Mentally STRONG with Dr. B

By Cristi Bundukamara

About Dr. B

Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D., PMHNP has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2000, gaining extensive experience over the last several decades. Her medical c

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FAQs about Mentally STRONG with Dr. B:

How many episodes does Mentally STRONG with Dr. B have?

The podcast currently has 288 episodes available.

Mentally STRONG with Dr. B episodes:

September 10, 2026Overcoming the "Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop" Feeling, Sobriety & Facing Grief: Mary Going’s Story
When everything in your life finally goes right, do you find yourself waiting for something to go wrong? In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. B sits down with Mary Going, founder of Bicycle Accounting, to discuss her 22-year journey of sobriety, confronting cumulative trauma, and processing the deep discomfort with reality that often drives the urge to escape.
Together, they unpack what it truly means to stop fighting your past, face grief head-on, and step out of a victim mindset so you can finally feel safe, successful, and grounded in your own story.
In This Episode:
The Fear of Happiness: Why good times can trigger anxiety and hypervigilance
Cumulative Trauma & Recovery: Overcoming the urge to escape and facing reality
Stepping Out of the Victim Mindset: Reclaiming agency and personal power after past hardship
Daily Momentum: Practical habits to cultivate safety and emotional stability
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Mary Going: Mary Going is the founder of Bicycle Accounting, an entrepreneur, and an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery. Drawing from over two decades of sobriety, she shares insights on personal accountability, business growth, and overcoming trauma.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
17min
September 08, 2026Overcoming Caregiver Burnout, Toxic Resilience & Chronic Depression: Pam Sandler’s Story
When we go through heavy trauma or the continuous, exhausting cycle of caretaking, people love to throw clichés at us claiming "everything happens for a reason" or "this will just make you stronger." But the truth is, we all have an absolute breaking point. In this episode, Dr. B sits down with architect Pam Sandler to talk about the raw reality of chronic depression, severe anxiety, and what it really feels like to be forced into survival mode for years.
Pam opens up about the deep, compounding grief of raising special needs children, navigating missed milestones, and carrying profound personal loss. Together, they explore why toxic resilience fails us, how childhood trauma shapes our inner critics, and the critical importance of building a psychological safety net before reaching complete burnout.
In This Episode:
The Reality of Caregiver Burnout: Navigating survival mode when supporting family members with special needs
Debunking Toxic Resilience: Why clichés fail us and how to acknowledge true emotional limits
Childhood Conditioning & Inner Critics: How early experiences influence how we process adult stress
Building a Psychological Safety Net: Practical ways to prevent total emotional and physical collapse
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Pam Sandler: Pam Sandler is an architect, mother, and advocate for caregiver mental health. Drawing from her personal journey of navigating chronic depression while balancing professional demands and family caregiving, she speaks openly about mental health, resilience, and removing the stigma around burnout.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
17min
September 06, 2026Reprogramming Your Mind for Success, Overcoming Early Anxiety & Young Entrepreneurship: Julissa Bruzon’s Story
When you look at someone experiencing massive success at a young age, it’s easy to assume they have it all figured out. But behind the business metrics is often a very real, exhausting battle with anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure to perform. In this episode, Dr. B sits down with 22-year-old Julissa Bruzon to discuss what it actually takes to reprogram your mind for success when your own thoughts are telling you to give up.
Julissa shares her journey—from wearing a heart monitor for severe anxiety at age 14 to managing major strategic partnerships in private equity. Together, they unpack how to navigate early 20s transitions, handle generational expectations, and shift your mindset from "I can't do this" to "How can I do this?" without relying on toxic positivity.
In This Episode:
Behind Young Success: The hidden mental health struggles of early high achievers
Rewiring Your Mindset: Shifting internal dialogue from limitation to problem-solving
Overcoming Severe Anxiety: Moving from panic and physical symptoms to executive leadership
Navigating Young Adulthood: Managing generational pressure and identity shifts in your twenties
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Julissa Bruzon: Julissa Bruzon is a 22-year-old entrepreneur and strategic partnership manager working in private equity. Having overcome severe childhood anxiety, she uses her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, mindset reprogramming, and authentic leadership for young professionals.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
30min
September 04, 2026Chemical Imbalance vs. Survival Response: Navigating C-PTSD, Bipolar & Self-Agency
Have you ever looked at the anxiety, depression, or chaos in your mind and wondered if it’s a chemical imbalance or a survival response to what you’ve been through? In this Q&A episode, Dr. B addresses a letter from a high-functioning survivor navigating complex PTSD (C-PTSD), Bipolar 1, and Borderline traits to demonstrate how to claim self-agency over a complex mental health journey.
This conversation explores how to use the Mentally STRONG Method to separate psychological trauma from biological components, process triggers without resorting to isolation, and release somatic trauma to step forward with self-confidence.
In This Episode:
Chemical Imbalance vs. Survival Response: Distinguishing biological factors from trauma responses
Navigating Complex Diagnoses: Frameworks for handling C-PTSD, Bipolar 1, and Borderline traits
Overcoming Isolation: Practical tools to handle triggers instead of avoiding social spaces
Somatic Healing: Releasing physical trauma stored in the body to regain agency
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage complex diagnoses, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
30min
September 02, 2026Overcoming Burnout, Rebuilding After Loss & Becoming the CEO of Your Life: Hülya Kurt’s Story
In this conversation, Dr. B sits down with global career coach Hülya Kurt, who built her career from secretary to corporate manager before completely reinventing her life following redundancy and the sudden loss of her husband.
Together, they dive into the realities of navigating professional burnout, navigating grief, and building the discipline needed to choose life even when motivation is low. This episode provides actionable insights on stepping out of survival mode and taking full ownership as the CEO of your own life.
In This Episode:
Navigating Career Burnout & Loss: Rebuilding after sudden, life-altering disruptions
Building Daily Discipline: Choosing progress and healing even when motivation feels absent
Reinventing Your Identity: Transitioning from sudden loss or redundancy into renewed purpose
Becoming the CEO of Your Life: Taking control of your personal and professional trajectory
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Hülya Kurt's Profile: Connect with Hülya Kurt on LinkedIn
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Hülya Kurt: Hülya Kurt is an international career coach, speaker, and workshop leader. After a corporate career spanning decades, she founded InnKick to empower professionals, women, and leaders to navigate career shifts, overcome adversity, and build resilient careers.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
16min
August 31, 2026Why "Time Heals All Wounds" Is a Lie (And What Actually Works)
We’ve all been told the lie that time heals all wounds, but if you are carrying a deep emotional wound, you know that simply letting days pass doesn’t stop the pain. After losing her three children and her husband, Dr. B learned firsthand that profound trauma doesn't heal itself—and ignoring it or letting negative self-talk take over only deepens the injury.
In this episode, Dr. B explores how to truly process grief, why the traditional "Five Stages of Grief" model may actually be holding you back, and how to separate clean grief from the trauma, guilt, and anxiety that often become enmeshed with it.
In This Episode:
Debunking the Time Myth: Why passive waiting doesn't resolve deep emotional wounds
Rethinking the Five Stages: Moving beyond rigid grief models to personalized healing
Separating Grief from Trauma: Disentangling natural sorrow from guilt, anxiety, and overthinking
Organizing Your Thoughts: Practical strategies to build self-agency and honor your story
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage grief, and build lasting mental resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
23min
August 29, 2026Overcoming Severe Loss, Healing Trauma & Reclaiming Self-Love: Dr. Ava Cadell’s Story
When life hits you with profound loss, deep trauma, or the lingering impact of childhood shame, it’s easy to lose your identity in the chaos. While we are often taught how to perform in our daily roles, we rarely learn how to cultivate mental strength or protect our capacity for love when everything shatters.
In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Dr. B sits down with author and love expert Dr. Ava Cadell to look squarely at the experiences women are often told to hide: intense grief, relationship trauma, and church trauma. Dr. Ava opens up about surviving the devastating loss of her late husband and navigating the complex grief that followed. Together, they explore why so many individuals suppress their pain, how early conditioning creates fear around emotional expression, and the practical steps to organize your thoughts and choose happiness after deep loss.
In This Episode:
Navigating Devastating Loss: Rebuilding identity and mental strength after sudden personal tragedy
Unpacking Relationship & Church Trauma: Breaking free from societal conditioning and shame
Overcoming Pain Suppression: Why hiding emotional wounds hinders true healing
Reclaiming Unconditional Self-Love: Practical, daily choices to rebuild capacity for joy and love
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Dr. Ava Cadell's Work: Love University
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Dr. Ava Cadell: Dr. Ava Cadell is an author, speaker, and founder of Love University. She holds doctorates in human behavior and human sexuality, focusing her work on helping individuals navigate intimacy, heal from relationship trauma, and build unconditional self-love.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting mental resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
21min
August 27, 2026Navigating Divorce, Rebuilding Identity & Processing Betrayal: Dr. B's Recovery Framework
Whether a divorce hits like a sudden shock or follows a slow breakdown, the pain of navigating a split is real and deep. In this episode, Dr. B strips away generic relationship advice to address what it truly means to cultivate mental strength when a marriage ends. Divorce represents a unique blend of grief, trauma, and often deep betrayal a complex form of loss tied directly to life-altering choices.
Drawing from her personal journey of navigating profound loss, Dr. B breaks down the framework she uses to help individuals rebuild their identity from the inside out. This conversation offers practical tools to move past shame and blame, process emotional injury, and write a new chapter focused on personal growth and resilience.
In This Episode:
Processing Divorce as Trauma: Understanding the unique grief tied to marital separation and betrayal
Rebuilding Identity: Step-by-step tools for rediscovering who you are after a major life shift
Overcoming Guilt & Shame: Shifting from a feeling of failure to a mindset of personal empowerment
Supporting Children Through Change: Managing family dynamics and emotions without losing your own balance
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, navigate life transitions, and build lasting emotional strength.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
23min
August 25, 2026High-Functioning Anxiety, Overcoming "Freeze" & Generational Healing: Amy Jackson’s Story
In this conversation, Dr. B sits down with Amy Jackson, founder and CEO of Talesplash, to address the heavy, silent burden of carrying high-functioning anxiety while building a successful career and family. So many of us are experts at "white-knuckling" through high-pressure days, only to have the emotional weight catch up with us the moment we slow down.
Together, Dr. B and Amy explore how generational patterns of anxiety shape our adulthood, why childhood worries often follow us into parenthood, and how attempting to suppress fear only fuels emotional burnout. This episode offers practical tools for stepping out of the "freeze" response, finding internal strength, and reframing your relationship with anxiety.
In This Episode:
Unpacking High-Functioning Anxiety: Moving beyond "white-knuckling" through daily stress
Breaking Generational Cycles: How childhood anxiety manifests in adult roles and parenting
Overcoming the "Freeze" Response: Practical steps to regulate your nervous system
Reframing Sensitivity: Viewing emotional awareness as a strength rather than a weakness
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Amy Jackson's Agency: Talesplash
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Amy Jackson: Amy Jackson is the founder and CEO of Talesplash, a boutique PR and communications agency. She works with entrepreneurs and mission-driven organizations while advocating for mental health awareness, honest communication, and emotional resilience in high-pressure leadership roles.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting mental resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
15min
August 23, 2026Overcoming Burnout, Trauma Recovery & Vision Crafting: Allison Maslan’s Story
When everything in your life or business feels like it’s falling apart, how do you find the mental strength to keep going? In this deeply raw conversation, Dr. B sits down with serial entrepreneur and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Allison Maslan to discuss the messy intersections of trauma, burnout, and authentic alignment.
Allison shares how a terrifying near-death car accident at age 30 forced her to rebuild her life from survival mode to true freedom. Together, they explore how modern science intersects with holistic wellness, why physical symptoms often mirror unexpressed emotional grief, and how to practicalize "vision crafting" to shift your internal focus from fear to expectation.
In This Episode:
Rebuilding after near-death trauma and moving out of survival mode
The link between unexpressed emotional grief and physical symptoms
Integrating emotional truth with strategic business vision
Practical "vision crafting" to shift your mindset from fear to expectation
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
Allison Maslan's Network: Pinnacle Global Network
Allison's Book: Scale or Fail by Allison Maslan
Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
Official Website: Mentally STRONG
About Allison Maslan: Allison Maslan is a serial entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and founder of Pinnacle Global Network, where she mentors business leaders and executives. Having built and scaled ten successful companies, she empowers individuals to navigate high-pressure growth while staying grounded in personal wellness.
About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience.
Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:
Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
Instagram: @cristibundukamara
YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG
...more
38min

FAQs about Mentally STRONG with Dr. B:

How many episodes does Mentally STRONG with Dr. B have?

The podcast currently has 288 episodes available.