I Choose Happy With Marilyn

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 Ch...

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 creat...

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...

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 exe...

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 can...

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 daug...

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 ab...

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, Marianne shares the heartbreak of losing her daughter, the lessons she learned along the way, and how she and her family turned grief into purpose through the Claire Marie Foundation. A conversation about loss, advocacy, and the po...

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 defied the odds, what it means to float from “lily pad to lily pad” with shifting treatments, and why his mantra “motion is medicine” keeps him moving forward. A r...

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 become a radical act of healing.
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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 an...

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 purpose, connection, and deep love for her family. This conversation is raw, real, and a testament to the truth that while events shape us, they do not have to define us.
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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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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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Connect with Marilyn and be a part of the conversation in the I...