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Australia Susan Powter is an Australian-American motivational speaker, nutritionist, personal trainer, and author, recognized for her 'Stop the Insanity!' health and wellness philosophy.
Newly launched distribution company Obscured Releasing has acquired North American rights to 'Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter', a documentary chronicling Susan Powter's life, her rise, and subsequent withdrawal from the public eye.
Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis is producing an upcoming documentary about Susan Powter, titled 'Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter', highlighting Powter's return to the public sphere.
Susan Powter worked as a food delivery driver for Grubhub after losing her multi-million dollar empire and experiencing financial hardship, as detailed in her recent interviews and memoir.
Susan Powter worked as a food delivery driver for UberEats during a period of financial difficulty, a role she described as 'so hard' and 'horrifyingly shocking', as revealed in interviews for her memoir and documentary.
Susan Powter, born Susan Jane Powter on December 22, 1957, in Sydney, Australia, immigrated to the United States at the age of 10. She left school in 9th grade, later obtaining a GED. In 1980, her family moved to Dallas, Texas. Following a personal challenge in the mid-1980s where she gained a significant amount of weight, Powter developed her own approach to health and wellness, focusing on whole foods, organic, low-fat diets, and consistent exercise. Early in her career, prior to her fitness success, she worked as a topless dancer in Dallas to manage her finances. In 1988, using an inheritance, Powter established her own fitness studio, marking the beginning of her public health advocacy.
Her career gained substantial momentum in the early 1990s with the launch of her ‘Stop the Insanity!’ infomercial, which became highly popular. This campaign featured audio cassettes, an exercise video, and recipes, and was built around her assertive speaking style and signature bleach-blonde buzz cut. Powter authored several New York Times bestsellers, including “Stop the Insanity!” (1993), “The Pocket Powter” (1994), and “Food” (1995). Her influence extended to television, where she hosted “The Susan Powter Show” in 1994, which addressed nutrition, fitness, and other topics. She also made guest appearances on shows like “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and had a role in an episode of “Women of the House” in 1995.
Throughout her career, Powter maintained her stance against the conventional diet industry, advocating for a balanced lifestyle. After facing legal and financial difficulties in the mid-1990s, including declaring personal bankruptcy in 1995, she largely withdrew from public life. In more recent years, Powter has re-emerged, revealing details about her personal and financial struggles, including delivering food for Grubhub and UberEats. An upcoming documentary, “Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter” (2025), co-produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, aims to explore her journey and the continued relevance of her health and wellness message. Powter also released her memoir, “And Then Em Died… Stop the Insanity! A Memoir,” in October 2024, and announced plans to relaunch her wellness brand.
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