Bounce Back Stronger with Donna Ferris

“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 calm, safety, and ease. Through soft breathwork, full-body relaxation, and a peaceful meadow visualization, you’ll be gently guided back toward rest—without pressure or expectation. Whether sleep comes quickly or not at all, you are safe here. You are supported. You have permission to rest. Designed for nighttime anxiety, overthinking, and waking in the night. If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to listen to Donna's other meditations here or on Insight Timer. Donna’s latest book, Bounce Back Stronger – Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens, can be purchased here. To join our email list or inquire about meditation instruction or life coaching, visit donnayferris.com Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, or YouTube @donnayferris or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline in the US is 1-877-565-8860, and in Canada, it is 1-877-330-6366. #SleepMeditation #AnxietyRelief #InsomniaSupport #GuidedMeditation #SleepHelp #NervousSystemHealing #Mindfulness #BounceBackStronger Music: Endless Sleep by Lost Ghosts

“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 awareness, gentle visualization, and soft encouragement, you’ll learn to release tension, quiet self-doubt, and open to possibility. Whether you’re facing heartbreak, burnout, or simply a heavy day, this practice reminds you that light lives within you — and every moment offers a new beginning. If you are interested in other guided meditations, visit donnayferris.com/meditations or insighttimer.com/donnayferris. To join our free weekly Centering Group, please email donna@donnayferris.com. Finally, please consider subscribing to this podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with others. Thank you. Donna’s latest book, Bounce Back Stronger – Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens can be purchased here. To join our email list or get a list of upcoming events, visit donnayferris.com Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, or YouTube @donnayferris or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here, or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline is 1-877-330-6366. Music: Remembering by LNDO. #BounceBackStronger #HopeMeditation #GuidedMeditation #Mindfulness #HealingJourney #EmotionalResilience #InnerPeace #CalmMind #PositiveEnergy #SelfCare

“ 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 rooted in simplicity, nature, and gratitude. From hiking the Appalachian Trail to growing their own food and raising world-schooled kids, their journey proves that minimalism isn’t about deprivation—it’s about choice, freedom, and joy. Their story reminds us that less can truly be more. Whether you’re longing to simplify your life, escape the cycle of debt, or rediscover what really matters, this episode will provide simple ways to immediately improve your life. To learn more about Cindy and Todd, and Cindy’s books and writing, please visit cindyrosstraveler.com. If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to listen to Episode 15 “Breaking Broadway Barriers with Madison Ferris” or Episode 34 “Fred Rogers and the Healing Power of Fatherhood with Art Carey.” Also, please consider subscribing to this podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with others. Thank you. If you would like to join Donna’s free weekly centering group, email donna@donnayferris.com. To find her guided meditations on Insight Timer, visit https://insighttimer.com/donnayferris. Donna’s latest book, Bounce Back Stronger—Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens, can be purchased here. To get her blog newsletter delivered to your inbox, visit donnayferris.com. Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube @donnayferris or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline is 1-877-330-6366. #Minimalism #SimpleLiving #BounceBackStronger #MindfulLiving #FreedomThroughSimplicity #Homesteading #DebtFreeLiving #CindyRoss #ToddGladfelter #DonnaFerrisPodcast #IntentionalLiving #SimplicityMovement #FinancialFreedom

“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, Associate Director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, and award-winning children’s book author of Say Something, Our Friendship Rules, and One of Us. We discuss a wide array of topics, including: Why saying something matters in the face of bullying Rethinking the myth that “girls are mean” How mindfulness and impermanence help with anxiety What she learned from moving her family to Sri Lanka during a civil war How improv helped her find balance and courage after leaving the workforce Peggy’s wisdom will inspire you to speak up, rethink your story, and remember—it’s never too late to begin again. To learn more about Peggy and her books, visit peggymoss.com. To read her recent article on the care economy, click here. If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to listen to episodes with other children’s book authors, including Episode 42 with Eric Koester, Episode 29 with Mira Bartok, and Episode 21 with Shawn Elizabeth George. Also, please consider subscribing to this podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with others. Thank you. Donna’s latest book, Bounce Back Stronger—Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens, can be purchased here. To learn about Donna’s coaching services and events, visit donnayferris.com. Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube @donnayferris, or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline is 1-877-330-6366. #BounceBackStronger #StopBullying #EndHateSpeech #FindYourVoice #SafeSpaces #InclusiveCommunity #MentalHealthAwareness #CourageToSpeak #ChildrensBooks #TeachKindness #ResilienceMatters #EmpowerOthers #anxiety

“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 bereft, so exhausted, so that you can seek change with some energy. And not only that, people who practice gratitude want to pay it forward. They want to see other people get a break, have something good happen for them. So we get to see these myths. And if we can see through them, then we can orient ourselves toward a more true happiness.” In this best-of-episode from 2023, Donna sits down with renowned meditation teacher, bestselling author, and mindfulness pioneer Sharon Salzberg to explore why choosing happiness is one of the most revolutionary acts we can take in today's chaotic world. Sharon shares her deeply personal story of healing, her early experiences with LovingKindness (metta) meditation, and the inspiration behind her bestselling books including Faith, Real Happiness, and Finding Your Way. She explains how practices like mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude aren’t soft or passive — they are acts of strength, resistance, and spiritual empowerment. Together, they unpack: Why true happiness is an ability, not a fleeting feeling How small acts of good can combat helplessness and burnout Why loving your enemies isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom The power of gratitude to recharge your inner resilience Whether you're struggling, healing, or simply seeking more meaning, this conversation will remind you that joy isn't frivolous — it's radical. If you would like to learn more about Sharon, please visit her website www.sharonsalzberg.com If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to listen to Episode 27 - “Coming Home to Ourselves with Stephen Cope.” Also, please consider subscribing to this podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with others. Thank you. Donna’s latest book Bounce Back Stronger – Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens can be purchased here. To join our newsletter email list or get a list of upcoming events visit donnayferris.com Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, or YouTube @donnayferris or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline is 1-877-330-6366. #HappinessIsRevolutionary #BounceBackStronger #SharonSalzberg #MindfulnessPodcast #CompassionIsStrength #RadicalJoy #LovingKindness #RealHappiness #GratitudePractice #EmotionalResilience #HealingJourney #MeditationMatters #FaithOverFear #InnerPeace

” 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 anxiety and news overwhelm Mantras that work (even on the freeway or in the grocery store) Mindful communication and the gift of being heard Insights from Aruni’s transformative Inner Quest Intensive retreat Whether you're battling anxiety, craving clarity, or simply seeking a way to reconnect with yourself in turbulent times, this conversation is your gentle reminder that you are not alone and there is a way through. To learn more about Coach Aruni’s books, upcoming events, and weekly newsletter (highly recommend), please visit coacharuni.com. To learn more about the Kripalu Inner Quest Intensive which Aruni leads, click here. The 2025 dates are June 26-29 and October 17-20. If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to listen to other Kripalu speaker episodes including Episode 27 - “Coming Home to Ourselves with Stephen Cope” and Episode 11 - “Finding Your Way to Peace and Happiness with Sharon Salzberg.” Also, please consider subscribing to this podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with others. Thank you. Donna’s latest book Bounce Back Stronger – Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens can be purchased here. To join our newsletter email list or get a list of upcoming events visit donnayferris.com Follow Donna on Instagram, Bluesky, or YouTube @donnayferris or Facebook @donnayatesferris. And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only). If you are transgender, the 24/7 Trans Lifeline in the US is 1-877-565-8860, and in Canada, it is 1-877-330-6366. #SpiritualHealing #WritingAsTherapy #BounceBackStronger #PodcastEpisode #Mindfulness #connection #YogaOffTheMat #PodcastLove #InnerHealing #SpiritualPractice #Kripalu #CoachAruni #DonnaFerris #PresenceOverPerfection #Yoga #Compassion #12Step #Healing #Podcast #NewEpisode #MindfulLiving