On this episode of On Purpose, I sat down with Robert Waldinger. Robert is a Harvard psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen priest. He’s the director of the longest study on adult life and happiness.

Robert reminds us that having a person you can call in the middle of the night when you are scared or sick is what keeps us happier and healthier. He shares that it takes vulnerability to have meaningful relationships, but the rewards are always worth the risk of rejection. Text Jay Shetty 310-997-4177

On this episode of On Purpose, I sat down with Robert Waldinger. Robert is a Harvard psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen priest. He’s the director of the longest study on adult life and happiness.
Robert reminds us that having a person you can call in the middle of the night when you are scared or sick is what keeps us happier and healthier. He shares that it takes vulnerability to have meaningful relationships, but the rewards are always worth the risk of rejection. Text Jay Shetty 310-997-4177

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

On this episode of On Purpose, I sat down with Robert Waldinger. Robert is a Harvard psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen priest. He’s the director of the longest study on adult life and happiness.

Robert reminds us that having a person you can call in the middle of the night when you are scared or sick is what keeps us happier and healthier. He shares that it takes vulnerability to have meaningful relationships, but the rewards are always worth the risk of rejection. Text Jay Shetty 310-997-4177

Robert Waldinger: ON How To Nourish Your Meaningful Relationships & The Power Of Quiet

Across memorable conversations with guests including Selena Gomez, Kevin Hart, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Kobe Bryant, Tom Holland, Emma Watson, and Mel Robbins, this special collection brings together some of the most powerful lessons ever shared on the show. From love and purpose to resilience, fame, friendship, and self-discovery, each story offers a different perspective on what it means to live with intention. Together, they reveal that the most meaningful transformations rarely come from one defining moment, but from the wisdom we gather along the way.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to Build Lasting Love

How to Communicate Without Fighting

How to Let Go of External Validation 

How to Trust Your Partner

How to Overcome Fear Faster

How to Find Real Happiness

How to Break Free From Ego

How to Build Strong Friendships

How to Live With Purpose

How to Grow Through Adversity

Whether you're healing, chasing a dream, strengthening a relationship, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, remember that lasting change is built through small moments of courage, honesty, and intention.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty.

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter.Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe 

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

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:25 Make Your Partner's Day Better

04:06 How to Have Better Conversations

10:11 Fame Is the Biggest Drug

12:25 Appreciate Life Before It's Too Late

17:15 Nothing Lasts Forever

20:10 Grow Through Every Experience

22:09 Why We Lost Inner Peace

24:04 The Power of Third Spaces

25:50 Make Time to Study

29:08 It's Normal to Outgrow Friendships

31:22 Growing Up as Hermione Granger

33:48 The Power of Being Still

35:54 Get Over Yourself

37:29 The Power of Playing the Long Game

39:10 Choosing Gratitude Over Comparison

40:03 Knowing When to Step Away

41:17 Escaping the Version of Yourself You Created

43:11 The Wake-Up Call That Changed My Life

47:45 What Sobriety Gave Me

49:05 Three Pillars of Friendship

53:55 What Makes Someone a Great Partner

56:10 The Relationship Mistake Most People Make

57:37 What is Your Conflict Style?

01:01:34 The Conversation Every Couple Needs to Have

01:06:38 What Manifestation Really Means

Across memorable conversations with guests including Selena Gomez, Kevin Hart, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Kobe Bryant, Tom Holland, Emma Watson, and Mel Robbins, this special collection brings together some of the most powerful lessons ever shared on the show. From love and purpose to resilience, fame, friendship, and self-discovery, each story offers a different perspective on what it means to live with intention. Together, they reveal that the most meaningful transformations rarely come from one defining moment, but from the wisdom we gather along the way.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Build Lasting Love
How to Communicate Without Fighting
How to Let Go of External Validation&nbsp;
How to Trust Your Partner
How to Overcome Fear Faster
How to Find Real Happiness
How to Break Free From Ego
How to Build Strong Friendships
How to Live With Purpose
How to Grow Through Adversity
Whether you're healing, chasing a dream, strengthening a relationship, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, remember that lasting change is built through small moments of courage, honesty, and intention.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty.
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter.Subscribe here: <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:25 Make Your Partner's Day Better
04:06 How to Have Better Conversations
10:11 Fame Is the Biggest Drug
12:25 Appreciate Life Before It's Too Late
17:15 Nothing Lasts Forever
20:10 Grow Through Every Experience
22:09 Why We Lost Inner Peace
24:04 The Power of Third Spaces
25:50 Make Time to Study
29:08 It's Normal to Outgrow Friendships
31:22 Growing Up as Hermione Granger
33:48 The Power of Being Still
35:54 Get Over Yourself
37:29 The Power of Playing the Long Game
39:10 Choosing Gratitude Over Comparison
40:03 Knowing When to Step Away
41:17 Escaping the Version of Yourself You Created
43:11 The Wake-Up Call That Changed My Life
47:45 What Sobriety Gave Me
49:05 Three Pillars of Friendship
53:55 What Makes Someone a Great Partner
56:10 The Relationship Mistake Most People Make
57:37 What is Your Conflict Style?
01:01:34 The Conversation Every Couple Needs to Have
01:06:38 What Manifestation Really Means

Jay’s Must-Listens: The Biggest Lessons From 10 of Our Most Inspiring Conversations

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/47cd85a2-f038-4ffd-9781-b481006859a5/transcript

Success isn't always about having the best idea, it's about moving before fear, perfectionism, or conventional thinking slow you down. In this conversation, Jay sits down with entrepreneur and investor Lucy Guo to explore why execution beats overthinking, how meaningful relationships create lasting opportunities, and why optimizing for learning often matters more than optimizing for certainty. Together, they unpack a refreshingly honest perspective on ambition, wealth, risk, and building a life that's driven by curiosity rather than validation.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to Build Valuable Connections

How to Escape Decision Paralysis

How to Find Better Business Ideas

How to Take Smarter Risks

How to Make Success Sustainable

Success isn't reserved for the people with the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or all the right answers. It's built through small decisions to keep learning, take thoughtful risks, and move forward even when the path isn't completely clear.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe  

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

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:11 Is College Still Worth It?

04:01 The Ambitious Mindset Trap

05:36 Why Go Against the Grain

06:00 Believe in Your Vision

07:15 Change Your Life at 22

10:42 Where Young People Waste Time

11:38 Can Anyone Be an Entrepreneur?

12:09 Build Before You Quit

14:05 Where Great Ideas Come From

14:59 Stop Wasting Time on This

17:07 The Perfectionism Trap

17:45 Good Risk vs. Bad Risk

20:30 Your Network Is Your Net Worth

21:50 Rethink Your Passion

25:30 Self-Worth vs. Net Worth

26:43 Handling Rejection and Failure

27:17 What Money Really Changes

28:55 The Power of No Frameworks

31:11 Think Beyond the Rules

33:09 Hire the Right People

34:20 Why Success Complicates Dating

35:56 Success and Modern Relationships

36:50 Using AI to Hire Better

38:05 Which Jobs AI May Replace

38:56 The Biggest AI Misconception

39:40 AI Won't Replace This

40:44 Make AI Work for You

43:05 The Joy of Building

44:33 Becoming a Self-Made Billionaire

45:08 Advice for Future Founders

46:48 Lessons From Parenting

48:11 Lucy on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/guoforit 

X | https://x.com/lucy_guo

Success isn't always about having the best idea, it's about moving before fear, perfectionism, or conventional thinking slow you down. In this conversation, Jay sits down with entrepreneur and investor Lucy Guo to explore why execution beats overthinking, how meaningful relationships create lasting opportunities, and why optimizing for learning often matters more than optimizing for certainty. Together, they unpack a refreshingly honest perspective on ambition, wealth, risk, and building a life that's driven by curiosity rather than validation.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Build Valuable Connections
How to Escape Decision Paralysis
How to Find Better Business Ideas
How to Take Smarter Risks
How to Make Success Sustainable
Success isn't reserved for the people with the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or all the right answers. It's built through small decisions to keep learning, take thoughtful risks, and move forward even when the path isn't completely clear.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe</a> &nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Is College Still Worth It?
04:01 The Ambitious Mindset Trap
05:36 Why Go Against the Grain
06:00 Believe in Your Vision
07:15 Change Your Life at 22
10:42 Where Young People Waste Time
11:38 Can Anyone Be an Entrepreneur?
12:09 Build Before You Quit
14:05 Where Great Ideas Come From
14:59 Stop Wasting Time on This
17:07 The Perfectionism Trap
17:45 Good Risk vs. Bad Risk
20:30 Your Network Is Your Net Worth
21:50 Rethink Your Passion
25:30 Self-Worth vs. Net Worth
26:43 Handling Rejection and Failure
27:17 What Money Really Changes
28:55 The Power of No Frameworks
31:11 Think Beyond the Rules
33:09 Hire the Right People
34:20 Why Success Complicates Dating
35:56 Success and Modern Relationships
36:50 Using AI to Hire Better
38:05 Which Jobs AI May Replace
38:56 The Biggest AI Misconception
39:40 AI Won't Replace This
40:44 Make AI Work for You
43:05 The Joy of Building
44:33 Becoming a Self-Made Billionaire
45:08 Advice for Future Founders
46:48 Lessons From Parenting
48:11 Lucy on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/guoforit">https://www.instagram.com/guoforit</a>&nbsp;
X | <a href="https://x.com/lucy_guo">https://x.com/lucy_guo</a>

Lucy Guo: The Fastest Way to Build a Business Today (The #1 Strategy That Saves You Months of Wasted Work)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5067c4e6-8bb9-4420-a46a-b47f005915d0/transcript

What if we've been thinking about mental illness all wrong? Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer argues that conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia may be rooted in metabolic dysfunction, not just genetics or trauma. Drawing on decades of clinical research, he explains which chemical additives may be harming our brains, why ketogenic diets are showing remarkable promise for severe mental illness, and why recovery is about far more than willpower. Chris also opens up to Jay about the deeply personal story of his mother that inspired him to pursue psychiatry, and why, despite the growing mental health crisis, he remains genuinely hopeful for the next generation.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to Recognize the Connection Between Diet & Mental Health 

How to Notice Warning Signs of Metabolic Dysfunction 

How to Support Loved Ones Through a Mental Health Crisis  

How to Become More Resilient with Self-Care  

How to Turn Personal Pain Into Purpose 

How to Use Fasting & Ketogenic Diets Safely 

How to Talk to Kids About Nutrition & Brain Health 

Healing rarely comes from one single fix. Instead it comes from understanding the whole person: body, brain, and everything we feed both. Sometimes the most radical form of self-love is simply asking what’s going into your body, and why? 

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe  

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

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:22 The Chronic Disease Epidemic

01:54 The Link Between Mental Health and Diet 

05:17 What Metabolism Really Means 

07:57 The Shocking Chemicals Added to Food

09:55 Why Is The Food System In America So Harmful? 

14:45 The Impact of Ultra Processed Foods on Mental Health   

16:29 Why Your Brain Actually Needs Certain Foods 

17:21 Brain Fog, Depression, Anxiety & Burnout

18:46 Building Mental Resilience 

21:48 Self Care Will Improve Your Brain Functioning

23:57 The “Make America Healthy Again” Movement 

25:25 The Next Era of Healthcare in America 

27:45 A Healthy vs Unhealthy Metabolism 

28:30 Warning Signs From Your Metabolism  

29:13 93% of Americans Have Abnormal Biomarkers 

30:00 6 Steps For Healing Your Metabolism 

31:11 The Truth About Alcohol, Weed & Vaping 

35:46 Exercise Doesn't Have to Be Extreme to be Effective 

36:30 Stop Looking at Screens All Day!

37:10 Why No Single Diet Works for Everyone

38:45 The Power of Eating More Whole Foods 

39:45 Do You Know What Your Body Needs?  

40:20 What Are Nutrient Dense Foods? 

41:17 Why Some People Are Metabolically Compromised 

42:22 Dietary Intervention

44:00 The Ancient Power of Fasting

46:17 Why Bipolar Diagnoses Are Rising

50:08 When Medication Isn't Enough

51:24 How a Ketogenic Diet Can Impact Bipolar Disorder

53:06 The History of The Ketogenic Diet (It’s Not What You Think) 

54:50 How The Ketogenic Diet Can Stop Seizures 

56:20 The Power of Healing 

57:47 The Unexpected Grief of Getting Better

59:05 A Life Dedicated to Psychiatry  

1:04:15 Keeping a Healthy Dose of Skepticism 

1:05:30 Rethinking New Treatments 

1:06:55 Advice for Concerned Parents

1:07:31 What Are Epigenetics? 

1:11:23 The Worst Chemicals For Brain Health 

1:13:30 This Is An Ethics Issue…

1:14:09 Which Chemicals Cause Generational Anxiety? 

1:18:20 Dr. Chris Palmer on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Read | Brain Energy 

Website | https://www.chrispalmermd.com/ 

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisPalmerMD 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPalmerMD/ 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/chrispalmermd/ 

X | https://x.com/ChrisPalmerMD/

What if we've been thinking about mental illness all wrong? Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer argues that conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia may be rooted in metabolic dysfunction, not just genetics or trauma. Drawing on decades of clinical research, he explains which chemical additives may be harming our brains, why ketogenic diets are showing remarkable promise for severe mental illness, and why recovery is about far more than willpower. Chris also opens up to Jay about the deeply personal story of his mother that inspired him to pursue psychiatry, and why, despite the growing mental health crisis, he remains genuinely hopeful for the next generation.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Recognize the Connection Between Diet &amp; Mental Health&nbsp;
How to Notice Warning Signs of Metabolic Dysfunction&nbsp;
How to Support Loved Ones Through a Mental Health Crisis&nbsp;&nbsp;
How to Become More Resilient with Self-Care&nbsp;&nbsp;
How to Turn Personal Pain Into Purpose&nbsp;
How to Use Fasting &amp; Ketogenic Diets Safely&nbsp;
How to Talk to Kids About Nutrition &amp; Brain Health&nbsp;
Healing rarely comes from one single fix. Instead it comes from understanding the whole person: body, brain, and everything we feed both. Sometimes the most radical form of self-love is simply asking what&rsquo;s going into your body, and why?&nbsp;
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe</a> &nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:22 The Chronic Disease Epidemic
01:54 The Link Between Mental Health and Diet&nbsp;
05:17 What Metabolism Really Means&nbsp;
07:57 The Shocking Chemicals Added to Food
09:55 Why Is The Food System In America So Harmful?&nbsp;
14:45 The Impact of Ultra Processed Foods on Mental Health&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
16:29 Why Your Brain Actually Needs Certain Foods&nbsp;
17:21 Brain Fog, Depression, Anxiety &amp; Burnout
18:46 Building Mental Resilience&nbsp;
21:48 Self Care Will Improve Your Brain Functioning
23:57 The &ldquo;Make America Healthy Again&rdquo; Movement&nbsp;
25:25 The Next Era of Healthcare in America&nbsp;
27:45 A Healthy vs Unhealthy Metabolism&nbsp;
28:30 Warning Signs From Your Metabolism&nbsp;&nbsp;
29:13 93% of Americans Have Abnormal Biomarkers&nbsp;
30:00 6 Steps For Healing Your Metabolism&nbsp;
31:11 The Truth About Alcohol, Weed &amp; Vaping&nbsp;
35:46 Exercise Doesn't Have to Be Extreme to be Effective&nbsp;
36:30 Stop Looking at Screens All Day!
37:10 Why No Single Diet Works for Everyone
38:45 The Power of Eating More Whole Foods&nbsp;
39:45 Do You Know What Your Body Needs?&nbsp;&nbsp;
40:20 What Are Nutrient Dense Foods?&nbsp;
41:17 Why Some People Are Metabolically Compromised&nbsp;
42:22 Dietary Intervention
44:00 The Ancient Power of Fasting
46:17 Why Bipolar Diagnoses Are Rising
50:08 When Medication Isn't Enough
51:24 How a Ketogenic Diet Can Impact Bipolar Disorder
53:06 The History of The Ketogenic Diet (It&rsquo;s Not What You Think)&nbsp;
54:50 How The Ketogenic Diet Can Stop Seizures&nbsp;
56:20 The Power of Healing&nbsp;
57:47 The Unexpected Grief of Getting Better
59:05 A Life Dedicated to Psychiatry&nbsp;&nbsp;
1:04:15 Keeping a Healthy Dose of Skepticism&nbsp;
1:05:30 Rethinking New Treatments&nbsp;
1:06:55 Advice for Concerned Parents
1:07:31 What Are Epigenetics?&nbsp;
1:11:23 The Worst Chemicals For Brain Health&nbsp;
1:13:30 This Is An Ethics Issue&hellip;
1:14:09 Which Chemicals Cause Generational Anxiety?&nbsp;
1:18:20 Dr. Chris Palmer on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Read | <a href="https://brainenergy.com/">Brain Energy</a>&nbsp;
Website | <a href="https://www.chrispalmermd.com/">https://www.chrispalmermd.com/</a>&nbsp;
YouTube | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisPalmerMD">https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisPalmerMD</a>&nbsp;
Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPalmerMD/">https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPalmerMD/</a>&nbsp;
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrispalmermd/">https://www.instagram.com/chrispalmermd/</a>&nbsp;
X | <a href="https://x.com/ChrisPalmerMD/">https://x.com/ChrisPalmerMD/</a>

Dr. Chris Palmer: Your Diet Could Be Causing Anxiety, Depression & Brain Fog (6 Simple Changes to Make Today)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2e344388-03dd-40ba-82ac-b47c00c870df/transcript

Robert Waldinger: ON How To Nourish Your Meaningful Relationships & The Power Of Quiet

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