Nicole Trimboli
Beyond Illness and the courage it took to redesign my life
Nicole Trimboli’s story of burnout, illness and radical self-honesty is now a memoir, a message and a movement, one that’s changing how people think about health, resilience and what comes after crisis.
About The Book
What a Sh!t Show!
What A Sh!t Show takes you on a brave and confronting journey through the chaos of burnout and the brutal reality of surviving two different cancers years apart. Nicole’s story shatters the myth that success demands self-sacrifice, revealing a harsh truth: neglecting one’s own well-being comes at a devastating cost.
With raw honesty and genuine heart, Nicole pulls back the curtain on life’s darkest moments — relentless pressure, emotional exhaustion, and the private battles most never see. This isn’t a story of defeat; it’s a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and reclaiming your life on your own terms.
Too often, we wait for trauma, loss, illness or tragedy to force us to act—but we don’t have to.
Dare to face the mess. Own your comeback.
About Nicole
A Word From The Author
Nicole Trimboli
For years, I pushed myself to the limit—trying to be everything to everyone, always putting my own needs last. I thought success meant moving faster, pushing harder, and never slowing down. But life had other plans.
When illness and hardship forced me to stop, I finally saw the truth: I had spent so much time taking care of everything and everyone else that I had completely neglected the one person who needed me most—myself. And the price of that neglect was far greater than I had ever imagined.
This book is the result of that wake-up call.
True healing isn’t just about recovering from illness. It’s about transforming the way we care for ourselves—mind, body, and soul. Wellness isn’t just about treating symptoms; it’s about shifting the way we think about our health, our emotions, and our lives. Through my own journey, I’ve discovered lessons and tools that helped me navigate not just the physical struggles, but the emotional and mental challenges that came with them. These lessons weren’t easy to learn, but they changed everything.
For so long, I believed that burnout was just a side effect of ambition, that exhaustion was proof of hard work, and that self-care was something to do later—if there was time. I had convinced myself that bad things happened to other people, not me. Until, suddenly, it was me. And I realized that health—real, lasting health—cannot be bought. It’s more valuable than anything money can provide.
I can’t go back and change the past, but I can share what I’ve learned so that you don’t have to wait for a crisis to make a change. This book is an invitation to shift your perspective now, before life forces you to. By picking it up, you’re already taking the first step toward a healthier, more balanced version of yourself.
In my professional life, I’ve built success and financial stability, but nothing—absolutely nothing—is more precious than good health. Too often, we don’t realize it’s worth until we’re at risk of losing it. This book is about changing that mindset.
Writing this has been emotional, revisiting the hardest moments of my life while also celebrating how far I’ve come. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear, but it is always possible. I don’t see myself as a coach, standing on the sidelines shouting directions. I’m here as someone walking beside you, offering guidance with kindness, patience, and the wisdom from experience.
This journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress and continuous commitment to self.
Speaker Bio
Book Nicole to speak at your next event
Nicole Trimboli is a lived experience speaker who helps audiences find courage, resilience and hope in the face of life’s biggest setbacks.
A two-time cancer survivor living with a permanent ostomy bag, Nicole draws on her own story, told in her memoir What A Sh!t Show, to deliver sessions that are honest, uplifting and genuinely memorable. Her talks challenge assumptions about illness and hidden disability, and leave audiences with practical, real-world insight into resilience and what’s possible after adversity.
Nicole is a trusted voice in the health and wellbeing space, a Consumer Advocate with Wounds Australia, a lived experience committee member for the Bowel Cancer Outcomes Registry, and an Ambassador for Coloplast Australia. She’s a natural fit for corporate wellbeing days, health sector conferences, community events and workplaces wanting a genuine, human take on resilience and burnout.
Her message is simple and powerful: life may not unfold as planned, but it can still be meaningful, fulfilling and extraordinary. It’s a message that resonates whether your audience is fifteen people or five hundred.
Speaking Topics
- Where to From Here? – Finding purpose and direction after life’s challenges
- Resilience and overcoming adversity
- Redesigning your life after illness, burnout or trauma
- Life beyond cancer and serious illness
- Living with an ostomy and hidden disability
- Courage, mindset and personal growth
- Burnout prevention and sustainable wellbeing
- Patient advocacy and the power of lived experience
- Building connection, community and hope
- Thriving through change and uncertainty
For all speaking, media and general enquiries, contact Nicole