Who in your life challenges you the most?

Who sees more potential in you than you do?

Today, Jay unpacks the powerful idea that everyone we meet serves a distinct purpose in our lives, acting as mirrors, windows, or doors. Inspired by a concept shared by TikTok creators Kim Peretz and Stale Hope, Jay talks about how different people reflect our flaws, show us glimpses of our potential, and open new pathways to growth.

Jay explores the idea that some people mirror back our darkest and most uncomfortable traits, offering us valuable opportunities for self-awareness and growth. He emphasizes the challenge of accepting lessons from those we may not want to listen to, reminding us that the message is often more important than the messenger.

He introduces the concept of doors and keys—those who open paths and unlock parts of ourselves in the most perfect way. He discusses the importance of gratitude and recognizing the people who have helped us move forward, even if we may have forgotten them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to accept difficult truths about yourself

How to recognize the people who reflect your potential

How to stay open to advice even when it’s hard to hear

How to appreciate the role others play in your personal journey

How to stay curious about what others see in you

As you navigate your journey, remember that every person you encounter has something to teach you, whether they act as a mirror, window, door, or key. You're not alone on this path.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

02:12 The Mirror, Window, and Door of Our Life

03:12 People Mirror Back to Us Our Flaws

11:14 People Are Like Windows, They See More Potential in You

18:07 Some People Open a Door or Path for Us

19:33 Some People Are Keys, They Unlock Parts for Us

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you usually handle stress in your life?

Have you ever tried anything to boost your dopamine levels?

Today, Jay welcomes back Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University, known for his insightful work on brain development, neuroplasticity, and the intricate connection between the brain and body. Together, they discuss the neuroscience of friendship, exploring how our deep-rooted need for safety and acceptance plays a pivotal role in our social interactions. They unravel the paradox of modern society, where people feel emotionally distant despite increasing online connections and followers.

Dr. Huberman highlights how our brain circuitry, which governs social bonding and connectedness, is tightly linked to our need for predictability and safety. He breaks down how these fundamental needs influence our relationships, both in early development and throughout adulthood, and how understanding these mechanisms can help combat the loneliness epidemic many experience today.

Jay and Andrew discuss practical tools like sending a simple daily “good morning” text, which may seem trivial but has profound implications for maintaining connection and combating feelings of isolation. They also explore the value of doing hard things, such as cold plunges and structured routines, which anchor our physiology and create a sense of predictability, crucial for mental resilience and creativity.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Build Predictability in Relationships

How to Activate Bonding Circuits in the Brain

How to Build Trust Through Consistency

How to Combat Loneliness with Regular Check-Ins

How to Ask Meaningful Questions to Deepen Relationships

How to Build a Reliable Circle of Friends

How to Balance Stress with Breathing Techniques

By embracing small yet powerful habits, we not only improve our own lives but also create a ripple effect of positive connection in the lives of those around us. Now is the time to prioritize real, human connection—and in doing so, enrich every aspect of your life.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

• 00:00 Intro
• 04:06 Safety and Acceptance
• 19:12 Healthy Friendships
• 29:39 Predictability
• 38:15 Breathing Protocol
• 51:32 Body Still, Mind Active
• 01:02:15 Tenacity and Willpower
• 01:13:06 Walls of Adrenaline
• 01:18:21 Limiting Cynicism
• 01:24:54 You Can’t Control Everything
• 01:34:29 The Human Narrative
• 01:43:15 Be Yourself

Episode Resources:

• Andrew Huberman | Website
• Andrew Huberman | Instagram
• Andrew Huberman | Facebook
• Andrew Huberman | TikTok
• Andrew Huberman | YouTube
• Andrew Huberman | LinkedIn
• Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you feeling burnt out from dating lately?

Do you feel like you're repeating the same mistakes in dating?

Today, Jay talks about why dating burnout is a common and natural response to repeated disappointments, unmet expectations, and the overwhelming nature of modern dating apps. He notes that most respondents feel disconnected, disillusioned, and emotionally drained, which leads to frustration and reluctance to continue dating.

It is important to accept and acknowledge feelings of burnout. Jay explains that a vital first step in overcoming this is to reframe expectations and approach dating with a healthier mindset. Dating is like applying for a job, where the process may involve multiple attempts and disappointments, but persistence is key. To avoid personalizing every rejection, focus on their self-worth, be kinder to themselves, and build resilience throughout the dating journey.

Jay highlights the importance of identifying and aligning with core values, explaining that these are the foundation for long-term relationship success.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to Overcome Dating Burnout

How to Spot Red Flags Early

How to Build Resilience in Dating

How to Align with Your Core Values

How to Reframe Rejection Positively

By approaching dating with less pressure, identifying red flags early, and giving second chances, you can create healthier, more meaningful connections while avoiding emotional exhaustion.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:44 Are You Dealing with Dating Burnout?

05:43 Approach Dating with Higher Resilience

08:10 Four Red Flags of Poor Communication

11:39 Attraction is Beyond What You See

13:08 The Pressure to Present Yourself in a Certain Way

18:04 Focus on Having One Conversation at a Time

22:39 Why Do We Get Bored When Dating?

23:54 3 Strategies to Successful Dating

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would you tell your 14-year-old self?

How do you quiet the “not good enough” voice?

Today, Jay welcomes Ryan Holiday, renowned philosopher, bestselling author, and host of The Daily Stoic. With over 10 million copies of his books sold globally, Ryan returns to the podcast to dive deep into the concepts of personal growth, parenting, and finding purpose in a success-driven world.

Ryan reflects on the journey of becoming a parent and discusses the difference between having kids and truly being a parent. He explains why intentional parenting is a radical shift from simply fulfilling biological or legal roles and explores the transformative impact of parenthood on personal and professional ambitions, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the changes it brings.

Jay also opens up about his own thoughts on parenthood and the life shifts that accompany major decisions, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the conversations he’s had with his wife about the timing of having children. Throughout the conversation, both Jay and Ryan unpack the struggles of balancing a career with personal life, with Ryan drawing from Stoic philosophy to offer guidance on setting meaningful goals, aligning actions with values, and learning from life's obstacles.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Embrace Parenthood as a Central Life Purpose

How to Set Goals Based on What’s in Your Control

How to Approach Parenting with Intention and Purpose

How to Learn from Life’s Obstacles and Failures

How to Align Your Career with Personal Values

How to Build Emotional Resilience through Parenthood

Whether through parenting, personal growth, or our professional pursuits, the key is to stay rooted in what truly matters—our values, intentions, and the legacy we leave behind.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:33 Are You Ready to Become a Parent?
• 05:43 What Type of Goal Should We Set?
• 10:54 Love What You’re Doing
• 18:59 Stuck in Life
• 22:06 Trust the Process
• 26:04 Patience
• 30:18 Process of Accumulating Experiences
• 33:35 What Difference Are You Making?
• 35:57 Raise a Reader
• 40:14 What Are You Struggling With?
• 45:00 General Parenting Tip
• 52:56 Unconditional Parental Love
• 58:50 Do What’s Important to You
• 01:02:04 What is at Stake?
• 01:06:03 Comparison Game
• 01:09:36 Dad Guilt
• 01:15:30 Fear as a Parent
• 01:19:11 This Stops with Me

Episode Resources:

• Ryan Holiday | Website
• Ryan Holiday | Instagram
• Ryan Holiday | Facebook
• Ryan Holiday | TikTok
• Ryan Holiday | YouTube
• Ryan Holiday | LinkedIn
• The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever thought about taking a solo trip?

What do you think you'd learn about yourself if you traveled alone?

Today, Jay unpacks the unexpected benefits of solo travel. Whether you’re an avid traveler or someone hesitant to step out of your comfort zone, traveling alone, even just once, can be one of the most powerful experiences of your life.

Jay explains how solo travel helps break free from the “herd mentality”—when we defer to the preferences of those around us—and instead allows us to deeply understand our own desires and needs. You’ll learn how traveling alone can expand your worldview, teach self-reliance, and push you to explore not just new places but new aspects of yourself.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Expand Your Worldview

How to Boost Self-Reliance

How to Connect with New People and Cultures

How to Build Confidence Through Solo Travel

Whether you're seeking new perspectives or personal growth, traveling alone can be a powerful tool to reconnect with your true self.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:48 Do You Need to Go on a Solo Trip?

04:50 #1: Learn More About Yourself

11:10 #2: Improve Your Confidence

13:43 #3: Expand Your Worldview

16:53 #4: Develop Self-Reliance

19:49 #5: Master Your Mind

21:54 #6: Beat Boredom and Distraction

23:09 #7: Vigilance

24:55 #8: Get to Know Diverse People

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are your emotional needs?

How do you communicate them clearly?

Today, Jay welcomes back Dr. Nicole LePera, a holistic psychologist, best-selling author, and founder of the SelfHealers Circle, a global community for self-healing. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller "How to Do the Work," and her latest book, "How to Be the Love You Seek," guides readers on breaking cycles, finding peace, and healing relationships. Dr. LePera is known for her approachable, transformative approach to mental wellness, empowering individuals to heal themselves and live authentically.

Nicole talks about how our earliest experiences shape our adult relationships. She explains the concept of trauma bonds—dysfunctional patterns that often stem from childhood but persist into adulthood, affecting how we connect with others. These bonds can feel familiar and even comforting, but they often prevent us from forming healthy, fulfilling relationships.

Jay and Nicole explore how awareness is the first step toward breaking these patterns. They emphasize the importance of understanding our subconscious beliefs and the roles we play in relationships, often unknowingly repeating cycles of pain and misunderstanding. She talks about the importance of staying present, learning to regulate our emotions, and building healthier habits that align with our true selves, and offers practical advice on how to navigate the complexities of love, whether it's setting boundaries with toxic family members or letting go of unrealistic expectations in romantic relationships.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to recognize trauma bonds

How to break the cycle of reactivity

How to set healthy boundaries

How to cultivate self-awareness

How to develop emotional resilience

How to foster a growth mindset in relationships

Remember, every moment is an opportunity to choose differently, to show up for ourselves with kindness, and to build the relationships we truly deserve.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:44 You Create Change
• 06:58 Toxic Family Members
• 11:21 Change is Voluntary
• 14:33 Deep Rooted Emotions
• 18:35 Why We Struggle in Relationships
• 22:58 The Unmet Needs
• 27:27 We Project What We Think to Others
• 34:29 Familiarity with Chaos
• 38:18 Is It Genuine Love?
• 41:55 Panic Attack
• 48:54 Chronic Illness
• 53:54 Countering Beliefs
• 57:17 Physiological Shifts
• 01:01:11 What is a Trauma Bond?
• 01:04:25 Attraction Based on Familiarity
• 01:06:24 Inner Child Work
• 01:09:41 The Habit of Showing Up Authentically

Episode Resources:

• Nicole LePera | Website
• Nicole LePera | Instagram
• Nicole LePera | Facebook
• Nicole LePera | TikTok
• Nicole LePera | YouTube
• Nicole LePera | LinkedIn
• How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self
• How to Be the Love You Seek: Break Cycles, Find Peace, and Heal Your Relationships

Special thanks to https://kajabi.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What lessons have you learned from your past 12 months?

How have your goals evolved over the past months?

Today, Jay reflects on the 12 key lessons he has learned over the past year. He begins by discussing the idea that the seeds we plant—our actions and intentions—manifest as either flowers or weeds, the importance of pursuing meaningful actions for personal fulfillment rather than external validation, and how to distinguish between setting goals and choosing growth, underscoring that genuine progress requires a commitment to personal development rather than simply aiming for outcomes.

The episode highlights the importance of protecting one's purpose from external distractions and maintaining a clear focus on one's path, the challenges we face as opportunities to grow into who we're meant to be, and the concept of defining experiences proactively to shape our own narratives rather than letting circumstances dictate our identities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to handle envy with love

How to act for fulfillment, not praise

How to focus on growth, not just goals

How to guard your purpose from distractions

How to use challenges to evolve

How to stay open to unexpected help

Stay open to the unexpected, protect your passions, and choose growth over comfort. By doing so, you not only transform your own life but also inspire those around you to do the same.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

02:29 Lessons Learned in the Past 12 Months

03:50 #1: The seeds you planted in the past will grow into flowers or weeds today.

07:08 #2: Envy will erode your life.

10:27 #3: People forget things quickly, do the right thing and what's meaningful to you.

13:06 #4: Everyone sets goals, not everyone chooses growth.

15:00 #5: Don't let anyone deter you from your purpose.

16:45 #6: Your challenge is designed for you to become who you're meant to become.

18:37 #7: You'll let things define you if you don't define them first.

19:35 #8: Help can come from unlikely sources in unlikely ways.

21:34 #9: Try to see things as an invitation, not an impediment.

24:07 #10: Sometimes to get to your dreams, you have to take the stairs, the elevator, or come through the roof.

25:17 #11: The people you leave behind will feel left behind no matter what you do.

26:35 #12 Love is not enough.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you struggling to overcome your past trauma?

Are you looking for ways to heal from it?

Today, Jay sits down with renowned reggaeton artist and songwriter Nicky Jam. Nicky's music career took off after a series of successful mixtapes and collaborations with other artists, including Daddy Yankee, with whom he formed the iconic duo Los Cangris. His work has earned him international fame and multiple awards, establishing him as a major influence in the reggaeton and Latin trap genres.

Nicky recounts his first foray into music, packing groceries and freestyling at a supermarket, which inadvertently launched his career despite his young age and the informal nature of his work. He opens up about the difficulties of his upbringing, including his mother’s struggle with substance abuse and prostitution, shaping his understanding of normalcy and family life. This background set the stage for his initial break into the music industry, where early rejections and setbacks paved the way for his eventual success in the Puerto Rican mixtape scene and beyond.

Together with Jay, Nicky also discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity and personal happiness amidst fame, expressing discomfort with being seen as a role model and emphasizing the importance of understanding and support for mental health, especially for men in the public eye. Despite ongoing struggles with PTSD, anxiety, and the scars of his traumatic past, Nicky remains hopeful and driven, looking forward to continuing his career and making a positive impact through his work and personal experiences.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to handle early setbacks

How to deal with the pressure of expectations

How to use personal struggles as a source of strength

How to maintain creativity under pressure

How to find redemption through new opportunities

How to help others through your work

Nicky's story demonstrates that with unwavering determination and a genuine approach, it's possible to transform challenging beginnings into legacies of success and enduring influence.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:12 Earliest Childhood Memory
• 04:06 First Deal
• 06:44 I Was Happy with the Album
• 08:15 Life on the Streets
• 12:06 There’s a Different World Out There
• 15:22 Looking for Billy
• 17:20 Simpler or Complicated Life?
• 19:05 Commands Don’t Work on Me
• 24:58 Battling Alcohol Addiction
• 31:06 Drug and Alcohol Problem
• 34:20 Finding Help
• 36:40 Feeling Alone
• 39:18 Almost Dying
• 42:52 Prison Life
• 45:59 Moving to Columbia
• 52:00 My Mom is Different
• 54:48 Do You Pray a Lot?
• 58:01 Reconciliation
• 59:49 Forgiveness
• 01:05:31 I’m not Retiring
• 01:09:24 My Album is My Story
• 01:10:11 Some Misunderstanding People Have
• 01:12:37 Surgery and Recovery
• 01:13:46 Talking is Therapy
• 01:15:12 Nicky on Fast Five

Episode Resources:

• Nicky Jam | Website
• Nicky Jam | Instagram
• Nicky Jam | Facebook
• Nicky Jam | TikTok
• Nicky Jam | YouTube

Dubbed by ElevenLabs and this link: https://elevenlabs.io/jay_shetty

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.