Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris

 ”I feel privileged that I went through this journey because you don't know what you can handle until something comes along. And we made mistakes like anybody would, and we had hiccups like anybody would, but I feel privileged that we were able to go through this with her and try to make her life as comfortable as possible.” Curious about how to support transgender rights and the LGBTQ+ community...

 ” I need to know what's happening. I can't not know. But I can't over know. It cannot take over my day.” In this needed conversation, Donna Ferris sits down with beloved Kripalu faculty member and mindfulness coach Aruni Futuronsky to share deep, actionable wisdom on how to stay grounded, compassionate, and present—even when the world feels largely unmoored. They dive into: How to navigate anxiet...

“I look at pictures of my child when he was young, and I remember his young, innocent light, and he's still in there.” In this heartfelt episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris speaks with writer, mindfulness teacher, and mental health advocate Shelley Karpaty, also known as “Spicy Soul Mama.” Together, they explore the complex intersection of motherhood, mental health advocacy, neurodi...

"Life isn’t meant to be endured—it’s meant to be enjoyed." In today’s new episode, Donna Ferris offers a centering practice to help you find peace even when everything feels tough. With the world feeling heavy, we are reminded that happiness is a choice—one we can make even in the middle of chaos. This episode includes: Breathwork to reduce stress Powerful affirmations like “I am safe” and “I choo...

"When you have things like ADHD and autism and you struggle, hey, try a skilled trade because man, it turns your disability into a superpower." What if the traits that made you feel like a misfit were actually your biggest assets? In this powerful episode, ironworker and ADHD advocate Jamie McMillan shares how growing up with undiagnosed ADHD—and being one of the few women in the skilled trades—sh...

Feeling off lately? You’re not alone. In this episode, recorded from a recent centering group, we explore the healing power of Tonglen meditation, the truth behind Tara Brach’s “Trance of Unworthiness,” and practical ways to take care of ourselves during tough moments. Learn how to: Breathe through discomfort Calm your mind to get back to sleep Reconnect with your true, good self Create an emergen...

"To manage outrage with loving kindness has been the richest lesson of my spiritual practice.” In this episode, spiritual leader Reggie Hubbard shares his remarkable journey from high-powered political strategist to sound healer and advocate for mindfulness and social justice. After facing extreme professional adversity and surviving a life-changing stroke, Reggie used yoga and sound healing pract...

With consumer confidence dropping, uncertainty rising, and the daily barrage of news, it’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed and demoralized. In this episode, host Donna Ferris shares strategies for managing these feelings, including: Guided Meditation: Start with a calming meditation to gain perspective and find peace during challenging moments. Self-Care Tips: Learn why prioritizing self-care is...

“The next revolution is a revolution in consciousness where we realize we are far more connected than we ever thought or believed.” In this episode, host Donna Ferris is joined by Erin Byron, a renowned wellness author, psychotherapist, and trauma expert. Together, they explore the powerful concept of karma—the law of cause and effect. In today’s world of uncertainty and challenge, Erin offers pra...

In this episode, Donna Ferris shares a soothing and reflective centering practice aimed at helping listeners navigate life's challenges with mindfulness. Through a guided meditation, Donna explores themes of self-care, connection, and how we can envision a peaceful, fulfilling future—even into our later years. She also shares a reading from Pema Chodron’s Welcoming the Unwelcome, discussing how we...

“If nothing else, maybe this pulls us together stronger than ever before. And we come out the other side of it completely different. Changed in a way we might not have been otherwise. I think that this could be important for the next stage of human evolution and change” In this thought-provoking episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris sits down with author and relationship expert Crystal Jac...

“Mars teaches us how to be a soldier, how to go to war—and right now, we’re at war with our emotions, our egos, and everything that’s been holding us back.” What does 2025 have in store for us? Astrologer and The Weekly Awakening astrology podcast host Colleen Dixon—also known as Cosmicolleen—joins Bounce Back Stronger host Donna Ferris to break down the year’s biggest cosmic shifts. They discuss:...

“If your focus is on fear, it will bring fear.  We're very empathic creatures. What is bothering me, disturbing my peace, or taking my light away? Whatever it is, you have to choose to turn it off, walk away, and say no. Because your peace is more important than anything.” In this episode, psychic medium Cristina Leeson shares insights about the transformative energy of 2025—a “9-year” symbolizing...

“There's a way in which when we are lost, we're consumed, we're overwhelmed by anger, we don't see any options…There's a lot of information that we lose when we're just consumed by that kind of anger. So what we want to do is really capture the energy without being so lost in it and burning up because of it.” Struggling with overwhelm and anger? Wondering how to stay grounded in turbulent times? I...

“Taking the road less traveled is really challenging but can be worth it...I've had a lot of very deep low points that I don't want to gloss over when I talk about my life because it might sound like one big adventure, but it doesn't always feel that way when you're living in it. But at the same time, I do think that making some unconventional decisions has allowed me to get closer to what's right...

Just a few Thanksgiving thoughts. Hope they are helpful. Wishing you peace, love, and joy tomorrow. Love, Donna

“It is really important to be honest with kids about difficult situations. And one way you can do that is to let their questions be your guide. There's a rule of thumb, if a kid is old enough to ask a question, they're old enough to get an honest answer.” This week Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris sits down with Jenny Lisk, founder of the Widowed Parent Institute and author of Future Widow...

"When I was a kid, my parents read me a book called The Contented Little Pussycat. It was about a kitten on a farm who stayed happy no matter what nonsense the barnyard animals threw at her. Whether chasing her tail or sipping a cool bowl of milk, she found her joy. That book—good, bad, or indifferent—has shaped a lot of my life. I took on the persona of “the happy one.” First, as a kid, it helped...

“But I promise you you've gone nose blind. You've gone nose blind to the joys around you, still.”  In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris talks with award-winning photographer Eve Turek as she shares her journey of finding gratitude even in life’s most challenging moments. From her famous photograph of a fog-covered tree line that earned her a gold medal at the World Photograph...

I started writing this a week ago standing in a voting line in West Chester , Pennsylvania. I still had a little bit of optimism that I might not have to record it the day after the election. But here we are. I have experience accepting seemingly unacceptable outcomes, including: Finding out my husband of twenty years cheated. Learning my fiancé was never going to survive his massive stroke. Being...

“The horse I fell in love with, Claret, was very, very spooky, and he had a trauma history of his own. And it didn’t matter; I loved him. I just loved him. And I would see him, so afraid. And in helping him face his fears, it knocked me out of my own. Teaching him to be brave taught me to be brave." In this week’s episode, we explore the subject of panic attacks and the journey to finding calm wit...

“The lack of communication about and around mental illness in general and depression specifically is really quite striking in this day and age.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris speaks with Garry Cosnett, author of Everything Slows Down, a book chronicling his lifelong battle with depression and his eventual journey to peace. Garry offers a raw and candid look into how de...

In this episode, host Donna Ferris leads a short mindfulness meditation to engage the five senses. This practice aims to bring calm and help memoir and fiction writers create vivid and powerful scenes. So grab a pen and paper, get comfortable, and allow this meditation to inspire deeper awareness, self-expression, and storytelling. This meditation is one of a dozen that accompany Donna Y. Ferris'...

"We need more resources for families, not just the patients. The whole family is affected when mental illness strikes." This is a must-listen for anyone affected by a loved one’s mental illness. In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris interviews Sandra Lau, founder of the YouTube channel and Facebook page I Hear You, which is dedicated to supporting children of parents with ment...

“Dipa Ma was the most loving person I ever met.” ~Sharon Salzberg “A modern Buddhist saint.” ~Jack Kornfield “Her impact on Buddhism in America has been profound.” ~Joseph Goldstein In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris sits down with Amita Schmidt, a renowned meditation teacher and author of Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master. Amita shares the story of Dipa Ma,...