The Mel Robbins Podcast - This One Episode Will Motivate You to Change Your Entire Life

This episode is a MUST-listen. If you’ve ever felt behind, scared, stuck, or doubting yourself, you need to hit play. Today, Mel sits down with someone who has been a mentor from afar for more than 12 years. Mel says she would not be where she is today without the person sitting across from her. For more than a decade, Gary Vaynerchuk has been one of Mel’s biggest inspirations - and in this conversation, he is here to challenge you to stop making excuses and start changing your life. Gary is one of the most successful entrepreneurs and creators of his generation, a six-time New York Times bestselling author, and the force behind VaynerX, VaynerMedia, and VeeFriends. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, watching other people do the thing you want to do, worrying about what people will think, or telling yourself you’re too late, you need to hear this. Gary will challenge the way you think about fear, regret, comparison, confidence, your career, other people’s opinions, and the excuses that are keeping you stuck. You’ll learn why the people you listen to shape who you become, why your embarrassment can become your advantage, why peace of mind matters more than status, and why one action could change the entire direction of your life. Gary also shares his advice for anyone who wants to start a business, change careers, put themselves out there, or finally take the risk they’ve been thinking about for years. His message is simple: there is something you are amazing at - and the longer you sit around watching everybody else do it, the more it costs you. You’ll also learn: - What your algorithm reveals about who you are - Why you need to start living your life with your funeral in mind - The 3 words that are keeping you stuck - Gary’s #1 tip if you’re unemployed or looking for a new job - How to stop blaming your parents for your circumstances - How to build self-confidence and let go of your need to be accepted - Why peace of mind is the secret to a rich life This conversation will push you to stop waiting for the right time, stop letting other people’s opinions control your decisions, and stop living in a way that leaves you saying, “I wish I…” By the time it’s over, you’ll know exactly what you need to do next - and you’ll feel inspired to go do it. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked this episode, listen to this one next: What Makes a Good Life? This Study on 26,000 Regrets Will Guide You for the Rest of Your Life Mel also wants to tell you: Try the 23g protein shot I drink every single morning Join 2 million readers loving my weekly newsletter - full of tips, tools, and inspiration The Let Them Theory: read the book everyone’s talking about Watch the episodes on YouTube Connect with me on Instagram Follow the show’s Instagram for clips, behind the scenes, and more Find some daily positivity on my TikTok Want zero ads? Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free Disclaimer

Duration: 1h 23m
Broadcast on: 07 Sep 2026
Audio Format: other

This episode is a MUST-listen.

If you’ve ever felt behind, scared, stuck, or doubting yourself, you need to hit play.

Today, Mel sits down with someone who has been a mentor from afar for more than 12 years. Mel says she would not be where she is today without the person sitting across from her.

For more than a decade, Gary Vaynerchuk has been one of Mel’s biggest inspirations - and in this conversation, he is here to challenge you to stop making excuses and start changing your life.

Gary is one of the most successful entrepreneurs and creators of his generation, a six-time New York Times bestselling author, and the force behind VaynerX, VaynerMedia, and VeeFriends.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, watching other people do the thing you want to do, worrying about what people will think, or telling yourself you’re too late, you need to hear this.

Gary will challenge the way you think about fear, regret, comparison, confidence, your career, other people’s opinions, and the excuses that are keeping you stuck.

You’ll learn why the people you listen to shape who you become, why your embarrassment can become your advantage, why peace of mind matters more than status, and why one action could change the entire direction of your life.

Gary also shares his advice for anyone who wants to start a business, change careers, put themselves out there, or finally take the risk they’ve been thinking about for years.

His message is simple: there is something you are amazing at - and the longer you sit around watching everybody else do it, the more it costs you.

You’ll also learn:

- What your algorithm reveals about who you are

- Why you need to start living your life with your funeral in mind

- The 3 words that are keeping you stuck

- Gary’s #1 tip if you’re unemployed or looking for a new job

- How to stop blaming your parents for your circumstances

- How to build self-confidence and let go of your need to be accepted

- Why peace of mind is the secret to a rich life

This conversation will push you to stop waiting for the right time, stop letting other people’s opinions control your decisions, and stop living in a way that leaves you saying, “I wish I…”

By the time it’s over, you’ll know exactly what you need to do next - and you’ll feel inspired to go do it.

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.

If you liked this episode, listen to this one next: What Makes a Good Life? This Study on 26,000 Regrets Will Guide You for the Rest of Your Life

Mel also wants to tell you:

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Hey, it's your friend, Mal, and welcome to the Mal Robbins Podcast. I am so excited that you're here with me today because I'm going to introduce you to somebody who has had a profound impact on my life. 12 years ago, I started posting on social media as a 46 year old woman because of one human being, his name, Gary Vaynerchuk. I would not be the person I am today. I would not have written the five second rule, the high five habit, the let them theory. I wouldn't have started this podcast. And I probably wouldn't have gotten out of $800,000 worth of debt if it were not for Gary Vaynerchuk. Now, if you usually turn to me in order to feel better and to be reminded that yes, you are capable of extraordinary things. You are capable of changing your life. Well, if you're turning to me for that, I cannot wait for you to meet Gary Vaynerchuk because he's the person I turn to for that kind of encouragement. He's the person I've studied the most about putting yourself out there, reinvention, seeing around corners, forgetting about what everybody else thinks, doing the thing you've always wanted to do. So I'm going to tell you right now, if you are not interested in changing your life, if you are not interested in being motivated, if you are not interested in going for the things that you want your life, you better stop listening right now. Because this is going to be a conversation that you will save that I will save that you will listen to over and over and over and over again. After today, you will stop waiting for the right time, the right answer, the right feeling, the right person, and you will finally do the thing you need to do. Open the Etsy shop, sell your art, change careers, start the business, start your life. When I think of fall, I think of a couple things. I think of the first school drop off, the first sweater weather day, the first chilly evening around the fire pit, and our sponsor, LL Bean. For over 100 years, LL Bean has been part of these traditions, crunching leaves and manemade bean boots, cheering from the sidelines and scotch plaid flannel, and walking the dog in a rugged field coat. Go grab the layers you love and the people you love and get outside. Visit LL Bean dot com to shop the fall collection. LL Bean be an outsider. The Mel Robbins podcast is brought to you by Expedia. I love Expedia because I love traveling. And here's the thing, you may be holding off and booking a trip right now, because you think you need the whole plan to come together. But guess what? You don't. With Expedia's bundle and save, the more you book, the more you can save, get up to 30% off every time you add something, and then you add more later. Expedia, the one place you go to go places, sign in to save on select bookings. The Mel Robbins podcast is proudly sponsored by Amika Insurance, our exclusive insurance partner. Now maybe you're like me. Loyalty means something. At Amika, they believe lasting relationships are built the same way with loyalty, showing up for people again and again when they need you most. That's why customers stay with Amika three times longer. Trust takes time and you can trust Amika to be there in the moments that matter. Visit amika dot com and get a quote today. Hey, it's your friend Mel and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast. And if you're a new listener, I just want to welcome you to the Mel Robbins podcast family. If somebody shared this with you, I want you after you're done listening to call them and say thank you. Thank you for sharing that episode with me because Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as Gary V, is here to tell you, stop making excuses. He's going to teach you how to change your life right now. Some of the things you're not going to like to hear because Gary goes right for the truth. He's kind of like a punch and a hug guy. And he has been my mentor from afar for 12 years. This is the first time that I am sitting down with the person who inspired me to start posting online. I would not be hosting the Mel Robbins podcast. I would not be the person that you know me to be today if it were not for Gary Vaynerchuk and Gary V. Oh my gosh. He's one of the most successful entrepreneurs and creators of this generation. He is considered one of the leading global minds on what's next in culture, business and the internet. Six time New York Times best-selling author. 45 million people follow his work. He is the chairman of Vayner X, the CEO of V friends and the CEO of VaynerMedia, one of the largest global advertising agencies in the world. Today, Gary has flown to Boston for one reason. He's here for you. He wants you to stop making excuses. He wants you to take control

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