The Shit Stick of Life

In this deeply moving conversation, legendary songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman reflects on a life shaped by music, loss, and unwavering creativity. With a career that includes writing songs for icons like Elton John, Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, and Neil Diamond, Beth shares the stories behind the music, and the personal experiences that have fueled it. From her early beginnings to navigating the hig...

In this episode, Kortney sits down with her dear friend, Karin Thyr. This conversation dives into the nuanced realities of parenting, especially the tension between defending our choices and truly hearing our kids. It explores how well-intentioned advice can sometimes miss the mark, and why listening, presence, and flexibility often matter more than having the “right” answer. Together, they unpack...

In this episode, Kortney sits down with financial educator and author Alyssa Davies for an honest conversation about money and why we need to talk about it more openly, especially as women. Alyssa shares her personal journey with finances and breaks down the basics of investing early, managing debt, and understanding the emotional side of spending. They also dive into money and relationships, incl...

In this episode, Kortney sits down with designer, entrepreneur, and TV personality Sarah Baeumler for an honest conversation about the journey that shaped her life and career. Sarah opens up about her early years as a competitive dancer, how discipline and creativity intersected long before television, and the unexpected twists that led her into design and entrepreneurship. They dive into the stor...

In this episode, Kortney sits down with her friend and influencer Jules Kaden Black to dive into Jules’s deeply personal health and wellness journey. Jules opens up about her struggles with body image, hormone issues, weight loss, and the medical paths she chose along the way, including the emotional and mental toll that came with each decision. She shares the turning points, the setbacks, and the...

In this episode, Kortney sits down with Amy Sheppard and Lachlan Stuart as they peel back the curtain on one of the hardest chapters of their journey. Together, they open up about their deeply personal journey through infertility and IVF, a chapter they’ve largely kept private until now. They share how their relationship began, what they imagined for their future, and how quickly those dreams were...

In this unfiltered, laugh-through-the-chaos episode, Kortney is joined by her friends—and returning guests—Ashley and Mel, for a deep dive into the beautiful mess of motherhood. Together, they swap stories about stepping into their “I’m officially in my I-don’t-care era,” the tiny lies moms tell to get through the day, and the unexpected personal growth that comes with finally dropping perfection....

This week, Kortney sits down with the hilarious, unfiltered, and wildly self-aware Kelsey Darragh for a conversation that goes everywhere in the best way. From her upbringing to the leap that took her to Los Angeles, Kelsey opens up about the moments that shaped her and the ones that nearly broke her. They dive into what “rock bottom” really looked like for Kelsey, the turning point that forced he...

Kortney and Kenny are back for Part 2, and this time, they’re a little looser, a little louder, and ready to spill. With drinks in hand and their banter in full swing, they dive into the making of their brand-new show, Life is Messy, sharing behind-the-scenes moments that range from hilarious to downright chaotic. They talk about what it’s really like filming together, the unexpected moments that...

Kortney is joined this week by her best friend and co-host, Kenny Brain, for the episode everyone’s been waiting for. With drinks in hand and zero filters, they’re finally sitting down to answer all the questions, from Kenny’s Newfoundland roots to his coming out story, and everything that shaped the person we know and love today. The two dive into how they first met, what it was really like filmi...

This week, Kortney sits down with the unstoppable duo Cat & Nat, best friends, moms, and unapologetic truth-tellers, for a real, hilarious, and refreshingly honest chat about motherhood, ADHD brains, and everything in between. Together, they unpack how parenting never really gets easier, it just changes. From the sleepless baby years to the carpool-and-therapy years, they talk about the chaos,...

This week, Kortney sits down with the incredible Sangita Patel for a raw and deeply personal conversation about resilience, reinvention, and finding joy even when life hands you the hard stuff. Sangita is a powerhouse in every sense of the word, an engineer turned television host, the face of CoverGirl, a mom, a wife, and a fierce human being.  Sangita opens up about her recent cancer diagnos...

DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content and language. Kortney welcomes Annalie Howling, world-renowned performance coach, trauma specialist, and author, to The Shit Stick of Life. With over 20 years of experience guiding high-performers, Annalie brings both expertise and vulnerability to this candid conversation. Together, Kortney and Annalie open up about their own shared experiences w...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. RESOURCES:  Canada https://findahelpline.com/countries/ca/topics/sexual-abuse US https://rainn.org/ Last week on The Shit Stick of Life, Kortney sat down with her dear friend Kelly Putty to share the first part of her powerful journey, from a traumatic experience at 16 to her path of healing a...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. RESOURCES: Canada https://findahelpline.com/countries/ca/topics/sexual-abuse US https://rainn.org/ This week on The Shit Stick of Life, Kortney sits down with her dear friend Kelly Putty, co-founder of Ordinary Hero and Nine Pines Retreat with her husband, Shane Putty. Kelly’s heart for service and...

In this episode of The Shit Stick of Life, Kortney sits down with author, speaker, and truth-teller Jen Hatmaker for a conversation that’s real and raw. The two connect over their shared experiences with divorce, navigating major life lows, and finding themselves again on the other side. Jen opens up about her new book, Awake, which explores what it means to stay open-hearted when life blows up, a...

The first guest on Season 2 of the Shit Stick of Life is very special. It's Kortney’s husband, Ryan Vella. For the first time, Ryan steps into the guest seat to open up about his life, his love story with Kortney, and what it’s been like to navigate challenges together as a couple. In this honest and heartfelt episode, they share how they first met, their very unique story, more about the “mystery...

Welcome back to The Shit Stick of Life with Kortney Wilson! Season 2 kicks off with a raw, unfiltered look at what Kortney’s summer really looked like, beyond the social media highlights. From unforgettable travels, to vagina therapy, to a moment that ended at the police station with a catheter, Kortney holds nothing back. She also dives into fan questions, offering honesty, humor, and heart. This...

Disclaimer: This conversation discusses PTSD and touches on the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy. On the last episode of season one, host Kortney Wilson welcomes Dr. Carlen Costa to help navigate recent trauma and PTSD symptoms she’s been experiencing. Kortney and Carlen delve into the complexities of PTSD, exploring its symptoms, the healing process, and the transformative power of therapy. Th...

Host Kortney Wilson interviews Jaylene Tyme, an indigenous Two Spirit trans woman and the second oldest contestant on Drag Race. Jaylene discusses her background as a 60s scoop survivor, her journey to sobriety, and her work in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. She emphasizes the importance of Two-Spirit culture and her efforts to create safe spaces, including healing circles in maximum-security prisons....

*Episode Disclaimer* This episode discusses suicide and may be triggering for some listeners. Host Kortney Wilson welcomes friend and musician Forest Blakk to the podcast for a heartfelt discussion about everything from his troubling childhood and his experience with homelessness, to the healing power of music and his love for songwriting. He reflects on the defining moments that led him to pursue...

Episode Disclaimer: This episode touches on the loss of a child following pregnancy and may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Host Kortney Wilson interviews Toronto Media Personality Caitlin Green, a former radio host and lifelong pop culture and reality tv enthusiast. Caitlin shared her initial reluctance to have children, and the unexpected pregnancy of her son Sa...

Episode Disclaimer: This episode briefly touches on mushrooms and microdosing. It is in not meant to be taken as professional or medical advice. Ahead of Mother’s Day, host Kortney Wilson welcomes back popular guests, friends and mothers, Mel and Ashley. They explore motherhood from a variety of angles, from how relationships and family dynamics change over time, to intimacy, dating later in life,...

Host Kortney Wilson welcomes Maryam Monsef to the studio in Toronto for a conversation about coming to Canada as an Afghan refugee and becoming a Canadian politician. From being born in Iran to becoming the first and only Afghan woman in Canadian Parliament (for now, April 17th, 2025), Maryam shares her journey. She discusses her family's struggles, including her father's death and her mother's re...

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Kortney Wilson recorded with a live audience in Toronto with special guest, award-winning artist Lindsay Ell. The two television personalities and musicians share their journeys from Canada to Nashville, reflecting on both the milestones and the challenges they have faced in the spotlight. Kortney speaks to Lindsay about overcoming her eating disorder,...