Back to Life

Host: Danny Bader

Guest: Kelly McGonigal

In this inspiring episode Danny has a chat with Kelly McGonigal. Kelly is an author, psychologist, and educator who believes that it's possible to experience hope, meaning, and joy, even when life is difficult. Listen as she shares her inspring story.

Kelly McGonigal's: Instagram Website

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader Guest: James Ferguson

In this episode Danny sits down with James Ferguson, AKA „Confetti Man". James is a culture-expert, keynote speaker, and best-selling author.

James shares his inspiring message about how he beat the odds with cancer & culture. Sharing the connection between battling and beating cancer to navigating the ever-changing culture landscape by simply seeking the good & celebrating it daily, through his purpose driven mission to Seek the Good & Celebrate!

James Ferguson's: Instagram Website LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader

Guest: Angela Conicelli

"You don't need to have it all figured out."

What if the answers you've been searching for were already inside you? You just needed the right questions to dig them out. If you've been about to make a change for way too long, circling the same decision and researching every angle until the window closes; busy, but really not quite moving. Then this episode is speaking directly to you.

Angela Conicelli's: Instagram Website

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader

Guest: John O'Leary

Expected to die. Now teaching others how to truly live. In today's episode, Danny sits down with John O'Leary.

As a nine-year-old boy, John was burned on 100% of his body and given less than

one percent chance to live. His amazing journey of survival illustrates the incredible

power of the human spirit.

Today, John is an inspirational speaker who has taught millions of people around

the world how to Live Inspired. He is the author of the National Bestselling books

ON FIRE and IN AWE and the host of the top-rated "Live Inspired Podcast." And the

movie SOUL ON FIRE -inspired by John's story- was released nationwide by Sony's

AFFIRM Films on October 10, debuting as the #5 movie in the nation and earning

heartfelt praise from audiences everywhere.

John O'Leary's: FaceBook Instagram X (Twitter) YouTube Bio

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader Guest: Tom Tabler

In this episode Danny sits down with Tom Tabler. Tom built a career that spanned over 36 years in the hotel business, eventually working his way up to important leadership positions at Marriott. Sit back & enjoy this conversation between Danny and one of his dearest friends (some would even say brothers) Tom Tabler. In this episode Danny and Tom discuss:

• Leadership.
• Building a long-lasting career.
• Mentorship.
• Faith.

Tom Tabler's: FaceBook X (Twitter) Bio

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader Guest: James Laughlin

In this episode Danny sits down with James Laughlin. James has dedicated his life to helping others to achieve more without over-taxing themselves. He's a seven times world-champion, has coached high-performers from prime ministers to Formula One teams, and is the author of Habits of High Performers. In this episode Danny and James discuss:

• Striving for success without destroying your life.
• Resilience.

James Laughlin's: FaceBook Instagram Website

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader

Guest: Jenn Mueller

We all know that life doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes we find ourselves progressing down one path, only for life to stop us in our tracks, interrupt our plans, and change our trajectory.

In this episode of The Back to Life Podcast Danny sits down for a chat with Jenn Mueller. Cancer interrupted Jenn's life, dramatically changing her outlook. Her resilient human-spirit allowed her journey through cancer to transform her. She began to feel gratitude more intensely, and understand her purpose more clearly. Jenn's story is one of trust, perserverance, and determination to keep going forward; even if that means walking through the fire. In this episode Danny and Jenn discuss:

• Gratitude.
• Dealing with Life-Changing Interruptions.
• Resilience.
• Purpose.
• Strength to Keep Moving

„Interruption is often where awakening begins".

Jenn Mueller's: FaceBook Instagram

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader Guest: Phil Vassar

What does it mean to rise to the very top of what you could only dream was possible, only to suddenly find yourself face-to-face with your own mortality?

In this episode Danny sits down with Phil Vassar, an acclaimed Nashville Country-artist with a successful career spanning three decades. His life ground to a sudden halt when he suffered an un-expected heart-attack, followed by a stroke. Phil's recovery inspired him to embrace a new calmer, grateful outlook on life. In this episode Danny and Phil discuss:

• Gratitude.
• Recovery.
• Embracing life everyday.

"Everybody wants to know what it means to come back to life." - Phil Vassar

Phil Vasser's: Website FaceBook Instagram Spotify

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & other major podcast platforms.

Host: Danny Bader

Guest: Jonelle Marie Carter

What does it mean to take back your life, reclaim your lost identity, and overcome the barriers within your own mind as you start again after profound loss?

In this episode Danny sits down with Jonelle Marie Carter, a singer whose life was up-ended by a cancer diagnosis that eventually lead to the loss of her singing voice (literally). After waking up from life-changing surgery, Jonelle felt like a completely different person. She had lost a critical part of who she was. The singing-voice in which she had tied up so much of her identity and her career was gone. Faced with the choice to accept defeat or choose to embrace her struggle, Jonelle learned to lean into her strength, challenge her anxiety, and re-discover her voice. In this episode Danny and Jonelle discuss:

• The power of mind-set.
• The value and importance of self-talk.
• Leadership.
• The courage to trust your voice.

"Confidence isn't something you're born with, it's something you build."

Jonelle Marie Carter's: Website FaceBook Instagram TikTok

What does it mean to truly belong — to a place, to a community, or even to yourself?

On this episode of Back to Life, Danny sits down with Marina Baronas, a storyteller of belonging whose life has crossed borders of culture, language, and identity. Raised in Lithuania, Russia, and Azerbaijan, Marina inherited a deep understanding of hospitality — not as a job, but as a way of being.

After immigrating to the United States at nineteen, she built a career in restaurants, hotels, and leadership, discovering that true service is less about transactions and more about presence. Through motherhood, migration, reinvention, and resilience, Marina learned that "home" is not a destination — it's a daily practice of returning to yourself.

Together, Danny and Marina explore:

• What it means to belong in seasons of transition

• How hospitality becomes a leadership philosophy

• The power of presence in a distracted world

• Carrying hope and identity through change

This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't always loud. Sometimes it's the quiet decision to keep showing up — to yourself and to others — with tenderness, courage, and an open heart.

If you've ever felt in-between places, roles, or identities, this episode is for you.

Check out her book, here.

Marina's website: https://www.marinabaronas.com/