From Chronically Ill to Thriving: The Wellness Comeback Story You Need to Hear with Amy Kurtz, Author of Kicking Sick

#160  - From Chronically Ill to Thriving: The Wellness Comeback Story You Need to Hear with Amy Kurtz, Author of Kicking Sick

What happens when your body becomes the thing holding you back from living your life? In this episode of The Pretty Well Podcast, I’m joined by Amy Kurtz—author, speaker, and wellness warrior who’s turned her own experience with chronic illness into a powerful mission to help others heal. We’re talking about what it really takes to live well with invisible illness, how to become your own best advocate, and why your symptoms aren’t “just in your head” (even if you’ve been told that one too many times). Amy shares the mindset shifts, do-able practices, and functional wellness tools that helped her go from barely surviving to thriving.

If you’ve ever felt gaslit, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted by the medical system, this conversation will feel like a deep breath and a power-up all at once. Because healing isn’t linear—but it is possible. You don't have to settle for “you’ll just have to live with it.”

 

More About Amy Kurtz:

Facing debilitating pain and health issues since her teenage years, patient advocate and author Amy Kurtz well knows the frustration, fear and isolation that comes with chronic illness.  She wrote the bestselling book Kicking Sick as a reader guide to managing debilitating conditions and living fully. A distinct voice in the health space, Amy’s work has been heralded by Mark Hyman,  Deepak Chopra, Kris Carr and more. Lena Dunham named Kicking Sick one of her “top 10 desert island books of all time” in NY MAG.  She has appeared in Oprah, as well as on Good Morning America several times, and Fox. Amy’s second book, “But You Look Fine, Trapped in the Hell between Sick and Well and how to Break Free” is due out from Hachette in Spring 2026. 

LInks & Resources:

Website: https://amykurtz.com/

Social:

https://www.instagram.com/_amykurtz

https://www.facebook.com/amykurtzauthor

 

Amy’s Book: *Kicking Sick: Your Go-To Guide for Thriving with Chronic Health Conditions

https://amzn.to/4ixOQOd 

*As An Amazon Associate I Earn A Small Commission From Qualifying Purchases At No Extra Cost To You*

 

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 Contact Lisa:

Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com 

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Disclaimer: 

Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.

The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content.