Podcast Summary:

The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes
Episode: Josh Groban Gets Vulnerable: "I felt like a talentless piece of SH*T!" How He Battled Inner Demons & Found Happiness
Date: September 1, 2025

Main Theme

In this episode, host Lewis Howes welcomes Josh Groban, internationally acclaimed singer and Broadway star, for a deeply honest and vulnerable conversation about the emotional costs and pressures of early fame, overcoming self-doubt, and finding authentic happiness. Groban candidly discusses how he battled his “inner demons,” the identity crisis that accompanied midlife, and the surprising peace he found by letting go of perfectionism, embracing the present, and reconnecting with what truly matters: family, simplicity, and service.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Price and Pressure of Early Fame

• Josh reflects on the “hyperspeed” nature of his rise and the expectations placed on him from his teens.
• He shares how gratitude was present, but joy and confidence were often elusive due to a near-constant fear of failure.
  • "I was happy that others were happy…But I was never able to break through the ceiling to joy." (08:13–09:00)
• The moment with Celine Dion at age 17 was both pivotal and overwhelming:
  • “My dad had a video camera …I look back at it now and I think, wow, that was a moment where I was terrified. …Even after that…did I do okay? Did I…Was David happy?” (10:00–11:10)
• Josh almost turned down the opportunity to sing with Celine due to self-doubt.
• Describes the duality of craving the humility and learning of college yet being thrust into high-stakes professional performance ("I wanted to be a student…I wanted to get into the mud and have the permission to be bad…Being over in this corner was actually really isolating.” 14:00-15:00).

2. Chasing Success vs. Being Present

• Josh discusses always being focused on the next big thing, often missing out on the present moment (04:43–06:44).
• Therapy and slowing down allowed him to finally bottle "the goodness of what's right here" (06:44–08:01).
  • “...what is life but to capture and bottle the good moments when you can get them…there was very little time to think about what’s here.” (05:00–06:44)
• Recalls emotional clarity during a week with family, recognizing the importance of those simple, grounded moments.

3. Confidence, Self-Doubt, and Mental Health

• Early confidence was limited; he focused on perceived shortcomings even amid overwhelming success (16:23–19:09).
  • “It was like I was a lawyer in my own head defending the demons, like, you see…here you are, yes, I rest my case.” (17:35–18:00)
• Experience—not accolades—eventually brought confidence. “You aren’t ever going to kill the doubt …what I can do is …use the tool I need to get through this bad moment.” (19:00–19:09)
• Shares the importance of simple, back-to-basics tools (19:21–22:20) for managing nerves:
  • “I’m just thinking about singing and telling the story of this word and the line that’s in front of me right this second…” (21:15)

4. Duality of Public Success and Private Struggle

• Reveals he’s sometimes felt worst internally during his greatest triumphs (25:27–27:55), often caught in a "shame spiral of self criticism."
  • “There have been moments where I have been going through my own mental health journey on stage…so polar opposite from the experience that the audience is getting.” (25:27–26:00)
• Post-show, he frequently goes into “low power mode” out of emotional exhaustion and self-protection from disappointment (27:55–28:18).

5. Lessons from the Early Years & the Power of Innocence

• Josh gives “reverse advice”—expressing he now has more to learn from his 16-year-old self’s innocence than advice to offer that kid (32:01):
  • “I actually can think of more things I’d like that kid to tell me at 44 than things I want to tell that kid as a 44-year-old.” (32:03)
• Describes the absence of high expectations then, allowing fun and a lack of pressure—traits he now strives to rediscover (35:58–36:28).

6. Creativity, Expectations, and Side Quests

• Advocates taking “side quests” and developing hobbies outside of work to rejuvenate joy and creativity (37:04–39:56).
• Importance of doing things not for an audience, label, or fans, but simply for oneself—sometimes those become the most successful projects.

7. Letting Go and Following the “Goosebumps”

• The most valuable creative choices come by following what lights “the fire”—not what is expected or for a specific result (41:38–43:23).
  • “Go where the goosebumps are.” (41:12)
• Reframes his pursuit: now it’s about chasing the feeling, not just the results.

8. The Role of Relationships and Support

• Cites parents, teachers, and particularly his current partner for helping him process self-criticism and teaching him “not to care so much what other people think” (58:29).
• The power of having someone who encourages vulnerability and authenticity—“keeping me where the light is” (59:00).

9. Service, Legacy, and Philanthropy

• Groban’s “Find Your Light Foundation” supports arts education for youth (64:49–71:10).
  • “Putting whatever power and influence I can into raising awareness for those programs…is finding a legacy for my foundation.” (60:09–62:06)
• Affirms arts education is transformative—the smallest investment makes a great impact on developing confidence and hope in kids.

10. Redefining Success & Greatness

• For Josh, success is now about impact, service, and authenticity—not external validation.
  • “The more that you put into connectivity and kindness…the more you get back.” (79:23)
  • “Stay scared. Stay a student.” (80:42)
  • “Greatness…is when you can be looked at by those around you… as being somebody that they aspire to be or look up to … even when nobody was looking.” (80:47–81:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “At the end of the day… what is life but to capture and bottle the good moments when you can get them.”
  — Josh Groban, (06:00)
• “Your demons are having a party and you still made it through and did great…”
  — Josh Groban, describing how experience builds confidence through adversity (18:00)
• “You aren't ever going to kill the doubt…but you can use the tool you need to get through this bad moment.”
  — Josh Groban, (19:00)
• “When you decide to do something that’s not for them, you do it for everyone.”
  — Josh Groban, on authenticity in creativity (40:03)
• “Go where the goosebumps are.”
  — Josh Groban, creative mantra (41:12)
• “I have more to learn from that kid now than I have advice to give that kid.”
  — Josh Groban, on reverse mentorship from his younger self (32:01)
• “The love you make is equal to the love you take. Every moment that you can to express kindness to other people comes back at you.”
  — Josh Groban, Three Truths (79:23–80:42)
• “Stay scared. Stay a student.”
  — Josh Groban, Three Truths (80:42)
• “Greatness…is when you can be looked at by those around you…as somebody that they aspire to be or look up to…even when nobody was looking.”
  — Josh Groban, (80:47–81:59)

Important Timestamps

• Early Fame & Performance Anxiety: 04:27–09:40
• Celine Dion Story / Being Discovered: 09:43–11:46
• College vs. Stardom / Split Path: 13:12–16:00
• Confidence & Coping with Doubt: 16:48–19:09
• Psychological Tools for Doubt: 19:21–22:20
• Public Triumph, Private Spiral: 25:27–28:18, 27:55–28:18
• Reverse Advice: Learning from His Younger Self: 32:01–36:28
• On Hobbies & Side Quests: 37:04–41:38, 48:50–52:53 (collecting baseball cards, magic tricks, cereal nostalgia)
• Creativity: Following the Feeling: 41:38–43:23
• Philanthropy / Find Your Light Foundation: 64:49–71:14
• Redefining Success, Three Truths, & Greatness: 79:23–81:59

Additional Highlights

• Hobbies Matter: Josh opens up about finding genuine joy in magic tricks and baseball card collecting – simple acts that transport him back to childhood wonder and “chasing joy instead of chasing success.” (48:50–52:53)
• The Role of Arts Education: Emphasizes how a small grant can “keep the lights on” for a whole school program—demonstrating the foundational importance of creative expression in youth development.
• Action & Giving Back: Encourages listeners to support www.fylf.org (Find Your Light Foundation) and details how even small donations have a multiplied impact (68:57–70:15).

Summary Takeaways

• Presence over Perfection: True peace and clarity come not from chasing ever-bigger wins, but from slowing down and savoring the present.
• Experience Trumps Doubt: Confidence is not the absence of self-doubt, but knowing you have the tools to handle it as you gain experience.
• Hobbies & Service Reinvent the Soul: Rediscovering childlike joy and helping others center a fulfilling life.
• Authenticity Magnetizes Success: By focusing on what lights a personal fire—not what is expected—Josh finds this often ends up serving (and connecting with) others best.
• Legacy is Service: The most lasting mark is the difference one makes for others, particularly in empowering the next generation of creators.

This episode is a deeply humanizing window into the emotional journey behind fame. Josh Groban’s insights are both a toolkit and a balm for anyone whose inner critic overshadows their achievements, and a reminder that fulfillment is found by “bottling the good moments,” staying a student, and shifting from chasing success to chasing joy.