Meet Amy Jo Teague Pasek | Athlete & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Jo Teague Pasek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy Jo, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking is something I’m not a stranger to. Everything good that has happened in my life has come from stepping into the unknown and being okay with whatever the outcome may be. The quote “You never lose, you either win or you learn” is engraved in my mind. At 31 years old, I have learned to trust myself to figure it out no matter the obstacle that is in front of me. From leaving a toxic relationship to learning how to accept one that is built on trust, respect and love, to leaving corporate and finding ways to make money doing the things that I love and managing my own schedule, to healing my body from burnout and allowing that to lead me into learning how to homestead and hunt, to seeing the world go backwards in 2020 and diving into self defense, the list goes on and on. I believe that in life you are either moving forward or backward, you don’t ever sit in the same place- so for me, I will always choose to take the risk and know that on the other side is freedom and wisdom.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started out like a lot of kids in college, clueless on the direction I wanted to take so I just partied my way through. I was running track competitively at the time and threw away that opportunity. I was juggling an unhealthy relationship as well and in the process of disconnecting from that, I ended up dropping out of school and began a sales job. During that year, I sold over a million dollars worth of time share and competed in a bikini competition. Needless to say, I was emotionally, mentally and physically burnt out. I had a full on crash. I went from being a competitive athlete to gaining weight, developing anxiety and depression and moving back home. My cortisol was so high for so long that the doctors believed I had a brain tumor causing my hormones to be so out of order. I did a brain scan and they tried to send me down the medical road of medications and tests. After six months of unanswered questions, I decided to heal myself. I learned about holistic health, nutrition, mental health, self development, and completely rewrote my life. I quit partying, fired friends that were not really friends, stopped dating, went back to church and got laser focused on what I wanted my life to look like. I worked multiple jobs, and began drawing out my ideal life.

I met my husband years after that and we immediately began setting a positive, intentional foundation with each other. We both wanted to live on a farm, become self sufficient, and live out our life to the max. Because I became so focused on health, we taught ourselves how to raise chickens for eggs, beef for meat, and I got into hunting after I learned about the conservation side of it along with the connection to consumption. We even have a sauna and gym built on our farm so we rarely have to leave. *We also taught ourselves how to RV, but that’s another story!

I’ve been in digital marketing since 2019 and with that I learned about content creation and storytelling. I began sharing my story through social media and have developed a large following that I appreciate so much.

My journey has not been easy by any means. I had years of feeling embarrassed about where I was, but knew that I would prevail. I’m the classic story of someone who messed up their life, but took responsibility and rebuilt it even better.

The thing I want people to know is that your hardest lessons are your greatest teachers. If I hadn’t lost my health, I wouldn’t be so intentional about it now. If I hadn’t experienced terrible relationships, I wouldn’t appreciate my wonderful husband as much as I do. If I hadn’t thrown away my college athletic career, I may not still be competing at 31 years old. And finally, if I hadn’t experienced all the dark years, I wouldn’t have this story to share with others who may feel hopeless about where they are. We always have a choice, and we can always rise above.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a health nerd so I know all the best places for delicious food and healthy options! First and foremost we would go to my favorite restaurant, True Food Kitchen! It’s located in The Shops at Legacy so there’s plenty of opportunity to walk around and shop afterwards. True Food is known for having the healthiest menu with a lot of organic meals to choose from. After that I would take my friend to Unrefined Bakery for a cupcake, cookies and coffee. They are another location in DFW that offers gluten free, dairy free, organic options. A true gem!

For dinner, we’re going to Haywire at Legacy Hall. They have the best steak and elk tacos, plus the live music at Legacy is an added bonus!

On the weekend, we’re going to Mission Ridge Range in Plano to shoot pistols and archery. They have a beautiful, brand new location with state of the art facilities for both shooting a bow and gun. This is the best type of ladies day fun in my opinion! Nothing makes you feel like more of a baddie than shooting things.

The last two things that we would do is head over to Fort Worth for the daily longhorn cattle drive and weekend rodeo. The longhorn cattle drive is a true experience, and because me and my husband own a couple longhorns on our farm, this holds a special place in my heart!

The weekend rodeo is also a must see. Nothing touches the true spirit of Texas like throwing on your boots, cowboy hat, and hitting the rodeo with friends. nd

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I got into college, I single handedly began destroying my life. I was drinking, smoking, partying and choosing the wrong people and environments to surround myself with. After years of this downward spiral and a huge health scare, I surrendered my life to God and things began to dramatically turn around. He deserves the credit.

Next is my older sister, Whitney. She has always had my back, been selfless in sharing her knowledge and setting a great example for me to follow. (She literally saved my life when we were younger by pulling me out of the deep end of a pool when I didn’t know how to swim.) For my whole life, she has looked after me and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.

And finally, my husband, Tony. He is the most selfless, loving, patient and supportive partner I could have prayed for. (And I did pray for him for years before we even met). We have cultivated the most beautiful relationship where we do everything together and stay so aligned on our values and our goals. I also wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for his unwavering support.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjoteague.pasek/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@texastotable

Image Credits
Brent Baxter
Lauren Sultan
Luis Battistini