Life After Life: Finding Joy Without the Near-Death Wake-Up Call with Amy Ciampi

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What does it really mean to live fully? For today’s guest, Amy Ciampi, the answer came in the most unexpected — and harrowing — way. At just 29 years old, seven miles into her fifth 100-mile ultramarathon, Amy went into sudden cardiac arrest. For 45 minutes, strangers fought to keep her alive in the Wasatch wilderness until help arrived. She survived against all odds, but survival was only the beginning.

Amy was forced to trade her identity as an ultrarunner for a life that looked nothing like the one she trained for. The road back was long — through months of therapy, years of sensory overload, and the grief of losing the body and lifestyle she once knew. But through it all, Amy discovered something powerful: joy doesn’t have to wait for the big milestones, the bucket-list races, or — God forbid — a near-death experience. Joy is available every single day, if we’re willing to notice it.

In this deep and moving conversation, Amy and I explore:

• The moment that changed her life forever during her 5th ultramarathon.
• The resilience it took to rebuild her life, piece by piece, after cardiac arrest.
• How to find joy and gratitude in ordinary moments — without waiting for tragedy to wake us up.
• What she’s learned about identity, purpose, and living fully in the “after.”
• Why joy is not a luxury, but a choice we can make daily.

Amy’s story is a reminder that we don’t need to almost lose our lives to finally start living them. This conversation will inspire you to find your joy now — in the smallest moments, in the everyday breath you take, and in the simple miracle of being alive.

🎧 Press play to be reminded that today — exactly as it is — is a gift worth celebrating.

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