Jay Shetty & Alexis Ohanian ON Why Discipline Creates Freedom

Is it possible to build one of the world’s most recognized websites while juggling life-altering personal events and maintaining a deep commitment to family?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty sat down with Alexis Ohanian to discuss how being disciplined helped him achieve greatness. Ohanian is the co-founder of Reddit and the founder of 776, a venture capital firm that supports early-stage companies. He is also a dedicated father and husband to tennis icon Serena Williams. In this interview, he shares how personal responsibilities and professional ambitions merge to shape a rewarding life, one marked by honesty, empathy, and genuine community building.

Early Influences and the Drive to Build

Growing up with a strong family foundation shaped Alexis Ohanian’s belief in hard work and empathy. He recalls his Armenian great-aunt sharing stories about his family’s history of survival and sacrifice when he was only six years old. That conversation was his first glimpse into the weight of responsibility, but it also ignited a fire within him: if previous generations had endured hardship so he could thrive in America, then he had a duty to seize every opportunity.

Alexis Ohanian told Jay Shetty that he used to code websites for strangers and get paid while still in school; he quickly recognized that building something meaningful online required understanding what the users truly want. Community forums fascinated him—people formed genuine connections in these virtual spaces around shared interests. Ohanian quickly recognized how anonymity could inspire honest conversations, and this is how Reddit was created as a place encouraging real connections rather than empty distractions.

Launching Reddit During a Personal Crisis

Shortly after Alexis Ohanian co-founded Reddit, life dealt two heavy blows: his then-girlfriend had a severe accident abroad and was in a coma, and his mother got diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. At that time, Alexis Ohanian was only in his early twenties, torn between the stress of a startup and the harsh realities of personal tragedy.

The Reddit co-founder describes to Jay Shetty the emotional shock he experienced: one moment, he was honing product strategy for Reddit; the next, he was at a hospital bedside. In crisis mode, he compartmentalized. He poured his pain into making sure Reddit succeeded. Even though he was terminally ill, his mother worried more about distracting her son from success than her own fate; her support made Ohanian more determined to prosper.

Community First: The Original Reddit Vision

From the outset, Reddit focused on community rather than celebrity culture. While platforms like Facebook prioritized real names and personal profiles, Reddit thrived on pseudonymity. Ohanian told Jay Shetty that the decision stemmed from an understanding that humans seek circles of belonging. Individuals flock to forums not to boost their personal brand but to share curated content and ideas on niche topics—from sports to baking to the most obscure of hobbies.

This platform empowered people to speak more freely, build friendships with strangers, and connect over shared passions. Long before the term “viral” became mainstream, Reddit’s upvote system and subreddits allowed ideas to get popular organically.

Alexis Ohanian remarks that, back in 2005, the platform’s growth wasn't a guarantee. Yet he strongly believed that this open model based on community moderation set Reddit apart. While discussions can sometimes turn toxic in such anonymous environments, Ohanian believes that communal spaces can bring out the best in people when guided by ethical frameworks.

Learning From Mistakes

After selling Reddit just 16 months after its founding, Alexis Ohanian remained involved but eventually stepped away. He shared with Jay Shetty how, upon his return in 2014, he came face-to-face with missteps he had made as a young leader when he had tried to fast-track a mobile app version of Reddit by hiring a freelance team, bypassing the in-house engineers who were uninterested in mobile development.

Although the mobile app worked for a while, it collapsed once he left due to insufficient official support. This, Ohanian told Jay Shetty, is the risk that comes with acting out of haste; he now recognizes that achieving a consensus is crucial, no matter how tedious. Without it, even the most successful projects can fail when their main advocate steps away. Now, Ohanian advises founders to invest time in trust-building. Winning hearts internally is just as vital as hitting external product milestones.

Founding 776 and Prioritizing Wellbeing

Having witnessed how personal crises intersect with high-pressure startup culture, Alexis Ohanian set out to do venture capital differently. He founded 776 to financially and emotionally support early-stage entrepreneurs by introducing a program where founders can draw from a dedicated fund for therapy, coaching, childcare, or any form of self-improvement they need.

Alexis Ohanian shares with Jay Shetty his belief that founders are more likely to be present, strategic, and emotionally balanced if they feel less guilt over personal expenses. To him, the rationale is simple: founders are the cornerstones of young startups. When they neglect self-care, the entire organization suffers. However, when they invest in their own physical and mental health, outcomes improve for both the product and the team. By establishing such support systems, Alexis Ohanian hopes to normalize a healthier rhythm in the tech industry.

Being a Present, Involved Father

Alexis Ohanian shares with Jay Shetty that schedule discipline is key in juggling fatherhood and entrepreneurship; he has firm boundaries between “on the clock” and family time to make sure he can be fully engaged in both. For example, he likes to make pancakes with his daughters on the weekends and dedicates his undivided attention to his family by being physically and mentally present.

The Reddit co-founder describes fatherhood to Jay Shetty as a muscle that requires consistent exercise. Overcommitment to work can deteriorate the special moments that shape a child’s sense of security and love. Balancing these areas is never simple; he still struggles with what he calls a “brokenness” that drives him to keep working. However, children’s birthdays, recitals, and daily rituals remain sacred commitments to him.

Despite his background in technology, Ohanian doesn't allow his daughters free access to it. He teaches his children to view technology as a tool rather than a source of mere entertainment. He explains that he wants to empower them to use it with curiosity rather than becoming reliant on it.

Male Friendships

Ohanian told Jay Shetty about his decades-long bond with a group of friends who mostly communicate online. They see each other about once or twice a year, but the group chat remains the lifeline for jokes, advice, and mutual accountability. When one of his closest friends suffered a fatal heart attack despite being in excellent physical shape, Ohanian was profoundly affected.

Losing a friend at a young age pushed the Reddit co-founder to reexamine his own health and renew these friendships. The men in that circle began sharing deeper conversations, no longer only discussing sports or trivial updates. They now share thoughts on grief, fatherhood, and the future of their families.

Ohanian told Jay Shetty that male friendships can be an essential space for humility. Childhood friends are often unimpressed by wealth or fame, which keeps life grounded. For him, these friends remind him of life's frailty and the importance of caring for your body. Every time they meet is significant because they can't know which one will be the last. This insight motivates Ohanian to find a balance between career ambitions and sincere relationships, a balance he hopes to never lose.

An Ever-Evolving Marriage

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian come from very different backgrounds: he is an Armenian American who grew up in a conventional suburban setting, while she is an iconic Black athlete who has been working since childhood. Together, they represent a unique blend of experiences that influence how they raise their family.

Alexis Ohanian opened up to Jay Shetty about the cultural differences that sometimes spark unexpected insights. Yet their moments of disagreement become opportunities to learn from each other’s perspectives, especially when discussing the complexities his daughters may face as young Black girls. Ohanian notes that honest conversations are rarely comfortable in the moment, but they often lead to a greater sense of mutual respect.

The Reddit co-founder proudly supports Serena Williams's choice to step away from tennis and focus on everyday parenting tasks like helping with classroom events or baking with the kids. Ohanian admitted to Jay Shetty that seeing his wife thrive in these humble areas is as moving as watching her win trophies on the tennis court. Their marriage allows them to blend the relentless ambitions that both are known for with down-to-earth family rituals.

Defining Success for His Children

Despite his and Serena Willliams' success, Alexis Ohanian wants his daughters to go through their age-specific challenges. He told Jay Shetty that he imagines them working entry-level jobs and facing the normal frustrations of adolescence—anything that instills in them a practical sense of responsibility, not getting everything on a silver plate.

Ohanian also forbids his daughters to say, “I can’t.” If they attempt to hit a golf ball and miss, that failure should energize them to keep swinging. He notes that people admire excellence but often overlook the countless hours of unsung practice that lead to success. Telling these stories of “hidden” work becomes part of how he and Serena Williams demystify success. Their daughters see the flashy performances, yet they also learn about the rigors of training, whether in sports or coding.

Alexis Ohanian admits to Jay Shetty there’s a delicate line between letting a child fail and overprotecting them. He hopes that by guiding them to build independence, they’ll emerge with the empathy, perseverance, and sense of purpose that define truly fulfilled lives. This balance is never perfect, but the effort to cultivate it shapes who they all become.

Embracing Ambition While Holding Onto Humanity

Ohanian told Jay Shetty that modern technology always evolves, sometimes outpacing ethical considerations. Yet he remains committed to building platforms and ventures that enhance people's lives. By advocating for humane policies like paid family leave to founding 776 with an emphasis on founder wellbeing, he ties his professional strategy to personal values. That alignment allows him to invest without losing sight of empathy and community.

Alexis Ohanian reveals to Jay Shetty that beyond financial success or recognition, the greatest satisfaction comes from moments of genuine human connection. A spontaneous hug from his daughter outweighs any business accomplishment. A home-cooked meal shared with family feels more lasting than any external praise. This sense of purposeful living—where hard work meets compassion—is what he hopes to pass on, whether through venture funding or bedtime stories. It is also the reason why, in Ohanian's eyes, success remains inseparable from humanity.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “Alexis Ohanian ON Why Discipline Creates Freedom & How to Incorporate Routines in Your Schedule in Order to Succeed” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.

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