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Judd Apatow: Fear of Rejection Holding You Back? THIS Trick Will Silence the Inner Critic & Help You Feel Confident to Create

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Oct 15, 2025

Guest

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow, legendary filmmaker and comedian known for hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, discusses overcoming rejection and embracing creativity. He reveals how self-doubt and early failures influenced his storytelling. Judd emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration over competition in comedy. He shares practical tips for silencing the inner critic and stresses the value of emotional narratives in humor. With insights on the evolving landscape of comedy and the role of technology, this conversation is both inspiring and thought-provoking.

01:47:16

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ANECDOTE

Early Comedy Apprenticeship

Judd started comedy young and treated failures as lessons to find his voice over years.
He recorded 50 interviews in high school with top comedians which educated and encouraged him.

insights

INSIGHT

Commit To The Long Game

Judd set a patient timeline: start young and expect years to find your voice.
This perspective let him accept being bad early as part of becoming great.

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ADVICE

Schedule Your Flow Block

Set a consistent work schedule to cue your brain into flow state and write your way into thinking.
Use rituals (time, environment) to make creativity repeatable and protected from distraction.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Early Comedy Beginnings and High School Radio

02:15 • 2min

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Family, Parenting and Passing on Humor

04:24 • 4min

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Education, USC Film School, and Getting In

07:56 • 3min

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Interviewing Icons and Learning from Kindness

10:42 • 2min

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Finding Creative Community, Not Competition

13:00 • 3min

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Early TV Breaks, Canceled Shows, and Persistence

15:41 • 3min

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Finding Confidence Through Writing for Others

18:31 • 3min

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The Value of a Long Gestation Period

21:51 • 3min

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Learning Filmmaking on Smaller Projects

24:26 • 2min

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Balancing Personal Taste with Audience Needs

Who Makes It Big and Who Stays on the Road

33:33 • 3min

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Flow States and Writing Routines

37:00 • 2min

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Protecting Mental Space from News Overload

38:39 • 5min

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Creative Risks, Failure as Experimentation

43:18 • 1min

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Returning to Stand-up and Rediscovering Voice

44:41 • 2min

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Techniques to Silence the Inner Critic

46:57 • 2min

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Chasing Emotional Story Over Chasing Jokes

48:48 • 4min

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Evolving Sensitivities in Comedy

52:46 • 1min

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AI's Role in Writing: Tool Versus Crutch

54:04 • 3min

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Protecting Creativity from Technological Side Effects

56:54 • 16sec

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Therapy, Projection, and Handling Rejection

57:11 • 6min

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Calming Fight-or-Flight Reactions in Creative Work

01:03:33 • 7min

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What Would You Do Without Fear and Doubt?

01:11:03 • 3min

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Avoiding Substance Dependence and Creativity

01:13:59 • 2min

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Life-Changing Books and Their Lessons

01:15:34 • 6min

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Comedy as a Path to Self-Understanding

01:21:39 • 3min

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Making Films That Respect Real People

01:24:19 • 8min

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Marriage, Partnership, and Creative Collaboration

01:32:36 • 4min

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Parenting Lessons for Creative Children

01:36:25 • 5min

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How to Reject Ideas Kindly

01:41:01 • 4min

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The Power of Mentorship from Gary Shandling

01:45:05 • 4min

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Joy of Helping Others and Passing It On

01:48:41 • 19sec

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Final Reflections on Creativity and Contribution

01:48:59 • 11sec

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Rapid-Fire Final Five: Wisdom and Kindness

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Comedy Nerd

A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures

Judd Apatow

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• Mentioned in 136 episodes

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth. The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth. The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect. Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption. The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.

What does rejection feel like to you?

What do you usually do to move past that feeling?

Today, Jay sits down with legendary filmmaker and comedian Judd Apatow for a vulnerable and inspiring conversation on life, creativity, and resilience. Known for shaping modern comedy with films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, Judd opens up about the struggles behind the success, sharing how self-doubt, early failures, and rejection shaped him into the storyteller he is today. He reflects on the power of mentorship, the lessons he learned from icons like Gary Shandling, and why finding your voice often requires patience, humility, and a willingness to fail forward.

Together, Jay and Judd explore how comedy can be both healing and revealing, born not just out of joy but often out of pain. Judd talks about the risks he took, the creative experiments that didn’t work, and how those “failures” became stepping stones toward lasting impact. He reveals how therapy, mindfulness, and even family dynamics have influenced his work, and why the most meaningful measure of success is not box office numbers, but whether your work truly connects with people.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Find Your Creative Voice

How to Balance Ambition with Presence

How to Use Mentorship to Grow

How to Push Through Self-Doubt

How to Create With Authenticity

How to Learn From Rejection

How to Protect Your Flow State

The setbacks you face today can become the foundation of your greatest breakthroughs tomorrow. Stay patient with the process, stay true to yourself, and keep moving forward with faith that your story has meaning and impact waiting to unfold.

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

01:09 What Made You Laugh Out Loud?

03:52 Raising Children Without Pressure

05:22 Never Limiting a Child’s Potential

08:09 The Most Memorable Interview

09:44 Discovering a Personal Path

10:27 From Fan to Friend

11:58 Running a Show Together

14:24 Growing with Creative Peers

15:58 Why Failure Leads to Success

18:00 The Power of Putting Yourself Out There

20:27 Why Success Takes Time

23:21 Creating Something Original

27:00 A Sliding Doors Moment

28:15 Realizing the Power of Choice

30:22 Becoming Part of Another’s Success

31:40 Confronting Creative Blocks

34:06 Inside a Storyteller’s Mind

35:34 Choosing to Be Part of the Solution

38:00 Taking Creative Risks

40:34 Silencing the Inner Critic

43:27 The Real Formula for Comedy

47:26 The Pitfalls of Mocking Others

48:41 The Promise and Peril of AI

51:39 Letting Go of a Problem-Seeking Mind

54:13 Projecting Childhood Trauma at Work

57:47 Separating Emotions from the Work

01:00:09 Choosing the Right Collaborators

01:02:58 Learning to Lighten Up

01:05:27 What Leads to True Success

01:07:30 The Most Impactful Self-Help Books

01:13:13 The Pain Behind Comedy

01:17:14 Defining True Happiness

01:22:33 Exploring an Ayahuasca Experience

01:24:18 The Secret to a Lasting Marriage

01:28:05 Lessons to Share with Children

01:30:07 Being Direct Yet Constructive

01:31:48 Finding Drama in Good People

01:34:07 Why Mentorship Matters

01:38:09 Judd on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Judd Apatow | Website

Judd Apatow | Instagram

Judd Apatow | Facebook

Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy

Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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