SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell

Toni Powell
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The Art Of Stirring Shit Shows Into Gold.  AKA Shitstirring Real stories of pain, grief and the full catastrophe of being human and how our guests turned their shitshow into something useful. Shit Happy™️ – a new word meaning 'stirring shitshows into gold.' And a podcast that proves it's possible. Each week guests share true stories along with the hard-won wisdom that got them through it. Topics include mental health, grief, fear, relationships, addiction, creativity, spirituality, identity, forgiveness and finding purpose when life falls apart.  Hosted by Toni Powell — author, speaker and recovering misery addict turned happiness hacker whose storytelling and science-backed tools have helped millions shift their mindset and find joy, even in disaster. Episodes drop Tuesdays. If you want a wellbeing podcast that's down-to-earth, honest and full of real-life resilience (with a few laughs), this is it.

  1. 4d ago

    The Drug That Was Supposed To Help Nearly Killed Me | Deke Ludwig | Ep 115 (Vault)

    This is the fan mail link! Most of us trust what the doctor puts in our hand, assuming it’s the key to feeling normal again. We walk into the pharmacy, pick up the script, and believe we’ve found the solution to the noise in our heads. But sometimes, that solution becomes the problem.IDeke Ludwig and I are talking about the reality of prescribed benzodiazepine medication and the brutal, often quiet battle of benzo withdrawal.  If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 in the US and Canada, call 116 123 in the UK, or call 13 11 14 in Australia. It wasn't the path he expected when he started taking Klonopin for anxiety. It became a trap that felt impossible to escape, turning his life into something utterly bonkers and dangerous.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like their own medication was working against them. We peel back the layers of what it means to rebuild after reliance on pharmaceuticals, why finding purpose is often the hardest and most important step, and how to start finding your footing when the ground has been pulled out from under you.  Deke's Website: https://www.dietrichludwig.com/ Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 0:00 Introduction — A Dangerous Drive Home 1:26 Prescribed Klonopin for Mild Anxiety & Insomnia 2:52 The First Sign Something Was Wrong 7:11 Harder to Quit Than Opiates 7:37 A Year Lost to Withdrawal 8:35 How the Medical System Failed 10:07 The Over-Prescribing Problem 13:57 Coming Off All Medication 15:43 Natural Tools That Actually Work 17:21 Sleep Strategies & Cognitive Shuffling 20:09 Finding Purpose Through Recovery 21:33 Advice for Anyone Going Through This #shithappypodcast #benzowithdrawal #mentalhealthrecovery #klonopin #addictionrecovery Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  2. Sep 29

    The Money Sat in a Cabinet for Four Years | Kristina Ulmer | Ep 114

    This is the fan mail link! After a devastating loss, how do you keep going? When Kristina Ulmer’s sister passed away in 2014, she took a handful of tip money and turned a moment of grief into a life-changing $20 kindness challenge. What started as a small classroom assignment with high school students has evolved into a global foundation, proving that even the smallest acts of generosity can spark a massive movement.In this episode, we dive into how to turn a shit show into something extraordinary. Kristina shares the raw story of using her sister's legacy to foster resilience, empathy, and community transformation. Whether you are looking for inspiration on how to start your own kindness project or seeking tools for personal growth and emotional healing after trauma, this conversation shows that radical generosity is one of the most powerful ways to rebuild after a total life reset https://www.20dollarkindnesschallenge.org/   Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 00:00 Turning grief into a movement 01:20 Honouring her sister's memory 02:50 Turning pain into purpose 03:00 The literary spark for kindness 04:30 The $20 kindness challenge begins 05:00 From a classroom to a foundation 06:47 Watching students transform 11:02 Scaling generosity globally 11:44 Real-world acts of impact 16:00 Supporting children in need 19:02 The permanent shift in student perspective 23:54 The weirdest acts of kindness 26:15 When art meets community 28:25 Growing the grant network 31:55 How to get involved 32:48 A legacy of radical generosity #shithappypodcast #kindness #resilience #personalgrowth #community Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  3. Sep 22

    Why I Escaped Into Silence | Mary-Lou Stephens | Ep 113 Vault

    This is the fan mail link! Workplace toxicity can feel like a trap that never lets up. Sometimes the only way to find clarity is to remove yourself entirely from the noise. This conversation dives into the radical decision to embrace ten days of absolute silence as a way to untangle from a toxic work environment. We explore how setting down the armor and facing the quiet can reveal unexpected ways to handle immense pressure and regain personal power.  Guest website: https://maryloustephens.com.au/  https://maryloustephens.com.au/books/sex-drugs-and-meditation/ For daily doses of joy: https://www.youtube.com/@mooodtv  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 00:00 — Writing Sex, Drugs and Meditation 02:48 — The Risks of Publishing an Honest Memoir 05:45 — Workplace Bullying at ABC Radio 10:17 — Inside a 10-Day Vipassana Retreat 13:23 — Fear, Pain and Silence 21:40 — How Meditation Changed Her Life 25:22 — Should You Try Vipassana? Okay#WorkplaceBullying #SilentRetreat #MentalResilience #Vipassana #OvercomingAdversity Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  4. Sep 15

    The People Pleasing Trap: Why Being 'Good' Is Making You Miserable | Declan Edwards | Ep 112

    This is the fan mail link! Declan Edwards was trapped in the people pleasing cycle, bending out of shape to get external approval until a breaking point. Today, as a happiness researcher, happiness is framed not as forced smiles or toxic positivity but as radical ownership and treating joy like a muscle that needs training.  This conversation peels back the layers of the good person trap and explores how to build a life of purpose after hitting rock bottom. It is a real look at high-functioning burnout, identity loss, and the messy process of reclaiming control when everything feels like a total life reset.    Guest Page: https://shithappy.com/the-people-pleasing-trap-why-being-good-is-making-you-miserable-declan-edwards-ep-109/  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/    00:00 Why do I always feel miserable?   03:15 How to stop being a people pleaser   07:45 Symptoms of high-functioning burnout   12:20 Radical ownership and life control   16:10 Can you train happiness as a skill?   20:55 How to find purpose after a setback    #shithappypodcast #happinessresearch #burnoutrecovery #mentalhealth #totallifereset Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  5. Sep 8

    The Doctor Said 'Life In A Wheelchair.' I Chose Gold Instead | Carol Cooke | Ep 111 (Vault)

    This is the fan mail link! Carol Cooke was told she didn't have the body to be a gymnast. Then, at the peak of her life, she was told her body was effectively shutting down due to Multiple Sclerosis. Most people would accept the diagnosis and the wheelchair. Carol decided to treat her prognosis like a lie. This conversation pulls apart the reality of living with MS, the anger behind the diagnosis, and the obsessive, non-linear process of trading a "life over" for a Paralympic gold medal. We aren't talking about manifestation; we’re talking about what happens when you refuse to let your body decide when you’re finished. Carol's website: https://www.carolcooke.com.au Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 0:00 Introduction: Life With MS Diagnosis 1:01 Carol's Childhood Olympic Dream 2:27 Rejected From Gymnastics at Age Nine 3:41 Mum's Life-Changing Advice: Try a Different Sport 6:12 Swimming Career and the 1980 Olympics Boycott 7:28 World Police and Fire Games: Representing Canada 9:52 Moving to Australia and Meeting Her Husband 11:23 MS Symptoms Begin: Hobart Swimming Competition 14:30 The MS Diagnosis: A Cruel Doctor's Verdict 19:18 Husband's Response: 'We Have It Together' 20:10 Wheelchair, Work Struggles, and Starting a Charity 22:15 Paralympics Discovery: Classification as a Para Swimmer 23:26 Talent Search and Switching to Rowing 26:20 Standing Up to the Rowing Coach Who Said She'd Never Make It 28:31 Discovering Cycling: From Rower to National Team 32:10 2012 London Paralympics: Winning Gold Against the World Champion 37:10 Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020: Competing Into Her 60s #shithappypodcast #carolcooke #paralympic #multipleclerosis #resilience Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  6. Sep 1

    Homeless, Ready To End It All When A Family Took Me In with Matt Runnalls ep 110

    This is the fan mail link! Matt Runnalls was bouncing from gutter to gutter, isolated and convinced he was a burden. At 26, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and living on the streets, he was 10 minutes away from ending it all. Then, a stranger offered him a garage. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org in the US and Canada, or call 13 11 14 in Australia. In this episode, Matt shares the raw reality of rock bottom and the "utterly bonkers" kindness of a family who saw something in him that he couldn't see in himself. This isn't just a story about surviving homelessness—it’s about the surgical precision of human connection and how Matt went from the street to becoming the "CEO of his life."We dive into the simple skills that changed everything, the danger of the "victim" mindset, and why life happens for you, not to you.If you’ve ever felt like a burden or wondered if you can actually rebound from the dark, Matt is the proof that you can stir your shit into gold. Guest :https://mattrunnalls.com.au/ Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/   0:00 — Introduction & Early Life 2:05 — First Seeking Help (Age 16–17) 4:09 — Medication & Struggling Through the 20s 5:03 — Hitting Rock Bottom — Homeless & Suicidal 7:50 — The Family That Saved Him 12:26 — The Road to Recovery — Tools & Mindset 15:42 — Finding Purpose Through Loss 16:51 — The Book: Nobody Can Save Me 17:42 — The Mash Hammer Story 20:28 — Meeting His Partner #shithappypodcast #mentalhealth #resilience #homelessness #mattrunnalls Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  7. Aug 25

    18 Months With A Dying Stranger Taught Me How To Truly Live | Paul Mcdermott | Ep 109 (Vault)

    This is the fan mail link! Paul McDermott joins the Sh!t Happy Podcast to share his journey from a high-pressure career to providing hospice care. After a near-death experience left him rethinking everything, he met Val, a woman given only four weeks to live. Their eighteen months together became a masterclass in humility, letting go of ego, and finding profound meaning in the final stages of life.  Through their bond, Paul learned how to truly follow rather than lead and discovered the unexpected beauty found within the darkest of human experiences. This conversation explores how we move through pain, the significance of dreams, and the ways we can foster genuine connection even when life falls apart.  Guest: https://www.paulmcdermott.org/  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 0:00 Cold Open — "I Quit My Job on the Spot"  0:19 The Vault Intro  0:27 About Paul McDermott and the Book Pilgrims  1:03 Paul's Career, Near-Death from Legionnaires' Disease, and Leaving Everything Behind  2:49 How Pilgrims Was Written — A Dream Sparked the Book  5:00 Meeting Val — Given Four Weeks to Live  5:36 Why Val Lived 18 Months Instead of 4 Weeks  6:44 Val's Difficult Personality  7:40 The Arm Around the Shoulder Mistake   10:30 Dismantling Ego Together  21:22 How Paul Met His Partner Yvonne  21:44 The Dream That Made Paul Learn to Tango  24:31 Meeting Yvonne at the Dance Event in Europe  25:32 Walking Down the Aisle — Past Life Recognition  27:34 The Dream Group Miracle  30:08 "She Looked Like Death. She Looked Full of Wonder."  31:58 Val Was More Alive Than Anyone Paul Knew  33:25 Closing — Pilgrims and Why It Stays With You #shithappypodcast #paulmcdermott #hospicecare #meaningoflife #pilgrims Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  8. Aug 18

    The 24-Hour Experiment That Changed Thousands of Lives - Including Mine | Kristi Street | Ep 108

    This is the fan mail link! In this episode, we dive into the chaotic, brilliant origins of 'The Shootout,' a 24-hour film festival that turned amateur storytellers into filmmakers overnight. Founder Kristi Street joins us to share how a simple, high-pressure constraint proved that creativity is often born from limited time, rather than unlimited resources. Kristi discusses the early days when filmmaking was stuck in the 'coffee and b******t' phase—all talk and no action. She explains why the festival’s strict 24-hour deadline and requirement for in-camera editing forced participants to stop overthinking and start creating. We also explore why the most memorable films weren't the most polished, but the ones with the most nerve and the biggest stories. Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-street-a510b8b9/ Newsletter and More: https://shithappy.com/resources/ MOOOd: Check here for an instant mood boost:  https://youtube.com/@mooodtv?si=wJntNYURoVRqIJxy 0:12 Intro 1:38 The 'Coffee & B******t' Phase: Why Nobody Was Actually Making Films 2:50 How a Crazy House Party Idea Became a 24-Hour Film Festival 3:50 1,000 People, 24 Hours, 105 Films: The First Shoot Out Exceeds All Expectations 5:29 The Night That Changed Everything: Watching Strangers Make Magic 7:32 Missing the Festival and Finding a Way Back In 10:09 Why Deadlines and Constraints Are the Secret Weapon of Creativity 16:01 Why Winning Wasn't What We Expected — And What Happened Next 16:30 Channel 9 Crews vs. Ordinary Families: Why Gear Doesn't Win Film Festivals 17:50 The Genius Safety Net: How the 24-Hour Format Made Everyone Brave Enough to Try 18:39 A Family With No Film Skills Decides They Can Win — And Does 21:18 The After-Party Conversation That Launched a Career 22:58 Outro #shithappypodcast #filmmaking #creativity #storytelling #24hourfilmfestival Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

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The Art Of Stirring Shit Shows Into Gold.  AKA Shitstirring Real stories of pain, grief and the full catastrophe of being human and how our guests turned their shitshow into something useful. Shit Happy™️ – a new word meaning 'stirring shitshows into gold.' And a podcast that proves it's possible. Each week guests share true stories along with the hard-won wisdom that got them through it. Topics include mental health, grief, fear, relationships, addiction, creativity, spirituality, identity, forgiveness and finding purpose when life falls apart.  Hosted by Toni Powell — author, speaker and recovering misery addict turned happiness hacker whose storytelling and science-backed tools have helped millions shift their mindset and find joy, even in disaster. Episodes drop Tuesdays. If you want a wellbeing podcast that's down-to-earth, honest and full of real-life resilience (with a few laughs), this is it.

Information

  • Creator
    Toni Powell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell
  • Show Website
    SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell

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