Alicia Keys: 5 Ways to Overcome Self Doubt & Build Confidence Within

How do you handle negative self-talk? What helps you overcome self-doubt? Today, Jay sits down with Grammy Award-winning artist Alicia Keys as she shares her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and holistic living. Alicia founded Keys SoulCare, a skincare line emphasizing holistic well-being, and is a co-founder of the initiative She Is the Music, advocating for gender equality in the music industry. The conversation sheds light into Alicia's evolution from a young girl with dreams to an icon balancing a multifaceted career. Jay and Alicia discuss the highs and lows of fame, navigating self-doubt, and the pressures of public life, providing listeners with valuable insights on managing stress and fostering a positive self-image. Alicia reflects on her childhood fears and the challenges of finding self-worth, candidly revealing how these experiences shaped her. She emphasizes the importance of staying grounded through practices like affirmations, journaling, and mindful rituals—habits that help her stay true to herself amid a whirlwind career. Jay and Alicia then talk about the beauty of affirmations and the importance of letting go of perfectionism, a journey that led Alicia to adopt a more holistic approach to life. In her partnership with husband Swizz Beatz, she finds a harmonious balance of "flow" and "design," where they support each other's growth and freedom. This dynamic extends to their parenting style, where they teach their children gratitude and self-acceptance while instilling a sense of humility and grace. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Embrace Your True Self How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Fear How to Find Confidence Within Yourself How to Turn Negative Thoughts into Positivity How to Discover Your Inner Strength How to Set Boundaries for Self-Care How to Be Kind to Yourself How to Trust Your Own Choices The journey through self-doubt, fears, and external pressures highlights the importance of staying grounded, trusting intuition, and letting go of the need to seek others' approval. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:54 What Would You Say to Your Younger Self? 05:34 When You Have the Need to Protect Yourself 09:02 From Being Doubtful to Becoming Curious 13:43 What Is Your Affirmation Today? 15:30 Stop Being Mean to Yourself 19:06 Finding the Will to Love Your Own Skin 26:49 Spend More Time with Yourself 32:14 The Gifts and the Gaps 36:19 What Have You Learned From Your Partner? 38:06 Having Healthy Conflict in Your Relationship 45:53 Finding Balance Between Control and Flow 47:51 The Love for Crystals 51:32 Losing the Ability to Trust Yourself 57:15 What Are Your Go-To Rituals to Feel Better? 01:00:08 Teach Your Children to Practice Gratitude 01:03:45 Allow Other People to Speak and Just Listen 01:05:22 Creating Safe Space for Children 01:09:35 Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway 01:15:19 Be Clear with Your Vision 01:22:12 How Have You Protected Yourself from Fame and Success? 01:26:32 Alicia in Final Five Episode Resources: Alicia Keys | Website Alicia Keys | YouTube Alicia Keys | Instagram Alicia Keys | Facebook Alicia Keys | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Jay Shetty?

  This episode is brought to you by Amtrak. You know that feeling when you're already tired and you haven't even gotten there yet? That's where Amtrak comes in. Leave the driving behind and settle into a comfortable seat with plenty of room to stretch out. Catch up on work with wifi, grab a snack at the cafe car, or just sit back and enjoy your favourite podcast. Choose a seller or North East Regional and get there without the stress of getting there. Visit amtrak.com to plan your next trip. This episode is brought to you by Mazda. Confidence isn't something Mazda finds, it's something they practise. That's the thinking behind every Mazda. With proactive safety features designed to help keep you more aware, more connected, and more engaged with the road ahead.

• 0:44Jay Shetty?

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• 1:28Jay Shetty?

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• 1:51Alicia Keys?

  I felt like I had to protect myself from being hurt from people that I love.

• 1:55Speaker 02

  We've got a special guest in the building. Ninety million records sold. Sixteen-time Grammy-winning musicians. Alicia Keys.

• 2:02Alicia Keys?

  You're gonna get to that pole. You see that light? After the pole, you're gonna get to that light. You see that tree after the light? You're gonna get to that tree. And I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. If there's something that you love, go after it, because it's meant for you.

• 2:21Speaker 03

  The number one health and wellness podcast.

• 2:24Speaker 04

  Jay Shetty. Jay Shetty. The one, the only Jay Shetty.

• 2:30Jay Shetty?

  Hey, everyone. Welcome back to On Purpose, the place you come to become happier, healthier, and more healed. I'm so grateful for the amazing conversations that I get to have, which are all about human evolution, growth, purification, and cleansing. Today's guest is someone who has talked about this at length in her amazing memoir, in her documentaries, in so many forms. And today, I'm so excited that we finally have her on the podcast in the flesh, in person, although her voice and her energy speaks through the microphone at any time. Today's guest is the one, the only, Alicia Keys, a 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer. Let me say it again, 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer,

• 3:14Jay Shetty?

  songwriter, musician, producer, founder of Keys Soul Care, which you'll be hearing about today, New York Times bestselling author, film, television, and Broadway producer as well, accomplished actress, entrepreneur, and a powerful force in the world of activism. Alicia is one of the original founders of She is the Music, an initiative to create change for women and build an equal future for music. Alicia sold over 65 million records, over 5 billion streams, and built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments. Hell's Kitchen, the 13-time Tony Award-nominated original stage musical Alicia diligently worked

• 3:56Jay Shetty?

  for 13 years to create, opened on Broadway at the Schubert Theatre on April 20, 2024. Today, we're talking about Alicia's holistic beauty and skincare line, Keys Soul Care, which I can't wait for you all to try. Welcome to On Purpose, Alicia Keys.

• 4:13Alicia Keys?

  That's so weird. Like, when you do all of that, there's something about it that's just so fascinating.

• 4:20Alicia Keys?

  And wow, and thank you for having me. And I can't believe we're in the flesh for the first time on this show.

• 4:27Jay Shetty?

  On this show.

• 4:28Alicia Keys?

  You know what I mean? This is so good and I love your show and I love your, your, your life's purpose. It's so beautiful. So, thank you for having me in your space. I'm loving this.

• 4:39Jay Shetty?

  You've been so wonderful to me over the years, honestly. We've had such a sweet relationship whenever we've collaborated.

• 4:45Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 4:45Jay Shetty?

  And from day one, you've always been so giving. But seeing as you reacted to that in that way, I wonder whether little Alicia, if she saw that that was her life ahead, what would have been her reaction if she heard all of those things were going to happen in her life?

• 5:00Alicia Keys?

  Like, you lying. Like, you lying, right? I mean, you know, as a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and, and, and visions and desires and wishes. But you just don't know what is going to come for you. You don't know what's in your world or what's going to come into your world. And I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. And so for self-preservation and protection, we say, I mean, it's probably not going to be that way for me. Or, you know, you know how it goes for me. You do these things and I remember doing these things.

• 5:44Alicia Keys?

  And it wasn't until I stopped doing those things that things really started to change. So, I still have a piece of, inside of me that that is that little girl that's kind of like, you know, you protect, you want to protect what might go wrong. And, and so I find that I, I do that sometimes, which maybe is what happened when you just rattled off all those things. And I was a little bit like, that is so crazy and weird and strange and amazing at the same time.

• 6:14Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, well, that's very relatable, I think, for people to hear that right now, to think that there was a time in your life where doubts and anxiety and fear would creep in further. It always exists for all of us, but that it controlled a part of your life. What were some of the doubts and fears and anxieties you had growing up? Whether it was to your dreams or whether it was to life in general?

• 6:36Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, what do you mean about when you were running? How about yesterday? You know what I mean? How about like, three days ago? Like? Um, as a kid growing up, I think some of my fears really circulated around. I remember I felt, I felt fearful that I wouldn't, or I felt like I had to protect myself from being hurt from people that I loved. I remember that, that, that was a, that was a thing. And I had to figure my, my way through that. There was a sense of, of lack that I was worried about. I was worried about this state of lack, or not having enough money, or not having enough, not being able to hold on to what you started to get, or things like that.

• 7:20Alicia Keys?

  I, I had to do a lot of work around that. That was a lot, that was a big one, because I mean, you really can perpetuate that cycle just simply by the fact that you believe it can happen. You know, and so that was a big one. Um, I think that, you know, there's a, there's a lot of, there was a lot of fear or, or anxiety or worry around rejection. You know, there's a lot of that. Especially as I started to become more some, a public figure where people, you know, could kind of choose to like or dislike. There was a, it was a difficult journey to understand that you, you're never gonna please everyone, period. And you're gonna spend your, you're gonna tear yourself apart trying to like make sure

• 8:03Alicia Keys?

  every single thing is the way someone else wants it to be. But I had a lot of fear about that. And I really, it was, it was a struggle for me. And I, you know, I wanted to be accepted. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to be, you know, I wanted to hear a positive reflection back to me, you know? And so it took a long time to kind of be like, yeah, I don't, I can't depend on that. You know, I have to find my own stability. I have to find my own intuition. I have to find what I believe in. And at least I can stand on that. At least I can say, I really believe that one. You know, if it didn't work out, but I really believed it. And I'm proud of it. You know what I mean? And that's a big one. You know, talk about even yesterday, I mean, Hell's Kitchen.

• 8:47Alicia Keys?

  We, we talked about Hell's Kitchen, which is my musical, which has been a big dream in the making. There were moments where I'm like, is this gonna work? Like, what if the whole, I have this whole vision, I know what I want. But what if for some reason the whole thing doesn't go the way I want? What does that mean? I mean, you have. Many, many, many dollars. You have investors that you promised them to trust you. Can I carry this? Can I hold this? Can I manifest this? Terrifying. I mean, I would speak to my kids about it just because I wanted them to know that it's scary. You know, it's scary to dream. But does that mean I'm not going to dream it? I'm not going to try it? No, I have to.

• 9:31Alicia Keys?

  So tons of things have been that.

• 9:35Jay Shetty?

  I feel like so many people who are listening right now would say, Alicia, I feel the same way. I talk to myself in my head and I think, I can't do it. I'm not meant for it. It's, it's not going to happen for me. And at the same time, they have this voice inside of them that says, you're made for more. You're made of more. I know I need to believe in myself. And we kind of feel this internal battle. How did you? What was the work you had to do in order to go from someone who was anxious, doubtful, to become someone who manifested this beautiful, incredible, full life? Not that it's easy, not that it came immediately. But what was the work in the beginning stages that you had to reorient your mind?

• 10:19Alicia Keys?

  That's a great question. I think one of the things that I had to come to terms with is that pretty much nothing is going to come in a timeframe that you think is going to come. So that's, and that's helpful because I think a lot of us are, you know, I mean, we're in such a digital space and we see all these things and we're bombarded with all these images and we're bombarded with all these kind of like carefully crafted posts of perfection. And you get freaked out about it. You're like, but I'm, you know, and fortunately, I didn't really have to grow up looking at that. So I empathize deeply with this generation. We have to, we have to evolve as young people on a whole other level than I even had to navigate.

• 11:04Alicia Keys?

  But what I mean by, and why it relates is I did, I felt like I grew up in New York City. Everybody's a hustler. You gotta go fast. You gotta make it happen. You gotta stay up all night and get up crack of dawn and it's not going to happen if you don't. And I realized, wait, you know, as, as hard as I try to push the thing forward. When it's time, it's time. And if it's not time, it don't matter what I do. It doesn't matter how much sleep I don't get. It's not going to be time until it's time. And so I think that that steadiness of like, kind of, you just have to put one foot in front of the other. It's just as simple as that. And I remember when I did my first marathon,

• 11:47Alicia Keys?

  I ran in Greece and I figured I'd never do another marathon, so I might as well do something unforgettable. But I couldn't figure out how I was gonna make it. Everything hurt. My feet hurt, my back hurt, my lower back hurt, my abs hurt, my body ached. And I couldn't figure out, how am I gonna get there? And I remember I was running with my friend who was to train with me and helped me. And he said, you see that pole? You're gonna get to that pole. You see that light? After the pole, you're gonna get to that light. You see that tree after the light? You're gonna get to that tree. And it was literally that, step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. Like this increment of small, determined moments.

• 12:32Alicia Keys?

  And so I think that, as well as coupled with taking that negative talk out of your space, like being very conscious. It happens, it's in your head, you hear it, you're like,

• 12:46Alicia Keys?

  tell yourself the opposite thing. I mean, that's how I started to really get into affirmations, which I realized that I had to create what I wanted to hear. And oftentimes, it's so many times, it's the barrage of everyone else's doubts and fears and your parents, you inherited theirs and you inherited all your peers' things and you got all these things inside you that are not even yours. And so I had to create this connection with affirmations that allowed me to say what I wanted to hear. And so I had to become very mindful to notice the negative so that I could replace it. And when I did that, It really changed everything. It changed a bunch. And I had to stop saying things that I heard my mother say.

• 13:31Alicia Keys?

  I had to stop saying things that I heard whoever else I trusted say because it wasn't serving me. Because she had picked up some stuff that I didn't need to pick up. I didn't need to hold it. Stuff like that has been how.

• 13:46Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. How many marathons have you done now?

• 13:47Alicia Keys?

  I've done two.

• 13:48Jay Shetty?

  Okay, that's impressive.

• 13:49Alicia Keys?

  I did Greece and I did New York.

• 13:51Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, wow.

• 13:52Alicia Keys?

  And I realized, the craziest thing, I realized that what I was experiencing, that ache, that pain, that lower back, the thing was childbirth.

• 14:01Jay Shetty?

  Oh.

• 14:01Alicia Keys?

  I didn't know that because the first time I hadn't given birth. But when I gave birth, I recognized the sensations. And it was similar to a marathon.

• 14:10Jay Shetty?

  Wow.

• 14:11Alicia Keys?

  It was kind of crazy, but there was a strength there that, you know, was really empowering. So only two. My brother's trying to get me to do another one. I'm like, nah, B, I'm not doing it.

• 14:22Jay Shetty?

  My wife's doing London this year. For the first time, she's been training.

• 14:26Alicia Keys?

  It's cool.

• 14:26Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 14:27Alicia Keys?

  When you do it, it's phenomenal. And you really, you really discover that it's, that your mind is stronger than your, your physical being. And you really can find this place that you didn't know you could.

• 14:38Jay Shetty?

  Absolutely. What was your affirmation this morning?

• 14:41Alicia Keys?

  Hmm, my affirmation depends on the day, right? So today, my affirmation is just, I'm gonna be on time. Because I struggle to get my kids to school on time. It's killing me. My, my youngest son has just changed schools and he's going to another school. So now I'm taking both kids to two separate places.

• 15:05Jay Shetty?

  Oh, God.

• 15:06Alicia Keys?

  I'm struggling. And my second affirmation is, I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace, have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. It's not like you're messing around and doing whatever. You're really trying your best and you're gonna figure out the rhythm of this thing. Have some grace.

• 15:23Jay Shetty?

  I love those. They're so practical. I think all of us could do all of them.

• 15:26Alicia Keys?

  Right?

• 15:26Jay Shetty?

  They're great. Yeah, and the time one's funny because it reminds me of my mom. My mom had to do the same for me and my sister. Because I went to an all boys school, she went to an all girls school. And so my mom would have to drop her and then drop me or the other way around sometimes.

• 15:38Alicia Keys?

  It is, it's, it's more than a notion. You think, I could do this if I just leave by this time. And for whatever reason, that time comes and goes over and over.

• 15:47Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 15:47Alicia Keys?

  So, it's all good.

• 15:48Jay Shetty?

  But I love how simple that is. Like, I think a lot of people also think affirmations always have to be this. Profound, like incredible statement and you're like, it's just to be on time and it's to forgive myself. And that's so real because we need to forgive ourselves every day.

• 16:03Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, it's okay. It's okay. It's really okay. So, you know, because you want the best. You want the best for yourself. You want the best for your family. You want the best outcome, you know? And it all comes from a good place, but I think sometimes we can beat ourselves up so badly about things that, you know, we can just give ourselves a little bit of a break and it's we can start again and try again and it's okay.

• 16:26Jay Shetty?

  What was the last thing you beat yourself up about really badly where you were like, I really made myself feel uncomfortable?

• 16:33Alicia Keys?

  You know, I really try not to do that. I really do. Like I really, I feel like I have a pretty good sense of self. And I feel like I have a pretty good sense also of like reality. And so I, I don't over obsess. And I don't over kind of like, I'm not overly mean to myself, but I did think about that the other day. And I said, I did this, I didn't put it up yet, but I did this, I do these things called piece of peace. And, and I call this speak to me nice. Because you're not gonna let someone else talk to you just any type of way. You're like, excuse me? How did you just, you just speak to me nice?

• 17:18Alicia Keys?

  But you yourself will speak to yourself in these crazy ways. And so I kind of was like just reflecting on you telling yourself, me telling myself, speak to me nice. Like talk to me with kindness and love. I learned that from my son a lot because my youngest, he is, he's, he's like, he's a little tough on himself and I'm like, hey, speak to yourself nice. And so I think that is something that I've, that I've learned how to embody and I really try not to spin out too much. But, um, you know, there are times, of course, you just, you know, you. But I'm like, this is really doing no good.

• 17:56Jay Shetty?

  Yes.

• 17:56Alicia Keys?

  I'm really freaking out. And I was just like, why? What are we doing in this space, in this cycle?

• 18:01Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 18:02Alicia Keys?

  Sometimes you gotta freak out, though.

• 18:03Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 18:04Alicia Keys?

  Because you gotta learn something from it. You have to like, take away whatever that is, or that energy, or that person who's spinning you like that, or that trigger that's triggering you like that. And you do have to kind of spin out just to be like, whoa, that actually gets to me a lot, why? I've been learning a lot of that, too.

• 18:21Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, there's a, I always like to remind people that guilt blocks growth. And shame doesn't help you shift. And judgment doesn't help you transform. Guilt blocks growth completely. It makes you wallow more in your guilt. And shame makes you feel stuck and shackled by it.

• 18:42Alicia Keys?

  Yes.

• 18:43Jay Shetty?

  And transformation is stunted when we're not able to be nice, kind, give ourselves grace. And it's funny, because we almost think we can guilt ourselves into moving. Like, oh, if I guilt myself enough, then maybe I'll change.

• 18:56Alicia Keys?

  I'll be motivated.

• 18:57Jay Shetty?

  Maybe I'll be motivated. Maybe you will for like, a couple of days. But over time, it runs out. If you shame yourself into change.

• 19:05Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 19:05Jay Shetty?

  Maybe for a couple of days, you'll eat better, work out more, whatever it is that you have your personal challenges with, but it's not sustainable. Like, shame and guilt are not sustainable emotions, and they run out of steam very quickly.

• 19:17Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 19:18Jay Shetty?

  And I was thinking about something that you've spoken about before is your journey with your own skin. And like, how you've had skin anxiety. And I know at one point, you went completely like, no makeup at one period of time in your life. And then now, of course, you have this, you know, you're in the beauty industry now as well. And you really care about how people care about their internal and the casing that we all have. And I know that you, you know, live a conscious, spirited life, which I really want to dive into, but I think often those of us who live spiritual lives, we can be quite negligent of our casing and of this body. And you can, you can kind of

• 19:58Alicia Keys?

  Disconnect from it, maybe.

• 20:00Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, disconnect from it. And so I wanted to ask you, how has your relationship changed with your skin? That was something that brought you anxiety?

• 20:08Alicia Keys?

  Oh, my gosh.

• 20:09Jay Shetty?

  To feeling more confident in your skin.

• 20:11Alicia Keys?

  I mean, it was forever. It was literally forever that I really struggled with my, with my skin. And, and you know, you're a teenager and your hormones, and you get it, and it's cool. And then all of a sudden, I was like 18, and then I was 23, and then I was 28, and then I was 30, and then I was like 35. And I'm like, whoa, when does this thing stop? Like, when? I thought like 16, 18, 21, maybe. Why is it continuing? And it was really hard to, especially to be in spaces where you would present yourself and you would feel just so self-conscious. I just felt so self-conscious. And I'm like, but there's a big bump right here.

• 20:56Alicia Keys?

  And then most people are like, I don't even see the damn bump, but I see the bump right here, and it's huge. And it feels really uncomfortable, you know? You, you just feel uncomfortable. You want to know why, too. You want to know what's the matter? Is something wrong? Why, I thought, I'm, what, what can I do to help this? And, and so that definitely caused me a lot of anxiety. I, I started in the music world when I was 18. And so that was right, kind of at the precipice. And then the, the stress of the whole universe of music was just so much. And I was trying my best to play it cool. I'm like, I can handle it, I can do it. But it was stressful. It was a whole new world.

• 21:39Alicia Keys?

  I had to carry a, a new weight on my shoulders and, and try to, you know, kind of like be calm while, or cool while doing it. And it, and it was tricky. And my skin, I, I learned that my body reacts to stress. Our bodies react to stress. My personal body physically reacts to stress. Many of our personal bodies do this, which is obviously why even many diseases come to us from stress, because Physically, it's a physical manifestation of this feeling, which is why it is so important for us to figure out like, what gives you peace? What calms you down? What makes you feel safe?

• 22:22Alicia Keys?

  And like you're in your skin and you're yourself and these type of things. And so, of course, I didn't know what that was for a long time. But I realized that it was these relationships I was attracting. And it was the, you know, the level of commitment I was agreeing to that left no space for me to reflect or to sleep or to be with my friends and, you know, do those, have those outlets that do give you a sense of, of calm. And, and so my skin was so reactive that I said one day to myself, if I one day, I'm gonna make something that fixes this, this.

• 23:05Alicia Keys?

  I'm gonna do something about this because I know I'm not the only one. And I realized as I began to, you know, live and experience so many different parts of my life, motherhood and, you know, raising young kids and finding time for yourself. I real, and getting rid of those toxic energies that were attacking me in real life. I realized that you really have to take care of your soul. Like, like you have to take care of your soul. So this philosophy of soul care really came from all of these understandings and all of these realizations that no one's gonna do it for me. Like no, as much as I really, really wish someone would stand up and be like, you, you're not good for her, get out of here.

• 23:50Alicia Keys?

  That thing, you, you need to stop. No, I have to be the judge of that. And therefore I have to find my way to the understanding of how do I hear myself to know what is good and what is not, or what is real or what is true. And so there were many things that brought me to that place. Some of them were meditations that brought me there and really brought me to a more intuitive space. Some of them were just practicing the art of like, no, what do you think? No, I know six friends said this. Or I know that very strong energy that always tells everybody what they think, said this, but what do you think? And that became the practice of soul care. And, and also these ideas of ancient rituals and.

• 24:34Alicia Keys?

  What are some special ways that we can have peace and calm? And I was attracted to crystals and their powers and their meanings. I was attracted to journaling and I have a very difficult time. As a kid, I had a difficult time expressing my truth. And I realized that when I would journal or do the stream of consciousness, I could, I could actually just release it. I could let it go. And if I'm not good at doing that to someone else because I didn't trust as fully, I can do it with myself, you know? And so these, these practices of how do you kind of like depend on yourself to find your own grounding became my idea of where soul care is, which eventually became how I said, I'm gonna make that thing to fix that thing, became this key soul care.

• 25:18Alicia Keys?

  And, and the idea was, to me, it's a philosophy. It's a way of life. It's a lifestyle. To me, you know, you know, the beauty industry or skincare industry, just like the music industry, all of it is kind of creating how to live within the chaos. And so how do we do it? Nobody teaches us normally. It's a blessing if someone does, but normally it's not. So finding these ways through affirmations, through the idea of really connecting to yourself and using the affirmations are on every bottle because the idea is you wash your face, you do that every day with the golden cleanser. You can also think about how I'm devoted to this moment because so many times we're over here, over there, back there, over.

• 26:03Alicia Keys?

  How can you just be right here with yourself right now? And so the idea is like creating this mixture of ancient rituals and where skin meets soul and soul care. Because we have air care, hair care, nail care, body care, home care, but we never had soul care. Why? So we wanted, I wanted to start it.

• 26:23Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's so beautiful. I mean, I, I couldn't agree more as someone who.

• 26:28Jay Shetty?

  Was very negligent of a lot of this stuff like growing up and not really thinking about it. I've seen the value of, I'm a big fan of affirmations.

• 26:36Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 26:37Jay Shetty?

  I think even when it comes to cleansing my face, what that means, what that feels like, how different I feel internally because of it, how it can be a reminder to continue to cleanse and detox the soul as well as that which is around me. There's, there's so much of that connection from body, mind, spirit and soul that, that I think we, we lose and we don't realize how interconnected they all are. What you were saying about stress, I found really powerful because, so for me, my stress shows up as tightness in my body. Like I feel my stress is like, it gets stored in my neck or my shoulders. And then I'm just feeling tight, even though I was like, I didn't know I was stressed. I didn't know what I was going through.

• 27:20Alicia Keys?

  Totally.

• 27:21Jay Shetty?

  And as you're saying, for some people, it shows up in their skin. I was gonna ask you, there's a bit of an addiction we also have to stress and drama. And there's this feeling sometimes where we prefer it when we have stress and busyness and we're workaholics and we like the drama and almost when there's peace, we almost get confused and lost because.

• 27:41Alicia Keys?

  Scared even.

• 27:43Jay Shetty?

  Exactly. We get scared, right? So what would you say to someone who's actually dead listening to us right now and they're like, wow, I just realized that's, that's who I am. I, I actually like, I choose stress because.

• 27:55Alicia Keys?

  Do you think people come to that realization?

• 27:58Jay Shetty?

  I don't think people do it consciously, but I think unconsciously, when I sit with people, they'll find that their inherited choice is to naturally stay busy, work a lot, uh, create drama in their relationship, whatever it is, because we're more used to it, not because we're bad people or because we're wrong, but because we kind of feel familiar.

• 28:23Jay Shetty?

  And I'll give you the opposite example. I have lots of friends who'll be like, oh, I'm dating this guy and it's really peaceful on board. And so there's that, right?

• 28:30Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 28:30Jay Shetty?

  Where people actually have like peace and stillness and connection. We're like, yeah, yeah, there's nothing to talk about. So, so I don't think it's something that people do on purpose. And I don't think it's something that people even do it consciously.

• 28:43Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 28:44Jay Shetty?

  But I think we do like to stay busy and stressed to some degree. Hey, everyone. It's Jay Shetty and I'm thrilled to announce my podcast tour. For the first time ever, you can see my On Purpose podcast live and in person. Join me in a city near you for meaningful, insightful conversations with surprise guests. It could be a celebrity, top wellness expert, or a CEO or business leader. We'll dive into experiences designed to inspire growth, spark learning, and build real connections. I can't wait to see you there. Tickets are on sale now. Head to jayshetty.me and get yours today.

• 29:25Jay Shetty?

  Okay, I am so excited about this because we've got the first ever merch drop for On Purpose. It's finally here. And for World Mental Health today, we're doing an exclusive limited edition drop with all the proceeds going to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI. So now you can wear your On Purpose merch, listen to the podcast, and know that you too are having an impact. I want to thank you so much in advance. I can't wait to see all of your pictures wearing the merch, their sweatshirts, a hat, t-shirts. Check it out on our website, jayshettyshop.com. That's jayshettyshop.com. And remember, 100% of the proceeds go to NAMI.

• 30:11Alicia Keys?

  I am familiar with that as well. And I kind of was just telling you that I had the best summer. And it was my first summer where, you know, the last two summers I was on tour. And obviously, those are just such a monster universe to try to like harness. And this summer was just like, I was like, I am creating peace this summer. I am doing the things that, everything I can imagine I want to do, I'm doing it this summer. And it was really liberating, really liberating. But it also does reflect to myself, back to your point, the connection to the busyness equalling success, or the busyness equalling, you know, something positive.

• 30:53Alicia Keys?

  When surely there's positivity there for sure, but there is an addiction that I think comes with this idea of having to fill every minute and fill every second. And also, there's the avoidance that we're all likely experiencing, where we don't really want to face all the things underneath the things. So if we stay as busy as possible, That's a good point. We are like, literally, we don't even have time to think about those things or to reflect on those things. And so I do understand that lifestyle, because I, I feel like for quite a while, I didn't even, I, I would just say yes, because I'm used to saying yes. Yes. Right?

• 31:34Alicia Keys?

  And I, and I realized, wait, okay, you don't have to say yes. So do you want to say yes? Do you actually want to say yes? Or do you just feel obligated to say yes for any number of reasons? So I think it's very powerful. I, I think you're right. There, there's totally the drama that we are, hmm, we're, we've been conditioned. Hmm, that's the right word. Right? To, to, it's, it's around us. It's what we see every day. We've seen our parents experience it in different ways. We've seen our friends go through it in different ways. And therefore, that becomes the normal for us.

• 32:19Alicia Keys?

  And when we kind of crave it, we become addicted to it, even without knowing it. So I think that practice of like, that, that perhaps is one of the opening, when you said, how did you get to a place where you could, you know, find yourself in a Where you are, I think part of that practice really did have to come to spending time with myself. And I made every excuse why I couldn't spend time with myself. My kids, I can't do it. My kids, you know, I can't leave them by themselves. I can't do it because I gotta, you know, who else is gonna do? I gotta feed the family, you know, we gotta do. And they all seem valid. It makes sense to me. Yeah, that's true. Your kids, you should probably make sure your kids are good.

• 32:59Alicia Keys?

  And if I don't make sure I'm good, how can I make sure anybody is good, ever? And so spending time with myself was, I fought against it so much. But when I started to do it, I realized that I was more powerful than I'd ever been. And I was faster. I was able to do things quicker and more efficiently because I was so cloudy, you know? And that was cool. That was cool. When you start to feel that, where you're like, ooh, I don't have to spend so much time doing whatever action because I actually know what I want to do, bop, bop, bop, bop, and I'm decisive. Man, that felt so good. I had never felt decisive before in my life.

• 33:43Alicia Keys?

  I'd never felt clear without thousands of other opinions. I never felt like my own self. So that was big. But spending time with myself was, I believe, one of the keys to that.

• 33:57Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. When I'm hearing you talk about how much we have to filter from the outside world, you mentioned a few times your parents, people's parents, like a lot of, a lot comes from our parents. And I know you spoke about it so beautifully in your book that I got to interview you about, which I love, that it was such a, it was such a beautiful memoir that you wrote a few years back. And I was wondering what, I always think about our parents giving us gifts and gaps. Like they give us certain gifts and they leave certain gaps. And we end up spending our whole life trying to get other people to fill those gaps and give us the same gifts. And it creates a lot of good things and issues. So I was gonna ask you, what would you say are the gifts you got from your mother and father? And what were the gaps that they left? And how did they affect you?

• 34:41Alicia Keys?

  Ooh, okay, let me sit up for a sec. Fix my shirt real quick. The gifts, the gift, one of the gifts that I got from my mother, I would say, is her, is her strength. I feel like I really I really bore witness to a woman who was like, not to be like she just really, now I don't know if she wore that as an armor, you know, or what that was, but I found her to be quite like, like, straight and clear and strong and there was kind of no getting around it.

• 35:24Alicia Keys?

  And you kind of just knew, okay, this is what it is. And I feel like I, I really received a lot from that as a woman, as a young woman, as a woman who would have to be at the forefront of her own life and career and really have to be in my space of power, be around a lot of people that want to take your power, steal your light, you know, lead you in the wrong spaces. I had to kind of be in my strength and I did receive that from her. What I received from my father was, I think, I think, I think I also received a level of self-determination.

• 36:07Alicia Keys?

  Because I had a unique relationship, my mother and my father were not married or together. And so, one, I had to learn that that's actually not unique or different. You know, there's not some kind of like family structure that's like the main one. I think we get painted that picture so much and then we feel

• 36:23Jay Shetty?

  So true.

• 36:24Alicia Keys?

  We feel uncomfortable that ours doesn't look like that. But, so I had to kind of know who I was also, even in our relationship. And so I got a sense of self as well. Sense of self. The gap from the sense of self that I received from my father was probably, maybe some feelings of not being worthy. So I received some of that. I had restructure my brain around. And from my mother, I think I got a sense of fixing. I had to fix everything because in a lot of ways, if she was

• 37:06Alicia Keys?

  strong and angry, I had to be like soft and accommodating and kind of fix the situation. And so I think I received some of that, which I also had to rewire. No, no, no, I can't fix everything. I just can't. And I can't be in my relationships like that. Cause that's not gonna work. Man, took lots of time, but those are my gifts and my gifts. Um, I'm asking that to many people. This is a great question.

• 37:35Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, I think, I think it has such a, we don't realize how much of an impact it has on every relationship that comes after those relationships with our parents. And how it becomes like the guiding map of our whole life. And then you look back and you go, why am I expecting someone to give me this gift? It's like, cause my parents gave me it. Now I want everyone that loves me to show me they love me in this way. And I want them to fill this exact gap. And if they don't fill this gap, then they don't love me. Because that was where that self-worth you were saying of like,

• 38:06Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 38:06Jay Shetty?

  Because if you were made to feel unworthy in a certain way,

• 38:09Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 38:09Jay Shetty?

  Then you think anyone who doesn't show you love in that way, then they don't think you're worthy. But they may not, they're, they're not aware

• 38:16Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 38:16Jay Shetty?

  of the gift and the gap.

• 38:17Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 38:18Jay Shetty?

  And they've got their own as well.

• 38:19Alicia Keys?

  So that's the complex part.

• 38:21Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot. And I mean, obviously you've been married for what, 14 years now?

• 38:25Alicia Keys?

  Yes.

• 38:25Jay Shetty?

  Congratulations.

• 38:27Alicia Keys?

  Thank you.

• 38:27Jay Shetty?

  That's amazing. That's, that's beautiful.

• 38:29Alicia Keys?

  We're like, whoa, that's crazy.

• 38:31Jay Shetty?

  It's brilliant.

• 38:31Alicia Keys?

  We love it. We love it.

• 38:33Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, you look, I, I always, whenever I see you, but you seem so happy and joyous and, you know, complimentary to each other. I think what I find really fascinating in relationships is what people end up teaching each other. What would you say Swizz has been able to teach you and what have you taught him?

• 38:47Alicia Keys?

  He's definitely taught me how to be like much more in the flow. Like it's all about kind of the magic of the moment and allowing the flow, like just slide into the slipstream. Let it happen.

• 39:02Jay Shetty?

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• 39:47Jay Shetty?

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• 40:20Jay Shetty?

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• 40:53Alicia Keys?

  Like let it happen. Um, that's been a big lesson he's given me and what I've been able to give him is probably a little bit more of like, let's design what we want to have.

• 41:07Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 41:08Alicia Keys?

  You know, as we're letting it happen, let's also like design it and craft it and strategize it and create it and schedule it so that it can really, really happen. And I love how we balance each other like that. There's been just so much growth between us and so in such a positive way because we really do complement each other. So it feels natural in those ways.

• 41:28Jay Shetty?

  So I'm you and my wife, Siz. So I'm like that.

• 41:31Alicia Keys?

  So you're like grabbing her.

• 41:32Jay Shetty?

  Very intentional, very like, I'm like strategy, designed, intentional life.

• 41:38Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 41:38Jay Shetty?

  And she's just like this ball of energy.

• 41:40Alicia Keys?

  Dream.

• 41:41Jay Shetty?

  And, and I, but I wanted to ask you, because those things seem like they're at loggerheads with each other, right? Like they seem like on the outside, that would seem like, well, if he's like go with the flow and you're like, yeah, but we need to know what we're doing.

• 41:54Alicia Keys?

  What time?

• 41:55Jay Shetty?

  That sounds like a terrible matchup. Like that sounds like a fight ready to, you know.

• 42:00Alicia Keys?

  Explode.

• 42:01Jay Shetty?

  Waiting to happen. Yeah, an explosion because that's completely contradictory in terms of him being in flow and same with Radhi, like being completely this. Bundle and ball of energy and joy and then we're both trying to be more thoughtful and strategic. So how does that? How have you allowed each other to operate as who you are and take without feeling like someone's trying to change you? Or that you've got to be someone else? Or they've got to be someone else?

• 42:28Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, no, I think it's a, I think it's a good point. Well, first of all, I don't think, I think actually it tends to work better when there's two different perspectives, right? Because if you think exactly what I think and I think exactly what you think, then we might get to that place of boredom that we discussed. But what I, what I took from what you said on board, I took almost like there's not a stimuli, right? There's not like the stimulation that comes sometimes. And I think that might happen if you're almost too similar. There's a stimulation from meeting an opposition and meeting like a different way of thinking and then having to think about it and put it into your, your world. So, um, so yeah, I think that, that the flow is just because I love how he thinks.

• 43:13Alicia Keys?

  And how he thinks is so uniquely him and it does inspire me. And yet I can still be connected to my own. And similarly, I think how I think does inspire him. He says, let me think about that more. Let me put a little more thought into how we're doing this. And yet doesn't have to take him from his own. So we've, we've, ever since the day our vows were about this idea of loving with an open hand. There's a beautiful thought of my loving with an open hand and you know, that everyone should be free to fly as they want to fly. There should never be a closed hand over around someone.

• 43:50Jay Shetty?

  Oh, I really like that.

• 43:51Alicia Keys?

  You know, it should be this open hand. And so we, we really have always looked at it like that. He'll always say, she's, she's her own boss. I don't have anything to do with whatever she's choosing. Don't call me and ask me to try to get her. I can't. She's her own boss, so talk to her about whatever that might be. And, and, and so there's always been that respect there that we each have our own way of flowing and it works, it works.

• 44:19Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's beautiful to hear and I love that. Did you write that or was that a poem that you came across?

• 44:23Alicia Keys?

  I want to remember where that came from, but I wrote a song about it that never came out.

• 44:28Jay Shetty?

  No way.

• 44:28Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, and I, and I always loved that metaphor.

• 44:31Jay Shetty?

  So do I, just as when you were moving your hands for anyone who's not watching.

• 44:35Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 44:35Jay Shetty?

  Alicia was moving her hands from being open to like, holding one of her hands closed, like.

• 44:40Alicia Keys?

  And we do that, we like, we like stifle each other and hold each other and demand these things and don't want people to be free to express and feel fear and worry when people are bright and shining and we feel, you know, sometimes afraid of that, that they would somehow not need us anymore or not want us anymore and, you know, but there's this beautiful thing of just being this equanimity. That's what I've always experienced with him. There's like this equanimity between us that I've never felt anywhere else. And it's natural, there's, we just have a similar frequency that we vibrate on and it just works. And I've been in situations where it's like, man,

• 45:22Alicia Keys?

  I kind of have to keep, can you come up here with me or have to go, you know, find that? But it's like, we're not quite on the same level. And so that means something, you know, finding that frequency that vibrates with you is, is a thing.

• 45:35Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, no, I, I love that. I wrote a chapter in my last book called Your Partner Is Your Guru. And, and it was, and it's that, I, I feel that way, like, you know, and, and I think that the quality that's required so much in long-term relationships is humility. And it's the hardest quality to have with your partner often, where we have our biggest egos. And we say this is the person we love the most, but they're the person we have the least humility with. Like if they don't like what we're wearing, or if they give us feedback, or

• 46:07Alicia Keys?

  We're all like

• 46:08Jay Shetty?

  That's that, it hurts the most because

• 46:10Alicia Keys?

  It does, because your love is so, so, so pure.

• 46:13Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 46:14Alicia Keys?

  Yes, good point.

• 46:15Jay Shetty?

  But it stops us sometimes from opening up, as you're talking about, as you have been able to.

• 46:20Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 46:21Jay Shetty?

  Like it stops you from sometimes learning from that person because you think your way is the right way, or that

• 46:26Alicia Keys?

  Hmm.

• 46:26Jay Shetty?

  What you learned and what you inherited was the right way to solve a problem. Especially, I'm imagining, when you have kids.

• 46:32Alicia Keys?

  That, that, that's what just hit me like a ton of, ton of bricks, because we do find ourselves in those circumstances where naturally something that he might feel is quite different from what I might feel in regards to the kids. And, um, you know, I think that anytime that's happened, I can reflect that there surely has, is a better way of communicating what it is. And I find that that is the most powerful part. How do you choose to communicate with the people that you love is really the key to kind of life. Like literally, that that energy that you're giving and how you're choosing to communicate will make the difference between,

• 47:15Alicia Keys?

  you know, something where you both can evolve and both can say, I get it. I see what you mean. And you can see what I mean, and we can kind of find our way through it. Or a vague argument. Which is just a pain. Cause then you gotta, you know, you gotta do all that, which we actually don't argue. We have a we don't, we don't argue. Surely we get upset or we disagree. But, um, but there's not like a yelling and screaming and an arguing and a, and a chaos and a slamming and a throwing. There's not that, like, we respect each other too much for that. And I really appreciate that, that that's the energy. Cause I do also appreciate that many people have to or choose to or find themselves in the place of experiencing that type of

• 47:58Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 47:59Alicia Keys?

  You know, interaction. And man, I mean, that is just so stressful and hard all around. Um. So I'm proud that we can like find that that place and it is possible.

• 48:10Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 48:10Alicia Keys?

  It is possible.

• 48:11Jay Shetty?

  Well, it sounds like you've both been quite intentional about your relationship from your vows, from the beginning of like, what does this look like?

• 48:18Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 48:18Jay Shetty?

  And what are the barriers around disagreements?

• 48:21Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 48:21Jay Shetty?

  Like, we're allowed to disagree, you're allowed to, and the same with me and my wife, we have a rule as well, like, no yelling, no raising the voice, no, obviously, nothing physical, but like,

• 48:30Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 48:30Jay Shetty?

  there, there has to be a very clear way of solving this and we're allowed to disagree, we're allowed to end on completely two different sides of a conversation. We don't have to end with the perfect resolution, it may, it may not be the way.

• 48:43Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 48:44Jay Shetty?

  But we don't have to get there in a violent, aggressive or tension-filled way through our words or our actions or our how loud we are because that pushes the person away so much. I've read this poem that was talking about when people argue, they have to shout and scream because that's how distant their souls are.

• 49:04Alicia Keys?

  Hmm.

• 49:05Jay Shetty?

  And so even though you're standing right in front of them, their soul is so far away from you that you have to shout in order to communicate, but you don't realize that that just pushes them further away. And that actually, if you whispered and you were quiet and

• 49:19Alicia Keys?

  They would draw them closer.

• 49:20Jay Shetty?

  You would actually draw them closer.

• 49:21Alicia Keys?

  Ooh, that's a bar.

• 49:23Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, and so it, you know, I love that. I love that metaphor and I can't, I need to hear this song that you've

• 49:28Alicia Keys?

  I know.

• 49:29Jay Shetty?

  written about the hands that.

• 49:29Alicia Keys?

  I'll find it. I'll find it. At least I'll send it to you. But I'll, I'll find it. I, I really like it. It's special. It's a special song. I wrote it when I came back from Egypt. And so it was a while ago, but I took that, a special trip to Egypt and I did a lot of songwriting right after that. And that was kind of one of them. And it was actually in honor of my godmother, who did experience quite an abusive relationship. And so the, the, the, the line was the tightest grip is an open hand.

• 49:58Jay Shetty?

  Hmm. I love that. That's a bar. Yeah. That's beautiful. That's beautiful.

• 50:04Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 50:05Jay Shetty?

  How, how do you decide that a song doesn't come out? Like, how does, how does, because how many songs does an artist make that never?

• 50:11Alicia Keys?

  So many.

• 50:12Jay Shetty?

  Like, in your, in your lifetime, like, how many songs never would, would someone have never?

• 50:17Alicia Keys?

  Two, three hundred.

• 50:18Jay Shetty?

  Wow.

• 50:18Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 50:19Jay Shetty?

  So that's like. Twenty albums worth.

• 50:21Alicia Keys?

  So many, so many that just, you know, half done or, you know, didn't quite just come together or just didn't have that special thing enough to go to the next level. Or time passes and your relationship to yourself is changing. So what you were, what you were expressing at one point just doesn't represent where you are now. And so then that kind of has its own. In fact, one of my albums, Keys, has a song on it called, Is It Insane? And Keys came out in like 2023. And Is It Insane was written in like 2000. It's like, it was, but it was not ready until that moment. And then it was ready.

• 51:05Alicia Keys?

  So back to that whole thing where nothing's ever ready when you think it's time.

• 51:08Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 51:09Alicia Keys?

  And then finally you're like, oh, it's time. I get it.

• 51:12Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, and time's usually, you're so, when you said that earlier, I thought of it. I was like, time is actually what puts anxiety onto everything. If we say, I have to have achieved this by this age. That's now the anxiety because if it took 23 years, it took 23 years and you got there in the end.

• 51:28Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 51:28Jay Shetty?

  But if you said, this has to be ready this year, that's what put anxiety on everything. And I, I was thinking about that. I was like, you're so right that when I make something not on the universe's time and not on divine timing and it's on my timing, that's when.

• 51:45Alicia Keys?

  You're stressed about it.

• 51:46Jay Shetty?

  That's what I'm stressed about.

• 51:47Alicia Keys?

  You're freaking out.

• 51:48Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. And of course, there are things you have to, like, if you have contracts and commitments and.

• 51:52Alicia Keys?

  You have to get it in a time.

• 51:54Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 51:54Alicia Keys?

  You do your best.

• 51:55Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. But it's when we're asking or trying to manifest things that we put time on it changes. What's, you were saying you love crystals earlier. I was wondering, what's your favorite crystal? And, and where did you find it? How did you learn about them? I feel like you have such a deeply spiritual side and I, I want to hear about it because I don't think we've dived into this before.

• 52:14Alicia Keys?

  I love, that's a good one. Man, okay, so where did my love for crystals come? First, I think that. I've learned that going to these crystal shops, there's something so beautiful about the process. And I remember doing a beautiful book called The Artist's Way. Julia Cameron, I believe her name is, like tried and true book, like classic. And one of the things that was beautiful about it is she says, "Take yourself on an artist's date." So, once a week, you were meant to take yourself on an artist's date, which meant you couldn't go with no one except yourself. And you had to think of what would serve you on that date, which is quite hard for many of us. Like, what will make me happy? Where would I like to go?

• 52:59Alicia Keys?

  And crystal shops is what I discovered was one of the things. I loved it. I loved the peace and the serenity. I loved exploring every name. I found that if I went to one, it would be exactly the one I needed. I would just look at the way it looked and I would pick it up. I'm like, "That's what I need right now. I need more courage. I need more, I need more manifestation. I need more clarity." When I did take my trip to Egypt that we talked about, I learned that the native, what was native to where we were was the Lupus Lazui, that blue powerful stone. And I just became fascinated with it. So, the more that I discovered, the more that crystals became a part of my life.

• 53:43Alicia Keys?

  Even in my son's pocket, I'll put a crystal if he's feeling worried or if he's feeling like, or if he needs a little grounding, I'll put a crystal in his pocket or I'll tell him, "Hold it." Just because I do know there is something about the power of crystals. And that, in fact, is one of the most kind of secret parts of key soul care because the crystals are infused into the offerings. And we have these, these beautiful offerings called the illuminating serum, which I just love because. We need to illuminate as much as possible. And they are really based on these crystals. So one's the moonstone aura. And that is so good manifestation. One is the bronzeite aura, and that is all about courage.

• 54:25Alicia Keys?

  And one is the, the, um, the quartz, the, the golden quartz aura. And that's, and that is, so each one has these powers that even you should put on your body, in your universe. And I just love that because there is such a, there is a strength, there is a power, there is a mysticism, there is a, there are these ancient rituals. Like our ancestors did these things hundreds and hundreds of years ago. And we've somehow, sometimes lost the touch with those rituals and those ancient ways. And so I love discovering them and they really give me a sense of like, I feel like I have something in my pocket that like is gonna help me. And I really, really love it or on my, on my body.

• 55:09Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, now you can put it on your body.

• 55:11Alicia Keys?

  It feels like.

• 55:12Jay Shetty?

  Peace, okay.

• 55:13Alicia Keys?

  And it illuminates you, so it also gives you that glow that's just really already within you.

• 55:18Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 55:19Alicia Keys?

  That's the point.

• 55:20Jay Shetty?

  No, I, I love that you've infused it in the offerings because I feel like, I, I, I too love that. Like I, sometimes you see a crystal and you're just drawn to it. Or you see a gem and you're just drawn to it. And it's, and you can't explain it because it's not like you were into that color or you were into that shape. And all of a sudden, you're just like, why am I attracted to this thing?

• 55:40Alicia Keys?

  Cause you need it.

• 55:41Jay Shetty?

  Cause you need it, exactly. And, and I think we've lost the ability to trust ourselves on what we need because everything's become didactic and tactical and kind of too formulated.

• 55:55Alicia Keys?

  Wow. I, I, I'm very moved by this because as we were just talking about kids and, you know, as a parent, you think about.

• 56:07Alicia Keys?

  We do take, we can, we have the power to take the trust from people when they feel like they can't trust themselves because we judge them on something that they've decided. And we do this as adults to each other. We do this as parents to kids. We do this as friends, you know, and we do this thing where we judge a person. And now we've taken away a bit of their trust in themselves because they feel like, hmm, this person made fun of me when I did this. I won't do that. But your instinct was to do this. And you loved it when you did it. You were happy. You were excited. You were giddy.

• 56:51Alicia Keys?

  And, and, and, and perhaps we allow people to steal that from us, but many times we're not in a position of awareness. So we just find that we then distrust ourselves. And I think that's a big one. Because how can we start to trust ourselves again? How can we practice like, no, no, this is good for me. You might not like it. It's cool. You don't have to do it. I'm not telling you to do it. I'm telling you I'm doing it. And I think that's really important. And I hope that we can first be a little bit more conscious of always injecting our opinion on everybody as parents, as friends, as, you know, elders. And secondly, to, as, as the people who have to navigate our way through that,

• 57:36Alicia Keys?

  remembering that if that was our first instinct and we felt joy with it, you know, then there was something in there to learn or explore or find the color in or curiosity. And, and, and I, and I want us to do, I want us to not forget that.

• 57:50Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 57:50Alicia Keys?

  That's a big one you just said.

• 57:52Jay Shetty?

  No, you, so well said. I, I couldn't agree with you more. And I, I remember when I first trained to be a coach, the number one training was how you don't project. Your life and your limits onto anyone like that's the core skill because that's all we do all day like someone says their idea and we project our view to it straight away right like someone's like hey I wanna be a singer like Alicia Keys and you're like nah

• 58:15Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, but that's probably not, so you might as well.

• 58:18Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, and it's like but you have no idea what they're saying you don't you're not listening to them there's no there's no learning and you're just projecting what you feel or someone says hey I think I'm quitting my job and pursuing my passion on this thing you're like no no no don't do that like that's risky and it's like well maybe it's

• 58:32Alicia Keys?

  Maybe it's needed.

• 58:33Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, maybe it's needed, maybe risk is okay for them and but we're so and you're so right that our friends, our family and we we do that to others and we do to our partners as well like when they're just saying hey you know what I think I need a weekend off this weekend and you're like no maybe there's a few things you need to get done and they're like

• 58:50Alicia Keys?

  No, actually, you should

• 58:51Jay Shetty?

  And you're so what you said so beautifully is we stop people from trusting themselves like I think that really resonated with me and I I think that's why I feel the fact that you've infused all these crystals into your offerings I I love that because it's it's a daily reminder of trusting

• 59:11Alicia Keys?

  Yes.

• 59:11Jay Shetty?

  That when you I I always say this to people I'm like we don't use our senses enough like the power scent is so powerful right your products smell amazing

• 59:24Alicia Keys?

  So good.

• 59:25Jay Shetty?

  And the scent's amazing and it's like we underestimate how much we know what we need by scent like I love it I remember when I first got a massage and they brought out all the different oils and they said smell which one do you want? And they were like you'll know by smelling and I was like what does that mean and then you do it and then you're like oh wait a minute I do know

• 59:42Alicia Keys?

  I do know.

• 59:43Jay Shetty?

  Like I do know that I need number three which has lavender and eucalyptus or whatever it is because I'm seeking rest and relaxation or I do need citrus because I'm seeking energy and and you know right but but we don't use that scent we don't use our power of scent of sight of sound to know what we need.

• 1:00:03Alicia Keys?

  And the part that I love about what you said and and the knowing the affirmation on the illuminating serum is I give myself permission to glow because I just so many times we just or we stunt the growth or we stunt the glow or we feel embarrassed by the fact that we are you know bright and Or we, to your point about the addiction to the negative, like if we are feeling good, how many times have you felt good, but your friend wasn't feeling so good? So you kinda, they might say, well, how are you feeling? You're like, I'm all right. But you're really actually great. And you're actually glowing. And I think sometimes we dim, you know, I know we dim our light,

• 1:00:46Alicia Keys?

  which is another affirmation on the, on the candle is, is um, you know, this idea of not dimming your light. Like, don't dial it back, you know? Because we do it. And it's only because we don't, we wanna be kind to the people that were around. But I think we, there's an inspiration that comes from giving yourself permission to glow. There's the empowerment that a person looks at you and says, they don't, they look like, and I wanna feel like that. Like, I'm gonna do more of that, you know? Giving yourself that permission. I love that. I really, it's a really special reminder.

• 1:01:25Jay Shetty?

  What are your go-to rituals when you are having a day that is just hard, stressful, tough, demanding? What's your go-to, non-negotiable set of rituals that Alicia Keys turns to when?

• 1:01:38Alicia Keys?

  When it's really, really crazy.

• 1:01:39Jay Shetty?

  When it's really tough.

• 1:01:40Alicia Keys?

  I definitely find that I, I, my, one of my go-tos is for sure a meditation. I just find that I try my best to meditate frequently so that I do find that that balances you. You don't have to kinda fix what's happening. You, you find a continuity with the, with the balance. But I do find that when I need it, I really, I really relate to a meditation. It, it kinda just brings me back to the center. It brings me back to, again, that quietness. I get a second of quiet. Even if I have to wake up before the kids, I'm gonna wake up at 5:30 so I can have 20 minutes of just like, or I'm gonna make up at 5:45, whatever it is. And I really find that settles my spirit.

• 1:02:25Alicia Keys?

  Cause usually if I'm having a tough one, I'm not sleeping well either. Because it's just like the internal noise and all those things. So I really, I really love to ground there. I will journal. I find that the journaling is also really, again, I've always had to just kind of release things more freely than I find I can do with other people. So that really helps. A really good workout, key.

• 1:02:54Alicia Keys?

  Keep get me sweating, get me kinda like, you know, just like feel the power of your body. That helps me a lot. Then of course, I'm gonna wash my face, I'm gonna release, as we talked about, the golden cleanser is gonna let me like, let it go. I have this beautiful, rich transformation cream and on it, it says, I welcome all circumstances as a catalyst for change.

• 1:03:17Speaker 04

  Wow.

• 1:03:17Alicia Keys?

  And so I can probably reflect on the fact that this doesn't, this isn't bad or good. This is just a catalyst to change something. And then I get my illuminating serum on because I'm gonna be glowing and I'm giving myself the permission. And I do love a bath. I do love a bath, I do love, you know, back to the oils or the herbs. I find that even the crystals can come in.

• 1:03:44Jay Shetty?

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• 1:04:27Jay Shetty?

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• 1:05:12Jay Shetty?

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• 1:05:55Jay Shetty?

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• 1:06:13Alicia Keys?

  To play if I need to just kind of like, release something and definitely the intentions and the affirmations come into play because I find that whatever's bothering me, I'll kind of, it's something that's challenging me, maybe I don't want to fail at something or I don't want to, I don't want something to go wrong or, and I kind of use that to say whatever it is that I might need. And, you know, hey, sometimes it's just gonna be a hard day, maybe it'll be a hard week, maybe it'll be a hard month, but doing that consistently, I know I'm fueling myself and I'm pouring in there and I feel better.

• 1:06:49Jay Shetty?

  What works for kids? Like, what rituals do you feel you've actually been able to pass on? Because they're young and I always feel like a lot of parents want their kids to do things, but I feel like you may be mindful in knowing what works and what doesn't and

• 1:07:03Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 1:07:03Jay Shetty?

  Their, I mean, their barriers. What do they like and what do they not like?

• 1:07:06Alicia Keys?

  Well, I used to force Egypt to meditate with me. I was like, you want whatever you want, come meditate with me. That worked for a while. He's really big now and he's 13. So I feel like I could still kind of push him into it, but. It was cool because he, I think, when I do my meditation, he can say every word, so can Genesis. And even though they don't necessarily do it with me all the time, they know it and they feel it and they hear it. And so I do think that idea of kind of like just sitting with yourself again is a great practice for kids because, you know, it doesn't have to be long, five minutes, cool, really quick. Um, a lot of the times I'm also, I'm also talking to my kids a lot about gratitude.

• 1:07:49Alicia Keys?

  I think gratitude is the key, key, it's the most simple but potent key to changing the energy. I know I've felt times before where I'm like, I'm just pissed off because someone did something and I'm like, you know, and I'm sick of them trying to, and I am steaming. And I'll just like start to list what I'm grateful for.

• 1:08:13Alicia Keys?

  It changes everything, everything. And I try to also share with my kids that, you know, give thanks. Give thanks and also pray. Make a prayer for what it is you're thankful for and what it is you're looking for. And I promise you, you will open every door for yourself. I promise. Every time I leave the room, my older one, sometimes I'll pray with him, sometimes I let him, you know, be in his own zone. And I say, don't forget to pray. Like, don't forget, just be grateful and pray because the gratitude is like, is, is key. I really do feel that it's a, it's a key ingredient to settling and definitely to joy, um, which I think is the, what we're all looking for.

• 1:08:55Jay Shetty?

  Absolutely.

• 1:08:56Alicia Keys?

  Right, is joy.

• 1:08:58Jay Shetty?

  I love hearing what you're passing on to the kids and I, I think so much of it is them watching you do it or them doing it with you.

• 1:09:03Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:09:03Jay Shetty?

  And I think you're setting a good example and that makes it easier because there's only so much you can tell a kid to do something, but if you're there doing it, showing up, turning up.

• 1:09:11Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:09:11Jay Shetty?

  They're gonna join you.

• 1:09:12Alicia Keys?

  They get used to it.

• 1:09:13Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, they get used to it. And they, and they see that at least mom values it and, you know.

• 1:09:18Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:09:18Jay Shetty?

  Even their names though, like Egypt and Genesis, like I feel like those names are so powerful.

• 1:09:22Alicia Keys?

  Man, I love those names.

• 1:09:24Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, they're really powerful.

• 1:09:25Alicia Keys?

  Poof, I mean, yeah, Egypt, it's been so cool because like even just as watching him grow and he's always been super into architecture and math and I'm like, man, maybe that, I feel like the name connection really brought that to him in so many ways and, and Genesis is like, whoa, I'm like, we might have needed to rethink naming that boy Genesis. But it's so good. He's so like, kinda strong and clear and, you know, he's, he's, he's, he's, he doesn't, you know, he doesn't bend. And I really appreciate that for him because I spent so much of my life bending and contorting and shifting and changing and trying to please, that I love. And he's like, no.

• 1:10:12Alicia Keys?

  And he won't. That's it. I'm like, okay, I need you to try to be a little bit fluid, like a little fluid on occasion. Not every time, just once in a while. But I love that for him. I love that he's clear. He's clear and that's it.

• 1:10:27Jay Shetty?

  What's something you've been trying to learn recently or work on recently internally for yourself? The kids are working. What have you been?

• 1:10:35Alicia Keys?

  I think I've just been working on just listening. Yeah, I think that we all have such big personalities. I think, I feel for the kids sometimes, like their dad has this huge personality and we have this big personality and I, I, I, I answer every question and I react to everything and I'm always saying, mm, yeah, oh, yeah. And sometimes I'm like, I think I can just be more silent. And I think I can just actually, let me allow them the space to, and everybody, the space to just kind of feel, share, say what they're saying without

• 1:11:14Alicia Keys?

  neither encouragement nor discouragement, just like perceive what they're saying and let them just speak. So I, I think the listening is, is really cool, not always reacting, not always sharing, not always saying something. Just like being more, more, more silent, more taking the space to just, that's what I'm working on.

• 1:11:37Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, I love that. I, I couldn't agree with you more. I think it's like, It's such a rare thing, actually, for someone to actually just listen and not have a reaction.

• 1:11:47Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:11:48Jay Shetty?

  And and for them to know that they can keep. I feel like when you listen that way, people feel like they can actually speak from a deeper place. They're not just thinking and speaking, they're feeling and speaking because you're listening from a from a feeling space as well.

• 1:12:02Alicia Keys?

  Yes.

• 1:12:03Jay Shetty?

  And I wonder, how do you explain fame to them or explain or or do they, how do they, how do they interact with? You said you're big personalities, but both of you have big lives. Like, how did they make sense of you? Or are they still too young and they don't?

• 1:12:18Alicia Keys?

  I mean, they're pretty present, you know, they're pretty present. I think about that often. I mean, I'm I'm very much about. I want us all in spaces that feel very, very normal. Like, I am very, very like about that. I love to take them to their classes and I love to drop them off at school and I love to like, we go and we go to the. You know, we go hang out at the park or we go somewhere, we do what we do. And I really love that ease. So I really want to put them in environments that feel like that. So, of course, you know, on the other side, they're on the tour bus for three months and that's also different.

• 1:12:59Alicia Keys?

  So they, I think, but I do think they have a pretty good balance about it all and they're pretty like. Everyday kids, you know, and I love that about them too. I wonder how it feels or how they affect them. They're they're both very empathetic. Like, I know sometimes if we're out and someone, you know, they might have caught someone who wants to take a picture, but ma, just take a picture, ma. And, you know, when it's the right time, I'm like, okay, cool. But if it's the wrong time, then it's also, but I'll go say hello.

• 1:13:25Jay Shetty?

  Yes.

• 1:13:25Alicia Keys?

  So happy to see you. Hope you're great. Thanks for saying hi. And it just might not be the right time and that's okay, too.

• 1:13:31Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:13:32Alicia Keys?

  So just showing them the boundaries too and um and but I think that, you know, sometimes, sometimes I'll say.

• 1:13:40Alicia Keys?

  Genesis would be like, Ma, you know, in school, they, they, they, they're like, that's Alicia Keys. It's like, so annoying, Ma. And I'm like, that is annoying. I feel you, that's annoying. But you could just tell them that's your mom.

• 1:13:55Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:13:56Alicia Keys?

  Like, you could just tell them, I know that, I see what you mean, but that's actually just my mom.

• 1:13:59Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:14:00Alicia Keys?

  So you could tell them that, and then, and then Egypt, you know, he's, he's getting big and really strong in basketball. And he's like, doing so many amazing things. He has a great instinct and, you know, really, like, when we'll walk into a room, it'll be me and Swiss. And, and if it's in the basketball universe, they'll be like, there's Egypt. Like, they actually are starting to know Egypt's talent. And so it's really good and it's wonderful that he has all of his own space. And I think sometimes he might feel like, I, I, that's what I want. I want to make sure that it's not because of whatever else, you know? And so I, I feel for them, but I think that they, they're pretty cool about everything. They have a good head on their shoulders, you know? They're, they're kind, they're loving, they're thoughtful.

• 1:14:42Jay Shetty?

  That's beautiful.

• 1:14:43Alicia Keys?

  I'm really, I'm really proud of them for all of them, you know? We have a beautiful, big blended family and I'm proud of all of them because it's like, each has such a special, unique, cool personality. And I'm just like, y'all are like, really cool.

• 1:14:56Jay Shetty?

  I love it. I feel like you've been able to, you know, you've been in the music industry for so long. I mean, I, I want to know how Hell's Kitchen felt. Like, to be able to take parts of your story, inspire, you know, to see your music on Broadway. I mean, that feels like, was it, was it a different challenge? Like, what, what was, what was the, what was that like for you to have to go from recording in studios, making music, traveling to then doing Broadway? Like, what did that look like for you? How were you creatively involved?

• 1:15:31Alicia Keys?

  It was definitely, as you said, it's been a 13-year process. And I think that's made it very cool, like, really almost enjoyable. Because whereas maybe sometimes with, because it was such a passion project, I knew it wasn't all going to happen quickly or at once. And so I would be able to kind of take myself out of my like quote unquote "normal" life and go into this workshop phase with Hell's Kitchen. And I'd be able to figure out like, what are, you know, what's the storylines? Me and the writer, the book writer would get to it. And we'd say, here's the themes and here's the characters and here's the stories. And let's start to build this universe.

• 1:16:14Alicia Keys?

  And then when the director came in, Michael Greif, you know, he was really instrumental. He's kind of like that, me and Chris Diaz, who's the book writer, are a little bit more than newbies. And then Michael Greif is like the parental figure. He's like, this is what we do. We do this, we do this, we do this, we're good. And sure enough, we'd be like, wow, we needed that. We didn't really know where we were going.

• 1:16:37Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:16:37Alicia Keys?

  So he was like a beautiful guiding light. And then as time passed, you know, being able to connect with the public theater, who's the theater who did, you know, Hamilton and Chorus Line? And all of these incredible, credible shows, even the softs they did. And you know, there's so many beautiful things that they, that created another level of like clarity and just like refinement and really being able to bring it to life. So all these things kind of happen in pockets. Like, you know, it'll be a three week process and then we'll hold tight for a minute. It'll be a two month process and then we'll hold tight a minute. And then it'll be six months of just heavy and then we'll hold tight a minute.

• 1:17:17Alicia Keys?

  And so it really gave me the capacity to hold the container for the story and for the meaning. And I would always be able to come back to it and say, this feels right. Or something's wrong about that. We have to figure that out. And then when we brought in the choreographer, she became another part of this beautiful tapestry. And she was creating movement around the songs in a way that I just never heard it before. And my, the orchestrator, who's also been a partner to me in many ways musically, Adam Blackstone, you know, we would create different versions and instrumentals. And I wrote new songs. And so it was all these pieces and parts. And you could start to feel little by little how it was all the right timing.

• 1:18:01Alicia Keys?

  But I feel like the biggest, I wouldn't call it a challenge. I'm looking for the right word. The biggest.

• 1:18:08Jay Shetty?

  Growth?

• 1:18:09Alicia Keys?

  Yeah, maybe the biggest, the biggest growth or the biggest awakening that I had with it was realizing that I could take this moment. And I could almost take everything that I ever didn't do right.

• 1:18:26Alicia Keys?

  And I could fix it. I could learn from it. I could take it, the knowledge, and I could put it into this process and I can fix it. I could do it right because I actually had the, the, the experience. And so my intellectual experience that I had gave me the ability to really look at it in a way that I had truly never had before. And then because of that knowledge, really cultivating the strongest team of really awesome people in this particular universe to assist me as a newbie, you know, as a person who hadn't quite traversed this path yet,

• 1:19:10Alicia Keys?

  was so inspiring and enlightening and empowering to really see that when everybody is the best at their field, you really can create something that truly is magical. And so I learned so much from it and obviously that's been years and years and years and years and years. And, um, and even just seeing it off Broadway and having to navigate our way through, how can we perfect the story? And there's still more to perfect. There's still more to craft. And doing that and being open and listening and really just being open too was tremendously rewarding. So, so that day when we got that announcement that we had been nominated for thirteen Tonys.

• 1:19:56Alicia Keys?

  It was freaky. The thirteen, the thirteen. It was just all like, something's really divine here. And it was unbelievable. So it's been such a hands-on. I mean, I, I am notoriously anal, but in the best, most loving way. Because I just, I know what it's supposed to be and I'm not gonna let it go until it's right what it's meant to be.

• 1:20:21Jay Shetty?

  Have you always been like that with all your music since day one and everything? Yeah.

• 1:20:24Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 1:20:25Jay Shetty?

  It takes that.

• 1:20:26Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 1:20:26Jay Shetty?

  That's what it takes.

• 1:20:27Alicia Keys?

  And I've also learned how to like back off too. Like, you know what? Let it, let it flow, let it vibe. It's okay. You gotta back off of it sometimes, but I am definitely a smidgen of a control freak.

• 1:20:40Jay Shetty?

  How have you, yeah, walked me through how you've refined that perfectionism? Because in one sense, the reason why you have sixteen Grammys and, you know, all the rest of it is because all the success has come from that level of work and ethic and effort and perfection and, you know, all of that, like tinkering and iterations and, and everything. And then where have you learnt to let go? Or where have you, what, what is it that you've done to flow? At what point do you allow it to flow? If someone's listening, they're like, Alicia, I'm a perfectionist too.

• 1:21:11Alicia Keys?

  Right, what do I do?

• 1:21:12Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:21:14Alicia Keys?

  I think that, you know, definitely having the vision for what you want to create is wonderful. And you likely are the only person that has that vision. If you, you know, pass that off to somebody, the vision will shift, right? So, which might be needed at a certain point. But I think being comfortable saying, I really have this vision, I'm very clear about it. And following that is wonderful. Then I think starting to let other special, not just anybody, but special folks who you realise they, they're additive, you know, that what you create together or what they bring to the table can enhance the vision.

• 1:22:00Alicia Keys?

  It is important to let that in, because if you don't.

• 1:22:02Jay Shetty?

  This episode is brought to you by State Farm. We talk a lot about intentional decision making, and that extends to the practical stuff too. Like making sure your coverage actually works for your life. State Farm is there to meet you where you are, and they know how sweet it is to feel good about your decisions. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbour, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

• 1:22:37Speaker 06

  Now, more than ever, we need someone on our side. But Rob Whitman? Whitman's votes drove up costs, cut Medicaid, and risked 350,000 Virginians' health care to pay for tax breaks for himself and his donors. He's not on our side. Shannon Taylor will fight corruption, cut taxes, and bring down costs. This November, vote for Shannon Taylor. She's for us. Paid for by HMP, the HouseMajorityPac.com. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

• 1:23:06Speaker 07

  Mr. President? My company tore me of the explosion on our rig.

• 1:23:09Speaker 08

  On October 2nd.

• 1:23:11Speaker 07

  Causing massive water displacement and triggering a tsunami. They all heap the blame on me.

• 1:23:15Speaker 08

  Tom Cruise is. Digger got us into this mess, and Digger's gonna dig us up. From the director of Birdman and The Revenant.

• 1:23:23Speaker 09

  What would happen if I stopped going? You stall, you freeze to death, that's what.

• 1:23:27Speaker 08

  With great power comes great deniability.

• 1:23:30Speaker 09

  I'm not the first then.

• 1:23:31Speaker 08

  Digger. See the trailer online. Only in theaters October 2nd. Rated R. Under 17. Not a minute without parent.

• 1:23:36Alicia Keys?

  I let it in, you're gonna actually steal from the vision ultimately. So I think that has been a beautiful process. When you, and when you know that feels right, you know. When it doesn't feel right, and it's super hard, and it's like a struggle, and you're arguing everything, okay, it's not the right person. You can let that go. But when you do see that things or people are becoming additive, it's really good to allow that in, allow that to come in. And then you get inspired more. And you're like, oh, I didn't know that we could do that. Now I can take that and make it even better because we've brought that part into it. So I think that's a really special part of the creative processes.

• 1:24:20Alicia Keys?

  And I have learned that with even songwriting. Like, so fun when you start to bring additional energies into the space. Not all the time, so you lose sight of your vision or of your center. That's happened to me too. I'm like, wait, let me go back to the simplest because I've made this a bit complicated or, you know, overly done. But I think there's something really great about that. And then you keep seeing that it's growing and it's adding. And then you can still hold space for the vision, but allow... What helps it in and what makes it grow in and what makes it better in? And I don't think you have to be worried about that. It's a beautiful thing.

• 1:25:01Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, I've definitely developed so much more respect and appreciation, even more than I already had for artists. The closer I've got to the industry just from watching. Because you forget that so many projects are truly pure passion. And that they took ten, fifteen, twenty years. And when you hear about something like that, that you're saying for someone like yourself, who's already successful, already has tons of accolades in an, in an area that's directly related. But then to think you had to wait thirteen years and work for thirteen years to pull that off.

• 1:25:37Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:25:37Jay Shetty?

  You, you start recognizing that it takes so much patience and love, even when you have already proved yourself. Because I think there's this feeling that you, people can get tired of proving themselves or having to prove themselves.

• 1:25:52Alicia Keys?

  That's right.

• 1:25:53Jay Shetty?

  And it can feel exhausting sometimes.

• 1:25:54Alicia Keys?

  Yeah.

• 1:25:55Jay Shetty?

  But the truth is that if you're growing and you're building and you have something you care about.

• 1:25:59Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:26:00Jay Shetty?

  You're constantly having to.

• 1:26:01Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:26:02Jay Shetty?

  Prove yourself in a new space.

• 1:26:03Alicia Keys?

  Right, and I think there's, there's something really exciting about that too. Cause I think if you could open every door, you, you would take it for granted. You know, you go, I could open that door too and I'll open that door and all. And yes, can we open every door? Yes, we actually can open every door. But is it always gonna be easy or the simplest? No, it's gonna take time and you're gonna have to figure it out and work your way through it and come back to those places that you're like, oh, I gotta dredge up this confidence again. Like, I thought I was good in this department and here it goes again. And all those learnings and challenges that kinda takes you through just being a human being

• 1:26:46Alicia Keys?

  um, is, I think the beautiful part and, and the excitement and the thrill and the stimulus. And, and then you're like, I'm, I am willing to work for this. I'm willing to put in the time for this. I'm willing to even fail. I'm even willing, and what does that mean? What does it even mean? Actually, I don't know what that means. I'm willing to work and to try and whatever comes from it is going to be what I need. It's gonna be exactly what's needed. So it's beautiful. I really, I really enjoy it. And I really find that I'm more grateful than ever, for sure, for being able to spread my wings and be ceilingless or be edgeless.

• 1:27:30Alicia Keys?

  Because I really want to be able to explore as much as I can. And it feels really good to keep trying. And but most important, and I think the seed of what you said is, the love. It's all that matters. If there's something that you love, go after it. Because it's meant for you. And it might not be the way that you thought it was gonna be, or the length of time you thought it was gonna take, or whatever all the other things are. But man, I know it's meant for you if you love it.

• 1:28:01Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. Yeah, you'll get to where you want in life, just not in the way you imagined it. The timeline will be different, the way it looks will be different, the way it feels might be different. Even how you visioned it may be completely different, but you'll get there.

• 1:28:14Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:28:15Jay Shetty?

  And the journey will probably be better and a better story than you imagined it to be.

• 1:28:21Alicia Keys?

  Ever.

• 1:28:22Jay Shetty?

  And hearing you say that is so fulfilling. I want to ask you one more question before we end with a final five. And this question's more, just the way I've experienced you, even today, I'm like, you've been in the industry for so long, since you were 18, you said, you know, so much success, moved around, done so many different things. And I feel like anytime I've been with you, your energy's always upbeat. You've always been positive, you've always been giving. Like, there's always been a really nice spirit and way about you that you have. And I feel like you've never become jaded by the industry or jaded by things around you. And you see that a lot for people, and not in a judgmental way, you observe it. But it seems like you've protected and carved out your space and you're like happy place

• 1:29:06Jay Shetty?

  and you're a safe space. And I was wondering, how have you done that when so many people can look at something and be like, oh, well, I don't want to, you know, people be like, I don't want to be too Hollywood. I don't want to do too this, I don't want to go too that. But it feels like you've been able to protect yourself regardless, you know, being in a big thing. And I wonder how you've been able to do that and how you've been able to craft that.

• 1:29:29Alicia Keys?

  Ah, man, this is, I love this question. I think that one of the, back to the gifts of what I got from my mother. You know, she was always really kind of, somehow she made me think about how I made people feel. And I remember that. I remember, you know, it would be simple things. I changed my mind about going to a birthday party and she would be like, "But how would that make you feel?" And so somehow she helped me to find my empathy. And I can put myself into other people's shoes. And I really appreciate, that was a gift.

• 1:30:12Alicia Keys?

  And so, I can look around me and I can feel empathy for other people. Like, I want to connect with people. I care about that. I love bringing good, I want people to bring me good energy. I don't want to bring someone else, anything else but good energy. Like, I care about the energy that I cultivate in a space. And I also have learned that if I can't bring that energy, then I can remove myself from that space. Like, I don't have to be in a space if I'm not feeling good. You know, because I can also not feel good. I don't have to always feel good either. That part was a lesson. Took me a while to get there too. You know, but, um,

• 1:30:54Alicia Keys?

  but I appreciate that I can, I want to bring that. I'm conscious of what I'm bringing into a space and into a room. And I want what I bring into a space to be something that feels good. And, and so I think that, that's kind of, that's it. I think that's really it. And so just the distinction between the two, giving myself permission to maybe not feel like I can fill that space is great. And then, when I can and when I'm ready, I do, and that's what I want to do. I want to bring that. And I hold other people to that. I'm like, hey, I don't bring you that energy. I don't, I don't, I don't want you to bring me that energy. You know, because my energy is precious and it's important and it's special.

• 1:31:38Alicia Keys?

  And, and it's just not free. I don't just give it to those who don't deserve it. So I also had to learn the value, back to one of my gaps of who I am and what, what my energy is and what a gift it is to be able, all of our energy is a gift. And we can kind of choose how, how do we want to give it. Um, and so I love that and, and learning when it's, when to give it and when not to give it is also been a part of the journey too. I think I'm doing better with that. I think I'm doing better. Man, a lot of undeserving people got a lot of good Alicia energy.

• 1:32:17Jay Shetty?

  Oh, really?

• 1:32:17Alicia Keys?

  And it's like, man, no more of that, no more of that. Like you gotta know your limits, you know, like, okay, cool. That doesn't mean I have to be on kind to that person, but they don't have to get my best beautiful energy. They can kind of just hold tight over there.

• 1:32:32Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. And you only realize that by giving it and knowing that you over gave or under gave.

• 1:32:37Alicia Keys?

  Right, right, right, right.

• 1:32:38Jay Shetty?

  And you only know that by trying it out. Like I, I know there are people in my life who I believe deserve way more better energy from me because they always have that from me.

• 1:32:45Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:32:46Jay Shetty?

  And maybe overspent in this area. And it's like looking at your bank balance at the end of the month and going, where did I overspend and where did I underspend? And energy is the same thing. Where did I overspend my energy? And who did I overspend my energy with and who did I underspend with?

• 1:33:00Alicia Keys?

  Facts.

• 1:33:00Jay Shetty?

  And, and let me reflect on that.

• 1:33:02Alicia Keys?

  I love that. Thank you.

• 1:33:04Jay Shetty?

  Alicia, I, I, I've met, the first time we ever did the interview was only audios during the pandemic.

• 1:33:09Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:33:09Jay Shetty?

  And I remember like, obviously, I mean, it's a no brainer that you have the most beautiful voice. But I remember just listening to you because we were so present because I could just hear you.

• 1:33:17Alicia Keys?

  And it was a time.

• 1:33:18Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, and it was, and it was a time. Exactly. It was a time. Uh, but I'm so grateful to be able to see all your expressions today and just, you know, see you come to life. And we end every On Purpose interview with what we call a final five. Every question has to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum.

• 1:33:34Alicia Keys?

  One word or one sentence.

• 1:33:36Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, but I'll probably ask you for more because I always break my own rules.

• 1:33:39Alicia Keys?

  All right. I'll try to be swift. I'm not good at that.

• 1:33:42Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. It doesn't matter. It's fine. Alicia Keys, these are your final five. So question number one, what is the best advice you've ever heard or received?

• 1:33:52Alicia Keys?

  Nothing before its time, my grandmother, nothing before its time.

• 1:33:55Jay Shetty?

  I love that one. Uh, question number two, what is the worst advice you've ever had or received?

• 1:34:01Alicia Keys?

  The worst, the worst advice that I ever received was that I had to kind of change myself to be accepted, or that I was, had to, even if I felt uncomfortable, I should do a thing because it's what, you know, was gonna be best received.

• 1:34:21Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's, it's good to hear. I always like to make a list of all the worst advice everyone's had because people are gonna hear it again.

• 1:34:27Alicia Keys?

  Right.

• 1:34:28Jay Shetty?

  And hopefully they'll remember this moment when they hear it.

• 1:34:30Alicia Keys?

  It's a good book.

• 1:34:31Jay Shetty?

  Yeah. Question number three, what was it like to perform at the Super Bowl?

• 1:34:34Alicia Keys?

  Oh, man, it was crazy. It was totally insane. This is a longer than a sentence.

• 1:34:40Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, I do it, it's right.

• 1:34:41Alicia Keys?

  And it was, I found it so fascinating because it had to be built. The whole thing had to be built and they had to time it in under three minutes it could be built. And then we had to have our performance in the amount and it had to be tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. And so, and it was live. So it's crazy to see a live thing have to like operate in that level of like finite detail. I was like in awe. And then obviously the place and the people and the vibe and the energy and it was just like really fun.

• 1:35:12Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, it was that you're dressed in the piano and it was, it was insane, yeah.

• 1:35:16Alicia Keys?

  It was, and the, the, underneath the dress was the world's best puppeteers. So they were actually puppeteers underneath the dress to make it fly like that. That was fantastic too.

• 1:35:29Jay Shetty?

  How did your control freak nature deal with that, like three minutes and like the puppeteers?

• 1:35:33Alicia Keys?

  You know, I just, we had practiced so distinctly that I knew everything that was gonna happen and it was perfect. And I just kinda, you know, control freak until you can.

• 1:35:44Jay Shetty?

  Yeah.

• 1:35:44Alicia Keys?

  And, and as an artist. I just, at a certain point, when you're, when you're flowing and creating and writing and singing, you do just have to like be in the moment. So the control freak part comes when I'm designing or creating the thing. But once I'm in the thing, you have to just go.

• 1:36:01Jay Shetty?

  Oh, so that's beautiful. I love that. That makes so much sense. That's a great clarification on the earlier point too. I love that. And that completely makes sense. The architect of the design, that's where the perfectionist kicks in.

• 1:36:12Alicia Keys?

  Otherwise, though, it's like magic. Whatever happens, whatever happens is, is perfect for that moment.

• 1:36:16Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's beautiful. Uh, question number four. What's the first offering you want me to use? And the first offering you want Radhi to use?

• 1:36:22Alicia Keys?

  Oh my God.

• 1:36:24Jay Shetty?

  And I want you to give them to me now. You can share them.

• 1:36:26Alicia Keys?

  Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. All right. Well, I want you both to wash your face with the golden cleanser. But I want you to use the aura mist.

• 1:36:36Jay Shetty?

  Ooh, you're gonna spray this on my pillow or me?

• 1:36:38Alicia Keys?

  It has rose. It has rose.

• 1:36:41Jay Shetty?

  I think we might start spraying this in the studio every time now someone comes in.

• 1:36:44Alicia Keys?

  And literally it just calms you instantly.

• 1:36:47Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, the scent's beautiful.

• 1:36:48Alicia Keys?

  And it's, I'm as free as the air. So you are.

• 1:36:51Jay Shetty?

  Oh, is that the affirmation?

• 1:36:52Alicia Keys?

  That's the affirmation.

• 1:36:53Jay Shetty?

  I'm as free as the air.

• 1:36:54Alicia Keys?

  And you always are as free as the air. But that's just a beautiful reminder. And Rania, my best friend.

• 1:36:59Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's beautiful.

• 1:37:00Alicia Keys?

  Is, these are the Let Me Glow serums. And this one, I think, is the Bronzeite. I give my self, self permission to grow, the Bronze Aura. So she's gonna get all three of these. Because she's glowing and she's so spectacularly authentic. I just adore her. So let me glow in all of the shades so that she can just like ting, ting, ting, ting, ting. And she already glows. So we'll give that to her. I can't wait to see her.

• 1:37:28Jay Shetty?

  I love it. I can't wait for you to see her as well. That's beautiful. Thank you so much. We're so excited.

• 1:37:31Alicia Keys?

  Thank you.

• 1:37:32Jay Shetty?

  Thank you for sending so much for my team as well. They're excited to use as well.

• 1:37:35Alicia Keys?

  Everybody glow up.

• 1:37:36Jay Shetty?

  We appreciate it. Appreciate it so much. Uh, fifth and final question. If you could, we ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show. If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?

• 1:37:49Alicia Keys?

  I think my law would be that you, you, you, you cannot hurt another being.

• 1:37:57Alicia Keys?

  You cannot hurt them physically. You cannot hurt them emotionally. You cannot hurt them. You cannot hurt another, another being. There's no reason, there's no difference. There's nothing that allows the physical or emotional or spiritual,

• 1:38:20Alicia Keys?

  you know, negligence or hurting of another being.

• 1:38:24Jay Shetty?

  I think that's a great law. It's a great law. And then we'd actually have to look at why we'd want to hurt others and where that comes from. And then actually heal our own hurt as well.

• 1:38:34Alicia Keys?

  That's, that's incredible. I love that. That would be really amazing if we could look to that.

• 1:38:43Jay Shetty?

  It's beautiful. Alicia Keys, thank you so much.

• 1:38:47Alicia Keys?

  It's the best ever.

• 1:38:48Jay Shetty?

  Always happy when I'm with you.

• 1:38:50Alicia Keys?

  Thank you.

• 1:38:50Jay Shetty?

  I've always enjoyed collaborating. And if only I could sing, you know, it's a.

• 1:38:55Alicia Keys?

  We'd be doing a song.

• 1:38:56Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, I know.

• 1:38:57Alicia Keys?

  Well, this is our song.

• 1:38:58Jay Shetty?

  Yeah, that's us.

• 1:38:59Alicia Keys?

  You know?

• 1:38:59Jay Shetty?

  I'm so grateful. And I'm so excited for people to use Keys Soul Care.

• 1:39:04Alicia Keys?

  Thank you.

• 1:39:05Jay Shetty?

  And to have access to it and to transform their heart, their soul, their mind and their body.

• 1:39:10Alicia Keys?

  Yes.

• 1:39:10Jay Shetty?

  Through this beautiful new offering. And even the intentionality, I was looking at how everything's called an offering. There's no products. It's called rituals, not just routines. Like, I, I love all of that to it. And I think, I, I do believe that physical, and I'll call them products just for what I'm trying to say. But I think physical products are so important to remind us of what to do internally.

• 1:39:32Alicia Keys?

  Yes, and we, we do.

• 1:39:34Jay Shetty?

  Because we use them every day.

• 1:39:34Alicia Keys?

  We do call them product offerings. So you can kind of like gel the two together. But you're right. It's like the physical embodiment, the embodying of the philosophy or the practice. And I love that. And you live that, you guys live that. And thank you for this, such, such, for these questions that also made me pause and think about how I wanted to share them. And I love this show. This show is so good. But you know that already because it's like a smash. So what?

• 1:40:06Jay Shetty?

  No, you're the best. It means the world. Thank you for trusting me.

• 1:40:09Alicia Keys?

  Absolutely.

• 1:40:10Jay Shetty?

  Thank you so much. Thank you for trusting me.

• 1:40:11Alicia Keys?

  You too.

• 1:40:12Jay Shetty?

  Thank you.

• 1:40:12Alicia Keys?

  Big love.

• 1:40:13Jay Shetty?

  Amazing. If this is the year that you're trying to get creative, you're trying to build more, I need you to listen to this episode with Rick Rubin on how to break into your most creative self, how to use unconventional methods that lead to success, and the secret to genuinely loving what you do. If you're trying to find your passion and your lane, Rick Rubin's episode is the one for you.

• 1:40:37Speaker 10

  Just because I like it, that doesn't give it any value. Like, as an artist, if you like it, that's all of the value. That's the success comes when you say, "I like this enough for other people to see it."

• 1:40:48Speaker 06

  Now, more than ever, we need someone on our side. But Rob Whitman? Whitman's votes drove up costs, cut Medicaid, and risked 350,000 Virginians' health care to pay for tax breaks for himself and his donors. He's not on our side. Shannon Taylor will fight corruption, cut taxes, and bring down costs. This November, vote for Shannon Taylor. She's for us. Paid for by HMP, the House Majority PAC dot com. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

• 1:41:18Speaker 07

  Mr. President, my company informed me of the explosion on our rig.

• 1:41:21Speaker 08

  On October 2nd.

• 1:41:22Speaker 07

  Causing massive water displacement and triggering a tsunami. They all heap the blame on me.

• 1:41:27Speaker 08

  Tom Cruise is. Digger got us into this mess, and Digger's gonna dig us out. From the director of Birdman and The Revenant.

• 1:41:34Speaker 09

  What would happen if I stopped going? You stall, you freeze in there, that's what?

• 1:41:39Speaker 08

  With great power comes great deniability.

• 1:41:42Speaker 09

  I'm not the first then.

• 1:41:43Speaker 08

  Digger. See the trailer online. Only in theaters October 2nd. Rated R. Under 17. Not a middle without parent.

• 1:41:48Speaker 02

  Espolone Tequila. Balanced. Delicious. 100% acave, 0% ego. Just add ice, lime, and your mouth. For a real margarita, ride the rooster.

• 1:41:58Speaker 08

  Espolone Tequila, 40% alcohol by volume, 80 proof. Copyright 2026, California, America, New York, New York. Drink responsibly.