Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris

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 Rec...

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...

“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 pla...

"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 conversat...

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-h...

“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...

"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 P...

“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...

"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 Tenness...

"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 p...

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 forwar...

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 challen...

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....

This week, we have CosmiColleen, the amazing host of The Weekly Awakening Podcast as our guest.  Listen in to this fun and enlightening conversation to hear how understanding our horoscopes has helped us both navigate difficult times (and people). Colleen's story is pure inspiration – she got into podcasting as a creative outlet to get through relationship drama and now, she helps her clients navi...

Join us for a transformative episode of Bounce Back Stronger featuring our special guest, Susie Pettit – a certified Parent, Life + Wellness Coach, and mother of five sons aged 18-26. As the host of the Love Your Life podcast, Susie brings a wealth of experience and invaluable insights to guide us in moving beyond our "good enough” lives to embrace our extraordinary potential. In this conversation...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build and maintain thriving decades-long relationships? In this episode, Maureen Ross Gemme, CEO of Emerge Leadership Academy, will share how she’s managed to do this while navigating not a little bit of home life chaos. 🌟 Episode Highlights: The Art of Building Lasting Relationships: Maureen opens up about the ways she builds enduring relationships (hint:...

Embark on a captivating journey with International Psychic Medium Cristina Leeson in this week's podcast episode as she unveils the fascinating story of her evolution into a spiritual leader. Join us as Cristina shares her unique perspective on spirituality and imparts her empowering guidance for the transformative year ahead, 2024. With an impressive background spanning over two decades, Cristina...

In this heartwarming episode of "Bounce Back Stronger," we delve into the extraordinary love story of Gin Carter - a marine biologist, author, yoga/meditation teacher, and veterinary student - whose pursuit of happiness led her to challenge and change laws. We follow Gin as she navigates the legal landscape, breaks barriers, and ultimately reshapes the rules for the sake of true love.  But this ep...

Get ready to dive deep with Erin Byron, who we are honored to have as our first guest! She's not your average therapist – Erin's a Registered Psychotherapist, yoga therapist, and co-author of books like "Yoga for the Creative Soul," and the brain behind Trauma Aware Certified Training. We kick things off by chatting about what Erin's noticing in her students and clients post-pandemic. And surprisi...

This four-minute mindfulness practice provides a bit of calm. Hope you will take a listen and share it with those who might benefit. Thank you.

This episode is a salve for the difficult days which can include holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or just a day when we are overwhelmed with emotions. One of the best tools for those days is mindfulness - and my favorite mindfulness teacher? My WonderDog, Jake - because dogs are masters of staying in the moment. Listen to hear what I mean and how mindfulness can help us stop ruminating thoughts...

In this episode we unravel the science of resilience, because I'm a skeptic, and always like a little science in my wisdom. Listen in for insights from the teachings of the late Dr. Steven Southwick - a distinguished expert in psychology and neuroscience from Yale - and learn how we all can apply his teachings to our lives. So we can Bounce Back Stronger from whatever life throws our way. For more...

Welcome to "Bounce Back Stronger," the podcast where we learn to not just survive, but thrive the challenges that disrupt - and ultimately enrich - our lives. Sometimes by being brave and running wild. I'm your podcast host, Donna Ferris, and my hope is through personal stories, scientific research, and well-worn wisdom, "Bounce Back Stronger" creates a community where vulnerability, healing, and...