What are you ashamed of? That’s a question central to a podcast that has become popular for having famous guests including actress Reese Witherspoon and singer Demi Lovato. The podcast, hosted by Jameela Jamil, invites famous people to speak candidly about their personal struggles in an effort to shine some light on their hopes for social change.
Jamil is an activist whose connections in movies and music have allowed her to thrive in a culture where people with more time on their hands are beginning to clue into new and different podcasts.
During a recent episode, Witherspoon opened up about her feelings related to her work outside of film. The actress has made some serious ventures into the corporate space, and said she still deals with a sense of marginalization as a woman. Lovato went even more personal, talking about battling an eating disorder, as well as a drug overdose, both of which could have affected her work, especially public performances.
As a host, Jamil is committed to creating a space where her guests may speak freely. She’s very candid about her own struggles, and this authenticity allows her listeners to “lean in” and connect more deeply with the topics being discussed.
On the show, Lovato said she became okay with being able to look at herself in the mirror and say: “I’m not where I want to be.”This confession resonated with fans, who appreciated the candor and connected with the feeling.
Jamil says this kind of realism comes out because she’s not looking to “get” her guests. She’s working to show listeners they’re not alone in their struggles. If people they look up to share similar fears and difficulties, then overcome them, they can too. “You shouldn’t feel bad about your struggle if the most privileged people on the planet are going through similar things,” Jamil said.
The host did admit she’s sometimes “shocked” by how open and honest her celebrity guests can be, adding: “It makes me feel a lot of love towards them… there’s something about this moment where people want to connect with one another… to empathize…”
It is this connection that brings the true power to the conversations. People connect, then they identify, then they share. The messages become dynamic and “sticky” because people naturally appreciate the authenticity, and they want to share it with other people who feel as they do.
And it isn’t only celebrities who are opening up to Jamil. Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy came on the program to talk about the impact loneliness can have on our health, a subject with which many people are becoming achingly familiar. This combination of connectivity and timeliness has served Jamil’s message well, and it offers a clear lesson in how these dynamics drive and empower a community in the digital space.
Ronn Torossian is the CEO and Founder of 5W Public Relations. 5W PR is a leading digital pr and influencer marketing agency.