Passion Struck with John R. Miles

What if the proof you're waiting for never comes?

The apology. The promotion. The recognition.

Someone finally admitting they were wrong about you. Someone finally telling you that you belong.

What if you're waiting for proof that you don't actually need?

After conversations with Cole Brauer and psychologist Marisa Franco, John R. Miles noticed a powerful connection between their work.

Cole was told she was too small to survive the Southern Ocean. A year later, she sailed solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world—without ever receiving the apology or reversal she had been waiting for. Marisa's research reveals the other side of the equation: when we already believe we're unworthy, even love, success, compliments, and positive feedback can fail to change that belief. Sometimes, the evidence simply doesn't match the story we already carry about ourselves.

In this solo episode, John brings those two ideas together to explore The Verification Trap—the tendency to wait for external proof before allowing ourselves to believe we're capable, worthy, or ready to move forward.

You'll discover:

• Why a genuine compliment can sometimes make people feel worse instead of better
• How rejection can become part of the story you believe about yourself
• Why success and achievement don't necessarily resolve a deeper sense of unworthiness
• How your memories can become a database that filters the evidence you receive
• Why waiting for someone to reverse their judgment can keep you stuck
• The difference between being validated and actually believing you're worthy
• What Cole Brauer's story teaches us about moving forward without permission
• Why healing requires honesty rather than constantly trying to become a better version of yourself
• John's two-question Verification Check for identifying where you're waiting for external proof
• How to take the smallest possible step toward something you've been waiting for permission to do

And John gets personal, sharing a previously untold chapter of his own life and what rebuilding after divorce taught him about validation, action, and self-trust. He realized that the proof didn't come before he moved forward.

The proof came after.

The Verification Check

Ask yourself: What specific proof am I waiting for before I let myself move forward?

Then ask: If that proof never arrives, is there a version of this where I go anyway?

Because sometimes you don't need the verdict reversed. You need to leave the dock.

Read the Full Show Notes

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do you still feel like you're not enough—even when your life looks successful from the outside?

You can have a successful career, loving relationships, and people who genuinely care about you—and still struggle to believe you're worthy of love, connection, or belonging.

Marisa G. Franco, psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Platonic, returns to Passion Struck to explore the deeper science behind self-worth in her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment.

Her argument challenges one of the most common ideas about self-esteem: you don't become worthy by achieving more, becoming more impressive, or convincing yourself that you're extraordinary.

Instead, worth begins with something much harder—and much more honest: learning to accept yourself as you are.

In this conversation, Marisa explains:

• Why achievement, compliments, and positive affirmations often fail to fix low self-worth
• How childhood memories can become the lens through which we predict rejection, abandonment, or failure
• Why trying to appear “secure” can actually disconnect you from your authentic self
• The hidden cost of making your worth dependent on achievement
• Why healing isn't becoming a better version of yourself—it's reconnecting with the parts of yourself you've learned to ignore
• What “open memories” are and why unresolved experiences can continue shaping how you see yourself decades later
• How attachment styles can be understood as adaptive responses rather than fixed identities
• Why we need to stop treating our emotions as problems to solve and start allowing them to move through us
• How memory reconsolidation may help us create new meaning around painful experiences
• Why sometimes becoming healthier means allowing a relationship to end rather than abandoning yourself to save it

One of the most powerful ideas in our conversation is this: The goal isn't to convince yourself that you're extraordinary. It's to recognize that you're worthy even when you're ordinary.

Marisa's work offers a different way to think about healing: not as a project of optimization, but as the process of coming home to yourself.

Click here for the full shownotes

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when someone tells you that you're too small to do the thing you've been working toward your entire life?

For Cole Brauer, that moment could have been the end of the story. Instead, it became part of the beginning. Cole was told she was too short to compete in the Southern Ocean. She was cut from a major team after traveling across the Atlantic and giving up paid opportunities to pursue the dream. A year later, she was sailing solo around the world.

But what makes Cole's story so compelling isn't simply the achievement. It's everything she had to become along the way.

Cole grew up in a small town on Long Island, moved across the country, changed academic and career directions, lived in a van, taught herself the mechanical, electrical, and rigging systems of a boat, and eventually found a community and a purpose through sailing.

Then came the ultimate test: more than 130 days alone at sea.

She talks openly about the loneliness and anxiety that hit her roughly two weeks into the voyage, when the team and community she had relied on suddenly disappeared. Instead of trying to suppress those feelings, she learned to understand them, participate in nature, take care of her body, and keep moving forward.

Cole also shares why she chose her boat over the possibility of winning when she encountered two massive storms near Cape Horn, why First Light became more than a vessel to her, and how that relationship ultimately became a mirror through which she learned to see herself differently.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What to do when someone else's definition of you becomes a limitation you start believing yourself.
• Why Cole sees rock bottom not simply as failure, but as a place from which you can begin climbing again.
• How purpose can sustain you when money, fame, and recognition aren't enough.
• Why Cole believes our lives aren't predetermined and that we can restart far more times than we think.
• What four months alone at sea taught her about loneliness, anxiety, self-care, and self-trust.
• Why nature became one of Cole's greatest teachers and helped make the unpredictable feel more understandable.
• How she learned to separate emotional reactions from the decisions she needed to make in moments of crisis.
• Why she chose to protect First Light rather than risk the boat for a chance at winning near Cape Horn.
• How gratitude helped her recognize the people who made the journey possible.
• Why the solo journey wasn't the end of Cole's transformation, but the beginning of discovering who she really was. 

Cole's story is ultimately a reminder that adaptation isn't always about becoming someone new. Sometimes it's about discovering who you were capable of becoming all along. And sometimes the people who tell you that you can't are simply showing you the limits of their imagination.

As Cole says, when someone tells you there's no way you can do something, sometimes the only answer is: "Yeah, okay. Just watch me."

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Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if having more freedom doesn't always make you more free?

We tend to believe that adaptability means having more options, more resources, more independence, and more control. But after conversations with Martin Seligman and David Epstein, I began to see a different pattern.

Sometimes unlimited freedom creates paralysis. Sometimes individual willpower becomes isolation. And sometimes our greatest breakthroughs happen not when we escape our constraints, but when we learn how to work intelligently within them.

That's the paradox at the heart of this episode.

David Epstein's Inside the Box shows how constraints can focus creativity and turn seemingly small problems into breakthroughs. Martin Seligman's Agency asks a deeper question: What happens when human beings believe their actions can actually change the future?

Put those ideas together, and a new definition of adaptability emerges.

Real adaptability isn't about controlling everything. It's about knowing where you have agency—and using it well.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why General Magic's enormous freedom became one of its greatest weaknesses—and how smaller, more focused ideas became eBay and the PalmPilot. 
• Why Mendeleev's breakthrough began with a textbook deadline rather than a magical dream. 
• The first question of the Agency Check: What constraint are you running away from that might actually contain your focus? 
• What my experience at Lowe's taught me about the danger of trying to solve enormous problems all at once. 
• Why UPS discovered that its routing challenge was ultimately a human learning and change-management problem, not simply a technology problem. 
• Martin Seligman's distinction between "I can" and "we can"—and why sustainable progress requires both individual and collective agency. 
• Why unlimited information can create a poverty of attention, and what Gloria Mark's research reveals about the cost of constant task switching. 
• David Epstein's Hemingway Principle for protecting tomorrow's most important work from today's urgent distractions. 
• How to conduct your own Constraint Check and Agency Check when you're feeling stuck or helpless. 

The question isn't whether you can control everything. You can't. The question is whether you can identify what is actually within your agency, stop wasting energy fighting what isn't, and then act with intention inside the reality you've been given.

Because adaptability isn't unlimited freedom. It's agency within reality.

Click for the full shownotes

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Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever felt like you need more options, more time, more freedom, or a bigger opportunity before you can finally make progress?

What if the opposite is true?

Today, John R. Miles sits down with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, author of Range and The Sports Gene, to explore why constraints can sometimes unlock the creativity and focus that unlimited freedom cannot.

David's new book, "Inside the Box," challenges one of our most deeply held assumptions: that more freedom is always better.

Sometimes, having too many possibilities makes it harder to decide what matters, where to focus, and what to do next. David explains how constraints can channel us into productive experimentation—and why some of the biggest breakthroughs begin with a much smaller problem than we expect.

He shares the surprising reality behind the Mendeleev story, revealing how a simple textbook problem helped lead to the periodic table. He also explains what the failure of General Magic can teach us about innovation, why UPS discovered that its routing problem was really a change-management problem, and how Pixar uses constraints and small experiments to improve its biggest creative projects. 

John and David also dive into one of the biggest challenges of modern life: protecting our attention.

David shares how research by Gloria Mark changed the way he works, why constant task switching can increase stress, and how he now structures his day around monotasking, batching, and deliberately protecting his attention.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why more freedom and more options aren't always better
• How constraints can actually increase creativity and innovation
• The surprising truth behind the Mendeleev and periodic table story
• Why many breakthroughs begin with a much smaller problem
• What the failure of General Magic teaches us about innovation
• Why defining the right problem may matter more than finding the perfect solution
• How UPS turned a technology problem into a learning and change-management problem
• Why people need to understand change before they will trust it
• How to protect your attention in a world designed to fragment it
• Why multitasking may be damaging your ability to think deeply
• How to identify the bottleneck that's actually slowing your progress

The bigger lesson is one David returns to throughout the conversation: Sometimes the answer isn't to escape the box. It's to look more closely at what's inside it. Because the problem right in front of you may not be the obstacle to your next chapter.

It may be the doorway.

Click for the full shownotes

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever reached a point where you stopped believing that what you do could actually make a difference?

Maybe you tried harder. Maybe you kept showing up. But after enough setbacks, rejection, or disappointment, something inside you started asking, "Why bother?"

Today, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Martin Seligman, one of the most influential psychologists of our time and a pioneer of positive psychology.

For more than six decades, Seligman has studied learned helplessness, optimism, resilience, and human flourishing. His new book, Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, brings that work to a much bigger question: What makes individuals—and entire civilizations—believe they can shape the future?

Seligman explains that agency is built from three capacities: efficacy, optimism, and imagination. Together, they give us the ability not only to believe that we can act but also to envision a future worth acting toward. But this conversation goes far beyond individual psychology.

John and Marty explore what happens when agency becomes collective, why societies need to balance “I can” with “we can,” and how mattering and agency may be connected. Marty argues that our actions begin shaping our sense of self through the responses we receive from other people and the world around us. When our actions repeatedly produce no response, learned helplessness can take hold.

They also take the conversation into the future of AI, education, creativity, and human possibility. Seligman describes how AI is already allowing him to test ideas that once would have taken years to investigate—and why he believes the technology could become an extraordinary amplifier of human agency.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Seligman believes agency—not just happiness—is central to human flourishing
• How learned helplessness became the foundation for his lifelong study of human agency
• The three psychological capacities that make up agency: efficacy, optimism, and imagination
• Why some people stop acting when their efforts repeatedly fail to produce a response
• How agency and mattering may reinforce one another
• Why the future may depend on balancing “I can” with “we can”
• What ancient civilizations can teach us about the psychology of human progress
• How AI is changing the way Seligman conducts research and thinks about creativity
• Why education may need to shift from teaching children to be “smart” toward character, leadership, kindness, cooperation, and flourishing
• What Seligman hopes his grandchildren—and future generations—will believe about human possibility

This is ultimately a conversation about one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves: Do I believe that what I do can make a difference?

Because agency doesn't mean believing you control everything. It means believing that your actions still matter.

Click for the Full shownotes

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever worked harder and harder at something, only to wonder why nothing seems to change?

You may assume the answer is that you need more discipline, more motivation, or more grit. But what if the problem isn't you?

Today, John R. Miles explores that question through two very different lenses: Angela Duckworth's research on how situations shape our behavior and Jared Diamond's work on when individual leaders actually make a difference.

John also puts both ideas to the test in his own life after spending two weeks in Blue Ridge, Georgia, where he discovered that he felt calmer, clearer, and more patient—not because he had become a different person, but because he was no longer in the same environment.

But there's another side to this.

Sometimes the environment really is the problem. And sometimes you are the person the moment requires.

Jared Diamond's "Hamlet Test" asks whether someone else could have produced the same outcome. His comparison between Harry Truman and William Shakespeare reveals the difference between being replaceable and being uniquely suited to a moment.

John brings both ideas together into the Fit Check: two questions that can help you figure out whether you need to change yourself, change your environment, or simply stop avoiding the work that only you can do.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why trying harder isn't always the answer
• How your environment can bring out completely different versions of you
• Why grit and willpower are sometimes not enough
• How to tell the difference between a bad day and a bad environment
• Jared Diamond's "Hamlet Test" for determining when someone truly matters
• Why some people are replaceable in one situation but indispensable in another
• How to recognize the moments when the outcome genuinely depends on you
• The two questions in John's Fit Check
• How to stop wasting energy trying to win in environments that work against you
• How to identify the moments that deserve your full attention

The goal isn't to become someone who can thrive anywhere.

It's to become wise enough to know which rooms you need to change—and which moments are yours to own.

Check the Full Shownotes here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What makes someone a great leader?

Is it talent? Timing? Character? Circumstance? Or simply being the right person in the right place at the right moment?

Today, John R. Miles sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and bestselling author Jared Diamond to explore one of the biggest questions in his new book, Profits, Profits, Profits, Coaches and Kings: When Do Leaders Matter?

After spending decades studying civilizations, geography, human societies, and why nations succeed or collapse, Diamond has turned his attention to leadership.

And his answer challenges the way we usually think about great leaders. Some leaders genuinely change history. Others recognize an opportunity that history has already created. And some may be talented, successful, and famous—but would not have made much difference if someone else had been in their place.

In this conversation, Jared explains how he uses history as a series of “natural experiments” to separate the impact of a leader from the circumstances surrounding them.

You’ll learn:

• When leaders actually matter
• Why some leaders are uniquely qualified to change history—and most aren't
• How timing and circumstance can determine whether a leader succeeds
• The difference between creating an opportunity and recognizing one
• Why Churchill was a great wartime leader but far less effective in peacetime
• What Harry Truman can teach us about leadership and courage
• Why founders can have an outsized impact on the institutions they leave behind
• How the “Hamlet test” reveals whether someone was truly indispensable
• What Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and John Wooden reveal about distinctive leadership
• Why leaders should be judged partly by what happens after they leave
• Why leadership is about more than techniques—and why philosophy matters

And Jared shares one of his most important lessons for leaders: Stop looking for the one most important thing.

Great leadership, he argues, is about getting the many important things right. This is a conversation about leadership, history, circumstance, and legacy—but ultimately, it raises a question every leader should ask: If you disappeared tomorrow, what would actually be different because you were here?

Click for the Full Shownotes

Download the FREE Reflection Guide here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’ve been trying to change your life but keep falling back into the same habits, this episode is for you.

Today, John R. Miles sits down with Angela Duckworth, one of the world’s leading psychologists and the bestselling author of Grit. Angela has spent her career studying why some people are able to achieve their goals and reach their potential. But in her new book, Situated, she shares a powerful idea that changes the way we think about personal growth.

We tend to believe that change comes from within. We tell ourselves to be more disciplined. Try harder. Find more motivation. Have more willpower.

But Angela explains that we often overlook something incredibly important: what’s around us. The people we spend time with. The spaces where we live and work. The mentors we learn from. And the culture that surrounds us. All of these things are shaping our behavior more than we realize.

The good news is that you don't always have to force yourself to change through sheer willpower. Sometimes, changing your situation can make it easier to become the person you want to be. Angela shares her research-backed framework for understanding the four parts of your environment that can shape your life: your space, your peers, your mentors, and your culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why changing what’s around you can help you change your life
• Why grit and willpower alone are not enough
• How the people around you shape your behavior and goals
• How to create an environment that makes better choices easier
• Why the right peers and mentors can change what you believe is possible
• How workplace and social culture influence who you become
• The four parts of your situation you can intentionally change
• How to make your environment an ally instead of an obstacle

This episode is about taking a different approach to change. Because sometimes the answer isn’t to ask yourself to try harder.

Sometimes, you need to look around and ask: What in my life is making it harder to become who I want to be?

Click for the full Shownotes

Download the FREE Companion Reflection Guide for The Adaptive Human series here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you constantly feel like you should be doing more, achieving more, or becoming more, this episode is for you.

Today, John R. Miles sits down with Caleb Campbell, a former NFL player and author of the new book Unstriving. For much of his life, Caleb believed that success would finally make him feel like he was enough. But after spending years pursuing achievement and reaching goals he once dreamed about, he discovered something many high achievers eventually learn:

You can get what you wanted and still feel like you're not enough.

Today, Caleb is sharing a different way to think about ambition, success, and the pressure so many of us feel to constantly prove ourselves.

His message is not about giving up on your goals or becoming less ambitious. It's about learning how to pursue the things that matter to you without making your worth dependent on whether you achieve them.

You can use this advice for anything: Your career. Your goals. Your relationships. The pressure you put on yourself. The next accomplishment you're chasing.

The part of your life where you keep thinking, “Once I get there, then I'll finally feel like enough.”

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why success and achievement can never permanently make you feel like enough
• The difference between healthy ambition and constantly striving for approval
• Why reaching a major goal can sometimes leave you feeling empty
• How to stop tying your identity to your performance
• What Caleb learned from pursuing his dream of playing in the NFL
• How to pursue big goals without losing yourself in the process
• Why you don't need to stop being ambitious to stop striving

This is an episode for anyone who has ever felt exhausted by the pressure to constantly do more, be more, or prove more.

By the end, you'll have a different way to think about success—and a clearer understanding of what it means to pursue your potential without making achievement responsible for proving that you matter.

Read the full Show Notes

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if everything you’ve been told about midlife is wrong?

If you’ve ever worried that your best years are behind you, that it’s too late to change, or that getting older automatically means losing your energy, purpose, or sense of possibility, this episode is for you. Today, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Margie Lachman, a leading lifespan psychologist and author of Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife, who has spent more than 30 years studying what actually happens to us during the middle years of life.

Margie reveals why the idea of a “midlife crisis” is largely a myth—and why midlife can actually be one of the most powerful periods of growth, confidence, purpose, and control. She explains why you are not locked into who you are, why the choices you make in midlife can shape how well you age, and how your relationships, health, and sense of purpose can influence the decades ahead.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why midlife isn't the crisis we've been led to believe it is
• Why your personality and sense of control can continue to change
• Why it’s never too late to make meaningful changes
• How your choices in midlife can affect your health later in life
• Why purpose and contribution become so important as we age
• How giving and receiving support affects your well-being
• Why staying connected can protect against loneliness and isolation
• What “generativity” means and why it matters
• How to think differently about the second half of your life

This is an episode about challenging the story you've been told about aging—and realizing that you may have far more time, possibility, and influence over your future than you think.

Your best years may not be behind you. They may be ahead of you.

Catch the full show notes.

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Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the thing you regret most someday isn't what you did—but what you never tried?

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with behavioral economist and bestselling author Dan Ariely to explore why we make decisions that don't always serve our long-term well-being.

Dan's research reveals a surprising pattern: in the moment, we tend to regret the risks we take. But when we look back over our lives, we often regret the risks we didn't take.

The conversation goes far beyond risk.

John and Dan explore why vulnerability is one of the biggest areas where people play it safe, how bureaucracy can drain passion from work, why companies struggle to measure the things that matter most, and what we may lose when we optimize everything for efficiency.

They also discuss:

• Why we often choose short-term safety over long-term fulfillment
• The difference between regretting action and regretting inaction
• Why romantic relationships are one of the biggest areas where people avoid risk
• How bureaucracy can quietly kill motivation and passion
• Why companies measure productivity but struggle to measure care, connection, and meaning
• What happens when organizations treat people like functions instead of human beings
• Why AI's pursuit of efficiency could come at the expense of meaning and human development
• How feeling appreciated can influence motivation and performance
• Why investing in human capital should be treated differently than simply treating people as a cost
• The question you should ask yourself: Where in your life are you playing it safer than you really want to?

Dan's larger message is difficult to ignore: the life we build isn't shaped only by the choices we make. It's also shaped by the chances we decide not to take.

Full shownotes here

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Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John R. Miles sits down with behavioral economist and bestselling author Dan Ariely to explore why we often fear the risks we take today but regret the risks we never took—and how playing it safe can quietly keep us from the relationships, passion, and meaningful life we actually want.

What would change if you stopped worrying so much about what everyone else thinks of you?

Actor, entrepreneur, and father Josh Duhamel has spent decades in the spotlight, but he says one of the biggest things he has learned with age is that he no longer needs to pretend for anyone—and that caring too much about other people's opinions once kept him from living his “full version” of himself.

In this deeply personal conversation, John R. Miles sits down with the actor, entrepreneur, and father to talk about identity, success, fatherhood, presence, and what it means to build a life that actually feels like your own.

Josh opens up about:

• Why success doesn't automatically make you feel like you've done enough
• How the need for validation can keep you chasing the next achievement
• What helped him stop caring so much about other people's opinions
• Why his cabin in Minnesota brings out a different version of himself
• How changing his environment helped him become more present
• Why fatherhood completely changed his definition of success
• What he hopes his children remember about him
• Why family memories now matter more to him than material success
• How he's learning to embrace simplicity, curiosity, and being present

One of the most revealing moments comes when Josh talks about what success means to him now. Despite everything he has accomplished, he admits that he still feels like he has more to prove and achieve.

Click here for the full show notes

Learn more about Gatlan

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

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Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with actor, entrepreneur, and father Josh Duhamel to explore how letting go of other people's expectations, redefining success, and creating a more intentional life helped him become more fully himself.

What if protecting your brain from cognitive decline starts decades before you ever notice a problem?

In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter to explore the emerging science behind his new book, Brain Defenders, and why the brain’s immune system may hold one of the most important keys to long-term brain health.

David explains how specialized immune cells called microglia can either support the brain or become destructive when challenged by inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, poor sleep, and other environmental factors.

The hopeful part is that many of the factors influencing this process are within our control.

You’ll learn:

• Why the brain’s immune system may be central to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, PTSD, and other brain disorders
• What microglial cells do and why their metabolism matters
• How poor sleep can affect inflammation after just one night
• Why exercise, metabolism, diet, and relationships all influence brain health
• The surprising connection between oral health and the brain
• Why traumatic brain injury and PTSD can share common biological pathways
• How alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle can affect the brain
• Why brain health should be addressed decades before cognitive decline appears
• What David thinks about supplements, vitamin D, B vitamins, and personalized testing
• What the emerging research on GLP-1 medications could mean for neurodegenerative disease
• Why David believes we are the architects of our brain’s destiny

David also explains why he believes the conversation around Alzheimer’s needs to shift from simply treating disease after it appears to understanding and addressing the factors that may influence brain health much earlier in life.

His message is ultimately one of agency: the choices you make today are helping shape the brain you will have tomorrow.

Check the full shownotes here

Download the Companion Digital Workbook here

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter to reveal how the brain’s immune system responds to our everyday choices—and what we can do now to protect our brain health for life.

Have you ever had a breakthrough that felt like it was going to change your life, only to find yourself back in the same patterns a week later?

In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with three-time New York Times bestselling author Mark Manson to unpack one of the biggest traps in personal growth: confusing insight with actual change.

Mark explains why reading another book, learning another framework, or becoming more self-aware can make you feel like you're changing without actually changing your behavior. Real transformation requires something much harder: doing things differently when they're uncomfortable or letting go of an identity you've outgrown.

You'll learn:

• Why insight can become a form of procrastination
• The difference between personality, adaptation, and identity
• Why changing your environment may be easier than changing yourself
• How old adaptations can become identities that hold you back
• Why motivation isn't always the problem
• Why “optimal is suboptimal”
• How to recognize when your mental model no longer matches reality
• Why sometimes the best way to grow is to stop trying to become someone else

Mark also shares the powerful advice his father gave him about becoming the goose instead of chasing the golden eggs—and why developing your ability to create value is more important than protecting what you've already built.

This conversation is a reminder that you don't always need more information to change your life. Sometimes you need the courage to behave differently, release an identity that no longer fits, and create an environment that brings out who you actually are.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with three-time New York Times bestselling author Mark Manson to uncover why knowing what you need to change isn't enough—and what it actually takes to break old patterns, let go of outdated identities, and create lasting change.

Why do other people's opinions have so much power over you?

You may think your beliefs, opinions, and reactions are entirely your own. But your brain has been quietly keeping score of something much older and more powerful: whether you belong.

In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the social brain and the survival instinct that shape far more of your life than you realize. Research involving 105 different social groups found an astonishing .95 correlation between what people believed their own communities thought and the prejudices they were willing to express. In other words, belonging can influence what we believe before we even realize it's happening.

John then introduces a simple tool called the Mattering Check—one question to ask when you feel yourself becoming defensive, judgmental, or overly concerned with someone's approval:

Whose approval am I actually protecting right now?

You'll hear John's personal story about spending three months reacting to a comment that was actually meant as a compliment, explore what happens when anti-mattering makes us feel invisible, and discover why a simple interaction with a stranger can create a powerful sense of connection. 

You'll learn:

• Why belonging is a survival need—not simply a desire to fit in.
• How your social groups can quietly shape what you believe.
• Why other people's approval can influence your behavior more than you realize.
• What anti-mattering does to the way you see yourself and other people.
• How to recognize when you're protecting your status instead of acting from your own values.
• The Mattering Check and how to use it when you feel triggered or excluded.
• Why widening your circle of belonging can change how you see other people.
• One simple action you can take today to help someone else feel seen and significant.

The goal isn't to stop caring what other people think. It's to become more conscious of whose voice you're listening to, whose approval you're protecting, and who you are allowing to define your sense of belonging.

Because your circle isn't fixed, you can redraw it.

Check Full Shownotes Here

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do other people's opinions, approval, and behavior have so much power over you? In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the behavioral science and neuroscience of belonging, revealing why our need to matter can shape what we believe, who we trust, and how much power we give other people over our lives.

Why do you never have enough time?

Most of us assume that feeling overwhelmed is a problem with our calendars. But executive coach and leadership advisor Neal Schore offers a different perspective: much of the time we lose isn't consumed by the tasks themselves. It disappears into our reactions, assumptions, rumination, and the emotional “swirl” that follows difficult moments.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Neal Schore, cofounder and CEO of The 25th Hour Group and author of The 25th Hour, to explore why managing yourself may be more important than managing your schedule. Neal shares the defining experience that changed his relationship with time, explains how emotional reactivity can quietly consume hours of attention, and reveals how pausing, clarifying intent, and asking better questions can transform the way we work, lead, and relate to others.

You'll learn:

• Why we often give away more time to our emotional reactions than to the problems that triggered them.
• How Neal's defining Lake Michigan experience revealed the personal cost of failing to manage himself.
• What Neal means by the “25th hour” and where the hidden hours in our days actually go.
• Why trying to control other people can drain enormous amounts of attention and energy.
• How emotional “swirl” turns brief interactions into hours of rumination and distraction.
• Why asking “What's the intent?” can interrupt assumptions and prevent unnecessary conflict.
• How pausing before responding can create better decisions, stronger relationships, and greater emotional maturity.
• Why clarifying questions can build massive amounts of trust.
• How leaders can model emotional maturity and create healthier, more productive cultures.
• Why creating white space and acknowledging your own progress are essential parts of intentional living.

Whether you're struggling to keep up with your responsibilities, navigating difficult relationships, leading a team, or simply wondering where your days keep going, this conversation offers a practical way to rethink time. Neal's message is ultimately about more than productivity: it's about becoming more intentional with the attention, energy, and life you already have.

Grab the Full Show Notes

[Download the FREE Digital Companion Workbook.]

Buy the book: The 25th Hour by Neal Schore

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do you never have enough time? Executive coach and leadership advisor Neal Schore reveals how emotional reactivity, mental “swirl,” and the urge to control what we cannot can quietly consume our attention—and how learning to manage yourself can help you reclaim your time, strengthen your leadership, and live more intentionally.

Why do good people become so divided?

Most of us assume that if people simply had the right facts, they would change their minds. But research tells a different story. More often than not, what shapes our beliefs isn't evidence—it's the groups we belong to and the identities we protect.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with renowned social psychologist Dr. Jay Van Bavel, co-author of The Power of Us, to explore the hidden psychology behind polarization, tribalism, and human connection. Drawing on decades of research in social identity, neuroscience, and behavioral science, Dr. Van Bavel explains why our brains prioritize belonging over being right, how social media amplifies division, and why rebuilding trust begins with understanding the powerful forces that shape how we see ourselves—and each other.

You'll learn:

• Why identity often influences our beliefs more than facts.
• The hidden psychology behind political and social polarization.
• How belonging shapes the way we think, feel, and make decisions.
• Why intellectual humility is one of the most important skills in a divided world.
• How social media and AI reinforce certainty while reducing curiosity.
• The surprising role of collective joy, shared experiences, and community in overcoming division.
• Practical ways to build stronger relationships across differences without compromising your values.
• Why understanding the psychology of "us versus them" is essential for flourishing in today's world.

Whether you're trying to navigate difficult conversations, strengthen your relationships, or simply understand why our world feels more divided than ever, this conversation offers a hopeful, science-backed roadmap for building deeper connection, greater empathy, and a stronger sense of belonging.

Grab the Full Show Notes

Download the FREE Digital Companion Notebook.

Buy the book: The Power of Us by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do good people become so divided? Social psychologist Dr. Jay Van Bavel explains how identity, belonging, and the groups we join quietly shape our beliefs, relationships, and ability to connect—and what it will take to bridge our deepest divides.

What if the biggest lie you've ever believed is that this is just who you are?

Most of us think our personality, habits, fears, and limitations are fixed. We tell ourselves, "I've always been this way," or "I guess this is just who I am." But modern neuroscience tells a very different story.

In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores one of the most hopeful discoveries in brain science: your brain is not a finished product—it's constantly being reshaped by what you repeatedly think, feel, and do. Through remarkable stories of London taxi drivers, the famous case of Phineas Gage, insights from brain health expert Dr. Daniel Amen, and groundbreaking neuroscience from Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl, John reveals why lasting change isn't about finding a breakthrough—it's about changing what you practice every day.

You'll learn:

• Why your brain is constantly changing—even when you don't realize it.
• The surprising neuroscience behind the phrase "neurons that fire together, wire together."
• What London taxi drivers can teach us about building new neural pathways.
• How Dr. Daniel Amen helps patients identify and replace Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs).
• Why practicing positive thinking isn't wishful thinking—it's brain training.
• What scientists discovered after studying a monk with more than 62,000 hours of meditation practice.
• The four trainable skills that help build awareness, connection, insight, and purpose.
• One simple daily practice that can begin reshaping your brain today.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to change, this episode offers a hopeful reminder: you are not a photograph. You're a sculpture. Every thought you practice, every habit you repeat, and every choice you make is helping shape the person you're becoming.

You are not a photograph. You're a sculpture.

Grab the Full Shownotes Here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the parts of yourself you've accepted as permanent are actually the result of what you've been practicing? In this episode, John R. Miles reveals why your brain is constantly changing—and how the thoughts, habits, and behaviors you repeat today are quietly shaping the person you'll become tomorrow.

What if you've spent your whole life believing you needed to become someone different—when the qualities you need have been inside you all along?

Most of us think flourishing is something we earn after we've accomplished enough, healed enough, or finally have everything figured out.

But what if science says otherwise?

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with pioneering neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson and contemplative scholar Court Dahl to explore the groundbreaking science behind their new book, Born to Flourish. Drawing on decades of neuroscience research, contemplative traditions, and the work inspired by the Dalai Lama, they explain why awareness, connection, insight, and purpose aren't personality traits—they're innate capacities that every human being can strengthen through practice.

You'll learn:

• Why flourishing is part of your nature—not something you have to earn.
• The surprising neuroscience showing the brain can be trained throughout life.
• How awareness, connection, insight, and purpose form the four pillars of human flourishing.
• Why early adversity influences your life without determining your future.
• What decades of studying long-term meditators have revealed about the human brain.
• Why flourishing is contagious—and how your presence shapes the people around you.
• How brief moments of awareness and appreciation can gradually transform your baseline well-being.
• Practical ways to cultivate resilience, compassion, and purpose in everyday life.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to become calmer, more connected, and more resilient without changing who you are, this conversation offers a hopeful answer: you don't have to create a better self—you simply have to nurture the one you were born with.

Full Shownotes Here.

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if flourishing isn't something you achieve, but something you were born with? Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl reveal the neuroscience behind awareness, connection, insight, and purpose, and explain why these four trainable skills can help anyone build a more resilient, meaningful life.

Your brain is changing every single day. The question is: Is it changing for the better or for the worse?

Most people don't think about protecting their brain until something goes wrong. But according to renowned psychiatrist and brain health expert Dr. Daniel Amen, the decisions you make every day—from how you sleep and eat to how you manage stress, relationships, and negative thoughts—are either building a healthier brain or slowly damaging it.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Amen to explore the science of brain health, neuroplasticity, and why you're never stuck with the brain you have. Drawing on decades of research and hundreds of thousands of brain scans, Dr. Amen explains how modern life is rewiring our brains, why mental health begins with brain health, and the practical habits that can improve memory, focus, resilience, and emotional well-being at any age.

You'll learn:

• Why brain health is the foundation of mental health.
• The everyday habits that quietly damage your brain—and how to avoid them.
• How chronic stress, trauma, loneliness, and social media reshape the brain.
• Why automatic negative thoughts can keep you stuck in destructive patterns.
• The science of neuroplasticity and why it's never too late to create a healthier brain.
• Dr. Amen's practical strategies for improving memory, focus, and cognitive performance.
• The surprising connection between purpose, relationships, and long-term brain health.
• Simple daily choices that can help protect your brain and improve your future.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to think more clearly, feel better emotionally, or protect your brain as you age, this conversation offers a hopeful, science-backed roadmap for creating lasting change—because you're not stuck with the brain you have.

Need sustained focus without another cup of coffee? Try Roon and save up to 64% at takeroon.com/PASSIONSTRUCK with code PASSIONSTRUCK.

Full Shownotes Here.

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the choices you make today are quietly shaping the health of your brain for decades to come? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen reveals the science-backed habits that can protect your brain, improve your mental health, and help you create lasting change at any age.

Most of us are waiting for the moment everything changes.

The breakthrough. The perfect habit. The morning you finally wake up feeling motivated enough to become the person you've always wanted to be.

But what if that moment never comes?

In this solo episode, John R. Miles challenges one of the biggest myths in personal growth: that transformation happens in an instant. Instead, he reveals why the future version of you is created through the ordinary practices you repeat every single day.

Drawing on the timeless Zen teaching of Chop Wood, Carry Water, legendary coach John Wooden's relentless focus on fundamentals, and insights from neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer, Stanford behavior scientist BJ Fogg, former Hindu monk Dandapani, and astronaut Chris Cassidy, John explains why your habits don't just shape what you do—they shape who you become.

You'll learn:

• Why breakthroughs rarely create lasting change—and what does instead.
• The powerful lesson behind the Zen principle Chop Wood, Carry Water.
• Why John Wooden believed greatness begins with mastering the smallest fundamentals.
• How your brain rewires itself through repetition, attention, and curiosity.
• Why Dandapani says, "We are what we practice."
• The surprising reason presence is a skill you train—not a state you find.
• BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits method for creating lasting behavior change.
• The one question that can transform every habit you build: What am I practicing my way toward?

If you've been waiting until you feel ready to change your life, this episode will show you why the practice—not the breakthrough—is what changes everything.

Check the Full Shownotes Here

Download the FREE companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you your own harshest critic? If you constantly second-guess yourself, replay mistakes, or feel like you're never doing enough, this episode is for you.

Today, you'll discover why self-compassion isn't about lowering your standards—it's about giving yourself the emotional foundation to become more resilient, more confident, and more fully present. You'll learn how your inner dialogue shapes your relationships, why high achievers often stay trapped in survival mode, and how changing the way you speak to yourself can transform the way you live.

Joining John R. Miles is Dr. D. Ivan Young, executive coach, neuroscientist, leadership expert, and author of Leading from the Heart. For decades, he's helped Fortune 500 executives, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, and public figures overcome limiting beliefs, heal emotional wounds, and build lives rooted in self-awareness and compassion.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why self-compassion is the foundation of resilience
• How childhood experiences shape the way you see yourself
• Why high achievers often struggle with self-worth
• The difference between empathy and "weaponized empathy"
• How to quiet your inner critic without lowering your standards
• Why the relationship you have with yourself determines every other relationship you build
• Practical ways to move from survival mode to flourishing

If you've spent years extending grace to everyone except yourself, this conversation may change the relationship that matters most—the one you have with yourself.

Full Shownotes Here

Download the FREE Digital Companion Workbook here.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. D. Ivan Young, one of today's leading voices on leadership, resilience, and emotional well-being. Together, they explore how trauma shapes identity, why your inner voice influences every relationship you have, and how practicing self-compassion can help you become stronger, calmer, and more resilient.

Today's episode is your ultimate guide to unlocking more potential than you ever thought possible.

If you've ever wondered whether you're capable of more—but aren't sure how to break through self-doubt, build real confidence, or reach the next level in your life or career—this episode is a must-listen.

Today, you'll learn why extraordinary performance isn't reserved for a gifted few. It's built through belief, culture, intentional habits, and a willingness to challenge the limits you've accepted for yourself.

Today, John sits down with legendary running coach Sean Brosnan, author of Beyond Fast. Sean built one of the greatest high school distance running programs in history, producing Olympians, national champions, and American record holders—not by finding extraordinary athletes, but by helping ordinary people discover what they were truly capable of.

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, raising a family, pursuing a dream, or simply trying to become your best self, this conversation will change the way you think about performance and human potential.

You'll learn:

• Why belief is one of the most powerful performance tools you have
• How great leaders build cultures where excellence becomes the norm
• Why confidence follows evidence—not positive thinking
• The daily habits that matter more than ambitious goals
• How to overcome the invisible mental barriers limiting your success
• Why individualized coaching unlocks the best in every person
• The surprising role adversity plays in building resilience
• How to create an environment where people consistently outperform expectations

If you're ready to stop living beneath your potential and start believing in what's truly possible, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to begin.

Get the Full Shownotes Here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-build-an-elite-team-culture-sean-brosnan/

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook HERE

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, John sits down with legendary running coach Sean Brosnan, author of Beyond Fast. Sean built one of the greatest high school distance running programs in history, producing Olympians, national champions, and American record holders—not by finding extraordinary athletes, but by helping ordinary people discover what they were truly capable of.

If you've been feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, today's episode is for you.

What if the most important thing you bring into every room isn't your talent, your success, or even your intentions—but your emotional state?

In this episode, John R. Miles explores one of the most powerful shifts he's experienced through years of research, interviews, and personal reflection: every human being is an environment. The people you love don't just hear your words—they experience your presence. Your family, your friends, and your team are all shaped by the emotional climate you create.

Drawing on insights from conversations with Arthur Brooks, Jess Ekstrom, Guy Kawasaki, and Dr. Robert Waldinger, John explains why personal growth isn't a private journey. It's one of the greatest gifts you can give the people around you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your emotional state affects everyone around you
• How stress quietly becomes part of your family's daily experience
• The surprising reason achievement doesn't create lasting fulfillment
• Why healing yourself is one of the greatest acts of love you can offer others
• How your presence shapes the culture of your home, your team, and your relationships
• The simple mindset shift that will change the way you think about personal growth forever

The greatest impact you'll ever have isn't just through what you accomplish—it's through the environment you create for the people who share your life.

Full Shownotes Here

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, John R. Miles explores one of the most powerful shifts he's experienced through years of research, interviews, and personal reflection: every human being is an environment. The people you love don't just hear your words—they experience your presence. Your family, your friends, and your team are all shaped by the emotional climate you create.

Do you ever feel like technology knows you better than you know yourself?

Every day, algorithms influence what you see, what you buy, what you believe, and even how you measure your worth. Most of us think the biggest risk is losing our privacy. But what if the real danger is slowly losing sight of who we are?

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with entrepreneur and bestselling author Guy Kawasaki to explore why protecting your privacy is about far more than securing your personal information. It's about protecting your identity, your relationships, and your ability to make choices that reflect your values instead of someone else's algorithm. Together, they discuss how technology has evolved from tracking our behavior to shaping it, why social media has changed the way we define what it means to matter, and how small decisions about what we share—and what we choose to keep private—can help us reclaim our autonomy.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why privacy is really about protecting your freedom to choose
• How technology quietly shapes identity—not just behavior
• The hidden cost of measuring your worth through likes, followers, and visibility
• Why strong personal boundaries matter more than ever
• Simple ways to protect your digital life without disconnecting from the world
• How to stay grounded in your values in an increasingly connected culture
• Why real human connection will always matter more than online attention

If you've ever wondered whether technology is changing who you are, this conversation will help you take back control—not by rejecting innovation, but by becoming more intentional about the life you choose to build.

Guy is personally offering a free copy of his latest book, Everybody Has Something to Hide (English or Spanish), to US listeners! Simply send an email to english@guykawasaki.com or spanish@guykawasaki.com requesting a copy, and his team will send you a gift link.

Full shownotes here

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Technology isn't just changing how we communicate—it's changing how we see ourselves. In this conversation, Guy Kawasaki explains why protecting your privacy is ultimately about protecting your identity, your relationships, and your freedom to live intentionally.

Have you ever reached a goal you worked incredibly hard for, only to find yourself asking, What's next? If you've ever believed that happiness, fulfillment, or peace would finally arrive after the next promotion, milestone, or accomplishment, this episode is for you.

John R. Miles sits down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker Jess Ekstrom to explore why so many high achievers unknowingly postpone their happiness. Jess calls it the Arrival Trap—the belief that the life we want always exists somewhere in the future. Drawing on her own entrepreneurial journey and the ideas in her new book, Making It Without Losing It, she explains why fulfillment doesn't come from reaching the finish line but from changing how we experience the journey.

Together, John and Jess discuss why purpose is something we build rather than discover, how external achievement can quietly replace internal fulfillment, and why comparison often leads us to pursue goals that were never truly our own. They also explore the science of motivation, practical ways to reconnect with meaningful work, and a simple framework for determining whether you're chasing a dream because it reflects who you are—or because it looks good to everyone else.

In this episode, you'll learn why the "Arrival Trap" keeps people from enjoying their lives, how to create purpose in the work you're already doing, why intrinsic motivation is more sustainable than external validation, how to stop comparing your path to everyone else's, and practical ways to enjoy the present without giving up your ambition.

If you've been working hard but still feel like something is missing, this conversation will help you redefine success and discover how to pursue your goals without losing yourself in the process.

Learn more about today's guest: https://jessekstrom.com/

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

We’re so excited to partner with FODZYME and offer you 30% off your first order when you go to I Can Eat Again dot com slash PASSIONSTRUCK.  

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Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Success isn't supposed to leave you feeling empty. In this conversation, Jess Ekstrom explains why ambitious people often fall into the "Arrival Trap" and how to build a meaningful life without postponing happiness until the next achievement.

Today, you'll discover why some changes feel effortless while others seem impossible to stick with. In this solo episode, John R. Miles reveals one of the biggest reasons we struggle to change—and it has less to do with willpower than you think.

If you've ever wondered why you keep checking your phone, overworking, getting distracted, or falling back into habits you wanted to leave behind, this episode will completely change how you think about personal growth. Drawing on powerful conversations with neuroscientist Dr. Dana Suskind and behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz, John explains why the environments around you quietly shape your attention, your decisions, and ultimately the person you're becoming.

This episode will help you:

• Understand why your environment influences your behavior more than you realize
• Stop blaming yourself for habits your surroundings are quietly reinforcing
• See how your home, office, phone, and calendar shape your daily decisions
• Recognize why familiar environments become invisible—even while they're changing you
• Create spaces that make healthier choices feel easier and more natural
• Understand why small environmental changes often create bigger results than willpower alone
• Ask one simple question that can transform how you approach every habit
• Design a life that supports the person you're trying to become

Here's the truth:

Every environment is teaching you something. The question isn't whether your surroundings are shaping you. It's whether they're helping you become the person you want to be.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the reason change feels so difficult has less to do with willpower than you think? In this episode, John reveals how your home, workplace, phone, and daily routines are quietly influencing your behavior—and how small changes to your environment can create lasting transformation.

Today's episode will change how you think about the places you spend your life.

Most of us believe that if we want to feel happier, more productive, or more connected, we need to change ourselves.

But what if one of the biggest influences on your well-being isn't your mindset—it's your environment?

If you've ever felt drained at work, disconnected at home, or wondered why certain places instantly make you feel calm, creative, or like your best self, this conversation will help you see your surroundings in a completely different way.

Joining me is Leidy Klotz, engineer, award-winning researcher, and bestselling author of In a Good Place. His groundbreaking work explores how the spaces we live, work, and gather in quietly shape our relationships, memories, happiness, creativity, and even our sense of who we are.

Together, we explore why your environment may be one of the most overlooked drivers of flourishing—and the simple changes that can dramatically improve the way you live every day.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your home and workplace influence your happiness more than you realize
• How the places you spend time in shape your memories, relationships, and identity
• The surprising reason where you are matters more than you think
• Why children experience the world differently—and what adults can learn from them
• How to create spaces that reduce stress and increase creativity
• The simple "Space Before Screen" habit that can change the way you start every day
• Why building and creating with your hands strengthens confidence, belonging, and connection
• How your environment quietly communicates your values—to yourself and everyone around you

The truth is, we don't just shape the places we live in. Over time, those places shape us. And once you understand how your environment influences your life, you'll start seeing opportunities for positive change that have been hiding in plain sight.

 

Full shownotes

Get the FREE Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leidy Klotz joins John R. Miles to reveal how the places we live, work, and spend time in quietly shape our happiness, relationships, creativity, and sense of belonging. Discover simple, research-backed ways to design environments that help you flourish instead of merely function.

Today's episode will change how you think about parenting, childhood, and what it really means to be human in the age of AI.

Artificial intelligence is changing education, work, relationships, and nearly every aspect of modern life. But according to today's guest, the greatest challenge isn't what AI is becoming—it's whether we will forget what makes us human.

If you're a parent, grandparent, educator, leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of the next generation, this conversation will completely change how you think about raising children and preparing them for the world ahead.

Joining me is Dr. Dana Suskind, renowned pediatric surgeon, developmental researcher, and bestselling author of the groundbreaking new book Human Raised. After decades of studying how early relationships shape the developing brain, Dana explains why the qualities that matter most in the future aren't the ones AI can master—they're the deeply human capacities that only we can cultivate.

Together, we explore why connection, curiosity, resilience, empathy, and critical thinking have become the most important skills we can pass on to our children—and why those abilities begin developing much earlier than most of us realize.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the first three years of life shape far more than language and learning
• The uniquely human skills AI will never be able to replace
• How children develop the lifelong belief that they truly matter
• Why "good enough" parenting creates more resilient children than perfect parenting
• The hidden cost of optimizing children for achievement instead of flourishing
• How AI can either strengthen human relationships or quietly replace them
• Why productive struggle is essential for developing creativity, confidence, and emotional resilience
• Dana's HOPE Framework for raising flourishing children in an AI-driven world

The future isn't determined by technology alone. It's shaped by the choices we make every day about how we connect, care, and raise the next generation. And as Dana explains, those deeply human choices may be our greatest advantage in an AI-powered world.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

• Website: https://johnrmiles.com
• Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
• Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
• Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it mean to raise children who will thrive in a world transformed by artificial intelligence? Dr. Dana Suskind reveals how early relationships, emotional resilience, and meaningful human connection build the foundation for lifelong flourishing.