PODCAST · education
Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris
by Donna Ferris
What if building a better life isn’t something you wait to do after a setback—but something you can begin right now? Welcome to Bounce Back Stronger, where we explore how to create more joy, purpose, connection, and meaning in your life—no matter what happens. I’m your host, Donna Ferris, an author, yoga therapist, and life coach. Through honest conversations with inspiring people, experts, and thought leaders, we explore what it takes to navigate change, make intentional choices, and create a life that feels more like your own. Because life will inevitably bring loss, uncertainty, career changes, relationship challenges, grief, and unexpected turns. But those moments don’t have to define us. They can
Episodes
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Taking the Leap: Overcoming Fear and Following Your Dreams with Brittany Ann Tranbaugh
“It’s not necessarily that I got over the fear, but that the desire to go for it just got to a point where it overrode the fear of failure.” What happens when you stop waiting for the perfect moment and decide to go for it? This week, as we mark National Coming Out Day, I’m especially glad to…
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Financial Empowerment for Women: How to Build Confidence, Freedom & The Life You Want
“Nobody is born knowing how to manage money well. It has to be learned at some point. It is a learned skill.” What can give women security, freedom, and choice? Financial freedom (and it may be more attainable than you think). In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, I sit down with Leah Hadley…
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Sharon Salzberg on Equanimity: How to Hold Pain and Joy at the Same Time
“I don't know that we ever get over it so much as we learn to hold them both at once.” What can a children’s book teach us about handling difficult emotions, practicing kindness, and navigating life’s hardest moments? A lot. In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, I talk with renowned meditation...
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100 Episodes of Hope: Lessons on Resilience, Purpose, and Finding Joy
After 100 episodes of Bounce Back Stronger, we look back at some of the most meaningful wisdom guests have shared about resilience, hope, healing, purpose, and finding joy. You'll hear powerful moments about moving through anxiety and fear, finding peace through meditation, setting healthy...
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Breaking Free from People Pleasing & Perfectionism with Monica Rodgers
“The body knows the way home even when we've lost our way.” Why do so many of us spend our lives trying to please others, chase perfection, and live up to expectations—only to end up exhausted, disconnected, and wondering who we really are? In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris…
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Keep Dipping the Paddle: Trusting Yourself When Life Feels Uncertain
“That doesn't mean we stop moving while we wait for clarity. It means we take the next intuitive step. Or, in a kayak... We dip the paddle. One stroke at a time.” What if resilience isn't about having a perfect plan—but simply taking the next step? In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger...
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How to Find Belonging When You Feel Like an Outsider w/ Anila Quayyum Agha
“People are not composed of a single one-dimensional story…Everybody's complicated.” What does it mean to truly belong? Award-winning multimedia artist Anila Quayyum Agha has spent her life exploring this question through breathtaking installations of light, shadow, and intricate patterns. Behind...
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If You're Awake Right Now: A Meditation for Sleep, Comfort & Calm
“This is a place where your body remembers how to be safe." If you're awake right now, you're not alone. This gentle sleep meditation is here for the middle-of-the-night moments when your mind feels busy, and your body won’t fully settle. Instead of trying to force sleep, we’ll create space for...
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The Story I Couldn't Find: Pride, Belonging, & Memoir w/ Jennifer Leigh Selig
“I grew up in a very small town in the 70s. So when I had my first girlfriend in high school, we didn't have a name for ourselves. We didn't even know the word lesbian. We found it in a dictionary…in our high school library. And we're like, ‘That's what we are.’" Your story could be exactly what...
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Laid Off? Here’s How to Heal, Rebuild, & Move Forward w/ Steve Jaffe
“So often conversations and coaching goes straight to, ‘Here’s how you update your resume. Here’s what you do with your LinkedIn profile.’ And there’s nothing that says, ‘Listen, you need to pause. You’re gonna feel some grief. It’s gonna hurt, and here’s how you get through it.” In this episode…
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Building a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From
“Maybe building a life we don’t need to escape from happens slowly — one mindful moment, one gentle choice at a time.” What would it look like to build a life you don’t constantly feel the need to escape from? In this new Bounce Back Stronger Reflections episode, host Donna Ferris shares a…
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Grief, Loss & Healing: Surviving the Unthinkable w/ Betsy Thibaut Stephenson
“I can’t spend the next 30 years of my life like this—that’s not a life.” In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this powerful episode features Betsy Thibaud Stephenson, author of Blackbird, sharing her deeply personal experience of navigating unimaginable loss after the death of her…
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Letting Go of Control: How to Find Peace When Life Feels Uncertain
What if the key to peace isn’t controlling life… but letting go? In this short reflection episode of Bounce Back Stronger, I’m sharing a personal story from a quiet morning walk that turned into a powerful reminder: the only thing we can truly control is our own behavior. Inspired by the…
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Financial Wellness 101: How to Take Control of Your Money & Your Life
“70% of the money stress that people experience comes from actually not knowing what's happening with your money.” If you’ve ever: Avoided looking at your bank account Felt anxious every time you spend Wondered where your money actually goes You’re not alone—and according to this week’s guest,...
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Midlife without Alcohol: Dry, Bold & Loving It with Lori Massicot
“I didn't have on my bucket list to be a sober person at all. My bingo card did not include this.” What if giving up alcohol didn’t take your life away—but gave you a whole new one? In this honest, relatable—and often funny—conversation, host Donna Ferris and sobriety coach Lori Massicot share...
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Nature as Medicine: How Visiting 47 National Parks Healed Me with Cyndi Francois
“Grief sucks your energy up, but you have all of this love that you just don't have anywhere to put... the walking and the hiking and being outside — I felt so connected to the earth and so connected to myself.” Just six weeks after her wedding, Cindy Francois became a widow at 28. Her husband...
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The Ripple Effect: How One Person Can Make a Difference with Gee Gee Rosell
“It’s like a pebble in a pond. Ripples out from each of us...because we’ve chosen to get better instead of getting worse.” How do you build resilience while coping with grief, loss, and emotional overwhelm? Sometimes it begins with a book. But more often, it begins with a person. This episode...
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Why You Keep Waking Up at 3 AM (and what to do about it) with Julie Wright
“When you wake up at 3 AM, your brain isn’t trying to ruin your sleep — it’s trying to protect you. It thinks you’re in danger.” Have you ever found yourself wide awake staring at the ceiling, wondering why your body won’t just stay asleep? You’re not alone—and according to sleep expert Julie...
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2026 Astrology Forecast: The Year of Action with Colleen Dixon
“2026 is the year of fire. It’s the year of beginnings. It’s the year of passion. It’s the year of getting your sh*t in order.” After an emotionally intense 2025, the astrology of 2026 invites you to stop waiting and start becoming. In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris is joined…
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2026 Psychic Forecast: What's Coming & How to Stay Centered
“Your spiritual guides don’t want you to live in lack or victimization. They want you to live in joy, abundance, happiness—and they support you every step of the way.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris welcomes back psychic medium Cristina Leeson for a grounding conversation…
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A Lullaby for 2025: Vienna Teng on Music, Hope & Connection
A Lullaby for 2025: Vienna Teng on Music, Hope, and Connection ”I see you, and I'm telling you my story in hopes that you'll see me. And from there, there's so many more things that are possible.” In this conversation, Donna Ferris sits down with singer, songwriter, and pianist Vienna Teng—an...
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How Humor Helps Us Heal with John Kenney
“I grew up among funny people who, the darker the event, the more opportunity for lightness and absurdity, and I've always loved that.” What if laughter really is a kind of medicine—especially when we’re experiencing loss? In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna sits down with Thurber...
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How To Move Forward With A Broken Heart w/ Gwen Florio
“Astoundingly, you find joy, and it coexists with the grief…It's like the grief kind of moves over a little bit and lets joy in.” If you’re doing life with a broken heart this holiday season, this episode is for you. In this moving conversation, Donna talks with award-winning journalist and...
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Imagine It Working Out: A Hope Meditation
“When we let go of fear, we make room for hope to rise." When life feels uncertain, it’s easy to get caught in fear and worry about what’s next. This guided meditation helps you reconnect to your inner strength and remember that healing can begin with one mindful breath. Through calming body...
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Finding Inner Peace and Joy with Agapi Stassinopoulos
“Build your portable paradise — that inner spa where you can return to peace no matter what happens around you.” In this episode, Donna sits down with bestselling author and spiritual teacher Agapi Stassinopoulos to explore how to find calm, connection, and courage in everyday life. Agapi—known…
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A Simple Path to Financial Freedom with Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter
“ The more things that you have, the more things you have to deal with.” What if the secret to a happier, freer life isn’t earning more—but needing less? This week, adventurers and authors Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter join host Donna Ferris to share how they built a meaningful, debt-free life...
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Choosing Choice Itself with Kim Adrian
“I recognized at that moment, without having the words to name it, a sense of my own will. It was exhilarating. Over my mother, I chose my grandmother. Over emotion, I chose self-control. I chose choice itself.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris talks with Kim Adrian—author of...
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Why Speaking Up Matters with Peggy Moss
“Are you a bully, a bystander, or a target? We’re all of those things on different days and different times in our lives.” In this episode of Bounce Back Stronger, Donna Ferris sits down with Peggy Moss—Vice Chair of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, former Maine Assistant Attorney General,...
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Penguins, Turtles & the Power of Presence with Dr. Claire McManus
“I don’t want to fix people anymore. I want to be with them.” Need a dose of pure joy? Join host Donna Ferris as she chats with internationally recognized acupuncturist Dr. Claire McManus—a healer whose patients range from people to penguins. Claire’s incredible journey has taken her from organic...
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Why Happiness is a Revolutionary Act with Sharon Salzberg
“So many people are taught compassion is stupid. Gratitude is really stupid. And I got to talk to researchers, and it was so interesting 'cause they said, well, actually it's the opposite. These researchers said to me, if you practice gratitude, you have a kind of energy. You don't feel so…
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Raising Awareness & Hope: A Trans Parent Conversation
”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…
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Staying Informed Without Losing Your Mind with Aruni Futuronsky
” 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,...
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Breaking the Silence: Parenting Kids with Mental Health Needs w/ Shelley Karpaty
“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…
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Choosing Happiness in Hard Times
"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…
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How ADHD Helped Jamie McMillan Find a Kick Ass Career
"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...
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Breaking the Trance of Unworthiness
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…
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The Healing Power of Sound: Reggie Hubbard on Rising in Hard Times
"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…
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Feeling Overwhelmed? This episode's for you
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...
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Understanding Karma and How to Neutralize It with Erin Byron
“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…
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Finding Calm in a Polarized World
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…
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Unleashing the Power of She with Crystal Jackson
“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...
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Astrology Forecast for 2025: Mars, Aries, and New Beginnings with Colleen Dixon
“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…
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2025 Psychic Forecast: Navigating Chaos to Find Our Light with Psychic Cristina Leeson
“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...
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How to Cope in a Changing World with Sharon Salzberg
“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...
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Leaving It All Behind with Travel Writer Zanny Merullo Steffgen
“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...
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Can We Give It All a Rest?
Just a few Thanksgiving thoughts. Hope they are helpful. Wishing you peace, love, and joy tomorrow. Love, Donna
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Nevertheless She Persisted with Widowed Mom Jenny Lisk
“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…
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Finding Balance When Life Feels Unfair
"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...
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When Gratitude is Hard with Eve Turek
“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...
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How to Accept the Unacceptable
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...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
What if building a better life isn’t something you wait to do after a setback—but something you can begin right now?
Welcome to Bounce Back Stronger, where we explore how to create more joy, purpose, connection, and meaning in your life—no matter what happens.
I’m your host, Donna Ferris, an author, yoga therapist, and life coach. Through honest conversations with inspiring people, experts, and thought leaders, we explore what it takes to navigate change, make intentional choices, and create a life that feels more like your own.
Because life will inevitably bring loss, uncertainty, career changes, relationship challenges, grief, and unexpected turns. But those moments don’t have to define us. They can
HOSTED BY
Donna Ferris
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris have?
Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris about?
What if building a better life isn’t something you wait to do after a setback—but something you can begin right now? Welcome to Bounce Back Stronger, where we explore how to create more joy, purpose, connection, and meaning in your life—no matter what happens. I’m your host, Donna Ferris, an...
How often does Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris release new episodes?
Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris?
You can listen to Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris?
Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris is created and hosted by Donna Ferris.
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