Valuing Education Early On

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.

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.

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.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Stay Brave When You’re Afraid

How to Heal From Trauma With Time and Therapy

How to Find Yourself Beyond What the World Expects

How to Rebuild Confidence After Losing It

How to Create Change Through Education

How to Love Yourself After Feeling Unworthy

How to Redefine Courage in Everyday Life

How to Keep Hope Alive in Dark Times

How to Be the Voice for Those Who Can’t Speak

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.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

10:03 The Life Others Tried to Define for You

12:38 Winning the Nobel Peace Prize at 15

16:20 School as a Sanctuary for Children

21:00 When Education Becomes a Privilege

24:42 The Power of Having Someone Stand Up for You

25:45 Why Women Deserve Equal Opportunities to Thrive

27:52 Living Through the Violence of the Taliban

32:33 What Sparked the Activist Within

34:00 Choosing Courage Over Silence

37:25 Surviving the Taliban Attack

45:20 Fighting for Every Girl’s Right to Learn

48:45 When Trauma Returns Years Later

52:49 The Weight of Being a Symbol of Hope

55:45 Healing from Grief One Step at a Time

58:42 The Life-Changing Power of Therapy

01:03:36 Finding Real Friendship and Belonging

01:05:49 Becoming the Unexpected Relationship Guru

01:09:39 Learning to Love and Be Loved

01:20:50 Investing in the Future of Girls’ Education

01:23:39 Changing the Narrative for Equality

01:27:10 Empowering the Next Generation of Women

01:29:10 Thirteen Years After the Attack

01:31:50 The Heart of True Activism

01:34:30 Building Schools That Transform Lives

01:39:41 Malala on Final Five      

01:49:45 Child Marriages Should Stop

Episode Resources:

Malala Yousafzai | Website

Malala Yousafzai | Instagram

Malala Yousafzai | Facebook

Malala Yousafzai | TikTok

Malala Yousafzai | YouTube

Malala Yousafzai | X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.