EP 137 One More Day: Rebuilding a Life from Rock Bottom with Todd EnnisEP 137 One More Day: Rebuilding a Life from Rock Bottom with Todd Ennis
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What happens when life strips away everything you thought you had left? Todd Ennis, known to many as “The Tattooed Viking from Down Under,” has survived childhood sexual abuse, addiction, family separation, and a rock bottom that left him living in...
29:46•14 Aug 2026
One More Day: Todd Ennis on Building a Shield Against Addiction and Despair
Episode Overview
- Facing yourself honestly, even when it feels unbearable, is the starting point for real change.
- Progress demands going through discomfort and pain instead of repeatedly stepping away from it.
- Simple daily habits like movement, sleep and better nutrition can form a powerful foundation for recovery.
- Removing toxic influences and building positive relationships is crucial for long-term stability.
- No one else can do the inner work for you; motivation helps, but personal responsibility is essential.
“You are not going to make any progress in your life until you are prepared to go through some short-term battles and some pain because you can’t come out the other side if you don’t do it.”
What drives someone to seek a life without self-destruction and constant chaos? This conversation between Dr. Cali Estes and Australian mindset coach Todd Ennis digs into that question through Todd’s brutally honest story of hitting rock bottom and clawing his way back. Todd, once caught up in gangs, drugs, crime and deep depression, lays out how childhood sexual abuse and the loss of his criminal father set the stage for years of harmful behaviour.
Things spiral until he’s living in an industrial shed, cut off from family, friends and basic comforts. Standing on the edge of a cliff, he considers ending it all, but instead turns back and decides to give himself "one more day".
He shares how a rehab stay, a bare room and a mirror forced him to face himself for the first time: talking to his reflection, telling the truth and admitting that his choices had destroyed his marriage, reputation and sense of self. From there, Todd starts building what he now calls his "shield operating system"—eight practical pillars including sleep, movement, nutrition, relationships and positive psychology. The episode has a straight-talking, no-fluff style.
You’ll hear about early morning ice baths, saying no to alcohol and drugs a "million times", and the simple power of just getting up and exercising when everything feels pointless. Dr. Cali adds her own story of losing a multi-million-dollar business and ending up homeless, highlighting how adversity can become a turning point rather than a final sentence.
This one’s aimed at anyone feeling broken, stuck in addiction, or ashamed of past choices, as well as those supporting someone in that position. Todd doesn’t promise miracles; he talks about hard work, daily actions and the reality that "no one is coming to save you"—but you can still build a new life, one day at a time. If you had to choose one hard thing to face today, what would it be?
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