Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including his most recent, All it Takes is a Goal. Published in dozens of languages, his work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers. When he's not writing, Acuff can be found on a stage, as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges and companies around the world including FedEx, Range Rover, Microsoft, Chick-fil-A, and Comedy Central. Known for his insights wrapped in humor, Acuff shared the stage with an American Icon when he opened up for Dolly Parton at the Ryman Auditorium. Jon lives outside of Nashville, TN with his wife Jenny and two daughters.
This one hit me right between the eyes.
In Part 5 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m talking about a mindset I’m still learning to believe: Growth is the goal, not comfort.
It’s easy to quit when things get awkward, inconvenient, or uncomfortable. I’ve done it with goals like YouTube, and I’ve pushed through it with goals like writing my first book. Today I’ll show you why discomfort isn’t a sign something’s going wrong—it’s a sign...
In Part 4 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m unpacking a simple but powerful mindset shift: Win the way you’ve won before.
You’ve already succeeded at something in your life—and that win left clues. Today I’ll show you how to find them, repeat them, and bring that momentum into your next goal. Whether it’s a health goal, a career goal, or a personal one, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to remember what worked—a...
In Part 3 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m talking about one of the most important mindset shifts I’ve ever made: Be your bodyguard, not your bully.
How you talk to yourself matters. A lot. In this episode, I’ll walk you through why being kind to yourself isn’t soft—it’s actually one of the strongest things you can do. We’ll talk about hidden ways you might be beating yourself up, what positive aggression looks like, and how to ...
This is Part 2 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, and I’ve got another soundtrack for you:
“Surround yourself with friends who throw fuel, not water.”
We’re talking about the kind of people who help your dreams grow—and the kind who quietly shrink them. I’ll walk you through three questions that will change how you think about your friendships and your mindset. Let’s make this the best summer yet. Tune in today!
Have you ever felt frustrated trying to control things that are completely out of your hands? In this episode, I'm kicking off a new summer series where I randomly pick cards from my Soundtracks Conversation Deck and share the mindset shifts that can change everything. Today's soundtrack: "I am the CEO of my actions, not the CEO of my outcomes." We'll talk about why remarkable people focus on what they can ...
Do you ever catch yourself saying "I'm too busy" when someone asks you to connect? Mo Bunnell, author of Give to Grow, says that's one of five lies keeping us stuck—and he's got the research to prove it. In this episode, Mo breaks down his "Cut to Climb" process (30 minutes quarterly to find 50 hours you'll never waste again) and his MIT system for weekly planning that actually works. Plus, y...
A few years ago, Simon Sinek and I had the same editor. Since then, I've had the chance to learn from him, and let me tell you—it's been a game changer.
In this episode, I'm sharing three lessons Simon taught me: why you should be able to draw your idea on a napkin, why short beats long every time, and the power of being kind to people behind you. Plus, I'll tell you about an unexpected birthday surprise that per...
I've never met someone who accidentally got in shape. Or accidentally had a great marriage. Or accidentally built a million-dollar business. You know why? Because awesome is never accidental.
In this episode, I'm sharing how this simple 4-word soundtrack will change how you think about achievement. After interacting with hundreds of thousands of people online and learning from CEOs across different industries, I've di...
Ready to continue making this your most intentional summer? In this episode, I'm sharing the final 19 ways to elevate your summer from average to extraordinary. From buying the weirdest thing at your local farmer's market, to exploring your dream neighborhood, to committing to reading with your kids—these actionable ideas will inspire you to make the most of the season. No need to have heard part 1; you can jump right in!...
Summer is here, and in this episode, I'm sharing the first 18 of 37 incredible ways to make this your most remarkable summer yet. Why wait for January to set meaningful goals? From catching up with friends you've been meaning to see, to visiting quirky local attractions you've never explored, this list (created with help from my Guaranteed Goals Community) is packed with ideas that anyone can implement. Whether you&a...
In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Leak to talk about his new book, How to Work with Complicated People. Ryan shares insights from coaching everyone from CEOs to NBA stars, explaining why talented people are often mislabeled as difficult, and how to maintain boundaries when success accelerates. We explore the warning signs of leaders going off the rails, Ryan's Mount Rushmore of books, and even his predictions for the NBA F...
Want to know the simplest leadership principle that makes people elbow each other when I share it on stage? "Leaders who can't be questioned end up doing questionable things." In this episode, I'll share how the gap between the boardroom and the break room creates problems, why your team might be editing their feedback by 15%, and my embarrassing story about a CEO with terrible Zoom lighting (spoiler: everyone l...
In this episode, I'm delivering the graduation speech I've never been asked to give. I've packed it with seven brutally honest pieces of advice for Gen Z graduates that you won't hear from those boring traditional speakers droning on about "wings" and "moxie." Whether you're 18 or 48, you'll find something in this graduation manifesto that might just change your life. And no, I didn...
In this episode, I share my revelation about accepting who you are instead of constantly trying to transform into someone else. I'll also tell you about my Phoenix epiphany, where I discovered that pushing through just 11 minutes of resistance unlocks flow in the work you're meant to do. Life gets easier when you stop swimming against your current.
In This Episode:
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In this episode, I'm sharing six powerful words that completely changed my perspective on fear and hope. I'll tell you some embarrassing stories about my brain's automatic negativity (including how I ruined a surprise party and why I'd be terrible at running a popsicle stand), plus give you the practical hope-building strategies I use every single day. Because remember—fear shows up uninvited, but hope is worth ...
In this episode, I sit down with my younger brother Will—founder of Corner to Corner and author of No Elevator at Everest—for a raw, hilarious, and deeply meaningful conversation about goals, grit, and joy in the midst of real-life challenges. We talk about family dynamics, stolen cars, late-night wake ups, and the kind of leadership that gets built when nobody's watching. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to lead wit...
In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite soundtracks: It will be a success or a story. It’s the mindset I use every time I try something new—like hosting a live event or leading a book club that nobody shows up to (yep, that actually happened… to a brave 9-year-old and to me). Whether your next goal works out exactly like you hoped or turns into a story you’ll tell for years, this episode will remind you that both outcomes a...
Not every friend deserves front-row seats to your dreams. In this episode, I’m unpacking one question that completely changed how I think about relationships—and why some quietly discourage your growth. If you’ve ever wondered why a big idea fizzled or who to trust with your next bold goal, this one's for you. Let's talk about finding fuel friends and avoiding the sneaky word that can sink your progress: still.
In This Epi...
Encouragement isn’t just something you give—it’s something you get. When you take the time to lift someone else up, you walk away stronger too. In this episode, I’m sharing why encouragement matters and how it shows up in unexpected ways (including a recent story about my experience at my favorite Wendy’s restaurant). I’ll also share why I’m so excited about my Remarkable You live event coming up in less than two weeks!
Le...
Starting is hard. Whether it’s running, writing a book, or driving home after a big event, the beginning never feels as good as the finish. But here’s the truth—you don’t have to feel awesome to get started. You’ll feel awesome after. In this episode, we’re talking about pushing through the messy middle, why the best dreams start in black and white but end in technicolor, and how action creates momentum. If you’re waiting to feel r...
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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