Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris

“The best-adjusted person in this society is a robot. Someone that isn't dead but isn't alive either.” Join host Donna Ferris in this episode of Bounce Back Stronger as she welcomes Pete Sidley, a leading expert in healing and wellness. Donna reached out to Pete to discuss the groundbreaking healing work he co-facilitated with author Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef, who sadly passed away in 2020. She was t...

"We don't have to be the ones who stand up to someone mean. If their behavior is difficult for you, they are likely difficult for everyone. Karma is real, and sometimes we need to let it play out." In this solo episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris delves into a topic we all struggle with—dealing with mean people. Drawing from personal experiences, Buddhist teachings, and mindfulness...

“You can’t beat yourself up to create something beautiful.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris explores strategies and practices to feel like we are enough with Jennifer Schelter, an award-winning actress, artist, author, and yoga teacher. Jennifer shares: How art helped her overcome long-undiagnosed dyslexia How mindfulness has played a pivotal role in her creative journey...

“I'm glad I didn't wait until I retired to do the things that I wanted to do…cause now that we've been in rehab, we see people way younger, little kids, people in their twenties that are in worse shape. And it's like, man, at least I had 60 years of doing what I wanted to do.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris sits down with Cindy Ross, a seasoned adventurer and writer, an...

"If there's something that you want to do, stop getting in your own way. I am a big example of someone who still, at times, gets in her way with certain things. But if we can figure out that we are the ones preventing us from achieving what we want to achieve, we will." Ever been laid off or had a major career disappointment and wondered, "What now?" Meet Tami Adams, who turned a career setback in...

“Compassion is a profound doorway - especially now with all the shifting and whirling around us. Can we give ourselves permission to be human, permission to try, permission to practice, permission to do our best?” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris sits down with Coach Aruni Funtaransky, a mindfulness coach, writer, and senior faculty member at the renowned Kripalu Center f...

"And so if you find yourself stuck, a lot of people say, I need a mentor. My answer is you need a project, and you use that project to attract people who will help unstuck ya." In this episode, Donna sits down with Eric Koester, founder and CEO of the Creator Institute and a celebrated entrepreneurship professor at Georgetown University. Eric has transformed the lives of over 2,200 authors and sha...

"What I realized is it's not enough to survive. We've got to bounce back - and we've got to thrive. And so here I am, publishing this book, knowing that loss is one of life's biggest teachers. And it never stops giving." In this special episode recorded live from the launch of host Donna Y. Ferris's new book, Bounce Back Stronger - Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens, we dive deep int...

“Your heart is beating right now. My heart is beating. Air is going into us and out, and we just completely take that for granted, most of us, most of the time. And it really should not be taken for granted. It's really incredible.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris interviews award-winning author Roland Merullo. Known for novels like The Talk Funny Girl and “quirky spirit...

In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, your host, Donna Ferris, guides you through a heartfelt meditation focused on cherishing happy memories of lost loved ones. This meditation aims to support those on a grief journey by utilizing the powerful tool of positive reminiscence. Research shows that recalling joyful memories can significantly improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance psychological we...

In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris guides you through a powerful meditation that focuses on body awareness and tension release. Discover how your emotions manifest in your body and learn the importance of releasing this tension for overall well-being. Donna also introduces a simple yet effective technique using a tennis ball to help you find relief and calm. This episode is...

“What makes you feel good? What centers you? Do more of that.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris interviews Bob Butera, a Ph. D. in yoga therapy who founded the Comprehensive Yoga Therapy Training at Yoga Life Institute. What is yoga therapy? A discipline that adapts yoga’s mind, body, and spirit practices to mental and physical health challenges. During our time together,...

"I just felt like the world didn’t need any more sadness - it really needed more prettiness. And I also felt like with flowers, there was this stereotype of women, mothers, older women painting flowers, and I thought I'm gonna own that." In this week’s episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris sits down with Judith Bigham, an artist whose resilience and creativity shine brightly in the fa...

“Pain gets suppressed in the body either consciously or subconsciously. I think this isn't talked about enough. When you start to express that suppressed pain in any sort of movement, not just yoga, it allows you to release heaviness in the body.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris delves into the healing power of yoga and meditation with grief yoga teacher Kim Bernardo. Af...

"Everybody has a treasure. Everybody is a gem in some way. And that's why I'm so curious. That's why I ask people questions because I like to try to discover or plumb their being or their soul and find out what is that special spark that makes them unique and interesting." In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, host Donna Ferris interviews the illustrious Art Carey, an acclaimed author, journali...

Tune into our latest podcast episode for a powerful meditation that combines mindfulness and movement to help you overcome barriers and walk your way to inner peace. This meditation is one of a dozen that accompany Donna Y. Ferris' book Bounce Back Stronger - Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens (available here ). We hope this episode is helpful to you. If it is, please subscribe to th...

“There's always something that's going to test us and try to knock us off kilter. But if you stay resilient and open, I swear you will receive blessings, opportunities, epiphanies, and a connection to the divine that gets stronger and stronger and stronger.” We are thrilled to welcome our first repeat guest, the internationally renowned psychic medium, spiritual teacher, and real-life ghostbuster...

“People sacrifice sleep. They put it last, and I'm hearing things like, I'll sleep when I die,  sleep is for the wicked, or  you want to show that you're a superhero by not needing  more sleep...” This is our third episode in Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week, we are focusing on a fundamental activity that directly affects our mental health. What is it? Sleep. Our guest is Julie Wright,...

In this episode, we guide you through a ten-minute meditation focused on the art of surrendering the outcome. This practice isn't about giving up, but rather about recognizing that we've done our best and it's time to let go of persistent thoughts, release control, and trust in the flow of life. We'll start by helping you relax your body and focus on your breath. As we move through the meditation,...

“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 f...

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...

“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...

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...

"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 d...

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 l...