Do you think fame makes people happy?

Would you give up money for peace of mind?

Today, Jay sits down with Emma Watson, actress, activist, and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, for a rare and deeply personal conversation. Beloved around the world as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, Emma has since become a powerful voice for gender equality and sustainability. In this exclusive interview, Emma reflects on her decision to step away from Hollywood and shares how time for study and self-discovery has allowed her to redefine success, find fulfillment, and reclaim her voice.

Emma shares the challenges of growing up in the public eye, carrying enormous responsibility from such a young age, and the courage it took to step back from a thriving career to prioritize her health and personal growth. She reflects on how fame blurred the lines between who she was and the roles she played, and how learning to embrace vulnerability, discomfort, and imperfection has become central to her growth.

Together, Jay and Emma explore the power of speaking truth with kindness, the importance of creating art from personal experience, and why building authentic relationships rooted in honesty and care matters more than any external achievement.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Be Honest With Yourself

How to Learn From Discomfort

How to Embrace Failure as a Starting Point

How to Separate Who You Are From What You Do

How to Build Truly Supportive Friendships

How to Step Away While Staying True to Yourself

How to Speak Truth With Kindness

How to Live Aligned With Your Values

Every day is a chance to pause, return to what matters most, and take even the smallest step toward living with honesty and purpose. You’re allowed to evolve, to begin again, and to create a life that feels whole and meaningful, one choice, one conversation, one truth at a time.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

02:35 Choosing to Show Up for Yourself

05:50 Designing a Life You Truly Enjoy

09:09 Admitting When Life is Challenging

11:06 Rediscovering the Joy of Learning

17:27 Why Discomfort Can Be Your Greatest Teacher

21:13 Taking Accountability With Grace and Courage

23:10 Sensitivity as Your Superpower

26:16 Lessons From a Nontraditional Childhood

30:38 Do You Still Need the Spotlight?

34:16 The Healing Power of Taking a Pause

41:38 Living Under Intense Public Pressure

44:55 Living Between Two Worlds

49:15 How Did You Become Hermione?

54:03 Separating Self From the Role You Play

57:54 The Hidden Cost of Never Slowing Down

01:07:40 Dating is Complicated For Everyone!

01:09:57 Revealing the Real You to Others

01:11:44 Emma’s One-Woman Play

01:20:08 What is Real Love?

01:26:27 Finding Love Beyond the Fantasy

01:32:35 Facing the Question: Why Are You Not Married Yet?

01:38:47 Trust Versus Telling the Truth

01:41:29 Choosing Partnership, Not Obligation

01:44:56 Asking Yourself the Hard Questions

01:48:25 How Fame Reshapes Everyday Life

01:51:44 What Did It Really Take to Step Away?

01:56:45 Learning to Trust Your Inner Voice

02:00:21 Loving Yourself Without Judgment

02:05:45 Finding Acceptance in Community

02:08:00 What Makes a Real Friend?

02:13:58 What Work Are You Avoiding?

02:32:20 Honoring the People Who Shape Us

02:44:01 Remembering Our Shared Humanity

Episode Resources:

Emma Watson | Instagram

Emma Watson | Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the biggest shift you wish you’d made sooner?

What advice would you give your younger self before 30?

In this special reflection, Jay opens up about the lessons he wishes he’d known before turning 30, insights that could have spared him time, energy, and unnecessary stress. Now, at 38, he shares eight counterintuitive truths from psychology and human behavior that have reshaped the way he lives, loves, and works.

From realizing that people think about us far less than we imagine, to understanding that burnout comes more from a lack of meaning than from long hours, Jay invites us to reexamine the subtle habits and hidden fears that quietly drain our lives.

These aren’t just ideas, they’re practical tools to help you stop overthinking, release old fears, and make choices that align with the life you truly want.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to Rely on Discipline Over Motivation

How to See Most Fears as Echoes of the Past

How to Use Belonging to Fuel Lasting Change

How to Prevent Burnout by Finding Meaning

How to Stop Your Brain From Distorting the Future

Growth isn’t about waiting for the “right” moment—it’s about shifting how we see ourselves and the choices we make daily. The lessons Jay shares are powerful reminders that every season, good or bad, is temporary, and that true peace comes from living a life of meaning, not perfection.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast

What We Discuss:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Are They Really Thinking About You?

04:26 Being Busy Doesn’t Always Mean Productive

07:33 Depth Over Breadth

11:04 Discipline Is Easier Than Motivation

14:14 Fear Is Just the Past on Repeat

18:27 You Are Who You Surround Yourself With

23:14 Are You Experiencing Burnout?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.