On Purpose with Jay Shetty

For decades, we’ve been told that success and spirituality live in separate worlds. One is about achievement, the other about inner peace. In this conversation, John Mackey shares why he believes the two are deeply connected. Reflecting on the journey of building Whole Foods Market, he explores how purpose, intuition, gratitude, and conscious leadership shaped both his business and his life. From navigating near-failure and selling the company to Amazon, to redefining success beyond money and status, this episode is a powerful invitation to lead with more awareness, build with more heart, and create a life that feels as meaningful on the inside as it looks on the outside.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Build a Business With Purpose
How to Turn Setbacks Into Growth
How to Find Joy in Your Work
How to Turn Envy Into Learning
How to Create a Culture People Never Want to Leave
How to Make Difficult Decisions With Compassion
How to Stay Connected to What Matters Most
There will be setbacks, doubts, and moments when things don’t go according to plan, but those moments don’t define your journey. What matters is continuing to move forward with purpose, staying connected to what brings you joy, and remembering that success means little if it costs you who you are.
John’s book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, talks about why Whole Foods isn’t just a business success story, it’s the story of a retail, cultural, and dietary revolution that has forever changed the industry and the way we eat. Grab a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Story-Adventures-Love-Capitalism/dp/1637745125
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
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What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:37 Answering the Call to Adventure
05:53 The Search for Meaning and Consciousness
09:42 A Spiritual Awakening Through Psychedelics
13:40 Exploring the Inner Universe
17:45 Envy Steals Joy
19:49 Understanding Ego Death
24:54 The Power of Play and Creativity
27:33 Follow What Brings You Joy
29:36 Confronting Your Inner Critic
33:45 Building a Business With Heart
35:45 The Gift of Being Fully Present
39:10 Responding to Life’s Greatest Challenges
41:35 Turn Mistakes Into Growth
44:24 The Rise of Conscious Leadership
46:15 The Decision to Sell to Amazon
53:34 A Year of Gratitude and Goodbyes
55:23 Attracting Great People to Your Mission
57:10 Letting People Go With Compassion
59:45 John on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | https://johnpmackey.com/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/iamjohnmackey
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamjohnmackey/
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjohnmackey
X | https://x.com/iamjohnmackey
Linktree | https://linktr.ee/iamjohnmackey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Jay sits down with former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden where she pulls back the curtain on an extraordinary journey of love, profound loss, and unrelenting public scrutiny. After first rejecting a young senator's marriage proposal five times, she and husband President Joe Biden ultimately built a family rooted in fierce loyalty and unwavering devotion. Jill shares what it takes to navigate life’s hardest moments - from the unimaginable grief of losing her son Beau to cancer, to her son Hunter's battle with addiction, to her husband's ongoing health struggles and heartbreaking political exit. Jill’s story highlights the radical power of staying present, and the impact of making a conscious decision to always choose joy no matter where you are in life.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Move Forward After Major Life Changes
How to Cultivate a Lasting Marriage
How to Instill Confidence in Those Around You
How to Advocate for Your Health
How to Navigate Loving Someone Through Addiction
How to Survive Unimaginable Grief
As you navigate your own journey, remember to lead with compassion and be kind, because we never truly know the hidden struggles behind someone else's smile.
In her new book, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, Jill shares her White House experiences for the first time, in her own words. You can order here: https://bit.ly/ViewFromTheEastWing
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
01:26 A New Life Trajectory
06:39 Saying “No” Five Times
08:03 Lessons in Independence
09:56 Building Loving Relationships
15:08 A Blessing in Disguise
17:17 "My Husband Is Not Dying"
19:26 Grieving Loved Ones
21:18 A True Partnership
23:01 Redefining Your Role
23:53 The Weight of the World
25:32 Practicing Radical Presence
26:16 "We Won!"
27:50 Life’s Greatest Gift
31:52 Beyond the Classroom
32:31 The Health Gap
36:06 Panic in the Green Room
38:04 "I Had No Choice"
40:06 The Morning After
42:20 Alternate Realities
44:08 A Cruel Diagnosis
45:31 Strength in the Storm
46:12 An Unimaginable Loss
48:55 Learning to Live With the Pain
50:55 The Intervention
52:42 Breaking the Stigma Around Addiction
54:38 Jill on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | https://joebiden.com/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/DrJillBiden/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drbiden
X | https://x.com/DrBiden
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay taps into the question so many people quietly carry: “Is this really what I’m meant to do?” With honesty and clarity, he challenges the myths we’ve been taught about purpose, that it’s a single calling, that passion comes first, or that clarity arrives before action. Instead, Jay reframes purpose as something you build through curiosity, experimentation, and small, consistent steps. He reminds us that most people aren’t lost, they’re avoiding what they already know because of what it might cost.
Jay offers a practical framework for finding direction. He points to the things that come naturally, what deeply moves or frustrates you, the challenges you’ve lived through, and even who you envy as signals worth paying attention to. These aren’t random, they’re clues guiding you toward the work that’s truly aligned with you. The message is simple but powerful: stop waiting for certainty, start moving, and trust that clarity comes through action.
In this episode you'll find:
How to Find Your Purpose
How to Turn Passion Into Purpose
How to Start Before You’re Ready
How to Overcome Fear of Failure
How to Build Confidence Through Action
How to Become More Yourself
The quiet ideas you keep returning to, the things that light something up inside you, the dreams you keep pushing aside, they matter for a reason. Start where you are, with what you have, and trust that clarity often comes after action, not before it.
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
00:00 Intro
01:21 The Biggest Lie About “Following Your Passion”
02:20 The Myth of Having One True Calling
03:25 Why You Won’t Feel Certain When You Find It
04:06 Your Purpose Doesn’t Have to Be Your Job
05:36 4 Real Places to Look for Your Purpose
11:02 4 Hidden Obstacles That Keep You Stuck
14:50 Stop Trying to “Find” Your Purpose — Start Testing It
16:25 The 1% Rule That Changes Your Direction
17:44 Stop Talking About It, Start Doing the Work
18:43 Your Environment Shapes Your Future
19:39 Discomfort Means You’re on the Right Path
20:27 The One Action to Take in the Next 48 Hours
22:26 The 3 Paths That Lead You to Purpose
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often tell ourselves that we’ll start pursuing our goals when we have more time, more energy, or more motivation. But the truth is that lasting change is usually built in the small pockets of time we already have. In this episode, Jay explores how the hours after work can directly shape our lives, revealing why so many people feel stuck despite having big dreams for themselves.
Through practical insights and personal stories, Jay shares how to break free from autopilot routines, overcome decision fatigue, and create evenings that leave you feeling fulfilled rather than depleted. He reminds us that success is rarely the result of one dramatic decision, but of consistent choices that align with the person we want to become. The life you imagine for yourself may be closer than you think, it starts with how you spend today.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to Reclaim Your Evenings
How to Break the After-Work Autopilot
How to Batch Tasks and Save Time
How to Build Energy Instead of Draining It
How to Turn Small Actions Into Big Results
How to Use Your 5-to-9 to Change Your Life
You don't need a perfect plan, endless motivation, or extra hours in the day to start moving your life forward. Real change is often built through small decisions made consistently, especially on the ordinary days when no one is watching.
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
01:19 Spending Your 5-9 Wrong
04:12 Shift #1: Change Your First Habit After Work
06:31 Shift #2: Batch Small Tasks to Avoid Getting Overwhelmed
07:48 Shift #3: Stop Waiting to Feel Good Before Taking Action
10:55 Shift #4: Give Yourself One Meaningful Goal Each Night
12:48 Shift #5: Build Evenings That Help Regain Your Energy
15:49 Make the Right Choices to Spend Your Evenings Right
20:49 Positively Impact Your Future Years
23:04 Work for the Things You Care About
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emilie Kiser sits down with Jay for her first in depth conversation about the loss of her son, Trigg, and what life has looked like in the months after. Emilie speaks candidly about grief, guilt, marriage, motherhood, and the pressure of navigating tragedy while also living publicly online. Instead of trying to offer perfect answers, this episode focuses on the reality of surviving something life-altering one moment at a time.
The conversation also shines a light on the importance of pool safety, prevention, and the measures that can help protect families from unimaginable loss. Emilie opens up about therapy, boundaries, support systems, and the reality that grief doesn’t disappear, it becomes something you learn to carry. It’s a deeply honest conversation about love, accountability, healing, and finding a way to keep living after life changes forever.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Live Alongside Grief
How to Support Someone After Loss
How to Set Boundaries Online
How to Grieve Together as a Couple
How to Protect Your Children Better
How to Heal One Day at a Time
How to Show Up for Your Family in Pain
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. Strength doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay. It simply means continuing to love, continuing to show up, and continuing to hope even when life feels different than before.
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
02:51 Life Before Everything Changed
05:30 Losing a Beloved Son
07:21 Searching for Answers After Tragedy
09:41 The Unimaginable Pain of Losing a Child
12:35 Navigating Grief in the Public Eye
14:17 Accepting There May Never Be Answers
15:43 Facing Judgment Online
18:08 What Grief Teaches You About Life
21:45 Learning to Live With Grief
23:51 Dealing With Public Assumptions
28:18 Living With Regret and Raising Awareness
30:33 Why It All Felt So Cruel
32:07 How Do You Heal After Child Loss?
36:00 Surviving Grief Day by Day
38:06 Returning to Work While Grieving
41:01 The Promise That Kept Her Going
44:52 Learning to Forgive Your Partner
49:55 Living With the Void of Loss
51:14 Keeping Trigg’s Memory Alive
53:16 What is The Most Helpful Thing To Say?
55:51 The Biggest Lesson After Loss
58:09 Preventing Another Tragedy
01:03:31 Balancing Privacy and Public Record
01:06:44 Protecting Trigg’s Final Moments
Episode Resources:
Website |
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@emiliekiser
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/emilie.henrichsen/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/emiliekiser/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliekiser
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.