3. Jay Hernandez Opens Up Like Never Before on Trauma, Healing & Self-Destruction – Part1

I’m so excited to share this episode of Mask Off. This time, I’m sitting down with one of my closest friends, actor and director Jay Hernandez, for a conversation that goes way deeper than Hollywood. Jay opens up about growing up surrounded by violence, panic attacks and addiction, and how watching his brothers struggle shaped the pressure he’s carried his entire life. He talks about feeling responsible for his family from a young age and how that became the driving force behind his career. We talk about Hollywood stereotypes, almost walking away from acting before Suicide Squad changed everything, and why success never actually made him feel like he had “made it.” He also shares how years of anxiety, self-destruction and emotional walls eventually pushed him toward deeper healing and self-awareness. From Malibu retreats and breathwork to Burning Man chaos and near-death horseback riding accidents in Mexico, this episode goes everywhere. 😂 This is a conversation about identity, survival, masculinity and what happens when you finally stop being so hard on yourself. MY CHANDRA SKINCARE ESSENTIALS (use code MASKOFF15): https://chandrabeauti.com/products/th... FOLLOW: Kelly Gale —   / kellygale   Joel Kinnaman —   / joelkinnaman   Chandra Beauti —   / chandrabeauti   Edited by: Magnus —   / thepodfather_magnus   TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Feet jokes and Hollywood beginnings 03:20 Directing his first feature film 05:08 Growing up blue collar and work ethic 06:50 Hollywood stereotypes and representation 14:50 Kelly’s horseback riding accident in Mexico 21:40 Malibu healing retreat and deepening friendships 24:40 Confronting yourself and emotional walls 26:50 Feeling responsible for family from a young age 31:00 How Jay accidentally became an actor 34:30 Destiny, loss and the manager who changed his life 37:00 Masculinity, self-love and emotional suppression 39:20 Panic attacks, anxiety and depression 42:10 Breathwork and trauma stored in the body 43:40 Self-destructive behavior during success 45:40 Why Jay never felt like he “made it” 50:00 Filming in Kazakhstan and dangerous stunts 52:10 Almost quitting acting before Suicide Squad 58:50 Burning Man chaos, RV disasters and fishnets