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In this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, I sit down with Dustin Ripkens — fitness and wellness coach, husband, soon-to-be dad of twins, and someone who's been consistently one of the most joyful people I know. We talk about what it means to be seen as human first, how he built real boundaries after being bullied as a teen, and why he believes purpose is what keeps us going at every stage of life.

Dustin opens up about his winding path — from dancing in Germany and London to building a life and business in LA — and how that journey shaped the way he shows up for the queer community he now coaches. We dig into gratitude that doesn't look like a nightly journal but shows up in how he treats the people around him, how travel has reshaped his perspective on what really matters, and what he does on the days the light feels far away.

This one is honest, funny, and full of heart. If you've ever needed a reminder that you're allowed to set boundaries and still be loving, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, host Sara Dorris reconnects with longtime friend Sarah Mary — a dog mom of six (three permanent, three fosters), a manifestation practitioner, and a self-described optimist who says she feels "blessed" and good roughly 90% of the time.

Sarah Mary opens up about how a difficult breakup led her into spirituality and manifestation, and shares the daily practices that keep her grounded: meditation, gratitude journaling, visualization, and vision boards. She walks through real-life moments — like staying calm through a flat tire on the way to work — that show how shifting perspective can turn a "bad day" into just another day. The two also dig into manifestation theory, referencing authors like Neville Goddard and Joe Dispenza, and explore concepts like scripting, dimensional jumping, and living in a state of gratitude.

Sarah Mary closes with a simple but powerful piece of advice for anyone going through a hard season: slow down. In this moment, in this conversation, she reminds us that brighter days really are ahead — you just have to give yourself the space to see them

Neville Goddard – The Complete Reader

The Complete Works of Florence Scovel Shinn

Joe Dispenza — Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself

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On this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, Sara catches up with college mate Shelby Funk for a candid conversation about resilience, friendship, gratitude, and choosing to stay through life’s darkest moments.

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes honest conversation about suicide, self-harm, and mental health struggles. Listener discretion advised.

Shelby opens up about three moments when she wanted to give up — and the tools, people, and perspective shifts that helped pull her through.

In this episode:

• Why Shelby calls her life “preposterous” and rolls with it anyway
• Building a chosen community and learning who’s earned your trust
• Being a “safe person” for the people around her
• Surviving dark moments and what actually helped
• Leaving a toxic career and rebuilding from scratch
• What “getting lost in gratitude” really means

If you’re in the middle of a hard season, this episode is a reminder that things can get better — even when you don’t want to hear it yet.

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