Nicky Jam: How to Forgive Yourself From the Past & Free Yourself From Shame and Trauma

Are you struggling to overcome your past trauma?

Are you looking for ways to heal from it?

Today, Jay sits down with renowned reggaeton artist and songwriter Nicky Jam. Nicky's music career took off after a series of successful mixtapes and collaborations with other artists, including Daddy Yankee, with whom he formed the iconic duo Los Cangris. His work has earned him international fame and multiple awards, establishing him as a major influence in the reggaeton and Latin trap genres. 

Nicky recounts his first foray into music, packing groceries and freestyling at a supermarket, which inadvertently launched his career despite his young age and the informal nature of his work. He opens up about the difficulties of his upbringing, including his mother’s struggle with substance abuse and prostitution, shaping his understanding of normalcy and family life. This background set the stage for his initial break into the music industry, where early rejections and setbacks paved the way for his eventual success in the Puerto Rican mixtape scene and beyond.

Together with Jay, Nicky also discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity and personal happiness amidst fame, expressing discomfort with being seen as a role model and emphasizing the importance of understanding and support for mental health, especially for men in the public eye. Despite ongoing struggles with PTSD, anxiety, and the scars of his traumatic past, Nicky remains hopeful and driven, looking forward to continuing his career and making a positive impact through his work and personal experiences.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to handle early setbacks

How to deal with the pressure of expectations

How to use personal struggles as a source of strength

How to maintain creativity under pressure

How to find redemption through new opportunities

How to help others through your work

Nicky's story demonstrates that with unwavering determination and a genuine approach, it's possible to transform challenging beginnings into legacies of success and enduring influence.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

What We Discuss:

00:00Intro

03:12Earliest Childhood Memory

04:06First Deal

06:44I Was Happy with the Album

08:15Life on the Streets

12:06There’s a Different World Out There

15:22Looking for Billy

17:20Simpler or Complicated Life?

19:05Commands Don’t Work on Me

24:58Battling Alcohol Addiction

31:06Drug and Alcohol Problem

34:20Finding Help

36:40Feeling Alone

39:18Almost Dying

42:52Prison Life

45:59Moving to Columbia

52:00My Mom is Different

54:48Do You Pray a Lot?

58:01Reconciliation

59:49Forgiveness

01:05:31I’m not Retiring

01:09:24My Album is My Story

01:10:11Some Misunderstanding People Have

01:12:37Surgery and Recovery

01:13:46Talking is Therapy

01:15:12Nicky on Fast Five

Episode Resources:

Nicky Jam | Website

Nicky Jam | Instagram

Nicky Jam | Facebook

Nicky Jam | TikTok

Nicky Jam | YouTube

Dubbed by ElevenLabs and this link: https://elevenlabs.io/jay_shetty

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.