Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share For All the Marbles Episode #7; Shine Bright: Dana Johnston’s Mental Health Journey Through Darkness and Back; An Author Who Shares Her Story
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
For All the Marbles Episode #7; Shine Bright: Dana Johnston’s Mental Health Journey Through Darkness and Back; An Author Who Shares Her Story
In this powerful and deeply human episode of For All the Marbles, Bart sits down with bestselling author and mental health advocate Dana Johnston. Dana opens up about her journey with bipolar disorder from the terrifying onset of insomnia and fear, to rebuilding her life, career, marriage, and sense of purpose. Her book, Shine Bright: Seeking Daylight in the Darkness, has touched thousands, offering hope, practical tools, and a way forward for anyone facing adversity.
This conversation blends vulnerability, wisdom, humor, and heart, making it one of the most inspirational stories shared on the show.
Major Takeaways / Learnings
- You Must Take Care of Yourself First
Dana emphasizes that wellness is the foundation of everything: happiness, stability, career, and relationships.
For her, self-care includes:
- sleep
- hydration
- movement
- music
- meditation
- journaling
“You can’t be happy if you don’t feel well.”
- Mental Health Is Not Linear. It’s a Human Experience
Dana reframes anxiety and depression as universal emotional states, not signs of failure.
She uses a powerful metaphor:
“The blue sky is always there, even when the clouds temporarily cover it.”
- Healing Requires Discipline, Not Perfection
Dana openly shares that even with great habits, she still veers off course sometimes, and that’s okay.
“What matters is that you know what helps you feel your best, and you do more of that.”
- Experience Shapes Change
Many people don’t adopt healthier habits because they haven’t experienced the consequences or the benefits yet. Dana notes that both hardship and role models shape whether people take action.
- We Need a More Sustainable Pace of Work
Dana is a leading advocate of the four-day workweek, not for convenience but for survival in today’s professional climate.
She argues that productivity, happiness, and health all increase when people are rested.
- Turning Pain Into Purpose Helps Others Heal
Dana didn’t write her book to heal herself; she wrote it for the young woman who feels terrified and lost after a bipolar diagnosis.
Her lived experience helps others feel seen, understood, and hopeful.
- Tiny Steps Lead to Big Transformations
Dana reminds us:
“You inch along. You get a little better every year. Don’t expect an overnight transformation. Be kind to yourself.”
Memorable Quotes
- “Take care of yourself first; everything else becomes easier when you feel well.”
- “Emotions are like clouds; they pass. The blue sky behind them never goes away.”
- “People haven’t changed their habits because they haven’t seen the consequences or the benefits yet.”
- “The pace of work in 2025 is not sustainable without rest.”
- “I wrote my book for the 22-year-old girl who just had the rug pulled out from under her.”
- “Every year, you just get a little bit better. Inch along and be kind to yourself.”
Why It Matters / How to Use It
This episode is a reminder that:
- Struggles don’t define you. Your response does.
- Daily habits shape resilience more than motivation ever will.
- You are responsible for protecting your wellness and your peace.
- Your story can help others feel less alone.
- Small, consistent steps create meaningful change.
For listeners facing anxiety, burnout, depression, fear, or any life disruption, Dana’s story shines a light forward:
You can rebuild. You can improve. You can shine bright again.
Resources:
LinkedIn: Dana Johnston, MS, CMP | LinkedIn
Book: daylightanddarkness.com
View all episodes
By Bart Berkey
5
1717 ratings
In this powerful and deeply human episode of For All the Marbles, Bart sits down with bestselling author and mental health advocate Dana Johnston. Dana opens up about her journey with bipolar disorder from the terrifying onset of insomnia and fear, to rebuilding her life, career, marriage, and sense of purpose. Her book, Shine Bright: Seeking Daylight in the Darkness, has touched thousands, offering hope, practical tools, and a way forward for anyone facing adversity.
This conversation blends vulnerability, wisdom, humor, and heart, making it one of the most inspirational stories shared on the show.
Major Takeaways / Learnings
- You Must Take Care of Yourself First
Dana emphasizes that wellness is the foundation of everything: happiness, stability, career, and relationships.
For her, self-care includes:
- sleep
- hydration
- movement
- music
- meditation
- journaling
“You can’t be happy if you don’t feel well.”
- Mental Health Is Not Linear. It’s a Human Experience
Dana reframes anxiety and depression as universal emotional states, not signs of failure.
She uses a powerful metaphor:
“The blue sky is always there, even when the clouds temporarily cover it.”
- Healing Requires Discipline, Not Perfection
Dana openly shares that even with great habits, she still veers off course sometimes, and that’s okay.
“What matters is that you know what helps you feel your best, and you do more of that.”
- Experience Shapes Change
Many people don’t adopt healthier habits because they haven’t experienced the consequences or the benefits yet. Dana notes that both hardship and role models shape whether people take action.
- We Need a More Sustainable Pace of Work
Dana is a leading advocate of the four-day workweek, not for convenience but for survival in today’s professional climate.
She argues that productivity, happiness, and health all increase when people are rested.
- Turning Pain Into Purpose Helps Others Heal
Dana didn’t write her book to heal herself; she wrote it for the young woman who feels terrified and lost after a bipolar diagnosis.
Her lived experience helps others feel seen, understood, and hopeful.
- Tiny Steps Lead to Big Transformations
Dana reminds us:
“You inch along. You get a little better every year. Don’t expect an overnight transformation. Be kind to yourself.”
Memorable Quotes
- “Take care of yourself first; everything else becomes easier when you feel well.”
- “Emotions are like clouds; they pass. The blue sky behind them never goes away.”
- “People haven’t changed their habits because they haven’t seen the consequences or the benefits yet.”
- “The pace of work in 2025 is not sustainable without rest.”
- “I wrote my book for the 22-year-old girl who just had the rug pulled out from under her.”
- “Every year, you just get a little bit better. Inch along and be kind to yourself.”
Why It Matters / How to Use It
This episode is a reminder that:
- Struggles don’t define you. Your response does.
- Daily habits shape resilience more than motivation ever will.
- You are responsible for protecting your wellness and your peace.
- Your story can help others feel less alone.
- Small, consistent steps create meaningful change.
For listeners facing anxiety, burnout, depression, fear, or any life disruption, Dana’s story shines a light forward:
You can rebuild. You can improve. You can shine bright again.
Resources:
LinkedIn: Dana Johnston, MS, CMP | LinkedIn
Book: daylightanddarkness.com
More shows like Most People Don't... But You Do!
View all
SmartLess
57,738 Listeners