Tarryn Tomlinson was in her final year of high school when she was diagnosed with aggressive rheumatoid arthritis. 

Her mobility deteriorated rapidly. Within roughly 18 months, she was using a wheelchair, and a future that had once seemed straightforward suddenly looked completely different. 

But Tarryn's story is not simply about living with illness or disability. It is about what happened next. 

In this episode of #ShiftHappens, Richard Sutton speaks to Tarryn about the pain, anger and loss of independence that followed her diagnosis, and the slow process of rebuilding a life around a reality she had never expected. 

They talk about her decision to go to Italy despite having almost no money, the power of allowing yourself to dream beyond your circumstances, and how travel helped her rediscover adventure and independence. 

Tarryn also explains how experiences with inaccessible hotels, buildings and travel turned frustration into purpose, eventually leading her to establish LiveABLE and work in universal access and accessible tourism. 

And then there is Kilimanjaro. 

After initially saying no for two years, Tarryn eventually climbed the mountain in her wheelchair in 2020, reaching Kibo Hut at approximately 4,720 metres. Her experience challenged her own ideas about independence and showed her the importance of having the right people around you. 

A conversation about resilience, identity, purpose, asking for help and the decision to keep building a life when the original plan has changed. 

#ShiftHappens with Richard Sutton explores the moments, decisions and unexpected turns that change the direction of people's lives and careers. 

Tarryn Tomlinson was in her final year of high school when she was diagnosed with aggressive rheumatoid arthritis.&nbsp;
Her mobility deteriorated rapidly. Within roughly 18 months, she was using a wheelchair, and a future that had once seemed straightforward suddenly looked completely different.&nbsp;
But Tarryn's story is not simply about living with illness or disability. It is about what happened next.&nbsp;
In this episode of #ShiftHappens, Richard Sutton speaks to Tarryn about the pain, anger and loss of independence that followed her diagnosis, and the slow process of rebuilding a life around a reality she had never expected.&nbsp;
They talk about her decision to go to Italy despite having almost no money, the power of allowing yourself to dream beyond your circumstances, and how travel helped her rediscover adventure and independence.&nbsp;
Tarryn also explains how experiences with inaccessible hotels, buildings and travel turned frustration into purpose, eventually leading her to establish LiveABLE and work in universal access and accessible tourism.&nbsp;
And then there is Kilimanjaro.&nbsp;
After initially saying no for two years, Tarryn eventually climbed the mountain in her wheelchair in 2020, reaching Kibo Hut at approximately 4,720 metres. Her experience challenged her own ideas about independence and showed her the importance of having the right people around you.&nbsp;
A conversation about resilience, identity, purpose, asking for help and the decision to keep building a life when the original plan has changed.&nbsp;
#ShiftHappens with Richard Sutton explores the moments, decisions and unexpected turns that change the direction of people's lives and careers.&nbsp;

Life doesn’t always give you a warning before everything changes.

A job. A relationship. A dream. Even the person you thought you were.

One moment, everything feels familiar. The next, you’re figuring out what comes after.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton returns for Season 2 with more honest conversations about change, uncertainty, starting over and finding your way forward.

No perfect answers. No pretending. Just real people, real stories and the reminder that whatever shift you’re going through you’re not alone.

Season 2 is here.

Watch & listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Life doesn&rsquo;t always give you a warning before everything changes.
A job. A relationship. A dream. Even the person you thought you were.
One moment, everything feels familiar. The next, you&rsquo;re figuring out what comes after.
Shift Happens with Richard Sutton returns for Season 2 with more honest conversations about change, uncertainty, starting over and finding your way forward.
No perfect answers. No pretending. Just real people, real stories and the reminder that whatever shift you&rsquo;re going through you&rsquo;re not alone.
Season 2 is here.
Watch &amp; listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton 

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton is a podcast about transformation, elevation, and becoming the best version of yourself.

Through people’s stories, we explore what happens when life applies pressure, when things change, and when doubt or failure forces a shift. These are honest conversations about the moments that shape us, and what we can learn from them.

This is not about perfect stories. It’s about real ones, and the small, often unseen shifts that change everything. This podcast is a tool to help you learn through the experiences of others, and navigate your own.

Richard Sutton is the founder and CEO of SuttonHealth and The Performance Code, and a global expert in stress management, resilience, and human performance. He is the author of The Stress Code, Stressproof – The Game Plan, and Shift Happens, which distils 25 years of science and lived experience into practical ways to work with stress, burnout, and self-doubt.

Watch/Listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton is a podcast about transformation, elevation, and becoming the best version of yourself.
Through people&rsquo;s stories, we explore what happens when life applies pressure, when things change, and when doubt or failure forces a shift. These are honest conversations about the moments that shape us, and what we can learn from them.
This is not about perfect stories. It&rsquo;s about real ones, and the small, often unseen shifts that change everything. This podcast is a tool to help you learn through the experiences of others, and navigate your own.
Richard Sutton is the founder and CEO of SuttonHealth and The Performance Code, and a global expert in stress management, resilience, and human performance. He is the author of The Stress Code, Stressproof &ndash; The Game Plan, and Shift Happens, which distils 25 years of science and lived experience into practical ways to work with stress, burnout, and self-doubt.
Watch/Listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify &amp; Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens 

Tarryn Tomlinson: She lost her mobility at 18. Then she climbed Kilimanjaro | #ShiftHappens with Richard Sutton 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5dcefa8e-00a9-4595-8ce1-a4ab0080f142/clips/586202ec-5871-42b2-8cd9-b4db010a8ee6/transcript