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. 3d ago

    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/

  2. 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/

  3. 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/

  4. 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/

  5. 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/

  6. Aug 11

    My Impossible Bass Strait Swim: 30 Dolphins & A Cancer Battle | Tammy Van Wisse | Ep 107 (vault)

    This is the fan mail link! Marathon swimmer Tammy Van Wisse took on the Bass Strait, a treacherous 96-kilometer stretch of ocean. She faced hypothermia, severe weather, and jellyfish stings, but it was an unexpected encounter with a pod of dolphins that changed everything. Tammy shares how this raw, terrifying challenge—and a later battle with breast cancer—shaped her relentless spirit. 0:00 – The symptoms begin: dizziness, balance issues & shaking eyes 1:07 – Referred to the city for a vision field test 1:44 – The optometrist's bombshell: optic neuritis & a possible MS diagnosis 2:10 – Finding a neurologist — and why rushing that decision was the biggest mistake 2:57 – The appointment that changed everything: a cruel diagnosis delivery 4:16 – "Your life as you know it's over" — the doctor's devastating words 5:16 – Walking out without paying the bill (and never looking back) 5:38 – "I'm not dead and he probably is" — Carol's winning perspective 6:18 – Coming to terms with MS: six months to acceptance, a year to identity 7:50 – Using MS as an excuse to quit the AFL football club (no regrets) 8:35 – Russ's response: the most romantic thing anyone ever said to Carol 9:39 – "We don't have it, we have it" — Carol's husband refuses to let her face MS alone #shithappypodcast #tammyvanwisse #resilience #bassstrait #survivor Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  7. Aug 4

    I Photographed Their Last Moment Of Innocence | Victor Simone | Ep 106

    This is the fan mail link! Victor Simone left for work on an ordinary Friday morning. His wife Liz took their two daughters to school, met friends for coffee, and never came home.        A freak car accident changed everything in seconds. Suddenly Victor was a single father to two young girls, trying to explain the unimaginable while the world was entering COVID lockdowns. With no roadmap for grief, parenting, or surviving devastating loss, he made a decision: his daughters would not be defined by tragedy. In this deeply moving conversation, Victor shares the heartbreaking moment he had to tell his daughters their mum was gone, the photo he took just before their lives changed forever, and the unexpected lesson he learned about the invisible mental load carried by so many mothers. This episode explores grief, resilience, parenting, widowhood, single fatherhood, raising daughters, mental health, anxiety, depression, community support, healing after loss, family relationships, emotional recovery, personal growth, overcoming adversity, life after tragedy, and finding happiness again after unimaginable heartbreak. If you've experienced loss, grief, trauma, or major life change, Victor's story is a powerful reminder that even after life's darkest moments, there can still be laughter, connection, purpose, and joy. Listen now and discover why Victor says his life is both difficult and happy. Guest Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-simone-mortgage-broker/ 0:00 — Capturing the Last Moment of Innocence 0:52 — Happy Life in Australia Before the Accident 2:10 — The Day Everything Changed: Liz's Fatal Accident 5:43 — Becoming a Widower: Breaking the News to His Daughters 6:08 — Navigating COVID Lockdowns as a Single Dad 13:20 — Discovering the Hidden Mental Load of Motherhood 17:49 — The Power of Community: Giving and Receiving Help 19:41 — Why Victor Stayed in Australia Instead of Moving Home 24:49 — The Rollercoaster of Life: Teaching Kids to Embrace Ups and Downs 27:38 — Victor's Personal Battle: Anxiety, Depression and Keeping Going 29:51 — Learning Ballet Buns, Makeup and How to Be a Dance Dad 32:24 — Six Years Later: What Has Helped Most on This Journey 33:36 — The Gift No One Asked For: A Deep Bond With His Daughters #ShitHappyPodcast #Grief #SingleDad #MentalHealth #Resilience Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  8. Jul 28

    She needed a Village So She Built One | Stephanie Trethewey | Ep 105

    This is the fan mail link! The transition from city life to the isolated reality of the land can feel like being stripped of your village overnight. This is the raw, unflinching look at what happens when the support network you took for granted simply vanishes, leaving you to navigate motherhood, high-risk pregnancies, and mental health struggles in the middle of nowhere. 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. What happens when your nearest hospital is five hours away, your partner is working seven days a week, and Google becomes your only midwife? Stephanie Trethewey, the founder of Motherland, joins us to talk about the profound, often invisible, isolation facing rural Australian mothers. We dive into the reality of managing traumatic birth experiences, postpartum health crises, and the lack of basic community support when you live miles from the nearest playgroup. But this isn't just a story about the challenges of the bush; it’s about the extraordinary way women are building their own digital villages to break that silence. We discuss how connecting with other rural mothers through structured support groups is transforming the experience of motherhood from one of sheer survival to one of shared strength. Plus, why we launched a platform to finally bridge the healthcare gap for those in remote areas and why we had to make space for the dads in the conversation, too. Guest Page:  https://shithappy.com/she-needed-a-village-so-she-build-one-ep-105/ Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ 0:00 Introduction: Stephanie Trethewey & Motherland 1:02 Emily Pye: High-Risk Pregnancy 5.5 Hours from Hospital 5:51 Amanda Purvis: No Mobile Service, Long Distance Pregnancy & Finding Motherland 7:39 Emma: First on Scene at a Rural Accident & Mental Health Access in the Bush 10:48 Jessica Cullen: Car Rollover on the Property with No Phone Reception 14:12 Kyla the Midwife: Near-Fatal Postpartum Haemorrhage 150km from Hospital 19:02 Stephanie's Story: Leaving TV, Moving to Rural Tasmania & Losing Her Village 24:17 The Moment Motherland Was Born: Isolation, Rage & Rock Bottom 26:01 Starting the Podcast: 1.3 Million Downloads from a Slow News Day Love Story 28:19 Motherland Village: Australia's First Online Rural Mothers Group Program 34:13 Motherland Connect: Free Health Services Directory for Rural Mums 35:17 Fatherland: Shining a Light on Rural Dads & the Male Suicide Crisis 39:23 Wrap-Up: Why Motherland Matters & What Life on the Land Really Looks Like #shithappypodcast #ruralmotherhood #motherland #communitysupport #resilience Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

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About

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
    116
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell
  • Show Website
    SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell

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