STOP THE INSANITY: Finding Susan Powter Documentary

O’Brien Kelley of The Kelley Firm had a prime backstage view as Susan Powter appeared on The Today Show and was joined by director Zeb Newman and the Obscured Releasing PR team. Susan is in New York promoting her new documentary, “Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter.” The film opens in select theaters this week in Los Angeles and New York, with additional screenings in Las Vegas and a streaming release to follow in December.

Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin & Susan Powter

Susan’s story reads like a fantastical, fictional journey—but it’s entirely real. Often seen as a prototype for today’s “fitness influencer,” she built an empire on common sense, healthy eating, and movement. Millions purchased her workout programs, bestselling books, and attended her sold-out speaking tours. She even hosted her own talk show. Practically overnight, Susan became a fitness icon as fame and fortune exploded around her.

But behind the scenes, her finances were being mismanaged. Susan says she trusted the wrong people, became entangled in lawsuits, and failed to monitor where her money was going. In what felt like an instant, her fortune vanished. She stepped away from public life, and years of financial instability followed. Once accustomed to red carpets and VIP treatment, she eventually relied on public assistance to make ends meet and later found steady work as an Uber Eats driver—sometimes, with irony, delivering fast food orders.

O'Brien Kelley with Susan and Nick Alvarado

Director Zeberiah (“Zeb”) Newman became captivated by Susan’s story and says watching her reclaim her voice has been remarkable. His documentary, “Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter,” traces her highs, lows, and remarkable resurgence. Reflecting on the journey, Zeb said, “Making this film became a trial of creativity, resourcefulness, and sheer endurance. I’m so proud and excited that audiences will get a chance to see Susan’s story and hear her message of survival and hope.”

Susan describes her return this way: “I think something’s shifting. The fear, the poverty, the hopelessness … It’s this tsunami of what was, what happened, the truth … And I’m going to blow the roof off this time.”

A great day at TODAY!