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. 47m ago

    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/

  2. 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/

  3. 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/

  4. 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/

  5. 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/

  6. Jul 21

    Shot In The Face, Survived. Then Everything Got Worse | Cameron McKay | Ep 104

    This is the fan mail link! Cam was a special ops officer in the middle of the Ferguson protests when a bullet tore through his face. Most people would call it over, but for Cam, the fight was just getting started.  This isn't just about the shooting; it's about what happens when your body heals but your mind refuses to. We talk about the nightmare of PTSD, a drug-induced coma that brought him to the brink of death, and the hard, unglamorous work of untangling decades of buried trauma. This is a conversation about pulling yourself out of the darkest possible place. 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. Bio & Trnscript: https://shithappy.com/shot-in-the-face-survived-then-everything-got-worse-cameron-mckay-ep-104/ Key Moments 00:00 - Cam describes the moment he realized he was shot in the face.00:20 - Background on being a police officer in 2015 and his experiences in Ferguson.03:00 - The shooting incident and the immediate aftermath.04:00 - His quick prayer and attempt to move to safety.05:00 - Calling his sergeant and then his mother from the ambulance.06:46 - His mother's calming words and the impact of the call.07:20 - Arriving at the hospital and the doctors' assessment of his injury (bullet near carotid artery and jugular).08:40 - The onset of PTSD and his initial denial due to a sergeant's comments.10:00 - Hiding at home and increased alcohol consumption.11:05 - Being off work and classified as disabled.11:40 - His department's ultimatum regarding his return to work.12:40 - Entering a "super dark place" and thoughts of suicide.13:30 - The year anniversary of the shooting, a seizure, and the police intervention.14:50 - Diagnosis of Press Syndrome due to alcohol abuse and stress.16:00 - Alcohol withdrawal, pneumonia, and being placed in a drug-induced coma for five weeks.17:00 - Experiencing PTSD dreams and immense pain during the coma.18:00 - His near-death experience during the coma, encountering figures, and a "game" in a cavern.21:00 - Realizing he couldn't escape by harming others and a moment of spiritual awakening.22:00 - Finding himself in a bright light, free of pain, with his grandmother.23:00 - Waking up from the coma and the return of his pain and anger.24:00 - His defiant recovery from the coma and return to drinking.26:00 - A pivotal moment on the highway leading to a breakthrough in therapy.28:00 - Starting Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and his initial resistance to the concept of a higher power.30:00 - Arguing with God and the subsequent shift in his desire to drink.31:00 - His comprehensive recovery approach: sobriety, therapy, medication, exercise, and meditation.32:00 - Reaching a year of sobriety but still struggling, leading to a plan for suicide.33:00 - Revealing a 30-year-old childhood trauma to his therapist.35:00 - The therapist's explanation of "tangled strings" connecting childhood and adult trauma.36:00 - The difficult process of addressing childhood trauma and understanding shame vs. guilt.37:00 - How his deepest wound became his greatest weapon, leading to sharing his story.38:00 - The healing power of articulating feelings and the benefits of therapy.39:32 - Discussion about his grandmother's role in his near-death experience.40:04 - The significance of how he turned his head during the shooting.40:40 - His wife's unwavering support and her role in his recovery.#shithappypodcast #resilience #realstories #survivalstory #mentalhealthawareness Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  7. Jul 14

    He Pulled A Truck With His Bare Hands | Vanessa Gorman | Ep 103

    This is the fan mail link! Vanessa Gorman has spent decades producing some of the most intimate, life-changing television ever made. She's sat across from a towering former police officer who hauled semi-trailers and carried a secret that nearly ended him. She's watched an artist who couldn't read the alphabet discover his brain was extraordinary, not broken. She knows exactly how to hold space for someone else's vulnerability—when the spotlight is on them. But when the camera turns around, the rules change. This conversation peels back the layers of what it actually takes to draw a human being's deepest truth to the surface. Vanessa unpacks the quiet, often unglamorous power of saying yes to the invitation you desperately want to decline, and why the stories we're most terrified to tell are often the ones that end up saving someone else's life. It's about grief that doesn't just sit there, grit that doesn't announce itself, and the transformative impact of vulnerability on the lives of ordinary people who have been through the extraordinary.  Explore the art of authentic connection and how these stories foster understanding in a world that often demands perfection. Guest Page: https://shithappy.com/he-pulled-a-truck-with-his-bare-hands-vanessa-gorman-ep-103/  Links To Love: https://shithappy.com/resources/  For laughs check out our other Youtube @inbedwithphil 0:00 The Power of Vulnerability: Grant Edwards' Story 0:42 Vanessa Gorman on Producing Australian Story 1:12 Telling Stories of Ordinary People Through Adversity 2:28 Grant Edwards: A Strong Man's Battle with PTSD 4:40 The Strength in Admitting Vulnerability 6:00 Impact of Grant Edwards' Story: Preventing Suicide 7:44 Vulnerability in Leadership and Personal Growth 10:20 Vanessa Gorman's Long Career with Australian Story 10:59 Learning from Stories: Vincent Fantauzzo's Dyslexia 13:48 Vincent Fantauzzo: The Gift of Dyslexia 16:50 A Memorable Episode: The Poo Transplant Story 18:50 Australian Story's Role in Driving Change 20:44 The Impact of Being on Australian Story 21:56 The Filming Process: Living with the Subjects 23:40 When Filming Overstays Its Welcome #shithappypodcast #vulnerability #storytelling #resilience #transformation Support the show  Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

  8. Jul 7

    They Said "You Need A Psych Ward" I Laughed. | Julie Goodwin | Ep 102

    This is the fan mail link! Winning MasterChef was meant to be the start of a dream life, but instead, it became the precursor to a quiet, devastating undoing. Julie Goodwin, the show’s first-ever winner, takes us behind the curtain of reality TV fame to share the raw, unfiltered reality of what happens when the cameras stop rolling and the isolation truly sets in. 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. This conversation isn't just about the pressure of the spotlight; it’s a deeply honest look at the path to a mental health collapse and the long, non-linear journey of recovery that followed. Julie speaks candidly about multiple hospitalizations, the danger of mistaking "being busy" for "being okay," and the vital importance of removing the stigma surrounding treatment for severe depression and anxiety. We explore why she rejects prescriptive self-help and instead urges listeners to cultivate genuine self-awareness, pay attention to the early warning signs their bodies are screaming, and recognize that mental well-being requires consistent maintenance, not just a one-time fix. From the foundational necessity of sleep to the power of surrendering to professional care, Julie’s story is a powerful reminder that our value isn’t tied to our output, and seeking help is not a failure—it is the ultimate act of courage. GUEST link:  https://shithappy.com/they-said-you-need-the-psych-ward-i-laughed-julie-goodwin-ep-102/ Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/ For laughs check out our other Youtube @inbedwithphil 00:00 [MasterChef Expectations vs. Reality] 01:39 [The Reality of Isolation] 08:57 [Post-Show Whirlwind & Burnout] 11:58 [The Collapse] 14:52 [The Decision to Seek Hospitalization] 16:01 [Dispelling Myths About Mental Hospitals] 22:34 [Challenging Mental Health Stigma] 25:15 [The Perfectionism Trap in Recovery] 28:21 [The Non-Linear Path of Healing] 34:30 [The Vital Importance of Sleep] #shithappypodcast #mentalhealthawareness #masterchefau #juliegoodwin #recoveryjourney 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
    113
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell
  • Show Website
    SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell