What if uncertainty wasn’t something to dread, but something we’re meant to live inside? In this episode, Danielle sits down with Paralympian Amy Purdy, whose life changed overnight at age 19 after losing both of her legs to bacterial meningitis. What followed wasn’t just a story of resilience, it was a complete redefinition of identity, possibility, and what it means to move forward. Amy went on to become a three-time Paralympic medalist, a finalist on Dancing with the Stars, and the author of Bounce Forward. But more than what she’s accomplished, this conversation focuses on how she navigates uncertainty, reinvention, and the moments that don’t make sense while you’re living them. In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The wild story of Madonna discovering Amy Purdy in a casting call
- Amy’s story of losing both legs to bacterial meningitis at 19
- How Amy became a Paralympic medalist after losing both her legs
- The premonition-like encounter Amy had weeks before she nearly died
- What facing death actually feels like (and why it wasn’t fear)
- How to redefine purpose after losing everything familiar
- Ideas for staying grounded when life feels uncertain and out of control
- The difference between “bouncing back” vs. bouncing forward
- What it’s like learning to snowboard again on prosthetic legs
- The mental tools Amy uses to navigate fear, anxiety, and uncertainty
- How Amy manifested working with Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra, and Liz Gilbert
- The role of presence and mindfulness during life’s hardest moments
- Amy’s devastating second injury, and the moment she realized she “might never walk again”
- The power of choosing challenges and reframing our reality
Make sure to check out Amy on Instagram, and read her new book Bounce Forward
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