Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris

“I’ve always told people who deal with a family member or someone they love with schizophrenia or some severe or even brain trauma, the essential person is in there. It's this disease or accident or whatever, that's hijacked the brain.”

This is our second episode in Mental Health Awareness Month, and our guest is National Book Critics Award-winning memoir author Mira Bartok. This conversation is for anyone who loves someone struggl...

In this first episode for May Mental Health Awareness Month, we delve into the meaning of "The Peace That Passes All Understanding" as we lead you through a serene, meditative journey of self-discovery and tranquility.

Through simple steps, discover how to release past and future worries and remain grounded in the present moment. Experience the inherent calmness within you, regardless of external circumstances.

Conclude feeling rej...

“Quickly after coming to Kripalu, I noticed that when we asked people why they were there, 80 percent of them said, I want to come home to myself...  There was this kind of desperation to come to someplace that felt like home. And what is that? Well, that's being at ease with how it is in the body, how it is in the mind...beginning to notice how it all is, and being okay with it...” ~Stephen Cope

Join us for a special episode of Bo...

Feeling angry or anxious? Overwhelmed and not sure how to manage strong emotions like resentment, jealousy, and fear?

This meditation is for you.

In this episode, we use the symbol of a rose to navigate intense feelings. Join us as we practice releasing difficult emotions into its cooling petals so we can learn from our feelings and emerge lighter, freer, and more at peace.

This meditation is one of a dozen that accompany Donna Y. ...

"You become that place where people rely on being safe...being a safer place than I was before has helped my career more than my MBA or CFA...Maybe the yoga therapy training I took was the best money ever spent."

Recently, I guested on the 10X Growth Strategies podcast with Saradha Sriram to discuss one of my favorite books, The Untethered Soul.

This episode replay shares how this book helped me during a difficult time and how side...

In this episode, Dr. Stephen S. Tang, author and biotech executive, shares his experience leading the team behind the Intelliswab Covid-19 test, which Oprah Winfrey calls the easiest of its kind.

He also shares crisis and leadership insights from his book A Test for Our Time, along with his six secrets for navigating tough times and tips for those of us who have trouble blurring work and life.

I learned so much from talking to Dr. ...

This week’s guest, Billy Manas, is a writer, poet, truck driver, father, and talented singer-songwriter with over twenty years of experience in the music industry.

You might have come across Billy's insightful Substack column, "Manas From Heaven," or caught his compelling pieces in Elephant Journal and the Good Men Project. But Billy's talents don't end there – he's also the author of "Kickass Recovery," a motivational self-help gu...

Ever wish you could blink your eyes and be in your happy place? That's what this meditation is all about. Through soothing imagery and relaxation techniques, this short meditation will guide you to leave overwhelm behind so you can be in your special place of bliss and calm. 

This meditation is one of a dozen that accompany Donna Y. Ferris' book Bounce Back Stronger - Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens which can be pu...

“So rather than being focused on my circumstances, how can I look up and out above the waves and recognize that my body has cancer, but it doesn’t have to have my soul, my heart, or mind? How can I live love while I’m here?”

This week’s episode features cancer survivor and author Shawn Elizabeth George. With four books under her belt, including a heartwarming children’s book about finding your place, Shawn shares her powerful insig...

"We have 70,000 thoughts, and 90% of them are not new. Until we see this for  what it is, we are prisoners to it."

This week’s guest is Chuck Schad, a witty and wise meditation teacher who's been guiding folks through life's ups and downs for over four decades. Chuck, founder of The Inner Theater, brings a refreshing blend of humor and honesty to the world of meditation.

In this engaging conversation, Chuck draws from his wealth of...

This episode is a master class in memoir, personal essay, and self-help non-fiction. Our guest, Melanie Votaw, author, editor, and book coach, brings over two decades of editing and writing experience to the table, all in service of individuals crafting and sharing their tales of triumph.

Melanie unveils the secrets behind her remarkable success in guiding others to tell their stories. From self-help books to memoirs, she has left ...

“Kids know how to wonder…they still believe anything can happen...hopefully, they pass it on to their parents…”

I reached out to this week’s guest, Caldecott winner Micha Archer, after seeing her work in the Brandywine River Museum exhibition, "Rooted: Family and Nature in Contemporary Children's Book Illustration (open until February 28th)."

Strolling through the exhibit with my children, I was so inspired by the enchanting illust...

"The key is consistency and dedicating intentional time to your dreams each day. You do it for so many other things, other people, and your job. Take this time to do it for you."

This guided meditation invites you to create space in your mind, so you can visualize the life you dream of. 

This meditation accompanies the Create Your Life chapter of the book Bounce Back Stronger - Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens which...

“I don’t look at being single as a sad thing. I’ve gotten really comfortable with it, and I think it’s beautiful.”

This week we delve deep into the heart of author and therapist Crystal Jackson's journey. With candor, humor, and authenticity, Crystal shares her experiences of love, divorce, and the unexpected joys of singlehood. But it's not just about navigating life solo; Crystal opens up about the profound friendships and newfou...

"Ultimately, you don't really have a choice of what you like to do...I find if I say yes to the opportunities that do come along it makes me a whole lot happier."

I'm so excited to share this interview with Broadway actress Madison Ferris.

At just 25 years old, Madison Ferris left an indelible mark on Broadway history by becoming the first actress in a wheelchair to play a leading role. In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, s...

"It's important that we put ourselves at the top of the to-do list. We don't need to be number one, or two or three, but come on - let's be in the top five."

This week’s guest has a story that is nothing short of remarkable—Leigh Pechillo survived a widow-maker heart attack and overcame not one but four sudden cardiac arrests. Rather than letting these challenges define her, she has emerged as a passionate advocate for women and he...

Five years ago, I attended a retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health with this week's podcast guest, Maria Sirois. It was the first anniversary of a dear one's passing and even though I thought I was making progress in my healing journey, the anniversary dragged up the loss as if it was new. 

After three days with Maria, I understood what was happening to me, had the tools to move forward, and was able to get back on the ...

Join us for this heartfelt conversation with sobriety coach Laura Ward, who shares the many reasons why she broke free from alcohol. Top of the list?

Her children. 

In this candid discussion, Laura openly shares the tools she provides to her clients - which are valuable for anyone on a personal growth journey - whether dealing with a complicated medical diagnosis, guiding teenagers through challenging moments, confronting unforesee...

In this transformative episode of Bounce Back Stronger, we have the privilege of sitting down with a true pioneer in the world of meditation, Sharon Salzberg. As a world-renowned teacher, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, Sharon has been at the forefront of bringing mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture for nearly five decades.

Join us as we delve into Sharon's ...