Jay Shetty Podcast

Common Exclusive: ''I Was a Broken Kid, But This Mindset Shift Got me Grammy's!''

Do you struggle with self-doubt sometimes? What helped you get through a tough emotional season? Today, Jay sits down with award-winning rapper, actor, and activist Common for a deeply moving live conversation recorded at the legendary Chicago Theater. Known for his poetic lyrics and conscious artistry, Common opens up about his journey from a young boy on the South Side of Chicago to becoming an Academy Award, Emmy, and three-time Grammy winner. In this intimate conversation they explore the emotional and spiritual work behind his success. From heartbreak and rejection to healing and purpose, Common shares what it really took to become the man he is today. Common shares personal stories of growth and transformation, starting with his childhood dream of becoming a professional basketball player and how he eventually found his voice through writing and music. He reflects on the moments that shaped his purpose, including the story of Emmett Till, which moved him to live with more intention. Common also opens up about the heartbreak that forced him to confront the ways he was dimming his light, and the daily spiritual practices that help him stay grounded today, like reading scripture, praying, practicing gratitude, and staying active. Jay and Common also dive into what it means to be vulnerable in hip-hop, why self-love is the foundation for every other kind of love, and how trusting the divine plan can turn disappointment into direction. They explore how trusting a bigger plan can help turn setbacks into clarity, and share personal insights on setting boundaries, building real friendships, and staying connected to your highest energy. In this interview, you’ll learn: How to Transform Pain into Purpose How to Stop Dimming Your Light in Relationships Why Vulnerability is a Superpower in Creativity How to Build Daily Practices for Spiritual Alignment How to Trust God’s Plan, Even When It’s Painful How to Attract Friendships that Match Your Frequency Whether you're moving through heartbreak, looking for direction, or trying to reconnect with your purpose, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your story matters and you're right where you need to be. With love and gratitude, Jay Shetty What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Live In Chicago 02:15 Common Before the Fame 06:11 Jay On His Childhood & Upbringing 06:44 Pain As A Catalyst for Creativity 09:01 Proximity To Greatness Is A Motivation 10:11 Living Our Dreams To The Fullest 13:49 How to Trust God's Plan 16:46 Trust That There’s a Bigger Plan 22:19 Transitioning Between Careers 30:15 Attracting & Building New Friendships 36:18 Everyday Routine For Body & Mind Care 40:40 A Poem From the Audience 43:21 My New Favourite Colour 48:49 Pushing Through Fear As A Motivator 53:33 Letting Go and Letting God 55:26 Common On Final Five Episode Resources: https://www.thinkcommon.com/ https://www.youtube.com/thinkcommon https://www.instagram.com/common/ https://x.com/common https://www.facebook.com/thinkcommon/ 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

COCommonguestJSJay Shettyhost

Jul 23, 2025·1h 3m·Watch on YouTube ↗

📖 CHAPTERS

1. 1

   Live at the Chicago Theatre: Jay welcomes Common and sets the tone

   Jay Shetty opens the first-ever live podcast tour recording in Chicago, celebrating the setting and introducing Common to a hometown crowd. He frames the conversation as a look behind the awards—who Common was before fame and what shaped his mindset.

2. 2

   A South Side foundation: family, community, and early purpose

   Common describes growing up as a young Black boy on Chicago’s South Side with a strong mother, supportive stepfather, and a community that taught faith, survival, and love. Even without a defined career path, he felt called to contribute something meaningful to the world.

3. 3

   Emmett Till’s story: turning pain into positive energy

   Common recounts learning about Emmett Till in school and how the story deeply affected him—producing guilt, pain, and a sense of responsibility to live well. Instead of staying in anger, he explains how he practiced finding the lesson and choosing a life that reflects hope and dignity.

4. 4

   Proximity to greatness: being a Chicago Bulls ball boy and dreaming bigger

   Common shares that he was a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls when Michael Jordan entered the league, and how witnessing excellence up close expanded what felt possible. He contrasts the impact of heavy experiences (racial injustice) with uplifting ones (seeing greatness firsthand).

5. 5

   When the first dream changes: injury, writing, and evolving purpose

   Basketball was Common’s most serious early dream, until a high school injury sidelined him and pushed him toward writing. He emphasizes that dreams can evolve rather than end, and that having a dream also provided boundaries that kept him out of destructive paths.

6. 6

   Trusting God’s plan: surrender without pretending it doesn’t hurt

   Jay and Common discuss how disappointment still stings—missed roles, lost opportunities, unmet hopes—yet trust grows through practice. Common frames it as aligning with a “master plan,” staying obedient, present, and open to lessons even when the outcome isn’t what he wanted.

7. 7

   Heartbreak as a breakthrough: not dimming your light

   Common describes a devastating adult heartbreak that left him feeling broken, struggling to eat and find peace, and leaning on reading, reflection, and support. The core lesson was recognizing how he dimmed his light in relationships and around people he perceived as “greater,” then learning to affirm his worth and show up fully.

8. 8

   Vulnerability in hip-hop: telling the truth as a higher purpose

   Jay highlights how uncommon it can be for hip-hop artists to openly discuss therapy, trauma, and self-care. Common explains that supportive friends helped him be himself, and pivotal fan encounters showed him that truthful art can transform lives—reinforcing vulnerability as duty and purpose.

9. 9

   Adult friendships and discernment: choosing energy that sharpens you

   They explore how to build friendships that match who you’re becoming rather than who you used to be. Common emphasizes discernment—reading energy, intentions, reciprocity, and how you feel around someone—while also staying accountable to be a good friend.

10. 10

    Daily self-care routine: prayer, meditation, movement, and food

    Common outlines his morning ritual: gratitude, scripture, prayer, and a personalized “South Side meditation” that fits his real life. He adds supplements, movement, and clean eating as tools that improve clarity, voice, and energy—supporting his idea of wholeness across mind, body, and spirit.

11. 11

    Audience moment: Daniel performs “My New Favorite Color”

    Jay creates an “exposure” moment by inviting an audience poet to share a 60-second piece. Daniel performs a poem about love and synesthesia-inspired imagery, modeling courage, vulnerability, and seizing unexpected opportunities in real time.

12. 12

    Common freestyles: play, presence, and creative confidence

    Inspired by Daniel and the live energy, Common launches into an off-the-dome freestyle referencing purpose, Chicago, spirituality, and the moment. It becomes a demonstration of creative freedom—showing what happens when skill meets permission and playfulness.

13. 13

    Seizing the moment led to “Glory”: the Selma story and overcoming doubt

    Common recounts how he pushed past hesitation during Selma when the film team wasn’t planning to use a song from him. Feeling guided, he called John Legend, proposed submitting a song anyway, suggested the title “Glory,” and the resulting work became an award-winning, life-defining achievement—proof that courage plus listening can change everything.

14. 14

    Final Five + messages to past and future self: love, boundaries, and purpose

    In the rapid-fire Final Five, Common shares his best advice (love others as yourself), rejects a defeated mindset (“same day, same…”), and names rejection as the hardest test of self-love because it reactivates childhood wounds. He closes by speaking to his younger and older self—affirming growth, patience, joy, service, and the ongoing quest.