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Jay Shetty PodcastJay Shetty Podcast

#1 Mindset Shift You NEED to Build REAL Confidence!

Do you feel like you need to prove yourself? Who do you think you’re trying to impress? Today, Jay sits down with his close friend Lilly Singh for a transformative and deeply honest in-person conversation at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver. Known for being a trailblazer in digital media and late-night television, Lilly reflects on the hidden challenges behind being “the first”, from navigating cultural expectations to battling loneliness and self-doubt. Lilly shares how much of her early success was driven by the need to prove her worth to others, and how she is now shifting toward proving herself right instead of chasing outside validation. Together, Jay and Lilly explore the inner voices we all carry, from the critic to the voice of compassion, emphasizing the importance of practicing daily self-care to balance high standards with grace. Lilly shares her personal rituals such as journaling, naming her inner voices, and reframing failure as growth, while Jay emphasizes the transformative power of reflecting on the past as proof of resilience. Together, they remind us that even in moments of pressure and imperfection, we are not defined by our accomplishments but by the person we are becoming. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Turn Failure Into Growth How to Quiet Your Inner Critic How to Practice Daily Self-Compassion How to Live with Your Inner Voices How to Stop Chasing Outside Validation Every challenge you’ve faced so far has proven that you are stronger than you think, and every step forward is a reminder that you are capable of creating a life that feels true to you. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:20 Growing Up Without Options 09:28 Realizing You Always Have a Choice 17:37 Committing to a Life of Growth 19:01 Learning to Stop Self-Blame 21:56 Breaking Free from Unrealistic Standards 27:55 Why Good Enough Is Enough 31:26 Living Alongside Self-Criticism 36:47 You Are More Than What You Do 41:32 Finding Strength in Past Resilience 44:42 Proving to Yourself You Can 48:25 Why Women Aren’t Taught About Their Bodies 52:40 Past, Present, and Future Reflections 59:39 Friendship That Stands the Test of Time Episode Resources: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfm4y4rHF5HGrSr-qbvOwOg https://www.instagram.com/lilly https://www.facebook.com/LillySingh/ https://www.tiktok.com/@lilly https://lillysinghbook.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jayshetty https://www.facebook.com/jayshetty/ https://x.com/jayshetty https://www.linkedin.com/in/shettyjay/ https://www.youtube.com/@JayShettyPodcast http://jayshetty.me

Lilly SinghguestJay Shettyhost
Sep 17, 20251h 2mWatch on YouTube ↗

CHAPTERS

  1. 3:20 – 9:28

    “Growing up without options”: cultural disappointment, gender expectations, and a lifelong chip

    Lilly describes how early messages about being a second daughter shaped her drive to prove worthiness. Everyday gender rules and family expectations taught her to internalize judgment and perform for approval.

  2. 9:28 – 17:37

    Realizing you always have a choice: the late-night show pressure cooker

    Lilly recounts initially saying no to late-night, then saying yes after recognizing the “historic” framing—and how that intensified the burden of representation. The experience was grueling (workload, budget constraints, COVID production), and public expectations made it feel impossible to satisfy everyone.

  3. 17:37 – 19:01

    Committing to growth: why hard experiences become the raw material for confidence

    Jay asks whether confidence could exist without taking risks that might “fail,” and Lilly says growth required every difficult chapter. She frames resilience as something built through adversity, not avoided by perfection.

  4. 19:01 – 21:56

    Stop self-blame with evidence: the “100% success rate” mindset and journaling practice

    Lilly offers a practical tool for people in the middle of a transition: remember you’ve survived everything so far. She journals past moments she got through, creating a written record that counters the brain’s negative, distorted narrative.

  5. 21:56 – 27:55

    Breaking free from unrealistic standards: high expectations, conditional love, and learning self-compassion

    Lilly identifies her core pattern: unrealistically high standards for herself that spill onto friends and relationships. She ties expectations to love and priority, then shares how practicing self-compassion changed her reactions and reduced relational spirals.

  6. 27:55 – 31:26

    Why “good enough” is enough: high standards plus high grace (Roger Federer lesson)

    Jay highlights a paradox of elite performers: they demand excellence while offering themselves grace. Using Roger Federer’s perspective on winning/losing points, Jay reframes “not perfect” as fully compatible with mastery and a meaningful life.

  7. 31:26 – 36:47

    Living alongside self-criticism: parts work, naming inner voices, and choosing who leads

    Lilly explains her shift from trying to eliminate self-criticism to learning to live alongside it. She uses ‘parts’ (like Inside Out) and names her inner voices—manager, critic, dictator, compassion, joy, loneliness—so she can acknowledge them and intentionally decide which voice takes the lead.

  8. 36:47 – 41:32

    You are more than what you do: therapy takeaways and an unconventional ChatGPT practice

    Lilly describes using therapy consistently, then debriefing with ChatGPT to reinforce insights and spot which ‘part’ is speaking. A major breakthrough is separating identity from accomplishments; when AI described her without achievements, it helped her emotionally internalize self-worth beyond performance.

  9. 41:32 – 44:42

    Finding strength in past resilience: why negative memories dominate and how to reclaim your ‘record’

    Jay expands on why people struggle to remember successes: negative experiences get repeated and reinforced more than positive ones. He connects this to breakups and loneliness, arguing that reminders (journals, records, reflections) help people see their worth when they can’t access it emotionally.

  10. 44:42 – 48:25

    Proving to yourself you can: ambition without burnout, acting lessons, and making “little Lilly” proud

    Lilly explains she used to believe she had to choose between hustling and healing, but now sees they strengthen each other. Her motivation has shifted from proving others wrong to proving herself right—taking vulnerable steps like working with an acting coach and accepting looking foolish to grow.

  11. 48:25 – 52:40

    Why women aren’t taught about their bodies: Lilly’s film ‘Doin’ It’ and confronting sexual shame

    Lilly introduces her theatrical film ‘Doin’ It,’ a sex comedy centered on a 30-something virgin who teaches sex ed. She discusses how cultural silence and shame—especially for women of color—leave people uninformed about pleasure, anatomy, and consent, and why the film pushes that conversation into the open.

  12. 52:40 – 59:39

    Past, present, and future reflections: rapid-fire questions and identity evolution

    In a lighter segment, Lilly answers ‘Past, Present, Future’ cards—celebrity crush, reality show title, and what she’ll embrace when older. The segment reinforces her theme of lifelong learning and the permission to change over time.

  13. 59:39

    Friendship that stands the test of time: advice to younger self, permission to change, and closing gratitude

    Jay shows childhood photos and asks what Lilly needed to hear then and now; she emphasizes letting herself be a kid and allowing identity to evolve. The episode ends with mutual appreciation, Jay praising Lilly’s early support, and Lilly sharing Jay’s behind-the-scenes generosity and service.

  14. Live show kickoff with Lilly Singh: friendship, humor, and why this conversation matters

    Jay welcomes Lilly onstage in Denver for the final tour stop, and the two set a playful, candid tone. Jay shares how he “stalked” Lilly into becoming friends, establishing trust for a deeper conversation about confidence and identity.

  15. Trailblazing beginnings: why Lilly started YouTube (and the loneliness behind it)

    Lilly explains that being “first” is celebrated but also isolating—there’s no roadmap or shared experience. She started YouTube in 2010 while feeling lost in a linear life, craving connection and a sense of aliveness.

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