Exploring Life & Business with Anthony Pizano of Amplified Society / Get AMP’d Unplugged

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Pizano.

Hi Anthony, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
How my journey began in the fitness industry started when I graduated from SDSU back in 2011. At the time, my parents were saints and had helped pay my way through college. Very fortunate and grateful son for sure. However, I was hit with a rude awakening when they said, “We are cutting you off. You can either move home (to San Jose – Bay Area) or figure it out.” My stubborn 23-year-old self was determined to figure it out. 

Working 3 jobs, opening up the SDSU Information booth at 6 am, going to my graphic design part-time job for Duds By Dudes in La Jolla from 10:30 am-2 pm, then off to 24-Hour Fitness next to Qualcomm Stadium at the time, where I was a membership counselor until 8 pm. Did this for about 6 months, all while living out of my Mazda 3 hatchback with $30 to my name. 

At the time, I had an old roommate/fraternity brother who had a place in PB and let me pay him $200/month to place a mattress on his kitchen floor so I had a place to sleep every night. I was getting sick of eating PB&J’s every day, working 3 jobs, and, quite frankly was getting burnt out. There had to be a better solution. Working as a membership counselor at 24-hour fitness, I developed great sales tactics and skills. I saw many of the trainers killing it, living a flexible lifestyle, making (what I thought at the time) great money. I was envious and wanted that lifestyle. So, I decided to study for Personal Trainers certification during any downtime I had at work. 

Long story short, I got it, was transferred to 24 Hour Fitness Pt Loma, where my career began and flourished in 1.5 short years. After leading the district in most serviced sessions 6 of 12 months, I decided to take my business independently to Worlds Gym, now known as “The Gym,” in PB. Through trial-and-error training different types of clients, I found my niche in client transformations and contest prep. Managing a bootcamp amidst while working independently, I was able to be put in front of many different faces and backgrounds. 

With the power of resilience, work ethic, and passion for fitness, I found my own within the industry. Becoming a 4x NPC physique overall champion added to the resumé, where more people gained my trust in what I had to present and offer from a business standpoint. 

Today, I now live the lifestyle I’ve always dreamt of. Battling depression post-divorce back in 2019, I have climbed my way back out making a change for myself and others through my podcast Get AMP’d Unplugged. It’s about Amplifying your Mindset and backing your words with Performance. Without action, everything is just words. This men’s mental health podcast has been a tremendous outlet not only for my healing but to help spread a message for all men who are too afraid to share this stories. 

After all, is said and done, we only have our reputation. Some can be flawed and skewed. But it doesn’t mean you can be defined by a couple beatdowns in life. What defines you is how you get back up and tackle what life has thrown at you. So, take the opportunity you have at hand and turn it into a gain. There’s only one direction from the bottom floor; it’s up. Get moving! 

To hear more about my life story, peep my podcast on my YouTube Channel, Get Ampd Unplugged. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing has ever been a smooth road. But that’s the beauty of life. There’s always going to be speed bumps and things that will try to detour us off our God-given path. 

Living out of my car post-college taught me to be resilient. That low taught me to never give up regardless how tough some hardships may be. The work ethic my family instilled in me since a young boy taught me I can overcome any and all adversity. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Amplified Society Co. / Get AMP’d Unplugged?
Amplified Society Co. is my independent personal training business. It’s more than a personal training environment. Amplified is eccentric and unique as we don’t conform to normality. It’s a community; it’s a collective group of individuals that are freesol. We a hold a friendship bond, we are family, and more so, we are a society with common goals. 

I conduct my business in person out of Boulevard Fitness in North Park, as well as The Gym located in Pacific Beach. My specialty is in contest prep, lifestyle nutrition, transformation specialist, sports performance training, as well as bodybuilding resistance training. 

I’d say what separates me from others is in my style of training. My charisma and passion for training and helping others outshines everything else in my personal humble opinion. When you love what you do and bring that energy for your clients, that hour then becomes their favorite hour of the day and or week. 

I currently offer group and solo training sessions. You can reach me at GetAMPdFit@gmail.com or on Instagram at @amplified_society 

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Get AMP’d Unplugged is my podcast aimed at men’s mental health within the fitness industry and how it’s unspoken for. This podcast has been something that’s been brewing for some time, and I recently launched it about a month ago. 

After a long hiatus and detachment from social media, I decided using my platform and following from my previous “influencer” page to bring light to men’s mental health and help those in need of a voice, outlet, or help. As someone who fell into deep depression and denial myself, I’m a walking testimony you can turn thing around. Still a lot of work to be done, but I’m on the most resilient mofos I know, and doubt is the biggest fuel to my fire. 

I’m not perfect, as no one is, but I can own my shit, and I have no problem being vulnerable enough to share my deepest, darkest truths if it can help someone stay clear of some of my decisions and past choices. We are all human. It’s a choice to make a change or continue to play victim. I’ll take the hot seat and aid in steering the wheel for men’s mental health and fitness. 

You can reach my YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@get_ampd_unplugged or on Instagram at @get_ampd. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memory was traveling for my AAU Basketball league. It was great bonding time with my father as we would go from city to different states to partake in competitive basketball tournaments. 

Basketball was my life growing up. I was heavily recruited in junior high by local private high schools. One of my biggest personal accomplishments was ranking #2 in the state of Nevada after our team from San Jose lost in the Nevada state championship game in 7th grade. Those memories will never fade and will always hold a place on my mantel lol. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @get_ampd ; @amplified_society
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/getampdfit
• Youtube: youtube.com/@get_ampd_unplugged

Image Credits
Sarah Castro-Correa
Christian Blake
Justin Erickson