The Shit Stick of Life

The Shit Stick of Life

The Shit Stick of Life is a podcast about people who have used the proverbial shit stick of life to launch into vibrant, fulfilling, and meaningful next chapters. It’s about how we come back; from failure to betrayal, and move through tragedy and loss. Each episode will feature honest, inspiring conversations about resilience. Podcast host and re-visionary Kortney Wilson knows a thing or two about reinventing herself. She's been an actress (ironically, on the soap opera One Life to Live), a signed recording artist, a reality television star, an author, a real estate agent, a house flipper, a home designer, a style influencer, and the host of multiple shows on HGTV. When her "perfect" marriage of 20 years ended, surfacing decades of secrets and betrayals, the shock and devastation shook her to her core. She called EVERY aspect of her life into question. On The Shit Stick of Life Podcast, Kortney shares her story and goes deep in conversation with her heroes, artists, authors, activists, and others--who have transformed their lives and reinvented themselves in the face of extraordinary setbacks. New episodes drop every other Thursday starting February 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

December 11, 2025 23 mins

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 caught them off guard, and the k...

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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 filming together during COVID, and the mo...

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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, the guilt, the laughter, and th...

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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 diagnosis and what that “shit stick of ...

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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 with estranged families and di...

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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 and faith.


In this week’s Part 2,...

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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 healing was forged in the most dif...

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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, and how she found purpose, peace,...

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October 9, 2025 56 mins

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 man” Ryan Vella, and their experie...

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October 2, 2025 34 mins

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 season is all about embracing life...

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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. The conversation also touches on t...

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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. Jaylene also shares her experience...

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*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 music, the significance of hope, th...

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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 Sam. Sam was born at full term but pas...

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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, and the complexities of step-pare...

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April 17, 2025 49 mins

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 resilience. Maryam recounts her polit...

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April 3, 2025 54 mins

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, body image, hosting Canada’s Got Ta...

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March 20, 2025 41 mins

Host Kortney Wilson hosts her first ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode with the help of producer Sarah, answering audience questions and sharing insights on personal growth, coping with anxiety, and setting boundaries. She reflects on her journey post-divorce, her thoughts on family dynamics, labels in shaping identity, balancing multiple careers, and authenticity in social media. Kortney and Sarah also discuss the challenges of letting go ...

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Host Kortney Wilson interviews Justin McIntosh, an artist manager known for his work with Reba McIntyre and Kristin Chenoweth. Justin shares his humble beginnings from growing up on a farm in West Tennessee to becoming a key player in the Nashville music scene. He discusses his early passion for music, the challenges he faced, and the pivotal moments that led him to work with some of the biggest names in country music. He shares hi...

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February 20, 2025 41 mins

Host Kortney Wilson invites two of her best friends for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of friendship in navigating life’s challenges, especially without the support of her parents and siblings. Calling them her chosen family, Ashley Boyd and Melodie Madden-Adams share personal stories and insights on how friendships evolve over time, the significance of honesty and boundaries, and the complexities of making friends a...

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