Bouncing Back Podcast

Can you rebuild your identity after lupus takes away the life you planned at 21? On the Bouncing Back Podcast, Melissa McCurley, a 7th-generation North Texan REALTOR and fellow autoimmune warrior, brings real conversations to professionals thriving with chronic illness. Guest Shedrica Holmes, a movement coach and founder of Clarity That Moves, was diagnosed with lupus in 2006 at age 21 and had to...

What if you could edit your life like a film, even after 67 surgeries and five-plus autoimmune diseases? Melissa McCurley brings stories like this one to everyone navigating work and life with long-term health conditions. Director and producer Carly Alyssa Thorne shares how she blends Reiki, Ayurvedic herbs and Western medicine to live with congenital rubella syndrome. This chronic illness podcast...

Diagnosed at 28, divorced, and misdiagnosed for a decade, how Christina Brookman rebuilt a life chronic illness tried to erase.  Melissa McCurley, a 7th-generation North Texan REALTOR and fellow chronic illness warrior, built Bouncing Back Podcast for professionals thriving with chronic illness who are tired of clinical, sanitized conversations. This episode is a case study in exactly that: Christ...

Melissa McCurley, who started Bouncing Back Podcast after her own journey navigating autoimmune disease, sits down with Cassie Winter - a productivity and self-care coach for neurodivergent and chronically ill professionals, and founder of Accountability Muse. Cassie shares their resilient path to being diagnosed with autism, POTS, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, including how they built their signatu...

Melissa McCurley, who started Bouncing Back after her own journey with autoimmune disease, sits down with Dr. Linda Bluestein an anesthesiologist specializing in hypermobility disorders and performing arts medicine, and host of the Bendy Bodies podcast. Dr. Bluestein opened her hypermobility clinic in late 2017 and shares how she finally got her own Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnosis in 2012, after...

In this episode of the Bouncing Back podcast, host Melissa McCurley sits down with Lauren Freedman—a menopause lifestyle coach, patient advocate, and host of the award-winning Uninvisible Pod . Together, Melissa and Lauren dive deep into the "perfect storm" of chronic illness, neurodivergence, and perimenopause. They discuss why women are the "canaries in the coal mine" for bro...

How do you build a successful, self-made career when your body won't always cooperate? In this inspiring episode of the Bouncing Back podcast, host Melissa McCurley speaks with Gigi Robinson, a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the force behind Host of Influence . Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at 11 years old, Gigi shares her powerful journey of pivoting from competitive swimmin...

Have you ever wondered if the emotional pain you are carrying is manifesting in your physical body? In this deeply moving episode of the Bouncing Back podcast, host Melissa McCurley sits down with author, speaker, and advocate Tiffaney Childers to discuss the raw reality of living with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and the devastating impact of suicide loss. Tiffaney shares her harrowing s...

In this episode of the Bouncing Back Podcast , host Melissa McCurley sits down with Jessper Maquindang, founder of Family Lead Management Consulting and recognized 40 Under 40 honoree. Jessper Maquindang opens up about his personal health journey, recounting the life-changing moment in the eighth grade when he was diagnosed with asthma and told to lower his expectations for his physical abilities....

Are you running out of room in your "coping bank account"? In Part 2 of this incredible conversation on the Bouncing Back podcast, host Melissa McCurley sits down with cancer survivor, speaker, and positive psychology expert Les McGehee. Building on his journey through a life-altering diagnosis, Les dives deep into the science of human thriving and how we can literally rewire our brains...

In this episode of Bouncing Back, host Melissa McCurley sits down with Les McGehee, a speaker, author, coach, and serial entrepreneur whose background in improv comedy and positive psychology took on a whole new meaning when he received a sudden cancer diagnosis just two days before Christmas. Les opens up about the chaotic and terrifying first eight weeks of his journey, the "horrible blessi...

In this episode of Bouncing Back , host Melissa McCurley sits down with Meagan Harold , an integrative mental health and registered health coach who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at just 24. Meagan opens up about the early symptoms, the long road to diagnosis, and the grief that can follow — not just once, but again and again through flare-ups and life changes. Together, Melissa and Meag...

Registered nurse and wellness coach Amber Villarreal joins Bouncing Back to share a thoughtful, real-world approach to healing chronic illness. With more than two decades in healthcare, Amber explains why true wellness requires more than medication alone—and how stress, environment, gut health, and lifestyle choices play a critical role in inflammation and long-term health. This episode offers cla...

Michelle Lee Steiner joins Bouncing Back to share her journey living with dyscalculia and other invisible challenges—and how advocating for accommodations, leaning into creativity, and focusing on strengths helped her thrive. This episode is for anyone navigating chronic illness, disability, or limitations who needs a reminder: it’s okay to ask for what you need, and success can look different—and...

Join Melissa McCurley as she talks with Dominika Blaszczok about overcoming self-limiting beliefs, embracing forgiveness, and finding spiritual healing. In this inspiring episode, Dominika shares her journey of growth, self-discovery, and how she now helps others break through trauma, develop a positive mindset, and thrive in chronic illness and business. 🎧 Hosted by: Melissa McCurley 🎤 Featurin...

In this episode of the Bouncing Back Podcast , Melissa McCurley speaks with Julie Cyvonne, a former attorney turned transformational coach who now helps women heal from burnout, stress, and body dysregulation through psychedelic medicine. Julie discusses her personal journey of healing and how she uses psychedelics as a tool for transformation. This episode explores the benefits of microdosing, co...

In this episode of the Bouncing Back Podcast , Melissa McCurley interviews Ula Makowska, a hypnotherapist and root cause specialist. Ula shares her transformative health journey, detailing her struggles with autoimmune disease and how hypnotherapy has helped her heal emotionally and physically. This episode explores the deep connection between trauma and illness, and how Ula's unique approach,...

Host Melissa McCurley welcomes Mitch Webb , a nervous system and holistic health coach, to explore how trauma, stress, and emotional patterns impact chronic illness. Mitch shares his remarkable healing journey — from brain injury and Lyme disease to discovering nervous system regulation and somatic practices that restore balance and peace. This conversation offers practical insights and hope for a...

Host Melissa McCurley sits down with Monica McKitterick , Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Impact Family Wellness , to explore how Direct Primary Care (DPC) is changing the healthcare experience. Monica shares how this model gives patients more control, communication, and care — especially those managing chronic illnesses. 🎧 Hosted by: Melissa McCurley 🎙 Featuring: Monica McKitterick – Fa...

Melissa McCurley hosts Mairin Moore Cane, a professional, author, speaker, and founder of the Sisterhood of Success Mastermind. Mairin shares her journey overcoming chronic illness, transforming health challenges into personal and professional growth, and creating supportive communities. She offers practical strategies, lessons, and inspiration for professional women navigating life with chronic i...

In this episode of the Bouncing Back Podcast , Melissa McCurley speaks with Sam Halliwell, an endometriosis coach and creator of The Embodied Alchemy Method . Sam shares her transformative journey with endometriosis, how emotional trauma and stress manifest physically, and the power of healing through the mind-body connection. Learn how Sam’s unique method helps women with chronic illness reclaim...

Join host Melissa McCurley and guest Tay Daniels in this inspiring episode of Bouncing Back Podcast . Tay shares her incredible journey from poverty and single motherhood to scaling multi-six-figure businesses—all while battling an undiagnosed chronic illness. Her diagnosis of stored trauma changed everything, leading her to shadow work, holistic healing, and embracing feminine energy. Now, she he...

Join host Melissa McCurley and Michelle Irving in this powerful episode of Bouncing Back Podcast . Michelle opens up about her personal experience with chronic illness and how she created Career and Chronic Illness International to help others navigate career and health challenges. She walks through the five stages of managing work while living with chronic illness, offering insightful advice on b...

Melissa McCurley welcomes Dr. Thomas Cziao to the Bouncing Back podcast to dive into the world of biological dentistry. Dr. Cziao explains how oral health impacts chronic illness, focusing on autoimmune diseases, fatigue, and inflammation. Learn how dental materials like mercury fillings may worsen symptoms, and discover the SMART technique used to safely remove these harmful substances. This epis...

Melissa McCurley welcomes Dr. Emily Kiberd to the Bouncing Back Podcast to discuss her personal struggle with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and how she founded the Thyroid Strong program to help women battling similar challenges. In this episode, Dr. Emily Kiberd opens up about the emotional and physical toll of chronic illness, shares how weightlifting and functional medicine helped her recover, and em...