Grief has a way of showing up when we least expect it, especially during seasons that are meant to feel joyful. Today, Jay brings together powerful conversations with different guests who have each experienced grief in deeply personal ways. Together, these stories reveal how grief manifests uniquely for each person, often unfolding in many forms at once.

Kate Cassidy opens up about losing her partner and shares how healing didn’t come from grand moments, but from small, intimate rituals. Nicole Avant reflects on the tragic loss of her mother and reveals how forgiveness, faith, and gratitude became tools for resilience rather than bitterness. Karan Johar speaks about losing his father to cancer and how their honest conversations before his passing gave him a sense of closure many people never get, reminding us not to wait to say what matters most. Taylor Hill honors the different forms of grief that are often minimized, including miscarriage and the loss of a beloved pet.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Sit With Grief Without Rushing Healing

How to Find Comfort in Small Daily Rituals

How to Focus on a Life Lived, Not Just a Loss

How to Say What Matters Before It’s Too Late

How to Hold Space for Someone Without Fixing Them

How to Honor Invisible or Unspoken Losses

How to Let Love, Not Loss, Lead Your Healing

If you’re carrying loss right now, know that you are not alone, even when it feels isolating. Healing often happens quietly, in small routines, honest conversations, moments of stillness, and the permission to feel exactly what you feel.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty.

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:13 Finding Healing After Loss

07:27 Learning to Listen to the Signs

10:20 Keeping Memories Alive

13:07 Moving Through Tragic Loss

19:08 Why Grief Is Proof of Deep Love

20:18 Celebrating a Life Well Lived

24:24 Understanding That Nothing Is Permanent

29:24 The Conversations You Wish You’d Had

33:20 Creating Space to Grieve Freely

41:09 The Grief of Losing a Dear Friend

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Jay welcomes the legendary James Cameron. Award-winning filmmaker, explorer, and innovator known for pushing the boundaries of storytelling and technology, to explore the inner world behind one of the most influential storytellers of our time. The conversation extends beyond filmmaking to an exploration of imagination, purpose, and the courage it takes to follow your calling before the world validates it. James shares how his childhood fascination with science fiction, nature, and drawing became a refuge for creativity, long before success ever entered the picture. From sketching imaginary worlds as a child to trusting his instincts without formal film training, he reveals how curiosity, solitude, and relentless self-belief quietly shaped a life of visionary storytelling.

James reflects on failure, rejection, and the unseen moments that nearly ended his journey before it truly began. He opens up about being fired early in his career, the constraints that led to creating The Terminator, and why commitment often requires choosing conviction over comfort. Through stories of sacrifice, creative pressure, and building teams that feel like family, James reveals that success was never about money or recognition but about honoring the responsibility of meaningful storytelling.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Trust Your Creative Instincts Early

How to Turn Failure Into Fuel

How Constraints Unlock Creativity

How to Lead Without Losing Empathy

How to Balance Solitude and Collaboration

How to Create Work That Moves People

How to Stay Purpose-Driven Through Success

How to See Others With Deeper Understanding 

Every challenge you face is a lesson in resilience, empathy, and courage. The world doesn’t need perfection, it needs presence, honesty, and people willing to care deeply.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:43 An Early Fascination With Science Fiction

04:44 Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists

06:34 The Solitary Nature of Creative Work

08:44 When Storytelling Becomes a Calling

12:16 Finding a Market for Your Imagination

16:33 How to Capture and Record Your Dreams

22:42 Different Approaches to the Creative Process

24:17 What is Your Creative Vision?

29:29 Lessons on Family, Community, and Belonging

32:01 Why We Only Protect What We Love

38:58 Can AI Ever Develop Consciousness?

39:14 What Creation Really Requires

44:33 How to Bounce Back After Failure

47:16 Creating Within Constraints

51:28 Learning What You Can Negotiate

53:34 Are You a Risk Taker?

01:01:32 Recognizing Consciousness Beyond Humans

01:04:15 Exploring the Depths of the Ocean

01:09:57 Letting Go of the Work You’ve Created

01:14:41 The Deeper Message Behind Films

01:21:28 Humanity’s Natural Capacity for Empathy

01:24:14 James on Final Five 

Episode Resources:

James Cameron | Instagram

James Cameron | Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Jay sits down with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren for an extremely open and honest conversation about loss, resilience, and turning pain into purpose. Alex opens up about losing both of his parents at a young age, growing up in instability, and being forced to parent himself while he was still just a kid. Through stories of grief, homelessness, and survival, he reflects on how these early experiences shaped his worldview, his faith, and his relentless drive to keep going when everything around him felt uncertain. What emerges is a powerful reminder that our hardest chapters often become the foundation of our greatest strength.

Alex shares how music became his lifeline, a way to articulate emotions he couldn’t put into words and a place to process loss without running from it. From teaching himself to sing and play guitar, to sleeping in cars while posting covers online, his journey is a testament to perseverance in the face of uncertainty. Alex speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, insecurity, and the challenge of staying grounded amid global success, revealing that even at the highest levels of achievement, the longing to feel “enough” never fully disappears. Jay guides the conversation toward self-compassion, helping Alex explore the importance of extending the same grace to himself that he’s learned to offer others. 

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Turn Deep Loss Into Purpose

How to Keep Going When No One Believes in You

How to Build Resilience After Childhood Trauma

How to Find Meaning in Painful Experiences

How to Forgive Without Excusing Harm

How to Become the Person You Needed Growing Up

You don’t need perfect conditions, unwavering confidence, or universal approval to move forward. What you need is the willingness to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to keep choosing who you want to become, especially on the hardest days. 

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:01 How to Navigate Success Without Losing Yourself

03:10 Remembering a Father Who Gave Everything

07:13 Growing Up Surrounded by Love

08:30 When Did You First Realize Your Life Was Different?

09:34 Parenting Yourself as a Child 

10:45 The Universal Need to Belong

12:17 How Early Childhood Shapes Who You Become

15:28 Redefining What Success Really Means

19:58 Growing Up with an Abusive Parent

22:50 The Lasting Pain of Losing Someone You Love

24:10 Understanding Your Parents’ Hidden Struggles

32:02 Protecting Your Dream At All Costs 

34:35 Lessons Loss Teaches You

35:49 The Fear of Being Left Behind

37:48 How Everything in Life Becomes a Lesson

41:35 How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

46:13 Living Out of a Car at 17

51:26 Surviving What Should’ve Broken You

56:45 Using Music to Process Grief

59:41 Meeting the Love of Your Life 

01:02:25 Finding Someone Who Stays No Matter What 

01:04:31 Why Shedding an Old Identity is Important 

01:07:14 Creating the Perfect Wedding

01:10:02 Facing Your Greatest Inner Struggle

01:12:38 Becoming the Parent You Never Had

01:15:02 Learning to Live with Insecurity

01:18:44 You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself

01:23:36 Alex on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Alex Warren | Website

Alex Warren | Instagram

Alex Warren | YouTube

Alex Warren | TikTok

Alex Warren | Facebook

Alex Warren | X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Jay sits down with Dr. Shadé Zahrai to explore how self-doubt quietly influences our decisions, and what it takes to rebuild trust in ourselves. Shadé unpacks the psychology behind impostor syndrome, fear of failure, and the inner stories that convince people they’re not ready or not enough. Together, they examine how the brain’s need for certainty drives worst-case thinking, and why that protective instinct often keeps us stuck, even when opportunity is right in front of us.

Shadé offers grounded frameworks, from shifting “should” into “could” to create more possibility, to designing simple action plans that help regain a sense of control when things feel overwhelming. Shadé reflects on purpose, care, and leaving people better than we found them, while Jay highlights that trusting yourself doesn’t mean never experiencing doubt. Together, they explore how self-image is shaped by the feedback we internalize, why criticism tends to linger longer than praise, and how healing emotional “scars” allows us to move forward without self-sabotage.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Trust Yourself Again

How to Stop Letting Self-Doubt Inform Your Decisions

How to Reframe Impostor Syndrome as Growth

How to Turn Fear Into Forward Action

How to Shift From “Should” to “Could”

How to Take Action When You Feel Stuck

How to Heal the Self-Image Behind the Self-Doubt

Confidence isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the willingness to move forward even when fear is present. Every step you take, no matter how small, strengthens your trust in yourself and reminds you that you are capable of learning, adapting, and becoming more than you were yesterday. 

Pre-order Shadé’s new book, Big Trust, to dive deeper into the framework for rebuilding self-trust and breaking free from self-doubt:

https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:47 What Drives Self-Doubt?

02:58 The Power of Your Self-Image

06:54 The Four Pillars of Self-Image

08:44 Struggling With Self-Acceptance

15:35 How Lack of Acceptance Fuels Perfectionism

20:50 Shifting From Comparison to Emulation

27:55 Becoming Before You Believe

32:14 Why the Brain Craves Certainty

38:00 Do You Ever Feel Like You’re Not Enough?

44:24 Learning to Detach From Labels

56:04 The Self-Talk That Keeps You Grounded

01:01:11 Believing You’re Capable

01:06:22 Everyone Experiences Self-Doubt!

01:08:56 What Actually Replaces Self-Doubt?

01:15:20 Getting the Job Even When You Feel Underqualified

01:24:13 Understanding Key Differences Between Men and Women

01:26:53 Why Constant Complaining Signals Low Self-Trust

01:37:12 Growth After Trauma

01:43:52 Why We Focus on What We Can’t Control

01:50:42 Learning to Adapt to Your Emotions

01:56:26 Creating Your “I Could, I Will” List

02:00:07 Shadé on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Website

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Instagram

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | YouTube

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | TikTok

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Linkedin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**This interview was filmed on November 29th, prior to the heartbreaking and tragic events in Bondi over the weekend. Our hearts are with everyone in Australia during this incredibly difficult time.

                                                           __________

Today, Jay travels to Australia to sit down with Chris Hemsworth at the Crystalbrook Byron, not the superhero the world knows, but the grounded, introspective man shaped by his upbringing in the Australian outback. Chris opens up about his early years living in an Indigenous community, the adventures that sparked his imagination, and the strong family roots that still keep him centered. Jay explores how those moments from Chris’s childhood laid the foundation for the man he is today.

Chris opens up about the pressure and anxiety he faced in the early stages of his acting career and how the pursuit of excellence often came at the cost of inner peace. He talks about the constant pull between ambition and being present, the balance of preparation and surrendering to the creative process and the grounding force of lifelong friendships. 

In one of the most personal moments of the conversation, Chris talks about learning of his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how it changed his relationship with time, family, and legacy. He reflects on the emotional experience of documenting their journey together, navigating memory loss, caregiving, vulnerability, and the urgency it created to slow down and show up fully for the people who matter most.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Stay Present in a High-Pressure Career

How to Reconnect With Your Childhood Self

How to Build True, Grounding Friendships

How to Be Fully There for Aging Parents

How to Slow Down and Be Intentional With Your Time

How to Balance Ambition With Inner Peace

How to Bring More Curiosity Into Relationships

We forget sometimes that the best parts of life aren’t about achievement or perfection. They’re about being present, staying connected, and having the courage to show up. Every challenge and moment of doubt is a chance to look inward and reconnect with what really matters.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:08 Discovering Gratitude in Childhood

05:10 First Encounters With Fame

08:24 Arriving Somewhere You Never Planned

13:40 Losing Yourself to the Role

15:34 The Weight of High Expectations

20:31 Managing Mental Overload

25:31 Naming Your Stressors

28:56 The Fear of Saying No

31:29 Passing Down Healthy Money Values

34:03 Navigating Your Way Through Grief

38:22 How Family Keeps You Grounded

41:39 What Makes a Real Friend?

44:48 The Alzheimer’s Diagnosis 

54:11 Realizing How Precious Time Truly Is

57:41 Witnessing Your Parents Grow Older

01:01:55 Honoring the People Who Raised You

01:06:50 The Rare Feeling of Getting It Right

01:10:18 Messages for Your Younger Self

01:13:57 Staying Connected to Your Childlike Self

01:19:39 Lessons We Learn From Our Children 

01:22:30 Being Fully Present With Your Partner

01:28:12 Helping Children Understand Alzheimer’s

01:31:18 Appreciating the Beauty in Life

01:34:24 Knowing When It’s Time to Slow Down

01:38:47 Who Takes Care of the Caregiver?

01:42:30 Chris on Final Five 

Episode Resources:

Chris Hemsworth | Instagram

Chris Hemsworth | X

Chris Hemsworth | YouTube

Chris Hemsworth | TikTok

Chris Hemsworth | Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jay explores the pressure of the “social clock,” that unspoken timeline that tells us when we should reach certain life milestones. He unpacks research revealing that we’re never truly “late,” we’re simply measuring our progress against someone else’s schedule. Jay explains that the fear of falling behind is really a fear of losing control, and he shares how reclaiming that sense of control is far more important than hitting every milestone on time.

He also unpacks the career anxiety so many people are experiencing today. With frequent job changes and a longer phase of “emerging adulthood,” he reminds us that feeling lost or stuck isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a sign that you’re still exploring. Jay reflects on what purpose truly means, and why your purpose isn’t a job title or income level but the deeper reason behind everything you do.

Finally, Jay explores age, growth, and possibility, reminding us that the brain can rewire itself at any stage of life and that happiness often follows a U-shaped curve. If you feel like you’re in a low point, you may actually be standing right before the rise.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Stop Living by the Social Clock

How to Feel In Control of Your Life Again

How to Navigate Career Changes with Confidence

How to Redefine Purpose Beyond Your Job

How to Build Relationships That Truly Support You

How to Grow Even When You Feel “Behind”

You’re not late. You’re not off track. You’re simply arriving on your own timeline and that timeline is right on time.

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Introduction

01:04 The Societal Pressure Of The "Social Clock

02:30 Deviating From "The Social Clock"

06:42 Redefining Success On Your Terms 

08:42 You're Not Lost, You're Experimenting!

13:05 Don't Measure By Goals From The Past 

15:27 The Illusion Of Late Marriage 

19:47 Close Relationships Lead To Better Health

24:26 You're Not Late, Start Now!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we will explore one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood topics of our time: money. Not just how to make it, but how to build a healthy, grounded, and spiritually aligned relationship with it. You’ll hear raw insights from leaders like Scott Galloway, Jaspreet Singh, Codie Sanchez, and Lewis Howes, each offering a window into the habits, mindsets, and blind spots that keep us feeling financially stuck. From the shame many of us carry around saving to the ways our education system failed to prepare us, this episode reveals why so many people feel overwhelmed by finances and why that struggle is more normal and more solvable than we think.

Scott Galloway explains why saving feels impossible today and why young people need discipline, forced systems, and a focus on building human capital. Jaspreet Singh breaks down the habits that keep people financially stuck, overspending, blind trust in the system, and not understanding how money works, and shares how he learned that real wealth comes from owning assets. Codie Sanchez simplifies the risk, reward equation, urges beginners to start with low-cost index funds, and reminds us that the highest-return investment is always in ourselves. Lewis Howes brings the spiritual side of money to life, showing how healing our relationship with money opens the door to abundance, gratitude, and new opportunities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Build a Realistic Saving System

How to Create Forced Savings That Actually Work

How to Shift From Spending to Investing

How to Break Free From the Poverty Mindset

How to Build Wealth Through Equity, Not Salary

How to Strengthen Your Relationship With Money

You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. You don’t need the perfect plan, perfect timing, or perfect background to build a healthier relationship with money. What matters is your willingness to learn, to question old patterns, and to try again even when things feel overwhelming.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty.

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:55 Building a Framework for Realistic, Healthy Saving

06:19 Why Saving Feels Harder Than Ever

13:27 The Three Habits That Keep You in a Poverty Mindset

33:51 Why You Need Both Vision and Execution to Build Wealth

37:16 Why Investing in Yourself Comes First

41:07 Stocks and Bonds Explained Simply

43:52 Stepping Into the World of Private Investing

45:03 The #1 Shift That Can Transform Your Financial Future

48:36 Giving Yourself Permission to Explore Possibilities

54:53 How to Create a Respectful Relationship With Money

01:04:12 The Power of Living Beneath Your Means

01:06:54 The Hidden Costs of Chasing Easy Money

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What part of your life feels unclear right now?

What direction do you secretly wish you could choose?

Today, Jay is joined by astrologer and author Chani Nicholas for a deeper look at astrology beyond the pop-culture stereotypes. Chani traces astrology back to its ancient roots, describing it as a timeless tool for understanding our place in the world and the inner forces that shape us. Together, she and Jay break down the basics: birth charts, rising signs, the sun and the moon, and how each piece reveals something about our drive, our emotional needs, and the natural rhythms that shape our lives.

The conversation deepens as Jay and Chani explore purpose, growth, and personal agency. Chani explains that astrology isn’t about predicting your future, it’s about noticing your patterns, understanding yourself, and making choices with more awareness. She shares her own stories about finding her calling, meeting her partner, and the ways astrology can reaffirm the truth people already sense within themselves. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about compatibility, Mercury retrograde, and so-called “bad signs,” offering a more compassionate, practical way to work with timing without giving up responsibility for your life.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Use Astrology to Find Your Purpose

How to Work With Your Saturn Return

How to Navigate Tough Life Cycles With Awareness

How to Use Astrology to Choose the Right Moment

How to Strengthen Self-Agency Through Astrology

How to Release a Difficult Year and Reset Intentionally

As you move forward, remember that life isn’t asking you to have everything figured out, it’s simply asking you to stay curious, stay honest, and stay connected to what feels true within you. The cycles you’re experiencing aren’t setbacks; they’re invitations to pause, reflect, and realign with the life you know you’re capable of living.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:01 What Exactly Is Astrology?

02:39 Understanding the Cycles We Live In

05:31 How Astrology Evolved Over Time

07:42 Discovering Your Life’s True Purpose

11:34 How to Read and Understand a Birth Chart

14:52 Why “Bad Astrology” Isn’t Real

19:04 What Does Your Sun, Moon, and Rising Actually Mean?

20:16 Living in Alignment With Your Chart

25:30 When Your Chart Shows the Areas You Struggle Most

27:34 Can Astrology Reveal Future Wealth?

29:12 Asking Yourself What You Truly Want

32:42 What’s the Difference Between Fate and Free Will?

36:06 What Astrology Shows About Your Relationships

38:41 Choosing the Best Timing for Big Decisions

47:13 Staying Grounded in What You Feel

52:46 If You’re Not Ready, Focus on Inner Work First

54:27 Noticing the People Who Changed Your Life for the Better

57:45 Inspiring Others Through Your Own Growth

01:03:52 What is Your Saturn Return?

01:10:51 Why You Don’t Need to Fear Your Saturn Return

01:14:19 Is Mercury Retrograde Actually That Bad?

01:18:58 Don’t Use Your Sign to Excuse Bad Behavior!

01:20:22 Are Certain Signs More Compatible?

01:23:14 Making “Incompatible” Charts Work Together

01:25:32 Who Are You as This Year Comes to a Close?

01:33:04 Chani on Final Five 

Episode Resources:

Chani Nicholas | Website

Chani Nicholas | Instagram

Chani Nicholas | Threads

Chani Nicholas | YouTube

Chani Nicholas | TikTok

You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What time of day do you scroll the most?

Have you tried setting limits on your screen time?

Today, Jay dives into one of the defining questions of our digital age: is the algorithm shaping who we become, or are we the ones quietly teaching it how to shape us? He reveals how every click, pause, and late-night scroll acts as a subtle signal, tiny instructions that train the system, which then turns around and begins to train us. Before we even realize it, our insecurities become fuel, our curiosity becomes comparison, and outrage becomes entertainment.

But Jay also reminds us that we’re not powerless, our agency hasn’t disappeared; it’s just buried beneath layers of habit. With calm, practical guidance, he shares how we can take our feed back into our own hands, break the doom-scroll cycle, and actually reprogram the digital environment influencing our minds. Whether it’s choosing who you follow more intentionally, setting healthy boundaries in the morning, sharing more consciously, or reconnecting with real-world anchors, Jay shows that we’re not just participants, we’re contributors to how the system works. And when we change how we show up, everything around us begins to shift as well.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Retrain Your Algorithm in Minutes

How to Recognize When the Algorithm Is Steering You

How to Build a Healthier, Calmer Feed

How to Use Social Media Without Losing Yourself

How to Strengthen Your Digital Self-Control

You weren’t meant to be overwhelmed by noise or pulled into constant comparison. You were built to create a life rooted in values, peace, and purpose. So take a breath, make one mindful choice at a time, and let it guide the next.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:31 Even the Algorithm Has a Glitch

03:04 4 Subtle Ways the Algorithm Shapes You

07:59 How Your Clicks Create the Pattern

09:45 What a Social Network Looks Like Without All the Noise

13:08 Doom-Scrolling Can Give You Anxiety!

14:47 Solution #1: Bring Back Chronological Feeds

15:10 Solution #2: Take a Moment Before Hitting Share

16:06 Solution #3: Demand Algorithmic Transparency

16:29 Why Emotional Mastery and Critical Thinking Matter

19:11 5 Simple Ways to Reset Your For You Page

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What idea have you been sitting on lately?

What’s been holding you back from starting?

Today, Jay sits down with engineer, innovator, and YouTube creator Mark Rober to explore the unexpected life experiences that shaped one of the internet’s most beloved minds. Mark shares the childhood moments that ignited his passion for building, breaking, and understanding how the world works, moments nurtured by a mother whose love, imagination, and encouragement helped lay the foundation for his life’s mission. He reflects on how her influence continues to ripple outward, inspiring millions of young people who learn, explore, and dream through his work today.

Jay and Mark explore the mindset that carried Mark from NASA engineer to innovative educator, unpacking what it really means to “think like an engineer:” experiment boldly, embrace failure, and treat every setback as an opportunity to learn. They follow Mark’s unusual pivots, from designing Mars rover hardware to crafting Halloween costumes, to ultimately shaping a career that blends curiosity, storytelling, science, and play. Together they reveal the deeper lessons behind Mark’s most viral experiments: why creativity thrives when we stay childlike, how passion reveals itself through repetition, and why the most meaningful work grows from genuine excitement rather than algorithms or expectations.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Think Like an Engineer

How to Stay Curious as an Adult

How to Follow Your Passion Practically

How to Build Ideas That Actually Work

How to Find Creativity in Everyday Life

How to Recognize Your Real Calling

How to Inspire Others Through Your Work

Keep following the questions that excite you, keep trying the things that scare you, and keep believing that you’re capable of far more than you realize. Your next breakthrough might be just one experiment, or one brave attempt away.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:16 Were You Always Creative?

04:02 Understanding the Real Impact of Your Life

06:55 What It Really Takes to Work at NASA

09:49 Learning to Think Like an Engineer

11:22 How Rovers Are Tested for Mars

12:20 Searching for Life Beyond Earth

13:24 Follow What You Truly Love Doing

16:11 If You Can Imagine It, You Can Build It

17:22 Practical Wisdom from a Lifelong Tinkerer

20:57 The Pivot from NASA to Apple

23:34 Turning Ideas into Actionable Success

24:45 What is the Engineering Design Process?

28:28 Why Embracing Failure Matters

29:57 Relearning Trust and Finding Love Again

34:56 The Power of Immersion Weekends

36:45 Making Learning Engaging Through Creativity

40:29 Why Mastery Is Worth Pursuing

41:40 Balancing Business with True Creativity

44:51 How Communication Shapes Great Storytelling

47:40 Two Common Mistakes Creators Make

52:30 Staying True to Your Creative Style

54:04 The Importance of Focusing on One Passion

56:44 The Hidden Failures Behind Viral Success

59:35 Giving Kids Room to Be Creative

01:04:30 Curiosity as the Root of Creativity

01:06:07 Inside a Real Creative Process

01:08:45 Where Do You Get Your Big Ideas?

01:11:46 The Mind-Bending Question of Life in the Universe

01:16:02 The Promise and Peril of Rapid AI Growth

01:19:56 Focusing on What You Can Truly Influence 

01:24:57 Mark on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Mark Rober | X

Mark Rober | Instagram

Mark Rober | Facebook

Mark Rober | LinkedIn

Mark Rober | TikTok

Mark Rober | YouTube

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.