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 for her family. It's a harrowing story of betrayal, resilience, and ultimately, reclaiming joy.
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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 happens inside programs built to change a young person’s identity, the moment everything finally broke open, and the long journey that followed as he rebuilt his sense of self, his faith, and his relationship with the people he loves.

Bobby’s story shows that after everything he survived, his identity is not something anyone else can define or destroy.
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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.
She shares the triggers she didn’t expect, the grief that surfaced in everyday places, and the tools that slowly helped her breathe again. From therapy and faith to the support of her community, Paige walks us through what it looked like to rebuild her life — both inside and out.

And true to who she is, Paige also talks about what it means to pivot with intention. As the founder of Everything With Style, and as a bestselling author and mompreneur strategist, she’s spent years teaching women how to simplify, organize, and step confidently into change. That same framework found its way back to her in the months after the fire, helping her reclaim her footing one small step at a time.

If you’d like to follow Paige’s work or connect with her, you can find her on Instagram at @everythingwithstylemom or visit her website at everythingwithstyle.com.

This is a story about survival, resilience, and choosing hope when everything feels uncertain.
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On September 11th, 2001, Jack Grandcolas lost his wife, Lauren, aboard United Flight 93.

What followed was a journey no one is ever prepared for.

But before that day, Lauren was a woman who lived life wide open—full of curiosity, courage, and heart. And in this conversation, Jack brings us back to that life… while also sharing what it has meant to carry her memory forward.

From grief and trauma to healing and perspective, Jack speaks with honesty about what it looks like to move forward without ever leaving love behind.

This episode honors Lauren’s life, the courage of those aboard Flight 93, and the quiet strength it takes to keep living after loss.

Jack shares more of his journey in his book, Like a River to the Sea. It's a powerful reflection on love, loss, and the enduring nature of the human spirit.
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John Borland, better known by his stage name Johnny Irish, has spent his life surrounded by music, but a near-fatal car accident changed the way he understood what really mattered.

Then, in an instant, everything shifted.

As his car flipped and he became convinced he was going to die, John wasn’t thinking about fame or the next album. He was thinking about the people he loved, the family he hadn’t yet built, and the life he still wanted to live.

Years later, sobriety became another defining turning point, deepening his relationship with music, strengthening his connection to others, and helping him rediscover happiness in a new way.

In this episode of I Choose Happy, Marilyn talks with Johnny Irish about survival, sobriety, family, teaching, connection, and the music that has carried him through every chapter.
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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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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.

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 everything in you wants to give up. It’s about rivers, rituals, and remembering who you are. And it’s a story we’ll never forget.
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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.

Harry Parker has spent more than three decades at the edge: jumping from airplanes and cliffs, traveling the world as a photographer, and finding family in the close-knit communities of skydiving and BASE jumping.

But a life spent confronting fear also brought Harry face-to-face with loss.

After a devastating period in which many friends in the BASE jumping community died, Harry found himself helping create memorials for the people left behind. That work eventually led him to Project Recover, where he helped locate, document, and bring home American service members missing since World War II; an experience he describes as one of the pinnacles of his life.

In this conversation with Marilyn, Harry shares what a lifetime spent close to death has taught him about actually living: moving through fear, making space for grief, choosing presence, nurturing the relationships that matter, and learning to practice happiness while we’re still here.

Today, Harry continues that work through conservation and community as a leader with Surfrider Monterey and co-creator of SkyFamily, an emerging nonprofit supporting the skydiving and BASE communities through loss, remembrance, and healing. He has also trained as a death doula, an experience that deepened his relationship with mortality and gave him a new way of looking at the life still ahead of him.

Because after all the jumps, risks, losses, and extraordinary adventures, Harry has come to believe that happiness isn’t simply something we find.

It’s something we practice.

Learn more about Harry Parker and his work:

Harry Parker: https://harryparkerphotography.com/

Substack: @hparkerphoto

Follow Harry on Instagram: @hparkerphoto
Surfrider Foundation Monterey Chapter & Blue Water Task Force: Learn more about Harry’s work with Surfrider Monterey
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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