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Dr Rangan ChatterjeeDr Rangan Chatterjee

"Fame Is a Liar. Success Almost Broke Me.” – Jon Bon Jovi’s Most Honest Interview Yet

This episode is brought to you by: AG1: Get 10 FREE Travel Packs and Welcome Kit worth $80 visit: https://bit.ly/43FwxQl TIMELINE: Get 25% off your order of Mitopure https://timeline.com/livemore BON CHARGE: Save 20% off with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore Have you ever thought about meeting your own heroes and what you would actually say to them if you did? When I was growing up, I used to idolise Jon Bon Jovi. I had a huge flag of him up on my bedroom wall and would listen to every bit of music he released with his band, watch every interview that he gave and read every book I could find about him. I tried to write songs like him, grew my hair like him and even started wearing cowboy boots - just like he did. And, to date, I have seen Bon Jovi in concert on 33 different occasions. So, when the opportunity to talk to him on my podcast came up, you can probably imagine how I felt. Jon Bon Jovi is the frontman for the Grammy Award-winning band Bon Jovi. They have been together for over 40 years, have sold an incredible 130 million albums and performed in over 50 countries around the world for more than 40 million fans. In 2018, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in recognition of their longevity and impact on popular music and outside of his music career, Jon and his wife run the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping those in need “one SOUL at a time.” Yet, beyond the global fame, the sold-out arenas and extensive charitable work, I discovered a man who’s thoughtful, grounded and genuinely curious about what it means to live well. During our incredible conversation, we discuss: • The key ingredients of a happy life: gratitude, friendship, contentment, joy and love. • What Jon has learned about long-term relationships – in marriage, friendship and with his band. • How losing his voice and undergoing vocal surgery became a lesson in acceptance, patience and rediscovering gratitude. • The real cost of success, and why he believes it’s always been worth it. • Why optimism has always been at the heart of Bon Jovi’s music, and why the world needs it now more than ever. • What fame can take from you, and how to stay grounded and authentic in the face of it. • Jon’s reflections on ageing, spirituality and finding peace within himself. • His advice for anyone who has a dream but feels afraid to take the first step. Having this incredible opportunity to speak with Jon reminded me why his music has always resonated so deeply with me. Beneath the anthems and achievements lies a simple message – that happiness, optimism and connection are what truly make life meaningful. Perhaps Jon’s story – and this conversation – will encourage you to think about what brings you joy, who brings you meaning, and how you might share a little more of yourself with the world. They say never meet your heroes - and I understand why they do. But, hand on heart, I can honestly tell you that there is a little boy inside of me, who’s pretty pleased he got to meet his. #feelbetterlivemore Find out about Jon Bon Jovi: https://www.bonjovi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jonbonjovi/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/BonJovi/ https://twitter.com/bonjovi https://www.youtube.com/user/bonjovi The JBJ Soul Foundation https://jbjsf.org/ The JBJ Soul Kitchens https://jbjsoulkitchen.org/ Bon Jovi’s new tour: Forever Tour https://www.bonjovi.com/live.php Bon Jovi: Forever UK https://amzn.to/49iMx0J #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Jon Bon JoviguestDr. Rangan Chatterjeehost
Nov 12, 20251h 14mWatch on YouTube ↗

EVERY SPOKEN WORD

  1. JJ

    I don't know how many lives you get, but take this chance while you get it. If you have a dream and it's truly your dream, pursue it. I don't care if you fall down. I don't care if you fail. Pursue it, because when you lay your head down on the pillow at night, you just need to know that you gave it your all.

  2. RC

    As I listen to the lyrics in your latest album, as I listen to you talk in a lot of your recent interviews, it strikes me that you're in a very special place. You feel to be, to me at least, super happy, super contented, someone who's very comfortable in their own skin. Why do you think that's the case?

  3. JJ

    It's a process. There has been progress. I haven't quite achieved that place of, you know, satisfaction yet. But in the process, I can take more of a macro view and see how far I've come in these last few years spiritually, mentally, physically, and I, I'm not quite where I wanna be yet, but I'll make it by the target date.

  4. RC

    Yeah.

  5. JJ

    You know? And I don't know what the target date is, but I'll make it on the target date because I, I feel like I'm making progress every day.

  6. RC

    Yeah. The mission statement of the album is the song Legendary.

  7. JJ

    Mm.

  8. RC

    And I've been listening to it again and again all week, and I'm someone who thinks a lot about the ingredients to a happy, meaningful, and purposeful life. When I hear the bridge and chorus of Legendary, all the ingredients that I write about are in it. "I raise my hands up to the sky." To me, that speaks to something that's greater than us.

  9. JJ

    That's right.

  10. RC

    "Don't need more to tell me I'm alive." It speaks to appreciation. "Got what I want 'cause I got what I need." Gratitude. "Got a fistful of friends that'll stand up for me." Friendship. "Right where I am is where I wanna be." Contentment. "Friday night comes around like a song. Sweet Carolina, we all sing along." Joy. "Got my brown-eyed girl and she believes in me." The love of your wife. Appreciation, gratitude, friendship, contentment, joy, and the love of someone.

  11. JJ

    Yeah.

  12. RC

    That's it, isn't it?

  13. JJ

    That is the keys to a good and happy, healthy life, yes, and I feel like I have all of those elements. Yes, most definitely.

  14. RC

    Did you know when you wrote that that all the ingredients, or what I consider to be the ingredients for happiness and contentment, are literally contained within those six or seven lines?

  15. JJ

    Well, I may not have broken it down the way you did, but I knew each line was a complete thought.

  16. RC

    Mm-hmm.

  17. JJ

    You know? I got what I want 'cause I've got what I need. If that was all the chorus was, that's good enough for me. That's it. That's a complete thought. I don't need anything else.

  18. RC

    Yeah.

  19. JJ

    Got a fistful of friends that'll stand up for me. Boy, if that isn't a complete thought and, and something that we all aspire to in our lives. Um, now you're making me sing it. Right where I am is where I wanna be.

  20. RC

    Mm-hmm.

  21. JJ

    Well, am I really vocally where I wanna be? Well, pretty close. Not exactly, but pretty darn close. I'm in the room.

  22. RC

    Yeah.

  23. JJ

    So I feel good about that, the progress, the process. "Friday night comes around like a song. It's Sweet Carolina, we all sing along." That kind of camaraderie and joy-

  24. RC

    Yeah

  25. JJ

    ... that is my aspiration. That is the absolute only sole reason I'm sitting here in this interview today, only sole reason I'm re-releasing this record, and the sole reason I wanna do another show again, to seek joy, to hold hands with joy.

  26. RC

    Yeah.

  27. JJ

    And, and that's the idea. Um, got my brown-eyed girl and she believed in me. That was who got me through all this, yeah.

  28. RC

    Yeah. You're speaking to Dorothea-

  29. JJ

    Yeah

  30. RC

    ... your wife.

Episode duration: 1:14:26

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