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Over the past three years, @melrobbins has established herself as one of the most prominent voices in the self-help arena. Her most recent book, ‘The Let Them Theory’, became a viral phenomenon, selling more than 8 million copies. Virality in the millions is a regular Tuesday for Robbins and the more than 50 staffers at her production company, 143 Studios. The podcast, which Robbins started from her closet floor, regularly gets 9 million to 11 million viewers and listeners a week. Robbins has seemingly cracked the code for building a digital community by positioning herself as an everywoman, a gentle friend with your best interests in mind. Her global following of over 30 million across social platforms serves as ample proof of Robbins’ insistence that hers is a show for “everyone”. Still, she credits women as the demographic that has contributed the most to her success. “Some of the statistics in podcasting are depressing,” she says. “We are in a sea of manosphere, fake news, anger, hatred, and reactionary stuff.” Robbins wants to be a “lighthouse in a storm,” calling attention to stories that uplift. She is one of TIME’s 2026 Women of the Year. See who else made the list at the link in bio. Photograph by @_codyoloughlin_ for TIME In partnership with Official Timepiece @rolex