Life with an Addicted Parent

Today, Jay sits down with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren for an extremely open and honest conversation about loss, resilience, and turning pain into purpose. Alex opens up about losing both of his parents at a young age, growing up in instability, and being forced to parent himself while he was still just a kid. Through stories of grief, homelessness, and survival, he reflects on how these early experiences shaped his worldview, his faith, and his relentless drive to keep going when everything around him felt uncertain. What emerges is a powerful reminder that our hardest chapters often become the foundation of our greatest strength.

Alex shares how music became his lifeline, a way to articulate emotions he couldn’t put into words and a place to process loss without running from it. From teaching himself to sing and play guitar, to sleeping in cars while posting covers online, his journey is a testament to perseverance in the face of uncertainty. Alex speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, insecurity, and the challenge of staying grounded amid global success, revealing that even at the highest levels of achievement, the longing to feel “enough” never fully disappears. Jay guides the conversation toward self-compassion, helping Alex explore the importance of extending the same grace to himself that he’s learned to offer others. 

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Turn Deep Loss Into Purpose

How to Keep Going When No One Believes in You

How to Build Resilience After Childhood Trauma

How to Find Meaning in Painful Experiences

How to Forgive Without Excusing Harm

How to Become the Person You Needed Growing Up

You don’t need perfect conditions, unwavering confidence, or universal approval to move forward. What you need is the willingness to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to keep choosing who you want to become, especially on the hardest days. 

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:01 How to Navigate Success Without Losing Yourself

03:10 Remembering a Father Who Gave Everything

07:13 Growing Up Surrounded by Love

08:30 When Did You First Realize Your Life Was Different?

09:34 Parenting Yourself as a Child 

10:45 The Universal Need to Belong

12:17 How Early Childhood Shapes Who You Become

15:28 Redefining What Success Really Means

19:58 Growing Up with an Abusive Parent

22:50 The Lasting Pain of Losing Someone You Love

24:10 Understanding Your Parents’ Hidden Struggles

32:02 Protecting Your Dream At All Costs 

34:35 Lessons Loss Teaches You

35:49 The Fear of Being Left Behind

37:48 How Everything in Life Becomes a Lesson

41:35 How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

46:13 Living Out of a Car at 17

51:26 Surviving What Should’ve Broken You

56:45 Using Music to Process Grief

59:41 Meeting the Love of Your Life 

01:02:25 Finding Someone Who Stays No Matter What 

01:04:31 Why Shedding an Old Identity is Important 

01:07:14 Creating the Perfect Wedding

01:10:02 Facing Your Greatest Inner Struggle

01:12:38 Becoming the Parent You Never Had

01:15:02 Learning to Live with Insecurity

01:18:44 You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself

01:23:36 Alex on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Alex Warren | Website

Alex Warren | Instagram

Alex Warren | YouTube

Alex Warren | TikTok

Alex Warren | Facebook

Alex Warren | X

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