Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

Jordan Stephens: Heartbreak, hitting rock bottom and finding my way back from self-destruction

Aug 30, 2024

Jordan Stephens, writer, musician, and one half of Rizzle Kicks, shares his candid journey from chaos to self-discovery. He opens up about the painful breakup that spurred his exploration of heartbreak and masculinity. Jordan discusses the struggles with ADHD, creativity, and self-worth amid the pressures of fame. He emphasizes the importance of discussing male vulnerability and the healing power of love, while reflecting on how shared pain can foster understanding. His new book, 'Avoidance,' dives deep into these experiences.

58:18

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Episode guests

Jordan Stephens

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast underscores that grief is a universal experience, impacting everyone regardless of their fame or past successes.

Jordan discusses the freedom of prose writing compared to lyrics, emphasizing the importance of finding one's authentic voice in storytelling.

The exploration of heartbreak in Jordan's life reveals how emotional pain can lead to significant personal growth and deeper self-awareness.

Deep dives

Exploring Grief Through Personal Experience

The focus of the episode is on the relationship with grief and how it shapes personal identity. The discussion emphasizes that grief is a universal experience that affects everyone regardless of their background or achievements. The speaker highlights that a broken heart can impact anyone, reiterating that pain and grief need to be processed by all individuals. This exploration of grief aims to engage readers in a relatable manner, showing that fame or success does not exempt one from facing deep emotional pain.

Intro

2min

Navigating Grief and Creativity

6min

Navigating ADHD and Identity

16min

From Outcast to Artist: A Journey at the Brit School

9min

Navigating Worth and Substance

5min

Navigating Heartbreak and Masculinity

13min

Navigating Vulnerability in Writing

7min

Jordan Stephens is a writer, musician and actor, best-known as one half of the hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks. His late teens and early twenties were a whirlwind of hit records, sold-out shows and wild parties, fuelled by a heady cocktail of drugs, drink, sex and chaos. It was fun until is wasn't.

In 2017, everything fell apart when Jordan cheated on his then-girlfriend, leading to a painful break up that left him heartbroken for the first time. Desperate to make sense of it all, Jordan set out on a journey of self-discovery, facing his emotions and slowly pieced himself back together. He opens up to James about his experience of heartbreak and why love is such an important, yet misunderstood, topic for young men today.

His new book, Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs is out now.