Nicky Jam: How to Forgive Yourself From the Past & Free Yourself From Shame and Trauma

About this episode

Are you struggling to overcome your past trauma? Are you looking for ways to heal from it? Today, Jay sits down with renowned reggaeton artist and songwriter Nicky Jam. Nicky's music career took off after a series of successful mixtapes and collaborations with other artists, including Daddy Yankee, with whom he formed the iconic duo Los Cangris. His work has earned him international fame and multiple awards, establishing him as a major influence in the reggaeton and Latin trap genres.  Nicky recounts his first foray into music, packing groceries and freestyling at a supermarket, which inadvertently launched his career despite his young age and the informal nature of his work. He opens up about the difficulties of his upbringing, including his mother’s struggle with substance abuse and prostitution, shaping his understanding of normalcy and family life. This background set the stage for his initial break into the music industry, where early rejections and setbacks paved the way for his eventual success in the Puerto Rican mixtape scene and beyond. Together with Jay, Nicky also discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity and personal happiness amidst fame, expressing discomfort with being seen as a role model and emphasizing the importance of understanding and support for mental health, especially for men in the public eye. Despite ongoing struggles with PTSD, anxiety, and the scars of his traumatic past, Nicky remains hopeful and driven, looking forward to continuing his career and making a positive impact through his work and personal experiences. In this interview, you'll learn: How to handle early setbacks How to deal with the pressure of expectations How to use personal struggles as a source of strength How to maintain creativity under pressure How to find redemption through new opportunities How to help others through your work Nicky's story demonstrates that with unwavering determination and a genuine approach, it's possible to transform challenging beginnings into legacies of success and enduring influence. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:12 Earliest Childhood Memory 04:06 First Deal 06:44 I Was Happy with the Album 08:15 Life on the Streets 12:06 There’s a Different World Out There 15:22 Looking for Billy 17:20 Simpler or Complicated Life? 19:05 Commands Don’t Work on Me 24:58 Battling Alcohol Addiction 31:06 Drug and Alcohol Problem 34:20 Finding Help 36:40 Feeling Alone 39:18 Almost Dying 42:52 Prison Life 45:59 Moving to Columbia 52:00 My Mom is Different 54:48 Do You Pray a Lot? 58:01 Reconciliation 59:49 Forgiveness 01:05:31 I’m not Retiring 01:09:24 My Album is My Story 01:10:11 Some Misunderstanding People Have 01:12:37 Surgery and Recovery 01:13:46 Talking is Therapy 01:15:12 Nicky on Fast Five Episode Resources: Nicky Jam | Website Nicky Jam | Instagram Nicky Jam | Facebook Nicky Jam | TikTok Nicky Jam | YouTube Dubbed by ElevenLabs and this link: https://elevenlabs.io/jay_shetty See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices