On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Julia Fox EXCLUSIVE: ‘I Still Hear a Voice That Says I’m Nothing’ (The Real Story Behind Surviving Addiction, Life as a Sex Worker, and How Motherhood Saved Her)
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Do you ever struggle with your self-worth?
What helps you get through your darkest days?
Today, in the first-ever live episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty— not in a studio, but live on stage in front of thousands. To kick things off, Jay sits down with actress, author, and cultural disruptor Julia Fox for a raw, unfiltered conversation about pain, transformation, and purpose.
What begins as an unlikely pairing unfolds into something profoundly human. Julia takes us deep into her story, one marked by emotional neglect, addiction, survival, and self-erasure, but with that also comes incredible grit, self-awareness, and resilience. Julia speaks about living with the trauma of not feeling worthy, and the long, complex journey of unlearning that narrative.
Together, they explore what it means to numb emotions through substance or toxic relationships, the role of compartmentalization as a survival mechanism, and the beauty of reclaiming identity through motherhood, celibacy, and sobriety. Julia shares how prayer, manifestation, and divine timing helped shift her path and how writing her memoir became the therapy she needed. Through tears, laughter, and confessions, this episode reminds us that healing doesn’t always look linear. Sometimes it looks like chaos, courage, and the difficult choice to keep going.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
How to Break the Cycle of Feeling Unworthy
How to Set Boundaries That Protect Your Peace
How to Reclaim Control After Addiction
How to Be Okay With Being Seen
How to Heal Without Needing Closure
How to Build a Life Without Numbing Yourself
How to Accept What You Can’t Change
Your truth is not too much. Your past does not define your future. And you are worthy, always.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
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What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:01 Owning Your Main Character Energy
03:15 Finding Beauty in Everyday Moments
04:29 The Art of People Watching
05:04 How Childhood Trauma Shapes Self-Worth
08:15 Growing Up in Emotional Isolation
09:42 Coping by Shutting Down
14:21 Entering a World of Survival & Power
18:21 The Power of Setting Boundaries
19:36 How Prayer Became a Path to Change
23:13 Escaping Her Darkest Moments
25:30 A Friendship That Changed Everything
26:34 How Motherhood Became Her Lifeline
28:31 The Freedom of Living Your Truth
31:12 Why Parental Support Matters
33:30 Navigating a Difficult Parental Relationship
34:50 Accepting What You Can’t Control
35:59 The Lasting Impact of Emotionally Unavailable Parents
36:53 Surviving Near-Death Experiences
38:38 Finding the Will to Live
39:31 What the Adult Industry Taught Her About Power
40:56 The Pressure to Prove Yourself
42:00 Letting Go of People’s Opinions
44:22 The Fear of Being Truly Seen
45:37 Reflecting on Past, Present, and Future
57:10 Processing a Traumatic Miscarriage
58:37 Finding Purpose in Helping Others
01:01:26 Julia on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Julia Fox | TikTok
Julia Fox | Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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