Award-winning podcaster and bestselling author Jay Shetty will be Class Day speaker

Jay Shetty, a bestselling author and host of the award-winning mental health podcast “On Purpose,” will speak to Princeton seniors at the Class Day ceremony scheduled for May 26 on Cannon Green.

Class Day, which takes place the day before Commencement, is organized by members of the senior class, who choose the speaker. The ceremony also includes speeches by graduating seniors, the recognition of class members for their contributions, and the induction of honorary class members.

On his podcast, Shetty interviews thought leaders, politicians, artists, musicians, athletes and more about a range of topics related to well-being, mental health and living life with purpose. “On Purpose” has been ranked among the top listened-to podcasts on Spotify and Apple, and has been honored with numerous podcasting awards.

In a video message to fellow seniors, Class Day Committee members Venezia Garza, Gil Joseph, Kelly Park and Ben Wachspress said they wanted to select a speaker who “understands the importance of community, mental health and meaningful relationships.”

“Before we step into the world, it will be nice to hear from somebody who can help us better understand ourselves but also how to connect with the people around us,” said Wachspress, the Class of 2025 president.

Shetty studied as a Hindu monk in India and the United Kingdom in the three years following his graduation from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass Business School). He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, “Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day” and "8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go.”

In the seniors’ announcement video, Joseph noted that Shetty uses his platform “to bring together leaders across fields to reflect on important questions such as ‘how do we show up as our authentic selves?’ or ‘how do we overcome challenges?’”

Shetty began sharing his work publicly via his popular video channel, launched in 2016. In addition, he is an entrepreneur and an officer for the meditation and wellness app Calm. He has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, People magazine and Adweek, and has been listed among “The 40(ish) Most Powerful People in Podcasting” by The Hollywood Reporter.