On Purpose with Jay Shetty — Jay’s Must-Listens: 4 Powerful Lessons to Reflect From This Year & Move Into the Next With Clarity & Inspiration

Guests: Dr. Orna Guralnik, Novak Djokovic, plus segments featuring Madonna, Mel Robbins, Cody Sanchez, Cardi B, Emma Watson, Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco
Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special year-end compilation, Jay Shetty curates transformative lessons and moments from some of his most powerful conversations of 2025. The episode weaves together stories of resilience, self-awareness, vulnerability, success, and practical advice from a diverse lineup — thought leaders, athletes, celebrities, and experts. The purpose is twofold: to help listeners reflect on the personal and collective lessons of the past year, and to move intentionally into the new one with greater clarity, authenticity, and inspiration.

Key Themes & Discussion Highlights

1. The Power of Authentic Connection: Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco

• Vulnerability & Presence in Relationships (03:34–14:40)
  • Jay explores how Selena and Benny’s relationship grew from awkward beginnings into genuine intimacy, with both sharing personal anecdotes about misunderstanding one another and learning to let their authentic selves show.
  • Quote:
    • “Love thrives in authenticity. Showing up even imperfectly allows deep connections to form.” (14:40 – Jay Shetty)
  • Small, everyday moments and even “ugly” photos were fundamental in building trust and affection.
  • Lessons: Real intimacy isn’t built on perfect stories, but on honest, sometimes messy, presence.

2. Growth in Ordinary Moments: Emma Watson

• Finding Self-Discovery in Life’s Transitions (15:30–25:21)
  • Emma discusses her humbling experience relearning basic life skills, such as driving and coping with mistakes after years of structured living as an actress.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “On a movie set I’m able to do all these complex things... then I get home and I seem unable to do some pretty basic life things. It’s humbling.” (17:15 – Emma Watson)
  • Emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, authenticity, and the willingness to “learn in public.”
  • Jay reflects on the idea of going deeper before moving forward: “If you want to move three steps forward, you have to go three steps deep first.” (22:28)

3. Overcoming Depression & The Healing Power of Time: Cardi B

• Rebuilding After Loss and Hurt (29:30–40:43)
  • Cardi B shares honestly about experiencing deep depression due to career pressures and the slow dissolution of her marriage.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “It took months for the heart to say ‘you’re done.’ Even if you take actions, if you’re not done, you’re not done.” (32:19 – Cardi B)
  • Therapy, work, friends, and eventually time itself were all pieces of her recovery.
  • Lessons: Sometimes, healing is slow, nonlinear, and all we can do is “let things die on their own” and trust that time heals.

4. Spiritual Grounding in a Chaotic World: Madonna

• Internal Life as a Source of Strength (41:28–52:35)
  • Madonna reflects on nearly 30 years on a spiritual path (Kabbalah) and credits her internal life for her resilience as an artist and person.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “For me, a spiritual life is having an internal life... Being able to look internally and having some kind of practice.” (43:56 – Madonna)
    • “If you don’t have a spiritual life, you’re never going to stop and ask any questions... You’re just going to plow through life.” (45:47)
  • Rituals such as study and reflection, pausing for meaning, and not succumbing to comparison have kept her anchored.

5. Self-Awareness & Relationship Dynamics: Dr. Orna Guralnik

• Peeling Back Patterns, Going Beyond Labels (52:56–63:49)
  • Dr. Orna challenges the idea of simply labeling people (like "narcissist") in relationships, emphasizing that everyone has narcissistic parts but growth comes from deeper self-inquiry.
  • Money and intimacy are explored as mirrors of our internal realities; how couples handle money exposes beliefs about “mine vs. ours” and about reality itself.
  • On intimacy and sex:
    • “Everyone wants both intimacy and sex. Everyone wishes it for themselves in large quantities, but their focus changes... really, what we want is desire.” (63:24 – Dr. Orna Guralnik)
  • Key Insight: Relationships can spark profound self-discovery, if we’re willing to look inward as much as outward.

6. Demystifying Financial Freedom: Cody Sanchez

• Accessible Financial Literacy & Building Wealth for All (66:40–73:20)
  • Cody offers practical steps on building credit and dispels myths about debt, arguing it’s not about how much money you have but understanding access and leveraging resources.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “You never suffer from a lack of money. You suffer from a lack of knowledge on how to get money.” (70:44 – Cody Sanchez)
  • Advice: Start small (credit cards), use your job to fund side hustles, and don’t fall into the trap of “all or nothing” entrepreneurship.

7. Transforming Pressure into Purpose: Novak Djokovic

• Pushing Beyond Limits & Staying Grounded (73:53–83:17)
  • Djokovic reflects on his remarkable career and the ongoing tension between achievement and never feeling “enough.” He credits purpose, motivation, and community for sustaining his drive.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “I still want to do more... That comes, in part, from a good place — purpose, inspiration, love — but also from not feeling enough. That’s deep inside of me.” (75:08 – Novak Djokovic)
  • Advice: Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, set clear goals, and continually reinvent and refine your environment.

8. Boundary Mastery & Reclaiming Your Energy: Mel Robbins

• The Let Them Theory: Letting Go of Perceptions and Control (83:59–93:03)
  • Robbins teaches listeners the power of letting go of the need to control how others see you.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “If you’re worried that people are gossiping about you, let them. Why would you allow any time or energy to be wasted? It’s an act of self-torture.” (90:46 – Mel Robbins)
    • “Your social media is your self-expression. If you can’t allow yourself to express there, you’re editing yourself everywhere.” (88:19)
  • The “Let Them” and “Let Me” reframing helps reclaim your agency, attention, and focus for what truly matters.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Love thrives in authenticity. Showing up even imperfectly allows deep connections to form.”
  — Jay Shetty (14:40)
• “On a movie set I’m able to do all these complex things... and at home I seem unable to do the basic things. It’s humbling.”
  — Emma Watson (17:15)
• “It took months for the heart to say, ‘you’re done.’ Even if you take actions, if you’re not done, you’re not done.”
  — Cardi B (32:19)
• “For me, a spiritual life is having an internal life... Being able to look internally and having some kind of practice.”
  — Madonna (43:56)
• “Everyone wants both intimacy and sex... what we want is desire.”
  — Dr. Orna Guralnik (63:24)
• “You never suffer from a lack of money. You suffer from a lack of knowledge on how to get money.”
  — Cody Sanchez (70:44)
• “I still want to do more... That comes, in part, from a good place — purpose, inspiration, love — but also from not feeling enough.”
  — Novak Djokovic (75:08)
• “If you’re worried people are gossiping about you, let them. Why would you let any time or energy be wasted? It’s an act of self-torture.”
  — Mel Robbins (90:46)

Important Timestamps

• Introduction & Purpose: 02:15 – 03:25
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco (Love & Vulnerability): 03:34 – 14:40
• Emma Watson (Ordinary Growth): 15:30 – 25:21
• Cardi B (Healing & Time): 29:30 – 40:43
• Madonna (Spiritual Practice): 41:28 – 52:35
• Dr. Orna Guralnik (Relationships & Self-Awareness): 52:56 – 63:49
• Cody Sanchez (Financial Empowerment): 66:40 – 73:20
• Novak Djokovic (Purpose & Longevity): 73:53 – 83:17
• Mel Robbins (“Let Them” Boundaries): 83:59 – 93:03
• Jay Shetty’s Reflections & Closing Wisdom: 93:03 – 94:20

Jay’s Closing Reflections

Jay caps the episode by synthesizing the lessons:

• Growth is not linear; presence and authenticity matter most.
• Time, patience, and self-compassion are the ultimate healers.
• Protect your energy, pursue your purpose, and courageously express yourself.
• Every small or messy moment is a step forward — your life is a work in progress.

He encourages listeners to bring these insights into their next chapter:
“You’re capable, you’re growing, and your life is a canvas to become your best self.” (93:03)

For more inspiration, Jay recommends his conversation with Adam Grant on personal growth and unlocking your hidden potential.