At fifteen, Shaela Warkentin-Avila’s life changed in an instant. A car crash left her blind — but it also revealed a new kind of vision.
In the dark, she found clarity.
With striking honesty and grace, Shaela opens up about the night that tested her faith, the love that held her together, and the forgiveness that set her free.
It’s a story about loss, resilience, and learning to see beauty where you never thought it could exist.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order using the code ICHOOSEHAPPY at TheComfy.com

In 2009, Colonel Timothy Karcher’s vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Baghdad. The explosion would take both of his legs and change the course of his life. 

What followed was a journey through pain, perseverance, and perspective. One that revealed the power of humor, leadership, and the will to keep moving forward.

This special Veterans Day episode of I Choose Happy honors Colonel Karcher’s extraordinary story, and the countless men and women who have served our country with strength, resilience, and heart.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order using the code ICHOSEHAPPY at TheComfy.com
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When Mary Van Alstyne woke up in a hospital after a devastating car crash, she didn’t know where she was, why she was there, or how she’d survived. Her body was broken, her memory blurred — and her only focus was on getting back to her son.

What began as a grueling recovery became the start of something much deeper. Through physical therapy, Mary learned to breathe through pain, not yet realizing that single act would become her life’s work. In this episode, she shares how trauma led her to healing, how breath helped her rebuild from the inside out, and why she now dedicates her life to teaching others how to do the same.

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Connect with Mary on Instagram @mevamethod or visit meva.love to learn more about her breathwork and embodiment practice.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order using the code ICHOSEHAPPY at TheComfy.com
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On the 15th anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis, host Marilyn Getas Byrne steps to the other side of the microphone to share her own story — a deeply personal journey of fear, faith, and the power of choosing life.

From the moment she found a lump at 40 to a near-death experience that reshaped her understanding of belief, Marilyn recounts the odyssey that tested every part of her — body, mind, and spirit. Through loss, financial hardship, and family crisis, she discovered the strength that comes from faith, humor, and human connection.

This is the story behind I Choose Happy itself: the moment a journalist, mother, and survivor learned that healing is not the absence of pain — but the courage to choose joy anyway.

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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

In an age of constant scrolling, comparison, and FOMO, today’s kids are under pressures that previous generations never faced. In this episode of I Choose Happy, Marilyn Getas Byrne sits down with child development specialist Diane Provo, who has spent decades helping families navigate the emotional challenges of modern childhood.

Together they explore the hidden cost of social media on self-worth, why “keeping up” is eroding confidence, and how parents can re-center around what really matters. Diane offers practical ways to build resilient kids through humor, perspective, and authentic connection—plus simple tools families can use to create calm and joy at home.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone raising children in a digital world — and a powerful reminder that happiness starts with staying true to yourself.

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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

When TV news anchor Mindy Basara began feeling a crushing exhaustion she couldn’t explain, doctors told her it was “just perimenopause.” But she knew something deeper was wrong. 

In this candid conversation, Mindy opens up about her long road to a lupus diagnosis, the invisible battles that came with it, and how she learned to slow down, advocate for herself, and choose joy anyway.

From sleepless shifts in the newsroom to learning to rest without guilt, this episode shines a light on what it means to live with an autoimmune disease that can’t always be seen—and how Mindy redefined success, strength, and self-care along the way.

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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

When Amanda Schneider left for a work trip to San Diego, she was a devoted mom of three, a successful entrepreneur, and happily married. 

What happened that night in a hotel room would change everything. After unknowingly being drugged and assaulted, Amanda returned home confused, afraid, and unsure how to move forward.

In this powerful episode of I Choose Happy, Amanda opens up about the courage it took to tell her husband, the frustration of navigating an imperfect justice system, and the healing that began when she found her voice—and used it. Now the executive director of Amplify Voices, Amanda helps other survivors share their stories, breaking the silence that fuels shame and isolation.

This is a story about trauma, truth, and the extraordinary strength that comes from turning pain into purpose.

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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

Dr. Robb Kelly is known around the world as The Addiction Doctor—a leading specialist who’s worked with celebrities, athletes, and families to break the cycle of addiction. But before he built his reputation as a top authority, he lived through the devastation of alcoholism himself.

From playing bass alongside Elton John to sleeping on the streets, Dr. Robb’s life nearly ended in despair. It was his daughter’s plea—“Daddy, please stop drinking”—that changed everything. Today, he combines personal survival with groundbreaking clinical work to help others heal the trauma that fuels addiction.

In this candid and unflinching conversation, Dr. Robb explains why addiction is never about the substance itself, the overlooked role of childhood trauma, and why real recovery means addressing the wounds beneath the behavior.

This is more than an interview—it’s a window into the mind of one of the world’s most respected voices on addiction and healing.

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Learn more about Dr. Robb and his Texas-based practice at RobbKelly.com.
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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

When Kristin Meece’s daughter was just three years old, she began showing unusual symptoms—excessive thirst, sudden weight loss, and unshakable fatigue. A quick finger prick confirmed what Kristin’s instincts already feared: type 1 diabetes.

In this episode of I Choose Happy, Kristin shares the shock of that diagnosis, the steep learning curve that followed, and the resilience her daughter showed from the very first insulin shot. From sleepless nights to moments of advocacy in grocery store aisles and classrooms, Kristin’s story is one of fierce maternal love, community support, and the determination to give her daughter a full, thriving life.

This conversation is both a guidepost for parents facing chronic illness and a reminder that joy and strength can live alongside fear and challenge.

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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.

At 13, Jonah Rosas was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Overnight, life shifted from water polo and middle school routines to chemotherapy, hospitals, and the relentless uncertainty of cancer.

In this episode of I Choose Happy, Jonah reflects on the resilience it took to keep moving forward, the humor and family support that carried him through, and the relief of finally being told he was “out of the woods.” Now, years later, he’s come full circle—pursuing a PhD in cancer research to help the very patients walking the path he once did.

This is a story about survival, perspective, and choosing to transform hardship into purpose.

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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I Choose Happy private Facebook group. This is your safe space to share and be inspired. Please join today by clicking here.
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Find out more about Marilyn at marilyngetasbyrne.com.
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I Choose Happy is made possible by The Comfy, a Shark Tank sensation whose wearable blankets make life happier. Find out for yourself with 20% off your first order with the code ichoosehappy at TheComfy.com.