15 years ago, Mel Robbins hit rock bottom. She's now the most listened to woman in the world.

If you have access to a phone, the internet, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, a newspaper or any bookstore, chances are you've come across the name Mel Robbins.

The 56-year-old is one of this century's most influential voices in personal development, blending practical advice with an empowering, no-nonsense outlook.

Her approach may not sound revolutionary, but its simplicity — backed by science — has reached quite literally billions of people.

To put things into perspective, Robbins' how-to advice channel on YouTube racks up around 800,000 viewing hours per month and boasts over 3.6 million subscribers (a number that keeps growing exponentially). Meanwhile, her 2018 TED Talk, 'How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over', has amassed over 33 million views, making it one of the platform's most-watched videos.

To add to this, the mother-of-three has 8.4 million followers on Instagram, nearly 4 million on TikTok, 3.4 million on Facebook and six audiobooks that have hit number one on Audible. 

In other words, she's a big deal. Huge.

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It seems like everything Robbins touches turns to gold. But even though her name, her voice and her face are everywhere, what makes her so successful?

Who is Mel Robbins?

Summing up Robbins in a few words is actually incredibly complex — her achievements make it seem like she's lived 10 different lives.

But basically, she started as a lawyer before transitioning into a life coach, syndicated talk-radio host, CNN legal analyst, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, daytime talk-show host, best-selling self-help author and — most famously now — a podcast host.

She's also the founder of 143 Studios (named after the address of an apartment in Manhattan she used to live in), a production company that creates audiobooks for Audible and professional development programs for major corporate clients.

However the path for Robbins wasn't easy. Before her public-facing career exploded, she was crippled by anxiety.

"Fifteen years ago, I hit rock bottom and nearly lost everything I cared about in life," Robbins shared on her website.

"My anxiety was so bad, I could barely drag myself out of bed."

But Robbins said that learning to harness that worry — and learning about the now famous 'let them' theory — was the key to turning things around for herself.

"The reason why your anxiety gets worse and worse and worse—because I struggled with anxiety for decades—is in those moments of uncertainty. 'How is this presentation gonna go?' or 'How is this hard conversation going to go?' or 'How is this day going to go?'—that kind of that stress that you feel is normal. It's actually a sign that you're functioning in a mentally healthy way," Robbins told Parade.

"The issue is when you doubt your capability and your capacity to handle it, you immediately either try to control the other person or the situation, or you avoid it. And so when [you start] saying, 'Let them have a negative thought, let them be upset with me, let them be disappointed, let them not say yes to my business pitch,' you release control."

What is the 'let them' theory?

If you're semi-new to the Mel Robbins universe, you may have first encountered her #letthemtheory circulating on TikTok. 

Currently, the video that started it all has racked over 19.8 million views.

@melrobbins

Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.” 💥 Listen now on the melrobbinspodcast!! “The “Let Them Theory”: A Life Changing Mindset Hack That 15 Million People Can’t Stop Talking About” 🔗 in bio #melrobbins #letthemtheory #letgo #lettinggo #podcast #podcastepisode

♬ original sound - Mel Robbins

We've previously covered the concept (which you can read here), but the crux of it is shockingly simple: instead of getting frustrated by other people's actions or trying to control their behaviour, just let them.

For example, your significant other doesn't commit to plans? Let them.

If your friends don't invite you to dinner? Let them.

If your coworkers talk over you in a meeting? Let them.

But there's a second part: after you "let them", you shift your focus to yourself — the "let me" part. Instead of wasting energy on things beyond your control, you reclaim your time and emotional well-being.

It works because it permits you to drop the weight of responsibility for things you literally can't control. It helps you let go of FOMO, expectations, anxiety and resentments that could impact your mental health. 

No, it's not about letting people walk all over you — it's about acknowledging that you can't control other people's behaviour, but you can absolutely control how YOU respond to it.

How successful is The Mel Robbins Podcast?

We all know The Joe Rogan Experience has dominated Spotify's top podcast charts for over a decade. But only one person has managed to dethrone him — yep, Mel Robbins.

As of February 2025, The Mel Robbins Podcast surpassed The Joe Rogan Experience in the Australian Podcast Ranker, racking up over 200 million downloads and claiming the number one spot on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

From day dot, the podcast was destined for success. Launched in 2022 on Robbins' 54th birthday, it reached listeners in 194 countries within eight months, won the Webby People's Choice Award for Best Podcast in the same year and now averages a staggering 1.5 million downloads per week. If my maths is correct, that's 78 million (give or take) downloads per year.

In every podcast, Robbins says her same iconic quote: "In case anyone hasn't told you today, I love you," encouraging listeners to keep going and shut down any hints of self-doubt.

How successful is Mel Robbins as an author?

Beyond podcasting, Robbins has also dominated the publishing world. Her books, translated into 50 languages, have reached millions.

Her best-selling book, The 5-Second Rule, remains the most successful self-published audiobook by total downloads, according to Forbes. It teaches a simple yet effective technique: when you need to take action, count backward from five — then do it.

Her second bestseller, The High 5 Habit, encourages people to start their day by high-fiving themselves in the mirror, reinforcing self-belief and motivation.

Her latest book, The Let Them Theory, released in early 2025, has already become the most successful non-fiction book launch in history. Within a month, it sold over 1.2 million copies and secured the number one spot on The New York Times, Amazon, Audible and The Sunday Times bestseller lists.

What is Mel Robbins' five-second rule?

Here's the gist: you should complete a task within five seconds before you start to overthink it and put it off.

"If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within five seconds or your brain will kill it," Robbins said.

"The moment you feel yourself hesitate before doing something that you know you should do, count 5-4-3-2-1-GO and move towards action."

Robbins first used this self-management technique when she struggled with waking up early. She started counting backward from five as soon as she opened her eyes in the morning and immediately got up from bed when she reached one.

@melrobbins

If you’re watching this and you’re still in bed… 5-4-3-2-1 GET UP 💥 The #5SecondRule is a simple tool, backed by research, and it has changed the lives of millions around the world. It will change yours too. In fact, today is the 7️⃣th anniversary since I self-published this book that changed my life forever!! You can learn more about it and order the best selling book at melrobbins.com/5secondrule or at the 🔗 in my bio #melrobbins #changeyourlife #mindset #createabetterlife #takecontrol #motivation #5secondrule #motivationalquote #getup #morningroutine #getoutofbed #getmoving #justdoit #fivesecondrule

♬ original sound - Mel Robbins

It's a rule you can apply to anything, from getting up earlier in the morning to pushing yourself to go to the gym, answering an email or doing a house chore.

What is the secret behind Mel Robbins' success as a motivational speaker?

It's true — Mel Robbins' concepts aren't groundbreaking. They're so simple — cheesy, even — that you might be confused as to why billions of people drink up her words like syrup.

But it's how she's mastered her delivery that truly sets Robbins apart from other motivational speakers giving out advice. Somehow, she intellectually wields storytelling and uses it to forge an instant connection with her audience. She draws from encounters, memories and tales of people that everyone can relate to, all while offering plenty of food for thought.

Clearly, it works. And the world (us included) can't get enough of her.

Feature image: Instagram/@melrobbins.

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