SHIT HAPPY with Toni Powell

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#ShitHappyPodcast, #InspiringPodcast, #PodcastInterview 

SHOWNOTES: How To Grow Your Creative Side with Paul Fairweather ep 80

Creativity isn’t about being artistic. It’s about problem-solving, confidence, wellbeing and learning how to live better in a messy world. In this episode of Sh!t Happy, Toni Powell talks with artist, architect and keynote speaker Paul Fairweather about why creativity is essential for mental health, stress reduction and leadership. Paul explains how simple creative acts like doodling, knitting or walking can rewire the brain, calm anxiety and unlock new perspectives, even for people who believe they are “not creative”.

Topics

• Creativity and mental health
• Stress reduction and brain wiring
• Why most people think they’re not creative
• Doodling, flow states and neuroscience
• Creativity in leadership and problem-solving

Episode Specific Links

• Paul Fairweather website: https://www.paulfairweather.com/
• Bold, Brave & a Bit Quirky by Paul Fairweather: https://www.paulfairweather.com/book
• Adobe Creative Types test: https://mycreativetype.com/
• Transcript and guest bio: https://shithappy.com/how-to-grow-your…airweather-ep-80/

Find Related Episodes at www.shithappy.com

• # 83 In Bed - A Very Spicy
• # 18 Curing My Crisis Creatively with Toni Powell

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 Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

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SHOWNOTES: In Bed With Phil - Strike A Bad Patch Race ep 79

In this In Bed with Phil episode of Sh!t Happy, Toni and Phil share a darkly funny story from their past, reframing a brutal 16-day run of breakdowns, grief, financial stress and family chaos as a fictional endurance event called The Bad Patch Race. Through humour and perspective, they explore wellbeing, mental health, relationships under pressure, and how laughter can help people cope when life feels relentless.

Topics

• Wellbeing and mental health
• Reframing stress and bad luck
• Humour as a coping strategy
• Relationships during hard times
• Financial pressure and grief

Episode Specific Links

• Transcript:  https://shithappy.com/in-bed-with-phil…patch-race-ep-79/

Related EpisodeS

• # 4 In Bed with Phil: Fear, Moths & Mattresses

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #motivation 

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SHOWNOTES

At 23, Bart Walsh was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that took his jaw, changed his voice, and rerouted his entire life. In this deeply honest Sh!t Happy conversation, Bart shares how illness, addiction, fitness, and storytelling shaped his wellbeing, mental health, and resilience. Now facing a progressive neurological condition, he reflects on ownership, identity, anxiety, and what it really takes to keep moving forward when life keeps shifting the goalposts.

Topics

 Cancer diagnosis at a young age
 Identity and body image
 Fitness as a tool for wellbeing
 Addiction and recovery
 Resilience and ownership
 Neurological illness and anxiety
 Storytelling as healing

Episode Specific Links

  Bart's website: https://bartwalsh.com.au/
  Transcript and guest bio: https://shithappy.com/when-the-univers…bart-walsh-ep-78/

Find Related Episodes on www.shithappy.com

# 20 Deke Ludwig Blindsided by Benzos

# 38 Battling The Mind Sharks with Tammy Van Wisse

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 Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

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SHOWNOTES:

 What really makes a long marriage last when the spark fades, conflict is avoided, or life pulls you apart? In this honest and often funny conversation, broadcaster Kelly Higgins-Devine and her husband Craig share the reality of nearly three decades together, including a two-year separation and finding their way back. A grounded discussion on relationships, mental health, wellbeing, forgiveness, identity, parenting roles, conflict avoidance and why friendship matters more than fireworks.

Topics

• Long-term marriage realities
• Separation and reconciliation
• Conflict avoidance and communication
• Identity within relationships
• Parenting roles and expectations
• Forgiveness and emotional maturity

Episode Specific Links

• Transcript and guest bio:  https://shithappy.com/building-an-endu…ins-devine-ep-77/
• Kelly Higgins-Devine: 
  • Kelly Higgins-Devine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Higgins-Devi        https://www.abc.net.au/listen/kelly-higgins-devine/7951906
• John Gottman website: https://www.gottman.com/

Related Episodes

 Find Related Episode at www.shithappy.com

# 30 How I Healed My Marriage in 30 Days 

# 52 Peanuts Are Destroying Our Relationship 
:

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

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 Links To Love (newsletter +++): https://shithappy.com/resources/

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SHOWNOTES:

 Broadcaster Kelly Higgins-Devine shares the real story behind burnout, depression and recovery after the emotional toll of emergency broadcasting during the 2011 Brisbane floods. In this warm, candid interview, she unpacks how depression sneaks up, the power of negative self-talk, why therapy and medication helped, and the simple question “Is that true?” that cracked open her darkness. A practical, human episode about mental health, resilience, perspective and staying true to yourself in public life.

Topics

• Depression warning signs and burnout
• 2011 Brisbane floods and emotional load
• Therapy, medication and recovery
• Negative self-talk and catastrophising
• Handling criticism and public judgement
• Perspective shifts and resilience tools

Episode Specific Links

• Transcript and guest bio: https://shithappy.com/that-thing-they-…ins-devine-ep-76/
• Kelly Higgins-Devine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Higgins-Devine

          https://www.abc.net.au/listen/kelly-higgins-devine/7951906

 Find Related Episode at www.shithappy.com
:
# 77 Building An Enduring Love with Craig & Kelly

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

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SHOWNOTES

In a world that can feel divided, overwhelming and hostile, this episode explores how kindness isn’t weakness but one of the most powerful tools for mental health, wellbeing and connection. Toni Powell introduces the idea of “KINDING”, kindness in action, and explains why outward focus improves mood, reduces anxiety and strengthens relationships. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioural research and moving real-life stories, this episode shows how small acts of kindness create ripple effects that change others and reshape who we become.

Topics
Kindness and wellbeing
Mental health and outward focus
The neuroscience of connection
Kindness as a daily practice
Ripple effects of behaviour
Courage, discomfort and growth

Episode Specific Links


Kindness Is Contagious documentary – David Gaz : https://youtu.be/uWiaqvUFRj8?si=njmcE-EG7iQjtbD5
Kiva micro-loan charity : https://www.kiva.org/
Transcript : https://shithappy.com/you-have-the-pow…oni-powell-ep-75/

Related Episodes

  # 74 Beau Hayward 

 # 3 on King Kong & Connection 

Heads Up
References to addiction, homelessness and suicidal ideation.

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

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SHOWNOTES: Nourish Street: Love, Meth and Miracles with Beau Haywood 

A raw and uplifting conversation about addiction, rock bottom, and rebuilding life through service. Beau Haywood spent 25 years addicted to meth before a failed suicide attempt sent him into rehab. Two years later, he’s clean and running Nourish Street—feeding and supporting people experiencing homelessness across Brisbane. We talk about mental health, community, miracles, purpose, and the power of turning pain into purpose.

Topics
– Addiction, mental health and recovery
– Homelessness misconceptions
– Finding purpose after rock bottom
– Nourish Street charity and volunteer work
– Community, miracles and meaning

Episode Specific Links

 Nourish Street: https://www.nourishstreetinc.org/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NourishStreetInc
 Moonya Rehab: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/alcohol-and-other-drug-services/qld/
 Sunrise Way Rehab (Toowoomba): https://www.sunriseway.com.au/

Transcript: https://shithappy.com/nourish-street-l…au-haywood-ep-74/

Related Episode Links

 * 20 Blindsided by Benzos with Deke 
 

Heads Up
This episode includes discussion of suicide and addiction.

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

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Description

After Tuesday’s powerful interview about Losing Layla, Vanessa Gorman returns to share the wisdom she gained while navigating deep grief. She talks about what helps, what harms, why platitudes push people away, and how grief stored in the body will surface unless it is felt, expressed, and released. Vanessa explains the physical nature of grief, the importance of safe listeners, and how earlier unprocessed loss reappeared decades later. This is a grounded, compassionate guide to supporting someone through profound pain—and finding a way toward good grief.

Topics

– What helps and harms in deep grief
 – Why platitudes create distance
 – The physicality of “good grief”
 – Buried childhood grief returning
 – The importance of safe, present listeners
 – How partners, friends, and family can truly help
 – Allowing waves of emotion
 – Ceremonies as healing anchors

Episode Specific Links

 Losing Layla (film): https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/50384/losing-layla
 Layla’s Story (book): https://www.penguin.com.au/books/laylas-story-9781742281117
 Transcript:  https://shithappy.com/good-grief-with-…ssa-gorman-ep-73/
 

Find Related Episode on www.shithappy.com

 *  73   Vanessa Gorman 
*  8  Cathy Henkel 
* 14  Petrea King 

Heads Up

Discusses death, childhood loss, and intense grief.

#Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

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#shithappypodcast, #inspiringpodcast, #podcastinterview

SHOWNOTES: Losing Layla - A Beautiful Mourning with Vanessa Gorman ep 72

Vanessa Gorman takes us inside one of the most intimate and influential Australian documentaries made: Losing Layla. What began as a personal film about wanting a baby became a raw, unfiltered record of birth, loss, and the radical act of keeping love present in the darkest hours. Vanessa talks about filming the pregnancy, the emergency cesarean, the neonatal retrieval team, Layla’s short life, taking her home, and how showing the full truth of grief helped change how families and hospitals approach neonatal death. This is a tender, powerful conversation about love, loss, and the courage to stay open.

Topics

– The accidental beginning of Losing Layla
– Filming intimacy before filming was normal
– Emergency cesarean and neonatal distress
– Bringing Layla home
– How the documentary changed hospital practices
– Complex grief for both parents
– The need to “be seen” in loss
– Friendship, support, and emotional honesty

Episode Specific Links

 Losing Layla (film): https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/50384/losing-layla
 Layla’s Story (book): https://www.penguin.com.au/books/laylas-story-9781742281117
 Transcript: https://shithappy.com/losing-layla-a-b…ssa-gorman-ep-72/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-gorman-b565014/?originalSubdomain=au

Find Related Episodes on www.shithappy.com

 *  8 Cathy Henkel – A Joyful Death

 * 14 Petrea King – A Spiritual Survival Story
 * 2  Heidi Dening – Petrol Bombs, Tsunamis and Badassery

 * 73 Good Grief with Vanessa Gorman 

Heads Up

This episode discusses neonatal death and intense grief.

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• #ShitHappyPodcast, #InspiringPodcast, #PodcastInterview 

SHOWNOTES: Your Brain Is Lying To You - In Bed With Phil ep 71

Your brain is lying to you—and it’s wrecking your relationships, wellbeing, and mental health without you realising. In this In Bed with Phil episode, Toni and Phil unpack the sneaky science of self-justification, cognitive dissonance, false memories, blame, and why good people do hurtful things while believing they’re innocent. A funny, confronting, deeply practical chat that helps you see your blind spots, improve connection, and radically shift how you understand conflict.

Topics
Cognitive dissonance
Self-justification
Memory blind spots
Conflict and blame
Wellbeing + mental health
Relationships under stress
Parenting patterns
Why our brains hide our role in drama

Episode Specific Links

Transcript & Bio: https://shithappy.com/your-brain-is-ly…-with-phil-ep-71/

 Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) – Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson: https://www.booktopia.com.au/mistakes-were-made-but-not-by-me--carol-tavris/book/9781780666952.html

Related Episodes

* 70 Leanne Spencer - My Beautiful Sobriety

* 52 In Bed - Peanuts Are Destroying Our Relationship

Heads Up
Includes frank discussion of conflict patterns and human bias.

• #Wellbeing, #Mindfulness, #Motivation

Support the show

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