyone navigating an unexpected chapter, this episode is a reminder that setbacks don't have to stop your momentum. Stay positive, surround yourself with the right people, get clear on your purpose, and keep moving forward. We Discuss: Karlton's journey from aspiring musician to engineer, lawyer, author, and leadership expert Surviving meningococcal meningitis and receiving a second chance at life How adversity can change your priorities and reveal what you're capable of Taking initiative instead of waiting for opportunities to find you Karlton's experiences with NASA, McDonnell Douglas, AI, engineering, business, and law Why resilience is about how you respond to circumstances you can't control Choosing positivity when negativity is all around you Finding the root cause of a negative workplace culture Surrounding yourself with people who lift you up The connection between music, teamwork, and effective leadership Why a business team should operate like a great band Creating alignment around mission, values, and purpose The importance of clarity, communication, accountability, and knowing your role Attitude, behavior, perception, and skills as foundations for individual growth How self-doubt and limiting perceptions can hold people back Why attitude can matter more than skill when building a team Creating a culture where people can work in rhythm and perform at their best Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: what a great band can teach us about leadership and teamwork 01:00 Introduction to Karlton Butts and The Soundtrack of Leadership 03:00 Karlton's lifelong passion for music and his dream of becoming a rock star 06:00 Contracting spinal meningitis in college and fighting for his life 10:00 How surviving meningitis gave Karlton a new perspective on life 13:00 Changing direction, studying electrical engineering, and discovering his potential 16:00 NASA, McDonnell Douglas, artificial intelligence, and creating your own opportunities 19:00 Why you have to be proactive about creating the life and career you want 21:00 Staying positive and resourceful when life doesn't go according to plan 24:00 How negativity affects individuals, relationships, and workplace culture 27:00 Finding the root cause of a negative company culture 29:00 Why surrounding yourself with positive people matters 30:00 The Soundtrack of Leadership, team alignment, mission, values, communication, attitude, and building a team that works in rhythm. To Connect with Karlton Butts: Instagram @karltonbutts Learn More About Karlton Karlton Butts on Google To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. Get the FREE Joy Playbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. Download the Gratitude Journal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: @amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: Amberly Lago Motivation on YouTube Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the Waitlist for My Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! Today I'm sitting down with my good friend Jennifer "J-Mar" Martinez, founder of J-Mar Solutions and creator of Rapid Restoration. Jennifer's journey brings together health, entrepreneurship, faith, resilience, and servant leadership. With a background in fitness and athletic performance, she became passionate about helping people understand mineral depletion, heat stress, and why feeling depleted can affect everything from energy and focus to how we show up at work and at home. But this conversation goes far beyond Jennifer's products. We talk about what it takes to build a business in a male-dominated industry, challenge an established narrative, and continue showing up when entrepreneurship gets incredibly hard. Jennifer started her company in 2020, right when so much of the world was shutting down. She shares how her faith in God became the foundation that kept her moving forward and why she believes relationships, service, and genuinely helping people are at the heart of great leadership and business. We also dive into one of the hardest seasons of her entrepreneurial journey. After years of pushing through challenges, Jennifer reached a point where she finally thought, I should quit. Instead of forcing herself to work harder, she surrendered and asked God to take over. What followed was greater clarity, alignment, and a new perspective on the opportunities that hadn't worked out. Jennifer shares a powerful reminder that sometimes rejection is protection. The opportunity we think we need may not actually be right for us yet, and what feels like a delay can sometimes be preparing us for something better. We also talk about prioritizing your health while pursuing big goals. As entrepreneurs and high achievers, we can become so focused on our mission that we forget our ability to make an impact depends on how well we're taking care of ourselves. If you're building a business, navigating rejection, feeling physically depleted, or wondering how you're going to keep going when things aren't happening on your timeline, this episode is a reminder to take care of yourself, stay connected to your purpose, trust the process, and keep the faith when the path gets hard. We Discuss: Jennifer's journey from fitness and athletic performance to founding J-Mar Solutions Why she began looking beyond water when addressing heat stress and physical depletion Minerals, electrolytes, performance, and supporting the body during demanding conditions Building a business around a mission instead of simply selling a product Starting a company in 2020 when the world was shutting down Faith as the foundation of Jennifer's entrepreneurial journey Why relationships and servant leadership matter in business Building confidence as a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry Why Jennifer sees being a woman in her industry as a superpower The connection between taking care of your health and increasing your impact Developing grit when entrepreneurship becomes difficult The moment Jennifer considered quitting her business Surrendering control and trusting God when nothing seems to be working Why rejection can sometimes be protection Learning to recognize delays as opportunities for greater alignment Supporting people working in demanding environments and extreme heat Jennifer's vision for expanding the Rapid Restoration movement Why feeling better can help us show up better in our work, relationships, and lives Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: hydration, mineral depletion, and the mission behind Rapid Restoration 01:00 Introduction to Jennifer "J-Mar" Martinez 03:00 Jennifer's fitness background, servant leadership, and starting J-Mar Solutions 06:00 Starting a business in 2020 and allowing faith to guide the journey 09:00 When Jennifer realized Rapid Restoration was more than a product 12:00 Heat stress, mineral depletion, athletes, and physically demanding jobs 15:00 Understanding electrolytes, minerals, and why Jennifer focuses on restoration 18:00 Building a business as a woman in a male-dominated industry 21:00 Why Jennifer considers being a female entrepreneur one of her superpowers 23:00 Why your impact is only as strong as your health 25:00 Real-world experiences with depletion and heat stress 27:00 Developing grit when entrepreneurship gets difficult 29:00 Almost quitting, surrendering control, and trusting God 30:00 Rejection as protection, business alignment, Rapid Restoration, and Jennifer's vision for expanding the movement To Connect with Jennifer Martinez: Instagram @jmar.solutions Website jmarsolutions.net To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. Get the FREE Joy Playbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. Download the Gratitude Journal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: @amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: Amberly Lago Motivation on YouTube Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the Waitlist for My Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! Today I'm sitting down with the incredible Cristina Simmons, bestselling author of Eat Your Feelings, TEDx speaker, occupational therapist, and someone who has transformed tremendous pain into purpose. Cristina's story is one of resilience, trauma recovery, faith, grief, and finding your purpose. She opens up about experiencing the loss of children, challenges in her marriage, cancer, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and raising an adopted son with autism. For years, Cristina describes feeling disconnected from herself and living life on autopilot until she realized she needed to come home to herself and rebuild her relationship with God. We talk about what helped Cristina move from simply surviving to actually living again. One of her first steps was surprisingly simple but incredibly difficult: looking herself in the eyes in the mirror. As she began reconnecting with herself and writing her story, she started recognizing not only everything she had survived, but the strength it had taken to keep moving forward. Cristina also shares her family's experience with autism and sensory processing. After struggling to find the support her son needed, she went back to school and earned her master's degree in occupational therapy so she could better understand his brain and sensory system. That knowledge ultimately changed the way she parented and brought greater grace and understanding into her entire family. We also dive into the message behind her bestselling book, Eat Your Feelings, and the connection between emotional eating and unprocessed emotions. Cristina shares the moment she found herself standing in the pantry and realized, I'm not hungry. I'm sad. Instead of processing difficult emotions, she had been trying to soothe them with food. Cristina shares practical ways she began changing those patterns through awareness, breathwork, walking, prayer, meditation, nervous system regulation, and simply learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings instead of immediately trying to escape them. If you've ever felt like you're living on autopilot, numbing difficult emotions, afraid to share your story, or wondering whether your hardest experiences could ever have a greater purpose, this conversation is a reminder that your pain doesn't have to be the end of your story. Healing can begin with reconnecting with yourself, asking for help, using your voice, and believing that there can still be joy on the other side. We Discuss: Cristina's journey from trauma and survival mode to purpose and confidence Finding the courage to share your story when you're afraid of judgment or failure Rebuilding your relationship with yourself and with God The mirror work that helped Cristina reconnect with herself Grief after losing children and learning to give yourself grace Adoption, motherhood, and raising a child diagnosed with autism Why Cristina became an occupational therapist to better understand her son's needs Autism, sensory overload, and understanding the behavior behind the behavior Marriage struggles, infidelity, forgiveness, and rebuilding together Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and living in a dysregulated nervous system What it means to live on autopilot or feel disconnected from your life Simple tools for nervous system regulation, including breathwork, nature, movement, and community Emotional eating and recognizing when you're eating feelings rather than physical hunger Sitting with difficult emotions instead of numbing or avoiding them Replacing old coping mechanisms with healthier responses Why Cristina now runs toward difficult things instead of away from them Finding confidence through doing hard things Using your voice and story to help other women feel less alone Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: confidence, overcoming fear, and coming home to yourself 01:00 Introduction to Cristina Simmons and turning pain into purpose 04:00 Cristina's turning point and realizing she was meant for more 07:00 The power of community, connection, and surrounding yourself with big dreamers 10:00 Overcoming fear and finding the confidence to share your story 13:00 Mirror work and rebuilding a relationship with yourself 16:00 Writing Eat Your Feelings and turning your story into a message of hope 19:00 Grief, losing children, adoption, and finding purpose through pain 22:00 Raising a son with autism and becoming an occupational therapist 25:00 Understanding sensory overload, behavior, and giving yourself more grace 27:00 Marriage struggles, trauma, anxiety, depression, and living on autopilot 30:00 Emotional eating, nervous system regulation, healthier coping tools, TEDx, and finding the courage to use your voice To Connect with Cristina Simmons: Instagram @cristinapsimmons Website cristinapsimmons.com Facebook Cristina Simmons on Facebook To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. Get the FREE Joy Playbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. Download the Gratitude Journal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: @amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: Amberly Lago Motivation on YouTube Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the Waitlist for My Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! Today I'm sitting down with the incredible Jill Donovan, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and founder of the nationally loved jewelry brand Rustic Cuff. Jill's journey is such a powerful example of what can happen when you have the courage to follow your calling, even when the next step doesn't make logical sense. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jill practiced law and taught as an adjunct law professor. But deep down, she knew she hadn't found the work she was truly created to do. In this conversation, we talk about entrepreneurship, confidence, faith, purpose, failure, resilience, and finding work that brings you joy. Jill shares how, beginning at just 10 years old, she committed to trying a new hobby every year as she searched for the thing she could say she "gets to" do instead of "has to" do. That willingness to experiment, fail, learn, and keep moving forward became an important part of the woman and entrepreneur she is today. We also dive into Jill's unforgettable experience with The Oprah Winfrey Show. After years of simply trying to get a ticket to sit in the audience, an email about her regifting habit unexpectedly led to her sitting on stage beside Oprah in front of millions of viewers. But the dream moment quickly became a very public and uncomfortable experience when etiquette experts criticized her on national television. What I love about Jill's story is how she reminds us that our setbacks, embarrassing moments, and unexpected detours don't have to define us. Sometimes they are preparing us for something much bigger. Jill also shares how faith and staying grounded have shaped her journey as Rustic Cuff has grown. Instead of making success only about grinding, recognition, or money, she focuses on using the gifts God gave her, protecting what matters, and staying connected to her purpose. If you've ever questioned your career, wondered what you were created to do, felt afraid to try something new, or experienced a setback that shook your confidence, this conversation is a reminder to stay open, keep trying, trust your path, and believe that God wastes nothing. We Discuss: Jill's journey from divorce attorney and law professor to entrepreneur and founder of Rustic Cuff Finding your calling and moving from "I have to" to "I get to" Why trying new things can help you discover your purpose Building confidence through experimentation, failure, and starting again Why Jill started a new hobby every year beginning at age 10 Trusting that God doesn't waste the experiences in our lives Jill's unexpected journey from trying to get Oprah tickets to appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show Navigating embarrassment and public setbacks without letting them destroy your confidence Staying open when life takes an unexpected turn Faith, entrepreneurship, resilience, and trusting God's plan Staying grounded as success and visibility grow Choosing purpose and impact over constantly chasing money and achievement Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: confidence, staying grounded, faith, and finding your calling 01:00 Introduction to Jill Donovan and the story behind Rustic Cuff 03:00 Jill and Amberly's connection through the Align event 06:00 Storytelling, humor, family, and connecting with an audience 09:00 From practicing law to realizing she was in the wrong career 12:00 Teaching law, feeling underqualified, and learning along the way 15:00 Public embarrassment, confidence, and having the freedom to fail 18:00 How Jill's search for her calling began at 10 years old 21:00 Starting a new hobby every year and searching for her "get to" 24:00 Why God wastes nothing and what experimentation taught Jill 27:00 Searching for mentors, purpose, and inspiration from Oprah Winfrey 30:00 Jill's unexpected journey onto The Oprah Winfrey Show and the public setback that followed To Connect with Jill Donovan: Instagram @jillfdonovan Website jilldonovan.com Shop Jill Donovan Collections jilldonovan.com/collections To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. Get the FREE Joy Playbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. Download the Gratitude Journal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: @amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: Amberly Lago Motivation on YouTube Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the Waitlist for My Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! This is a conversation I truly wish more women were having because so many of us experience changes in our energy, sleep, mood, weight, focus, and overall sense of self without understanding what is actually happening. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Mariza Snyder, hormone and metabolic health expert and author of The Perimenopause Revolution, to talk about what really happens to our bodies during perimenopause and, more importantly, what we can do to support ourselves through it. Dr. Mariza's passion for this work began with her own mom. Growing up, she saw her mom as Superwoman: resilient, capable, energetic, and able to handle just about anything. But at 49, her mom began experiencing intense mood changes, brain fog, sleep issues, low energy, weight changes, and eventually intrusive thoughts that left her feeling like a shell of her former self. After watching her mom struggle to find answers within the healthcare system, Dr. Mariza took over her care and saw a profound turnaround within 60 days. That experience changed the direction of her work and helped her recognize that millions of women were silently experiencing the same thing. One of the biggest things Dr. Mariza wants women to understand is that perimenopause isn't simply a reproductive event. It's a full-body recalibration involving the brain, metabolism, bones, muscles, hormones, and so much more. We break down exactly what perimenopause is and why Dr. Mariza calls it our "second puberty." Just as puberty is a years-long transition into our reproductive years, perimenopause is a transition out of them. It doesn't happen overnight, and for many women, that transition can last anywhere from four to ten years or even longer. We also talk about the symptoms women often struggle to explain: brain fog, difficulty focusing, changes in stress tolerance, irritability, exhaustion, and that frustrating feeling of knowing what you're capable of but suddenly not having the same bandwidth you once did. Dr. Mariza shares one of the biggest silent disruptors during this season: stress. The habits and stress loads we've accumulated over the years matter, and entering perimenopause already dealing with inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, or chronic stress can make the transition much more difficult. But this conversation isn't about accepting that the second half of life has to feel worse. Dr. Mariza shares the inspiring story of her mom, who decided that her difficult experience with perimenopause wasn't going to define her future. She became a marathon runner and competitive tennis player and, at 65, is thriving. Her story is such a powerful reminder that we get to decide what we want this next chapter to look like. We talk about something so many women struggle with: putting ourselves last. We take care of our families, businesses, careers, responsibilities, and everyone around us until our bodies finally start demanding our attention. Dr. Mariza reminds us that prioritizing ourselves isn't about giving up on our dreams. It's about becoming more strategic, letting go of what drains us, and creating the energy and resilience to show up fully for the things that matter. We also dive into practical ways to reduce inflammation, beginning with food. Dr. Mariza explains how protein, healthy fats, fiber, probiotic and prebiotic foods, and eating a variety of colorful whole foods can support blood sugar, cellular energy, the gut microbiome, and greater resilience. We also talk about the impact of ultra-processed foods, added sugar, and alcohol. And then there's sleep. Dr. Mariza calls sleep a "force multiplier" because of the impact it has on our energy, brain health, inflammation, and ability to show up the next day. She walks us through her own sacred sleep ritual, from reverse-engineering bedtime and dimming the lights to brain dumping, meditation, breathwork, creating a cool dark room, and treating sleep like a non-negotiable appointment. If you've ever thought, I know myself, and something just doesn't feel right, this episode is for you. Perimenopause doesn't mean losing yourself. It can be an invitation to listen more closely to your body, reevaluate what deserves your energy, prioritize your health, and intentionally create the strong, vibrant, joyful second half of life you deserve. We Discuss: Dr. Mariza's personal connection to perimenopause through her mom's experience Why so many women struggle silently with hormonal changes Brain fog, mood changes, sleep issues, low energy, and changes in mental capacity Why perimenopause is more than a reproductive or hormonal event Understanding perimenopause as a full-body recalibration What perimenopause actually is and why it's called "second puberty" The three major hormonal transitions women may experience Why the perimenopause transition can last four to ten years or longer What happens as communication between the brain and ovaries begins to change Why irritability and a reduced stress buffer are so common The disconnect between knowing what you're capable of and feeling like your body can't keep up Why stress can be a silent disruptor during perimenopause Building resilience before and during midlife How inflammation, stress burden, blood sugar, and metabolic health can influence the transition Dr. Mariza's mom's transformation and how she's thriving at 65 Why the second half of life can be an opportunity for reinvention Learning to prioritize yourself after years of taking care of everyone else Why "pushing through at all costs" eventually comes with a cost Being strategic instead of giving up on your goals and dreams Letting go of responsibilities and habits that drain your energy and joy Why symptoms are signals that deserve our attention Daily habits that can help support lower inflammation Using food to support blood sugar, cellular energy, and resilience Protein, healthy fats, fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, and colorful whole foods How alcohol, added sugar, and ultra-processed foods can work against our health goals Why sleep is a "force multiplier" for health Treating your sleep routine like a million-dollar meeting Dr. Mariza's sacred sleep ritual Brain dumping, meditation, breathwork, and creating a sleep-supportive environment Connecting healthy habits to your deeper "why" Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: understanding perimenopause and the major hormonal shifts women experience 01:00 Introduction to Dr. Mariza Snyder and The Perimenopause Revolution 03:00 How her mom's struggle with perimenopause inspired Dr. Mariza's work 06:00 Brain fog, mood changes, sleep issues, and not recognizing yourself anymore 09:00 Why perimenopause is a full-body recalibration, not just a reproductive event 12:00 Knowing something isn't right even when you're told everything looks normal 14:00 Brain-related changes, irritability, and losing your normal stress buffer 16:00 What perimenopause actually is and why it's called "second puberty" 19:00 The three major hormone shifts women experience throughout life 22:00 What happens when communication between the brain and ovaries begins to change 24:00 Why stress is the silent disruptor of perimenopause 26:00 Building resilience and supporting your body before symptoms intensify 28:00 Reinventing the second half of your life and learning to prioritize yourself 30:00 Inflammation, nutrition, sleep, the sacred sleep ritual, and creating habits that support your future self To Connect with Dr. Mariza Snyder: Instagram @drmariza Website drmariza.com To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. Download the Spark More Joy Playbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. Download the Gratitude Journal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: @amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: Amberly Lago Motivation on YouTube Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the waitlist for my Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Andrea Nakayama, functional medicine nutritionist, writer, educator, and cultural critic whose work challenges us to rethink what healing really looks like. Andrea's journey into this work began during one of the most heartbreaking seasons of her life. When she was just seven weeks pregnant, her husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, at only 31 years old. Suddenly, Andrea found herself navigating pregnancy, grief, and a medical system that was incredibly skilled in many ways, but couldn't fully address the complexity of the person behind the diagnosis. That experience changed everything. Andrea began noticing something that would eventually become foundational to her work: we are not our diagnoses. A person is not simply Crohn's disease, chronic pain, cancer, menopause, or whatever label may appear in a chart. There is an entire human being behind that diagnosis, with a history, lifestyle, environment, relationships, experiences, and story that matter. In this conversation, Andrea breaks down what functional medicine actually means and explains its three foundational principles: creating a therapeutic partnership between practitioner and patient, looking for the roots by asking why something is happening instead of only asking what to do about it, and understanding the body through a systems-based approach. We also talk about the difference between functional medicine and functional nutrition, and why what happens between medical appointments can be just as important as what happens inside the doctor's office. Andrea reminds us that while a healthcare professional may be an expert in medicine, you are the expert in your own lived experience and your body. One of the most eye-opening parts of our conversation is Andrea's perspective on lab testing. We talk about the difference between conventional lab ranges, looking at those same labs through a functional lens, and the growing trend of expensive specialty testing. Andrea shares her concerns about constantly searching for another diagnosis, deficiency, intolerance, toxin, or problem and how the stories we begin telling ourselves about our bodies can affect the way we experience our health. We also dive into the wellness industry and the overwhelming amount of information being thrown at us every single day. From peptides and supplements to protein recommendations and the newest wellness trend, it's easy to believe that there's always another product we need to buy in order to finally feel better. Andrea challenges that thinking. Instead of immediately searching for another fix, she encourages us to return to the foundations. Her health non-negotiables are refreshingly simple: sleep, elimination, and blood sugar balance. Before chasing every downstream symptom, she encourages us to look at the roots and the environment those roots are growing in. Andrea also shares an incredibly important reminder about our attention economy. Before buying the supplement, believing the social media post, or jumping onto the next wellness trend, pause and notice what that message is creating inside you. Does it make you feel empowered and understood, or does it create fear and convince you that something else is wrong with your body? We also talk about sleep and why even something as seemingly simple as saying, "I don't sleep well," deserves curiosity before a solution. Are you struggling to fall asleep? Stay asleep? Are you waking up exhausted? Andrea explains why getting specific about our symptoms allows us to have much more meaningful conversations with our healthcare providers and begin experimenting with our own rhythms instead of immediately looking for another quick fix. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting health advice, frustrated that your labs look "normal" when you know something doesn't feel right, or exhausted from constantly trying the next supplement, diet, peptide, or wellness hack, this episode is a powerful invitation to slow down. Your body isn't simply a problem waiting to be fixed. It's communicating with you. And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for our health is stop chasing every answer outside ourselves and start becoming more curious about what's happening within. We Discuss: Andrea's personal journey into functional medicine and nutrition Losing her husband to an aggressive brain tumor after his diagnosis while she was seven weeks pregnant The gaps Andrea first recognized within the traditional medical system Why a person should never be reduced to their diagnosis The idea that our biology is connected to our biography What functional medicine actually means The three foundational principles of functional medicine Creating a therapeutic partnership between patient and practitioner Why you are an expert in your own body and lived experience Looking for the roots and asking "why is this happening?" instead of only "what should I take?" Understanding the body through a systems-based approach Why the gut, liver, hormones, brain, and other systems cannot be viewed completely separately The difference between functional medicine and functional nutrition Using nutrition and lifestyle practices to support what happens between medical appointments Conventional lab ranges versus looking at lab work through a functional lens Why Andrea believes we may sometimes be looking for too many problems through specialty testing The danger of self-diagnosing and labeling ourselves based on health trends How the stories we tell about our bodies may influence our health experience The pressure practitioners can feel to continually offer the newest wellness solutions Andrea's concerns about the commercialization of the wellness industry What her experience in Japan taught her about food quality and health culture Why wellness doesn't have to begin with another supplement or expensive protocol Andrea's three foundational health non-negotiables: sleep, elimination, and blood sugar balance Looking at the roots instead of constantly treating downstream symptoms Understanding where your attention is going in today's wellness culture Why Andrea doesn't give generic supplement recommendations Pausing before purchasing the next wellness solution you see online How large supplement stacks can disconnect us from understanding what our bodies actually need Separating the health problem from the proposed solution Getting specific about what "bad sleep" actually means Tracking your own patterns so you can have better conversations with healthcare professionals Experimenting with sleep and daily rhythms instead of immediately searching for another fix Why curiosity about your body can be more powerful than constantly trying to control it Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: cutting through wellness noise and returning to foundational health 01:00 Introduction to Andrea Nakayama and her approach to functional nutrition 03:00 Losing her husband to brain cancer while seven weeks pregnant 06:00 Discovering the gaps in the medical system and realizing we are not our diagnoses 09:00 What functional medicine actually means 12:00 Therapeutic partnership and recognizing yourself as an expert in your own body 14:00 Looking for the roots and asking why instead of only asking what to do 16:00 The systems-based approach and understanding how the whole body is connected 18:00 Functional medicine versus functional nutrition 20:00 Conventional blood work, functional ranges, and the limits of lab testing 22:00 The risks of over-testing, self-diagnosis, and constantly searching for another problem 24:00 The wellness industry's obsession with fixes, supplements, peptides, and optimization 26:00 What Andrea learned about health, food, and culture from spending time in Japan 28:00 The foundational non-negotiables: sleep, elimination, and blood sugar balance 30:00 Attention economy, supplement overload, understanding your symptoms, and becoming more curious about your body's signals To Connect with Andrea Nakayama: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/andreanakayama/ Website https://www.andreanakayama.com/ To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. https://amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: https://amberlylago.com/speaking/ Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. https://go.amberlylago.com/smj-workbook/ Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. https://mailchi.mp/9beab9de1b2c/gratitudejournal Let's Connect LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlylago/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmberlyLagoMotivation Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: https://amberlylago.com/book/ Join the waitlist for my Mastermind http://amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little m

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Linda Fisk, multi-award-winning CEO, two-time International Stevie Business Award winner, TEDx speaker, six-time international best-selling author, TV and podcast host, board advisor, and CEO of LeadHERship Global. Linda has dedicated her career to helping ambitious women show up, speak up, step into their influence, and become the leaders they were created to be. In this powerful conversation, we talk about leadership, confidence, collaboration, faith, imposter syndrome, and what becomes possible when women stop seeing one another as competition and start creating opportunities for each other. Linda shares how her experience working in global leadership organizations showed her the incredible power of bringing people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives together around a shared purpose. She saw firsthand that when the right people come together around a common goal, the impact can be transformational. That experience eventually inspired her to create LeadHERship Global, a community built to transform women leaders from the inside out. Linda explains why the world doesn't need more busy women trying to hustle their way to success. It needs values-driven leaders who lead with intention, alignment, confidence, and a desire to leave a meaningful legacy. One of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is the shift from scarcity to abundance. Linda acknowledges why competition between women can feel so real when women still receive fewer opportunities in areas like funding, board positions, media, and speaking. But instead of accepting scarcity as the answer, she believes women can create something different by opening doors, sharing opportunities, and lifting other women as they rise. We also talk about the importance of community and why none of us are meant to navigate growth alone. Whether it's a coach, mentor, therapist, mastermind, or trusted circle, having people around you who can offer wisdom, remind you who you are, and believe in you when you're struggling to believe in yourself can completely change your trajectory. Linda shares one of my favorite perspectives on failure: failure is simply your first attempt in learning. Instead of allowing setbacks to become proof that we're incapable, we can use them as building blocks for greater confidence, resilience, experience, and growth. We dive deeply into confidence and why it isn't something we have to wait around to feel. Confidence is something we can build by taking action, trying things that scare us, learning from what doesn't work, and proving to ourselves that we're capable of more than we thought. Linda also shares why women can sometimes underestimate their abilities and how we can begin calling on the confidence we already have in one area of our lives and bring that same strength into the places where we feel uncertain. We talk openly about imposter syndrome, including those moments when you walk into a room and wonder whether you really belong there. Linda shares a powerful faith-based perspective: remember who you are and whose you are. For her, stepping into purpose isn't about being perfect or proving herself. It's about being obedient to the mission God has placed on her life. That leads us into an important conversation about getting our ego out of the way and remembering that our work isn't always about us. When we shift our focus away from how we look, whether we're good enough, or what other people might think and instead focus on the people we're called to serve, so much of the pressure begins to fall away. If you've ever struggled with comparison, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or questioning whether you're ready for your next level, this episode is a powerful reminder that you don't need to be perfect to step forward. Build your confidence, surround yourself with people who believe in your potential, remember your purpose, and keep taking the next brave step. We Discuss: Linda's journey through psychology, marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurship How working inside global leadership organizations shaped her understanding of leadership The transformational power of bringing different leaders together around a shared goal Why Linda created LeadHERship Global specifically for women Leading with frameworks and alignment instead of formulas and more hustle Why the world needs more values-driven women leaders The difference between scarcity and abundance mindsets Why women can feel pressure to compete for limited opportunities Creating more opportunities for women in leadership, speaking, media, funding, and business Why women can continue climbing while also lifting other women with them The importance of community and having people who are deeply invested in your success Seeking counsel and wisdom instead of simply collecting opinions Why confidence is one of the strongest predictors of success Recognizing your own purpose, mission, vision, and brilliance Reframing failure as your "first attempt in learning" Using setbacks as building blocks for resilience and growth How coaches, mentors, therapists, and communities can help when self-doubt takes over Why confidence is built through action rather than waiting until you feel ready Amberly's experience building confidence through speaking, podcasting, and sharing her story Why women can underestimate their abilities Taking confidence from one area of your life and bringing it into another How to keep moving forward even when imposter syndrome shows up Linda's faith-based approach to purpose, confidence, and leadership Remembering "who you are and whose you are" Why your purpose doesn't require perfection Releasing ego and shifting your attention toward the people you're called to serve How focusing on service can quiet insecurity and imposter syndrome Letting faith, mission, and purpose become bigger than fear Timestamps: 00:00 Preview: shifting from scarcity and competition to abundance and collaboration 01:00 Introduction to Linda Fisk and LeadHERship Global 03:00 Linda's leadership journey and what inspired her mission to empower women 06:00 The power of community, partnership, and bringing leaders together around a shared purpose 09:00 Building LeadHERship Global and leading with alignment instead of hustle 12:00 Why women compete and the mindset shift from scarcity to abundance 15:00 Creating greater access, visibility, and opportunities for women 18:00 Why women don't have to climb the ladder alone 20:00 The importance of coaches, mentors, masterminds, and seeking wise counsel 22:00 Confidence as a foundation for success 24:00 Reframing failure as your "first attempt in learning" 26:00 Building confidence through action, experimentation, and doing things scared 28:00 Why women underestimate themselves and how to strengthen self-confidence 30:00+ Imposter syndrome, faith, remembering who you are and whose you are, and stepping into your purpose To Connect with Linda Fisk: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindamfisk/ Website https://www.collective54.com/ To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. https://amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: https://amberlylago.com/speaking/ Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. https://go.amberlylago.com/smj-workbook/ Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. https://mailchi.mp/9beab9de1b2c/gratitudejournal Let's Connect LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlylago/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmberlyLagoMotivation Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: https://amberlylago.com/book/ Join the waitlist for my Mastermind http://amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! In this episode, I'm in San Francisco sitting down with my good friend Jerrid Sebesta, best-selling author, transformational coach, speaker, and event creator. Jerrid and I have both experienced what it looks like to have success on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside. In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, Jerrid opens up about the turning points that forced him to stop running, step out of a defensive posture, and begin living with greater authenticity, faith, and purpose. Jerrid shares how, on New Year's Day in 2022, at 43 years old, he told his wife that he was done playing small, done playing defense, and done running away. He realized that much of the success he had built had actually been a coping mechanism rooted in uncertainty and fear. We talk openly about the anxiety, self-doubt, and fear that can happen behind the scenes, even for people who appear confident and successful. Jerrid shares what it feels like to wake up at three in the morning questioning whether he has a message or a business, only to later experience powerful breakthroughs that restore his belief. One of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is surrender. Jerrid explains that while there is a time for work, effort, and action, there also has to be a willingness to release control and trust that everything doesn't have to be figured out by us. We also dive into what it means to receive life's challenges instead of simply enduring them. Jerrid shares how shifting his perspective has helped him see difficult situations as opportunities to learn, grow, and become the person he is meant to be. Jerrid opens up about his family and the people who help him grow. He talks about his wife, who serves as his encourager and rock, and his daughter Everly, who has challenged him in ways that have forced him to look at his own behavior, emotions, and areas that still need healing. One of my favorite lessons from this conversation is Jerrid's simple reminder: "Respond, don't react." When someone triggers us, instead of immediately firing back, we can pause, recognize the situation as a gift, and ask ourselves what it is trying to teach us. We also talk about burnout, alignment, and the pressure high achievers put on themselves to constantly do more. After an intense 2025 filled with events, travel, speaking, and coaching, Jerrid realized that his joy was beginning to disappear. Instead of simply taking a break, he chose to reevaluate and realign his business around what he actually wanted to build, and what would bring him joy. If you've ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, stuck in self-doubt, or like you're constantly trying to keep everything together, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the breakthrough comes when we stop running, surrender control, listen to what life is teaching us, and have the courage to realign.   We Discuss: Jerrid's journey as a best-selling author, transformational coach, speaker, and event creator The major turning point that happened on New Year's Day in 2022 Why Jerrid realized he was tired of playing small and playing defense How success can sometimes become a coping mechanism The difference between what people see on the outside and what can be happening internally Dealing with anxiety and self-doubt before stepping onto a stage What Jerrid does when fear and negative thoughts hit at 3 a.m. Turning to God, surrender, trust, and releasing the need to control everything Why high achievers can be especially hard on themselves How other people can sometimes see our potential before we see it ourselves Learning to receive challenges instead of simply enduring them Asking, "What is this trying to teach me?" How difficult experiences can help us grow and become who we're meant to be The importance of having people in your life who encourage you and challenge you How Jerrid's daughter Everly has helped him recognize areas within himself that needed healing Why the people who trigger us can sometimes reveal something that needs correction in ourselves The powerful practice of pausing before reacting Choosing to "respond, don't react" Why challenges and difficult people can become opportunities to harvest important lessons The difference between being tired and being out of alignment Recognizing when your joy starts to disappear Why high achievers struggle with erasing goals from their whiteboard Re-evaluating your business and creating something that brings you joy Letting go of excess and being open to receiving the right people and opportunities Finding greater alignment instead of constantly pushing, scaling, and doing more   Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jerrid Sebesta and the Better Human Project 03:00 Jerrid's journey and the success that was happening behind the scenes 05:00 The January 1, 2022 turning point and deciding to stop playing small 08:00 When success becomes a coping mechanism 11:00 The hidden anxiety and self-doubt behind success 14:00 Waking up at 3 a.m. with fear and questioning your purpose 17:00 Turning to God, surrender, and learning to release control 20:00 Why high achievers are often so hard on themselves 23:00 How other people can see things in us that we don't see ourselves 26:00 Receiving challenges instead of simply enduring them 29:00 Asking what difficult situations are trying to teach us 32:00 Learning to see challenges as opportunities for growth 35:00 The people who help Jerrid through difficult seasons 38:00 His wife as his encourager and rock 40:00 How his daughter Everly challenges him to grow 43:00 Why the people who trigger us can reveal something within us 46:00 The "pause, respond, don't react" framework 49:00 How to respond differently when someone pushes your buttons 52:00 Praying for difficult people and situations 54:00 Burnout versus being out of alignment 57:00 Losing joy and recognizing when something needs to change 01:00:00 Re-evaluating goals, letting go, and creating a business that brings you joy   To Connect with Jerrid Sebesta: Instagram instagram.com/jerridsebesta Website jerridsebesta.com   To Connect with Me: New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. go.amberlylago.com/smj-workbook Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. mailchi.mp/9beab9de1b2c/gratitudejournal Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: youtube.com/c/AmberlyLagoMotivation Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book Join the waitlist for my Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! This conversation is for every parent who has ever found themselves Googling a parenting question at 2 a.m. and somehow ended up feeling even more overwhelmed than when they started. In this episode, I sit down with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman, licensed speech-language pathologist, feeding specialist, mom, and founder of Eat Play Say, an online resource helping more than 700,000 parents navigate speech, feeding, and childhood development with clear, expert-backed information. Jordyn shares the personal story that first led her into speech-language pathology. At just 16 years old, her mom became critically ill with bacterial meningitis and spent eight days in a coma. Watching a speech-language pathologist help her mom with swallowing and cognitive recovery introduced Jordyn to a career that would eventually become her purpose. Years later, becoming a mom herself completely changed her perspective. When her first son developed torticollis and a flat spot on his head, Jordyn experienced firsthand how frustrating it can be to know something isn't right with your child but struggle to find the right answers. That experience helped inspire Eat Play Say and her mission to give parents the reliable guidance she wished she'd had herself. We talk about the pressure parents face today, from sleep expectations and co-sleeping to purees versus baby-led weaning, picky eating, developmental milestones, speech delays, and tongue and lip ties. Jordyn reminds us that research matters, but so does recognizing that every child is different and sometimes the best approach requires parents to pivot. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Jordyn's reminder to trust your intuition. Parenting doesn't have to be about doing everything perfectly. It's about paying attention to your child, asking questions when something doesn't feel right, and getting support when you need it. We also dive into early speech development and why communication begins long before a baby's first word. Jordyn explains the importance of imitation, why pausing gives toddlers the time they need to process language, and what parents can do if they're concerned about their child's development. If you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better understand early childhood development, this episode is packed with practical information, reassurance, and expert guidance to help you feel a little less overwhelmed and a lot more confident.     We Discuss: How Jordyn's mother's illness inspired her career in speech-language pathology Becoming a mom and realizing that even experts don't have every parenting answer Her son's experience with torticollis and what inspired Eat Play Say Why today's abundance of parenting information can actually make parents more anxious Learning to trust your intuition while still using evidence-based guidance Safe sleep, co-sleeping, and why every family and child is different Creating a positive relationship with food from a baby's very first meals Purees versus baby-led weaning and why it doesn't have to be one or the other The difference between normal food preferences and picky eating that may need intervention Early signs to watch for in speech and language development Why imitation between 6 and 12 months is important for communication The "power of the pause" and giving toddlers enough time to process language Why parents should never blame themselves for a developmental delay Early intervention resources available for children ages 0 to 3 Understanding tongue and lip ties and when they may need professional attention     Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jordyn Koveleski Gorman and Eat Play Say 03:00 How her mother's bacterial meningitis inspired Jordyn's career 07:00 Becoming a mom and experiencing developmental challenges firsthand 11:00 Her son's torticollis diagnosis and the inspiration behind Eat Play Say 15:00 Parenting information overload and learning to trust your intuition 19:00 Sleep expectations, co-sleeping, and finding what works for your family 24:00 Starting solids and building a positive relationship with food 28:00 Purees versus baby-led weaning and why parents don't have to choose one approach 32:00 Picky eating versus normal food preferences 36:00 Early signs of speech and language development 40:00 Why imitation is important before a baby's first words 43:00 The power of pausing when communicating with toddlers 46:00 What parents should know if they're worried about a speech or developmental delay 49:00 Early intervention and when to seek professional support 52:00 Tongue and lip ties, feeding challenges, and functional symptoms to watch for     To Connect with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman: Instagram @eatplaysay Website Eat Play Say Free Resources & Downloads Eat Play Say Freebies     To Connect with Me:   New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast   Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking   Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. go.amberlylago.com/smj-workbook   Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. mailchi.mp/9beab9de1b2c/gratitudejournal   Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation   Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: youtube.com/c/AmberlyLagoMotivation   Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book   Join the waitlist for my Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind   Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

About this Episode: Welcome back to another inspiring episode of The Amberly Lago Show! Have you ever looked like you had everything together on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside? In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Keren Eldad, executive coach, bestselling author, speaker, and trusted advisor to Olympic athletes, Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, and high performers around the world. Keren joins me to celebrate her new bestselling book, Gilt Free, and challenges one of the biggest misconceptions about success: that looking successful is the same as feeling fulfilled. Together, we explore the difference between living with healthy guilt and living gilt-free, free from the pressure to constantly perform, impress, and prove your worth. Keren shares how so many high achievers unknowingly build beautiful lives that look incredible from the outside but feel empty on the inside, and why true freedom begins by letting go of perfection, comparison, and the need for external validation. We also dive into her powerful G.O.L.D. Framework, a practical approach to changing the thinking patterns that keep us stuck. From learning that you are already enough to becoming more open, living lit up with purpose, and devoting your ambition to serving others, Keren offers a roadmap for creating lasting success without sacrificing authenticity. We talk about manifestation in a completely different way than you've probably heard before. Instead of wishing and hoping, Keren explains why real manifestation begins with certainty, courageous decisions, and aligned action. If you've been feeling trapped by perfectionism, comparison, burnout, or the pressure to keep proving yourself, this conversation will inspire you to stop performing and start living as your authentic self.     We Discuss: The inspiration behind Keren's new bestselling book, Gilt Free The difference between guilt (G-U-I-L-T) and living gilt-free Why external success doesn't always create internal fulfillment Letting go of perfectionism, comparison, and the need to impress The hidden cost of chasing validation through achievements How to recognize when you're living an inauthentic version of success Keren's G.O.L.D. Framework for creating lasting transformation Why believing you're already enough changes everything Living with openness instead of fear and limitation Finding purpose by becoming "lit up" instead of burned out How devotion creates more meaningful and sustainable success Why awareness makes it easier to break old patterns The importance of protecting your peace and reconnecting with yourself A powerful story about trusting the process instead of forcing outcomes The difference between wishing for success and making a committed decision Why manifestation happens through aligned action, not simply positive thinking     Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and introduction to Keren Eldad 02:15 The inspiration behind writing Gilt Free 06:00 Guilt vs. living "gilt-free" and why authenticity matters 11:30 Admitting when outward success doesn't match inner fulfillment 17:00 Letting go of perfectionism, comparison, and performing for others 22:30 Introducing the G.O.L.D. Framework 30:00 Good Enough: overcoming the belief that you're not enough 36:00 Openness, possibility, and expanding your thinking 42:00 Becoming lit up and reconnecting with purpose 48:00 Devotion, service, and creating meaningful success 53:00 Breaking old patterns and protecting your peace 58:00 The Miami story: trusting instead of forcing 1:05:00 Manifestation through certainty, aligned decisions, and action     To Connect with Keren Eldad: Instagram @coachkeren Website Keren Eldad Free Gilt Free Audiobook Get the Gilt Free Audiobook     To Connect with Me:   New and Exciting!! Every episode, the whole archive is searchable! Look for a moment, or ask a question and get an answer drawn straight from the episodes, with the clips it came from. amberlylago.com/podcast   Bring Me to Your Next Event Looking for a keynote speaker who will inspire your audience with practical tools for resilience, joy, and meaningful connection? Learn more about booking Amberly for your next conference, corporate event, or leadership retreat: amberlylago.com/speaking   Get Your FREE Joy Playbook Ready to spark more joy in your everyday life? Download Amberly's free Spark More Joy Playbook and discover simple, actionable practices to help you build resilience and embrace more joy, no matter what life brings. go.amberlylago.com/smj-workbook   Download Your FREE Gratitude Journal Start cultivating a daily gratitude practice with Amberly's free downloadable Gratitude Journal. mailchi.mp/9beab9de1b2c/gratitudejournal   Let's Connect LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amberlylago Instagram: instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation   Watch the Podcast on YouTube Catch full video episodes and exclusive content on YouTube: youtube.com/c/AmberlyLagoMotivation   Read My Books Discover Joy Through the Journey and True Grit & Grace and find more resources to help you live an unstoppable life: amberlylago.com/book   Join the waitlist for my Mastermind amberlylago.com/mastermind   Enjoying the Show? Be sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need a little more hope, resilience, joy, and encouragement. Every review makes a difference, and we're so grateful you're part of this community.

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of The Amberly Lago Show! If you've ever felt like you were made for something more but fear, self-doubt, or life's circumstances have kept you from taking the first step, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Jen Mentesana author, entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host, and founder of the Thrive South Bay community. Jen is passionate about helping women reconnect with their purpose, step into their gifts, and build lives that are rooted in alignment instead of overwhelm. Jen's journey is one of courage, reinvention, and trusting God's timing. Although she spent years investing in personal growth and coaching others, there came a moment when she realized she had been holding herself back from the very dreams that had been placed on her heart. At 52 years old, she made a life-changing decision: if not now, when? That decision led her to launch a podcast, write her bestselling book Guided by Grace, step onto stages, and fully embrace the purpose she'd been carrying inside for years. Together, we talk about what it really means to live in alignment, why taking the first step is often the hardest part, and how resilience is built by staying connected to your "why" instead of your fears. We also dive into entrepreneurship, overcoming depression, finding your zone of genius, protecting your peace, and learning to focus on the work that truly moves your life and business forward. Jen shares practical wisdom on avoiding busy work, embracing the 80/20 rule, creating quiet space to hear God's direction, and trusting the breadcrumbs that lead you toward your calling. This conversation is filled with hope, encouragement, and practical takeaways for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about their next chapter. If you've been waiting for permission to pursue the dream that's been on your heart, let this episode be your reminder that you don't have to have the entire path figured out—you simply have to be willing to take the next step.     We Discuss • Jen's journey of reinvention and stepping into her purpose later in life • Why taking one small step creates momentum toward your dreams • Finding your "zone of genius" and focusing on what you're naturally gifted to do • How resilience grows by staying connected to your purpose and your "why" • The importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you • Creating quiet time to hear God's direction and reconnect with yourself • The difference between being busy and making meaningful progress • The 80/20 rule for focusing on work that truly moves the needle • Lessons from entrepreneurship, setbacks, and adapting through difficult seasons • Protecting your peace and creating daily non-negotiable habits • How joy can become one of your greatest tools for overcoming discouragement • Why it's never too late to begin living the life you were created for     Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Jen Mentesana and her journey of reinvention 03:00 From life coach to stepping fully into her purpose 07:30 Why "If not now, when?" changed everything 12:00 Taking the first step and building momentum toward your dreams 17:00 Finding resilience by staying connected to your "why" 22:00 The importance of having people who believe in you 27:00 Thrive South Bay and creating communities that empower women 31:30 Feeling stuck, staying aligned, and adapting through challenges 37:00 Lessons from entrepreneurship and navigating difficult seasons 43:00 Writing Guided by Grace and following life's breadcrumbs 49:00 Protecting your peace and creating space to hear God's voice 54:00 Busy versus productive: living in your zone of genius 59:00 Overcoming discouragement and choosing joy during difficult seasons     To Connect With Jen Mentesana Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jen_mentesana/ Website https://jenmentesana.com/     To Connect With Me Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Coaching Program https://go.amberlylago.com/ Website https://amberlylago.com/ My favorite for gut health & wellness https://plexusworldwide.com/?sponsor=Amberlylago My MAKE Wellness link https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=521698 Joy Through the Journey https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Through-Journey-Amberly-Lago Listen to The Amberly Lago Show https://amberlylagomotivation.com/podcast/ Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Welcome back to another empowering episode of The Amberly Lago Show! If you've ever looked successful on the outside while feeling completely exhausted on the inside, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Lacey Newman, a top 1% luxury real estate agent, host of an Emmy-nominated television show, founder of a multi-seven-figure team, and a woman who has completely redefined what success looks like. For years, Lacey did what so many high-achieving women do. She chased every opportunity, said yes to everything, made herself available around the clock, and wore exhaustion like a badge of honor. But when she became a single mom of two young children, she reached a point where she knew something had to change. Instead of continuing to hustle harder, Lacey made the brave decision to rebuild her business and her life on her own terms. In this conversation, we talk about the hidden cost of being the person who can do everything, why constantly being available can keep you trapped in operator mode, and what it really takes to step into the role of CEO. Lacey shares how setting boundaries, learning to delegate, and letting go of the need to do everything herself helped her business grow while giving her more of what mattered most: time, peace, and presence with her children. We also dive into why so many women tie their worth to how much they can carry, the nervous system patterns behind constantly responding and checking things off the list, and the importance of asking yourself whether something is truly aligned with your purpose or simply something you can do. Lacey shares how she has learned to walk away from roles, relationships, partnerships, and responsibilities that no longer align with the life she is building. We talk about the courage it takes to disappoint people, reset expectations, and choose your own growth instead of constantly trying to keep everyone else happy. This conversation is such a powerful reminder that success doesn't have to cost you your peace. You don't have to answer every message, accept every opportunity, or carry everything alone. Sometimes, your next level requires you to let go of what got you here so you can create space for where you're going. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, overcommitted, or like you've become the bottleneck in your own life or business, this episode will help you rethink what success can look like and give yourself permission to build it differently. We Discuss: • Why high-achieving women often wear exhaustion like a badge of honor • The hidden cost of constantly proving how much you can handle • The difference between operating your business and leading it as a CEO • Lacey's breaking point as a single mom and business owner • Why setting boundaries helped her business grow • The nervous system patterns behind constantly responding and staying busy • How to reset expectations when people are used to having unlimited access to you • Why delegation is necessary for reaching your next level • Learning to walk away from what is no longer aligned • Why growth often requires letting go of things that once made you successful • Choosing your purpose over constantly trying to make everyone happy • The importance of having people who hold you accountable to your highest vision • How quiet time, journaling, and gratitude can help you reconnect with what you truly want • Why joy can be a powerful clue when designing a life that feels aligned Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Lacey Newman and redefining success 03:00 Why women wear exhaustion like a badge of honor 06:00 The difference between being an operator and stepping into the CEO role 09:00 Lacey's breaking point as a single mom and business owner 12:00 Setting boundaries and protecting what matters most 15:00 Why constant responsiveness can become a nervous system pattern 18:00 Resetting expectations with clients and learning to let your team support you 21:00 Walking away from roles, relationships, and responsibilities that no longer align 24:00 How to decide what to keep and what to let go 26:00 The importance of accountability and having the right people in your corner 28:00 Asking whether an opportunity is truly aligned with your highest purpose 30:00+ Creating quiet space, journaling, gratitude, and designing a life that brings you joy To Connect With Lacey Newman: Instagram @heylaceynewman Website Lacey Newman To Connect With Me: Instagram @amberlylagomotivation Coaching Program Amberly Lago Coaching Program Website Amberly Lago My favorite for gut health & wellness Plexus Worldwide My MAKE Wellness link MAKE Wellness Joy Through the Journey Joy Through the Journey Listen to The Amberly Lago Show The Amberly Lago Show Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Welcome back to another empowering episode of The Amberly Lago Show! If you've ever reached for turmeric shots, ashwagandha, or a tongue scraper without really knowing why, this conversation will change the way you think about your own body. Because the truth is, healing isn't about another quick fix or expert prescription,  it's about remembering the rhythms your body already knows.   In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Nidhi Pandya, Ayurvedic doctor, educator, speaker, and best-selling author known on social media as My Ayurvedic Life. Nidhi brings the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda,  which literally means "the science of life" into real, modern-day living in ways that are practical, relatable, and deeply transformative.   Together, we dive into one of my favorite topics: how to stop outsourcing your own intuition and start reconnecting with your body's natural rhythms.   Nidhi shares why she believes Ayurveda has become far too prescriptive and dogmatic in the wellness world today, and why healing was never meant to feel like a rigid checklist. We talk about the difference between rituals and routines, why every species on the planet, from deer to bears to worms,  instinctively knows its own rhythm, and how we can relearn that same intuition even while living in the middle of a big city.   We also explore Ayurveda's concept of bio-individuality, the three body "climates" that shape how we digest, sleep, and respond to stress, and why most online dosha quizzes get it wrong. Nidhi walks through a real client case study, a burnt-out New York lawyer,  to show how root-cause healing looks in practice, and why chasing quick fixes almost always costs more in the long run.   This episode is packed with grounded, practical wisdom that will help you stop looking outside yourself for permission to heal and start trusting the rhythms already built into your body.   Because your body was never the mystery. We just forgot how to listen to it. We Discuss: What Ayurveda actually is, beyond turmeric and ashwagandha Why Ayurveda is meant to be a set of principles, not a prescription Growing up in a 14-person joint family in Mumbai with an Ayurvedic healer grandfather The difference between rituals and routines, and why it matters How to reconnect with your body's natural rhythms, starting with day and night Ayurveda's six-part division of the day and why it's a powerful starting point How to stay grounded and self-care in a big city without access to nature The concept of bio-individuality and the three inner "climates" (building, heat, depleted/dry) Why most online dosha quizzes get your body type wrong Nidhi's "Inner Climate Method" for mapping symptoms to imbalance A real client case study: healing a burnt-out lawyer through cooling foods and practices Why root-cause healing beats quick fixes in the long run Timestamps:   00:00 Introduction to Nidhi Pandya and Ayurveda 01:42 Nidhi's background and life in Mumbai vs. New York 03:43 Growing up in a 14-person joint family with an Ayurvedic healer grandfather 07:49 Rituals vs. routines and the power of the pause 10:06 How to reconnect with your body's natural rhythms 14:08 Staying grounded and practicing self-care while living in a big city 18:08 What Ayurveda really is, and why it's taught wrong today 20:35 Bio-individuality and the three body "climates" 21:06 Why online dosha quizzes are almost always wrong 23:55 The Inner Climate Method explained 26:07 Case study: healing a burnt-out lawyer through root-cause Ayurveda 32:38 The one dietary principle with the biggest impact: early dinner, big lunch 34:18 Why cooking and eating warm foods made us human 39:49 Nidhi's daily non-negotiable ritual: oiling the body 44:18 Fast round: books, wellness myths, and favorite meals 45:32 Where to find Nidhi's book and her work   To Connect With Nidhi Pandya:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_ayurvedic_life/ Website: https://nidhi.me/ Book – Your Body Already Knows: Intuitive Ayurveda: 21 Days to Reset your Gut, Sleep, Mood, and Health   To Connect With Me:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Coaching Program: https://go.amberlylago.com/ Website: https://amberlylago.com/ My favorite for gut health & wellness: https://plexusworldwide.com/?sponsor=Amberlylago My MAKE Wellness link: https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=521698 Joy Through the Journey: https://amberlylago.com/book/ Listen to The Amberly Lago Show: https://amberlylago.com/podcast/   Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Welcome back to another empowering episode of The Amberly Lago Show! If you've ever felt stuck, held back by fear, or found yourself waiting until you felt "ready" to pursue something meaningful, this conversation is for you. Because the truth is, courage isn't the absence of fear. It's learning how to move forward even when fear is present. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Jill Schulman,  former U.S. Marine Corps officer, leadership expert, TEDx speaker, and author of The Bravery Effect. Jill has spent years studying the science of bravery and helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential by changing their relationship with fear. Together, we dive into one of my favorite topics: how to stop letting fear make your decisions. Jill shares why fear isn't a stop sign and why feeling nervous doesn't mean something is wrong with you. In fact, it often means you're standing right in front of something that matters deeply to you. We talk about how to differentiate between the fear that protects us and the fear that is simply asking us to grow. We also explore the powerful concept of asking your future self for guidance, why preparation and courage go hand in hand, and how our brains actually change when we repeatedly do hard things. Jill explains the neuroscience behind bravery, the surprising truth about stress, and why avoiding discomfort may actually be one of the fastest paths to anxiety and unhappiness. This episode is packed with practical wisdom and powerful mindset shifts that will encourage you to stop waiting until you're fearless and start taking brave action today. Because your best life isn't waiting on the other side of certainty. It's waiting on the other side of courage.     We Discuss • Why fear is often a signpost pointing toward what matters most • How to tell the difference between protective fear and growth fear • Using your future self as a guide when making difficult decisions • Why you should never wait until you feel "ready" • The importance of preparation and practice when facing fear • The neuroscience behind bravery and how the brain changes through courageous action • Why avoiding fear can lead to anxiety and unhappiness • The surprising truth about stress and why stress can actually be beneficial • Building confidence by repeatedly doing hard things • How bravery and happiness are deeply connected     Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Jill Schulman and The Bravery Effect 03:05 Why bravery and happiness go hand in hand 06:00 How to differentiate between fear that protects you and fear that helps you grow 10:05 Asking your future self for guidance 14:05 Why feeling scared means you're probably on the right path 17:00 The importance of preparation and practice 22:10 Why you should never wait until you feel ready 26:15 The science behind stress and resilience 33:30 How our mindset changes our response to stress 39:40 The neuroscience of bravery and brain adaptation 46:20 Why avoiding fear can increase anxiety and depression 53:00 Fear is a signpost, not a stop sign 57:20 Final thoughts on doing things scared and living courageously     To Connect With Jill Schulman Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jillschulman/ Website https://jillshulman.com/  Book – The Bravery Effect https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2BBPR35 TEDx Talk https://youtu.be/G2x63Wk07fE?si=xtIBvxJh29iYJnP6     To Connect With Me Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Coaching Program  https://go.amberlylago.com/ Website https://amberlylago.com/ My favorite for gut health & wellness https://plexusworldwide.com/?sponsor=Amberlylago My MAKE Wellness link https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=521698 Joy Through the Journey https://amberlylago.com/book/ Listen to The Amberly Lago Show https://amberlylago.com/podcast/ Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Welcome back to another powerful episode of The Amberly Lago Show! I always say that when you have your health, you want a thousand things, but when you don't have your health, you only want one thing. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that health truly is wealth and that even our greatest struggles can become our greatest purpose. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Dane Johnson, board-certified nutritionist, founder and CEO of Crohn's Colitis Lifestyle, and someone who turned his own life-threatening battle with inflammatory bowel disease into a mission to help thousands of people reclaim their health and hope. At just 19 years old, Dane began experiencing severe symptoms that eventually led to diagnoses of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. By his late twenties, he was fighting for his life, weighing only 122 pounds, relying on a feeding tube, and taking powerful medications just to survive. Through years of frustration, countless failed attempts, and an unwavering determination to heal, Dane became an expert in understanding the deeper root causes of chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease. In this conversation, we talk about gut health, chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, nervous system regulation, mold toxicity, hidden viral infections, and why healing requires a personalized approach instead of a one-size-fits-all protocol. Dane shares the practical strategies that transformed his own health, from journaling and tracking symptoms to simplifying nutrition and learning to remove unnecessary variables. He explains why symptoms are often messages from the body rather than problems to suppress and why understanding your own patterns can be one of the most powerful tools for healing. We also dive into the importance of consistency, creating a customized healing plan, and empowering yourself with knowledge so that you understand not just what you're doing for your health, but why you're doing it. If you've ever struggled with chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, autoimmune disease, inflammation, or simply felt like your body is working against you, this episode is packed with hope, practical insights, and actionable tools that can help you begin taking your health back.     We Discuss • Dane's journey from life-threatening illness to becoming a nutrition and gut health expert • The realities of living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis • Why symptoms are messages and not simply problems to suppress • The importance of making health your number one priority • How journaling and tracking symptoms can accelerate healing • Food sensitivities versus true food allergies • Why the way food is prepared matters for digestion and inflammation • The connection between gut health, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disease • Mold toxicity, hidden viral infections, and other overlooked root causes of illness • Why personalized healing plans work better than generic protocols • How consistency and education empower long-term health transformation     Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Dane Johnson 03:20 Dane's battle with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis 09:15 From severe illness to finding hope and purpose 15:10 Why traditional approaches weren't enough 21:40 Making health your number one priority 27:30 The power of journaling and tracking symptoms 33:15 Food sensitivities, digestion, and reducing inflammation 40:20 Understanding root causes and hidden triggers 47:10 Mold toxicity, viruses, and chronic illness 54:20 Creating a customized plan for healing 01:00:15 Why consistency matters more than perfection     To Connect With Dane Johnson Instagram https://www.instagram.com/danejohnson1/ Website https://crohnscolitislifestyle.com/     To Connect With Me Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/ Coaching Program https://go.amberlylago.com/ Website https://amberlylago.com/ My favorite for gut health & wellness https://plexusworldwide.com/?sponsor=Amberlylago My MAKE Wellness link https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=521698 Joy Through the Journey https://amberlylago.com/book/ Listen to The Amberly Lago Show https://amberlylago.com/podcast/ Subscribe so you never miss an episode!