<p>Today, Jay sits down with Malala Yousafzai to uncover the woman behind the global symbol of courage and education. From the very start, Jay sets the tone with an intention rooted in empathy, to help people not just know Malala, but understand her. Together, they revisit her extraordinary journey, from growing up in Pakistan’s Swat Valley under Taliban rule to surviving an assassination attempt at fifteen. Malala shares what it was like to wake up in a hospital far from home, and how she slowly began to realize that the world had already decided who she was before she could decide for herself.</p> <p>As the conversation unfolds, Malala opens up about the emotional aftermath of her survival, the years spent trying to live up to the image of bravery the world created for her while quietly struggling with fear, trauma, and loneliness. She reflects on how therapy helped her begin to process the pain she had long suppressed, and how rediscovering humor, friendship, and love became essential parts of her healing. Malala also talks about her marriage, her insecurities after the attack, and the importance of learning to love herself before fully believing that someone else could. Her honesty reveals a side rarely seen, that even those who inspire millions still wrestle with doubt and self-acceptance.</p> <p>Malala and Jay explore what courage truly means, not as a public act of heroism, but as a quiet, daily choice to keep going. She reflects on her mission to ensure education for every girl, the ongoing fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan, and how real change begins with local voices and global solidarity. Through her words, Malala reminds us that strength and softness can coexist, that healing is never linear, and that every person has the power to turn pain into purpose.</p> <p>In this interview, you'll learn:</p> <p>How to Stay Brave When You’re Afraid</p> <p>How to Heal From Trauma With Time and Therapy</p> <p>How to Find Yourself Beyond What the World Expects</p> <p>How to Rebuild Confidence After Losing It</p> <p>How to Create Change Through Education</p> <p>How to Love Yourself After Feeling Unworthy</p> <p>How to Redefine Courage in Everyday Life</p> <p>How to Keep Hope Alive in Dark Times</p> <p>How to Be the Voice for Those Who Can’t Speak</p> <p>No matter what you’ve been through, your story isn’t over, it’s still being written every single day. Healing doesn’t happen all at once, and courage isn’t about never breaking down; it’s about finding the strength to rise again, even when you feel unsure.</p> <p>With Love and Gratitude,</p> <p>Jay Shetty</p> <p><strong><em>Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe </em></strong><a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe"><strong><em>here</em></strong></a><strong><em>. </em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! </em></strong><a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast"><strong><em>https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</em></strong></a><strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p><strong>What We Discuss:</strong></p> <p>00:00 Intro</p> <p>10:03 The Life Others Tried to Define for You</p> <p>12:38 Winning the Nobel Peace Prize at 15</p> <p>16:20 School as a Sanctuary for Children</p> <p>21:00 When Education Becomes a Privilege</p> <p>24:42 The Power of Having Someone Stand Up for You</p> <p>25:45 Why Women Deserve Equal Opportunities to Thrive</p> <p>27:52 Living Through the Violence of the Taliban</p> <p>32:33 What Sparked the Activist Within</p> <p>34:00 Choosing Courage Over Silence</p> <p>37:25 Surviving the Taliban Attack</p> <p>45:20 Fighting for Every Girl’s Right to Learn</p> <p>48:45 When Trauma Returns Years Later</p> <p>52:49 The Weight of Being a Symbol of Hope</p> <p>55:45 Healing from Grief One Step at a Time</p> <p>58:42 The Life-Changing Power of Therapy</p> <p>01:03:36 Finding Real Friendship and Belonging</p> <p>01:05:49 Becoming the Unexpected Relationship Guru</p> <p>01:09:39 Learning to Love and Be Loved</p> <p>01:20:50 Investing in the Future of Girls’ Education</p> <p>01:23:39 Changing the Narrative for Equality</p> <p>01:27:10 Empowering the Next Generation of Women</p> <p>01:29:10 Thirteen Years After the Attack</p> <p>01:31:50 The Heart of True Activism</p> <p>01:34:30 Building Schools That Transform Lives</p> <p>01:39:41 Malala on Final Five      </p> <p>01:49:45 Child Marriages Should Stop</p> <p><strong>Episode Resources:</strong></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://malala.org/">Website</a></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/malalafund">Instagram</a></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MalalaFund">Facebook</a></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@malalafund">TikTok</a></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/MalalaFund">YouTube</a></p> <p>Malala Yousafzai | <a href="https://x.com/malal