Mentally STRONG with Dr. B

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

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

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

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

Do you ever feel like you’re just trying to keep your head above water, constantly living in "survival mode" and waiting for the other shoe to drop? In this episode, Dr. B sits down with Amanda (MA in Professional Counseling) to explore how we can move past simply surviving and begin building a life we truly love.

Amanda shares her deeply personal journey—from navigating the heartbreak of losing her mother to early-onset dementia, to realizing that having "big feelings" isn't a weakness, but rather a vital strength for showing up for others. Together, they discuss why "fixing" ourselves is a trap, how to build the capacity to hold deep sorrow, and why true healing happens in community rather than self-sufficiency.

In This Episode:

• Unpacking the "Good Girl" Narrative: How people-pleasing can lead to losing your authentic self
• Surviving vs. Thriving: Moving out of survival mode and into meaningful living
• Building Emotional Capacity: Holding big stories and deep grief without being crushed
• The Power of Community: Why we aren't meant to be entirely self-sufficient

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
• Amanda's Organization: Hope House Canon City
• Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
• Official Website: Mentally STRONG

About Amanda: Amanda holds a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Colorado Christian University and has dedicated 15 years to supporting young mothers. At Hope House Canon City, she works to eliminate barriers for teen moms and their children by providing resources, healthy family structures, and a supportive living community.

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 others manage stress, process trauma, and cultivate mental strength.

Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:

• Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
• Instagram: @cristibundukamara
• YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

Raising kids who are authentic, resilient, and comfortable in their own skin feels like a massive, complicated task especially when you’re navigating your own hardships. Having raised seven children (five adopted and two biological) through periods of deep grief, loss, and overwhelm, Dr. B shares why we cannot raise mentally strong children without first doing the internal work ourselves.

In this episode, Dr. B addresses key listener questions about parenting and mental health, moving beyond surface-level behavior modification to give children a reliable framework for processing their thoughts and emotions. Whether you are navigating childhood meltdowns or concerned about passing down your own anxiety, this conversation offers practical tools to help you find your footing.

In This Episode:

• Moving past simple behavior modification to teach true emotional regulation
• Managing parental anxiety and avoiding passing stress down to your children
• Creating clear "guardrails" instead of rigid restrictions for child growth
• Why effective parenting is about continuous growth rather than perfection

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 parents and 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

I’ve had many moments where I just wanted to run times when the weight of the "fight or flight" response felt like it was going to swallow me whole. After losing my three children and my husband over the course of 20 years, I had to learn how to do more than just survive; I had to learn how to be Mentally STRONG in the midst of absolute trauma.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by grief, anxiety, or a life that feels like it’s falling apart, this episode is an invitation into a mental reset. Dr. B walks through her personal framework for healing after profound loss, sharing how you can begin to separate your pain from your trauma to find an authentic path forward. We aren't just "pushing through" anymore we are authentically rebuilding.

In This Episode:

• Navigating the "fight or flight" response during times of deep crisis
• Practical tools for separating immediate pain from underlying trauma
• Rebuilding your life authentically after overwhelming loss
• Moving past survival mode and stepping into long-term mental resilience

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
• Reset Event: Mentally STRONG Reset Live
• Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
• Official Website: Mentally STRONG

In this episode, Dr. B sits down with Edija Šaripova (CPA and Financial Advisor at Denver Wealth Management) to explore the deep connection between mental, physical, and financial well-being. Born in Latvia and migrating to the U.S. in 2001, Edija built a successful career in investment consulting before finding her true calling: helping others achieve a balanced life.

Together, they break down why the "pushing through" mentality can actually hinder healing, how to break the silence surrounding abuse, and how Stoic philosophy and faith can help you identify what you can and cannot control.

In This Episode:

• The Myth of Grit: Why "pushing through" often blocks true healing
• Healing from Abuse: Overcoming the silence and shame that can trap successful women
• Control & Clarity: Using Stoic philosophy and faith to separate grief, trauma, and negative self-talk
• Setting Boundaries: How saying "no" to others is an act of saying "yes" to your growth

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
• Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
• Official Website: Mentally STRONG

About Edija Šaripova, CPA: Edija Šaripova is a Financial Advisor at Denver Wealth Management with over two decades of experience across accounting and investment management. She leads the Women Who Invest™ community, empowering women to build intergenerational wealth and invest in themselves. Outside of her professional work, Edija enjoys snowboarding in Colorado and playing the violin and piano.

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 others manage stress, process trauma, and cultivate mental strength.

Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:

• Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
• Instagram: @cristibundukamara
• YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

I’ve spent my career helping people navigate the darkest corners of their minds and the heavy weight of grief, but every so often, I meet someone whose journey reminds me exactly why we do this work. Frank Sinclair is one of those people, and his story is a profound masterclass in mental strength, authenticity, and the power of being truly seen.

Have you ever felt like a "hopeless case" numb, or like you’re simply a burden to those around you? Frank lived this reality, spiraling from a high-achieving Air Force career into addiction and homelessness on the streets of Colorado Springs. Just when he was ready to give up, a moment of genuine human connection gave him a second chance, proving that our value remains unchanged even at our lowest points.

In this episode, Dr. B sits down with Frank to discuss what it means to be honest with yourself, how to navigate the complex reality of recovery and losing a child, and how reframing homelessness can open our eyes to a community deserving of dignity.

In This Episode:

• Moving from rock bottom and addiction to finding true purpose
• The power of feeling seen and human connection in healing
• Navigating grief, child loss, and the "leaky" process of recovery
• Reframing how we view homelessness and dignity in our communities

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG Training
• Frank Sinclair's Work: Dream Again LLC | Be Encouraged Podcast
• Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
• Official Website: Mentally STRONG

About Frank Sinclair: Frank Sinclair is the Chief Encouragement Officer of Dream Again LLC, a coaching, speaking, and training enterprise. He is the founder of the podcast Be Encouraged with Frank and Lisa, an in-demand speaker, and author of four books, including The Encouragement Revolution.

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 others process depression, anxiety, grief, and stress to build lasting mental resilience.

Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:

• Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
• Instagram: @cristibundukamara
• YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

Whether we’re in front of the camera or behind the scenes in a high-pressure job, many of us carry an internal dialogue telling us we aren't enough. In this episode, Dr. B sits down with filmmaker and clinical social worker Mari Moxley to peel back the layers on why we often sacrifice our true selves just to be "palatable" to others.

Together, they dive deep into the reality of negative self-talk, the "micro-griefs" we experience every day, and why choosing authenticity even when it leads to rejection is the ultimate act of mental strength. If you’ve ever felt like you’re performing a version of yourself just to belong, there is peace waiting for you on the other side of that performance.

In This Episode:

• The impact of negative self-talk and daily "micro-griefs"
• Why we sacrifice authenticity to feel accepted
• How to step out of performance mode and embrace your true self

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free Training: Register for our free training today
• Watch the Documentary: Watch the full documentary here
• Join the Mission: Sign up for our mailing list
• Official Website: Mentally STRONG

About Mari Moxley: Mari Moxley’s background in clinical social work and philosophy fuels her passion for crafting film stories that highlight diverse human perspectives. She views filmmaking as a therapeutic intervention that fosters meaningful conversations and deeper understanding. Mari has led mental health awareness campaigns within the U.S. Air Force, collaborated with the Department of Defense and NATO, and documented advancements in medicine and space exploration.

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 others manage depression, anxiety, grief, and stress to build mental strength and choose happiness.

Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG:

• Facebook: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara
• Instagram: @cristibundukamara
• YouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG