I Choose Happy With Marilyn

On New Year’s Eve 2025 in New Orleans, best friends Ryan Quigley and Tiger Bech were walking back to their hotel after a night of celebration. In the middle of the noise, crowds, and chaos of Bourbon Street, a terror attack unfolded, taking Tiger’s life and leaving Ryan fighting for his own. What follows is a story of unimaginable grief, physical recovery, and the unthinkable task of learning to l...

When a series of unlikely events saved Joan Hill’s son, she realized she was witnessing something more than coincidence. That moment became the foundation for her books The Miracle Chase and The Miracle Collectors , and a lifelong exploration of how miracles truly unfold. In this conversation, Joan shares why miracles often arrive quietly, how to recognize them in your own life, and why these mome...

This week on I Choose Happy , we sit with Stuart Preston as he shares the deeply personal story of losing his son, Ian, ten years ago — and the unexpected path that helped him begin to heal. Stuart opens up about the moment that changed his life, the shock and the silence that followed, and the long stretch of grief where happiness felt impossible. He then shares how psychedelic medicine became a...

When the Palisades Fire swept through her neighborhood, Paige Killian had only minutes to react. What followed was a day she’ll never forget — a frantic escape, a series of miracles - big and small, and the beginning of a long emotional journey she never imagined she’d be on. In this conversation, Paige opens up about the fear, the shock, and the quiet moments that hit the hardest in the aftermath...

When Bobby realized he was gay, fear and misunderstanding led to a devastating choice: at 15, he was sent across the country to a Christian conversion program designed to “correct” him. What he endured there — the isolation, the emotional and physical abuse, and the relentless pressure to erase who he was — became one of the darkest chapters of his life. In this episode, Bobby reveals what really...

Born three months premature during a family vacation, Adam Bremen entered the world fighting — and he’s been choosing life ever since. Living with cerebral palsy, he grew up in a home overflowing with love, creativity, and a belief that limitations don’t define us. With parents who modeled possibility at every turn, Adam learned early that joy begins with focusing on what you can do. In this power...

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 y...

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 extraor...

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...

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, mi...

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-wort...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

When her 14-year-old daughter Claire noticed a mole on her ankle changing, Marianne Banister never imagined it would be the start of a fight for her daughter’s life. Despite careful screenings, sunscreen, and doing “all the right things,” Claire was diagnosed with adolescent melanoma — an aggressive cancer most families don’t even know children can get. By 17, Claire was gone. In this episode, Mar...

When 54-year-old Joseph Pangilinan went to urgent care for a nagging cough, he expected antibiotics and rest. Instead, he walked out with a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer — tumors in his lungs, lesions in his bones, even his brain. Told he might only have months to live, Joseph made a choice: to live fully, with humor, grit, and gratitude. Four and a half years later, Joseph shares how he’s defi...

When Melanie Hatchett's world was shattered by unimaginable loss, grief became a constant companion — a train she couldn’t step off. But along the way, she discovered that sorrow and joy can travel together, and in this raw and powerful conversation, Melanie shares how she learned to honor her pain without letting it define her, and how choosing happiness — even in the shadow of heartbreak — can b...

At just eight years old, Keri Chen woke to her little sister saying, “Daddy’s killing mommy.” Her world shattered in that moment, but Keri’s story isn’t about tragedy alone—it’s about the radical power of choosing joy, breaking cycles of generational pain, and building a life rooted in gratitude. Today, Marilyn sits down with Keri to explore how she transformed unthinkable trauma into a life of pu...

After a devastating accident in the Grand Canyon takes the life of a child, Margot Baker’s world is shattered. What follows is a harrowing journey through grief, survivor's guilt, and the tragic loss of her best friend. But in the silence of her home—and later, in the stillness of the Canyon—Margot hears a whisper that will change her life forever. This is a story about choosing life when everythi...

When Aundria Adams ran away from an abusive home at 16, she thought she'd finally found safety. But what began as a quest for healing led her straight into the arms of a manipulative therapist who was running a cult in plain sight. In this gripping episode, Aundria shares how she escaped both her childhood trauma and a hidden web of psychological abuse—breaking the cycle not just for herself, but...